 | |
Michigan 4-H Today
|
|
|
Welcome to Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development!
|
|
Sometimes I marvel at the timing of things. Recently, we marked Martin Luther King, Jr. Day which, since the 1994 passage of the King Holiday and Service Act, has been celebrated as both a federal holiday to honor Dr. King and as a national day of service. Today, we are sending out the latest issue of Michigan 4-H Today in which (in the "Revolution of Responsibility" section) you will find story after story about amazing and extraordinary efforts by some of our 4-H members to serve their communities. I hope you will find reading these articles as inspiring and enjoyable as I did. Also included in this issue is other community-service news such as opportunities to secure resources for service projects and to nominate individuals who have served for awards.
You may also be interested in seeing how Michigan 4-H Youth Development, itself, is part of a larger picture. In the National 4-H Council's 2012 Annual Report: How Do You Measure Responsibility?, you will find documentation about how 4-H is making a difference across the country and around the world.
Julie Chapin
State Leader, Michigan 4-H Youth Development
Director, MSU Extension Children and Youth Institute
|
|
|
|
|
Impact
| |
 
Read the following stories on the Michigan 4-H web site about the impact that one of Michigan 4-H's precollege programs, 4-H Capitol Experience, had on 2 Michigan 4-H members, both of whom attended it in March 2012:
|
|
Revolution of Responsibility
| |
This issue features 4 more outstanding examples of Michigan 4-H members, from 4 different areas of the state, who are participating in the nationwide 4-H Revolution of Responsibility campaign, an effort by youth to identify community issues and take action to defeat the standing obstacles and solve the problem. The aim of the uncommon youth efforts is to create a culture-changing revolution nationwide by building strong, positive communities.
The first example, Michigan 4-H BLOOM Where You're Planted, is a Lenawee County 4-H youth mentoring program for young people with
disabilities. Just as "plants need strong roots, good soil, water, sunshine and a lot of tender loving care in order to grow, blossom and be beautiful from the inside out," every individual with or without disabilities needs "many of these same ingredients" explains Janelle Stewart, Michigan State University Extension 4-H educator in Lenawee County. Read all about it on the 4-H web site. 
In the second example, Dana Glomski, an 18-year-old Alpena County 4-H'er has been making a twofold impact in her community. The entire story is here. 
Our third example is that of 2 brothers from Delta County 4-H who donated a portion of their fair earnings to give local community charities a boost. Read Dayton and Denham Miron's inspiring story here.
 In the fourth example16-year-old Dalton Humphrey, an Eaton County 4-H member and Olivet High School junior, is taking action to directly meet the nutritional needs of youth in Eaton Rapids and Olivet, by communicating a message of nutrition and hands-on learning in areas that had few healthy-living-focused programs for youth. Dalton's story is posted on the 4-H web site.
|
|
4-H Highlights - Past, Present, Future
| |
Congratulations!
Michigan 4-H'ers earned top honors among more than 300 of the nation's most knowledgeable 4-H Horse Program members during the 2012 Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup held  November 3 to 4, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville. Of the 21 horse judging teams and 78 individuals who competed at this prestigious event, Michigan's horse judging team (pictured left with Michigan 4-H Equine Specialist Karen Waite and its coach, Cathy McGeen) finished second overall. Team members from Oakland County 4-H were Alyssa Tomei, Emma Johnson, Meghan Webster and Lily Labovitz. Shannon Ervin, also from Oakland County 4-H, was the sole qualifier from Michigan in the public speaking contest. Coach McGeen, a 20-plus-year Oakland County 4-H volunteer, was naturally very proud of what the team accomplished.
Eight Michigan 4-H competitors in archery and air rifle will participate in the 4-H Shooting Sports National Invitational to be held June 23 to 28, 2013 at the Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Nebraska. The team members, chosen by a selection committee through an application process, are:
Archery
Jake Mittelstadt and Alex Otis, Branch County 4-H
Ethan Crouch and Samantha Jeffery, Calhoun County 4-H
Air Rifle
Alex Nelson and Jesse Thoreson, Iron County 4-H
Joshua Fletemier and Gerald St. James, St. Clair County 4-H
Accompanying the 4-H'ers will be State Coordinator Marie St. James and Rifle Coach Jerry St. James of St. Clair County 4-H, and Archery Coach Mike George of Branch County 4-H and Kalamazoo County 4-H.
Katelyn Horning, former member of Washtenaw County 4-H, Manchester High School graduate and currently a junior in MSU's Department of Animal Science, was awarded the 2012-2013 Russel Erickson Scholarship from the Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation Inc. The $5,000 scholarship, named after an MSU professor emeritus, is awarded to a student whose career aspirations include working on or with dairy farms. You can read all about it in this Holstein World article.
Contests
Build-A-Bear Workshop® Huggable Heroes® is seeking nominations for its program that  recognizes 10 young (aged 8 through 18) community-service leaders who do extraordinary things in their communities or around the world to better the lives of others. Anyone aged 8 and above (even the nominee) can submit a nomination. Entry forms are available online and nominations will be accepted through February 28. Complete details (including official contest rules and FAQs, volunteerism tips and how previous winners earned their award) are also on the web.
The U.S. Targhee Sheep Association (USTSA) is again offering a free, registered Targhee  Starter flock to a deserving young person at the 2013 USTSA National Show and Sale in Arlington, Wisconsin, July 18 to 20. Eligible youth are between the ages of 9 and 17, as of January 1, 2013, whose immediate family does not raise Targhee sheep. Applications and full details are now available online or by contacting Mardy Rutledge at the USTSA office or by phone at 702-292-5715. Applications are due April 1.
Events
Coming Soon
Join Us for the MSUE 4-H Day with the Lady Spartans
Thousands will be on hand March 3 at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center at Michigan State  University to celebrate Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) 4-H Youth Development at the eighth annual "MSUE 4-H Day with the Lady Spartans ." As a way to recognize and celebrate Michigan 4-H programs, MSUE staff members, 4-H members and their families are encouraged to attend this final home game of the Spartan women's basketball team's season as they take on the University of Wisconsin's Lady Badgers. Admission is free for 4-H and MSUE families, but tickets must be reserved in advance. Contact your local MSU Extension office for more information about tickets. Read all the details about this event here, see the flyer or contact Gail Hebert.
Farther Down the Road, But With Swiftly Approaching Deadlines
4-H Environmental & Outdoor Education/Plant Science and Entomology
Teen & Adult Volunteer Leader Workshop
 This workshop - for adult and teen leaders 16 years (as of January 1, 2013) - will be held at Kettunen Center from March 15 to 17. Master Falconer Craig Perdue of Shadow Speak, LLC will present the keynote speech, as well lead a session on falconry. Sessions will include many life skill-building and project area-building, hands-on activities in the 4-H areas of entomology, outdoor adventure, plant science, shooting sports and wildlife. Other topics, which will be highlighted by fun, outdoor projects, will include leadership, service learning and volunteer development. For complete details, check out the Program Announcement. Hurry, registration closes March 9.
Practice Active Citizenship at 4-H Capitol Experience
 Teens from around the state have the chance to participate in a 4-day conference, 4-H Capitol Experience, focusing on civic engagement and public policy. Open to high school students 14 years and older, the event will take place March 17 to 20 at the State Capitol in Lansing and surrounding areas. Adult participants and chaperones are also welcome to attend. More information is available here and in the articles mentioned above in the "Impact" section. Since space is limited to 100 teens and chaperones, selection is made through an application process and registration is due to the State 4-H Office by February 13, apply today through your local MSU Extension office.
4-H Discovery Camp Is Coming, June 24 to 28
4-H Discovery Camp, held on the Michigan State University campus, is an interactive, precollege  program, open to 13- to 19-year-old youth who are interested in exploring Michigan resources in a social setting. Campers team up with leading researchers at MSU who are developing innovations in biofuel production and technology that offer alternatives to fossil-based fuels. Space for the camp is limited and campers are chosen on the basis of their submitted applications. Applications are available online and they are due to Jacob DeDecker at the State 4-H Office by April 19. For more information on MSU Extension's 4-H Discovery Camp program, visit the web sites listed above, email Jacob DeDecker or telephone him at  517-432-7604.
2013 Summer International Travel or Hosting Opportunities
You will find many opportunities on the Michigan 4-H web site, but you need to hurry since some of these deadlines are coming soon.
|
|
Upcoming Events
| |
February
February 1-2
MQHA/4-H Horse Judging Workshop
MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
February 2
4-H Horse Benefit Clinic
MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
February 2-3
2013 Winterfest
Kettunen Center, Tustin
February 22-23
4-H Veterinary Science Teen and Adult Volunteer Leader Workshop
Kettunen Center, Tustin
February 23-24
4-H Beef, Sheep and Swine Teen and Adult Volunteer Leader Workshop
Kettunen Center, Tustin
March
March 1-3
4-H Recreational Leadership Workshop
Kettunen Center, Tustin
March 3
4-H Day at the Breslin Women's Basketball Event
Breslin Center, MSU, East Lansing
March 9-10
4-H Science Adult and Teen Volunteer Workshop
Kettunen Center, Tustin
March 15-17
4-H Environmental and Outdoor Education/Plant Science and Entomology Teen and Adult Volunteer Workshop
Kettunen Center, Tustin
March 17-20
4-H Capitol Experience
Lansing
March 24
4-H Hairy Horse Show
MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
April
April 6-11
National 4-H Conference
Washington, DC
April 13
State 4-H Goat Expo
MSU, East Lansing
April 13-14
4-H Build Your Future: 4-H Entrepreneurship and Career Connections
Kettunen Center, Tustin
April 19-20
4-H Equine Educational Expo (formerly 4-H Horse Jamboree)
Anthony Hall, MSU and MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
April 19-21
Michigan 4-H Dairy Conference
Kettunen Center, Tustin
April 26-28
4-H Shooting Sports Instructors Workshop
Kettunen Center, Tustin
|
|
Help Wanted
| |
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is seeking nominations for the 2013 Governor's Service Awards (GSA). The 8 categories of awards are:
1. Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteerism.
2. Corporate Community Leader Award
3. Outstanding National Service Program Award 
4. Outstanding Volunteer Program Award
5. Mentor of the Year
6. Senior Volunteer of the Year
7. Volunteer of the Year
8. Youth Volunteer of the Year
Five finalists in each category, including the winner, will be recognized. The GSA nomination form is available on the web site listed above or you may obtain it by contacting the MCSC at 517-335-4295. Hard-copy nominations must be postmarked by March 1 and electronic nominations (formatted as PDF files, with the exception of photos which should be in JPEG format) should also be submitted by the March 1 deadline to GSA@michigan.gov.
|
|
More Michigan 4-H News
|
November 9 - Although this article from the petoskeynews.com principally congratulates Becky Swiger for being selected the 2012 Emmet County 4-H Volunteer of the Year, there is much to be learned about how 4-H operates and what individual volunteers can accomplish in the interest of positive youth development.
November 29 - Listen to this podcast from WTVB's show, Delaney in the Morning, in which Connie Lange, Branch County 4-H MSU Extension educator, discusses some of the ways 4-H has an impact (higher GPAs and life skills learned, to name a couple), geographical areas from which its members come and much more.
December 5 - In this video, a mentee from the Wayne County 4-H Tech Wizards learns about nonNewtonian fluids (fluids that sometimes act like fluids and at other times as solids) from a fun science experiment.
members participated in the 90th National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest and the preparations their participation entailed. All 4 of the members agreed that livestock judging "has helped to shape their future by giving them skills in decision-making, problem solving, evaluating livestock and public speaking." January 11 - This report from The Alpena News describes classes that were held over a weekend for teachers and 4-H leaders who wanted to learn about building and controlling remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) and take their experiences to classrooms, clubs and programs. Many of the participants came from surrounding counties, schools and 4-H groups (including as far away and as far apart as the Upper Peninsula and Genesee County). draft horses and other heavy horse events back to the Ionia Free Fair that 'far exceeded' the expectations" of the event's planners.
|
|
Resources
| |
Program
For information about the Youth PQA Plus Training program, see the January Youth PQA Plus newsletter written by Beth Ferry and Megan Sprague.
Grants
The attached chart has details about 9 different grants or grant-making organizations. Included on the chart are a brief description of the grants now available, grant deadlines and the grantors' web sites for complete details.
|
|
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. Be sure they are the highest-possible resolution 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. Honors, 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 bimonthly 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
Room 240
446 West Circle Drive
East Lansing, MI 48824
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.
|
|
|
|
|
