Local 4-H clubs build unique birdhouses

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
The traditional birdhouses made by 4 – H students for years have taken on a new look this year.
Club members from around the county have submitted houses made from random items ranging from old footballs to plastic drinking straws and leather boots.
The program this year is called "Extreme Birdhouses" and allowed the students to make them out of anything, not just the traditional wooden products like in years past.
"It allows them to be very creative and imaginative," said 4 – H agent assistant Kathy Borden.
The process challenged the students to think like architects and to create unique products.
Students from most all county schools submitted houses, Borden said.
Some were made to resemble fishing rods, windmills and other unique items.
Students used old milk jugs, plastic cake pans, candy and a large spool of thread to make some of the houses.
The winners of each age group will be chosen this week. Those will move on to regional competition in Hartselle.
Borden said the program used the "Extreme Birdhouse" theme last year and that sparked more interest for this year's competition.
"A lot of the kids saw things that could be done last year and they wanted to participate this year," she said. "We had about twice as many this year."
The houses will be on display for a few more days in the basement of the Franklin County Courthouse.