Impact

When Alexandra Reau, a Monroe County 4-H member, was 12 years old, she wanted a farm stand in her front yard. Instead, she wrote a business plan and entered it in the 2009 Prima Civitas Foundation IGNITE Youth Entrepreneur Business Plan Competition (see more about this year's competition in the "Highlights" section) where she won first place and a $300 cash prize to start up her business, Garden to Go. The next year, Reau expanded her farm beyond its original half-acre plot on her family's lawn, and Reau is now growing plants around her home, at her grandmother's house next door and outside her two rabbit barns. Her produce for her 14 clients includes beans, beets, carrots, chard, corn, garlic, kale, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, radishes, spinach, squash, strawberries, lettuce, purslane, many varieties of tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini, and flowers. She also packages rabbit manure and sells it as "Bunny Honey."

Reau's business is established on the community-supported agriculture (CSA) model in which her customers (CSA members) support the farm and, in return, the farm supports them. Her customers pay for their share of the garden's produce up front so Reau has money for planting expenses. Once the garden begins producing, the CSA members come weekly to pick up their supply of produce.

You may have heard the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s television advertisement that informs us that of its thousands of member athletes, only a few will go pro in athletics. Well, as of last year, Reau -- a freshman high-school, honor student, who has been a national champion rabbit breeder since age 10 and who won last year's State 4-H Award in Horticulture and Crops -- wants to be a biosystems engineer.

That's impact! That's Michigan 4-H Youth Development!

For more information about this remarkable and resourceful young woman and her enterprise, you may read:

• Tips to Start Your Own Garden, an April 4, 2011 article by Jodi Helmer, in Girls Life magazine
• Field Report: A Michigan Teen Farms Her Backyard, the July 14, 2010 article by Christine Muhlke, in the New York Times Magazine.
• Garden to Go, the September 2009 (pp. 10-11) article by Alexandra Reau, in Future CEO Stars, published by the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education

Congratulations!

Community Service

On March 17, Livingston County United Way named the Ranger's 4-H Club of Hartland the Youth Organization of the Year for outstanding service and leadership in the community and for showing an overall sense of caring for others. 

In particular, in 2010 the Ranger's provided 1,700 pounds of produce for Hartland's Meals on Wheels and its contribution toward meeting the local Hunger Council's goal of providing 5 million meals to the hungry. Members make decisions about what produce to grow (including cucumbers, peas, potatoes, squash and tomatoes), and they weed the garden and harvest its produce. Next season, the club plans to contribute 2,000 pounds of produce to Meals on Wheels. 

However, this project is not the Ranger's only community-service project. With 130 members, the club cleans litter from a local highway, prepares 1,800 backpacks with school supplies and makes nursing home visits. 

Entrepreneurship  

In two separate events (the 2011 IGNITE Youth Business Plan Competition and the Sixth Annual Generation E Institute [GenEI]

Student Business Showcase), 5 Barry County MSU Extension

4-H'ers swept all middle-school (IGNITE) awards and 2 middle-school and 1 high-school (GenEI) awards. The IGNITE competition is the same competition Alexandra Reau won in 2009 (see story above in the "Impact" section). The Barry County IGNITE competition winners are: 

Place  

1. Elijah Evans, Eli's Enterprises -- Stepping stones and flower-garden art  
2. Claire Anderson, Claire's Unique Pastry Cakes (C.U.P. Cakes) -- Homemade cupcakes
3. Kylie Pickard, Pickard's Sheep Farm, Hastings -- Suffolk Cross sheep and first place in the science-technology division

Eighteen volunteer judges evaluated business plans using criteria including business description, marketing analysis, financial analysis and feasibility.

IGNITE is a statewide, collaborative team of educators, nonprofits and entrepreneurial-support organizations (including MSU Extension) working to promote entrepreneurship for K-12 students. It is one of three teams within the Moving Ideas to Market initiative funded by a grant from the C.S Mott Foundation and administered through the Prima Civitas Foundation.

At the GenEI Student Business Showcase , which was open to the public and all young aspiring entrepreneurs, Elijah Evans was a repeat middle-school winner for his business plan. Miah Grassmid (owner of Miah Bees Natural Skin Solutions) won an award for the most creative middle-school business. In Grassmid's second year as an entrepreneur, she has expanded her business from making lip balm using beeswax from the family hive to including lotion and soap in her product line. Enoch Castonguay -- who created Wood Wizards Workshop, where he hand carves one-of-a-kind walking staffs -- won the award for the most creative high-school business. Alll participants in the Showcase had educator-approved, feasible business plans and operational businesses.   

GenEI is a nonprofit that has developed unique, innovative, project-based and student-driven curricula that help create an entrepreneurial mindset in individuals so they can compete in an ever-changing economy. The curricula support educational standards and provide relationship building, idea generation and all aspects of business development. Students learn to develop business and financial plans based on their business idea and are assisted in implementing those business ventures. GenEI works with communities to determine sites (including schools, community programs, 4-H, libraries, home schools and other organizations) for youth entrepreneurship programs.

Livestock Awards

Amid cheers of encouragement, Traverse City State Bank (TCSB) awarded 13, 4-H youth members - from clubs across Grand Traverse, Benzie and Leelanau Counties - grant money to supplement the cost of purchasing, raising and caring for market animals that will be sold at the 4-H auction at the Northwest Michigan Fair in Traverse City on August 11. The grant process in the program's seventh year began when a record 42 applicants developed and presented a business plan to a TCSB review panel. The panel chose the 13 grant recipients from the original 42 applicants. Of the 13 grant recipients, 4 are funding the costs of raising a steer or dairy cow, 5 are showing swine, 2 will present sheep and 2 will show goats at the auction. TCSB President and CEO Connie Deneweth said the bank is "thrilled to help these worthy recipients with the cost of nurturing and growing their livestock and with the development of important entrepreneurial and life skills that

4-H teaches them."

Performing Arts

Science Blast in the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden 

The summer's first 4-H Science Blast, hosted by Eaton and Ingham Counties' 4-H, was held at the

Michigan 4-H Children's Garden on May 20. Coordinated by Jenny O'Neal (Eaton County MSUE 4-H Educator), the event featured Fashion a Fish and What Genes Do hands-on investigations.

Andy Provenzano, WILX's weather announcer, was on hand to do his weather broadcast from the event, and to promote 4-H science across mid-Michigan. Participants were also able to take self-guided tours of the garden and engage in other fun-filled activities.

Since many counties will host this Science Blasts this summer, call your county Extension 4-H office and find out when a Science Blast is coming to your area! Through hands-on activities and experiments, Science Blasts connect in-school learning with real-world experiences..

Coming Soon

State 4-H Awards Program 

This year, 146 Michigan 4-H'ers who are 13 years and older and who have at least 3 years of 4-H experience, will compete for the honor of being recognized as Michigan 4-H's best in one of 31 project areas (28 individual areas [including new this year Entrepreneurship] and 3 group areas).  

However, the Michigan State 4-H Awards Program is so much more than a project-area contest. It provides the participants with opportunities to gain leadership skills, build self-esteem, and practice interviewing, writing and presentation skills.  The Michigan State 4-H Awards Program includes county-, regional- and state-level competition. State winners will be selected during the 4-H Awards Assembly, held at MSU during 4-H Exploration Days. Selection is based on the awards application and an interview. Winners will be announced at the 4-H Awards Celebration, on Thursday night, June 23, at which time, regional winners will receive certificates of accomplishment, and state winners will receive $100 cash awards and plaques.

Best wishes to all of this year's delegates and if you have not yet participated, why not think about it for next year?  

This year's event is jam-packed with fun and educational workshops. Matches won't want to miss Jell-O Wars, Archery or Capture the Flag! Matches can try out their journalistic side with the brand-new 4-H Mentoring Weekend Press Corps, during which they can interview matches, videotape activities and record all that the weekend has to offer. While at 4-H Mentoring Weekend, mentors will be given the chance to develop skills and network during 2  workshops dedicated solely to mentor training and support.Youth will have the chance to meet other mentees from around the state and explore positive recreational activities.

For more information, check out the video on the Web, and contact Kristy Oosterhouse by email or by phone at 517-432-7686.

Happy 50th Anniversary, Kettunen Center  

On August 13, 2011, Kettunen Center is celebrating 50 years of training 4-H volunteers with a day (10 am to 4 pm) of fun activities for the entire family.The day's activities will include:

• Waterfront activities: pontoon, kayaks, canoes, fishing clinic and contests, swimming, and water games
• Disc golf (new 9-hole course)
• GPS treasure hunt
• A picnic lunch (corn on the cob, salads, burgers, hot dogs, cake and ice cream)
• Tours of the center and nature hikes  
• Petting zoo, 4-H project demos, exhibits
• A celebration program and time-capsule burial

There will also be a 5K Fun Run/Walk at 8:30 am, details of which will be forthcoming.

 

Cost is $7/adult, $5/youth (5 to 17 years), children 4 & under free, with a $25 maximum for immediate family. Lodging is available, at an additional cost, on a  first-come, first-served basis. Register online or by telephone at 231-829-3421 by August 6.

 

The center was the dream of A. G. Kettunen, Michigan's state 4-H leader from 1925 to 1956, although Kettunen died prior to seeing his dream realized. Kettunen envisioned a site where 4-H could grow through the training of its volunteers and members. Today, Kettunen's farsightedness can be seen as the center annually serve approximately 1,800 4-H teen and adult volunteers.

Upcoming Events

June - August 2011  

Ongoing

April 1-September 30

4-H President's Active Lifestyle Award Challenge

Nationwide

April 1-October 31

Michigan 4-H Children's Garden outdoor open (dawn till dusk)

East Lansing

June

June 11

State 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Expo 

Anthony Hall, MSU

June 15-July 14

IFYE Ambassador 4-H Trip to Australia

Australia

June 15-16

Geospatial And Robotics Technology for the 21st Century (GEAR-Tech-21) Training Camp 

Crawford County, Contact Nancy Persing 

June 16-17

MMPA/4-H Dairy Tour

Novi

June 17-19

State 4-H Trail Ride

Goose Creek Trail Camp, Grayling

June 18-July 16

IFYE Ambassador 4-H Trip to Costa Rica

Costa Rica

June 19-24

National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational

Kerrville, TX

June 22-23

Michigan 4-H Awards Assembly

MSU Campus

June 22-24

4-H Exploration Days

MSU Campus

June 24-July 22

Incoming Polish 4-H Exchange

Statewide

June 25

State 4-H Goat Show

MSU Pavilion

June 26-July 2

Youth Citizenship Washington Focus

Washington, DC

June 28-30

MSU Grandparents University 

MSU Campus

Late June-Mid July

Incoming Belize 4-H Exchange

Resources

Grant and Award Opportunities

Packets for the 2011-12 4-H County Innovative Grant and Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award are available online now as fill-in PDF and MS Word documents. Eligibility and availability details can be found here. Grant applications and award nominations are due at the Michigan 4-H Foundation on July 1, 2011. If you have questions about either of these opportunities, you may contact Cheryl Howell by email or by telephone at 517-353-6692.

Would You Like to Polish Your Livestock Judging Skills? 

If so, you are invited to the 4-H 201 Livestock Judging Clinic that the North Region is hosting in Kalkaska on Saturday, July 23 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Over the past 8 months, 3 -  4-H Livestock Judging Clinics have been offered around the state (Kalkaska, Clinton Township and Kalamazoo) to train individuals interested in judging at small 4-H livestock shows. In their evaluations, participants

asked for more in-depth training with animals! 

The clinic will be comprised of 2 - 2-hour sessions taught by professional judges who have extensive experience working with 4-H members. Auction-ready live animals (including cattle, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine) will be on site for hands-on judging practice. In addition, the Ogemaw County 4-H Livestock Judging Team will explain to 4-H members how they can start their own 4-H judging team.

Attendance at the Judging Clinic 101 is not a prerequisite. However, registrants will be encouraged to view the two videos that were produced at the first clinic. Cost will be $5/participant. Contact Barb Duvall for more information.

Do Youth Who Are 13 Years and Older Need a Work Permit to Volunteer?

This question was raised recently and, thanks to research by Dorothy Munn, we have a definitive answer. According to a December 22, 2010 article by Sherri Welch in Crain's Detroit Business,

Submission Guidelines 

This is a newsletter for and about Michigan 4-H Youth Development. It is a means by which we can communicate with one another and promote our great program impacts, showcase resources, spotlight staff, volunteers, members, alumni and curriculum. Therefore, we want articles that are not only pertinent to Michigan 4-H, but which have the most complete information possible and that will capture the reader's interest.

To that end, we are asking you to submit articles that are concise and contain answers to the questions who, what, where, when, how and why. We will be happy to include Internet links that will take the reader to the pertinent information. Therefore, please make sure links are live and take the reader right to the spot with the information not to a general Web page where the reader will have to hunt to find the information. To help highlight articles, we would like to include pictures. So, send us a few pictures with your article.

Ideas for article content might include those that feature:

1.       Programs (One that is upcoming or has been successfully completed)

2.       Grants (Possibilities, already funded and running or successfully completed)

3.       Scholarships (Possibilities or winner announcements)

4.       Resources (New or updated curricula)

5.       Honor, Awards

So we can meet publishing deadlines, please email your articles in Word or WordPerfect (no PDFs) to Priscilla Martin by the 15^th of each month.

Note: To print a copy of this newsletter complete with formatting, prior to printing from Internet Explorer, go to:

1.       Tools

2.       Select Internet Options

3.       Press Advanced

4.       Scroll down to Printing and check "Print background colors and images"

Contact Information 

Michigan 4-H Today is a monthly newsletter for all those interested in 4-H Youth Development programs including its members, parents, volunteers, staff, alumni and retirees. It is published by the Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development office and it is distributed online.

Please contact Michigan 4-H Today:

Priscilla Martin, Editor

160 Agriculture Hall

East Lansing, MI 48824-1039

Phone: 517-432-7635

Email: pjmartin@msu.edu

Fax: 517-353-4846

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. The name "4-H" and the emblem consisting of a four-leaf clover with stem and the "H" on each leaflet are protected under Title 18 U.S.C. 707.