Local 4H youth attend Heartland overnight camp

Members of the Dunklin County 4H Club, including, front row: Scott Jackson Smart, counselor, of Clarkton, Mo.; Sam McHaney, of Kennett; Britlyn Pikey, counselor, of Kennett; Tatum Lowry, of Kennett; Joe Mobley, of Kennett; Back row: Dalton Jackson Smart, of Clarkton; Cheyenne Long, of Kennett; Max Mobley, of Kennett; recently attended the Heartland 4H Camp at Bloomfield, Mo. Photo provided

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Eight members of the Dunklin County 4H Club, along with 57 members from six counties, recently attended the 2009 Heartland 4H Overnight Camp.

The eight members who attended the camp included Kennett residents Sam McHaney, Britlyn Pikey, Tatum Lowry, Joe Mobley, Max Mobley, and Cheyenne Long, as well as Clarkton, Mo., residents Scott Jackson Smart and Dalton Jackson Smart.

The camp, which took place at the SEMO Youth Camp at Lake Wappapello, ran from July 14 to July 16, according to 4H Youth Specialist Clara Green.

Green said 4H members from Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, Ripley, and Stoddard Counties spent the three-day-event learning craftsmanship from various leaders.

"The 4-H members also learned about Native American Art works from Arrowhead Fred [and] a spokesman from Scott City taught them about various tools that Native Americans used and how they used them," Green said. "Gary Tyler of SEMO University, continued the effort of discussing ideas and themes of Native American culture [and club] members danced to the tunes of Allen Shulse."

Green said volunteer leaders, Phyllis Flanigan, Ronnie Martin, J.T. Brehmer, Jerry Hale, Angie Hale, Iris Elfrink, A.B. Hale, Kim Lowry, Martha Mobley, Dawn Smart, and EMT Artie Smart, provided expert assistance throughout the camp experience and deserve a special "Thank you."

"[The club members] had a really good time at camp and it was a bonding experience for them," said volunteer Kim Lowry of Kennett. "They got to meet kids from all over the different counties. The really cool thing about it is they don't always have time to bond at rodeos, [but] at camp, it is a more relaxing experience."

During the course of the camp, meals were provided the Butler County 4H Council, the Stoddard County Extension Council, Tyson Food, and Jeff and Lisa Brown of Dexter, Mo., according to Green.

Green also said the University of Missouri 4H staff, 4H members and leaders made several donations and spent time benefiting the 4H youth from the six counties attending camp.