From Vantage, Fall 2015

The Michigan 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees annually approves the distribution of competitive grant funds to encourage development of innovative 4-H program opportunities in local communities. For the 2015-16 program year, 4-H mini-grants were awarded in four grant categories.

Michigan 4-H Legacy Grants, funded by the Michigan 4-H Legacy Fund endowment, encourage creativity and support the implementation of great ideas that promote positive youth development in communities. Ionia County’s 4-H Shamrocks Art Attack received a $1,000 grant to work with students in an after-school art club that will allow students to learn about various artists and styles of art. They will then be able to create their own art using what they have learned. The Kent County 4-H Garden Tool Kits also received a grant to create educational garden tool kits to be utilized both in and out of the classroom – a project built in response to a growing interest in urban gardens.

The 4-H Education Garden Grant is made possible by the Albert A. Albright Endowment for 4-H Plant Science and Gardening Education. The Inkster Public Library Community and Beautification Project received the $1,000 grant to help expand the current 4-H community garden project at the Inkster Public Library, which allows participants to engage in hands-on gardening, community service and healthy living programming.

Two On-Target County Grants were funded by the Thomas H. Cobb Shooting Sports Fund to help enhance county 4-H shooting sports programs. The Mason County Archery the Mongolian Way project aspires to increase the number of youth who participate in archery and outdoor activities by first increasing their knowledge of and care for human-environmental interaction. The Muskegon County Denim-n-dust Archery Club also received a grant to teach youth safety first and proper use of equipment in hopes that 4-H archery will encourage youth and families to spend time in the outdoors.

The 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Practicum in Kent and Ingham counties received $500 grants from the NorthStar Cooperative 4-H Dairy Science Grant to educate parents and leaders through an intensive daylong dairy cattle judging workshop, where they will learn, develop and practice evaluation skills and oral reasons. Also receiving the grant is Thumb Dairy Odyssey, which will fund a monthly series of interactive dairy science learning experiences in Lapeer, Sanilac, St. Clair and Tuscola counties.