A very successful statewide CHARACTER COUNTS! Conference was held in Roanoke recently. The conference was planned and supported by the Leadership and Personal Development Curriculum Committee who are to be congratulated for their outstanding leadership with this event. Virginia's 4-H program is being recognized throughout the state for its involvement and partnerships with the public school systems and for its leadership with the CHARACTER COUNTS! movement. During the previous year, some 41,000 youth were involved in the CHARACTER COUNTS! framework. This is just the beginning, as we are making efforts to expand our partnerships to more units throughout the state.
Even though we have filled three of our four vacancies on the state 4-H staff here at Virginia Tech, and I am thrilled with the performance of all our staff to date, we have another vacancy to fill at our sister land grant university, Virginia State. Mr. Rudy Powell retired on December 31, 2000, after serving a long-time career of dedication and professionalism as 4-H Specialist. He will surely be missed and leaves big shoes to fill. Join me in wishing Rudy a long and enjoyable retirement. Thanks, Rudy, for all you have done to make the best better for the 4-H program in the Commonwealth.
(Bob Meadows)
At least three $2500 scholarships will be awarded annually to outstanding under-represented 4-H members to attend Va Tech. To be eligible, the applicant must be an active 4-H member and must major in a program of study in one of the three undergraduate colleges that support Extension -Agriculture, Natural Resources, or Human Resources and Education. Scholarships will be renewed as long as a 2.5 or better average is maintained. Application form attached.
(Bob Meadows)
(Bob Meadows)
This annual focus in our state's capitol is important to help others become aware of the 4-H program and its efforts to involve thousands of members in positive youth development programming, activities, and opportunities.
(Bob Meadows)
As the new curriculum and learning specialist, I had the privilege of meeting with members of the curriculum committees at 4-H Inservice in January. Thank you for the insight gained. The first Educational Design Team meeting will be held on February 28th and I anticipate even greater insight into the process after this meeting. In addition, I have found my "True Colors," visited agents in two districts, attended meetings at two of the six 4-H Centers, attended my first meeting of the State Leadership Council, met with specialists, offered my first "Creativity, Conversation and Coffee" workshop in the Eastern District, and met challenges as they occurred on a daily basis. It has been a busy six weeks!
As a member of the National 4-HCCS Curriculum Committee and Committee Liaison for the Electric Committee Revision Team, I traveled to the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland during the first week of February. I became aware of many national processes and facilitated a group of engineers and writers who were busy reconstructing the curriculum for Electric Excitement. I was introduced to the process for national juried curriculum and the use of templates. This will be helpful as we begin to examine the process in Virginia.
As we move into March, I will continue my gathering and training. It is important that I continue to get feedback from you: your needs, what is working, and what isn't working. I will also begin adding curriculum updates and reviews each month. Keep the conversations going!
(Kathleen Jamison)
Have you gotten the word out about our March training event for 4H/CHARACTER COUNTS!sm ? We are still recruiting participants. Many of you have been very successful in partnering with the school system to implement CHARACTER COUNTS! Think about partnerships that you may not have not yet created, such as with youth recreation departments, Office on Youth, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, DARE officers, foster home directors, juvenile detention center directors. Let's continue to expand the circle of involvement.
Please note that the location of the training has changed. The training will be held at the Northern Virginia 4H Educational Center on March 13-15th.
Applications can be obtained from Joe Hunnings by calling 540-231-6371 or by email at hunnings@vt.edu
(Joe Hunnings)
The Spring Conference of the 4-H Adult Leaders Association is an excellent staff development opportunity for all 4-H volunteers and agents. The event will be conducted at the Richmond Hotel and Conference Center, Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia. Registration deadline is March 15. The schedule and a registration form can be found at http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/volunteers.html#
(Bob Meadows)
2000 National Congress was a wonderful experience 20 delegates from Virginia. Encourage your senior 4-H members to submit a 4-H Resume so they can be considered for 2001 National 4-H Congress, to be held in Atlanta, Nov 24-28.
Resumes should be sent to Billie Cline, State 4-H Office, 107 Hutcheson Hall, Blacksburg, VA. For more information http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/specialty/4h/programs.html
(Billie Cline)
The 2001 Virginia 4-H Congress website is up and contains relevant information for recruiting 4-H'ers and adults interested in attending Congress. http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/congress/
A promotional flyer is located on the congress website for you to reproduce and distribute to senior 4-H members. The 4-H Congress information/registration packet was mailed to unit offices this week and contains all information relevant to program, registration, adult job assignments, etc. Some of this information will also be on the website
(Dorothy Freeman)
The "Clovers for Community" award, sponsored by the Citizenship Curriculum Committee, is an opportunity to recognize 4-H'ers for excellence in community service. All entries will receive a blue, red or white award based on the quality of the work performed. The top three individuals and the top three clubs/groups will receive gold (1st), silver (2nd) and bronze (3rd) awards. More information is attached along with an entry form.
(Deb Carter)
It is time to begin encouraging outstanding senior 4-H members from your units to run for a State 4-H Office or as State Ambassadors. This is an excellent leadership opportunity for your youth. The 2001 Election Procedures outline everything necessary for youth to apply as a candidate. You are encouraged to read the guidelines carefully and share the information with those youth that you believe would represent Virginia 4-H in the best light.
Please pay special attention to the information required for application and also the deadline dates listed in the 2001 Elections Procedures Packet mailed Feb 15 to each unit extension office. This information is also located on the 2001 4-H Congress website.
(Mike Martin)
Many events are held in the 4H livestock program area. Getting information into the hands of people in a timely fashion is often difficult. To assist in this effort much information is now available at the 4H Livestock Website. The site address is http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/livestock/. This site can be accessed through two gateways, the 4H program pathway and the Animal Science/ Livestock pathway.
This site currently contains information about competitive events. Included are descriptions of the event, study materials including items from past contests, and entry forms. Currently posted is information on the 2001 Beef Expo and Block & Bridle contests. The State 4H Livestock Judging Contest and Stockmens Contest is currently for 2000, but this year's information will be posted soon. Additional subject matter material will be posted there in the future.
Please share this site address with coaches of judging teams, 4H livestock club leaders, FFA teachers, and others. And check out the site yourself. I welcome comments and suggestions to help make this even more useful.
(Mark Wahlberg)
The Virginia Beef Expo will again be conducted at the Virginia Horse Center at Lexington, Virginia. This site offers the opportunity to conduct many events simultaneously. Consequently, the youth cattle shows will be fit into the 2-day schedule of the Expo. In addition to these Youth events there are many other activities, including breeding cattle sales, an excellent trade show, and various educational programs and displays.
Attached is the schedule for the youth events to be held at the Expo. Information about entries will be coming from the junior breed associations soon. For information about the cattle sales and trade show, contact the show manager, Forrest Ashby, Virginia Cattlemens Association office, 540/992-1009.
(Mark Wahlberg)
The 2001 Virginia State 4-H Horse Show will mark the fortieth anniversary of this event, the annual highlight of the Virginia 4-H Horse Project. The show will take place Thursday through Sunday, September 13 - 16, at the Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, Va. This multi-discipline equine event for 4-H members has touched many exhibitors, their families, volunteers and show staff over the past four decades.
In recognition of this special anniversary year, a commemorative celebration will take place at this year's show with some formal activities and recognition scheduled for Saturday evening, September 15, 2001.
Identifying and locating the hundreds of people involved in this event over the years is a daunting task for the committee working on this project. The committee is working on contacting as many of these people as possible in the weeks and months ahead.
If you showed at, participated in, worked with the State 4-H Horse Show at any time during the past 40 years, please forward the following information to Bertha Durbin, Albemarle County Extension office via fax, email or regular mail: Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, Charlottesville/Albemarle Office, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902-4596; FAX: 804/984-0735; email: bdurbin@cfw.com
(Bertha Durbin)
The Bureau of Land Management invites you to adopt one of America's wild Free-Roaming Horses or Burros gathered from the western rangelands. Mustangs are very athletic and have excelled in a variety of disciplines, including trail and endurance, roping, reining, dressage and for hunting and pony clubs. For more information call BLM 1-888-274-2133. Visit the website http://www.es.blm.gov/jfo/pages/news2.html
Free equine educational seminars and gentling demonstrations will be conducted by trainer Dave Seay on March 9 & 10, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA. See attachment for more information or go to the Wild Horse and Burro site mentioned above.
Host families are needed for Ryo Kawai and Yuko Nonaka, Japanese high school students assigned to Virginia for the 2001-2002 4-H High School Exchange Program.
RYO KAWAI, age 16 is from Tokyo. He will be a junior during his year in a Virginia high School. Ryo's father is an engineer and his mother is a Labo tutor (Labo is the 4-H's exchange partner organization in Japan). He has two older brothers, Ryo is an above-average student; his favorite school subjects are history and earth science. Ryo enjoys sports and is a member of his high school tennis club. Ryo went to Michigan in 1998 for the one-month 4-H Japanese Summer Homestay Exchange. He describes himself as "cheerful and sociable." YUKO NONAKA, 17, is from Fukuoka City on Japan's southern Kyushu Island. Yuko will enroll in U.S. high school as a senior. Her father is a doctor and her mother is a nurse. Yuko's older brother and sister were both 4H High School Exchange students in Maryland. She also has a younger sister. Yuko's summer exchange was to Ohio in 1997. An A-B student, Yuko enjoys music, movies and TV in her spare time. She also enjoys sports and likes to cook. Yuko says she is "very curious and happy-go-lucky."
Families interested in hosting either Ryo or Yuko should contact their local 4-H Agent or me at address above or - Phone: 757-721-0558/fax: 815-361-2752 - email: tom.and.anne.baker@juno.com
Thomas H. Baker, Coordinator
4-H High School Exchange Programs
Brookdale Farm
2060 Vaughan Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23457-1521
Four-H families now have two options for hosting a high school exchange student. You've no doubt heard about 4-H's Japanese Exchange program, but did you know 4-H is now involved with the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program?
Since 1993, thousands of students from the New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union have spent an academic year attending schools and living with U.S. host families through the FLEX program. FLEX students learn about life in a democratic society, including volunteerism (who can teach volunteerism better than 4-H?). These students pass through a rigorous competition in order to be selected for this program. This includes screening for English ability, personality factors, social skills, academic achievement and leadership potential. Last year more than 48,000 students from 12 NIS countries from Eastern Europe to Central Asia competed for 900 FLEX scholarships!
This year is 4-H's first as a FLEX sponsor organization. Antonina ("Tonya") Antosha, from Ukraine, is living with the Hockensmith family while attending Kellam High School in Virginia Beach. Shukurjan Rozmetova, from Turkmenistan, is also in Virginia Beach, attending Salem High School and living with the Mehaffey family. Both girls speak fluent English and are doing well in school. They would enjoy visiting 4-H clubs in the Tidewater area to tell about their native countries and cultures!
The popular 4-H Japanese Exchange High School program is also alive and well in Virginia this year, with two "Labo" members living with 4-H host families and attending schools in Shenandoah County. Ayumi Kubo is living with the Moyer family. She attends Central High School. Miki Oki attends Strasburg High School and lives with the Funkhouser family. Both girls are active in 4-H activities and are also members of their high school swim teams. Contact Carol Nansel, 4-H Agent in Shenandoah County, if you¹d like Ayumi or Miki to visit your 4-H Club.
Virginia host families are needed for the 2001-02 school year for both FLEX and Japanese exchange students. For information about hosting opportunities or for host family applications, please contact me. I look forward to visiting with you, sharing information about 4-H's exchange programs, answering your questions about hosting, and telling you about the students assigned to Virginia for the 2001-02 school year! Tom Baker, Virginia Coordinator tom.and.anne.baker@juno.com
Bring the world to a 4H member, a family and a community. A 4-H Japanese Exchange experience will provide a priceless educational experience for a young person and their family that better prepares all for life in a global society.
The first step in the Japanese Exchange Program is to host a young Japanese student. The homestay is for one month, running from the third week of July till the third week of August. After hosting, the American host family's teenager has the opportunity to visit Japan for a similar one-month stay.
Japanese students range in age from 12 to 18, are eager to learn about life in America and have prepared well for their trip by studying English and American culture. The students have their own medical insurance and spending money.
Host families can be from rural areas or cities. All that is needed is a willingness to open their home and hearts. Japanese students are placed with families that have a child of the same gender and are close in age. No special activities need to be planned to host a student. The students are here to be a part of the host family's normal summer routine.
We are in need of host families for the summer of 2001. If you know someone who would possibly like to host a student, have them contact Judy Ann Fray, Coordinator of the Japanese Exchange Program (1-888-259-4272 + pin #7916) or Joe Hunnings at 540-231-6371.
(Joe Hunnings)
GOOD LUCK to former Virginia Beach 4-H member Scott Mehaffey, who has applied to be an intern with "Labo" and "Lex," two of 4-H¹s exchange partner organizations in Japan. Scott studied Japanese at Salem High School in Virginia Beach, participated in Labo's three-week Japanese language institute and month-long Japanese homestay exchange and was the first American 4-H'er to go to Japan as a participant in the year-long 4-H/Lex high school exchange. His family has hosted month-long and yearlong students from Japan and is currently hosting a FLEX student from Turkmenistan. Scott is currently a sophomore at James Madison University. Robert Sexton, a 4-H member from Bland County, Virginia, was a Labo intern in 1996-97.
(Joe Hunnings)
Junior 4-H Camp is only 3 months away! Many of our Agents have begun the camp planning process and are recruiting campers, CITs, teens counselors, and adult leaders. We are receiving many calls from parents and potential volunteers requesting information about our summer 4-H camping program.
(Barry Garst)
Please consider nominating one or more youth from your county this year. Last year Extension Agents nominated 16 campers and all received scholarships valued at $100 each. Campers take a rigorous academic study of natural resources in a field setting taught by career foresters and natural resources professionals. The top 20 campers at the end of the week receive awards and special recognition, and are invited to serve as camp counselors the following year.
Now is the time to make personal contact with any young person who has an interest in the out-of-doors. My experience is that personal contact works better than a general newsletter announcement because youth respond to adults who demonstrate an interest in them.
The Virginia Department of Forestry sponsors Holiday Lake Forestry Camp. An announcement and nomination form is attached to this newsletter. Applications are due April 20. http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/environment/camp/
(Jeff Kirwan)
Tree ID Project (420-065) Awards:
(Jeff Kirwan)
Students will be introduced to Paddling, Flatwater, River Paddling and Moving Water. Students become acquainted with skills and knowledge required of ACA Certified Instructor. Students will receive information needed to develop into instructors. Current instructors may use this as a Methods Workshop to keep their certification current.
For more information contact Marilyn Jarvis 703-777-0373 (email: majarvis@vt.edu)
(Marilyn Jarvis)
The 4-H Fishing Education Curriculum Component Subcommittee, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), is currently developing a "Teach'n Fish'n"workshop for 4-H Extension Agents and adult volunteers. This training will be conducted some time in May or June 2001. To find out the types of activities that will included in this training, visit the 4-H Fishing Education subcommittee web page at http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/environment/fishing/. (Hit the link that says Training Workshops). Look for additional details in the April 4-H Newsletter.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) is offering its annual 'Free Fishing Days' event from June 1-June 3, 2001. This event will provide the opportunity for youth and adults to rod and reel fish without a license at any freshwater location. This is a great opportunity to organize your 4-Hers for a day of fun and fishing under the sun!
For more information about this the "Teach'n Fish'n" training or DGIF¹s Free Fishing Days, contact Leonard Elam at lelam@vt.edu or Barry Garst at bgarst@vt.edu.
(Barry Garst)
(Barry Fox)
In January, the 4-H Plant and Soil Science Committee, Dr. Diane Relf, Environmental Horticulture Specialist and Sarah Lineberger, State Master Gardener Coordinator, met to discuss issues related to VCE's implementation of the Texas Junior Master Gardener program. This meeting resulted in the development of guidelines for the VCE 4-H Youth Master Gardener program. VCE 4-H Youth MGs will represent an optional VCE gardening program adapted from the JMGsm curriculum. The proposal calls for each 4H MG group to be lead by trained 4-H leaders. These leaders will preferably be active VCE-MGs or individuals with demonstrated knowledge of horticulture. If the leader is not a VCE-MG then a VCE-MG should be recruited to serve as an advisor. Youth that want to become a VCE 4-H MG will complete at least 25 hours of horticulture training and 25 hours of horticulture-related community service. Beginning in April, special training sessions to certify leaders will be offered across the state. Extension agents and volunteers who want to start a VCE 4-H Youth MG group, must participate in this training. Units that agree to implement the 4-H Youth MG program will receive a copy of the JMGsm curriculum. The planning committee will meet again in March to finalize the details. More information will be available soon!
(Joe Hunnings)
The "Clovers for Community" award, sponsored by the Citizenship Curriculum Committee, is an opportunity to recognize 4-H'ers for excellence in community service. All entries will receive a blue, red or white award based on the quality of the work performed. The top three individuals and the top three clubs/groups will receive gold (1st), silver (2nd) and bronze (3rd) awards.
Any 4-Her age 9 to 18 and/or club/group are eligible (with the exception of cloverbud groups). Please note this is a change from last year. All projects must have been conducted after July 1, 2000. Projects that have won in previous years cannot be resubmitted. Individuals and groups that have won in previous years are eligible to submit new entries.
The award will be presented at State 4-H Congress at the awards luncheon. Award winners who are not attending Congress will receive a special invitation to attend the luncheon.
Judging criteria will include the value of the service, the extensiveness of the benefit to the community, the potential for continuing benefit to the community, and the creativeness of the project.
Entries for this award will consist of a "Clovers for Community" cover sheet and and project description of 500 words or less. Materials such as photographs, videos, newspaper clippings, etc. may be submitted but are not required. The project description should address the following:
All entries are due by May 4, 2001
Mail all entries to:
Deborah Carter,
8033 Ashton Avenue Suite 105
Manassas, VA 20109-8202
Click here for the Community Service Award Cover Sheet
The 2001 Virginia State 4-H Horse Show will mark the fortieth anniversary of this event, the annual highlight of the Virginia 4-H Horse Project. The show will take place Thursday through Sunday, September 13 16, at the Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, Va. This multi-discipline equine event for 4-H members has touched many exhibitors, their families, volunteers and show staff over the past four decades.
In recognition of this special anniversary year, a commemorative celebration will take place at this year's show with some formal activities and recognition scheduled for Saturday evening, September 15, 2001.
Identifying and locating the hundreds of people involved in this event over the years is a daunting task for the committee working on this project. The committee is working on contacting as many of these people as possible in the weeks and months ahead.
If you showed at, participated in, worked with the State 4-H Horse Show at any time during the past 40 years, please forward the following information to Bertha Durbin, Albemarle County Extension office via fax, email or regular mail:
Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, Charlottesville/Albemarle Office, 401 McIntire Road,
Charlottesville, VA 22902-4596;
FAX: 804/984-0735; email: cdurbin@cfw.com
Click here for VA. State 4-H Horse Show Alumni Profile
The Virginia Beef Expo will again be conducted at the Virginia Horse Center at Lexington, Virginia. This site offers the opportunity to conduct many events simultaneously. Consequently, the youth cattle shows will be fit into the 2-day schedule of the Expo. In addition to these Youth events there are many other activities, including breeding cattle sales, an excellent trade show, and various educational programs and displays.
Below is the schedule for the youth events to be held at the Expo. Information about entries will be coming from the junior breed associations soon. For information about the cattle sales and trade show, contact the show manager, Forrest Ashby, at the Virginia Cattlemens Association office, 540/992-1009.
6:00 pm -- Youth Cattle must be in place Sign up for Showmanship
5:00 to 6:30 pm -- Weigh and Hip Height Measurement for Youth Steers
8 - 10 am -- Showmanship Competition for Youth Exhibitors - Anderson Coliseum
9-12 am -- Youth and Adult Stockmans Contest - Main Level of Anderson Coliseum
10:30 am -- Youth Show of Other Breeds of Registered Heifers - Anderson Coliseum
10:30 am -- Youth Shorthorn Show - Anderson Coliseum
10 am - 2 pm -- Forage Knowledge Contest - Main Level of Anderson Coliseum
11:30 am -- Youth Commercial Replacement Heifer Show - Anderson Coliseum
11:30 am -- Youth Simmental Show - Anderson Coliseum
12:30 pm -- Youth Angus Show - Anderson Coliseum
1:00 pm -- Youth Hereford Show - Anderson Coliseum
1 - 3 pm -- Youth Cattle Working Contest - Moore Arena
3:30 pm -- Contest Awards Presentation - Anderson Coliseum
4:30 6:30 pm -- Youth All-Breeds Steer Show
Load up and Head for Home
Click here for Beef Expo Entry Form.
Click here for All breed Steer Entry Form.
Click here for Contact People for Beef Breed Association.
Greetings from the Director
Calendar of Events
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