Abby Nadeau
Community Editor

Long gone are the days of 4-H members just taking cows, pigs and rabbits to the county fair.

The program that started in the barns of America is expanding into space exploration, environmental issues, and the performing arts.

4-H, a youth based organization that falls under the University of Minnesota extension program, gives children of all ages the opportunities to explore topics of their interest all while learning several life skills.

While the organization is busy all year long, creating and preparing projects, things heat up in the summer time as county fairs start popping up all over the state.

As fair time approaches, many 4-H members are preparing to show their projects to judges in hopes of a grand champion ribbon and a trip to the State Fair.

Benjamin Lunn and Andrew Beach, of Forest Lake, are just two participants in the Forest Lake Ranger 4-H Club.

The pair have been preparing their individual projects over the last year to get them ready for the Washington County Fair going on now thru Sunday, August 6.

Beach, 11, has spent the last four years involved in the 4-H program. This year, Beach has entered four projects in the creative arts: crafts, fishing sports, geology and shop categories.

Beach, who just completed the fourth grade at Scandia elementary, created a bat house for his shop entry.

ìWe have a bunch of mosquitoes at our house and I wanted to get rid of them,î Beach said.

Beach will also show judges his knowledge on the northern pike.

ìI just like it, itís a special fish,î Beach said. ìItís built like a torpedo.î

Beach will also submit his collection of rocks in the geology category and a wooden treasure chest in the creative arts category.

Lunn, 13, is also in his fourth year with the 4-H program. Last year Lunn submitted 13 projects to the fair, which made his schedule hectic, so this year he will only take five projects.

Lunn, who attends Cyber Village Academy in St. Paul, has taken a special interest in performing arts.

He will be performing ìSchool Dazeî twice daily at the fair. Lunn said the performances have helped him become a better public speaker.

ìI used to be shy and not want to talk with more than two people at a time, but now I love speaking in big groups,î he said.

Lunnís other projects include a photography project involving the Crane Foundation, a youth leadership project and two fine arts projects.

As a part of his youth leadership project Lunn has written a report on all the community projects he has worked with in the last year like club vice president of 4-H.

The report explains not only what he does in 4-H but also what he gives back to the organization.

Once projects are ready to be viewed, judges will evaluate not only the project itself, but the presentation of the project.

Both boys are involved in 4-H not only because itís fun, but also because they know it will help as they grow.

ìIím having loads of fun and I know it will help me later in life,î Lunn said.

Susan Edseth, Lunnís mother and 4-H co-leader, explained that most people ask Ben ìwhat animal he is takingî when he tells them he is in 4-H.

ìThe program is bigger than that,î she said. ìItís the best youth development program in the nation.î

Both Beach and Lunn will be showing their projects at the fair all week long, in Hooley Hall.

Lunn will also be performing his skit ìSchool Daze,î Wednesday at 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 6 and 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 2 and 3 p.m. at the Park Pavilion.

The Washington County Fair grounds are located just east of Lake Elmo on Highway 5.

For more information about the Forest Lake Rangers 4-H Club call the Washington County 4-H Federation at 651-430-6800.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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