Can you FEED me now!!!!!!

We live in a country of abundance... don't believe me, look at my waste line (not a pretty picture). We also live in country where children go to bed at night hungry. When you see a bumper sticker that says the American Farmer Feeds the World, it's a lie. We are a net importer of food. But that does not mean we do not have enough to eat.

As a nation we are blessed. As individuals that go to bed at night without want for food, you and I are blessed. Let us pass that blessing on!!!!!

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, has launched an initiative to fight hunger. His initiative is tailor made for the type of community service we offer through 4-H. It involves volunteer, community gardens, food drives, and resources to mount a coordinated community effort.

It's the type of activity we specialize in.... Why not get recognized for doing what we do well.

For more information on getting involved in the Initiative to fight hunger go to: http://tinyurl.com/fighthunger

Just something to think about,
Kevin

Show Me the $$$$$

It's never too early to start planning for college. That includes preparing for Scholarship Applications. We are lucky that the 4-H Foundation Scholarship Application closely follows the Texas 4-H Recordbook. This makes life a lot easier for graduating 4-Hers, if they have done recordbooks during their 4-H career.

The other big "if" that enters into the equation is if they prepared for the process by making good grades, taking the SAT early enough, Etc..... The time to start the process of preparing for the scholarship application is a child's freshman year, or earlier. When they reach their Senior year in highschool, there's not much we can do to help them, if they have not already started.

I know it's a hard sell, but the best audience for Scholarship Workshops is the freshman class, not the seniors.

For what it's worth,
Kevin

Vote early, and vote often!!!!!!

This now cliche quote, can be attributed to William Hale Thompson, Mayor of Chicago in the early 1900's, but it seems to fit today's politics.

News stories about ACORN, Joe the Plumber, Who does and does not wear a flag lapel pin, and Endless arguments over the deficit, are enough to make the most patriotic of us cynical. That along with the fact that many of you will be in Brownwood on election day could make it hard for you to make time to vote.

But do not let the negative campaigning, the constant bombardment by cynical adds, or the nasty nature of this years political campaign, keep you away from the ballot box. Also do not let the Texas 4-H Summit keep you from practicing your Civic Duty. Who you vote for in the national election is less relevant than the fact that you vote. It is also important that we all remember that there is a so called "down ballot" that needs our attention. The president is not the only position we are currently deciding.

As a reminder: Early Voting is open across the State, and if you are registered for the Texas 4-H Summit you will not be at home on election day!

So.... Vote early, and vote often!

Get out o' their way

I'm still amazed by what our youth can accomplish when we simply get out of their way. I think you will also be amazed by the Pod Cast created by a 4-H group in Grimes county. This podcast is narrated and produced by a group of 4-Hers.

Take a few minutes and go to http://www.gc4-h.blogspot.com/

It'll inspire you to know that the 4-Hers in our program can create such cool and innovative recruitment and marketing ideas such as this podcast.

If you like what you hear, let them know by posting a response on their blog!

Recovery

There are too many people to thank for the work that has gone into supporting the Hurricane ravaged areas of Southeast Texas. We have all been affected, and we have all given what we can.

Whether your house lost power, lost a roof, or is just plain gone, seems as though this storm touched us all. Through this, though it is hard to find the good, we see the good everyday if we look at those around us giving of themselves, and their resources to improve the lives of those effected.

It is in times like these that I am proud to work for Texas AgriLife Extension; proud to be an American; proud to be a Texan. Extension has responded to this disaster in many ways, not the least of which is through operation "No Fences". Through this effort upwards of 4,000 round bales of hay have been delivered to Southeast Texas in support of stranded/stray livestock. In addition 400 water troughs have been delivered to water cattle, in areas with salt contaminated water supplies. There has also been financial contributions of over $115,000. All of this done as a hummanitarian cotribution and a contribution to our brethren in the Agriculture Community.

Through all of this I have also listend to the naysayers that ask why we are working so hard and contributing so much to an industry/people that should be able and prepared to stand on their own.

For me it has felt natural to give and to work to address the needs of the people of Southeast Texas. I think it also feels natural for most other Extension Employees. For those that it does not come natural to, I offer this as an explanation of why we are working so hard to help the people of Southeast Texas:
Because we are good people....even if they are not
Because we will make good decisions....even if they do not
Because we believe in the greater good for all people...even if they do not
Because we are blessed... even if they are not
Because we can... and right now, They can not!

We help our fellow man because it is the right thing to do.... Regardless of the responsibility, ability, or stability of the man we are helping!

For what it's worth,
The thoughts of a 4-H Specialist,
Kevin

Here we go AGAIN.....

As I Write this blog I am waiting for another SOC teleconference. I can't tell you what SOC stands for, but I know what the group does. They coordinate the emergency disaster relief effort for the State of Texas. Pretty high level stuff, and it includes us! Texas AgriLife Extension as an agency of the State of Texas is committed to supporting disaster relief efforts in anyway that we can. My first thought regarding disaster relief and our agency was "how can we really help".

After experiencing the near miss of Hurricane Gustav I now better understand what we can and should do. First we can stay informed. Information both locally and from the state should lead our efforts. For some of us that means we will be evacuating along with our constituents. For others that means providing assistants to shelters and evacuees.

If you are not in an area evacuated it is important that you make the presence of Texas AgriLife Extension known in the relief effort. In doing so you will gain the information needed to see just how we can help. In doing this I would suggest visiting the Shelters that are established in your county and introducing yourself and our agency. Also let the Shelter Directors know about our local network of Volunteers and 4-H families. As needs in the shelters arise we are uniquely positioned to activate volunteer resources and gather goods for people in need.

Your District DDC's (that would be Dale Fritz, Monte Dozier and myself) will communicate with you to coordinate information and help you locate resources or assistance as needed. Gustave showed us that information during a disaster is the prime resource and is often hard to come by.

Ultimately our Agency may be needed most in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, but steps and planning we make now will determine how we can provide support later.

Stay Safe and keep in touch,
Kevin

Ready Set Go!!!!!!

The 4-H year has started, and like every event we organize things start to work themselves out once we get past the original inertia.

Part of what has created the inertia this fall has been all the uncertainty regarding 4-H Connect and re-enrollment. I hope the training this past week has us all up to speed. It's worth repeating - As we implement this new system we will be relying on each other to climb the learning curve.

As a reminder if you have not already sent a copy of your county calendar to the district office, they are due on September 15, along with a county 4-H budget.

We seemed to have dodged the bullet with Gustav. A special thanks goes out to all the agents that pitched in to man the animal shelters and provide an extension presence at the family shelters. I would name names, but I know I would leave too many out.

Lets all say a quick prayer that Hurricane Ike is no worse than Gustav.

Best of luck,
Kevin