Stutsman County 4-H Welcomes All Youth, Not Just Farm Kids

Brenda Jarski-Weber has a message for Jamestown parents who think 4-H is only for farm families: they have it wrong.

Jarski-Weber, the family community wellness agent for NDSU Extension in Stutsman County, has been pushing to expand the program's reach to urban and suburban youth across the area. "It's not just for farm kids," she said, describing the range of projects and opportunities now available through Stutsman County's clubs.

That range extends well beyond livestock stalls. Youth can pursue STEM-focused work through STEMTastic and Tech Savvy programming, take on sewing projects, or care for small animals. Traditional livestock projects remain on the roster, but they now share the calendar with hands-on workshops built for kids growing up in Jamestown neighborhoods rather than on rural acreages.

Each participant is paired with an adult mentor, and the program structures activities around practical skill-building, leadership development, and community service. Events are held at community centers, fairgrounds, and school facilities throughout Stutsman County, keeping the program accessible to families across the area.

Recruitment and retention have become explicit priorities for the county program. Jarski-Weber's outreach reflects a deliberate effort to bring in families who may have assumed 4-H had nothing to offer a kid without a barn. NDSU Extension coordinates the county's 4-H activities, backing clubs that have long been a fixture at the Stutsman County Fair and other community events.

The program's emphasis on public speaking, project-based learning, and volunteer service gives participants a path toward skills that carry into agriculture, STEM careers, and civic life. The expanded project menu positions Stutsman County 4-H to serve a broader cross-section of Jamestown youth than the program's traditional image has suggested.