Exhibit at Gould's Garden Center celebrates National 4-H Week

National 4-H Week — October 4 through 10 is being celebrated by the Gilmanton Gallopers at Gould’s Garden Center (Gilford Agway). An exhibit, created by Bethany Clarke and Lauren Emond, both of Gilford, is on display to promote 4-H and demonstrate some of their projects and community service activities as well as to share their love of horses.

With over 6-million participants, 4-H is the largest youth organization in the United States and operates in every state and U.S. territory. 4-H’s goal is to help youth learn by doing and encourages youth to experiment, innovate, and think independently.

The 4-H symbol is a four leaf clover with an H on each leaf. The H’s stand for head, heart, hands, and health, all tools that 4-Hers pledge to utilize.

The Gilmanton Gallopers are involved in community projects and projects specific to horses. The members of the club are brought together simply by their love of horses. Coming from different towns throughout Belknap County, club members range in age from 9 - 17 years.

Recently, they have been involved in collecting and donating horse care items to Live and Let Live Farm in Chichester, a farm that takes in horses when their owners are forced to give them up. Members also participated in the Belknap County 4-H Fair where they rode, judged classes, and displayed arts and crafts. Other activities include Judging and Hippology competitions which test members’ equine knowledge. Another popular event is the 4-H Teen Conference held each summer at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, where 4-H teens from around New Hampshire gather to learn and have fun.

Every month the Gilmanton Gallopers meet to make oral presentations to their peers, plan new activities for the club, and socialize. Gilmanton Galloper’s member, Lauren Emond, says her favorite part about the club is “learning a lot and making new friends who also like horses.”

Jeff and Tracey Gould, owners of Gould’s Garden Center (Gilford Agway), have personal connections to 4-H. Jeff is a former 4-H member who was active in showing cows throughout the state. His 4-H club had about 30 members and his parents were the leaders.

As to why they decided to support National 4-H Week, Tracey Gould says “Agway is all about supporting 4-H and community services.” The Goulds are interested in supporting agricultural activities because “it encourages young people to be interested in where we came from. Society is important, but it’s also important for kids to know what’s around them besides computers and video games.” Tracey sums it up by stating, “There is a world outside of electronics and that’s what we support.”

If you are interested in more information about the Gilmanton Gallopers, call club leader, Peggy Sue Greenwood, at 603-520-1849.