by Dennis Dalman
There are endless options for young boys and girls to learn, to grow, to do good deeds and to connect socially with others in the 4-H Sartell Superstars Club.
Just ask Jason Sharpe, the adult leader of the Sartell group.
When he was a kid in Colorado, Sharpe was a dedicated 4-H’er. Later, after his service in the U.S. Air Force, he married and inspired his children to become involved in 4-H too, starting in 2016 in Sartell.
Sharpe and wife Tiffany have two children: Camyrn, 15, is president of the Sartell Superstars group; and Jake, 11, is a gung-ho member.
Sad to say, there are only 10 members in the Superstars Club, but that is largely because of the two years of Covid pandemic isolations and disruptions, Sharpe explained. He is hoping more young people learn about the club and join it.
He listed the variety of fun, educational activities the club does: an annual sledding trip, bowling, a tour of a Minnesota fisheries operation, trips to a zoo, a trip to Washington, D.C. for older-children members, showing personal projects at the Sauk Centre Stearns County Fair and the winners there at the Minnesota State Fair.
Their community-service projects include such activities as shoveling snow, raking leaves or trash pickups for residents unable to do those things.
4-H, Sharpe said, stands for “Head” for clear thinking; “Heart” for greater loyalty; “Hands” for greater service; and “Health” for better living for “my club, my community, my country and my world.”
Members can choose which projects they want to work on for showings at the county fair. Camryn Sharpe, for example, explores fine arts. Previously, Camryn did a project on forestry management and also ones on cooking and food science, invasive species and raising bunnies and a project on agriculture and livestock.
Son Jake’s project this year is rocketry.
4-H delivers many rewards, Jason said.
“It’s similar to the Boy Scouts, but each 4-H club has its own emphases. One group, for example, does just robotics. Others (mostly in rural farm areas) focus on agriculture, agri-science and raising animals and crops.”
But all the clubs have certain rewards in common.
“The members learn about leadership and responsibility,” he said. “They learn about hard work and personal responsibility through their projects and they learn how to be poised in interviews.”
Sharpe said 4-H has been in Sartell for about 10 years. The Superstars Club started about six years ago.
Any parents – or young people – interested in joining the Sartell Superstars Club should call Jason Sharpe at 612-499-3298 or email him at sharpey00@gmail.com.
