Budding leaders-to-be explore world of learning in 4-H.

Byline: Bonnie Russell

SPENCER - The members of the Cloverbuddies 4-H Club and a few of their siblings participated in a hands-on, hands-in, hands-out and hands-about activity during a recent trip to Bemis Farms Nursery in Spencer.

The youngsters each filled two six-packs with fertilized potting soil, then planted seeds in each container, watered them and inserted identifying markers to label them as tomatoes, lettuce, Johnny-jump-ups, cosmos, marigolds and sweet peas - all under the eye of Tina Rovito Bemis, co-owner of Bemis Farms.

Mrs. Bemis took the group on a tour of the greenhouses and explained how to sow the seeds and tend them so they grow into healthy plants.

Ginny Openshaw, the Cloverbuddies 4-H Club leader, hopes this and other lessons will take root in the minds of the children, growing them into strong leaders and good citizens.

The name Cloverbuddies was chosen because the kids are part of 4-H's Cloverbuds program, giving children ages 5 through 8 the opportunity to explore a number of different areas such as plants, animals, cooking, sewing and environment.

Mrs. Openshaw said she and co-leader Carolyn Jette try a little bit of everything so the children can see what piques their interest. "If they have the exposure, they might find an interest and a passion. They might say `Hey, you know what? I really love guinea pigs or dog obedience,'" she said. This could lead to joining a club with a specific theme such as dogs or the pursuit of a hobby.

The children took their plants home and may enter them into a 4-H competition. Although they are not eligible for prizes yet, they may receive ribbons in acknowledgement of the work they have done, Mrs. Openshaw said.

The group meets from 5 to 6:30 p.m. every other Wednesday at Camp Marshall in Spencer. Mrs. Openshaw also leads, with Ellen Standish, another 4-H club in Spencer, the Camp Marshall Clovers, for children ages 5-18. They meet from 3 to 5 p.m. one Sunday a month at Camp Marshall.

Mrs. Bemis was once a 4-H leader and welcomes the opportunity to assist the organization with projects and promotions. The 4-H'ers in turn assist with the annual free Easter egg hunt, which Mrs. Bemis and her husband, Edward, host each spring.

This year's egg hunts will be held from 9 to 9:30 a.m., 11 to 11:30 a.m., 1 to 1:30 p.m. and 3 to 3:30 p.m. April 11 at Bemis Farms Nursery, 29 North Brookfield Road.

Both the Cloverbuddies and Camp Marshall Clovers will be participating.

"They bring their baby animals and the children who come to the egg hunt can see and pet them," Mrs. Bemis said.

Michelle Woodward, the assistant leader of the Camp Marshall Clovers, will be bringing some of her own animals, including four pygmy goats, ducks, chickens and bunnies.

"The animals are a big hit. Kids can feed the animals. We bring little carrots," Mrs. Woodward said.

In addition to the petting zoo, Worcester County 4-H members and staff will have a table with 4-H literature.

Any girl and boy between 5 and 18 is welcome to join a 4-H club. The clubs vary in topic or theme, but all are built on the premise of the four H's - head, heart, hands and health - which represent independence, belonging, generosity and mastery, with the goal of teaching youths to be leaders through volunteering in their communities.

After-school clubs are another type of 4-H program. Lynn Snelling leads one at Wire Village in Spencer and another in West Brookfield, Mrs. Openshaw said.

"I also lead the Quinsigamond Cool Kids, an after-school club for children 5 to 10, which meets from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. every other Friday at Quinsigamond Community Center in Worcester. The club was established to bring awareness of 4-H and its programs to kids that already meet in structured after-school programs," Mrs. Openshaw said.

For more information on joining a 4-H club, a complete listing of clubs can be found at www.mass4h.org, or call [phone].

ART: PHOTOS

PHOTOG: T&G Staff/JIM COLLINS

CUTLINE: (1) Spencer 4-H Cloverbuddies Jordyn Trombly, 8, Caitlyn Openshaw, 8, Nolan Courtney, 4, Bethany Lindstedt, 6, Natalie Courtney, 5, and Julianne Lindstedt, 4, fill containers with potting soil to plant seeds in during a visit to Bemis Farms Nursery in Spencer. (2) Caitlyn Openshaw puts flower seeds in her growing mix. (3) In right photo, Nolan Courtney waters the seeds he planted. (4) Tina Rovito Bemis, right, shows Spencer 4-H Cloverbuddies how to fill containers with potting soil during their visit to Bemis Farms Nursery in Spencer.