—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 7,1970
50
Illinois life sampled
on 4-H exchange trip
“I have always been enthusiastic about exchange
programs. There is so much to get acquainted with and
there is a world of difference among areas of this coun
try,” says Mrs. Harold Fry, Stevens Rl, as she discusses
her feelings about her 4-H club’s exchange trip which took
place this past Summer.
Rmhangn trips are not new to Lancaster County, but
the trip arranged by the Brickerville Community 4-H Club
is unique in that it was planned and carried out by one
club, and not on a county-wide basis as other exchange
trips are.
Furthermore, this trip, which took club members to
Kendall County, Illinois, represents just (me phase in an
exchange program with that county which dates bade to
1958 when 4-H’ers first traveled here. Kendall County,
Illinois, represents just one phase in an exchange
program with that county which dates back to 1958 when 4-
ITers first traveled here. Kendall County is located 43
miles southwest of Chicago, and according to Mrs. Fry,
leader for the Brickerville Club, that county “has a
meritorious record of exchanges.” Each year, she ex
plained, the county engages in two exchange trips - one
involving travel to another county and another where they
host incoming exchange 4-H’ers.
On August 7, a group of nine 4-H’ers and seven adults
traveled by Amtrak train to Chicago where they were
picked up by their hosts. Four of the 4’lTers discussed the
trio recently, and all were enthusiastic.
Anne Willworth, Ephrata, president of the club, ad
mitted to being a little apprehensive about making the trip
and staying with host families, but she said it was an in
teresting experience.
Anne was hosted by a farm family which raised pigs,
cows and chickens. “There were eight children in the
family,”- Anne said, “It was like one great big slumber
party. It was fun, and good to learn about other people.
Basically they are the same.”
While there were many visits to local historical sites
and a one-day trip to Qucago, the local 4-H’ers did get in
on a little work in their host homes. Anne had the ex
periences of helping to slaughter 30 chickens. She said her
job was to help clean out the gizzards, adding, “I didn’t
eat chicken for two weeks after we did that.”
Dwight Graybill, Stevens Rl, was one of two boys to
make the trip. He lived with an electrician, with six
children. He said, “It was fun to see what the people in
Illinois do.” Dwight’s mother, Mary Jane (Mrs. Donald)
Graybill, was a hostess to the first group which came to
Lancaster County, and participated as a guest on the first
exchange trip there.
Sharon Steffy, Ephiata, lived in town with a family
which managed a grocery store. Sharon said the Illinois
hosts “thought we talked funny.” But she and Anne
agreed that people there had a midwest accent totally
different from here.
Three of the happy adults who accompanied the 4-H trip to Illinois were Mrs.
Haskell Royer, Harold Fry, and Mrs. Harold Fry.
By SALLY BAIR
Staff Writer
Mrs. Haskell Royer, Stevens Rl, served as a chaperone
for the trip and was the mother of one of the 4-H’ers who
made the trip. She said, “I think its a shame they don’t do
more of exchange trips.” She too was apprehensive,
but said her experience in Illinois .was a happy one. She
lived on a 1200 acre hog farm, where their main crops
were soybeans and com. Mrs. Royer said, “They were
terrific. I hosted my host family’'s daughter here last year.
I really enjoyed living on a farm.
James Bollinger, Stevens Rl, lived in town and made
the discovery that what goes on in his Lancaster County
home is universal - brothers and sisters fight everywhere.
“That made me feel good,” be said. He mentioned that his
host brothers “did a lot of working on engines and fixing
up cars.”
The landscape in Illinois was much flatter than here,
and Jim remarked that the 4-H’er he hosted last Summer
about the “mountains” near his Stevens farm. He
said he felt the exchange trip was “worthwhile.”
One of the reasons for the successful exchange program
is an eighty-year-old man named Charles Lett, a veteran
4-H leader who plans and works closely with the ex
change. Although suffering from a physical handicap,
Lett is not slowed, and shows great enthusiasm for
stowing visitors a good time.
Mrs. Fry notes that she has been out to Kendall county
(Hi three exchange trips and several times went as a
private guest “They are like family, and they take a
personal interest in us.”
The trip to Chciago was fascinating for the local youth.
They visited the Mercantile Exchange, where they wit
nessed gold and “pig bellies” being sold. They also
traveled to the top of the Sears Building, but could not '
enjoy the five mile visibility because of smog. There was a
boat ride on Lake Michigan and a visit to the Museum of
Science and Industry. Perhaps the crowning touch to their
Chicago visit was having lunch at an exclusive Mac-
Donald’s in the Water Tower Place shopping mall. Anne
said, “It was really neat, but more expensive than
MacDonald’s here.”
An unexpected twist for the local youth came when they
were warned by their hosts not to go anywhere in Chicago
unaccompanied, including into the lavatories. “They were
very adamant about it," Dorothy Fry said. “We were also
told not to talk to strangers." Because of the forcefulness
of the warning, Mrs. Fry said she felt the 4-H’ers were
intimidated. However, no incidents occurred to make
their visit anything short of a wonderful time.
Most members of the group agreed that the time there
was not enough. Anne said, “We should have had more
time.” Sharon remarked, “Chicago was a lot bigger than I
thought it would be. What we saw was interesting.” Mrs.
Royer said she found the people in Chicago to be a “lot
dressier than I expected.
Mrs. Fry allowed as how life is “simpler” among the
people visited. “They’re not involved in as many ac
tivities. Our 4-H is more urbanized than there.” Mrs.
Sharon Steffy and Anne WiHworth are eager to
talk over some of the experiences they shared this
"ummer on their trip to Illinois.
Dwight Graybili, left, and Jim Bollinger, take the
time to locate their host families on the map/
Royer also commented on “the very simple way of
living," something she found attractive.
The 4-H Clubs are organized somewhat differently, with
community clubs being the dominant type of club. In the
club, individual projects are carried out, but much of the
work is done individually and not in project clubs. Mrs.
Fry said, “They treat the younger ones different than the
older ones. A leader visits them in their homes. The kids.
there are a little more independent” Anne said, “1 think
their 4-H is more organized. They had an Almost Anything
Goes program.”
Children bring their finished product to their 4-H Fair
where it is judged. Dorothy added, “The judging is very
rigid, l and the competition is veiy stiff. All the people must
accomplish something. Competition is very keen.”
For those traveling on an exchange program from that
county there is a selection process, and in most cases 4-
H’ers are allowed only two exchange trips in their 4-H
career. The bank in Plano, the largest town in the county,
helps subsidize the exchange trips, according to Mrs. Fry,
and 4-H’ers earn other money to meet necessary ex
penses. “They feel that if you have to pay you appreciate
it more.” Participants must be at least 15 years old to
participate in the trips.
Mrs. said one of the real advantages of the trip is
that the local 4-H’ers got to know each other and the adults
who went along much better. And the train ride, which
was a first for roost, offered an interesting experience.
Amtrak officials were very courteous to the group and
assisted them in finding proper accommodations.
Very enthusiastic about a local club having a 4-H ex
change, Mrs. Fry said, “It keeps the people in one small
area, and allows exchangees and hosts to get to know one
another better.”
This is the sixth formal exchange between the counties
in their 20 years, and Mrs. Fry has accompanied the three
that went to Illinois. She noted that 4-H groups traveling
west have frequently stayed with Kendall- County
families.
In addition to those interviewed, others who traveled to
Illinois were; Jean Hollinger, Stevens HI; Louise Martin,
Stevens Rl; Sue Eshleman, Brickerville; Jodi Wenger,
Ephrata; Jane Royer, Stevens Rl; Mrs. Vera Palm, and
Ethel Purdue, Ephrata; Hilda Sipes, York; Mary Clark,
Lititz and Harold Fry, Stevens Rl.
When asked if they would consider going again, the
youngsters were unanimous in saying they are ready to
go. The train ride, the trip to Chicago and the family visits
added up to an exciting adventure for the 16 who made the
trip.