Members of the MacBride’s Pride 4-H Club are proving that even a small group can have a big impact, both in their community and in the opportunities they create for students. The club brings together youth from elementary school through high school to explore interests ranging from livestock and baking to leadership, community service, and public speaking. Though the group currently includes only about 11 members in its main club and seven younger participants in its Clover Kids program, program leader Beth Craig says that the club’s size allows members to be especially involved in planning activities and developing skills.

“Because we’re smaller, we can go and do a lot more activities together,” Craig said.

McBride’s Pride serves students from fourth grade through high school graduation, while the Clover Kids program introduces younger children in kindergarten through third grade to the basics of the organization. Both programs currently have openings for new members. 

At the beginning of each year, students help determine the club’s schedule by deciding what topics they want to explore and which months they would like to give presentations.

“They decide when they want to give presentations, they act as hosts or hostesses during meetings, and we bring in guest speakers to talk about different careers,” Craig explained.

Members also take part in planning recreational activities that help build relationships within the club. Fundraising efforts such as collecting pop cans and tabs help support those events and further educational opportunities. Several students currently hold leadership roles at the county and state level.

“We have four members on the county 4-H council and two members on the state 4-H council,” Craig explained. 

In recent years, participants from the club have attended the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C., and the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia. Many also attend the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference held each summer in Ames. One member even traveled internationally through the program.

“We had a member travel to Norway through 4-H, and she was the first representative from Iowa to go to Norway through that program,” Craig said.

Despite members having lots of involvement in agriculture and livestock projects, Craig emphasizes that 4-H is not limited to farm families.

“That’s what makes it really powerful,” she said. “You don’t have to live on a farm to be part of it. We have farm kids in the club, but we also have kids who live in town. We just support whatever their interests are.”

Many members participate in events at the county fair each year. 

“We have kids who do static projects like sewing, baking or posters,” Craig said. “Others show animals. We have members who show dogs, poultry, rabbits, and cattle. This year we might even have goats.”

Community service is another major focus of the organization. Craig said that club members regularly look for ways to help local residents and support charitable causes. Much of that work involves partnering with a local retirement home, where members create decorations and small gifts for residents.

“We’ve made decorations for their doors or their dinner tables,” Craig said. “Three of our members work at the retirement home and told us some residents were having trouble finding their rooms,” Craig explained. “We decorated signs with their names that could go on their doors.”

Members frequently collect pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House and have recently been making blankets to donate to the organization. Another service effort involved collecting hygiene items for foster care kits as part of a statewide 4-H initiative.

“Our kids are really aware of their community and what people might need,” Craig said. 

Craig added that the experiences members gain through 4-H often extend far beyond their time in the program. Public speaking and presentation skills, in particular, are areas where 4-H participants frequently stand out.

“We teach them what a presentation should look like and how to interact with an audience,” she said. “I’ve actually heard business people say when someone gives a really good presentation, they’ll ask, ‘Was that a 4-H kid?’”

These skills can make a difference well into college and professional careers. Craig pointed to her own daughter, Madison, a former 4-H member and senior in college preparing to attend medical school in the fall. Last summer, she participated in a major research project in Kansas City.

“[Madison] had to present in front of about 600 people,” Craig said. “She said she could tell which students had those presentation opportunities growing up and which ones didn’t.” 

Former members also often continue volunteering and serving their communities long after leaving MacBride’s Pride.

“They really carry that sense of service with them,” Craig said. “That idea of giving back stays with them.”

For many participants, however, the greatest benefit of the club is the sense of belonging it creates.

“I think kids enjoy that we’re a smaller club and everyone knows each other well. 4-H is a place where kids feel like they belong.”

The MacBride’s Pride 4-H Club meets once a month on Sundays and welcomes new members throughout the year. Families interested in learning more about the club can contact club leaders for additional information.

“We would love for anyone who is interested to come check us out,” Craig said.