Becoming a 4-H ambassador is an involved process. Club members garner points based on the record books they keep for the various projects they are involved in and they are judged on the quality of the public presentations they are required to do throughout the year. Attendance at meetings and fulfilling the community service requirement also play a role. Top club members are then allowed to participate in the annual ‘Selections’ in Olds at the end of April annually and the top two from each region become ambassadors. They remain in their role for two years and at any given time there are two first-year and two second-year ambassadors in each region, ensuring overlap in experience.

Melody Swaren, a general leader for Stettler’s Crafty Crew 4-H Multi Club agrees that the ambassador program is extremely important. The Crafty Crew has seen membership almost double over the past several years and she attributes much of the increase to the program. “The kids are our greatest promoters,” she says. Like Grover, she believes that when other kids see the great opportunities like trips and scholarships that can be awarded for excellence in 4-H, they too get the urge to join in and participate.

As a multi club, the Crafty Crew can offer projects in virtually limitless areas. Whether it’s sewing, small engine repair or even snowboarding, anything can become a project for members as long as a sufficient number of them are interested in it and a leader can be found for the project. This ability for the clubs to get away from the traditional focus on horses and livestock has kept 4-H relevant to current trends and interests and has led to more and more multi clubs being formed in Alberta.

Jeanne Pearson, general leader for the Donalda area Coulee Ridge Riders 4-H horse club also agrees with this. While the Riders have seen membership wane somewhat over the past few years, she feels this is more of a cyclical trend and will likely reverse itself again.

However, she also agrees that it is becoming increasingly costly and impractical for kids to be involved in horse clubs. Not only are feed and stabling becoming onerous expenses, but the time commitment for kids and parents alike is more than in other 4-H clubs. “Beef clubs don’t tend to have the same issues,” she says, “because, of course, they sell the animal at the end of the day and make money.” The result, she feels, is that multi clubs — which can encompass both livestock and any other projects — will continue to gain in popularity.