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Local woman giving back to 4-H

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By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer 5:16 PM Thursday, October 8, 2009

WEST LIBERTY — Glenda Gehl’s children are proof you can learn more than just farming from 4-H.

Her son, Max, 9, is learning archery and her daughter Kailey’s leadership and photography skills are also improving. For those unfamiliar with the group, Gehl think children can learn a lot more from the organization than how to raise livestock, although those skills are taught as well.

A member of 4-H since her youth, Gehl has volunteered her time locally for the last two years as the leader of Barns and Buttons 4-H Club. In all, the club has 12 members, including her children.

“We’ve got kind of a young group, but it’s fun,” Gehl said.

Originally from Wisconsin, north of Milwaukee, Gehl ran a small farm with her husband for several years. However, they eventually closed the farm and she took a job with Monsanto Co. and moved to West Liberty.

She said she began working with 4-H students soon after, largely because of her experiences with the organization as a child.

“I definitely saw the value in it and decided to continue on as a leader after that,” Gehl said.

When working with the students, Gehl said she tries to impart more than just livestock skills. Along with taking care of animals, the group teaches children about leadership, decision-making and responsibility. They can also learn a lot of different skills, from horse riding to scrap booking.

She also argued 4-H is not just for children in rural communities.

“It’s not just rurally based,” she said. “Just because you live in town doesn’t mean you can’t be in 4-H.”

While volunteering often takes several hours a week, she said she simply enjoys helping the children learn new skills.

“Overall, 4-H is such a neat experience for kids because there are so many things they can excel in that aren’t traditional,” Gehl said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.

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