The King County Council recently approved money for youth programs of the King County 4-H, including the Head, Heart, Hands, and Health program.

The $109,000 in funding provided by the county from the 2009 budget will go toward a variety of activities ranging from plant science and horse riding to robotics, environmental stewardship and photography.

In closing a $56 million budget gap, the adopted 2010 King County budget ended funding for several programs, including 4-H. The 4-H program has been using the money they receive from King County to leverage additional financial support and there was concern that without county funding they would have to end the program.

“The public support for 4-H and Washington State University Extension was so tremendous that the council wanted to fund this program even in light of our economic difficulties,” said council member Larry Gossett, chair of the council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “4-H has programs both in the rural and urban communities that serve the youth of King County.”