Weekly 4-H Update
Communications >> 4-H Update >>Volume 12, Number 14....................................... April 25, 2008
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Attachments:
:: Spring Horse Fling entry
:: Spring Horse Fling brochure
:: Spring Horse Fling class list
:: Camp Round-UP poster
:: Camp Round-UP brochure
:: Camp Round-UP recruitment letter
Reminders:
- May 1: Blue Ribbon Enrollment data due
- May 15: IFYE host family applications due
- May 26: University Holiday, campus offices closed
National 4-H Conference Delegates Return to Colorado – With a Mission!
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2008 – Colorado’s delegation to the 78th National 4-H Conference in Washington, DC, returned home from a week in which more than 350 youth and adults gathered to share ideas and form recommendations to guide the future of national 4-H youth development programs nationally and in their communities.
Colorado’s delegates who attended the conference from March 29-April 3, include: Zack Fox, Garfield County; Shalyn Laird, Kiowa County; Zane McMinn and Lana Schamberger, Morgan County; Alanna Snare, Teller County; and Maggie Weinroth, Douglas County.
This year’s theme, “Green Aid: Acquire, Inform, Deliver,” reflected today’s environmentally conscious society. Delegates focused on the question, “As society becomes more environmentally conscious, how can the 4-H Youth Development Program aid in enhancing socially significant and relevant programming to increase the environmental awareness of our clubs, our communities, our country and our world?”
Through conference focus groups, citizenship excursions, workshops, roundtable discussions and a dynamic town hall meeting, students crafted recommendations for the future of 4-H programs. National 4-H Director Cathann Kress presented these recommendations on behalf of the delegates to Agriculture Secretary Ed Schaffer and other 4-H and USDA officials during the USDA Assembly. The recommendations include:
- Strive for a more nationally coherent program, which reflects local needs and priorities. This would include reaching out with relevant programs to youth typically underserved by 4-H, such as urban audiences.
- Develop national opportunities to engage older members and keep them involved in 4-H.
- Encourage 4-H to make greater use of communication to engage members with one another and share curricular materials and program ideas.
- At all levels of 4-H, do a better job of telling the story of 4-H though national promotions and publicity.
- Invest and allocate funds to develop new project areas, deliver the latest technologies to youth at the local level and increase state-level funding critical to their program’s health.
Schaffer accepted the recommendations and promised to give them careful consideration. He referred to the delegates as the “think tank” of 4-H and expressed his pride that 4-H, the nation’s largest youth organization, is part of the USDA portfolio.
Though many 4-H’ers live on farms, a growing number also come from urban and suburban areas. With fewer American farms, there is concern for all young people, even some in 4-H, who don’t have first-hand knowledge and understanding of American agriculture.
Schaffer asked the delegates, as young leaders, to look realistically at today’s demographics, as USDA does. He also asked the delegates to spread awareness of how much we’re all connected to the land, whether buying a loaf of bread, putting on a cotton shirt or drinking a glass of orange juice.
Delegates also met with their legislators on Capitol Hill Day to represent youth from their states and discuss state 4-H programs with congressional members and their staffs.
Ten 1890 and 1994 land-grant colleges and universities received scholarships to send youth and adult delegates to the conference. Scholarship recipients include Alcorn State University, Crownpoint Institute of Technology, Delaware State University, Langston University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University and A&M College, South Carolina State University, Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Farm Credit System Foundation, Inc. and Fleischmann’s Yeast funded the scholarships through donations secured by National 4-H Council, 4-H’s private partner.
Since the first conference in 1927, the National 4-H Conference, known as the “Secretary’s Conference,” continues to be USDA’s premier youth development opportunity to engage youth in developing recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program.
The National 4-H Conference is an avenue to help youth develop recommendations to guide 4-H programs nationally and in their communities. The National 4-H Headquarters seeks to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning and engage youth in the work of the land-grant universities and USDA to enhance their quality of life. For more information, visit www.national4-hheadquarters.gov.
National 4-H Headquarters is located at USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, CSREES focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future. For more information, visit www.csrees.usda.gov. — Ellen Butler
Spring Fling Horse Show
The CSU Collegiate Horseman’s Association would like to invite you to the Spring Fling Horse Show which will be held at the B.W. Pickett Arena at the CSU Equine Center on May 3 (English) and May 4 (Western). Classes will be offered in reining, jumping, dressage, barrel racing, and more! Jackpot classes are also available. Admission is free to this event. For entry forms and further information, visit http://lamar.colostate.edu/~cha, email cha@lamar.colostate.edu or
chaspringfling@gmail.com. You may also contact April Mendenhall at 970.402.5654. — Ellen Butler
Camp Round-UP
Colorado State University's College of Agriculture is proud to host 'Camp Round-UP' 2008 this June 15-19. Attached is a letter which explains Camp Round-UP, as well as a brochure and poster which can be printed on letter or legal size paper. Please share this great opportunity with youth in your community.
Registration can be completed through the website or by telephone. Please click on: http://camproundup.agsci.colostate.edu/. — Ellen Butler
