WHEREAS, 4-H is America’s largest youth development organization, supporting nearly six million youth across the country; and
WHEREAS, 4-H in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands was founded in the 1950’s; and
WHEREAS, 4-H, through initial efforts, participated in planting various crops including native, medicinal, and edible plants; and
WHEREAS, 4-H has helped develop life skills within the youth through livestock, self-esteem, goal setting and leadership programs; and
WHEREAS, 4-H has aided youth in learning entrepreneurial and fiscal management skills through the Farm Services Agency (FSA) youth loan program; and
WHEREAS, 4-H established youth sports promoting different forms of activity in an effort to combat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs); and
WHEREAS, 4-H has helped over 20,000 youth in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to become confident, independent, resilient, and compassionate leaders; and
WHEREAS, 4-H is delivered by Cooperative Extension – a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn-by-doing through hands-on projects in important areas of health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement; and
WHEREAS, National 4-H Week showcases the incredible ways that 4-H inspires kids to do and highlights the remarkable 4-H youth in the CNMI who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them; and
WHEREAS, 4-H’s network of nearly 500,000 volunteers and 3,500 professionals provides caring and supportive mentoring to all 4-H’ers, helping them to grow into true leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RALPH DLG. TORRES, Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the Commonwealth, do hereby proclaim October 2-8, 2022 as
NATIONAL 4-H WEEK
I encourage all our citizens to recognize 4-H for the significant impact they have made and continue to make by empowering youth with the skills they need to lead for a lifetime.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand on this 5th day of October 2022.
/s/
RALPH DLG. TORRES
Governor
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