[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 177 (Tuesday, November 6, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1498-E1499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MERCED COUNTY 4-H

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 6, 2018

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Merced County 4-H for 
their work to provide invaluable experience and opportunities to the 
youth of Merced County. Labeled as America's largest youth development 
organization, 4-H has supported nearly six million

[[Page E1499]]

youth across the country in their mission to engage youth to reach 
their fullest potential and continues to enrich the live our youth 
throughout Merced County.
  The program's goal to develop citizenship, leadership, 
responsibility, and life skills is accomplished through hands on 
projects in agriculture, science, health, and civic engagement. In 
doing so, youth develop relationships with their advisors, who mentor 
them into and provide support to help them achieve their full 
potential. This enables 4-H'ers to develop into true leaders, 
entrepreneurs and visionaries ready to lead the next generation of our 
country.
  In my own district, the first 4-H office opened in 1917. Since then, 
Merced County 4-H has helped thousands of youth throughout the 
different communities that comprise Merced County to become confident, 
independent leaders. All the while, each different 4-H club throughout 
the county has been guided by their mission to provide experiences 
where young people learn by doing hands-on projects and at the same 
time, created more opportunities for youth to be engaged in their 
community.
  The program, delivered by Cooperative Extension--a community of more 
than 100 public universities across the nation, is led in California by 
the University of California Cooperative Extension, the research and 
outreach arm of the UC's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 
This gives Merced County 4-H the unique opportunity to partner with UC 
Merced, the newest research university of the 21st century. Through 
this partnership, youth and advisors are connected to the scientific 
research of the UC happening in the San Joaquin Valley, to help better 
understand and solve problems in agriculture throughout California.
  Honoring the organization showcases the incredible ways that 4-H 
inspires kids to do more and highlights the remarkable 4-H youth in 
Merced County, who work each day to make a positive impact on those 
around them. The 4-H National Network consists of nearly 500,000 
volunteers and 3,500 professionals that provide caring and supportive 
mentoring to all 4-H'ers, helping them to grow into true leaders, 
entrepreneurs and visionaries.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Merced County 
4-H. It is both fitting and appropriate that we honor them and 
recognize the significant impact they have made and continue to make by 
empowering youth with the skills they needed for a lifetime.

                          ____________________