CLEMSON – Nowhere in South Carolina is the commitment to young people more evident than in the Clemson Extension 4-H program. More than 86,000 youths between the ages of 5 and 19 and about 4,000 volunteers will be celebrating that commitment Oct. 3-9 during National 4-H Week.

Since its beginnings in 1901, 4-H has grown into an organization that stretches across the United States with a membership that exceeds seven million youths and 600,000 volunteers.

It has grown because it fills needs, according to Barbara Speziale , director of the state 4-H program.

Seeing a need to reach the growing Hispanic community, Clemson 4-H began an outreach program that helps Spanish–speaking students succeed in school and reaches out to their communities to promote cultural understanding.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, a series of 7-Habits of Successful Teens programs were offered to all 4-H'ers, including Hispanic students at Greenville County's Berea and Southside High and Oconee County's Walhalla Middle School.

“Approximately 200 South Carolina Hispanic teens have benefited from these leadership workshops,” said Bob Lippert, 4-H youth educator and Latino liaison. “This is yet another example of how Clemson Public Service multiplies its value to South Carolina .”

Walhalla Middle school counselors Mary Schulenburg and Becky Flowers agree.

“Meeting the needs of our school's Hispanic students is a challenge due to the language and cultural differences,” said Schulenburg. “Clemson Extension's Hispanic Outreach Program helps us meet those needs.”

“This program will help shape their self-image, self-esteem and develop their potential, ” said Flowers.

The 4-H international program is beginning to take root. What started with an Internet list to help South Carolina 4-H'ers communicate with high school students from Costa Rica became a full-blown cultural experience for three Clemson 4-H'ers.

Erica Wiley of Hampton County , Erica Ettinger of Laurens County and Holly Young of Clarendon County traveled to Costa Rica in June as part of a 4-H international exchange. The Clemson 4-H'ers stayed with host families. Money for the trip came from donors, grants, 4-H families and fundraisers.

“I can think of no better way for the leaders of tomorrow to be prepared for the future than by learning about other cultures and peoples,” said Lippert.

In addition, a $25,000 grant, funded by the South Carolina Department of Education, helped Clemson 4-H bring younger Hispanic students in Oconee County up to speed on their English skills by holding summer workshops twice a week. The students are also learning about American culture, and what it means to be a good citizen.

Going where the need is greatest has always been the 4-H way, and that is evident around the state's military bases.

Clemson's 4-H Military Program is a statewide project funded by a partnership grant shared among the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Army Child and Youth Services, U.S. Air Force Family Member Programs, and the U.S. Navy.

The $23,000 grant will be implemented at Fort Jackson , Charleston Air Force Base and Shaw Air Force Base to help military families benefit from 4-H programs. 4-H clubs have also been developed with the Navy/Marine Tri-Command in Beaufort.

According to recent reports, more than 20,000 youths are located at the state's military bases.

“We are also in the process of seeing how Extension can give support to the families of South Carolina National Guard and Reservists, who are now deployed and fighting the war on terrorism,” said Barbara Brown , Clemson Extension agent and 4-H military liaison in Sumter County.

The program will expand to bring Extension, statewide resources and National Guard and Reservist personnel together to further explore and develop approaches for Extension support to the families of deployed troops.

“The 4-H program has always been an organization that looks toward the future. It crosses all economic and social barriers to engage youths in programs that help them succeed and become tomorrow's leaders,” said Speziale.

Keeping up with the diverse interests of today's techno-generation is always a challenge for any organization. This challenge has been met with the 4-H robotics program. Using LEGO building sets, a computer, specialized software, hardware and sensors, 4-H'ers can model real-life mechanisms to solve problems.

The program has spread across the state with the first competition being held in June. In Chester County , public school teachers are using 4-H robotics kits in their classrooms.

“Each student has the opportunity to explore not only the subjects of computers, programming and robotics; but they also use creativity, logic and problem-solving skills. All those skills are needed by our future leaders,” said Charles Privette, Clemson Extension associate for farm safety and health. He is also chair of the 4-H science, safety, and technology program.

There are still plenty of agriculture related programs that teach young people knowledge, responsibility, citizenship, leadership, sportsmanship, ethics, critical thinking and an appreciation for the outdoors and its inhabitants.

With 55 percent of the state's 4-H members coming from small towns and cities, flexibility is the key.

In Spartanburg County , city kids who do not have land or money to rent a pasture still have the opportunity to participate in an animal project. Volunteers who have land available allow the 4-H'ers to house animals on their farms or in their pastures. Each 4-H'er must feed, water and walk the animal daily, and in the process, learn responsibility and leadership, and build self-esteem.

“Spartanburg 4-H has a wonderful program, run totally by volunteers, that will help any child participate in our animal programs,” said Ginger Bowen, 4-H coordinator for Spartanburg County . “Just because a child lives in the city shouldn't mean he or she can't participate in 4-H.”

Agricultural Awareness Fairs are held around the state to help young people understand the importance of agriculture to the South Carolina economy as well as their own lives.

And when funding runs short, volunteers rally around 4-H. Three years ago, the York County Fair Association voted to no longer hold livestock shows, so the parents, volunteers and county agents organized their own show. The show is now financed through fund raisers. This year, more than 100 youths participated.

With around 200 certified instructors participating in the Shooting Sports program across the state, more than 2,000 South Carolina young people enjoy competing while learning proper hunting and shooting etiquette and safety. In September, more than 500 youths experienced 4-H Shooting Sports during the National Hunting and Fishing Day held in Columbia.

Programs involving domestic animals, wild life management, planting food plots, hunting safety and ethics, and gun safety are enjoyed by 4-H'ers across South Carolina – whether they live in rural, urban or suburban communities.

“4-H crosses all economic, racial and social barriers to engage all youth people in programs that help them succeed,” said Speziale. “Without the capacity to move into the 21 st century, 4-H would have fallen by the wayside long ago.”

For more information on 4-H visit the Clemson website at www.clemson.edu/4H/ or contact your county Extension office.