Are you looking for an extracurricular activity for your children?

Are you looking for an extracurricular activity for your children?

Valencia County 4-H clubs might be your answer.

Youths can reap the benefits of a number of activities in the county and gain essential leadership qualities in their community without any experience in agriculture.

Participation includes kids from ages 9 to 19, and has about 370 clubs in New Mexico with more than 200 projects for kids to participate in statewide.

Programs include traditional activities such as baking, sewing and raising animals. But kids don't have to live on a farm or spend all day milking cows to participate.

There is also a program for children ages 5 to 8.

"Everybody thinks that in 4-H, you have to have a pig or cow," said 4-H Extension Agent Vera Gibson. "That is a very small part of what the 4-H program does. You don't necessarily have to live in the agriculture setting to do the projects."

Gibson said participants can pick from specialized packets and do projects that interest them no matter which projects their particular group is doing.

The 4-H Program started in the early 1900s after the U.S. Congress created an extension service at the United States Department of Agriculture, which included girl's and boy's club work.

This year, about 330 children will participate in the free program in Valencia County, which promotes leadership and community service. Projects range from home vegetable gardening and veterinary science to wildlife and woodworking. Each group meets at least once every two months. The 4-H year starts October 1 and ends September 30.

"4-H has so much to offer youth," Gibson said. "We try to promote and instill a sense of belonging in kids. A lot of people commute to Albuquerque for work, and there are kids that get left home in the afternoon. Hopefully, those kids will get involved and have something to belong to. We try to promote to kids that they can better the community they live in."

The local organization, which is funding by both the state and the county, gives kids a chance to give back through donations and volunteering through the Adopt-A-Highway Program through the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

Gibson, who is a former 4-Her from Torrance County, encourages parents to involve their kids, and said she wants to expand the program by about 200 kids in the next two years. She said she wants her group to expand to local schools in the organization that gave her essential skills and confidence to accomplish her goals.

"I believe so strongly in this organization," Gibson said. "I know what it does for a child to excel and help build life skills. I really feel like it helped me become who I am today. It really opened doors for me."

Linda Herrera's daughter, Shelby, 14, started in the program at age 8.

Shelby has two miniature Australian shepherds that she trains and competes in a dog school and state and county fairs as part of her 4-H projects.

In one competition, she directs the dogs through an obstacle course with about 20 obstacles in the timed event.

The dog that competes must finish the course in less than two minutes. Contestants win awards such as buckles and ribbons for the contests.

But Herrera's daughter has learned more than just training her animals during her time with the organization.

"One time, our car got broken into," Hererra said. "Shelby said, 'If they were in 4-H, they wouldn't have time to break into our car.'

"It's pretty cool," Hererra said." "It's beneficial, and teaches kids to care for others, and it's a great way to share what they learn with other people."

Linda Sedillo shares Hererra's passion for 4-H.

Sedillo's daughters Natalia, 15, and Nora, 13, participate in 4-H and raise meat and dairy goats. Both girls show their animals at the county and state fairs.

"It's work," Sedillo said. "Farm animals act nutty in public. They train them to walk next to you."

Nora also has entered pie and cake contests. Nora won first place at the Valencia County Community Expo a few months ago for her strawberry cake.

The girls, who are home-schooled part-time, learned to bake and sew as part of their curriculum, and have donated to organizations such as the Belen Food Pantry.

"They have fun," Sedillo said. "I really like that it promotes leadership skills. It gives them a chance to work with other people and be organized. 4-H has a great group of parents and kids."

Sedillo reflected on how much progress her daughters have made, and said Natalia is in a leadership role with the group as a state diplomat and has learned to communicate more effectively. She said she hopes 4-H will lead to a bright future for her daughters.

"I want them to be able to do anything they want," Sedillo said. "It may take work, but they are learning that. This can point them in a direction toward college. I think they are well on their way."