Helping Youth Thrive

October 29, 2025

Written By Natalie Kientzy

Across rural communities, youth programs serve as powerful catalysts for learning, leadership and connection. Three 4-H clubs in MFA Oil’s trade territory are proving just how impactful these opportunities can be, especially when paired with strong community support.

Each spring in Henry County, Mo., elementary students gather around warm incubators, eyes glued to the fragile miracle of life as chicks break free from their shells. Through a hands-on embryology program led by the local 4-H and extension office, students experience agriculture and life sciences in a way few textbooks can offer.

“The embryology program is a great way for kids to get involved in agriculture,” said Delaney DeHart, youth program associate in Henry County. “It’s not something you see in typical curriculum.”

Until recently, the program had 20 Styrofoam incubators with small viewing windows and unreliable climate controls, but through funding from the MFA Oil Foundation, the program was able to purchase 10 new incubators with 360-degree viewing windows and advanced temperature and humidity regulation systems.

The updated equipment has made a significant impact. The larger viewing windows help students easily monitor the eggs, while improved climate control boosts hatch rates and reduces maintenance for teachers. With the new incubators, the program was able to reach seven schools, 31 classrooms and nearly 475 students in the spring of 2025.

While Henry County students experience science firsthand, 4-H members in Kansas are learning safety and responsibility through the Morris-Chase County Sharp Shooters 4-H program. Seventeen years ago, Clark Carroll, his brother and another community member founded the program to give kids in Morris and Chase counties an opportunity to participate in shooting sports through 4-H. The program, which is completely self-funded, currently has roughly 40 members, many of whom started at age 8 and stay involved until they age out at 16.

“Gun safety is an important life skill —and one that’s not widely taught,” Carroll said. “We teach safe gun handling at every practice, so even if a member leaves after one year, they have those skills to carry throughout their lives.”

For nearly two decades, the program relied on the same equipment, worn from many years of use. Through the MFA Oil Foundation, the Sharp Shooters were able to afford much-needed upgrades.

“When we got the grant, we were so happy,” Carroll said. “We purchased new mats, cases for the kids to carry their guns, and spotting scopes and stands that we’ve never had before.”

Meanwhile, in Crawford County, Mo., the Yadkin Creek 4-H Club is working hard to balance community service with the variety of projects 4-H offers, such as quilting, baking, gardening and raising livestock.

“Our program encompasses many things, but we really encourage kids to get involved and give back,” said Kim Zeiss, the Yadkin Creek 4-H Club leader.

Some of the club’s work includes fundraising for community causes, hosting fun events with the local senior center, and building and maintaining birdhouses in a local park. More recently, the club joined forces with local FFA chapters to take on a major project: revamping the goat barn at the Crawford County Fairgrounds.

The original barn, constructed with steel posts and uneven hog panels, was no longer sufficient for the growing goat exhibitors in the county. With the help of grants, including support from the MFA Oil Foundation, the barn was updated to include 18 additional pens, allowing more community members to showcase their hard work.

From science lessons to safe marksmanship practice, 4-H programs open doors for young people to learn and grow. Thanks to the support of the MFA Oil Foundation, these three programs—and many more like them—have been able to expand, improve and reach further than ever before, providing the next generation with the tools and experiences they need to succeed.