Sign up for 4-H on Thursday

COEUR d’ALENE — Youths and families interested in learning about and registering for local 4-H programs are invited to an open house at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The evening will open with an introduction to 4-H, which begins with Cloverbuds programs for 5-7-year-olds and progresses into larger clubs and projects for those 8-18.

"The little guys get to dabble in all kinds of things in the summer that they demonstrate at the fair," said Teresa Balderrama, 4-H program coordinator for the University of Idaho Extension – Kootenai County. "I had one that grew a pumpkin in a garden and brought it to the fair. That was pretty cool."

Balderrama said 4-H is much more than pigs, goats and sheep, although farming and raising livestock is how the program started.

"We have such a wide variety of things, from aerospace to livestock to gardening. We have clothing and baking," she said. "You don't need to have a farm to be a 4-H-er."

During the open house, potential participants will be able to interact with representatives from the 45 clubs in Kootenai and Shoshone counties, who will have project examples.

"I would not be surprised to see a fluffy bunny there," Balderrama said.

The annual program fee for 4-H is $20 and includes three projects.

The open house is free and will be located in Building 3.