If you are a city girl like me, you know precious little about 4-H, which has been around for more than a century and conjures up images of smiling kids next to barnyard animals…

Straight off you can visit the online description: Check out https://extension.usu.edu/grand/ for the salient facts about Grand County’s 4-H:
“4-H is the nation’s largest youth organization with more than 6 million youth members.
4-H teaches youth leadership, citizenship, and life skills using a “learn by doing” approach….

Isabel Lindsay is our 4-H Coordinator!”

Lindsay – who was born in California but grew up in Moab - can be found on the Utah State University campus on Aggie Boulevard in the Extension office, which is a stone’s throw from the parking lot. She tells me she was hired in July and is still learning the ropes, but thanks to the support of co-workers Cory Farnsworth (USU Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources) and Maria Velasco (USU Extension – Home and Community Health) and her own talent as a quick learner, she is well on her way to developing, expanding, and enhancing the offerings of a job she already loves.

“It’s not just about agriculture,” she says. “It’s so much more than that, honestly, it could be anything. In the beginning my fear was, I don’t know what Ag is, the truth is, you don’t need to know! But conversely, there is also an opportunity to learn about agriculture.”

We’re sitting in a work/play space with tables and chairs next to a fully equipped kitchen. Ample windows bring in sunshine and a view of the outdoor patio. Not surprisingly, there is a cookies and crafting club for kindergarten through 12th grade that occupies this space every third Thursday. Lindsay fills me in on the stated philosophy of “learn by doing” – to make chocolate chip cookies, she says, you have to crack an egg – you do it yourself to learn. “That’s a huge part of 4-H– it’s very hands on.”

Lindsay explains how the various 4-H clubs get started: “Someone approached us who was interested in starting a sewing club.” They were excited about sewing and eager to introduce projects like “upcycling” used textiles into new and original creations.

In this way, potential volunteers come in and say ‘this is the time I want to put in, this is the age group, this is how many children I want to teach.’ “It’s customizable and flexible,” Lindsay says.

Fulfilling this vision is deceptively simple: The program varies from county to county and the various clubs and programs spring from ideas about how a community defines itself. Prior to Lindsay heading up the 4-H program, there was a rocketry class and a popular horsemanship class on offer. Either of these could re-start if a volunteer were to show up.

But she is also open to new ways to expand the program, up to and including a rock-climbing club, for example, that would fit hand-in-glove with the Moab spirit.

To learn more about the 4-H program or to volunteer, call or email Lindsay - 435-797-1483, isabel.lindsay@usu.edu.