And through the decades, 4-H has offered activities that go beyond areas such as animal shows and produce presentations.

Happy Helpers 4-H Club celebrated its 75th anniversary at the 2023 Leavenworth County Fair.

Stephanie Shupe, whose family is part of the local 4-H club, said the group had a gathering of former and present members. She said about 30 former members were back for the event. There really weren’t any alumni who returned from far distances, but as Shupe noted, many in the club are multi-generation participants, so many in the group are still in the area.

Shupe herself actually was a member of the now disbanded Goal Rushers 4-H Club, so her three sons actually are first generation Happy Helpers.

4-H attracts participants in various categories. The agricultural roots are vibrant in the organization, but it brings in a wide range of interests outside of agriculture while still providing that exposure to many agricultural avenues.

The four areas of programming for 4-H are agriculture, healthy living, civic engagement and science, technology, engineering and math.

“Kids don’t live on a farm but still are able to pursue their interests in 4-H,” Shupe said about the background of some 4-H members.

And, 4-H has led to other opportunities. For example, 4-H’ers Alyssa Schmid and McKenna Denholm participate in national shooting sports through 4-H.

For one of Stephanie’s sons, 4-H has led to an internship.

Gavin Shupe, a senior at Tonganoxie High School, had a focus on pet projects, which eventually led to teaching pet CPR classes.

He now is interning at Pleasant Valley Veterinarian Clinic in Tonganoxie and is looking into possibly becoming a veterinarian.

“Kids in 4-H are able to take their interests and move it toward a possible career,” Stephanie said.

Another component of 4-H is community involvement.

Each year the Happy Helpers 4-H Club has a concession stand during the Leavenworth County Fair. The top-selling item is taco salad, and a majority of the money raised through the foodstand goes toward supporting important causes, Stephanie said.

During the past few years the club has spent thousands of dollars during the Christmas holiday to support local families and senior citizens. With the help of the Leighty Grant, the club has been able to purchase a ceiling fan that is used in the show arena at the fairgrounds, new chairs for the 4-H building at the fairgrounds and a defibrillator that is kept in the fairgrounds administration building.

“The 4-H motto is ‘to make the best better’ and our 4-H members are always looking for ways to help make the Tonganoxie community a better place,” Stephanie said.

She noted that one of the club’s favorite activities is making valentines for residents at Vintage Park retirement community. For many years club members have gone caroling at local nursing homes. This year club members sang carols for residents at Vintage Park. Members also made Halloween decorations to give to Vintage Park residents.

She said the Basehor Historical Museum Society has created a 4-H exhibit at the museum in Basehor. She said Happy Helper organizers were planning to donate their original charter for display in the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society museum on Washington Street in Tonganoxie.