Community service projects can take on many different shapes and sizes, and for some 4-H’ers, their most recent service project came in the form of fire hydrants.

Members of the West 40 4-H community club spent a Saturday morning giving back to their community by painting fire hydrants for the National Trails Fire Department.

“We hold our 4-H meetings at National Trails Fire Department, and they asked us about painting some fire hydrants for them,” club adviser Mike Dosch said. “So, the kids, on Saturday morning, painted all 14 fire hydrants out in Gratiot, had it all looking nice for the Fourth of July break.”

Monday morning, the Muskingum County Commissioners presented some of the club’s 4-H members with a proclamation thanking them for their community service.

Prior to the presentation of the proclamation, the commissioners asked the boys, who were representing the West 40 group, about their 4-H projects and the upcoming fair.

In previous years, the West 40 group has taken on community service projects at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds, as well as a project cleaning up and painting milestones along Route 40, Dosch said.

“I think it’s good to teach the kids community service and to help out. It’s a requirement for 4-H. It’s one of the Hs of 4-H,” Dosch said.

While there is not a number of hours required for community service, the West 40 group, which currently has 11 members, schedules a couple service projects per year. Anyone interested in learning more about being involved with the West 40 community club, or other traditional 4-H groups, can visit the Muskingum County 4-H website here.