Lago Vista resident and Austin firefighter Ed Tidwell had a vision in 2008 to create a 4-H program for the North Shore area that would encourage children to develop life skills and get involved in the community. On Sunday, that vision could be realized.
“I have been waiting two to three years to do this, and personally I was just too busy at the time,” he said. “4-H is about a personal project, but a lot of it is geared toward the community, and working to benefit the community.”
After researching the program online, and contacting the county agent, Tidwell put his desire into action by offering his 15 acres of land to make it possible for the program to exist.
“Typically when people think of 4-H, they think of animal husbandry and all animal-orientated, but the program has so many different projects and opportunities,” Tidwell said. “That is the most recognized project, but there are over 400 projects that 4-H has a curriculum for.”
After registering, a child picks a project from under a number of different areas anywhere from gardening and sewing to several sciences, as well as political science and archery.
“The project has different phases in which the kids learn so many different things,” Tidwell said. “They start with an organizing, planning phase, and then go into many different aspects of it, where they keep ledgers of finances, daily journals of their progress. And at the end, they exhibit their project to the community or the group when it reaches completion.”
Members must re-register every year in August according to 4-H rules, but new people interested can register at any time. Though the program has not officially started, Tidwell has at least 17 families interested, and estimates about 25 kids will participate in the start of the program.
“The motto is learning by doing, and I don’t think there is any program that offers that opportunity like 4-H does,” Tidwell said. “I know there is Girl/Boy Scouts, but I don’t think it is as nearly as extensive or requires quite the commitment level of kids and involves and benefits the whole family.”
The program will use community facilities for monthly meetings until the 4-H program fully utilizes Tidwell’s property. The program is a non-profit, and relies mostly on participation and donations to function. For anyone interested in becoming a part of the program, contact Tidwell at 804-832-3759 or visit Travis4h.com.
“If someone wants to do rockets for a project, I don’t necessarily know how to build a rocket, but I will work with them; it’s learning experience for all of us,” Tidwell said. “I hope there is enough knowledge within the community that people can step up and contribute, lead and sponsor these kids and their projects.”

—Kelsey Wesolick, Staff Intern