Youth Leadership and Life Skills Project in Burleson County

Teaching leadership skills to youth is important as they prepare to govern the future. Appropriate skill development among young people will lead to the ability to guide or direct others on a course of action, influence opinion and behavior, and excel among peers. To address leadership and life skills, Burleson CEAs Amy Ressler and Dusty Tittle implemented the "On the LOT" Program.

The Youth Leadership and Life skills project, commonly referred to as "On the LOT", indicating that our future depends on the Leaders Of Tomorrow, utilized resources to affect leadership development in youth including the "Putting the Pieces Together" curriculum and, the book/workbook from "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens" by Sean Covey. Community leaders served as guest speakers for sessions. Funding was secured for the program through a grant and used to purchase individual copies of the book and an accompanying workbook for each participant.

Twenty youth were accepted into the program and participated in an 8-month course, featuring 7 sessions and a celebration event. Participants were recognized with plaques. A celebration event included a catered dinner sponsored by a local bank. Feedback comments about leadership concepts learned included “Being creative and expressing my ideas, this has taught me to be open about my thoughts” and “The win-win concept will help me lead my 4-H club as president”. Parents also provided feedback including comments such as: “This is a superior program and will benefit all that are involved in it”, “I liked that the speakers were motivating and from a variety of places. So many of these kids hear ‘us’ (parents, teachers, club managers) saying these things, but many times, others can make a bigger impression.”

Due to the positive response, the program will be repeated in 2009 with fine tuning included. The agents will widen the diversity of the participants and include youth not currently enrolled in 4-H.

The type of program has application in all counties in District 9. Give it a try and you will like the results!

4-H and Facebook....Join the Group

Want to know what's happening with State 4-H Roundup in 2009. Join the State 4-H Roundup Facebook group.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=65886540616

This group is open to anyone with a Facebook account. Should prove to be an interesting use of Web 2.0 technology, and a faster way to stay informed.

Be sure and share this with your adult leaders and club managers.

till next time,
Kevin

High Bidders, Inc. Offers Support at Houston Livestock Show

As a 501(c) 3 charity, High Bidders, Inc. is committed to helping deserving youth by purchasing livestock in the low end of the Junior Swine, Lamb, and Steer Auctions at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Also, the group supports the Poultry, School Art, Voc-Agricultural, and Calf Scramble Committees through "pre-buys" and other cash donations.

In an effort to identify the exceptional 4-H youth who will benefit most from their purchases, members of the group known as Barn Walkers canvas the barns at the Livestock Show prior to each auction interviewing 4-H youth, parents, and county agents. Their primary desire is to assist those young people who have experienced and overcame hardship, or have dealt with specials challenges on their road to the Houston Livestock Show. Your assistance is needed in identifying these 4-H youth.

The Barn Walkers will be in the barns on the dates and times listed below and will be identifiable by wearing vests with their logo. Please look for them and if you know of an auction participant who has faced and conquered adversity, let them know.

- Lam and Goat Barn Walk, Wednesday, March 11, 2-4 p.m.
- Steer Barn Walk, Thursday, March 12, 2-4 p.m.
- Swine Barn Walk, Wednesday, March 18, 2-4 p.m.

The one requirement which must be met is that the 4-H member must be selling their livestock project in the Junior Auction. Regrettably, they are unable to assist those who do not make the sale.

Also, if you have a 4-H member who you would like to recommend, please contact the group with his/her name, address, school attending, type of livestock project he or she will be showing, an explanation of his or her circumstances, and your name and address. You can submit this information to Gerald Colca at gerald@geraldcolca.com. The Barn Walkers will do their best to seek them our and the auction representatives will also watch for them at the auction.

This is an excellent opportunity to assist your deserving 4-H members!

Things aren't always what they seem

Tempers are running short this time of year, especially if you are an Agent tasked with chasing kids from one stock show to another. When our tempers run short our judgment comes quick. Maybe this video will help us all to remember that things aren't always what they seem to be:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI1r4x1Rafc

Next time stall space is tight, someone cuts in front of you at check-in, or the show official stalls you outside the barn.....Try and remember this video (there is a whole series of these, if you just need a good laugh)

Till next time,
Kevin

Madison County 4-H Youth Outreach Project

As you know, Madison County is a small rural county in the northern part of District 9 and has a significant minority population. Unfortunately, the minority population is not well represented in the county's 4-H Livestock Program. However, recently interest has been generated in minority youth to exhibit livestock projects at the Madison County Fair and to participate in other 4-H activities. This interest was sparked through visits and presentations by Billy Zanolini, Madison CEA-AG/NR, at local elementary schools and visits to minority churches in Madisonville.

The challenges faced by some minority youth to participate in the 4-H Livestock Program include lack of funds to purchase the initial project, lack of facilities, lack of funds to purchase feed and supplies, and lack of parental support. To address these challenges, Agent Zanolini secured donated livestock (10 lambs, 2 goats and 1 pig) from producers in Texas, financial support from the Madisonville State Bank and the Texas 4-H Friends and Alumni Association, and the use of the Madisonville High School Ag Barn. Additionally, a local feed store is providing feed and supplies at his cost and Madison County 4-H Livestock Ambassadors are assisted the youth with their projects.

Currently, 12 minority youth are enrolled in this outreach project. The youth attend monthly 4-H club meetings, participate in livestock project clinics and showmanship clinics, and care for their donated projects twice daily. The youth will also complete the Quality Counts curriculum and exhibit their livestock at the Madison County Fair in March. Funds earned from the sale of projects will be invested in future livestock projects.

The goal for this project is to teach the youth livestock management skills, responsibility, financial management, and sportsmanship. Of course our goals are to produce productive and responsible youth and expand our 4-H outreach in Madison County. The outcomes of this project will be determined through an evaluation later in 2009.

This type of project has application in all counties in District 9. Give it a try and see the difference you can make in the lives of our youth!

Dale A. Fritz, DEA

Time to Blow Your Horn

If you don't BLOW YOUR HORN who will. Your district 4-H Association Leadership took the time to explore and share with you award opportunities prior to the Christmas break. We knew then that the award applications would hit us smack in the middle of "Stock Show Season", and here they are. We are all busy, but please take the time to invest in yourself, and submit an award application to gain recognition for the "over the top" programs you have conducted!

You can get started by going to www.nae4HA.org. Here you will find last years award program, but the information will be close enough to get you on the right track for '09, and if you wait any longer the mid March deadline will catch you off guard.

Till next time,
Kevin