B2B—UncastcrFarnißE, Saturday, April 23,1983 BY DORIS CROWLEY University of Delaware NEWARK, Del. - When Pat and Larry Shaffer’s paperboy, Curtis Peebles, asked why there were always so many bicycles parked in front of their Wilmington home,, the couple invited him inside to visit their 4-H club. He stayed, became a member, and went on to become a state photography project winner and delegate to the National 4-H Congress in Chicago. Now serving on the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy, Peebles still keeps in touch with his former leaders and reports his photography skills have come in handy on the job. “Our 4-Hers don’t travel far from home,” said Pat Shaffer during a recent phone interview - meaning, no doubt, that “graduates” of this highly suc cessful program tend to value their old club ties. She and her husband hope to see Peebles later this month while he’s on leave between tours of duty. Family affair The Shaffers got involved in 4-H 19 years ago when their children joined a club. Besides helping his Members of Stump Comer (Townsend) 4-H club team how to use copy stand during session with volunteer project leader Jerry Goldsberry, a free-lance photographer and B & O Railroad employee. U. of D. Senior Dawn Thomas, a student nutrition intern, volunteers for 4-H work when schedule permits. Here she helps member oTciub ft Mat? Campbell Center build a bird feeder. We do it because of and for the kids regularly in their 24th Street home, Larry Shaffer, and ICI employee, serves on the board of directors of the Delaware 4-H Foundation. Their sons, Denis and Tim, too old now to be members, appear to be continuing the family tradition of volunteerism. Denis, who works as a technician at ICI while studying for an associate degree in toxicology at the University of Delaware, used-a week of his vacation last summer to counsel at state 4-H camp. His younger brother Tim - a professional photographer who learned his skills in 4-H - donates time regularly to a club program at the Mary Campbell Center for han dicapped children in Wilmington. All over Delaware, people like the Shaffers are busy organizing clubs, teaching special project skills, coordinating transportation and community service activities and otherwise contributing to local efforts of 4-H, the world’s largest youth organization. “You can have all the kids you want,” says area 4-H agent Joy Gooden, one of a handful of agents employed by the Delaware Cooperative Extension Service, Long-time volunteers Sam and Myrtle Dixon (on right) have made 4-H a family affair. Shown here with their children and grandchildren all involved in 4-H as either members of leaders—Kenton couple lead dairy and poultry projects for local club. “but unless you have the volun teers, you can’t have a 4-H program.” SIS adults serve In 1982, Gooden says, 515 adults worked with Delaware 4-H on a voluntary basis. In addition, 160 teenagers donated their time as junior leaders. Altogether, these 675 individuals reached nearly 9,200 young people between the ages of nine and 19 meeting in 223 traditional community 4-H clubs, special interest groups and school enrichment programs. These volunteers give generously of their time and talents. One recent national study estimated that each volunteer 4-H leader in the country gives an average of 220 hours a year and drives 400 miles in support of 4-H. But participation levels vary. Volunteers in Michigan, for in stance, donate about 320 hours a year, according to another study. “Not everyone can give the same amount of time,” says Gooden. “Even eight hours a year is valuable. There’s a niche for almost any kind of person as a volunteer.” The price tag Putting a price tag on such service is difficult. Even at an hourly rate of $3.75, donated time is worth over $750 a person, based on the national 220 hour estimate. Yet the skills most of these people bring to 4-H command much more than the minimum wage on today’s job market. What kind of people get involved in 4-H service? The list is ex tensive. It includes homemakers and fanners - the traditional support base for this in ternationally known youth program which has its roots in the American farm. Today, the program serves youth in aU walks of life - city, country, suburbs. Its leaders reflect this diversity. There are teachers, school aides, secretaries, policemen, owners of small businesses, retirees, a nurse, a construction worker, plumber, medical technician, florist, photographer, accountant, car penter, river pilots, a Southern States field rep, Chrysler and Getty, workers, someone who works for the B ft 0 railroad and someooe else who works for DP ft Volunteer Ken Horeis of Felton, in hat, coaches young 4- H’cr on fine points of sheep judging during spring training session. In background is supervisor of U. of D. livestock operations, Bill Green. * .<• ,y; 1 f P }\ - .• *h a Jean Wilson, left, of BridgevHle sponsors a community 4-H club and also teaches at state 4-H camp. Volunteers like her serve 9,200 young people in Delaware. With her is 4-H agent Jim Moore. L. The ranks of volunteers aim* include many people employed by the state’s three major chemical companies - ICI, Hercules and DuPont. Personal satisfaction Dick Klair, a New Castle County livestock leader and member of tlie state 4-H livestock Advisory Committee, works for the Diamond State Telephone Company. He started donating his time when his youngsters - alt 4-H members - got interested in raising livestock for club projects. On the family’s 5*4- acre country lot near Hockessin, son Mark (now 21 and helping his girl friend sponsor a club) had a herd of feeder pigs at one time. Now, Klair’s older daughter Martha has her own flock of sh«|, while younger daughter DebbieTC " talking about raising beef cattle v! for a special project She and her s ,- father recently attended the week r || -<TumtoP«*eß3o)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers