Billy Zanolini, Madison CEA-Ag/NR, and Rodney Finch, Grimes CEA-Ag/NR, provided leadership in establishing the new 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program. The program is designed to teach senior age 4-H youth advanced animal science while expanding their leadership capabilities to assist other 4-H members with the management of their livestock projects.
The program includes a 3-day 4-H Livestock Ambassador Short Course to teach livestock production and management principles and a commitment by the participant to return at least 20 hours of service in helping 4-H members with their livestock projects and teaching animal science at 4-H Club Meetings. The Short Course provides the participants with the necessary tools to educate new 4-H members on the fundamentals of livestock project management and showing.
During 2008, 12 4-H members completed the 4-H Livestock Ambassador Short Course and have begun to return their 20 hours of service. The participants were from Madison, Grimes and Walker Counties.
During 2009, this program will be expanded to include 4-H youth from other counties in District 9. Of course, the program is new to Texas 4-H. So, additional evaluation and research is needed to fully assess the benefits of this program in expanding our outreach to new youth.
Additional information and evaluation results will be posted at a later date. For now, I am asking you to consider this program for your part of District 9.
Dale A. Fritz, Ph.D.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Throw us a BONE!!!!
We need your help. Please review 4-H Connect entries closely before submitting them to the District Level for approval. This year we are finding an unusually high number of silly mistakes in the entries. Things like: Selecting 4 photography categories but only paying for three, or listing the title of the Educational Presentation but not selecting a category in which to compete. When these mistakes are made all we can do is bump the entry back to the 4-Her. This creates a circular phone tag session between the 4-Her, the County Office, and the District Office..... What a mess!
Don't do it for me.... Do it for Earlene!!!!
I almost forgot; All Multi-District Judging Contest are now open for registration
Take Care,
Kevin
Don't do it for me.... Do it for Earlene!!!!
I almost forgot; All Multi-District Judging Contest are now open for registration
Take Care,
Kevin
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Events are Open
Contest season has started, meaning registration is open on 4-H Connect for many of the District Contests: Horse Judging, Photography, Roundup and Shooting Sports.
Many more will be coming online soon.
To make the system work WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please check the entries closely before submitting them. Photography and Roundup are the two with the biggest mistakes. A typical mistake in Roundup entries looks like this:
Educational Presentation Catagory - Housing and the Home Environment
Title of Presentation - Horse Shoer vs. Farrier
Either the title is wrong or the category is wrong, but the only way to correct the mistake at the District Office, is to Call You. These fields are editable by the County Office and corrections can be made prior to submitting it to the District.
Photography entries are more difficult to screen, but you can start by making sure the number of entries the contestant pays for, matches the number of categories they have selected. If these do not match up either make a correction or reject the entry.
Lastly.... Get the word out. Most contest registration has a late registration period, but the penalty is costly.
till next time,
Kevin
Many more will be coming online soon.
To make the system work WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please check the entries closely before submitting them. Photography and Roundup are the two with the biggest mistakes. A typical mistake in Roundup entries looks like this:
Educational Presentation Catagory - Housing and the Home Environment
Title of Presentation - Horse Shoer vs. Farrier
Either the title is wrong or the category is wrong, but the only way to correct the mistake at the District Office, is to Call You. These fields are editable by the County Office and corrections can be made prior to submitting it to the District.
Photography entries are more difficult to screen, but you can start by making sure the number of entries the contestant pays for, matches the number of categories they have selected. If these do not match up either make a correction or reject the entry.
Lastly.... Get the word out. Most contest registration has a late registration period, but the penalty is costly.
till next time,
Kevin
Thursday, February 26, 2009
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!
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!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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
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!
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!
Monday, February 16, 2009
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
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
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