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Michigan 4-H Today

October-November 2013 

Welcome to Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development!

Photo of Julie Chapin

For many of us, this time of year begins a season of holidays that will last into January. In this issue of Michigan 4-H Today, I would like to focus on one in particular, Thanksgiving, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to each of you, whether you are a 4-H member, volunteer leader, parent or staff, for the ingenuity, generosity and caring spirit you demonstrate as you think about and implement ways to support and serve others.

 

In this nation, in which 4-H originated as a need-driven organization and one in which causes greater than ourselves remain the basis for some of the best of what we do, Michigan 4-H is a shining example of how much can be accomplished when we apply ourselves to helping others. The 4-H Revolution of Responsibility challenges our young people to become heroes by tackling challenges and remaining resolute in pursuing solutions to them. I hear daily about the wonderful work and contributions that our adult volunteers are engaged in across this state, as well. So, if you are looking for inspiration some day, check the Michigan 4-H Today archives to remind yourself of some of the amazing impacts 4-H members, volunteers and families have had, and continue to have, on communities across this state! I do.

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 Impact  

Members of a Kalamazoo County 4-H club on an interstate exchange club 4-H members can learn about other cultures and develop valuable life skills, while participating in interstate 4-H exchanges, as well as on the several international exchanges Michigan 4-H Youth Development hosts. In the last issue of Michigan 4-H Today, Gratiot County 4-H discussed its recent experience when Montana 4-H'ers visited Michigan. Here are a couple of other examples of Michigan 4-H groups that have found interstate 4-H exchanges to be great learning experiences:

  • In 2013-14, Washtenaw County 4-H exchanged with Burleson County, Texas
  • This summer, Kalamazoo County 4-H, which has been doing interstate exchanges for over 60 years traveled to Hampshire County, Massachusetts

Consider some of the many life skills youth gain from such interstate exchanges: planning and organizing, setting goals, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, cooperation, social skills, conflict resolution, sharing and nurturing relationships, leadership, record keeping, teamwork, responsibility, self-motivation and acceptance of others' differences.

 

For more information about interstate exchanges, see:

Oakland County 4-H program coordinator, Jason Scott, and 13 4-H members spent July 15 to 19 Testing the balloon exploring the best way to launch a balloon miles into the air during the 2013 4-H Eco-Challenge. Read all about it and then see the participants' enthusiasm and Loading an artificial nesting place with soil and plants the balloon's journey in this 4-H Eco-Challenge video.

 

Dow Chemical Company, through the Michigan 4-H Foundation, made a grant to the Alger County 4-H Youth Conservation Council. With the funds, the group built and placed artificial platforms for loons in the Au Train basin and three other Alger County lakes. All the details can be found on the Michigan 4-H web site.

Revolution of Responsibility

The Wattles Park Trailblazers serving food at a local soup kitchen. The Wattles Park Trailblazers 4-H Club, a part of Calhoun County 4-H recently held its second, annual Fuzzy Open Horse Show to aid a local soup kitchen. Last year, the show raised $500. This year, the group hoped to raise $1,000. Read (or watch) the entire story on the web through WWMT.

Jackson County's 4-H Barn Buddys Club  

Read here a story of two Michigan 4-H groups (one from Alpena County 4-H and another in Jackson County 4-H) that are doing their part to raise awareness, funds and other forms of support for people battling cancer.

4-H Highlights - Past, Present and Future 

Congratulations!

Kristin Leach Kristin Leach, a long-time, former member of Grand Traverse County 4-H's Carousel 4-H Club, was named 2013 Michigan Homemaker of the Year. Contestants were judged on their strength as a homemaker, communication skills, community involvement, enthusiasm, personal interests and a display board representing their county. Read more in this article from the Grand Traverse Insider.

 

Events

 

Wrap-Ups

In June, 43 youth from across Michigan traveled by bus to participate in Citizenship Washington Focus . All the details can be found here.

Firewise demonstration  

Teens between the ages of 13 and 15, from 37 counties across Michigan, learned a lot and had fun in the sun during the 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp held July 28 to August 3 on the northern shores of Lake Huron at  Camp Chickagami in Presque Isle. For a full account of the weeklong camp, read this article.

  Michigan 4-H shooting sports logo

The Michigan 4-H State Shooting Sports Tournament was held August 3 at Centerline of Calhoun, Inc. Read here which teams placed first in their respective divisions. Complete tournament results can be found on the event web site listed above.

 

Horse show participant Michigan 4-H members who qualified through their county 4-H horse programs competed with their miniature horses at the MSU Pavilion on August 4 in the State 4-H Miniature Horse Show. The same weekend saw the three-day State 4-H Horse Show held at the MSU Pavilion. For more information, see the write-up Dog on the Michigan 4-H web site, with complete results here.

 

The Michigan State 4-H Dog Show was held at the MSU Pavilion on August 17. Complete show results are available on the web.

 

Checking out the 4-H Children's Art Exchange With China  

On August 20, 4-H members, volunteers and staff from across mid-Michigan showcased what 4-H has to offer to the public at the third annual 4-H Evening in the Garden. Young people and adults enjoyed the beauty of the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden, hands-on 4-H activities and MSU Dairy Store ice cream. For more details, read this news release

 

2013 National Youth Science Day logo October 6 to 12 was National 4-H Week and counties across Michigan celebrated the 4-H members who have made an impact in their communities and are stepping up to meet the challenges of a changing world. One event that took place on October 9 was the 2013 National Science Experiment during which Michigan 4-H'ers joined thousands of youth around the country in a single, innovative experiment, 4-H Maps & Apps. The experiment turned young people into geospatial thinkers. Read more about the week and 4-H National Youth Science Day here.

 

Coming Soon 

Amanda Eicher Hold November 9 for the 2013 Michigan 4-H Volunteer Forum. If you'd like to renew and refresh your 4-H volunteer skills, be sure to come to the Michigan 4-H Volunteer Forum at Michigan State University. The forum is for both 4-H teen and adult leaders and will feature hands-on workshops, networking opportunities and take-home resources. Amanda Eicher, a former 4-H'er, member of FFA, volunteer and currently a pastor's wife, is this year's keynote speaker. This year's registration will be online only and the fee, which covers program costs and lunch, will be $35. For more information and to register, visit the link listed above. The Lady Spartans discussing strategy

 

Way Down the Road, But Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Upcoming Deadlines
The next 4-H Day at the Breslin - Women's Basketball event (MSU's Lady Spartans vs. Purdue's Lady Boilermakers) will take place February 2, 2014. Ticket information and other details will be announced as they become available.

Upcoming Events 

 

October

 

October 30

Introduction to Bullying Prevention: Workshop for Parents and Caregivers 

Gogebic County Natural Resource Center, Bessemer

 

 

 

November

 

November 2-3

4-H Proud Equestrian Program Instructor Update 

Kellogg Biological Station

 

November 8-9

4-H Rabbit & Cavy Teen & Adult Volunteer Training Workshop 

Kettunen Center, Tustin

 

November 9

Michigan 4-H Volunteer Forum 

Plant & Soil Sciences Building, MSU

 

November 12

Trauma Reactions to Bullying 

Your computer

 

November 20

Moving From Bystanders to Allies: Workshop for Parents and Caregivers 

Gogebic County MSU Extension Office, Bessemer 

 

November 22

ABCs of Bullying Prevention & Be SAFE Curriculum Workshop 

Allegan County Human Services Building, Allegan

 

November 22-24

4-H Teen & Adult 2013 Horse Leaders Conference 

Kettunen Center, Tustin

November 29-December 3
National 4-H Congress
Atlanta, Georgia



December

December 2 
Your computer

December 11 
Gogebic County MSU Extension Office, Bessemer 


 

January

 

January 14

Your computer 

 

January 16 

Be SAFE: Addressing Bullying in Out-of-School Settings

Hannah Community Center, East Lansing 

 

January 18-19

4-H Horse Judges & Show Managers Conference

Kettunen Center, Tustin

 

January 25

4-H Rabbit & Cavy Show

MSU Pavilion, East Lansing

 

January 25-26

4-H Teen Leadership & Community Change Conference

Kettunen Center, Tustin 

Help Wanted 

Do you know a 4-H'er who has a passion for government, history, political science, working with 4-H clover youth, public speaking, or leadership? If so, encourage him or her to apply for the position of Program Assistant (PA) at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center. Application deadlines are approaching soon and National 4-H Council wants to give 4-H alumni and collegiate 4-Hers an opportunity to make a difference during their spring or summer semester. PAs will touch the lives of thousands of middle and high school-aged students from all over the United States while working for our Wonders of Washington or Citizenship Citizenship Washington Focus program in Washington, D.C. Complete details can be found on the program links given above.  

 

Two Michigan middle-school or high-school science teachers can have one unforgettable and fun professional-development opportunity, serving as instructional staff for the nationally recognized 4-H Learning about watersheds in Presque Isle Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp, July 27 to August 2, 2014

 

The selected science teachers will join area professionals, field experts and teens for a week-long, extraordinary experience both teaching and learning along the shores and in the woodlands of northeast Michigan. They'll leave with contacts and relationships formed with these professionals, experiencing first-hand research and science learning as taught by the experts. The educators selected can earn continuing education credits (CEUs), if desired. Additional details and an application are now available. The application deadline is Friday, December 6, 2013, 5 p.m. EST.

 

The 4-H Emerald Clover Society recognizes distinguished Michigan 4-H alumni (those who had ECS logo significant 4-H involvement as a young person and who have made important contributions to their local, state and national communities). Selection is based on an individual's professional and business achievements, leadership in community service and philanthropy, contributions to or impact on American society, and noteworthy leadership and achievement as a 4-H member. A nominee must have been a Michigan 4-H member for three or more years and be living. Membership is by nomination and review committee selection only. Nominations are due January 31, 2014. The nomination form can be found on the web.

More Michigan 4-H News  

July 25

Read this article in the monroenews.com about a Monroe County 4-H member, Brianna Linkfield, who creatively combined vacation and community service when she gave a presentation and read books to children through a Hawaiian 4-H literacy program.

 

August 8

For the second year in a row, youth in Rapid River High School class owned and operated their own businesses through a program provided by Delta County 4-H Educator, Dave Radloff. Read about all about it here in the Daily Press.

 

Read in this article, also from the Daily Press about three members of WORMCO 4-H Club who have maintained worm farms for the past three years and have developed a promising product and service centered around their worm project.

 

August 26 

On August 13, Matthew Hobson, of Ira Township, saved the life of a coworker who was nearly electrocuted. According to this article in the Advisor & Source, Hobson credited the training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation he received while in 4-H for his rapid and heroic action.

 

September 4 

This write-up, from Farmers' Advance describes how a generous gift from 4-H enthusiast, George Robb, made the George Robb Dairy Education Center, a reality at the 2013 Fowlerville Family Fair. With a wide-open viewing window, visitors are able to interact and watch the cow-milking process.

 

September 18

Read this article in USA Today, which reports on the $61 million Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden that opened  September 21 in Dallas, Texas. The garden is described as "the latest and most dramatic example of a science education trend that has been quietly developing for several decades" and it follows pioneer sites such as the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden.

 

October 1

This photo caption, from the Iron County Reporter describes a September 28 gathering, at which 110th Michigan District State Representative Scott Dianda presented the Iron County 4-H Sharp Shooters with the Michigan flag that flew over the state capitol.

Resources

Funding 
4-H members of any age who have participated in their county fair in 2013 are invited to complete an money_grass.jpg application for the Great Lakes Agricultural Fair Gold Ribbon Scholarship Program. This scholarship program was developed to recognize youth who have been active in their county fairs and who excel in communication and leadership skills. This new program will award two scholarships ($1,000 and $500) to youth involved in three different categories (large livestock, small animals and static exhibits). Written applications must be postmarked before November 15, 2013 and should be sent to Larry See, Scholarship Chairperson, at 12040 Creek Road, Carleton, MI 48117. One applicant in each category from each fair will be selected to give an oral presentation during the January 11 meeting of the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions. Six winners will be selected based on their applications and presentations. An application is attached and can also be found, along with complete details, on the web.

 

 

Awards  

Do You Know an Outstanding 4-H Volunteer?  

Consider nominating a dedicated 4-H volunteer from your county for a 2014 Salute to Excellence Award. We have wonderful individuals who donate time, talent and treasure to the youth of our state through their 4-H involvement and this is one small way to recognize their efforts! Pictured right is Diana Langshaw, of Barry County 4-H, winner of the 2012 National 4-H Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award. 

 

There are two awards available:

  1. The Volunteer of the Year is for individuals who have been volunteers for less than 10 years.
  2. The Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Awardis for individuals with 10 or more years of service.
Both award applications are due electronically by October 28, 2013. Contact your local county 4-H program coordinator for application information and a sample r�sum�.

 

Or How About an Outstanding 4-H Member?

If so, think about nominating him or her for one of the following two awards.

 

Emily Maslovich The 2014 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, is a prestigious, independent awards program that recognizes young people in grades 5 to 12 on the basis of their volunteer activities. Members of 4-H who demonstrate outstanding volunteer community service can gain statewide or national recognition through this award, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. In 2012, Emily Maslovich (pictured left) from Gratiot County 4-H was named a State Distinguished Finalist. Read about her award in the April 2012 issue of Michigan 4-H Today .

 

Available on the web are:

Applications must be submitted to county staff by November 5, 2013. Then, the county 4-H program can select one middle-level (grades 5 to 8) local honoree for every 1,000 members (or portion thereof) and one high-school (grades 9 to 12) local honoree for every 1,000 members. Once local honorees have been chosen, county 4-H staff must certify their applications online by November 12, 2013.

 

A state-level judging committee will pick each state's (and the District of Columbia) top youth volunteers. Those young people will receive silver medallions, $1,000 awards and a trip to Washington, D.C., for national recognition events. In Washington, a national selection committee will name America's top 10 youth volunteers for 2013. Those youth will win additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions, crystal trophies and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for charitable, nonprofit organizations of their choice.

 

Nate Seese receive award from National 4-H Council National 4-H Council is now accepting applications for the annual Youth in Action Award, to be presented at the 4-H Legacy Awards Gala in Washington, DC on April 2, 2014. This award recognizes an outstanding 4-H'er who is realizing 4-H's vision for significant, youth-driven, positive change in his or her community. The application deadline is November 29, 2013.

 

The 4-H Youth in Action award is open to 4-H youth and alumni aged 16 to 21. The application should be in a 3-minute (or less) video (the file size should not exceed 50mb) in which the nominee addresses the following questions or statements:

  • What problem did you or your community face?
  • What was the solution to the problem, and how was 4-H involved?
  • What impact did the resolution have on your community?
  • How has 4-H impacted your life?
  • Name any adversities or challenges that your 4-H experience has helped you overcome.
Once you have nominated a 4-H youth, encourage him or her to apply for this distinguished award. Visit the 4-H Legacy Awards Gala web site for information on past winners (including Nate Seese, pictured above, a Kent County 4-H member who won this award in 2012). Complete award information can be accessed and nominations received through the National 4-H Council Web Grants portal.

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.       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: [email protected]

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.