Members of MU Extension 4-H dress as clowns to bring a smile to veterans in Columbia, Mo.

Members of MU Extension 4-H perform a skit for veterans in Columbia, Mo.
 

Moore’s wife, Hilda, said the show gives Virgil and other veterans a time to laugh and to take a break from health concerns and the predictability of their daily schedules.

“It’s a routine that they all get tired of, and when the young people come in and entertain them, it is just excellent,” she said. “I appreciate it as much as he does.”

But clowning is not only for those being entertained. “Through clowning, 4-H’ers build communication abilities, develop performing arts skills, build new relationships with others and strengthen self-confidence,” said Bradd Anderson, a state 4-H leadership and communication specialist with MU Extension.

Meredith Brunkow, a 4-H member from Kearney, Mo., says clowning is much more than makeup and a colorful wig. “It’s a new way for me to come out of my shell,” she said. “I’m not like the same person as I am without makeup.”'The 4-H clowning members learn acting and public speaking skills, how to apply makeup, the basics of pantomime and even a few magic tricks.

“Just seeing them laugh gives me a really good feeling inside, seeing that I did something for these people, because just in this little time I got to do something to help them forget their worries,” Brunkow said.