Wayne Keffer Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established by the Virginia 4-H All Stars in memory of Dr. Wayne Keffer, former State 4-H Director and outstanding Virginia 4-H member. Two scholarships are given annually. Incoming College Freshmen through graduate students are eligible. Contact Marjorie Wright in the State 4-H Office (540-231-6086) for details and application. Applications due January 1. (Irene Leech)
Four-H Career Days at Paramount's Kings
Scheduled dates are May 15-16,22-23,29-30; June 1-6, 99, however, the seminars will be conducted May 15, 1999 Only. The $23.00 ticket may be used on either of the dates listed. Our 4-H contact person at Kings Dominion is Helen Jackson, (804) 876-5352.
Mark the documented dates now on your calendar and look for more details relating to career days at Kings Dominion later. If there are questions, call Rudolph Powell at (804) 524-5965.
Virginia 4-H Tech Corps
This state-wide high-tech corp. is now looking for 4-H Seniors (teens) to participate in its first year of operation. This is a program that has met good success in other states. Members meet mostly through email, a listserve and through on-line chats. In Virginia we hope to also have a 3-day training session for the Tech Corps, a Spring 1999 'Special Event' and special events at the 1999 State Congress.
Please think for a moment of your teens that would enjoy this. We're looking not only for teens that can write www pages, or enjoy writing www pages, but also, 4-Hers that would enjoy getting more involved with digital photography, computer graphics, and traditional journalism. Members will collaborate on periodic service projects that utilize digital cameras, email cooperation and the WWW.
The details of the programs, an on-line application form, and examples from other states, are posted at http://www.chre.vt.edu/phl/techcorps Hopefully, if your teen already has email, you can forward this note, and encourage him/her to apply. There is also a Powerpoint flyer there that you can download and print. However, I don't want to discourage any bright kids from participating, just because they don't yet have email. If you'd like to make comments, ask for printed materials, or have questions, please contact me. The deadline for applications is November 30th, which is not that far away. (Peter Laws)
Consumerama 1999
Consumerama is a great way to help young people become better consumers. By researching several products and supporting their reasons for purchase of a particular one, youth learn the process of comparison-shopping. Plus working as a team in a competitive event can be a fun experience. Products to compare for 1999 include Cordless Telephones, Phone Cards, Fast Food, and Sunscreen. Resources for this years products can be found at For more information on starting a consumerama team or setting up a contest contact me at 540-231-4191. (Irene Leech)
High School Financial Planning Program
We now have proof positive that the High School Financial Planning Program works. Many thanks to the excellent program evaluation research efforts of Laurie Boyce, University of Wisconsin, and Sharon Danes, University of Minnesota. Also thanks to the National Endowment for Financial Education for funding this program evaluation and to the many Extension educators across this country who work with this exciting program. Attached is a copy of the press release summarizing the results of the program evaluation. If you are interested in becoming part of the Virginia High School Financial Planning Program, contact me at 540-231-4191. (Irene Leech)
Free Pine Seedlings
Please take advantage of the 4-H seedling program this year. Here are the details:
- Order seedlings from your local Va. Dept. Forestry (VDOF) office by Jan. 15.
- Loblolly pine for coastal plain and piedmont counties. White pine for mountain and valley counties or Christmas tree projects.
- Distribute seedlings in March or April.
- School groups: one seedling per student is recommended. Wrap roots in a moist paper towel, place in a plastic bag, and attach instructions.
- Others: 25, 50 or 100 seedlings with parent signature and description of the planting area. Please encourage youth to complete survival records and return to you each year.
- Great way to teach Science SOL 4.8- Virginia’s Natural Resources.
- New publication : Virginia 4-H Seedling Project #420-068. Order from Distribution Center.
- New flyer : "Your Pine Seedling" and "Virginia’s Natural Resources." Please reprint and use with school groups.
- See new flyer and other documents attached to November newsletter.
(Jeff Kirwan)
4-H Camping Increases in State for 1998
The 4-H camping season for 1998 was a tremendous success in terms of programming and the number of camp participants who attended. This year's 4-H camping season at the six 4-H educational centers showed an increase of 256 over the numbers for 1997. The total number of camp participants for the summer was 14,189, compared to 13,933 for the 1997 season. Five of the six 4-H educational centers showed an increase in numbers.
The overall 4-H camping season, including numbers from the 4-H centers and the units in both residential and day camp programs totaled 22,787 for the 1998 season. Way to go, agents. Keep up the good work of promoting this educational opportunity to the youth of the Commonwealth. (Bob Meadows)
State 4-H/FCS In-Service
As you are well aware, the 1999 State In-Service will be a joint venture for agents representing 4-H and FCS during our week here on campus, January 25-28, 1998. The Call for Proposals for both workshops and poster sessions are being sent this week. Be sure to watch your mail and get your proposal(s) sent back before the deadline.
The information will also contain an updated schedule for this staff development event. (Bob Meadows)
NCI 4-H Throws
The NCI V dates, already communicated to you, are February 16-20, 2000 at Airfield 4-H Educational Center near Wakefield. During this year's NAE4-HA Conference in Louisville, NCI will be promoting calls for proposals for workshops/seminars. A copy is included for your use.
My office is full of the "4-H Camping in Virginia" throws that are being sold in order to support NCI V. By the time you receive this story, the price of the throws are $50.00 each. They make excellent wall hangings, as well as beautiful Christmas gifts. Be sure to get your order in before they are all sold out. More information will be forthcoming concerning NCI V. (Bob Meadows)
Surfing The Net With Kids,
Written by Barbara Feldman, Surfing the Net with Kids, is both a syndicated newspaper column and a Web archive dedicated to finding the best family-friendly Web sites http://www.surfnetkids.com/ Surfing the Net with Kids reviews Web sites by categories. This means that it gives you reviews of the best tiger sites, the best online encyclopedias, the best algebra sites, etc. Also like Yahoo Internet Life, Surfing the Net with Kids rates sites using stars, but their rating system goes from five stars ("spectacular") to three ("great"). (Ann Hertzler / FOOD AND NUTRITION NEWSLETTER - OCT 1998)
State Congress PowerPoint Competition
The Science & Technology Curriculum Committee introduces a new contest for State Congress this summer. A brief summary and scoring criteria are attached. More information will be coming in February(Carol Byrd)
1999 National 4-H Congress Application
National 4-H Congress is the premier educational and recognition event for senior 4-H members. The 1999 event will again be held in Atlanta, GA and will provide participants an exciting opportunity to explore careers engage in a variety of learning events, and have great fun. Please share the criteria and application process with your senior 4-H members.http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/specialty/4h/programs. Deadline for application is April 1. For more information contact Billie Cline in the State 4-H Office, 540-231-6086 or email: bcline@vt.edu(John Dooley)
$500-$1500 Grants Available
Partner: Metropolitan Life Foundation
Deadline: November 30, 1998
Youth In Action/Community Service Grants National 4-H Council Grant Opportunity Program Partner: Metropolitan Life Foundation Community service project grants of $500 to $1500 are awarded to youth who take leadership roles and work with other youth and adults in their communities. Grants require youth teams to identify critical issues in their communities, develop activities to address these issues, and educate other young people and adults on ways to model community service. Youth must be actively involved in writing the proposal and in program implementation. Collaborative efforts reflecting the diversity of the community are encouraged.
To get a copy of the grant application you may: print it out from National 4-H Council Web page at http://www.fourhcouncil.edu (click on Programs and then Youth Grants) or send a 55 cent self addressed stamped envelope to Youth In Action Grants — YCC, National 4-H Council, 7100 Connecticut Ave., Washington DC 20815. (John Dooley)
National 4-H Council Announces Internship Opportunities
Program Assistant internships are available at the National 4-H Center for the fall and spring Wonders of Washington and the summer citizenship Washington Focus programs. Program Assistants (P.A.'s) will act as field trip escorts for groups visiting Washington D.C. The P.A.'s will coordinate all logistics and directions while the tour guide gives commentary to youth group visiting D.C. P.A.'s will also work as program facilitators conducting education workshops to groups staying at the 4-H Center. P.A.'s will be the point of contact for groups at Center. When they are not with groups, P.A.'s have the oportunity to develop themselves professionally while working in different departments at the National 4-H Center
Employment Period, (Application) Deadlines:
WOW- Spring (Mid January-mid June) Due Nov 1
CWF- Summer (Mid May- mid August) Due Jan 15
WOW- Fall ( September- mid December)Due June 1
Benefits: Program Assistants are paid a weekly stipend of $250 and are provided room and board on campus. For more information, please visit National 4-H Council web page at: or contact Nicole Mintz, educational opportunities, National 4-H Council, (301) 961-2850, mintz@fourhcouncil.edu. (John Dooley)
IFYE News
Karen Starks, IFYE to Norway, shares her travel experiences of her free time in Greece . The IFYE experience is a wonderful adventure for young adults. Information packets with applications were mailed to Extension office in September. Share the information with 4-H members so they will be aware of the opportunity and encourage older youth to apply. Contact Marjorie Wright 540-231-6373 in the State 4-H Office for more information. (Dottie Nelson)
Virginia 4-H Wins1998 Mid-South 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest
Congratulations to the 1998 Virginia 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Team which won the Mid-South 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest on October 3, in Memphis, Tennessee. Members of the team were Wesley Brubaker (Franklin County), Bill Dick (Frederick County), Lindsay Potts (Loudoun County), and Meg Welsh (Rockingham County). The team was coached by Beth Dransfield and Eddie Potts. Team and individual accomplishments are listed in the attachment section. (David Winston)
1998 State Fair Stockmens Contest Results
The Junior Stockmens Contest is a test of general knowledge about livestock subjects. The contest includes identification of feeds, equipment, breeds, and retail meats cuts. Contestants judge classes of hay, meats cuts, beef cattle, sheep, and swine, and answer questions about the animal classes. They also take a 25-question quiz on information pertaining to livestock. The contest included a Junior Division (4H and FFA members who are 13 or younger on September 1) and a Senior Division (4H and FFA members who are 14 — 19 on September 1.). A total of 336 members competed in the contest. Results for each division are listed as an attachment. Results of the youth beef carcass show can be found on the Extension Intranet in the November Issue of Livestock Updates (Mark Wahlberg)
Virginia History of 4-H Camping
With the success of the State Short Course for African Americans, beginning in 1923, additional opportunities for these youth in Virginia were provided for camping experiences. Several youth from throughout the Commonwealth attended the first regional 4-H camp for "...Negro boys and girls conducted in Baton Rouge, Louisiana during the week of August 24-31, 1948" (Head, Heart, Hands, and Health of Virginia, 1948, August, p.2).
This camp for the 17 states in the southern region of the United States was a huge success, leading to other such events in other states. The third annual camp was held on the campus of Virginia State College in Petersburg during the week of August 8-15, 1950. The weeklong event included 4-H club members from the Virgin Islands, as well as the 17 southern states. This camp featured educational "discussions, lectures, recreation, and tours of historic Virginia...geared throughout to the 4-H theme Better Living for a Better World" (Head, Heart, Hands, and Health of Virginia, 1950, October, p. 3).
This camping event continued through the years, rotating among the various states within the Southern Region and the District of Columbia, with the final event conducted at Howard University in Washington, DC, in August 1961. Known from the beginning as the Regional 4-H Club Camp for Negroes, this final event's name changed to Regional 4-H Conference for Negroes (Head, Heart, Hands, and Health of Virginia, 1961, October, p. 2).
Prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Virginia Cooperative Extension provided programming according to prevailing social arrangement, "...but in many instances meetings were integrated and whites served blacks and vice versa...[and]both races often worked together, however, even against public social pressures for separation (Bruce, 219). During this time, the separate Extension operations serving African Americans and Whites were integrated into one. William Daughtry, Director of Virginia Cooperative Extension Service from 1962-1966, pointed out that Extension had integrated its 4-H camps before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by the United States Congress (Virginia Extension Magazine, 1989, p. 5).(Bob Meadows)
______________________
- Virginia Cooperative Extension. (1948). Head, Heart, Hands, and Health of Virginia, August, p.2.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension (1950). Head, Heart, Hands, and Health of Virginia, October, p.3.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension (1961). Head, Heart, Hands, and Health of Virginia, October, p.2.
- Bruce, P.A. (1929). Virginia: Rebirth of the Old Dominion, Vol. II. New York: Lewis Publishing Company, p. 219.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension. (1989). Virginia Extension Magazine, p. 5.
Things to Think About (and do) When Transporting Youth
These tips are "common sense" and something we should all be doing, before transporting ourselves — as well as other people.
- Always use seat belts
- Turn on headlights for safety
- Don’t drive fatigued-start out well rested
- Load, hitch and tow your trailers correctly
- Properly adjusted mirrors lesson the chance of driver error
- Night driving can be dangerous- don’t drive faster than you can see
- Let tailgaters pass you by reducing your speed
- Don’t let traffic get the best of you —Stay cool
- Maintain a safe driving distance — remember the two second rule
- Steer clear of a truck’s blind spot
Always check for good mechanical condition:
Tires-Brakes, Windshield Wipers, Lights, Horn, Turn Signals, Fluid Levels, Clean Windshields and Windows.
Encourage your parents/volunteers to set good examples as they drive youth to various events. It may save their life as well as that of their passengers. (Kansas 4-H Journal, Sept 98)
When in doubt, Communicate!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
NOVEMBER
1-5
NAE74HA
n/a
National 4-H Horse Roundup, Louisville, KY (Larry Lawrence
6-7
North American Invitational 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest, (for State Teams Only) (Louisville, KY ) (David Winston)
8-21
North American International Livestock Exposition, Louisville, KY (Mark Wahlberg) (Show Manager 502-595-3166)
8
North American Invitational 4-H Dairy Cattle Juding Contest (for State Teams Only) Louisville, KY (David Winston)
13
State 4-H Leadership Council Meeting, Albemarle Ext Office, Charlottesville, (J.Dooley)
13-15
State 4-H Cabinet Meeting(Smith Mt. Lake) (Dorothy Freeman) Planning and training for 1998-99 4-H Events/Programs
16-18
4-H Livestock Judging Contest, Louisville, KY (for state teams only) (Mark Wahlberg)
18-19
4-H Poultry & Egg Conference, Louisville, KY (Phil Clauer)
TBA
Summer 4-H Camp Staff Recruitment Day at Virginia Tech (Bob Meadows) Sponsored by the Collegiate 4-H Club of Virginia Tech, this event is designed to provide an awareness of job opportunities for summer employment at the six 4-H educational centers for the 1998 summer 4-H camping season, and to recruit quality students for programming responsibilities.
21-22
Virginia Association of Adult 4-H Volunteer Leaders (VAA4-HVL) Fall Conference For any adult 4-H volunteers from throughout the state; Extension Agents are always invited. (Ft. Magruder Inn, Williamsburg, VA) (Bob Meadows, Richard Booker)
27-Dec 1
National 4-H Congress (Atlanta GA) (Beth Atkins) Senior 4-H members are selected from 4-H Resume and interviews to participate in this national event. 1000 4-H members from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands participate in seminars, cultural events and fun activities.
DECEMBER
Unit All Star Nominations to District Events Coordinators
2
Summer 4-H Camp Staff Recruitment Day at Virginia State (Bob Meadows)This event is designed to provide an awareness of job opportunities for summer employment at the six 4-H educational centers for the 1997 summer 4-H camping season, and to recruit quality students for programming responsibilities.
4-5
4-H/FFA Dairy Management Workshop (Va Tech) (Dave Winston)
4-6
4-H Leadership Follies (Holiday Lake 4-H Center) (Janet Thaxton)
11-13
Christmas Camp (Holiday Lake 4-H Center )(Terry Abston)
JANUARY
16-17
Forestry & Wildlife Weekend (Holiday Lake 4-H Center) (Mike Clifford)
23-24
Aerospace Weekend ("Space Quest") (Airfield 4-H Center) (Marvin Heimbach/Joe Hoffenberger)
25-28
State 4-H Inservice Week (Blacksburg)(Bob Meadows) For all Extension 4-H & FCS Agents and specialists. Specific training will be provided in the area of 4-H & FCS.
