Summer Is a Building Season: The Skills You Can’t Grade

This week on the Extension Connection Podcast, Jessica Jackson with 4-H is talking all about why summer is more than just time out of school—it’s a season for growth. From Safe Sitter and CPR classes to fair projects, camps, and hands-on learning, we’ll chat about the life skills young people build along the way—things like confidence, responsibility, leadership, and resilience that don’t always show up on a report card but make a lasting impact for years to come.

Transcript

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Greetings, everyone, and welcome back to the Extension Connection podcast. I'm your co-host, Jessica Jackson, the 4-H agent here in Polk County Extension Office. I don't know about y'all, but I can just feel it in the air right now. Summer is almost here. The classrooms are getting a little louder, students are getting a little harder to keep still, and I can feel the buzz of excitement building every single day. Integrated testing is wrapping up, backpacks are getting a little lighter, and families are starting to talk about summer plans. These can be anything from 4-H camp, vacations, church camp, or even,, any type of sports camp. And in a small county like ours, when May shows up, we all know what that means. Summer is knocking at the door. And I'll tell you what, this time of year in the 4-H world is busy, real busy. But it's the kinda busy I love. It's the kind of good chaos where you know kids are growing, families are planning, and opportunities are coming together all at once. So today we're gonna talk about a few things that really matter this time of year, summer planning, getting ready for Mountain State Fair, and those skills that don't ever show up on a report card. Now let's be honest for a minute. Kids work hard all year long, and sometimes that report card comes home, and it doesn't quite reflect everything they've been doing. That can be a little discouraging for students and for families. And here's something I want you guys to think about and hear it. A report card may show academics, but it doesn't always show determination, confidence, or the ability to keep trying after setbacks. Yes, it shows their grades where they have been trying, but it doesn't measure their responsibility, their work ethic, their time management, communication, problem-solving, leadership skills, and seeing if they're resilient when they don't succeed, but they keep trying again and again. And those are the things that really build a young person because at the end of the day, grades is just a small part of it. But life skills, those tell a different story. And if we see those skills growing every day through programs such as 4-H, it makes a difference. Let's get to a topic that is quietly creeping up on us, fair season. I know it feels so far away, but it really isn't. Four months may seem far away, but it's not. And if you've ever been around fair season... You know something important. What people see in those few days is just the tip of the iceberg because behind every project, every ribbon, every exhibit, you've got months of work that nobody sees. These can include things from tasks from daily livestock care, your project preparation, long hours and commitment, record books and organization, and not to mention the practice before competitions. That's where the learning happens because fair doesn't just happen in one day. It's built day by day. A fair may last a few days, but the preparation has been happening for months. And that kind of consistency, that's where res-responsibility grows. That's where kids learn what it means to show up even when they don't feel like it, to keep going even when it gets hard. When kids work on projects, whether it's livestock, sewing, photography, cooking, or even creative writing, it opens doors they didn't even know were there. It challenges them. It gets them trying things they may have never chosen on their own. And sometimes that's exactly how they find out what they're gonna be passionate about. It's not always with a big plan, but with small projects at a time, one new experience or one, "Let's just try it and see if you like it." And that's something that I think makes 4-H so special. Kids aren't just learning skills, they're discovering who they are, Now, I want to share something a little personal with y'all today. Recently, I've had what I can only describe a full circle moment, and I've had a few of these with you guys over the podcast the past year. Years ago, well, 17 years to be exact, I was an FFA student at the local high school. I was working on my senior project, and I also attended IFALL that summer, which is the Institute for Future Agriculture Leaders at NC State, which was sponsored by Farm Bureau. At the time, I didn't realize it, but those experiences were shaping everything that was coming next. And now today, I'm sitting here as a 4-H agent in my hometown, also serving on the Farm Bureau Women's Committee for Polk. And recently, we were selected to host the State Women's Leadership Committee for Farm Bureau. I got to be a part of the planning that included meals, schedules, decoration, getting local products to give out as gifts. And it was a lot of work, but it was a good kind of work, the kind that makes you proud. And then when we stopped and we visited the Polk County High School to see their school farm where I graduated from the high school I, it hit me. Farm Bureau helped sponsor my IFALL experience seventeen years ago, and here I am standing in the same county giving back in a completely different way. I wasn't a top-of-the-class student. I had to work hard for every gain. Academics were not the easiest for me, but those experience taught me something a report card never could. They taught me resilience, patience, communication, confidence, and how to keep good at going when things don't go exactly the way you plan. Because we all seem to have a plan, but sometimes it never goes our way. And sometimes we have to learn to go with the flow, and I think that's a big deal with resilience and patience. So as we roll into summer, I want to leave your families with this though. Summer isn't just a break. It's a building season. It's where kids grow independence, try new things, step into responsibility, and start discovering what they're capable of. And sometime, that looks like signing up for something like a safe sitter class because maybe you want to earn a little money this summer and start babysitting. Or maybe you're working toward a CPR certification because you're thinking about becoming a lifeguard one day, or simply because you want to prepare and be confident in an emergency. And I just have to say, I've been so excited lately seeing how many students are signing up for these kinds of classes through Four H right here at a local center in Polk County. And it really reminds me that summer isn't just about keeping kids busy. It's about building them. So if you're looking for ways to encourage your kids this summer, think about beyond just camps and activities. Look for these hands-on opportunities through local programs and community organizations, and also encourage them to take a project to the county fair. It might seem far away, but those ideas start-- but those ideas and skills start now because summer isn't just time off. It's a season for growing new skills, discovering new interests, and stepping into who they're becoming. So yes, enjoy summer camps, the ball fields, the vacation, and those slower summer mornings. But also remember this is a powerful time for growth, for fair projects, for hands-on learning, and for experiences that really shape them-- shape the future. At the end of the day, we're not just raising students. We're raising confident, capable young people ready for life, and that's what 4H is all about. Thank y'all for tuning in today to the Extension Connection podcast. I'm Jessica Jackson, and I'm always happy to help in any way I can. Hope you guys have a wonderful and great summer.