The Canadian 4-H council is asking everyone to wear green on Nov. 5 to kick-off National 4-H Month in November.
“We have asked everyone involved with 4-H to wear green and show their 4-H pride and spirit on Nov 5,” said Bob McAuley, president of the council. “It’s a simple way to … showcase the tremendous enthusiasm of 4-H members, leaders, alumni and supporters.”
Green and white are the two official colours of 4-H in Canada, and have been since the national council adopted the four-leaf clover logo in 1952. Green represents agriculture, and white represents youth and purity.
To help celebrate this year’s event, Governor General Michaëlle Jean offered a message of congratulations and support to 4-H members, leaders, and alumni across Canada.
“It gives me great pleasure to join all Canadians in celebrating National 4-H Month. As patron of this historic organization, I invite all members, alumni, volunteers, and leaders to ‘show your 4-H colours,’ ” she said. “Throughout its history, the green colour has inspired many Canadians to give back to their community and has helped them to succeed.
“National 4-H Month is not only an opportunity for volunteers, members and supporters to celebrate, but it is also a chance for past 4-H members to rediscover what drew them to the clubs in the first place.”
The council has launched a Show Your 4-H Colours contest on its website.
Those involved can showcase how they are showing their 4-H colours.
“We received a number of great photos last year of what people were doing,” said McAuley.
“We decided it would be a great idea to launch a contest and encourage more people to send in their photos and videos.”
Entries can be made at www.4-h-canada.ca/colours.
Entries will be showcased online, as well as in the Canadian 4-H Council magazine, L’avantage 4-H Advantage.
In addition to celebrations across Canada, 4-H members and volunteer leaders are travelling to Toronto on Nov. 5 for national 4-H conferences. Delegates will be showing their colours as they travel from across Canada.