4-H is a Place For All

This year, the 2021 Pennsylvania 4-H State Council unveiled their theme Be Different Together. With this theme, the Council has a goal to promote the diversity that exists within 4-H and share stories about how the program has positively impacted individuals along the way.

To celebrate Autism Awareness Month this April, the Council is pleased to bring you the story of Kenny, a young 4-H alumni from Fayette County. In simple terms, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) means the individual has challenges related to communication, social interaction, and behavior. As the name states, a spectrum exists, where one individual may be high functioning with a high IQ (often the picture that Hollywood depicts) and another is lower functioning, needing assistance with everyday tasks. As of 2020, 1 in 54 youth are diagnosed with ASD. The Pennsylvania 4-H program has been a safe haven for many young people over the years, providing a place for socialization and acceptance.

Maria Sipe, Council Sentinel, sat down with Kenny Donaldson and his mother Lisa to talk about the impact the 4-H program has had on his life.

Kenny was a part of the 4-H program for ten years in Fayette County. During his time in the program, he showed lambs, goats, and steers. When asked why he joined the 4-H program, he said that he saw his cousins with their lambs and thought joining the program would be interesting. During his time as a 4-H member, he enjoyed practicing and showing his animals.

The 4-H program helped to prepare him for his future and to face many challenges. He has learned sportsmanship along with honor, respect, and responsibility. Kenny's advice to anyone wanting to join 4-H would be, "Follow your heart and dreams and always do your best".

When his mother, Lisa, was asked what kind of impact the 4-H program had on Kenny's life, she said, "4-H was great for Kenny. When he first started, he didn't have much coordination, concentration skills, social skills or work ethic. 4-H has helped him with all of those skills. He was never able to participate in sports because he couldn't keep up with the other kids but that was not the case with 4-H."

"4-H helped Kenny look at people. When he started, he had issues looking at anyone. We (his parents) really had to work with him because he had to learn to keep his eye on the judge. Now he can look at people when he talks instead of at the ground. It was a struggle for him to stand and wait for the judge when he would get his lambs set up, sometimes he still has a hard time standing still but at least now he can stand in one place for five to ten minutes before pacing back and forth. It has helped him to concentrate. When he was young, if he was showing and heard a noise or another animal, he would look in another direction and pay attention to other things happening around him. 4-H has really helped him and is part of the reason that he is high functioning with autism."

The 4-H program provides a safe place where ALL youth can learn and grow. There were no limits given to Kenny in the 4-H program. He has taken on many projects and even held club officer positions. It is wonderful to hear about the ways that 4-H has been there for Kenny, during his childhood and beyond.