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Funding cuts put rural 4-H program in jeopardy

A local 4-H program geared toward low-income kids is struggling with funding.

CANYON COUNTY - A local 4-H program geared toward low-income kids is struggling with funding.

The University of Idaho's after-school program for first through fifth-graders has slowly slipped away.

And now, the teen program is running out of funding.

It's geared toward rural, migrant or low-income families, and held at Farmway Village, just outside Caldwell, and run by the Caldwell Housing Authority.

The students say it's a huge part of who they are.

For graduates still involved in the program, like Armando Guerrero, this has introduced him to so many possibilities.

"They really helped pave the way," he said. "We went to conferences, discussed social issues, so it was really empowering."

The Friday evening teen program isn't your typical 4-H club. You won't see animals or livestock. You'll see workshops and life skills being taught.

"My end goal for these students is that they know and believe that they can pursue a higher education and they can be community leaders," said 4-H educator Liliana Vega.

But Vega says grant money is drying up and harder to come by, meaning the program's future is unknown.

Vega says the program now relies heavily on internal university funds and partnerships. But it isn't enough to sustain a robust, quality program.

"It was extremely heartbreaking for me particularly because I know a lot of these families and have come close to a lot of these kids and these families," Vega said.

Vega is worried about the younger kids, if they grow up without this outlet.

"My worry is that we're not gonna have the funding to be able to continue either the after-school nor the teen program, which means students out here won't have access to quality out-of-school programs that teach them the life skills to be successful."

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