As we begin the New Year, and it does not seem possible that it is 2002, my hope is that each of you will have success in your 4-H program even though we are going through difficult times. More than ever, youth in our localities need the quality youth development programming experiences that are available to them through 4-H. We also need to recruit adults and teens to work with these youth and to serve as positive role models for them. It is also my wish that each of you takes the time to thank and appreciate all those who help make your work a success, both at home and through the 4-H program.
The new year promises to be challenging and rewarding. 4-H throughout the country will be celebrating its 100th birthday and many exciting events and celebrations are in store throughout the year. We will also be hosting the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference in Norfolk, October 27-31. These events alone will take much time and effort beyond our usual work with our respective 4-H programs. Among the many opportunities this year, 4-H will be especially featured at the Virginia State Fair as part of the 100th year celebration.
New and exciting opportunities await the youth throughout the Commonwealth with your 4-H programming including 4-H/CHARACTER COUNTS!, camping, Junior Master Gardener, and other areas of interest. Just imagine the youth in your unit participating in programs that will help them for life. Each of us has the opportunity to make a difference in the life of each boy and girl with each program and learning experience that we provide. Through the work of volunteers, many more youth are being reached each year, and there is no doubt that this will be the case in 2002. Thanks to your hard work and desire to make a difference for the youth of Virginia through 4-H, our 4-H program experienced a 28.8% growth over last year's programming efforts, involving 181,070 youth. While this will not be the case each year, it is important to reach out to youth not currently being served and to provide them the same opportunities as existing 4-H'ers. Best wishes to you in your 4-H work and personal life in 2002. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities for the New Year.
(Bob Meadows)
(Barry Garst)
(Barry Garst)
(Barry Garst)
These studies remind us that the primary objective of 4-H camping is to increase life skills using fun, hands-on, research-based curricula in a setting that encourages and fosters groups interaction and socialization.
For more information about these 4-H camping studies, contact Barry Garst at bgarst@vt.edu or (540) 231-6373.
(Barry Garst)
Please note that this handbook is also available in PDF format through the VCE Intranet (4-H Youth Development/4-H Camping)
Portions of the handbook will be on display during the Innovative Program Showcase at the 2001 4-H/FCS Inservice.
(Barry Garst)
Extension Agents are also needed to serve on four major short-term focus groups:
If you are interested in one of these areas and would like to contribute your curriculum time in 3-4 task force-type meetings, please let me know.
Curriculum Inconsistencies
Extension Agents are asked to report specific inconsistencies in enrollment forms, curriculum guide, newsprint, and listings on the web to Billie Cline and Kathleen Jamison. Corrected information is being collected to improve next year's consistency in publications. We want to be closer to the mark and need your eyeballs and experience to improve the system. (Kathleen Jamison)
Emerging Issues
Send any emerging issues from the field to Billie Cline. They will be added to the agenda and addressed at the February 4th Ed Design Meeting in Charlottesville. Large discussion areas include: Educational Programming, Publications and Standards, Staff Development, Technology.
Curriculum Intranet Sites Revised
(Kathleen Jamison)
Many of you are using this curriculum in your unit/club, and your input is invited. Send information or new activities you would like to see included. Also send recipes representative of your area. Send your suggestions/recipes to susan.barkman@four-h.purdue.edu by January 25.
(Kathleen Jamison)
Two of my favorite websites are Iowa's Growing in the Garden, http://extension.iastate.edu/GrowingintheGarden/ and Texas A &M's kinderGARDEN, http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/Child/Cgintro.htm.
Growing in the Garden includes several lesson plans, youth gardening related news and resources, and more. KinderGARDEN provides a wealth of information on starting school and community gardens, ideas for activities, and describes some of the benefits of youth gardening.
Please feel free to share with me (email: ephibbs@vt.edu ) any other needs or thoughts you have on youth programming in horticulture.
(Elizabeth Phibbs)
The program curriculum is presently available for students in grades 3-5. The first installment for the second level (grades 6-8) will be available in February. A number of new member recognition pieces have been developed by the Texas JMG folks that are neat rewards for completion of program learning and service activities. In addition a fast track curriculum path has been developed to assist teachers or others that have limited time to work with children to complete the necessary activities for certification.
We have our first graduates of the 4-H Youth Master Gardener program. Three young men from the Spotsy JMG's 4-H Club of Spotsylvania, Virginia completed the necessary learning experiences and service learning activities to receive their Certification Certificates. Congratulations to the 4-H members and to Club Leader Deborah Kirk!
(Joe Hunnings)
(Mark Wahlberg)
Please let teachers and others working with embryology know about this valuable resource.
This site was developed to support the National 4HCCS Embryology in the Classroom material. However, anyone working with embryology should find it useful. (This site was developed by Phil Clauer former Poultry Science Specialist here at Va Tech. Phil is now Poultry Specialist at Penn State)
(Phillip J. Clauer)
Host weekend gives high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to view college life first hand. 4-H members are housed with collegiate 4-H members for the weekend, have an opportunity to attend classes and visit various locations on campus. Cost is $55.
A brochure, map, registration form, code of conduct and health form are found at the following intranet site. http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/teenweekend.html
There is a quick turn around time, so please let your targeted teens know as soon as possible so they can get their forms back by January 25th.
(Kathleen Jamison)
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.
The following website can give you more information. http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/environment/camp/
(Richard Pulliam)
(Ron Sanderson)
Competition for the selection of delegates is based on 4-H experiences. 2001 Virginia delegation was small last November, based on the fact that we had a small number of youth who actually went through interviews to be selected. NOW is the time to begin to get your teens interested in putting together portfolios in order to qualify for the interviews during State 4-H Congress. We hope to have a large delegation in attendance at the 2002 event. Encourage your senior 4-H members to submit a 4-H Resume to be considered for 2002 National 4-H Congress.
Resumes should be sent to Billie Cline, State 4-H Office, 107 Hutcheson Hall, Blacksburg, VA by April 1. For more information email Billie Cline bcline@vt.edu.
(Bob Meadows)
Make reservations for your 4-H delegates by Jan 25 by email: jhairsto@vsu.edu
Cost is $725 per person but many civic organizations are eager to sponsor 4-H'ers.
(Jewel Hairston)
Other features of the 2002 Congress include a revised schedule of educational offerings, which will allow delegates to have several short learning experiences as well as longer, more in-depth studies of topics. A new feature this year includes our Congress Leadership Institute, where selected delegates will participate in an intensive, hands-on workshops to develop leadership skills.
In addition, delegates will benefit from 4-H competitions, service learning work, exciting games and dances. Look for more information to be sent to units in February.
(Joe Hunnings)
Audrey Lee, Extension Agent 4-H Youth in Bedford County is still encouraging Agents, teachers, community leaders, etc. to submit workshop proposals. This is a great opportunity to showcase some excellent work that you may have initiated with CHARACTER COUNTS! in your unit.
Bring someone with you to learn more about the largest character education program that is sweeping the country! Promote the conference to your school personnel, youth leaders, faith communities, etc. Help make this a great conference.
(Joe Hunnings)
The Training will be held at Airfield 4-H Educational Center on March 6-8, 2002. Peggy Atkins, the developer of the National CC! Curriculum and a Tennessee 4-H Specialist, has agreed to be the lead trainer.
On January 3rd 4-H agents were sent, via email attachment, a Training information piece and an application form for interested participants. Please use these to inform and sign up local persons who could benefit from this opportunity.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting your District 4-H/CC! Captain, the 2002 Train-the Trainer Program Chair- Mike Martin, or myself.
(Joe Hunnings)
This is an excellent opportunity to work with youth on a community service project that addresses global climate change issues.
(Bob Meadows)
We often get asked that question. Many people think that it is large corporations with deep pockets. Wrong! The majority (85%) comes from people like you and me - individuals! It comes from people who are passionate about 4-H; people who work in 4-H, parents who volunteer, people who use to be in 4-H and their parents, and friends of 4-H! The majority of our money comes from smaller donations - so when you think that you can't make a difference - you can!
Small donations add up so that we can offer mini-grants to all 4-H clubs in the State ($250.00) and one half scholarships to Virginia 4-H Congress ($75.00). Your tax deductible donation can be used to thank someone, to honor someone or in memory of someone - just send your donation to us requesting that we send a note to thank, honor, or memorialize someone and we will! You can write us at the following address: Virginia 4-H Foundation, 5601 Cary St. Road, Richmond, VA 23226 or call us as (804) 662-7290.
(Cindy S. Barnett)
(Bob Meadows)
(Bob Meadows)
Congratulations on a job well done.
Here are some important figures for Virginia's 4-H program for the current year.
| Where 4-H Participants Live | |
| Farms | 6% |
| Towns/Rural areas with less than 10,000 population | 45% |
| Town/Cities with 10,000-50,000 population | 16% |
| Suburbs/Cities over 50,000 population | 33% |
| Male/Female Ratio | |
| Females | 51% |
| Males | 49% |
| Age of 4-H Members | |
| Cloverbuds (5-8 years of age) | 26% |
| Juniors (9-11 years of age) | 46% |
| Intermediates (12-13 years of age) | 13% |
| Teens (14-19 years of age) | 15% |
| Racial-Ethnicity | |
| White | 72.4% |
| Black (not hispanic) | 22.3% |
| American Indian or Alaskan | 00.4% |
| Hispanic | 03.3% |
| Asian | 01.6% |
| 4-H Volunteers (youth & adults) | 19,755 |
| Most Popular 4-H Project Enrollment | |
| Personal Development and Leadership | 99,524 |
| Science & Technology | 63,927 |
| Environmental Ed/Earth Sciences | 26,785 |
| Poultry | 23,242 |
| Plants and Animals | 22,419 |
| Communication and Expressive Arts | 19,790 |
| Citizenship and Civic Education | 17,502 |
| Consumer and Family Sciences | 16,463 |
| Health Lifestyle Education | 16,353 |
| Gardens - Fruits/Vegetables | 13,106 |
(Bob Meadows)
A website has been designed for friends and supporters to learn about 4-H. It will feature a different aspect of 4-H each month. Agents who find alumni not registered might suggest they look at this site. It has a place at which they can register on-line to receive the commemorative lapel pin to wear during Virginia's celebration of National 4-H Week in October. http://www.ppv.org/content/reports/ydv_pdf.html
To help achieve the goal of making 4-H visible in the Commonwealth, we are asking you to encourage the 4-H alumni living in Virginia to wear a special commemorative lapel pin during the celebration of National 4-H Week - the first week in October. Everyone who has been a 4-H'er should register their name and address. They will receive the pin in September and we are asking them to wear it to work and all the activities of their lives during 4-H Week. Everyone will see how many people in Virginia have been in 4-H and learn how much this program has influenced their lives.
Many more publicity efforts will continue throughout the year from the Agriculture and Extension Communications office on campus. Plans are underway for expanding the visibility of 4-H at the State Fair. 4-H already has a high profile at the fair, and a planning group is working on more ways for 4-H to be visible.
Join in this Celebration and check this website to learn more about how Virginia 4-H is marking the Centennial.
(Mary Ann H. Johnson, Agriculture and Extension Communication)
"Conversations" were started by the National 4-H Council to celebrate the 100th anniversary. The goal is to learn the shared dreams of a better future for young people.
The conversation in Richmond will bring together all of the suggestions gathered from local conversations and summarize them into the Virginia Report. The report will be shared with policy makers and leaders in our communities and the commonwealth. Then all of the state conversations will be gathered at a similar session in Washington, D.C., Feb 28-March 1. The final report will be presented to national policy makers and leaders including the president of the United States.
(Dorothy Freeman)
Many people had a part in coordinating receipt of these computers. Mr. Peter Laws (Technology Specialist, State 4-H Office), Mr. Chris Lichty (Pulaski County 4-H Extension Agent), Ms. King (Volunteer Leader of the Pulaski County 4-H Clover Club), and Mr. Don Breedlove of Marco Supply Company Inc., located in Radford, VA, were able to obtain 112 surplus USDA computers.
These computers have been distributed to 4-H members and their families and to other youth in our community
Additional appreciation is extended to Mr. Herbie Copenhaver and Ms. Paula Steahly of Marco Supply Company Inc. for making the final transportation arrangements from Chantilly, VA, to the Marco Supply store in Radford, VA. To Mr. Matt Altizer, Ms. Angela Goad and to all who have helped program, set up and deliver the computers to their new homes. To be extended to Pastor Martha Yeomans, Ms. Syndi Suthers, Ms. Sandy Hash and other members of Jordan's Chapel United Methodist Church for their support of this project. Jordan's Chapel is the host for the Pulaski County Clover 4-H Club and several of the computers will be kept there for use of the 4-H and church members.
Mr. Lichty was also instrumental in coordinating distribution of computers to students at Pulaski County High School, working with guidance counselor Ms. Tammy Heft and the CHARACTER COUNTS! Program.
(Peter Laws)
Virginia's other FLEX students are Erna Dashkevich, Shenandoah County (hosted by the Moyer family); Marina Dyomina, Frederick County (Ray family); Andriy Maznov, Shenandoah County (Finfrock family); and Lena Medyanik, Patrick County (Hylton family). Virginia also has three 4-H Japanese High School Exchange students this year. All members of Japan's Labo organization, they are Ryo Kawai, Shenandoah County (Lamma family); Yuko Nonaka, Cumberland, Maryland (Helmick family); and Sayaka Sato, Shenandoah County (Ramsey family).
Our 4-H international students are willing to speak to 4-H clubs, 4-H leaders, civic clubs, etc. in their units and, when arrangements can be made, adjacent counties. Contact me or the hosting unit's 4-H Agent.
Virginia 4-H will be hosting both Japanese students and FLEX students again next school year. Families who would like to be considered for hosting or who need more information should contact me soon.
Olya Chervatyuk's Article It was two years ago when I first heard about the FLEX program and set myself a goal to go and visit the wonderful country I've learned and heard so much about. Many people didn't believe I would make it but dreams and wishes do come true if you work hard and wish strongly and sincerely.
All my life I lived in the town of Kamenets-Podilskiy, Ukraine. The place I was born and grown-up. It is really beautiful and ancient, which attracts hundreds of tourists every year. My family is not very big. I have and elder sister, who studies in the university, my dad is a military man and my mother was and engineer for a long time. I went to the school-complex were besides academic subjects children were to take dancing, music or painting. I chose dancing and playing the piano, which I have been doing for eight years. My English studies I began in the first grade and enjoyed it greatly. Since that time English-speaking countries were of great interest for me and I read a lot about them.
United States are a great country, with lots of opportunities, interesting history and the mix of so many different cultures. I enjoy my staying here incredibly. It is wonderful to be in this country, to live through its happy and sad times, and experience everything being a part of its history. Here I've learned more about Americans and their way of life, which is in many ways similar to that we have in Ukraine. Since I love reading books, I was very happy to discover a wonderful and rich world of American literature. English became one of my favorite classes here. I also like U.S. History, which makes me more aware of the country's past and creates a better understanding of different aspects of America's present life.
Being a part of the community I've also learned more about American pastimes. Here people are involved in different clubs, unions, organizations and sports activities. I really like it and enjoy an opportunity to be a member of some of them by myself.
The best experience of course, is giving to me by my host family and my school. It is at school I understood that teenagers are the same allover the world and it is here I've made some of my best friends.
I think our world has a lot of problems to think about, but such exchange programs help to solve some of them. By sharing our cultures, lives and history with each other, we create mutual understanding and make the world a better place to live for all people and their countries. Olya Chervatyuk
Tom Baker, Coordinator
4-H High School Exchange Programs
2060 Vaughan Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23457-1521
phone 757-721-0558 / fax 815-361-2752
e-mail tom.and.anne.baker@juno.com)
(Tom Baker, Coordinator 4-H High School Exchange Programs)
(Cindy Barnett)
Effective January 3, 2002 (today), I enter the world of retirement. My career has produced some exciting experiences and allowed me to work with some of the best people one could ever hope to meet. From working 4-H camps during summers of college in West Virginia, through two years with the U.S. Army, about 7 years of work with students and faculty at two universities, 8 years with the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, to 20 years with USDA as a National Program Leader, I can close a door at this time and move forward with another chapter.
I remain just a bit puzzled by the Extension Service and its system always being criticized for being slow to change. A few individuals may have been a little slow, but the vast majority of individuals and their organizations have changed. Extension's educational efforts have resulted in agriculture producers, families, communities, and youth adapting to technology and research findings about as quickly as humanely feasible.
The forecast of Extension's demise over the last 3 decades continues without fruition. During those same decades, we have heard that the new generation of agents and volunteers are just not as committed and dedicated as the senior staff. But, if you follow the younger staff today, you will find them working the long hours, making important impacts in their communities, and also trying to enjoy their families. You have to care a lot about people and your program to carry cell phones, PDA's, pagers, and have e-mail connected to your residence. The ongoing challenge for everyone in extension is to develop constituency groups that will insist that policy makers at the local, state and federal governments know of Extension's value and impact.
What will the future hold? It is not for me to say, but I doubt if anyone can intentionally kill Extension. The essence of Extension: communicating research and best practices, leading processes for problem solving, developing people, and teaching leadership is what will endure. Will funding continue? The public funding (state and federal) is likely to continue if elected officials have evidence of the program's impact (not always from an expensive study) from the people it purports to serve. The effort to inform decision makers must be purposeful, frequent, and allow the decision maker the opportunity to see the programs in action.
What about private funding? Choose your private partners wisely, particularly when you are doing the public's work. Many private organizations can be exceptionally positive in how they work with university outreach. However, there are those who are more interested in what you can produce for them and their bottom line. A program that is basically funded by public means has a difficult challenge to accept private dollars when a conflict of interest is apparent. Our future will call for more diligence in this arena to insure that the integrity of the program is clear to our audiences. When you find a private partner who actually understands and respects your role as a public servant, you may have just found a likely successful program partner.
One of the bright spots of the last decade is the phenomenon of entrepreneurship in Extension. Old models have been cast aside and both county and state staff have secured grants and contracts to provide education and to produce educational materials. It is more difficult to use the excuse that your program is limited because of lack of funding. Program entrepreneurship is here to stay with room for expansion.
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with colleagues throughout this great nation who will work as a team to make a difference in the lives of people. We have seen a lot of collaboration taking place in the last decade, not only among extension professionals, but with other organizations. As one colleague once told me about a local collaboration, it is the most difficult work, but the most productive and effective in getting the best array of programs and services for a community.
Thank you for all that you have accomplished and for your professional commitment. I do not have a rocking chair philosophy of retirement, just a long list of items to explore. My wife Margaret will continue her work at USDA and I hope to find another but different professional experience. My health is good and along with a good attitude we are on to the next challenge. If you need to reach me....
(Jon Irby)
Website is designed for friends and supporters to learn about 4-H. It will feature a different aspect of 4-H each month. It has a place at which alumni can register on-line to receive the commemorative lapel pin to wear during Virginia's celebration of National 4-H Week in October
(Mary Ann Johnson)
The webpage above includes chapters (which you can downloaded in PDF format) related to youth development.
Particularly good is the chapter titled: Measuring Deficits and Assets: How We Track Youth Development Now, and How We Should Track It Gary B. MacDonald and Rafael Valdivieso, Academy for Educational Development. This chapter goes beyond measurement and defines youth development.
These resources may help you to better understand what "youth development" is, and how you can help to communicate "youth development" to your 4-H volunteer leaders.
(Barry A. Garst)
Director's Letter
Calendar of Events
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