Stories of the Heartland - April 2026 | Page 43

hometownsource. com / heartland / Stories of the Heartland • Sunday, April 19, 2026 Page 43

stations led by the 4-H Ambassadors.

At the“ Stronger Together” station, cooperative challenges highlighted the importance of teamwork and communication. Activities such as guiding a teammate with their eyes closed, solving group challenges, and lining up silently by birthday month encouraged youth to include everyone and work together toward success. They also held an exciting game playing granny pants.

The“ Thank You in Action” station focused on service and gratitude. Youth created thank-you cards for military members, veterans, police officers, firefighters, and EMTs. The cards will later be delivered by 4-H leaders as a way for youth to express appreciation for those who serve their communities. At the“ Building a Better Tomorrow” station, participants worked together to design and complete a rescue mission obstacle course. Riding scooters, balancing ping-pong balls, and completing fun challenges, youth worked as a team to“ rescue” a stuffed animal at the end of the course while learning about helping others in their community.

The final station,“ Celebrate the

Legacy,” encouraged youth to reflect on their connection to 4-H. Participants created 4-H legacy bracelets using red, white, and blue beads, a star, and four clovers representing the four H’ s— Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. Youth also decorated patriotic cupcakes as they talked about what it means to belong to something bigger than themselves.

4-H Ambassador Maya Rahm, a 12th grader from Foley, helped lead the evening and reflected on the impact of the event.“ I think the kids gained the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone, interact with new people, while also learning a lot about patriotism and how much small acts of service can affect someone,” she said.

The evening wrapped up with a closing reflection and a lively rock-paper-scissors tournament.

Through laughter, challenges, and meaningful activities, Benton County’ s 4-H Ambassadors demonstrated how youth leadership can inspire younger members. The event highlighted that patriotism is not just about remembering the past— it’ s about serving others, working together, and carrying the 4-H legacy forward.

During the 4-H Activity Night, the youth created thank-you cards for military members, veterans, police officers, firefighters, and EMTs. The cards will later be delivered by 4-H leaders as a way for youth to express appreciation for those who serve their communities. Pictured( L-R) 4-H’ ers Mack Mauer, Mario Hull and Malorie Rahm.

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