Full circle: 2008 4-H baby completes first year in youth program

WORLAND – The first week of October is designated National 4-H Week. In observance, the Roadrunner Club puts together a baby basket for the first baby born in the local hospital that week.

Though they don’t always find out who receives this basket, this year, the recipient of the 2008 basket completed her first year of 4-H.

Lanora Hankinson, the 10-year-old daughter of Christy and Roger Hankinsons started her first year of 4-H with her little sister, Brandy last November.

The sisters began their 4-H careers showing goats. Lanora is looking forward to next year to also include cake decorating and to try out air rifles. Brandy graduated from being a Cloverbud this year and will be starting 4-H this upcoming year.

Lanora started her first year with a bang when she received two ribbons at this year’s county fair after placing second in junior 4-H showmanship and received second in her market goat division. She currently is a member of the Renegades Club.

Her mother Christy Hankinson believes that 4-H is a great program to get youth involved with things and to meet new people.

BABY BASKET PROGRAM

The baby basket the Roadrunners put together includes 4-H merchandise, which may include a hat, booties, or toys complete with the 4-H four leaf clover logo. After putting together the basket, they bring it to Washakie Medical Center for them to give to the first baby born at the hospital that week.

According to current leader of the Roadrunners, Stephanie Voss, they first started the basket program as a community service project and used it to get word out about 4-H to new parents and let them know about the benefits of enrolling their children into a 4-H program. It definitely worked out in 2008 for the Hankinson children.

The baby basket program is not the Roadrunner’s only community service project either.

According to Voss, the Roadrunner’s do a different service project every month. Composed of children from 8-years-old to high school seniors, some other monthly projects include making a wreath for the Festival of Trees program, buying presents for the Angel Tree, making Valentines and Christmas cards for seniors and helping set up for fair. This month, the Roadrunners made thank you cards to send to the troops.

The Roadrunners have been a club with 4-H for 35 years and anyone is welcome to join.