"I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world."

This 4-H pledge is only a part of what it means to be a Teen Leader.

Anyone can be a teen leader, whether they are in 4-H or not.

They do a lot work at the fair and within the community, Debbie Carpenter, 4-H program assistant, said.

The program hopes to teach good

values, leadership, self-esteem,

citizenship and continue to instill the 4-H motto, she said.

"(Being a Teen Leader) broadens your horizons," David Smith, a first-year leader, said. "It's fun to get to help people in need. I've met about 10 extra friends since I joined, and people look up to you."

The group hosted their seventh annual Sweet Tooth Auction July 8 at the Lawrence County Fair. The goal of the auction is to raise money to help needy families at Christmas, said Gary Adams, a 4-H member of seven years and a teen leader for four.

"It takes responsibility, but you have fun doing it," Adams said. "(The reason) I am in it is to help kids."

Adams had a German chocolate cake auctioned off that his grandmother had baked.

"That makes it extra special, doesn't it?" auctioneer Ed Barry laughed.

For some teens, 4-H has been a part of their lives almost as long as they can remember.

"I have been doing this since I was four or five years old," said Sara Tackett, 16 of Hanging Rock. "It is fun, we do lots of new things."

Bethany Hardy agreed and said that meeting new people is one of the best parts of being involved.

The teens auctioned brownies, fudge, pies, cakes and more. The generous crowd helped raise more than $400 again this year. Lawrence County Commissioner Paul H. Herrell got the bidding started on some cookies.

Some of the money will be used to reward the kids for all their hard work at the fair by taking them on an outing to Splash Down in Jackson, Carpenter said.

The Teen Leaders meet once a month to discuss the fair and other 4-H activities. Michael Caldwell/The Ironton Tribune