Like most teenagers, they spend their week with school, activities and sports, but they also find time to help others. Quiet revolutionaries, all of them, but making a huge noise in their communities with their service.
As Tennessee 4-H celebrates National 4-H Week, the organization recognizes youth statewide for performing more than 100,000 hours of Service Learning Projects each year. This is part of National 4-H Council’s campaign called “The Revolution of Responsibility,” where youth are encouraged to perform volunteer work in their hometowns.
“Service is important to keep young people grounded and involved in their local area,” said Steve Sutton, Director of Tennessee 4-H with University of Tennessee Extension. “It keeps them in touch with what’s important in the real world, and helps them appreciate what they have. It empowers youth to believe in a better future.
“For over 100 years, 4-H has led the way in teaching youth about responsibility. 4-H’s eternal optimism in youth is embodied in this campaign – which believes youth can lead the way for positive change. Our youth ‘learn by doing’ and learn the value of hard work.”
In the 2010-2011 school year, Sevier County 4-H recognized 16 4-H members with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.  
Each of these recipients contributed a minimum of 100 hours of service time back into the community.  
These numbers can be multiplied throughout the over 3,800 4-H members in Sevier County as they use their “Hands for Larger Service”.  
Many local groups benefit from the service provided by 4-H members.  Some of them include:  Family Resource Center, Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic, Salvation Army, Sevier County Food Ministry, Sevier County Humane Society, and Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministry.

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