Students looking for an extracurricular activity can soon sign up for Covington County 4-H.

Covington County 4-H agent Tanya Bales said that those already involved in 4-H have had a busy summer, including participating in a Tractor Supply Co., fundraiser that placed money back into the community.

“We came out to Tractor Supply Co. with our chicken and rabbit club,” She said. “Tractor Supply Co. earned the Class Champion award for meeting the company goals during the 4-H/TSC Spring 2012 Paper Clover Promotion. Andalusia’s TSC store had 15 percent of all transactions include a 4-H paper clover purchase. During the 12-day promotion, the store raised more than $200 for 4-H in Covington County.

Bales said only 10 stores in the state received this distinction.

Bales said she’s excited to recruit more students to the 4-H program, which is open to any student in the county, who are ages 9 through 19.

“We have what’s called ‘Clover Buds’ for children under 9,” she said. “It’s so they can participate, but they aren’t able to do any competitions. It’s for them to get an idea of what 4-H is all about.”

Bales described 4-H as a leadership organization.

“We concentrate on speaking, interviewing, life skills and promoting self esteem,” she said. “They also learn record keeping skills. The best part is it’s free, where a lot of other clubs aren’t. We also have activities that suit most any child’s interests.”

Bales said last school year, nearly 1,200 students countywide participated in the program, and recruitment for this year will begin the month of September.

“I visit each classroom one a month,” she said. “Then students have the opportunity to participate in our many activities outside the classroom.”

Among the activities and clubs available through 4-H are a cooking club, which meets every other Thursday after school throughout the school year.

“We’ll actually kick that off next Tuesday, when we serve food to the Covington County Cattlemen’s Association,” Bales said.

A leadership luau is slated for Oct. 25, with leadership games and public speaking drills.

“Once school gets in full swing, we’ll do rabbits and chickens and more,” she said. “We’re also going to have 4-H exhibits at the Covington County Fair.”

For more information on 4-H, call 222-1125.