WEST SPRINGFIELD –  Alyssa Wilton, 15, of West Springfield, doesn’t spend her time the way many other kids her age do. While she may hang out with her friends and scroll through social media, she also takes care of dogs and rabbits – grooming them, keeping them healthy, and training them for competitions.

Wilton is a member of 4-H and has been participating in the program since her mother suggested it when she was 11.

“She said I needed to get a hobby,” the 10th grader said of her mom.

Wilton, along with about 200 kids from all over Western Massachusetts will flock to The Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds in West Springfield on July 27 with arts and crafts, vegetables, robotics, and animals in tow. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the 67th annual Hampden County 4–H and Youth Fair, kids will show off their hard work and dedication in a variety of competitions. Admission and parking are free to the public. A variety of food is available and there will be children’s games and contests throughout the day.

The Fair is open to all registered 4-H members, ages 5 to 18, who live in Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire, Franklin, and Worcester Counties, said Tom Waskiewicz, a 4-H Extension educator and a former 4-H’er. After 37 years involved, first as a 4-H participant, then as a 4-H educator, Waskiewicz said he's still learning.

Begun in 1902 as a way to teach youth new farming practices, 4-H is a program that utilizes more than 100 public universities nationwide to teach kids skills and knowledge through hands-on projects. The H’s in 4-H represent the development of a child’s head, heart, hands, and health.

Although there are 4-H programs in 84 countries, Waskiewicz said the components that are present in all 4-H activities are leadership, citizenship, and community service.

“I like the community it creates,” Wilton said. She said has made many friends through the program. Many of the children who age out of 4-H go on to volunteer with the organization.

There is more to 4-H that just the county-wide fairs. The youth attend events and workshops throughout the year, smaller competitions, field trips, quiz-bowls, all in addition to the time the kids invest in care and training weekly.

There are financial costs, too. The 4-H’ers have to invest in an animal’s housing, medical care, and grooming. Waskiewicz said it teaches responsibility, physiology, and caring. It is a lot of work, but Wilton said it’s worth it.

“It’s very rewarding to see your work with the animals pay off,” Wilton said.

But not all 4-H projects involve animals. Within each 4-H chapter, there are clubs devoted to different topics. Some are agricultural, others involve handicrafts, and some involve STEM.

“Stem has always been a part of 4-H,” said Waskiewicz. In that vein, Google.org awarded 4-H with a $6 million grant to create a 4-H Computer Science Career Pathway designed to reach rural youth and those who have limited access to computer science.

The program also teaches sustainability and appreciation of the environment. Because the information that children learn is applied research from land-grant universities, Waskiewicz said, “They’re learning some cutting-edge stuff.”

With a resurgence in small-scale farming, 4-H has even experienced increased popularity, said Waskiewicz

“They self-select their projects so their interest level is high,” said Waskiewicz. If a kid has an idea for a project that the 4-H chapter hasn’t worked on before, Waskiewicz said he will reach out to chapters in other states.

“There’s nothing you can name that I can’t find a project book for, so they can start a club,” Waskiewicz said.

Public speaking is another part of 4-H. The kids prepare “visual presentations,” in which they speak publicly about their project. They also learned to keep records of projects. Each year, they include in their records their “4-H story,” in which they describe what 4-H meant to them over the year. Waskiewicz said students will speak about mentors, the friends they’ve made, and things that they accomplished that they didn’t think they could.

or those interested in joining 4-H, the program is really accessible. It is open to boys and girls and programs are available through local 4-H clubs, 4-H camps, in-school and after-school programs. Anyone interested in joining 4-H can contact Waskiewicz at 413-545-0611 or by email at waskiewicz@umext.umass.edu.