Member Spotlights

Andrew, Santa Clara County

Andrew, El Serano 4-H Club, Santa Clara County

To Andrew Clark, 4-H is not just a leadership program, and it is not just a youth development program.  To Andrew, 4-H is something even more enjoyable — 4-H is music to his ears.

Andrew is a drummer. He says, “Drumming has taught me that 4-H is like music. All the fun exciting activities represent a part of what becomes a beautiful song. 4-H gives you a chance to perform a solo or be part of an ensemble.”

“Community meetings are like the steady beat of the bass drum,” he says.  Andrew has had 100 % attendance in the past two years because he knows how important it is to have a “steady beat.”  By attending community meetings, he is always up to date on the latest projects and upcoming events.

As a teen leader in both the technology project and the puppy project, Andrew was able to be “a conductor [bringing] all the musicians together to produce one beautiful song.”  During the Tech Challenge, his team won best team spirit. He says “I must have conducted well.”

Like every new musician, Andrew was presented with the chance to play a piece of music for the first time by attending his county’s 4-H Leadership Overnight.  “It was fun to branch out and try something new, a lot like reading new music,” describes Andrew.  He is looking forward to attending Leadership Overnight again next year.

Andrew has participated in many 4-H events, including Presentation Days, Favorite Foods Day, County Olympics, Harvest Festival and the Fair. At Favorite Foods day Andrew created three new kinds of candy, and at the Harvest Festival he helped other children make paper bag puppets. To Andrew, “the fun extra 4-H events are like the melodies that add excitement to the song.”  Like many kids, Andrew looks forward to camp.  He describes this as the “crescendo” of his time at 4-H. With a variety of activities and “a week with no parents,” Andrew considers this the best time of the year.

As an active 4-H member, Andrew has participated in many community service activities.  He has helped families by volunteering at a homeless shelter, and he was on an Adopt-a-Family committee that enabled a large family to have a Christmas that was otherwise unlikely.  He has also participated in his local community toy drive.  “The joy that people feel when they hear music is like the joy I feel when I do community service,” Andrew says.

With all that Andrew accomplished in his time in 4-H, a standing ovation is certainly deserved. Andrew says that he doesn’t need to get awards for the things he has accomplished, but it does make him feel good.  “4-H might be one of the most enjoyable songs that I have ever heard.  Music and 4-H help make me the person I am today.”

Author: Sara Kohgadai, State 4-H Office Student Assistant, sbkohgadai@ucdavis.edu