Trending
KINSMAN -- Carla Smith has been involved with Trumbull County 4-H programs her entire life.
She is a lifelong resident of Kinsman, and much of her time has been devoted to working with the Busy Bees.
Smith said the current Busy Bees 4-H club, which she advises, is the second version of the program. She said she was part of the original Busy Bees club when she was a child, from third through 12th grade.
"I remember learning to cook as a group. It was a bunch of young girls getting together to learn how to cook, learn how to sew," Smith said. "We would do some odd things. We had an older adviser and she loved to watch birds and go on nature hikes, so she would sometimes pick up a category like that. We would do exploring things, like learning to cook outdoors."
Smith remembers her early days with the 4-H program fondly. But Smith said after she finished her time with the club, the Busy Bees disbanded.
Smith said Kinsman was without the Busy Bees club for several years.
In 1998, Smith, along with several other members of the original club, joined to form the second edition of club.
"Some members of the original Busy Bees reorganized the group because it had not been a group for awhile," she said.
"The moms got together, because their kids were a part of that next generation, and reorganized the Busy Bees. My daughter was one of that group."
Smith said she officially became an adviser of the new Busy Bees in 2000.
She said as an adviser, she helps organize several facets of the club. She said she helps find meeting locations and advertises the club is available for those who might be interested. She also looks to invite kids to the club to learn skills and make sure they are completing their projects.
"Not everybody does sewing and cooking," Smith said. "We have electricity; we have rocketry; there is a wide variety. Sometimes I have to match them up in the community with someone who has that knowledge more than I do."
One area Smith is passionate about is helping kids learn to conduct meetings in a parliamentary setting, following Robert's Rules of Order. She said the meetings help prepare the members for the future.
"You have a president that leads the meeting by saying the 4-H pledge and the Pledge of Allegiance," Smith said. "They discuss the old business, new business, the treasury report, the secretary's minutes from the last meeting. The children have responsibilities. Some of the children taking responsibilities can be very young … We impress on them, 'When you make a motion, you're making a motion for the group, does the group agree?' It's recorded. Just like years later when you're in business and you're sitting on some executive board, you're making a suggestion, that's written down, it goes back to record. Learning life skills is the biggest thing in 4-H."
Smith is a 1980 graduate of Badger High School. After high school, Smith attended Kent State University in Kent, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing.
Smith has spent much of her life helping with 4-H and the Busy Bees. She said it is fulfilling to see the kids she once advised go on to achieve great things as adults.
"They've done a lot; they don't sit back," Smith said. "These kids are doers."