Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Chateauguay Valley 4-H club is now up and running and looking for new members from across the region who are interested in learning about 4-H and all it has to offer.

Organizers with the club include Vicky Tremblay, Mackenzie Peddie, Suzelle Barrington, and Billie Nussey-Rufh. They decided to launch a club that would be open to English- and French-speaking young people between the ages of 6 and 25 from across the Valley. The goal is to break down some of the perceived barriers to joining a 4-H club, especially the belief that members must come from a farming background.

“You don’t need to own a calf to be a 4-Her,” says Peddie, while highlighting the many other activities at the heart of the club, including social opportunities, gardening, outdoor activities, creative crafts, and much more. She notes there will be some focus on traditional 4-H activities, but an emphasis will also be placed on bringing in new ideas.

Tremblay says another important aspect of the new Chateauguay Valley Club will be a focus on giving back to the community.

Quebec 4-H provincial coordinator Gillian MacDougall says they are very excited about the new club. “One of our current goals for Quebec 4-H is growth, which includes increasing membership and the number of clubs,” she explains.

MacDougall says she is not concerned that there are already three active clubs in the area, including Howick, Huntingdon, and Ormstown. “One of the most wonderful things about multiple clubs in one area is the community. Just because a member belongs to one club does not stop them from connecting and bonding with other members in 4-H,” she says.

MacDougall points out that the Chateauguay Valley is the only area in Quebec with clubs so close together, with members going to the same schools. “I am excited to support the members taking on the venture of starting a new club and look forward to seeing what they accomplish over the next year.”

Monthly meetings of the Chateauguay Valley 4-H club will take place at the Georgetown Church in Très-Saint-Sacrément. They will run for about an hour and will be followed by a fun activity and snack.

More information on the new 4-H club and how to join is available on Facebook or by emailing chateauguayvalley4h@gmail.com.