Empowering Youth in Mecosta County

Michigan State University Extension - April 02, 2019

Teaching youth to be leaders through service to others is the theme of the annual 4-H youth service leadership project. MSU Extension is helping to make a difference in Mecosta County.

Students pose with banners. — All photos by MSU Extension.

Highlights of MSU Extension actions taken in 2018: 4-H Community Service Trip

For the last two years, Mecosta County 4‐H has traveled out of state to complete a 4‐H Community Service Project. In July of 2018, 9 teen members and 5 adult volunteers traveled to Verona, Kentucky to serve at New Day Ranch. New Day is a 501(c)3 program that specializes in equine assisted therapies.

While at New Day, Mecosta County 4‐H members and volunteers helped with facility maintenance that had been neglected for several years. Tasks included building shelving units, painting the tack room, repairing stalls, painting stalls, helping with soil erosion and general cleaning.

This trip not only gives 4‐H members the chance to travel out of Michigan but also the opportunity to see the value in helping others. These youth worked long days in the hot weather to complete projects that could have taken weeks. The trip also included a stop at the Kentucky Horse Park and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

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