The adage is the average person is more afraid of public speaking than death.
Sandra Duchak was no exception when she started volunteering with the Gainsborough 4-H club 42 years ago.
Before long all four of her kids were in the club, and all of them had communications projects to do. She had to up her game pretty quickly.
Today, besides being head leader of the Gainsborough club in the Portage la Prairie area, she chairs regional 4-H speaking events — and, based on the enthusiasm with which she speaks about it, loves helping kids find their voice.
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“It makes a big difference in the lives of everyone who has the opportunity to do public speaking,” she told the Co-operator.
For her 42 years of service with the club, Duchak received 4-H Canada’s National Volunteer Leader of the Year Award for 2022.
Chipping in
Duchak, who co-owned a dairy farm for 20 years, has a background in agriculture but never had the chance to be a 4-H kid herself.
“I didn’t have that opportunity, but I love 4-H,” she said.
When her eldest turned eight and became eligible to join 4-H, Duchak accompanied her and chipped in with other parents to keep the Gainsborough club running.
The next year she stepped in to the role of project leader, helping kids learn skills like cooking, sewing and woodworking.
Today she leads the Gainsborough club. She also served as area council treasurer for 10 years, and has been the Portage 4-H bursary fund treasurer for 17 years. She’s also in her fourth year on the Manitoba 4-H Council board of directors.
And of course, she also co-ordinates regional communications events where kids compete in various categories, giving speeches and visual presentations.
In the Gainsborough club, every kid is encouraged to speak — even if it’s about their stuffed toy or pet.
“We encourage them to speak about something they enjoy,” she said. “It’s nothing to have four or five (boys) speak about snowmobiling or something like that.”
Older club members often delve into politics and current events, Duchak said.
“Those senior members are such intelligent people,” she said. “They just blow your mind when they start speaking.”
Club’s evolution
After 42 years, Duchak has had the chance to see multiple generations come through the club.
“It’s kind of cool,” she said. “It’s just kind of nice to tie it all together.”
Her oldest daughter has joined her as a 4-H leader. She was a head leader for 15 years and is now the area’s club co-ordinator.
The club has also become more diverse as new families immigrate to the area. This gives them new opportunities for learning, Duchak said. For instance, one newcomer girl’s mother came and taught a cooking class, showing them how to cook a dish from that culture.
“It was awesome,” Duchak said.
Kids also present more diverse projects. If they can’t find a project like cooking, sewing, etc., that interests them, they can do a “self-determined” project.
“You learn so much from these members,” Duchak said.
There’s more technology, particularly because of the pandemic, she added. The kids are also more scientific.
Compassion, generosity
“We are proud to recognize Sandra Duchak as 4-H Canada’s National Volunteer Leader of the Year,” said 4-H Canada CEO, Shannon Benner, in a Feb. 14 news release. “Sandra’s passion and commitment to the 4-H community is exceptional. It is inspiring to see the positive impact she has had at all levels of the 4-H movement over the last four decades, and we couldn’t be happier to honour her hard work and dedication.”
Duchak is known for her compassion and generosity to her community, the release said.
This has included donating hand-knitted blankets, sweaters and mittens to Central Plains Cancer Care and served on the board of directors for a women’s shelter in Portage.
Duchak, who described herself as “semi-retired,” has volunteered at curling championships and on committees at McKenzie United Church. She also works part time as a bookkeeper.
Despite all that, Duchak says she has no intention of leaving 4-H any time soon.
“It keeps you young. It keeps you involved with the members of the community,” she said. “A 4-H club is just like one big family.
“It gives (kids) self-confidence and makes them reliable, respectable people,” she added.
As Volunteer of the Year, Duchak will receive a cash prize and a chance to travel to the 2022 4-H Leadership Summit in Halifax.
