4-H Clubs, a doorway for youth

4-H Clubs are the doorway for youth to reach their fullest potential and volunteer leaders have the keys to help unlock those doors.

Corretta Bishop is the leader of the Poplar Bluff 4-H Club which, was organized within the past year. A former 4-H Club in town was disbanded about seven years ago.

“We’re really trying to let them realize this is a whole new club,” Bishop said. “It is not the same club but it has the same premise.”

4-H programs are developing important life skills, like leadership, responsibility, self-esteem, communication, critical thinking and good citizenship for youth 5 to 18 years old.

Bishop learned about 4-H while volunteering at the historic Wheatley School mentoring program. She attended an orientation when the Poplar Bluff club was first established.

Bishop, who is retired, has two passions: animals and kids. She also volunteers with the Animal Welfare Alliance.

“Those are the biggest things I’ve always focused on,” she said. “I was a mentor when I lived in Detroit. After I started tutoring in Poplar Bluff, I realized there was a huge need in this area.”

While the program can encompass all activities, Bishop said, “we have upcoming programs learning how to raise rabbits and quilting. A NERF gun program is going to be geared toward teaching shooting safety.”

The NERF program will help those who are too young to get involved in shooting sports have an opportunity to learn safety. When they get involved in a shooting sports program, they have all the information they would need and some hands on knowledge, she said.

The shooting sports program consists of multiple efforts, including archery, which is being taught by Keith Shelton. The shotgun program is being taught by Alice Shelton. Bishop has trained and will teach pistol.

“All three of us have been state certified as trainers,” she said.

The group is also looking into special interest groups, such as a soccer club run by John Fuller and a photography club run by Alison Hicks.

If a parent volunteer is willing to do anything the youth are interested in doing, “we get programs started,“ Bishop said.

Seeking funding is a major goal for the new club.

“We have applied for grants but we are looking for sponsors and donations right now,” she said. “We’ve been hitting the pavement taking sponsorship letters to different places and requesting donations. In order for us to do some of the projects, we need to be able to purchase materials and equipment.”

For more information, call Bishop at 573-300-6450 or go to the website extension.missouri.edu.

Currently, the group meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of every month at the historic train depot. Meetings are open to the public.

There is a $ 20-per-year registration. If youth are enrolled in Healthy Blue or another Medicaid program, their dues can be waived.

The fee cover required insurance for the program.

For the Neelyville area, contact Curtis Reinbott at 573-712-7238 or check out the Neelyville 4-H page on Facebook. For the Twin Rivers area, Phyllis and Ed Flanigan are the leaders. Betty Schalk is the leader of the Rombauer group.

The Poplar Bluff 4-H and three other Butler County 4- H clubs are going participate in a 4-H virtual open house from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Ag Connect.

The virtual program will give everyone a view of the different activities offered in which the youth can participate. Those attending Ag Connect may register and sign up for 4-H and the SPIN classes.