“Hot Chocolate Hullabaloo” is the theme for the December 4-H Afterschool program. This will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 14 and 21 from 3:30- 5 p.m. at the Barton County Extension Office meeting room. To sign up for one or both days, please call 793-1910 by noon on Wednesday the 14th. The suggested age is 6-12 years old. We also need some 4-H junior leaders to come help with the program!
 Hullabaloo is a fun term that I have always thought meant “excitement”. The real definition includes synonyms like commotion, uproar, bedlam, chaos and pandemonium! I can promise you we are not going to have an “uproar” at the Extension Office but we are going to have fun learning about food and gift giving. We will also talk about food choices and why we choose certain foods?
 This is also a good time to thank JC Penney for their century old commitment to help American’s youth reach their full potiential. For over a decade now, JC Penney and 4-H have teamed up to grow the JC Penney Afterschool Fund on a national level. Locally our local JC Penney store supports the round up program. When you make a purchase you will be asked, “would like to “round up to the next whole dollar?” It is amazing how your small change could make a big difference in a child’s life. The program will continue this month until December 12th.  Thanks to our local JC Penney store employees for their commitment to this program!
 Another program that might be of interest to you is our 4-H junior leader program. The junior leaders (age 12 - 18) will be meeting at the Extension Office on Sunday, December 11 from 3-5 p.m. at the Extension Office to make some plans for the new year.  If you would like to learn more about the 4-H program and the opportunities for teenagers, please give us a call at the Extension Office 793-1910.
Berny Unruh is the 4-H and Youth Development Extension Agent in Barton County. She is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune.  She can be reached at 620-793-1910 or at bunruh@ksu.edu.