To the Editor:

4-H is as important today to Fairfield County youth as it has been for the last 100 years. Programs have changed to meet the changes in our society, but the core values are still the same: Head, Heart, Hands and Health.

What does this mean?

Head: Youth in 4-H learn to communicate their ideas through public speaking programs and organizing schedules and goals through club officer positions.

Heart: They learn to care for another living being besides themselves, whether that is for an animal or members of their community.

Hands: They learn by doing. Taking care and documenting their projects (yes former 4-Hers, we still do our record books!) or building things with their own hands.

Health: They discover healthy ways to negotiate and work within a group. Clubs are made up of boys and girls, ages 8 to 18, with the older members serving as mentors to the younger members.

There are clubs focused on community service, zoo animals, leadership, art, dogs, horses, robotics and more.

Now 4-H is losing the home it has had for over 70 years. Since the Stony Hill Preserve has taken over the property at 67-69 Stony Hill Road in Bethel five years ago, Fairfield County 4-H has been slowly pushed out.

Clubs are no longer able to use the meeting room because that has been turned into a rental hall (including several parties with neighborhood complaints and requiring police involvement). This building was purchased by 4-H members through fundraisers and club dues — it was moved to Bethel from the Shepaug Dam site.

Now 4-H is being evicted from the property with UConn Extension for reasons unknown to us

Stony Hill Preserve should return the property to the Ag Council or adhere to the original stipulations of the property so that it can be used for agricultural education. Programs like 4-H and Master Gardeners should be able to continue to use the property in the manner that was originally intended when it was donated to the Ag. Council 70 years ago.

Please support the effort for continued access to these facilities so our club members can continue to “Make the Best Better.”

Alison and Bob Rogers

Bethel