grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

I was a 4-H Dropout.

By

4-H dropout

…excerpt from my book (coming soon…) 

I was happiest sitting in my bedroom playing with Barbies or lying underneath a shade tree reading all day. Realizing I was shy and possibly headed down the path of a backward farm girl, Momma signed me up for playgroups and charm school and all kinds of functions I never much enjoyed. In fact, all the Keiser mothers plotted ways to force their children together as often as possible—a break for the adults, an opportunity for the kids to learn a few social skills.

Last year the mothers formed a 4-H group for all the girls. At last, a real club. Something I could get behind.

“Momma will we get to wear special uniforms?” I asked.

“Maybe so,” she said as she poured tea in all the glasses. I could tell she wasn’t really listening to me because she started whining to Daddy about how she needed a new car. I wasn’t paying much attention to them either. Even though it seemed I was only eating supper, I was busy memorizing the official 4-H pledge for our first meeting tomorrow after school. Plus I was thinking about the pig I would raise in our backyard.

Right off I realized the mothers had no idea about the inner workings of a proper 4-H club. Instead of raising a cow or building a chicken coop, we learned to make no-bake lemon icebox pies.

What kind of fake 4-H club was this?!

I didn’t want a cooking badge. I had already perfected a variety of desserts with my Easy Bake Oven. I needed livestock.

How many times had I explained to my friends—yes we are farmers, no we don’t raise animals, yes we grow cotton and soybeans and wheat. It was like we had half a farm—the boring half.  I stuck with 4-H an entire long year because Momma made me, but I never saw or touched or smelled a single farm animal. I always wondered if I quit right before it got good.

Grace Grits and Gardening

4-H Pledge:

I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
and my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world. 

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Comments

  1. Talya, thanks for the little piece of reading today. Can’t wait to read the whole story when you publish.
    Thanks for a relaxed morning start!
    Winnie

  2. I too had a mother who sponsored a 4-H club. That’s where I first met Anita. It must have been after your departure. Again, a great read that brings so many memories to mind.

    • I had two years of Home Ec too. I think the world needs more Home Ec… Thanks Pat!

  6. Great read. I can’t wait to see the whole book and read it from start to finish. I just know it is going to happen; you have worked so hard for this.

  7. I had to giggle a little about your 4H experience. I was in 4H too but never had animals. I remember 4H being really fun. My kids are in it now but hate the meetings. They only do it for the ribbons and the experience of making the projects. Loved strolling down memory lane with you! ♥

  9. A story on my blog, Brownie Drops Out, is similar, but from a different angle. I love your last statement, “I always wondered if I quit just before it got good!” I hope you got to touch a farm animal.

  12. Talya, you are a very good writer. From all the comments you can see how you brought your reader into the story and so many of them identified with your experiences. Waiting for the whole book.

  15. At last! I have been so anxious to see a page from your book and it is everything I hoped for and more. You are a fantastic writer and I can’t wait to hold your book in my hands!

  16. Enjoyed the excerpt. Count on me for a copy of your book when it is published! I wasn’t in 4-H but your words triggered fond memories of canning and home ec. projects. I loved those times.

  19. Very cool. Looking forward to the rest of the story.

    I guess for us boys, Cub Scouts served as a place to hone our social skills. That was short-lived for me too.

    • I remember when all the boys wore their cub scout uniforms to school:) Including you.

  20. As a town girl, I thought 4H was about animals, too. I’m trying to picture you with that piglet. Pretty cute picture, I might add. I’d say you’d have been up to the task but doubt he’d ever made it to market.

  21. Awesomenth, Talya!=) I’m not an avid book reader, but, I do have my “bibliophilistical” moments, and I’ll definitely read this one by one of my all-time most favorite authors.=) Please keep us informed on when and where to buy it…I’m looking forward to holding that book in my hands….just sayin’…=). And also, I’m sorry that you didn’t get Wilbur for a pet, but at least you had that poor ol’ Peepin’ Tom Turkey stop in for Thanksgiving that one year.=) I guess somethings better than nothing.=)

    footnote: Awesomenth means Awesome to the nth degree!

  24. Oh, Talya – my dear cousin. You make me LOL sooo often! I don’t think I was ever in 4H but my Courtney was in it during junior high and high school. She loved it and did get to touch many farm animals. She STILL (at 24) LOVES and raises her goats (her farm animal of choice). In fact, they are getting bred at this very moment. (Well, maybe not this EXACT moment, but you know what I mean!) However, I did win a Home-Ec award in high school. I am still proud of that little accolade and the little pin I got. I guess my cooking was good enough to overlook the ugly little apron I made. 🙂 Love all your writing and can’t wait for my signed copy of your best-seller! XOXOXOX 🙂

  27. Good reading. Certainly brings 4H Days back to me. 4H was always fun for us and I did have a pig named RED. I am anxious to read more. Great job…

    • Thanks, Marilyn. This excerpt didn’t make the book – maybe in my actual memoir if that ever gets written:)

  28. Howdy! I did some 4-H classes one summer! We met at the Courthouse in a really stuffy room underneath. I tried to sew, take pictures with my Mom’s old Brownie camera and my new Instamatic Kodak Camera, and some kind of craft thing with legumes and beans…… epic fail!!! But what I remember most, and treasure, are those times we got together and played…either at my house or yours. It was soooooooo much fun!! After running with my brothers, time spent with you and your sister was always priceless to me. And I KNOW the Momma’s loved it!!! 🙂 Love the Tate Girls!!

    • Sara – Remember how we always played with your brothers in your backyard and our favorite game was Let’s Make a Deal???! How hilarious was that. I need to write a story about that. We were so creative:) Love you and all those memories.

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!