'A lifelong experience': For the Hendrickx family, 4-H is a cherished tradition

4-H is a longstanding tradition in the Hendrickx family.

Mom Kris serves as a 4-H club leader, dad Pat has been involved in one way or another since he was a kid, and their sons, Ben, 15, and Isaac, 12, have both been active members for years.

The family says 4-H has been an important social and educational outlet for them - a way to meet people, learn new skills, share ideas and information, and grow and develop into community leaders.

During a recent interview with the family on their farm in Butler, Pat said there's a genuine camaraderie among 4-H members, as well as between all the different clubs.

Around East Otter Tail County, there are 13 local 4-H clubs. The Hendrickxes are members of the Butler Buttercups.

At the annual county fair, which is the "big event" of the year for 4-H'ers, Pat said "the competition is friendly. Everybody compliments each other on their animals and projects, and you learn from each other. Everybody's good about sharing information."

Also, by walking through the exhibit buildings and looking at the displays, seeing the ribbons and reading the judge's comments, he added, "kids can look at what's winning and get an idea of what they need to do to be more successful in the future."

Ben and Isaac both show goats and calves at the fair almost every year. As the younger of the two, Isaac learns a lot from his older brother, and they both learn from judge's comments and by watching and listening to other 4-H'ers.

Judges expect kids to get more and more knowledgeable about the animals they're showing as they get older, Ben said, so there are always new things to learn and demonstrate.

"I like having the experiences that come from doing these projects throughout the years," he said, adding that "watching the animals grow and change" is one of his favorite things about 4-H.

For Isaac, a favorite activity is the Butler club's annual Halloween party. He enthusiastically tells of getting to dress up in costume, go on hayrides, and "eat lots of pizza" - his favorite food.

Social get-togethers like that are not uncommon in 4-H. Sometimes they're mostly just for fun, like the Halloween party and an annual bowling tournament; but often they're community-minded and charitable.

Kris said the Butler club holds a free soup luncheon every year for people in the township, and also purchases and wraps Christmas gifts for children in need through the Giving Tree program. The club also serves hamburgers and hot dogs at Mark's Fleet Supply's customer appreciation days, and delivers cookies and bars (and sings carols) to elderly residents at Christmastime. Club members also march in local parades.

"We do a number of things to get out into the public eye and interacting," she said. "But most club-to-club interacting goes on at the fair. Lots of friendships are renewed every year at the fair, for those few days."

Ben and Isaac both said they've made a lot of friends through 4-H, sometimes friends that go to different schools and that they might not have met otherwise.

"Everyone really cares about each other," said Pat. "Isaac had heart surgery one year, and the other kids were really concerned because he didn't show a calf that year. Everybody was asking about him."

Isaac, who has Down Syndrome, is a beloved personality among local 4-H'ers. Kris and Pat said "everybody knows Isaac," and the family gets a lot of compliments from other 4-H'ers for supporting his involvement in the club.

"Everybody's glad Isaac is there and that we're including him," said Pat. "People have told us that they're proud of us for encouraging that."

Isaac and Ben are two of the 18 youth members active in the Butler Buttercups. The club meets once a month at Holy Cross Church in Butler. As the club secretary, Ben takes attendance and notes on any old and new business, the treasurer's report and other club happenings. Then, one of the members will give a demonstration on something that matches their interests, such as how to make a bird feeder, or bake bread, or something related to robotics or engineering, or any number of other topics.

"Kids get to be creative and learn to do projects, with guidance, but by themselves," said Pat. "You later find those kids pursuing those things as careers. It's a building block of what their future might entail. It's a lifelong experience that you get from 4-H."

Certainly, what Ben and Isaac are learning about animal care applies to their daily lives. The boys are an integral part of the Hendrickx farm.

With about 120 cows, the farm is primarily a dairy operation, though the family also grows alfalfa, corn and soybeans. They wake up before 5 a.m. most days to feed the livestock and start setting up for milking. The boys eventually head off to school and Kris goes to work at United Community Bank in Perham, but as soon as they return home, they're back at it on the farm until about 7 p.m. Pat works at the farm all day.

It's a busy life, but it's one they wouldn't trade for any other. Pat enjoys working outdoors, he said, and he loves to watch things grow.

That's part of why he loves 4-H so much, he said: because he gets to watch kids grow and develop into confident, knowledgeable young adults.

For more information about 4-H, and to find nearby clubs, visit 4-H.org. East Otter Tail County clubs are run through the University of Minnesota Extension office in New York Mills, reachable at 218-385-5420.

PULL QUOTE:

"It's a lifelong experience that you get from 4-H." -Pat Hendrickx

SIDEBAR:

4-H Fast Facts

• 4-H is America's largest youth development organization

• Head, Heart, Hands and Health are the four H's in 4-H, and they are the four values members work on

• Kids experience 4-H in every county and parish in the country

• 4-H is a research-based experience that includes a mentor, a hands-on project and a meaningful leadership opportunity

• Based on their interests, youth develop their own pathways in 4-H, though all programs include mentoring and career readiness as core elements

• 4-H programs are available for children ages 8-18, and 4-H Cloverbud programs are available for children ages 5-7

(Information from 4-H.org)