Healthy 4-H clubs make lifestyle changes fun | News, Sports, Jobs

Schiele, 13, said she is more conscious of what she eats and has found there are more foods that she likes. Food demonstrations at club meetings have introduced her to some new things to try.

“Last year, we made smoothies. That was fun,” she said.

Guys & Gals 4-H Club has been recognized as a Healthy 4-H Club for the past six years and is in its seventh year of participation in the statewide program.

Thirty-three 4-H clubs, representing 771 members from 17 North Dakota counties, were recognized for incorporating nutrition, fitness and health-focused activities into their meetings during 2024-2025, according to the North Dakota State University Extension Service. To achieve recognition, clubs incorporate at least one nutrition or fitness activity into six or more regular meetings. Each 4-H’er receives a certificate and a prize, which this year was a pop-it frisbee, if their club successfully completes the program.

Jill Schramm/MDN
Kennedy Eichstadt, left, and Adalyn Buchmeier, right, learn new dance steps during a line dancing lesson during a Sunday, Nov. 23, 4-H club meeting in Oak Valley Lutheran Church in Velva. Learning the dance behind them, at left, is Levi Schiele.

According to program information, the goals of the program are to encourage children and teens to learn about nutrition and health, to practice what they learn and then teach others through service projects.

Guys & Gals Club co-leader Nylenne Schiele said she noticed other clubs getting recognized for participation at county awards banquets. She inquired about the program and soon the club was incorporating healthy choices into its meetings on a more regular basis.

A recent meeting featured line dancing lessons, which was something new to Colter Buchmeier, 12. Having become a fan of archery through 4-H, he said line dancing might be an activity he’d also do again if he had the chance. He noted he eats more fruits and vegetables since learning about healthy eating and sees his younger siblings in 4-H make those better choices, too.

Lisa Marschner, 10, said she eats less now that she’s more conscious of the types of foods she eats. She also stays active, playing basketball and softball, and line dancing has piqued her interest.

Guys & Gals meetings have included food demonstrations, such as how to make energy balls, trail mix or other healthier items. Over the years, the club members have engaged in swimming, bowling and other recreational activities. They toured places such as a grain elevator, local grocery store and a meat company where they learned about meat preservation.

Club members also have taken the challenge of charting the meals they eat together in their homes as families.

Community service is another piece in the healthy focus.

“This club has always been big on community service. So, we’ve always done something, usually with the food pantry,” Schiele said. “We’ve picked up trash a lot of those years, either in the park or along the highway.”

Another simple club activity is asking 4-H’ers about their favorite healthy snacks as a roll call response.

“We talk about healthy eating and such. We do have a healthy snack policy,” Schiele said. “They do a pledge to make healthier choices.”

At a recent club meeting, club co-leader Jennifer Hubrig engaged members in a blind taste test of different fruits and vegetables.

“The fruits were very, very interesting. The vegetables were OK, too,” 4-H’er Robert Thex, 12, concluded after sampling several items.

Exposing youth to different, healthy foods can create a realization that healthy tastes good, Schiele said.

“Maybe it’ll become more of a lifestyle change and a habit,” she said.

Schiele said the program overall has been well received among club members. Any youth offered a chance to get up and move in a fun activity or make and enjoy a snack is likely to get on board, she said.

“They’re always game for those projects. So, we can put a healthy spin on it, because usually that does excite them and they like to do it,” she said.