After 118 years of service, Texas 4-H will finally have a place to call home.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service recently announced a new Texas 4-H Youth Development headquarters will be located in a 23,300 square-foot facility currently being renovated at the RELLIS campus.
"We're really excited about it," said Montza Williams, AgriLife Extension Texas 4-H program director.
He said the two-story building will provide opportunities that the Texas 4-H program has not had before.
"It's got office space on the second floor, some conference rooms on the second floor, but the first floor is educational space," he said. "We're really excited about that, because we have not had that in the past. Since we serve all 254 counties in the state of Texas, it will give a place for people to come when they come to various events at Texas A&M."
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Scheduled to open in April, the facility will feature state-of-the-art classrooms and conference rooms, office space and a dedicated recording studio.
"We could all have programming there, and that is what is so exciting, because the space is available," Williams said. "Kids can come from all over the state and use the space. We will have ... designed programs that we offer in the space that people could come to and participate in and learn, and that's what we're all about, creating opportunities for kids, for young people, to learn and expand their world."
He said about 30 workers will be housed in the facility, including 4-H programming specialists and the Texas 4-H Foundation. The building is located next to the old chapel on campus.
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In a news release, Rick Avery, AgriLife Extension director, said the new headquarters represents a strategic investment, supporting AgriLife Extension's commitment to the future of Texas 4-H and the next generation of leaders.
"Texas is home to the largest 4-H program in America, and this facility will serve as more than just a headquarters -- it will be the home for transformative programming in youth development," Avery said. "This headquarters enhances our ability to provide opportunities that make lasting impacts in the lives of Texas youth."
Williams, who has worked for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for 37 years, said 4-H has evolved to keep up with the times and the needs of participants. Founded in 1908, Texas 4-H provides programs for 520,000 youth statewide in grades 3-12. The 4-H Clover Kids program is available for youngsters in kindergarten through second grade.
Founded as an agricultural program for rural children, Texas 4-H offers hands-on learning and leadership opportunities. Programs include agriculture and natural resources, STEM, health, family and community development and civic leadership.
"We've moved into probably more team things now," Willaims said.
He said the robotics program is very popular.
"We do robotics, but it's more so than just me as an individual doing robotics," Williams said. "I have a team that I do robotics with. So not only am I building the robot, but I'm talking to my teammates. I'm communicating with my teammates. I'm networking with other people. I'm learning about the project. I'm learning how to build my robot. I'm learning how to program my robot. But the collaboration, the networking, the communication, all of that takes place around that robotics project."
Williams noted that Oct. 5-11 is National 4-H Week. The theme this year is Beyond Ready.
"We hope that we have prepared our kids to be ready for whatever they move into after high school. So whether that's college, university, trade school, military, work, we hope that we have helped to prepare them for life, and so that's whatever life offers," he said. "So when they get to college, get to a university, get to a trade school, they feel like they are confident, competent and ready to tackle the challenges that those things offer."
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