|
I suppose one might say I've been living under a rock. Upon reflection, I can even agree with the accusation. In my defense, however, .... no, actually, there is no defending it. I have no real reason, beyond being caught up in the smaller realities occurring within the scope of my own world. Until today.
Listening to the radio this morning, I caught the news and was deeply saddened. As soon as I got home, I came straight to my computer to verify, hoping beyond hope I had misunderstood. I had not. |
| Michigan is not an agricultural state, according to some. Personally, I cry foul on that. I grew up in the country, surrounded by farmers. There were 5 houses (not families) on the mile where I spent my childhood and youth. One might say, since it was the 70s and 80s, I was "country, when country wasn't cool." (Thank you, D. Morgan and K. Fleming for coining the phrase.) My family didn't farm, although in my teens my mother experimented with hobby farming. Goats, chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys--o my!
My parents both worked, and I rode the bus home, so the typical venues for clubs didn't work. GSA is a wonderful organization, but not what I did. 4-H, on the other hand, is. For 8 years, I spent the first week of August at the county fair, with my dog, on a plywood bench. I learned about leadership, responsibility, civic awareness, and how one shouldn't feed the freshly bathed Australian Shepherd puppy saltwater taffy. (Makes for a pretty large mess, trust me on this)
Through 4-H, I was fortunate to win a trip to Toronto, Ontario. I was also made a Key Club member. These are important memories of my childhood. Life building and forming ones. Sadly, children growing up in Michigan's financial climate might not have those same opportunities.
My county is discussing pulling funding for the local MSU extension office. My state is considering pulling funding for the Michigan State University Extension. According to an article I read during my research, We should eliminate the Michigan State University cooperative extension service and agriculture experiment station. Yes, that would mean 4-H clubs and Master Gardener classes would be off the dole. For the rest of what these programs do, let ADM and the other agribusiness firms do it. Not only is government involvement in this area obsolete, it's a luxury we can no longer afford. This would save $61 million a year. Mr. Jack P. McHugh May 5, 2006 http://www.mackinac.org/articl...
I understand money is tight. I am aware 61 million dollars is a large sum of money. Frankly, that many zeros is a bit beyond my comprehension. I also understand our children and teenagers have less and less to entertain them, and teach them.
Not every child is a 4-H member; my own is not, as a matter of fact, by her own choosing. However, she has been in the past. 4-H teaches some arts which are being forgotten in our more progressive, technologically advanced future. It also gives life lessons which cannot be duplicated in a different setting.
I learned those lessons on the end of a 6 foot leather leash. My brother and sister learned them at the end of a 4 foot web one, the other end attached to pygmy goats. Yet other children learned similar lessons while baking or sewing.
It is often said it takes a village to raise a child. Part of the village is organizations like 4-H. Organizations which may be a memory of the past, soon. I am sad.
I understand budgets. I also understand the needs of the many. However, our children are tomorrow's leaders and innovators. Shouldn't their needs be weighed as well? |
