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Michigan 4-H Today

July-August 2016

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

Photo of Julie Chapin
This is the time of year that we celebrate Independence Day here in the United States. The 240th anniversary of our independence is a great time to reflect on the leadership, vision and dedication of those who came before us. As we look to the future, we are reminded that this type of leadership is more important than ever.
 
Every day, we hear inspiring stories about what 4-H volunteers and members are accomplishing. Our current marketing campaign, "4-H Grows True Leaders," provides us with a wonderful way to highlight these accomplishments in real and public ways. The far-reaching work of 4-H in Michigan, the United States and the world, is carried out by bringing the newest research and teaching to tackle the world's challenges through youth education. 4-H is grounded in the need to bring about the best solutions to the most difficult problems. And while fun and good times are involved, as well, the work of growing successful citizens and new leaders is brought about by hands-on learning about a variety of project areas and life skills. Summer is the time when many 4-H youth engage in competition at fairs and other events across the state, and here at Michigan State University. These are wonderful venues for youth to demonstrate their mastery of the learning they have been engaged in and practice the leadership skills they are developing.  
 
As we celebrate 4-H and the time of the year when our country was founded, let's reflect on the words of Harry S. Truman, our 33rd president: "America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." This applies to 4-H, as well, and truly exemplifies our "Grow True Leaders" efforts.

I wish you all a safe and successful summer,

Julie Chapin 
 
State Leader, Michigan 4-H Youth Development
Director, MSU Extension Children and Youth Institute

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Impact
Every day, kids across Michigan are leading positive changes in their lives, schools and communities.These youth are true leaders who make a difference, inspire communities, push through adversity and reach for their goals.
Bailey and Oren  
Here is one example. It is the story about one Luce County 4-H'er and sixth-grade student, Bailey, who is having a tremendous impact on the life of her young mentee, Oren, and, in turn, the match is having an impact on her.
 
And how about this for impact? Although there are many Michigan robotics programs, in its very first year, the St. Clair County 4-H Robotics Club is the first Michigan 4-H group to have three teams compete through the For the Inspiration of Science and Technology (FIRST) robotics organization. The teams are: (1) 4th- through 8th-eighth graders who competed in FIRST's Lego League, (2) 7th- through 12th-graders who competed in FIRST's Tech Challenge and (3) 9th- through 12th-graders who competed in FIRST's Robotics Competition.
4-H Highlights - Past, Present, Future  
Congratulations!
The 2016 Michigan 4-H State Award  winners were announced on June 23, 2016 in a 2016 junior State Award winners 2016 senior State Award winners ceremony that was held at MSU's Huntington Club. A 4-H state award is the highest honor bestowed on Michigan 4-H youth,
aged 13 and up, who have at least three years of 4-H experience. The 92 delegates from 36 counties were invited to participate in either an advanced leadership-development program (juniors pictured right ) or competitive interviews (seniors pictured left) during 4-H Exploration Days. State 4-H Award winners become a part of an elite group of 4-H youth who have demonstrated the highest level of excellence.
 
The 11- or 12-year-old 4-H Mark of Excellence Award winners were recognized with a certificate and medal.
 
Sanilac bus wrap The youth and volunteers in Sanilac County 4-H won a Facebook contest, through which they earned the bus wrap (pictured right) that will be rolling around their county next year. The wrap is valued at about $5,000.
 
Events
Some Wrap-Ups
The 2016 State 4-H Goat Expo was held April 16 at MSU's Anthony Hall. This year saw an increased attendance over last year, with 71 youth from 12 counties. The Expo results are on the web.
 
For the 47th year, from June 22 to 24, the MSU campus was transformed Working with Little Bits into a unique summer getaway for youth aged 11 to 19, as more than 2,300 youth and adults, from 82 counties, arrived in East Lansing to participate in Michigan 4-H Exploration Days. Approximately 200 sessions were offered, covering a wide range of activities designed to help participants explore their passions (chess, creative writing), hobbies (fishing, tie dyeing), possible career paths (engineering, cartooning) and other cultures (African, Asian, European) in a fun, hands-on way.
 
Shooting an air rifle at the tournament Coming Soon
Sometimes referred to as the "4-H State Shoot," the Michigan 4-H Shooting Sports Tournament provides Michigan 4-H shooting sports members the opportunity to test their skills and earn recognition with other 4-H members from all over the state. The tournaments will be held August 6 at Centerline of Calhoun County, in Bellevue. Register online by July 13.
 
The 2016 State 4-H Dog Show will held on August 13 at the MSU Pavilion. Participants need to register at their local MSU Extension office no later than July 15.
2010 horse show  
This year's State 4-H Horse Show will be held August 18 to 21 at the MSU Pavilion. Registration information is available on the web.
 
The State 4-H Miniature Horse Show will take place on August 27 at the at the MSU Pavilion. Entry forms must be received by the participant's local MSU Extension office by the deadline that county's staff established.
 
A Little Farther Down the Road
On October 5, youth from 4-H clubs, groups, and school programs across the country will participate in Drone Discovery, the 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD) Engineering Design Drone Discover logo Challenge. Developed by Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Drone Discovery explores the science behind drones and how they are being used to solve real-world problems (such as a rescue worker mapping damage from a natural disaster, a filmmaker looking for the perfect aerial shot or a farmer determining how to increase crop yield.). Participants will learn everything from flight dynamics and aircraft types, to safety and regulations, to remote sensing and flight control.
 
Way Down the Road, But Requiring Action Soon
National 4-H Congress is a five-day educational gathering that includes workshops on topics 2015 delegates at a park such as leadership development, character education, cultural awareness, diversity education, workforce preparation, science and technology, literacy and communication-skills development. Designed for youth aged 15 to 19 (by January 1, 2016), this event will be held November 25 to 29 at the Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, Georgia. The cost -- which includes airfare, the registration fee, lodging, a tour, baggage fees, snacks, most meals, two shirts and a photograph - is approximately $1,500 per person. Interested Michigan 4-H members should contact 4-H staff in their local MSU Extension office
 
Awards
Do you know:
  • A 4-H'er in grades 5 through 12 who volunteered in the past year? If so, encourage him or her to apply for a 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Students are eligible for honors at the local, state and national level. Top honorees earn monetary awards and all-expense-paid trips with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C. for special recognition events.
  • A young person or adult who exemplifies the definition of good sportsmanship in the 4-H animal-science project areas? If so, consider nominating him or her for the Michigan 4-H Animal Science Sportsperson of the Year Award.
Upcoming Events    
July
 
July 14
Anthony Hall, MSU, East Lansing
 
July 18
Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing
 
July 18-22
MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
 
July 20
Barry County Fair, Barry Expo Center, Hastings

July 22
Anthony Hall, MSU, East Lansing 
 
July 22-24
Kettunen Center, Tustin
 
July 31-August 6
Camp Chickagami, Presque Isle
 
 
 
August
 
August 2-4
Shaw Hall, Michigan State University
 
August 6
Centerline of Calhoun County, Bellevue
 
August 13
MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
 
August 18-21
MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
 
August 22
Bridge Vista Hotel, Mackinac City
 
August 27
South Barn, MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
 
 
 
September
 
September 14-16
Louhelen Baha'I School Retreat and Conference Center, Davison Township
More Michigan 4-H News
May 21
Congratulations to Mark Stephens, who is the recipient of the 2016 Michigan United Conservation Clubs' (MUCC) Conservation Educator of the Year award. Stephens coordinates MSU's Project FISH (Friends Involved in Sportfishing Heritage), a mentor-based, educational program for youth and families interested in fishing and fisheries. One goal of the program is to encourage an appreciation for the outdoors and outdoor ethics. This article in the Detroit Free Press describes both Project FISH and Stephens' passion for it.
 
May 23
Read this story from the Huron Daily Tribute to find out about the Thumb Area 4-H Camp scheduled for July 6 to 8 for youth in Huron, St. Clair, Sanilac and Tuscola Counties.
 
May 25
This write-up in the Record & Clarion describes a $1,000 grant the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network gave to the Beaverton Activity Center. Learn how the Gladwin County 4-H's Jr. Master Gardener, Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go program will use part of the funds.
 
June 1
Did you know that 28 percent of the nation's bee colonies were lost during the winter of 2015? This national concern resulted in Macomb County 4-H  offering a workshop at which a Sanilac County 4-H'er, Ryan Rich, made presentations on topics such as how to make a beehive, where and how to order bees, and how bees and bee-related products help individuals both agriculturally and entrepreneurially. You can read about it here in the "Metro Detroit" section of C & G Newspapers.
 
Additionally, this article in the June 9 issue of MSU Extension Director Jeff Dwyer's MSU Extension Spotlight describes the Honey Bee Challenge organized by Isabella County 4-H at the Ziibiwing Center for 25 youth from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
 
June 6
Find out in this article from the Ionia Sentinel-Standard how one teacher's master's project turned into an Ionia County 4-H club.
 
This article, which appeared in Farmers' Advance, describes a tractor-safety program that will allow three Monroe County 4-H 'ers, who successfully completed it, to work on property not owned, leased or operated by their parents or legal guardians.
 
June 9
Read this account from the Lapeer Area View to find out about an auction that raised an amazing $44,000 to support Lapeer County 4-H.
 
June 10
From the Charlevoix Courier comes this story about what the Michigan 4-H China Art Exchange means to one school that takes part in the exchange through the Charlevoix County 4-H program.
 
June 16
Read here from The Post how Montcalm Community College and MSU's Institute of Agricultural Technology are partnering to support the Montcalm County 4-H Fair and to bring increased learning opportunities to Montcalm County residents.
 
June 20
This write-up in 9 & 10 News explains what it means to be part of 4-H and how 4-H can help bind families and members together.
Resources    
shoveling_money.jpg Funding
The attached chart has details about several grants that are listed in order of their deadline. Included on the chart are a brief description of the grants, their deadlines and the web sites where complete details may be obtained.
 
Workshop
Are you a volunteer who engages with youth on the autism spectrum? Does your family have a child on the autism spectrum? Do you work with children on the autism spectrum? If so, MSU's College of Human Medicine is hosting a free MSU Autism Family-Professional Conference on July 28 at MSU's Henry Center. Register online.
 
Program
OAC participant ready to canoe Have you heard about the 4-H Outdoor Adventure Challenge program? It uses the outdoors to help young people develop the life skills they need to become self-directing, contributing and productive members of society. Through a variety of outdoor activities the teens learn to deal with physically and mentally stressful situations that may occur in any life setting. Teens and adults also strengthen skills in communication, cooperation, organization and planning. For more information, contact Nick Baumgart.
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
Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture 
446 West Circle Drive
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-432-7635
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. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Interim 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.