Focus on Youth
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News for OCES staff working with youth 4-H
is a community of young people across America learning
leadership,
citizenship and life skills.
http://agweb.okstate.edu/fourh
July, 2005
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Dear
Extension Educators, 4-H Youth Development:
I hope to see many of you this
month at the State Leadership Development
Conference July 23, Animal Science Field Days July
19, 20 21, and, of course, at OEA4-HA July 26
through July 28th.
A special thanks for serving
on the 4-H Foundation executive director search
committee goes out to Nancy Dunlap, Ross Sestak,
Gloria King and Kevin Hackett. Kirby Teachey, past
state 4-H president, also served on the search
committee along with several 4-H Foundation board
members. As you know Dr. Jim Rutledge has worked
half-time as interim executive director from March
through June, 2005. Jim has been offered the
position, and I am pleased to announce that he has
accepted the challenge. He will officially become
executive director of the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation
beginning August 1, 2005. We are looking forward to
having him back onboard.
Sincerely,
Lynda Harriman
Assistant Director
4-H Youth Development
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Attached is information about the 2006 Beekeeping
Essay Contest. Last year we had no state entries, so we are
hoping to have at least a 100 percent increase this year!
Please share this with youth who may have an interest.
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), in collaboration with industry and the states,
has been working to develop a National Animal Identification
System (NAIS). The NAIS will be an essential tool for carrying
out animal health monitoring and surveillance programs. As it
comes online, the system will also ensure rapid disease
containment and maximum protection of American poultry and
livestock.
We want our stakeholders to understand the
reasons behind this program, so we are encouraging them to find
out more by visiting the NAIS Web site <http:
//www.usda.gov/nais> and
talking to their state veterinarians.
4-H members who exhibit animals are a
crucial audience for understanding the NAIS. Please help us get
the word out this fair season by hanging up the APHIS posters
in livestock barns and exhibition halls, as appropriate.
You can posters them by sending the amount
you need, your street mailing address, and a phone number to nais_info@aphis.usda.gov, or by calling Amy Spillman directly at (301)
734-7253.
Amy Spillman
Legislative and Public Affairs
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, USDA
4700 River Road, 2B-02.2
Riverdale, MD 20737
Tel: 301-734-7253
Fax: 301-734-5221
Applications are now being accepted for
the 2006 Beef Industry Scholarship program, sponsored by the
National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) and the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange (CME). All entries must be postmarked by
September 30, 2005. Twenty scholarships of $1500 will be
awarded to youth pursuing careers in the beef industry.
Graduating high school seniors or full-time undergraduate
students enrolled at a two- or four-year college for the
2006-2007 school year are encouraged to apply. A full
description of the program can be found by visiting: www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org/scholarship.aspx. Contact Paula Waggoner (Foundation) at pwaggoner@beef.org or 303/850-3347.
Susan L. Allen
Director of Consumer Information and
Education
Oklahoma Beef Council
2312 Exchange Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
Fax: 405-840-9848
Phone: 405-840-3777
October 22, 2005, is National Make a
Difference Day. Each year numerous 4-H clubs across our nation
are choosing to participate in this national program. Last year
at least 15 clubs received national recognition for their
programming efforts. We encourage local clubs or county
programs to look into this excellent Service-Learning
opportunity at http:
//www.usaweekend.com/diffday/ .
Looking for a way to rejuvenate your
enthusiasm as a volunteer or county educator? Rock Eagle is the
place! The best way to describe the experience is “4-H
camp for adults.” The days are packed with excellent
workshops, and the evenings are filled with entertainment and
Fun Shops.
The conference will be held in Eatonton,
Georgia, October 6-9, 2005. Full conference registration will
not exceed $240. A $50 deposit is due August 5, 2005. The
remaining balance is due September 1, 2005. Visit the host
state conference site at www.4hsrlf.org
for current information
regarding the conference. Oklahoma’s registration
information is posted at http://agweb.okstate.edu/fourh/volun02/Eduopp.htm. Participants are responsible for their own
transportation. Oklahoma typically travels as a group via air
transportation.
The mission of the Southern Region
Volunteer Leader Forum is to increase the capacity of volunteer
and salaried staff to contribute to the achievement of the
mission of 4-H youth development and the Cooperative Extension
system as a whole. The primary purpose of the forum is to
educate and prepare participants to share what they learned
back home. Participants benefit from the experiential learning
activities which require them to discuss, use and apply what
they learn. The ultimate application is for individuals and
teams to teach others.
SRVLF is an excellent opportunity to meet
adult volunteers from 13 southern states, Puerto Rico, Grenada,
and the Virgin Islands.
All applications and materials for
district and state officer candidates have been posted online
at http:
//agweb.okstate.edu/fourh/4hopp02/state_District_office.htm Carefully follow the instructions provided
with each filing application.
Applications for state office are due
September 1, 2005, in the state 4-H office. Applications for
district office are due at the time designated by your district
program specialist.
If a young person was unable to attend the
mandatory candidate workshop at Roundup, please contact your
district program specialist for the make-up session.
The one page end-of-year evaluation tool
can be found at the following link http:
//agweb.okstate.edu/fourh/staff02/core-competencies.htm. Look under the heading “On-Line
Forms.” Click on “2003-05 Unit 2 Program Year End
Evaluation (Revised June 2004).”
Evaluation due to your district program
specialist by August 1, 2005.
National KidsDay is the first Sunday every
August. It's a day to celebrate and honor children through the
gift of meaningful time. Meaningful Time is time spent between
adults and children that both consider engaging, important, and
enjoyable.
Participation in this program would be an
excellent visibility program for 4-H in your community, since
4-H is all about “meaningful time spent between adults
and children.” Check it out at http:
//www.kidsday.com/ .
We would like to give a huge “Thank
You” to the Awards Committee and everyone who volunteered
to help with record book judging, interviews and Honor Night.
You all did a wonderful job. If you have any comments or
concerns about the awards program, please share them with us or
a member of the Awards Committee. A complete list of the 2005
project and scholarship winners is attached. You may also be interested in the numerical
history of each project entry. Also, please note the donors for
each of the awards or scholarships. If they are in your county
or you know them personally, give them a personal “Thank
You” for supporting the program.
Septemberfest will be held September 10th
on the governor’s lawn. Septemberfest is coordinated by
the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and sponsored by
Oklahoma Farm Bureau. The purpose is to give youth-serving
organizations and agencies the opportunity to interact with
urban families. This is a great opportunity to showcase 4-H to
over 20,000 youth and adults in a single day.
Last year 4-H clubs from across the state
assisted the state officers and ambassadors in coordinating
activities at the Oklahoma 4-H display during this event.
Again, we invite youth 12 to 19 years olds
to join us in sharing the educational and fun opportunities
experienced and learned through project related hands-on
activities or demonstrations. Activities and projects should be
pertinent to an urban audience and peak their interest in
becoming a 4-H member. Some suggested project would include dog
club activities, entomology demonstrations, water resources
demonstrations, sport fishing activities, etc.
Each participant will be asked to conduct
his or her activity repeatedly during a two-hour period.
The time periods include:
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
It is imperative that 4-H members and
families follow through with this commitment once they register
for time slots. Interested parties may complete the attached
form and return it no later
than August 22nd. Participants will receive written
confirmation and further instructions. For more
information contact Karla
Knoepfli.