This month for the 4-H update the Hayward 4-H Club is being recognized. This year Hayward 4-H Club was the Large Club of the Year. Each year at the county recognition night a small and large club of the year are picked depending on how many points each club has accumulated during the year. Points are earned for anything that the leaders or members participate in such as fair, camp, meeting attendance, participating in fundraisers and having chaperones at events, to name a few. Hayward 4-H Club was this year’s winner. Here are a few highlights about their club.

Number of members: 47

Number of screened volunteers: 15

What they do as a club: They try to do fun things, such as having meetings at each other’s houses when they can. They also try to do other fun things such as sledding or skating in winter months or playing kickball after club meetings in the summer. They always have a winter activity. The club members select the activity through parliamentary procedure. The last few years it’s been bowling, ice skating, skiing at Mount Kato and roller skating. The remainder of the winter meetings usually have an activity component led by a parent. The club members choose two group activities as a club by brainstorming ideas, and some families write skits or songs as options.

Community pride projects: The Hayward Club planted trees at the Hayward Park and maintains these trees. Last year the youth leaders also organized a coat drive, a day picking up tornado debris and provided a kid’s carnival during the Hayward Mud Bog.

Fundraisers: The club held a carnival during Hayward Days and also participated in the county-wide fundraisers.

Favorite project areas: The club covers many project areas such as dog, horse and goat, as well as many of the non-livestock projects. Many of the members in the club take a lot of projects.

Meeting time and place: The club meets at 4:30 p.m. the second Sunday of the month at the Hayward Town Hall.

Favorite thing at county fair as club: The club likes to work at the food stands and hang out with each other.

Other great things about the club: The club is very active, having many county 4-H ambassadors, members on the 4-H Executive Council and members on county committees. The adults have been very active as chaperones for certain events.