By Darlene Bowers
Head, heart, hands and health are the four Hs of 4-H, the cornerstone values of 4-H and the main elements of the 4-H pledge. These values also comprise the daily living of Amy Spar, one of Ada’s Liberty Belles and Boys 4-H club advisors.
Amy grew up in Xenia, Ohio, and has firsthand recollections of the historic and devastating tornado outbreak that affected her town in 1974. In 1986 Amy came to Ada for more affordable housing while working at Lima Memorial Hospital.
As a newlywed in 1988, Amy and her husband, Don, lived in town at first and now live on the family farm site just outside of town with their three children, Lorna (University of Dayton student), Aaron and Isaac.
Head – “Deep down, I’m an educator,” says Amy, “I love to see young people learn new information and skills.” Earning her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from The Ohio State University in Columbus and later earning her master’s degree in speech and language pathology, Amy continually uses her head and puts her learning to use in her job and as a 4-H advisor. 4-H offers many different projects that members can explore.
“There are so many opportunities for the kids to pursue as they get older; serving as a camp counselor, helping on junior fair board at the county fair or even attending national camps through 4-H,” shares Amy.
4-H meetings are conducted by elected officers, and members are introduced to parliamentary procedure and the workings of business meetings. Many clubs focus on service projects and community activities too. Members pick one or more projects and then learn about creating, exhibiting, sharing and judging associated with that project.
Traditional projects such as livestock and culinary are still available alongside newer offerings such as robotics and scrapbooking. All projects emphasize methods and steps to gain knowledge and acquire skills with advisors serving as an additional resource.
Heart—Amy’s heart is easy to see as she interacts with members and advisors of Liberty Belles and Boys, a 4-H club celebrating 78 years. As she shares some of her favorite memories of 4-H as a youth, Amy’s love of the organization shows.
“I didn’t live on a farm, but I had friends who did and we’d sit in the fair barns on show boxes and play cards during the fair,” recalls Amy with a grin. Amy also shares some lovely recollections of herself and her sisters modeling their sewing projects in the 4-H Style Show and fondly recalls a particular wool outfit that she sewed; a gray blazer, vest and scarlet and gray wool plaid wraparound skirt. That outfit is still in one of her closets.
4-H projects take a considerable amount of work and dedication to be done well. Amy says she laments not having enough time at meetings as an advisor to delve into the projects as much as she’d like. She empathizes that the assistance with project work probably falls on the parents.
Hands— Amy eagerly joins in the Pledge of Allegiance with hand over heart and the 4-H pledge recitation which involves hand motions too. Amy’s first 4-H experience as a youth in Greene County was with The CharCools, a perfect name for an outdoor cookery club. Pins, Pots, and Posies was another of Amy’s clubs where she took many of her sewing projects and also remembers vegetable gardening, career exploration, and furniture finishing projects all encouraging the growth of specific hands-on skills.
Liberty Belles and Boys 4-H members are required to give a demonstration or illustrated talk each year in front of other club members and advisors. The demonstration is often project-related. The idea is to give members exposure to sharing the hands-on learning they have gained.
“It’s fun as a leader to see the members mature and their speaking skills improve as they get over any fear of public speaking.”
Health—Amy’s career is the health field. During the school year Amy commutes to Bellefontaine‘s Logan County Discovery Center, a one-stop spot for preschool services where she serves as a speech and language pathologist.
Amy also works for Lima Memorial Hospital as a registered dietician and helps out part time in the dialysis unit as well. Amy enjoys sewing (when she can find the time), cooking and canning. “I like to be outside and enjoy gardening,” says Amy who often enters her garden’s bounty in the county fair. “I also enjoy reading,” says Amy who currently listens to books on tape to utilize her commuting time.
As well as serving as chauffeur and cheerleader for her children’s activities, Amy is an active volunteer for the Ada School band and choir programs and serves on the worship team and as back-up clavinova player at Sugar Grove Methodist Church.
Nearly all of her life, Amy has been either a member or advisor of 4-H and continues to exemplify the cornerstone values of head, heart, hands and health.
