4-H is at the forefront of an incredibly necessary movement to help our kids build the skills and give them the tools to not only be productive and successful members of society, but to give back to their communities.
With this vital current goal of 4-H comes an equally important part of 4-H that teaches our kids skills that have been lost along the way with the ever-present emergence of technology and getting things done fast.
Life has become a blur of meetings, schedules, school functions and activities and, yes, smart phones. 4-H is a leader in teaching our kids lost skills in agriculture, arts and science.
This year the Smoky Mountain 4-H Club has put a focus on the importance of teaching our boys and girls sewing techniques. Led by Debbie Morgan, Beth Bergeron and teen leaders Gracie Tindell, Meradeth Whitley, Travis Hanna and Kaleb Hanna, our club conducted a four-part basic sewing skills class at Maynardville Elementary School that gave any student the opportunity to learn more about not just sewing, but working together, building communication skills, learning how to set goals and complete them, and most importantly, building self-confidence.
As is the case in all 4-H activities, the Morgans first built these sewing skills in our own club members, starting with beginner classes and then intermediate classes. All along the way, they provided opportunities to help our club members develop leadership skills.
Then during the month of March, every Thursday after school, we met in Tim Sexton’s classroom put these two skills together and created a fun-filled learning opportunity to not only the students of Maynardville Elementary, but also to the 4-H teen leaders as well.
And boy did we have fun!
The students were taught how to safely thread and operate a sewing machine, identify parts of the machines and how to do basic straight stitching.
Students Sarah Blanchette, Lexi Cummings, Jeremiah Dillingham, Matthew Hutchison and Adrian Eldridge sewed to completion a tote bag, bean bags, lavender sachets, fleece hoodies and scarves, fleece ear warmers, and snap coin pouches.
This is just one example of how 4-H is completing their mission to make the best better. We want to get the word out.
Our goal is to get every boy and girl in our community involved in 4-H. We want them to be excited about learning more life skills that will in turn make them more productive members of our community.
Sewing may seem like a lost and unnecessary art, but to the 4th grade boy who has never seen a sewing machine, let alone heard of a straight stitch, sewing a functional carrying tote along with having confidence in how to use and teach others to use a sewing machine could be the turning point in his life in allowing him to see that he can do anything when he puts his mind to it.
For more information about our monthly sewing classes and about how you can get involved with 4-H and learn about the numerous activities available for your family, please contact your local Union County 4-H Extension office at (865) 992-8038.