Impact    

These grants are a great resource in helping to make an impact. To illustrate, think about the difference the following 2 projects - both of which received partial funding from 2009 participation-fee grants - have made.

4-H FRIENDS Nutritional Day Camp/Parent Education

The original grant proposed by Branch County 4-H was to support a 5-day camp for 50 children (aged 7 to 11, whose families have limited incomes) and parents to increase their knowledge about healthy eating, physical fitness and 4-H participation. In the following two articles, you can read all the details about this year's camp and check out the photos on the Branch County 4-H Facebook page. 

1. "FRIENDS Day Camp promotes 4-H health, nutrition - and friends" from the July 28, 2011 MSU Extension Spotlight   

2. "MSU holds Friends Camp" from the July 19, 2011 The Daily Reporter.com 

4-H Differently Abled Program

Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties 4-H proposed this grant. The program's stated goal was to assist 4-H groups and families in making it possible for all children to participate successfully in 4-H activities at the Northwestern Michigan Fair. Click here to watch a video clip of TV news coverage of 4-H's Differently Abled program at this year's fair and view all the 2011 photos on Facebook. 

Here is a list of the 2011 participation-fee grants. Participation-fee grant funding comes from the annual $10 participation fee 4-H members pay to support the development, implementation, and maintenance of new or updated 4-H programs. The county forwards to the State 4-H Office half of the fees it collects from its members' fees. Those funds are disbursed in grants for new and updated programs.

Do you have an idea that might benefit from such funding? If so, discuss it with your county Extension 4-H staff. It may result in the submission of an application for the 2012 round of 4-H participation-fee grants. Who knows, you may find your idea on next year's list of successful proposals?!

In yet another outstanding example of wide-reaching impact, between May and July, the Bay County 4-H Youth Program and the Bay County Juvenile Home teamed up to help fight hunger in their county. Read all of the details in an article on the 4-H Web site.

Kent County 4-H'ers  Discover Veterinary Science

On a March 26, 2011, Family Friends Veterinary Hospital of Grand Rapids collaborated with the Perfect Partners 4-H Club to host an impressive, educational, hands-on open house, where the participants discovered just how exciting, fun and interesting veterinary science can be. You will find the whole story here.

Increasing Science Literacy, Learning About History and Career Exploration All in One Stop

Improving science literacy is a goal of both Michigan State University Extension and National 4-H.To help meet the goal, this summer, 42 Delta and Schoolcraft County 4-H members collaborated to build and test remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) at the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum in Muskegon. In addition, participants stayed overnight on the USS Silversides, a World War II submarine. The 27 Delta County 4-H'ers also explored marketing, communication and the use of technology by writing, recording and selling 109 radio commercials to raise funds for the trip at local radio station, MIX106.3. Read all about it on the Michigan 4-H Web site.

Barry County 4-H, Kids, Culinary Arts and Veggies

Members of the Barry County F3 ENERGY! 4-H Club are learning about nutrition education and the culinary arts, while growing fresh vegetables to sell locally to restaurants or at farm markets. You can read the entire yummy story here.

Michigan 4-H Builds Understanding and Creates Global Connections

In 2011, more than 6,000 Michigan children participated in a cross-cultural exchange through the Michigan 4-H Children's Art Exchange with Binzhou in Shandong Province, China. The participants came from 43 schools and after-school groups in 18 counties. Participating educators were unanimous in their praise of the program's educational value. Read more about this great program here.

This summer for 1 month, through the Poland 4-H Exchange Program, 20 Polish youth and 2 chaperones became part of Michigan families who opened up their homes and hearts, and had the experience of a lifetime:

• One parent commented, "I had no idea I could get so attached in such a short time; she called me Mom and I cried."
• An only-child, host sibling said, "I now have a sister!"
• One of the Polish students remarked how easy it was to fit in with a Michigan host family.

Pictured left at a Polish Host Family Picnic are Allegan County 4-H's 8 Polish youth, their chaperone, 4-H staff and County Commissioner, Jon Campbell, who observed how impressed he was with the group of students.

In 1993, the Polish 4-H Foundation was created in Warsaw with the Michigan 4-H Foundation serving as its organizational partner. The relationship was designed to help foster both 4-H youth development programming for Polish youth and cultural sharing that can enhance programming in both countries. During the summer of 2012, Michigan youth can become global citizens and a part of a Polish family. For more information on the Polish Outbound program, contact Jan Brinn with Allegan County 4-H. 

4-H Highlights - Past, Present and Future 

Congratulations!

Stephanie Hentschel, a 7-year Midland County 4-H member, received 1 of only 27 academic scholarships awarded by the The American Kennel Club® (AKC). During Hentschel's time at AKC events, she was ranked top handler in her breed in the United States. Hentschel, who has received multiple state honors (including Best Junior Handler at 3 consecutive State 4-H Dog Shows), also placed in the junior showmanship finals at Westminster Kennel Club in February of this year (see the picture on the right). Scholarship applicants were evaluated based on academic history, involvement in the sport of purebred dogs, with special consideration for those who were active in AKC clubs and events, and an essay describing their future involvement in purebred dogs and with the AKC. Currently, Hentschel is a sophomore at Northwood University, where she is studying Management Information Systems. She plans to continue working with the younger 4-H'ers in her dog group.

Combining photographic and dog project skills, Ottawa County 4-H member Hannah Troupe submitted a photo of her dog, Rocky, to the American Kennel Club® (AKC). The AKC selected the picture to promote the AKC Canine Partners^SM Program through use on large signage at shows, and on brochures and flyers. Pictured left, Troupe is standing next to one such sign at the Detroit Kennel Club's Dog Show at Cobo Hall in March. Rocky is the center poster boy!

On August 14 - former 4-H member and 50-year Genesee County 4-H volunteer, Deb Caryl  - received the Michigan State University Museum's highly prestigious Michigan Heritage Award at the Great Lakes Folk Festival. The award honors individuals who continue family or community  traditions. Caryl, who raises sheep and practices the art of sheep shearing, is passing on her traditional methods of sheep raising and shearing (which she learned from her father) to young people in her 4-H club. Read all of the details here in a WKAR interview. (Photo by LuAnne Kozma, courtesy of the Michigan State University Museum.) 

The award-winning 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources (GLNR) Camp was recently named 1 of only 2 science initiatives in the nation to become a part of an in-depth case study on high-quality, successful, 4-H science programs. This is the third recognition for GLNR Camp. Previously, it was named a National 4-H Program of Distinction and received an award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Natural Resources Conservation Education. Read the entire story on the 4-H Web site. 

WORMCO, the Delta County 4-H worm-farming club, is in the news again! This time it is featured on page 8 of the most recent issue of Future CEO Stars, the Consortium for Entrepreneurship's online magazine. Contact Dave Radloff, Delta County MSU Extension educator, for more information about WORMCO and Chris Stickney, associate program leader in Extension's Greening Michigan program, to find out about IGNITE, a statewide, collaborative team of educators, nonprofits and entrepreneurial-support organizations (including MSU Extension) working to promote entrepreneurship for K-12 students. IGNITE 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.

The Joint Council of Extension Professionals recognized Karen Waite, Michigan State University Extension 4-H equine specialist and Christine Skelly, associate professor of animal science and specialist, with its Excellence in Teamwork award. Skelly and Waite cofounded My Horse University, a national, online horse-management program for horse enthusiasts based at MSU. My Horse University was created through a partnership between MSU Extension, the MSU Department of Animal Science and MSU Global. Among Waite's many responsibilities, she oversees the Michigan 4-H equine youth program and the Michigan 4-H PEP (Proud Equestrians Program), a therapeutic horseback riding program for riders with disabilities.

Kalamazoo County 4-H Takes a Multigenerational Approach to Assist Youth

Kalamazoo County 4-H and the Communities for All Ages (CFAA) - a national initiative that takes a multigenerational approach to helping communities address critical issues - are collaborating in north Kalamazoo. The CFAA Northside Team adopted the Alternative Learning Program for middle school students within the Kalamazoo Public Schools as a way for people of all ages to work with the youth. The yearlong partnership culminated in May, when Kalamazoo County 4-H and the CFAA team hosted a weeklong event for middle-school students that focused on goals they worked on throughout the year. Kids were encouraged to achieve their goals in life by staying away from drugs and gang activity. The week ended with poetry-slam activities and a trip to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum to see how history has played a part in their lives. Some of the partners involved in the collaboration include the Douglass Community Association, the Ecumenical Senior Center, the Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch NAACP and New Genesis Education Center. For more information about this program, contact Kalamazoo County MSU Extension Educator John Burhans. And be sure to check out the digital book (pictured above) they created for the project.

4th Annual 4-H Mentoring Weekend Another Smashing Success  

From start to finish, this year's 4-H Mentoring Weekend, held at Kettunen Center from July 19 to 21, was another huge success. Read all about it here. To learn more about the Michigan 4-H Youth Mentoring program, check it out on Facebook or contact Lisa Bottomley.

Great News: 4-H Judges' Clinic Achieved Its Goal  

If you are looking for a judge for your 4-H show, this is important news for you! Increasing the number of individuals on a list of animal judges, particularly those willing to judge small shows in northern Michigan, was the goal of the 4-H Judges' Clinic held in July in Traverse City.

The 34 participants worked with 6 species of animals and 7 experienced judges taught them how to judge market and showmanship class - 4-H style.  Participant evaluations confirmed that the clinic was successful in increasing their knowledge and skill. For example, participants reported marked improvement in both understanding how to: (1) effectively judge a 4-H market class and (2) make being in the show ring an educational experience for the 4-H member. Clinic participants were particularly appreciative of the opportunity to practice hands-on evaluation of live animals and being able to talk - and compare opinions - with the judges.

The clinic achieved its goal of increasing the number of judges on the state list, with 83 percent of the participating adults volunteering to be added the state 4-H judges' list. Their names will be added to the updated list this fall.

The Science Blasts Continue

Improving science literacy is one of the goals of the MSU Extension I Know MI Numbers initiative. 4-H Science Blasts, held throughout the state, are part of that effort. They are designed to help support school efforts to improve science scores in a state where science literacy for school-aged youth is below the national average. The blasts also help 4-H reach its national goal of engaging 1 million new young people in science programs by 2013.

MSU Extension's  Allegan County 4-H held a Science Blast as part of one of this summer's Maranda Park Parties  at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The blast had 4 stations of learning and fun - covering animal, environmental and plant science, engineering and technology - for the 900 youth who participated. At the blast, youth met a cow up close and personal, took part in 4-H beef-science activities, made butterflies using the 4-H Project Butterfly Wings curriculum, pollinated flowers using cornmeal and made red-bean necklaces. The participants also enjoyed watching the TEAM ROCK Robotics 4-H robot pick up balloons made by Giggles the Clown. They even learned about worm farming from a young 4-H'er. Attendees also proudly wore Science Blast tattoos. (Photos by Janis Brinn.)

Upcoming Events 

September - November 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

September

September 21

Multi-County Beef Workshop

Ogemaw County Fairgrounds Pavilion, West Branch

September 27-28

Sportfishing and Aquatic Resources Education and an Introduction to HOFNOD (Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs) 

Kalamazoo County MSU Extension Office, Kalamazoo 

October

October 2-5

National 4-H Dairy Conference 

University of Wisconsin, Madison

October 2-8

National 4-H Week

Worldwide 

October 5

4-H National Youth Science Day

Nationwide

October 8

Fall Galaxy for 4-H Horse Event Planning Committee

Kettunen Center, Tustin

October 14-16

4-H Healthy Living = Healthy U Teen and Adult Volunteer Leader Workshop

Kettunen Center, Tustin

October 15-16

4-H Clothing and Textiles Teen and Adult Volunteer Leader Workshop

Kettunen Center, Tustin

October 22-23

4-H Proud Equestrian Program Instructor Training Update

Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners

November

November 18-20

4-H Rabbit and Cavy Teen and Volunteer Leader Workshop

Kettunen Center, Tustin

November 25-29

National 4-H Congress

Atlanta, GA

More Michigan 4-H News

July 6 - In this article, The Leader and Kalkaskian announced the reunification of the Kalkaska County Fair and the Kalkaska County 4-H program.

July 19 - This article from the Michigan Farmer describes the 74th Annual 4-H/MMPA Milk Marketing Tour (a 2-day conference for 4-H and FFA members and adult leaders from several Michigan counties) cosponsored by the Michigan Milk Producers Association and MSU Extension.

July 29 - Listen to or read the WKAR interview of State 4-H Leader, Julie Chapin, as she discussed how 4-H - the country's largest youth-development organization - continues to thrive in today's world.  

August 1 - This article from the  Battle Creek Enquirer describes a play, Flashback, and the 4-H Creative and Expressive Arts Program that created it.

August 3 - The Oakland Press featured this article about a new 4-H summer camp for youth aged 5 to10, the 4-H Green Science Adventure Camp, where campers will be able to investigate the impact of nature in our world with activities in areas such as gardening, cooking, art, and science.

August 5 - This article   from the Battle Creek Enquirer describes the Coordinator of MSU District 13's presentation to the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners appealing for that county's Extension programs, especially the 4-H youth program.

August 5 - Read this story in the Novi Patch about Oakland County Extension's Sun, Water and Seeds 4-H Club (comprised of kindergartners through high school-aged members) that grows and sells vegetables from its garden at the MSU Tollgate Education Center. The club is part of the Novi component of the 4-H Youth Gardens and Farm Stands Project.  

August 15 - In this article  from the Lansing State Journal and video coverage from WILX (TV channel 10), you will find information about the First Book-4-H-Molina Foundation giveaway of thousands of books during the preceding week.

August 22 - This article in the Midland Daily News describes how the 4-H program has grown from its early roots in country life to its present programming that includes mentoring, urban gardening and robotics, while maintaining its emphasis on members' leadership skills, communication, decision-making and responsibility.

August 23 - This article from the Petoskey News  defines the vital role volunteers play in the success of a 4-H fair.

Resources  

Looking for a Judge for Your 4-H Animal Show or Thinking of Becoming a Judge Yourself?

Check out the Michigan 4-H Web site for a list of animal judges who are willing to judge 4-H shows across the state! If you (or someone you know) are interested in judging 4-H animal shows, consider completing an animal judge's form so you can be included on the list mentioned above.

MSU and Michigan 4-H Youth Development Scholarships    

 Michigan State University and Michigan 4-H Youth Development annually offer scholarships to 4-H'ers. The Michigan 4-H Scholarship Web page will be updated shortly with application materials to download. Here is a summary of the information that will be available:

General Eligibility

The Web page will include a summary sheet of scholarships and deadlines for 2011-12. This handout can be included with mailings and would be helpful to share during leader orientation meetings.

Michigan 4-H Youth Development Scholarships

There is 1 application packet for the 2 scholarships listed, with a December 1, 2011 deadline. Applicants complete pages 1, 2 and 3 and on page 1 check off the scholarship(s) for which they are applying. Each scholarship has separate information pages with requirements that must also be completed to be considered for that award. The scholarships available are:

• Michigan Farm and Garden Association 4-H Scholarship (range in value from $360 to $1000)
• Michigan Rabbit & Cavy 4-H Scholarship ($500, 2 to 4 given annually, must have 4-H rabbit/cavy participation for at least 3 years, be a college freshman for 2012)

Michigan State University Scholarships

These scholarships, given to 6 recipients annually:

• Are awarded to Michigan 4-H'ers who are currently high school seniors and applying as freshman for a 4-year degree program at Michigan State University.
• Provide $2,500 for 4 successive years of full-time study at MSU (a $10,000 value)
• Are awarded to the recipient based on his or her 4-H involvement, achievements, leadership and service and academic excellence.

To be considered, applicants must apply for MSU admission by November 1, and submit their MSU 4-H scholarship application to their local county 4-H staff by October 15, 2011. County 4-H staff complete the staff section and forward it to the MSU Office of Admissions by November 1, 2011.

Michigan State University Pre-College Scholarship information is available on the Web site.

Youth and Youth Educator Grants 

The 2011 North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) Youth and Youth Educator Grant Call for Proposals is now available. These grants are a part of the Farmer Rancher Grant Program. Their purpose is to provide opportunities for youth in the North Central Region to learn more about sustainable agriculture. A total of approximately $34,000 is available for this program. The two available grants are:

1. Youth grants ($400 maximum) for on-farm research, demonstration, or education projects by youth aged 8 to18. Research and demonstration projects are for hands-on efforts to explore sustainable agriculture issues and practices. Education projects can involve teaching others about sustainable agriculture or attending a sustainable agriculture conference, workshop or camp.
2. Youth educator grants ($2,000 maximum) for educators to provide sustainable-agriculture programming for youth.

Interested applicants can find the call for proposals and useful information for completing a proposal on the Web.  

Help Wanted  

Biobank Research

Michigan State University Extension is partnering with researchers at Michigan State University's Center for Ethics and Humanities to get community input about how human tissue could be used in "biobank" research. Michigan 4-H Youth Development has agreed to help get the word out about a survey being conducted with Michigan citizens to learn more about people's attitudes and concerns about the ways their tissue might be used in biobank research.

Biobanks are collections of human biological samples that may come from a variety of sources. They may be left over from tissues used for diagnosing disease; they may have been removed in surgery; or they may have been directly contributed to the biobank by someone interested in supporting medical research. Biobanks are becoming an increasingly important tool for advancing medical research.

MSU Professors Tom Tomlinson and Stan Kaplowitz want to find out if the public has concerns about the ways their samples might be used in biobank research. They have created an online survey to better understand people's concerns, so biobanks can take them into account when they collect and use tissue in research. The survey takes no more than 20 minutes. The only identifying information collected will be your email address and the IP (Internet) address of the computer you use to take the survey. That information will later be destroyed. In the survey, you will learn a lot more about biobanks. Upon completion of the survey, you will receive the authorization code for a $10 gift certificate redeemable with hundreds of local and online merchants at GiftCertificates.com. If you would like to take the survey, or have any questions, contact  Meghan Cormier, the project research assistant.

The Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (M4-HYCC) Needs Members and Advisors  

The M4-HYCC needs teens - aged 13 to 19 - and adults from the Central, West and South regions

• September 30: Youth submit their application to 4-H staff at their local MSU Extension Office. 
• October 7: County MSU Extension staff forward applications to Andrea Grix, M4-HYCC Coordinator, Kettunen Center.

M4-HYCC is a terrific personal-development, service-learning and leadership opportunity. The council researches and helps resolve environmental issues by working with state and local government. M4-HYCC advisors and teens attend a fall, winter and spring planning workshop/ meeting, meet occasionally by conference call and help prepare the youth for their presentation to Michigan legislative committees in April. More information - including a promo flyer, invitation letter, advisor job description and application - can be found at the Web site given above.  For more information, questions or concerns, contact Andrea Grix (phone 231-829-3421).

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. Make sure pictures are the highest-resolution possible and do not embed them in the text. 

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 15th 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.