Laura Deas

DATE: 1/23/07

CONTACT: Margie Sippell, 803-684-9919 ext. 113; msippel@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, 864-656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

Local 4-H’er gives back to her community

YORK – Seventeen-year-old 4-H’er Laura Deas wanted to give back to her community.

She decided to help the local York County Crisis Pregnancy Center through her 4-H citizenship and leadership project.

Deas started in September of last year asking for donations of baby items from 4-H clubs, her church and other organizations. She now has a room full of baby items that she plans to place in baskets and donate to the Crisis Pregnancy Center within the next month. At her request, Deas’ 4-H sewing club is now sewing blankets for the center.

“Laura has had the honor of receiving a State 4-H Project Achievement Award in 2005 for her project work with livestock,” said Margie Sippell, Clemson Extension 4-H agent. “This fall she completed the State 4-H Ambassador Training to learn new ways to promote 4-H in her community. One of her goals in 4-H is to strengthen her citizenship and leadership skills and the project with the Crisis Pregnancy Center is just one way she is working to make a difference in York County. “

The Crisis Pregnancy Center is a non-profit agency offering compassionate peer counseling and assistance to women, teens, and parents -- prepared or unprepared for pregnancy. All services are provided free of charge.

Deas, a homeschooler, also plans to help spruce up the center soon by painting two of its rooms.

Being a 4-H’er for eight years has taught Deas to not only give something back to her community but also has helped her gain self confidence and become a teen leader.

“My livestock teachers will tell you when I first started 4-H, I was so shy I would not say a word in class, but now I can teach the class,” said Deas. “I also talk to groups of people about livestock, which I love to do.”

She’s involved in many other 4-H projects such as livestock judging, dairy heifer project, sewing club, supper club and other livestock projects. Deas now teaches younger 4-H’ers how to judge.

The 4-H Youth Development program is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. The South Carolina 4-H Youth Development Program uses a learn-by-doing approach, the involvement of caring adults, and the knowledge and resources of Clemson University and the land grant university system to empower youths to become healthy, productive and contributing members of society.

For more information about 4-H, contact Margie Sippel at 803-684-9919, Ext 113 or your local Clemson Extension office.

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