By Crystal Thompson
Area 4-H students are participating in an exchange program to New York, and are raising money for the trip by selling afghans dedicated to Hill County.
This is the third year that area 4-H clubs have participated in the exchange. In July of this year, 27 students and four chaperones from Wayne County, New York, came to Havre to get a glimpse of Montana life. The New York students stayed with the families of 4-H students in the area. In July 2001, 20 Hi-Line 4-H'ers will get a chance to visit New York state to complete the exchange process.
In the past, students from Tennessee and North Carolina have participated in the exchange program with Montana students. Kim Springer, who helps lead the 4-H exchange program, said that this year's exchange students had a fun time in Montana.
Although their visit was fairly brief, members of the New York group had a chance to visit Glacier Park and Beaver Creek Park during their stay, as well as several area attractions. Springer said that the New Yorkers are anxious to show the Hi-Line students the many fruit farms in Wayne County, after getting a glimpse of the Hill County's immense wheat fields, which were in early harvest this year, during their stay in Montana.
The local 4-H members have been busy raising money through numerous fund-raisers throughout the year. The group has just ordered the first 200 afghans that they will be selling for the most recent fund-raiser. Springer said that the idea for the fund-raiser came from a 4-H group in Geraldine, who sold more than 400 agfhans to raise money for their program.
The afghans are 48-foot by 70-foot, and depict scenes of Hill County, including the Bear Paw Mountains, The Heritage Center and Havre Beneath the Streets, among others. The afghans will be sold for $40 each by 4-H members participating in the exchange.
Those participating are: Christi Bradbury, Rachel Gerhart, Jenny Gerky, Russell Gregoire, Katie Hartman, Lisa Larson, Brooke Letang, Chris McIntosh, Kim Patrick, Kile Patrick, Casey Peterson, Samantha Seidel, Katie Siebrasse, Stacey Siebrasse, Cliff Springer, Matt Springer, Katie Toldness, Carly Toldness, Kevin Velk, and Justus Wendland.
Each student will be selling afghans to raise money individually. Anyone interested in purchasing an afghan can contact one of the above mentioned students. Otherwise, contact the 4-H Extension Office at 265-5481.
An afghan will be on display at the Holiday Village Shopping Center Nov. 6-15. To get your afghan in time for Christmas, Springer suggests ordering as soon as possible before Thanksgiving.
