Children with the “Wednesday Wonders” group enjoy a snack and an activity, lead by Diana Morrow, at Allovars Community House in Long Creek.

Local 4-H has returned to Long Creek through a collaboration between Allovars Community House and Oregon State University, which awarded a grant to promote the youth program in rural communities.

We remember 4-H as children, meetings at different neighbors’ homes for Extension: cooking, sewing and animal husbandry. Communities united with church, school and family, and remaining so, even after more than 50 years. Today 4-H teaches wonderful values and work ethics – American traditions like “fair time” with the sounds, smells, displays and entries. Nothing compares to winning a blue ribbon.

And with the world in such tribulations, our kids need to get back to basics, and wholesome mentors and companionships.

Growing up, we never knew who would be sitting across from us a mealtime. If someone happened to stop by and stayed until time to eat, they ate. There was always plenty. And if the weather was bad, they spent the night, which depended on Mom – who came in the house, ate on the porch and slept in the barn.

Mom canned and raised chickens and gardened. Dad hunted and farmed; he never butchered the cattle – pigs and chickens and game were for meat. There was a very tall pole with a large light focused down toward the river, and if the game warden was near and Dad was hunting, the light would not be on.

Recently, the “Wednesday Wonders” after school group, which Silver Kelley allows to meet at her Allovars home, built paper rockets under the supervision of the 4-H leaders, sponsored through OSU, and launched them skyward via an air-powered, foot-controlled launching device.

It was great fun for the 12 boys and girls from Long Creek School, and of course there were plenty of snacks for the pilots and observers.

Reiba Carter Smith and Gaye Pruit are members of the Long Creek Historical Society.