County 4-H program surges

This summer will mark the eighth year that the Boulder Outlaws 4-H Club has participated in the Jefferson County Fair. It started out with several rabbits and a couple of hogs. Now, the Outlaws have 30 members, and their entries threaten to overfill the fairground barns, with project displays on everything from steers to sewing.

The ability to show at the Jefferson Fair (instead of hauling animals and kids down to Madison County’s Fair in Twin Bridges) and rapid growth during post-Covid has enabled the club to establish more of a presence throughout Boulder, as 4-H members take an active part in community service and agricultural science projects.

Regional 4-H leaders, including Megan Dawson, Andrea Sarchet, and 4-H Youth Development Agent Merissa Ford, explain that the program is teaching local youth valuable life skills to help them grow into citizens who understand leadership and give back to their community.