HOWICK 4-H CLUB

The Howick 4-H club has existed since 1932. It started as a young Ayrshire breeders club and since then has diversified to welcome all members.

• Ages 9-21
• Fun activities such as square dance competitions, agricultural fairs, and community events.
• Social opportunities like Club meetings, Achievement Days and Club fundraisers.
• Project Leader Lauren Gruer attended Leadership summit 2018
• Project Leader Phylis Danforth was awarded Provincial Leader of the Year

Projects Leaders:

Calf Project – Holly Mason & Julie MacFarlane

Meet Holly!

4-H was introduced to me when my older sister joined the Ormstown Handicraft Club. My parents also encouraged my siblings and I to join the Calf Club and also to participate in Square Dancing. I met my husband through 4-H, together we raised our 4 children to learn the enjoyment of the many aspects of belonging to such a broad learning club. A few years ago, I became club director when a position was created in the Howick 4-H club to help the leaders and guide our members. I take this position seriously and thoroughly enjoy watching a room full of members running a meeting with confidence. I became a Calf Club leader with the retirement of our former leader. Along with a group of parents, we continued our strong 4-H showings. I now welcome our daughter Julie as she too joins me as a leader.

Meet Julie!

I became Calf Club leader, when I became too old to be a 4-H member but still wanted to help out and give back to a club that had given me many skills and opportunities. I also have a brother and cousins in 4-H still and want to make sure that they have as great of a time in 4-H as so many past members have. I grew up on a dairy farm having always been active with the cattle and having shown cattle since I could walk. I absolutely loved how it felt to be in the show ring with an animal that I had been working with all summer and became close with and being able to show off our hard work while competing against other members. Being in 4-H has taught me skills such as patience, courage, persistence, how to work with animals, and public speaking. Having been a 4-H member for 12 years, I got to meet new people and participate in many activities and opportunities. 4-H has also helped me with my education and now my career as an Agronome.

Handicraft Project – Lauren Gruer

Meet Lauren!

My involvement in 4-H started two years ago when my sister Lindsay, told me that the Howick 4-H club was looking for a new Handicraft Project leader. Their leader at the time was retiring from 4-H, and my sister hoped they would find someone to continue the project since it was one of her favorite clubs to participate in as a 4-H member. Being a creative person who enjoys working with kids, it was a perfect fit. Whether we are working on a sewing project or using a hammer for the first time, Handicraft is a fun project that allows members to “Learn To Do By Doing”. All members are welcome to join!

 Square Dance & Garden Project – Phylis Danforth

Meet Phylis!

Square Dance is a 4-H project whose goal is to bring members of all ages together to learn to two step and square dance. Weekly practices begin in January and go through until mid-May. The goal is to have is to have fun! We participate in at least 3 competitions: Provincial, Ormstown, and Vankleek Hill. We also demonstrate to the public at local fairs, community events, and elderly homes.

Garden is a 4-H project whose goal is to bring members together to learn about and care for their own personal garden. Throughout the season, members share in discussions about garden tips, garden topics, and crop selections. We work on experiments and different activities like seeding herbs, planting flower boxes, and popcorn to name a few. We try and meet monthly starting in February until May and then a few times throughout the growing season. Members are encouraged to bring their produce to our Annual Achievement Day near the end of August, where each member competes to win the most prizes and ribbons. This is a hands on project which encourages the members to enjoy gardening and continue to garden as they mature.

Poultry Project – Brian Woods                            

 Meet Brian!

The 4-H Poultry Project teaches members about various kinds of poultry and their benefits. Members will also learn how to house, feed, judge, and show poultry, waterfowl, and pigeons. Some projects include, raising turkeys and broilers for auction, building tractor coops and transport crates. Members have the chance to exhibit a heritage breed of their choosing at the Annual Provincial Rally held in July. Brian is a local teacher and has been exhibiting poultry for over a decade. He is currently a member and a Master Exhibitor of the American Poultry Association. Brian can be reached at bwoods@nfsb.qc.ca if you have any other questions regarding Poultry.