Submitted by:
Ione Anderson |

Despite the cold temperatures many past and present 4-H members and leaders attended the Minitonas 4-H Centenial Park Opening on October 17, 2014.


Click any picture for a larger version.

Current Mayor, Henry Barkowski was present for the ribbon cutting, along with Brandy Dvorak, Minitonas Mini Makers, Austen Anderson, Minitonas Beef, and Gayle Dunnet representing the past club, Renwer Home Ec. As well, several current members and family helped kick off the opening of the park.

The Town of Minitonas had a commemorative sign built by the SVRSS Welding Class and erected it in a designated green space on 2nd Avenue.

One side of the sign reads the 4-H pledge and marks the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Canada in 2013.

The opposite side has 4-H 100th Anniversary signs for the Minitonas Mini Makers, Mintonas Beef and Renwer Home Ec.

These signs were available to all current and past clubs during the 100th anniversary celebrations in 2013. Renwer was active from 1962 to 2002, Minitonas Beef celebrates 60 years in 2015 and the Mini Makers has been active for almost as many years.

At one time the area had several active clubs including the Floridale Garden Club, Sinclair River Beef Club and Minitonas Wheat Kings to name a few. Local community members dedicated many years to the program with the late Clifford Henderson celebrating over 50 years as leader. Community support has been key to the longevity of the clubs in this area and the park is the perfect place to display the signs. All the 4-H members and families are grateful for the green space.

4-H is a youth organization open to children ages 6-25 and offers a wide variety of projects as well as the benefits of public speaking, meeting organization and leadership skills. The 4-H motto is Learn to Do by Doing. For more information about the 4-H program contact Manitoba Agriculture and Rural Development in Swan River.