Debate on the Future of 4-H in Poland

4 February 2010

Debate on the future of 4-H in Poland

On January 20th, 2010, the American Embassy Office of Agricultural Affairs hosted a meeting with 4-H leaders and supporting institutions.  The meeting was chaired by Michael Tulley, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, and Eric Wenberg, Agricultural Counselor.  The group met to discuss development of an action plan that would lead to improving the 4-H movement in Poland.  4-H in the United States and abroad seeks to give rural kids after school and weekend activities to develop social, business, and farming skills to help them develop into active adults in their rural homes.

4-H and the U.S. Foreign Service are fortunate to count among its diplomats Vice Consul Wayne Schmidt of the American Consulate General in Krakow, who is an active 4-H trainer and former agricultural extension services director from Nebraska.  Schmidt uses his practical understanding of farmers and rural kids’ needs in his work in Poland.  Krakow Consul General Alan Greenberg has assigned Schmidt to assist the 4-H movement, which has spurred thousands of kids to be active in Southern Poland.  

In the United States, 4-H is a program for children and communities run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  4-H has clubs abroad that support youth exchanges and deliver the same program to kids in rural areas.   Poland’s 4-H and its large number of volunteers are helping rural children travel abroad, with business and community leaders raising funds to support their travel.  4-H in Poland will be interviewing thirty kids next month to choose those  who will be eligible to travel to the U.S. and be hosted by 4-H clubs in Pennsylvania.   The Office of Agricultural Affairs is encouraging 4-H leaders to create a new business model for its organization to help cope with diminishing funding from government and local officials, in spite of the fact that the popularity of the movement has been leading to new clubs opening each month.