BERRIEN COUNTY — From robotics clubs to horse riding and sewing, 4-H clubs in Berrien County offer youth numerous opportunities to acquire hands-on skills.

But the clubs would perhaps not be possible without the financial support of the Berrien County 4-H Foundation. Since 1968, this organization has worked to provide sustained funding to these programs and give area youth these opportunities.

To celebrate this milestone, the Berrien County 4-H Foundation will host a 50th Anniversary Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at Pebblewood Country Club, 9794 Jericho Road, Bridgman. The evening will include a social hour, dinner and a program. The cost is $30 and a cash bar will be available.

Karen Kietzer, of Stevensville, the president of the Berrien County 4-H Foundation, said she was proud of the foundation’s accomplishment.

“It is exciting for us to have a 50-year mark,” Kietzer said. “Let alone a foundation such as ours to reach a milestone of 50 years and consistently keep the same goals and strive for the same opportunities to support the 4-H program in our county.”

While the foundation functions as a separate entity, independent of 4-H, their efforts help to provide financial support to the youth organization. The foundation raises money through fundraiser opportunities and has been able to obtain some grant funding. The foundation now has $1 million in their endowment.

Through the 4-H programs that the foundation supports, youth ages 8 to 19 can participate in a variety of clubs and programming, intended to teach three core values: leadership, citizenship and service. They do not need to have a 4-H background to participate.

Kietzer said for those involved, the benefits can be numerous.

“What a lot of people like about 4-H is it is kids learning skills,” Kietzer said. “They learn and have responsibilities and gain a work ethic and camaraderie. And those kinds of things [are] important as youngsters grow.”

For those looking to add something to their college or job resume, Kietzer said it can help them to stand out.

For Kietzer, carrying the foundation into 50 years and seeing youth benefit is a bit personal. Kietzer’s father, Harry Kolberg, was one of the original founding members of the foundation.  Kietzer herself has been involved in the foundation for about 20 years. In that time, she said she has seen a diverse and dedicated volunteer board work to keep the foundation’s efforts thriving.

Looking back on 50 years, Kietzer said she is most proud of everything the foundation has helped youth in 4-H to achieve, including providing college scholarships, trips to Washington D.C. and growing youth robotics programs, which seek to help children learn science, technology, engineering and math programs.

These accomplishments are not something she could have done herself, Kietzer said.

“It’s an amazing story, but it’s really been through many volunteers [that we succeeded],” Kietzer said. “There has been large number of volunteers over the years.”

For details on purchasing tickets call the foundation at (269) 944-4126 or visit the office at 1737 Hillandale Road, Benton Harbor. Tickets are also available at eventbrite.com/e/berrien-county-4-h-foundation-50th-anniversary-celebration-tickets-48930640864.