Triangle 4-H Christmas tree program starts

The holiday season is here and what better way to give back than to support the local 4-H groups.

Triangle 4-H is continuing their annual Christmas tree fundraiser where all proceeds directly benefit the youth.

Christmas trees will be available at Bootjack Equipment Rental and Feed (5039 Cole Road) beginning Nov. 28 until sold out.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The fundraiser began around 1993 when Bootjack Rental and Feed first opened their doors.

“It was arranged by leadership at the time and it’s been going on every year since,” said MarLee Golden.

The trees used to be delivered by truck from Oregon but these days volunteers make the drive to pick up the trees and bring them back to Bootjack over Thanksgiving.

“All of the proceeds go to 4-H,” Golden said.

“The money is used to help fund enrollment for members, 4-H camps and any community service activities.”

The need for new members and volunteers

Over the past few years, many of the 4-H groups have struggled with numbers.

“Ever since covid, the club’s numbers have really decreased,” said Monica Nielsen.

“We’re really trying to build back up.”

The Triangle 4-H group’s club leader is Beth Broomfield and the club meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Grace Community Church, 3367 Woodland Drive (next to the Woodland Park).

Current projects include poultry, rabbits, swine, goats and arts and crafts.

The club is looking to add baking, gardening and possibly rocketry.

“The kids love rocketry,” Nielsen said.

Members can also join shooting sports as a cross county project in Merced.

“It can be difficult because each project requires two leaders,” Nielsen continued.

“The minimum for every project is six hours worth of meetings in total.”

Along with new members and volunteers, the group is in search of new projects.

It’s important to note that if a volunteer has an interest in a particular topic but feels they do not have enough knowledge to teach it, there are curriculum and tools to help.

“You don’t have to know everything,” Nielsen said.

“We have tools and resources to help.”

The organization participates in several annual events each year which include the Christmas Parade, Wreaths Across America, Winter Fun Day Ice Skating, Summer Fun Day, Camp Tweety and many others.

“We’d really like to increase our numbers and keep the program going,” Nielsen said.

“We’ve never really recovered since covid.”

For more information about local 4-H groups, visit 4-h.org/about/find/ or contact Ira Jones, 4-H Youth Development Coordinator at (209) 966-2417.