4-H recognized for exposing youth to global cultures

BROOKINGS — As she prepares for her senior year, South Dakota 4-Her, Shelby Hinkle of Highmore is getting ready to expand her global perspective by traveling to Japan and living with a host family for a month.
“I am really interested in Japanese culture and want to experience what life is like in a foreign country,” explains the 17-year-old Holabird native.
Hinkle was first exposed to Japanese culture when her family hosted Natsuki, a 14-year-old youth from Japan, two summers ago as part of the States’ 4-H International Exchange Program. Hinkle will travel to Japan through this same program.
With a mission to enhance youth’s world understanding and increase global citizenship through international, cultural immersion, States’ 4-H International Exchange Program has been orchestrating exchanges for middle and high school 4-H youth since 1972.
“Especially in today’s world, young people can greatly benefit from gaining a global perspective. They need to understand what is happening throughout the world in order to enhance their mutual understanding and acceptance of other cultures,” says Yoko Kawaguchi, President and CEO of States’ 4-H International Exchange Program.
Since partnering with the organization in 1979, South Dakota 4-H has hosted about 650 delegates from Japan, Costa Rica, Norway and Finland. Through the decades, 30 South Dakota 4-H members, like Hinkle, have traveled abroad through States’ 4-H International exchanges.

Hinkle’s older sister, Brittany, first introduced the family to the program when she traveled to Costa Rica for a month-long exchange. The sister’s mom, Kristi, says after Brittany returned, she was sold on the program and the value it provides to South Dakota youth.
“The experience helped her grow up quite a bit. The experience really brought her out of her shell and four weeks away from her parents was a good step toward maturity,” Kristi says.
In fact, Kristi was so impressed by the program, that when the previous coordinator asked her to take over the position she didn’t hesitate.
“I enjoy seeing how much the youth change after living in a different country for a month,” says Kristi, who is a 4-H leader and the owner of New Beginnings Greenhouse in Highmore.
Although serving as coordinator of South Dakota’s States’ 4-H International program is not a fulltime job, the role comes with a lot of responsibility. Kristi locates and vets qualifying host families, host orientations and trainings and helps outbound youth and families through the application process. Each year, South Dakota needs about 15 host families.
Kristi and South Dakota’s States’ 4-H International program was recently recognized with the Outstanding Quality Program Award.
“Kristi has a great excitement and passion for this program. Her new ideas and energy have helped the program grow in South Dakota,” Kawaguchi says.
To learn more about how you can become involved in South Dakota’s States’ 4-H International program, as a 4-H youth or host family, contact Kristi Hinkle at 605-852-2298 or e-mail her at sd4hyouthexchangeprograms@gmail.com.

Photo:

As she prepares for her senior year, South Dakota 4-Her, Shelby Hinkle of Highmore (far right), is getting ready to expand her global perspective by traveling to Japan and living with a host family for a month. She is pictured here with a Japanese delegate the family hosted, Aya, and Shelby’s brother, Conner.

Courtesy photo