'Charlotte's Web' earns high marks, imparts lessons
By JOANIE STIERS
The Register-Mail
GALESBURG - Local 4-H'ers gave high ratings to "Charlotte's Web" after a private showing of the 4-H-related movie Friday.
"I give it two thumbs up for all ages," said Shelby Carlson, a 12-year-old member of the Walnut Grove Progressors 4-H Club in Knox County.
A total 153 4-H'ers, their families and some friends attended a private screening of "Charlotte's Web" at 10 a.m. Friday for Knox County 4-H members at ShowPlace 8 in Galesburg.
"It was really beautiful at the end," said Kelsey Litchfield, an 11-year-old member of the Rio Livestock 4-H Club. "I almost started crying."
Fun was part of the reason Knox County 4-H Coordinator Lindsey Hankes arranged this out-of-the-ordinary event, but largely it was because of the movie's 4-H ties. The organization's four-leafed clover emblem is shown several times in the movie, which offers lessons also taught in 4-H, she said. Those include building friendships and setting and accomplishing goals.
After the show, a group of 4-H members said avoiding judgments is another of the lessons they learned from the movie. In the show, the farm animals looked upon Charlotte the spider as ugly, when in fact she was kind and became a great friend.
"Be considerate of everyone," said Beth Lindsey, an 11-year-old member of the Wataga Trailblazers 4-H Club. "Don't make judgments." (Read More)