By Lexi MooreThe Blue Ribbon 4-H Club meets the third week of the month in the Hills area. Their June meeting was at Rez Park and included project demonstrations and updates on plans for the upcoming Rock County Fair.The 4-H Club makes community pride a large part of their organization. Throughout the year, they complete projects under the supervision of 4-H volunteer director Shelli Van Weston."We’ve made lap quilts for hospice, walked ditches and have made door decorations for the Tuff Memorial Home."Last year the club designed, built and installed a play set at the Rez Park. The play set has multiple slides, swings and ladders.The funds to build the play set came from various fund-raisers during the year. This year the club raised money from sales of baked goods.The club boasts 23 members from 11 different families in and around the Hills and Steen area. Participants range from first grade to college.At monthly meetings, members participate in presentations on a variety of topics. Guest speakers teach the members new skills. At a recent meeting they learned how to operate a spinning wheel to make thread. During meetings, members take turns reporting on their projects or giving project demonstrations. Parents feel this activity develops better speaking and presentation skills.Among the projects demonstrated at the June meeting were Maleeka Sandager’s rug project and Meagan Stueven’s wall hanging made from fabrics.Many of the members are working on projects that they will submit at the Rock County Fair. Van Westen tells them that their success at the fair isn’t as important as what they have learned in their preparation.Families interested in joining 4-H can contact the Rock County Extension Office in Luverne.
