Well, where I live it is county fair time.  The neighboring county had it's fair last week and our county fair is this week.  For the last number of years I've volunteered as an advisor to a local 4H group that is solely focused on model railroading. 

During the 4H year, which begins in January, each child builds a 2'x4' module.  This year we decided to slightly modify our module standards to conform with NMRA standards so that we could participate in setups with the local NMRA division.  As one of the 'technical' advisors, I show the kids who to go from a basic module with nothing on it to a completed, scenicked module. I teach them how to lay track, do the basic electrical wiring and how to get good scenery results using simple methods.  The idea being that by the end of July they have a completed module and everything comes together at the fair to build and display a completed layout.

This year's layout measures 12'x 48' - the largest we've had in the time I've been an advisor.  Setting up the layout was not without it's share of issues such as incomplete wiring or fixing some poor tracklaying.  We spent almost 7 hours assembling everything last night and another 2 hours completing and testing the layout today.  From my perspective we have one remaing potential problem area.  One of the kids used an old, old turnout that dad probably had from when he was kids.  It's brass with what looks to be a bend or hump in it.  After a lot of headscratching, shimming, and scraping we got it to a point where equipmwnt should run through it.  Before I left I had some of my equipment running around for 20-30 minutes without any derailment or uncoupling issues, so I pronounced it good to go.

My point here is to say that this is one way of spreading the hobby.  We have a good, enthusiastic group of boys and girls that want to be involved in the hobby.  Contact your local 4H, FFA etc organization and see if they offer MRRing as a project area.  The 4H layout draws thousands of visitors to the building we're located in.  Many of the adults comment that they always come by to see what the kids have done this year.  Will all the kids maintain their interest in our hobby - no, but some will.  I still one of the 4H kids who has been out of the group for 4 years contact me.  He comes over to my house to show me some of the work he's done and to help on my layout.  He's getting ready to finish is double major in undergrad school and he's looking forward to having some time and $$$ to spend on the hobby again.  That makes my time spent worth it.