Activity: Building Leopold benches for the Manitowoc County Fair

Club: 17 different clubs and groups — Manitowoc County

Date of Activity: June 2014

Number of people who worked on project: 38 youth; 20 adults

Number of hours: 6 hour per person

4-H youth and adults representing 17 community clubs and committees in Manitowoc County came together to build Leopold benches to provide additional seating at the Manitowoc County Fair and other events held at the Manitowoc County Expo. A total of 35 benches were built and donated. Some clubs built more than one bench. Each club paid for the supplies needed to build a bench and provided 4-H youth and adults to cut the wood and assemble the bench before being donated.

Additional seating was utilized by fair goers. The new benches provided resting places for those with health issues, small children, or those just wanting to rest their feet for a few minutes. Benches were placed in several locations around the Expo grounds to be assessable to as many attendees as possible.

4-H youth were able to develop woodworking skills while participating in this project. 4-Hers learned to measure, cut, assemble, use wood screws and bolts, sand, and finish their bench. 4-H members were also able to identify a need in the community and take action to address the need for additional seating at the county fair and other large events held at the Manitowoc County Expo.