Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 10, 1990 TAG: 9006090038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ELAINE VIEL SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
It's the perfect marriage between a person and her job.
"My blood runs green," Martin said with a laugh, referring to the color traditionally associated with 4-H.
She will tell you that managing the total Montgomery County 4-H program is much more than just a 40-hour-a-week, leave-your-job-at-the-office profession. Twelve-hour days are not uncommon.
Martin has been 4-H extension agent for 12 years, but her association with that organization goes back much further.
"I was a 4-Her," she said.
She joined when she was in the sixth grade in Hattiesburg, Miss.
In 1978, Martin received her doctorate in home economics education from Virginia Tech and moved back to Mississippi to teach along with her husband at Mississippi State.
During all of this time, both she and her husband were involved in the 4-H program as volunteers.
In fact, for 20 years she was a volunteer.
And she can also tell you that, unlike most jobs, she can see the results of her hard work every time a kid who has gone through the 4-H program lets her know the positive impact that he has felt in his life.
One young man, Martin said, "came bouncing through my house" to let her know how important 4-H is and that "it got my job for me."
This young graduate of Virginia Tech wanted Martin to know that he had been considered for a job along with another candidate who had a better grade point average.
He was told he got the job because of his communication skills and wanted Martin to know that he acquired those skills through 4-H.
And according to Martin, this is just the type of testimonial she and more than 100 4-H leaders in the county want to hear.
Their job, she says, is to foster self-confidence and self-esteem. They want to teach kids how to solve problems, how to make decisions and how to work with others.
And this past year in Montgomery County some 1,741 kids were acquiring those skills through projects from aerospace to wood science.
Martin said one of the projects this year that some of the 4-Hers worked on was the planting and growing of some of the tomato seeds that were retrieved from space by a recent space shuttle mission.
Sandy Miller of Laurel Creek Nursery worked with children on this project.
Members of each 4-H club vote projects on which they wish to work from a list from the extension office.
The materials club members use to complete their projects are supplied by Martin to the volunteer leaders.
Besides working on group projects, members may also choose their own projects.
On Aug. 25, these completed projects will be judged during the annual County 4-H Expo at University Mall in Blacksburg.
This event, Martin said, is "a big affair," with not only projects being shown, but produce and clothing. A fashion show, pet show and bike rodeo are planned.
Statewide, there are more than 125,000 4-Hers. One in every five young Virginians is a member, making it the state's largest youth organization. And there are 8,000 adult volunteers.
Cloverbuds, which "just started last July", Martin explained, is a program for children 5 to 8.
Cloverbuds has grown rapidly and there are some 15 clubs in the county totaling 125 members.
Like the clubs with older members, Cloverbuds meet at least once a month, according to Martin, although some clubs meet twice a week.
Summer camps are held for members of 4-H and the Cloverbuds at Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Center.
The Cloverbud camp will be July 14-15 and is designed to introduce the members to overnight residential camping.
4-H is open to all youths 9 to 19. For more information about 4-H, call Martin at 382-5790.
by CNB