"I was a child sitting in an audience and the opportunity of a lifetime was being explained. I felt such excitement as I was told I could learn life skills, such as cooking, food preservation, sewing, gardening and so many other wonderful things. Throughout the next several years, I learned the latest improvements and advancements in so many project areas, and I developed leadership skills, record-keeping skills and people skills. Most of all, I experienced the joy of making friendships that would last for generations. A dream became a reality as I began to share with my friends, my family and later my community -- telling everyone the meaning of the 4-H motto, Making the Best Better." (Aleta Winston, 4-H member)
Aleta Winston spent most of her life involved in 4-H. She wore many hats as she participated in every aspect of the 4-H program. Her own words expressed the knowledge and the joy she gained as she continued her 4-H participation generation after generation. Winston started 4-H as a 9-year-old when she joined the Gardner 4-H Club. Later she joined the Sour Rock Springs Community 4-H Club. The year was 1944. In her years as a 4-H'er, she gave 21 demonstrations in canning, clothing, food preservation, gardening, health, home management, personal improvement and recreation. She was the 1952 Garland County 4-H Champion Girl and was honored at 4-H Congress. As a teen, she helped to organize and assist in other 4-H clubs, did radio broadcasts and even had a marionette show.
As an adult, she became a 4-H club leader so the community children could also enjoy the meaning of "Making the Best Better." Around 1970, with the help of other leaders like Sarah Hale and Marie Pittman, she started the Beavers 4-H Club. By then, times were changing in technology and there were new project areas to explore. Not only was Winston learning new things herself to share with her club, she was also raising three very active 4-H'ers of her own.
Her daughter, Annette Walters, continued the legacy and started the Clever Clovers 4-H Club and was the leader until a few years ago. Annette raised her children in 4-H just like she was raised. The Clever Clovers Club is still an active club in Garland County with Stacy Dodd as the current leader.
Winston's grandson, Josh Wright, carried the tradition and started the Adventure Club. He worked a few years at the C.A. Vines 4-H Center in Ferndale near Little Rock. Josh also became the first Garland County 4-H agent.
Winston's granddaughter, Jamie Walters, kept her grandmother's vision alive and started the Rocking Clovers 4-H Club. Winston still had a presence in Garland County 4-H with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Four generations of this family know the meaning of "To Make the Best Better." They know the 4-H pledge of the head, heart, hands and health -- all thanks to one woman who became a member of the Garland County program long, long ago. Winston saw and lived the benefits of being a 4-H member, and she instilled them in future generations. She is the perfect picture of the 4-H heritage. Her family represents 70-plus years of 4-H tradition. At the recent 4-H Achievement Banquet, she and the family were the recipients of the 4-H Alumni Award for 2015.
Things were quite different when Winston was first introduced to 4-H, but the idea is still the same -- club based, learning by doing, making the best better. Learning cooking skills, gardening and raising animals are still just as important today as in 4-H's beginning; however, 4-H continues to evolve to meet the needs of today's youths with more than 80 different project areas available. In a safe, enriching environment, 4-H brings youths and adults together to learn everyday skills. Gaining self-confidence and learning responsibility are just a few of the benefits 4-H members enjoy. Membership is free. Starting a club in your own community is easy, it is rewarding, and you just might be the next person who sets up generations of 4-H'ers in your own family! Call the Extension Office, 623-6841, or email [email protected] for more details about 4-H and how you can become involved. Additional information is available at our website: www.uaex.edu/garland.
Master Gardener
Master Gardener meetings are held at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Elks Lodge. They're open to the public. For information, call the Extension Office, 623-6841 or 922-4703, or email Allen Bates, [email protected].
EHC
Interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information, call Jessica Vincent, 623-6841 or 922-4703, or email [email protected].
Society on 05/02/2016