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Jerry's Retirement
--Jerry Newman
I will be retiring on September 30, 2007. As Paul Harvey would say “here is the rest of the story.” On November 1, 2007 I will start on a half time contract with WSU with a focus on 4-H Youth Development special projects and animal science. I look forward to continuing to work with everyone for the next two years. My contact information will remain the same. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at 509-335-2800 or on my cell phone at 509-338-5938.
Pasture Pals Summer Fun Show
--Carol Breazeale
4-H members are invited to the Pasture Pals Summer Fun Show July 21 at the Benton/Franklin Fairgrounds in Kennewick, WA. We will have Montana Silver High Point Buckles and Reserve High Point Halters in each age group. Medal classes are limited to kids in Benton/Franklin Counties and do not go towards high point; trophies will be awarded to first and ribbons for 1-6. You must be a 4-H member to enter. Sign up is at 8:00am, show starts at 9:00.
For more information call Brian or Carol Breazeale at 509-546-1518.
National 4-H Congress
--Jan Klein
There has been some discrepancy about the due date for National 4-H Congress applications. On the 4-H Website there are two different dates: July 1 and August 1. Although previous information I have sent out said the July 1 date, applications will be accepted up through August 1, 2007.
For complete information please go to http://4h.wsu.edu/kidstuff/crit_proced.pdf. The necessary pieces required for applications are listed for both delegate and chaperone. If you have further questions, please contact me at jlklein@wsu.edu.
WSU Announces the First Beef 300 Short-Course for Individuals Involved with the Cattle Industry
--Sarah Smith
Washington State University Extension and Department of Animal Sciences in cooperation with the Washington Cattlemen's Association, Washington Cattle Feeders Association and Washington State Beef Commission are excited to announce the first WSU BEEF 300 short course offered October 11-13, 2007 at the WSU Department of Animal Sciences on the Pullman Campus.
WSU BEEF 300 is a three-day, hands-on workshop designed for progressive individuals involved with the beef cattle industry. The course will focus on teaching producers, feeders and marketers (regardless of the size or type of operation) how to produce and market quality cattle and beef products. Participants will learn how environmental, nutritional, genetic and managerial factors contribute to meat quality. Participants will also learn how meat quality factors influence the price producers receive for cattle and beef products marketed through various outlets. This program will increase one's understanding of beef quality and marketing, enabling participants to make informed decisions to improve profitability, competitiveness and wholesomeness of the food products they are producing. The course will feature nationally recognized speakers in the area of cattle production, feeding, processing and marketing.
The registration fee for WSU BEEF 300 is $150 per participant, which covers meals, materials and parking arrangements. Hotel accommodations will be the responsibility of the participants. The course is limited to 32 participants and will be available on a first-pay, first-serve basis. Registration deadline is September 12, 2007.
For additional information on WSU BEEF 300, contact: Jan Busboom, WSU Meat Specialist, (509)335-2880 or busboom@wsu.edu; or Sarah M. Smith, Area Animal Science Educator, (509)754-2011, Ext 413 or smithsm@wsu.edu. More information and registration forms are available on the WSU Central Animal Agriculture web page at http://animalag.wsu.edu under “Upcoming Events.”
“Fast Track to your Future” 2007 4-H Teen Conference
--Jan Klein
You be the judge as to the success…check out the evaluation pre and post photos showing where the youth placed themselves when asked the question, “ At this moment, how prepared are you for your future? Take into consideration your knowledge and your plans pertaining to college, career and concrete decisions about your future – 1 being, I don't know much or have much in place, to 10 - being I have educated plans in place I'm already signed up.”
In the spirit of the ‘fast track', 76 youth and approximately 30 adults, were welcomed at registration by Butch, the WSU mascot, and kept running for the next two days into exploration for their future. Andy Smyth, of Idaho 4-H, encouraged youth to identify foundational questions before heading off to workshops, to speakers, to meals, to banquet and to recreational activities. Workshops included topics such as college admissions, careers, interviewing, budgeting, science exploration, college resident life, leadership, drama and how your involvement in animal projects in 4-H could open opportunities for a career. Service learning workshops focusing on healthy choices, leadership, environment and how to create valuable community projects for school credit were presented. Teens were encouraged to develop skills and ideas to facilitate a project in their own communities. Linda Criddle, keynote speaker, challenged teens to take a new look at internet information they might be revealing about themselves and understand the risks. Dr. Kim Kidwell shared through personal experience the value of learning from experiences that don't always turn out like we'd like them to. “Unwritten”, a multi media presentation from Motivational Media productions revealed the vivid truth through music, media and stories how important the choices we make now influence our future. Life in the resident hall, meals on campus, workshops in classrooms, and a college informational fair all gave the ambiance of college life at WSU, and a snapshot of possibilities for one's future.
“I can't wait until Teen Conference next year”, reflected one teen, “I was given so many pieces to help think about my future!” “Fast Track to your Future”, was a great success, and a positive foundation to build on for next year. The 2008 4-H Teen Conference will be held on June 28-30, mark your calendars now!
Watch for more photos and evaluation comments, coming soon, at http://4h.wsu.edu/conferences/teenconf/index.htm.
CCS Publications
--Susan Kerr
Visit http://www.cerp.cornell.edu/4h/ to learn about the national online 4-H resources.
Community Engagement Officer Position, Washington School Districts
--Lee Lambert
The College Success Foundation received a three-year grant from the Gates Foundation to design and implement a Campaign for College-Readiness in six Gates Foundation Improvement Districts. The goal of the campaign is to engage students, parents and community in establishing a sustainable culture of college and career readiness. The campaign will also help improve the prospects for sustainability of the Gates Foundation funded reform work in districts after the grants expire in those communities.
Job Description. Contact Lee at 253-861-8977 with questions.
Science and Technology Specialist Position, Louisiana State University
--Suzanne Le Menestrel
Job description for a 4-H Youth Development Science and Technology Specialist position at the Louisiana State University AgCenter.
Call for 4-H Studies
--Pat BoyEs
Have you recently completed a 4-H research study, graduate or undergraduate thesis, or dissertation? Are you an advisor to a graduate student who recently completed a thesis or dissertation on 4-H? Did you present a research paper about 4-H at a conference? Dr. Jan Scholl, Penn State University , has created two on-line searchable databases of 4-H studies. The first database, “Making the Best Even Better: Searchable Database of Over 800 4-H Research Studies, Agricultural Experiment Station Projects, Journal Articles and Proceedings and Other Papers,” is available at the following link: http://apps.libraries.psu.edu/agnic/state_national_search.cfm.
The second database, “Making the Best Better: Searchable Database of 1700 4-H Graduate Studies,” is available at the following link: http://apps.libraries.psu.edu/agnic/thesis_studies_search.cfm.
If you are the author of a study or know about a 4-H study that should be included in one of these databases, please contact Dr. Jan Scholl at jscholl@psu.edu. Unless the study is in a journal or already a library holding, a copy of the study results will be requested and placed in a lending library so others may find it more easily. Thank you for your assistance!
Update from the National Set Leadership Team
--Jennifer Zaniewski
As you know Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) is one of our three mission mandates. We wanted to provide an update on the 4-H Science Engineering and Technology Liaisons Conference held in June 2007 on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus in Lincoln , Nebraska . Approximately 122 people, representing 40 states with participation from Extension staff, volunteers, and youth were in attendance.
The National SET Leadership Team identified the following conference goals:
- Helping liaisons increase their knowledge and skills for providing leadership in their state 4-H programs for designing and delivering high quality 4-H SET learning experiences to youth and adults;
- Helping liaisons develop a rough draft of a state 4-H SET plan of work that will include professional development (paid and volunteer staff), effective evaluation plans, the use of quality 4-H SET curricula, marketing and resource development strategies, and partnership development.
Participants were provided with the conference presentations and a series of materials to be used in sharing information about SET when they return to their respective communities.
Liaisons have been asked to meet with and brief State Leaders and Foundation Directors upon their return. During this time, they should share their knowledge gained during the conference as well as discuss plans for moving SET forward in your state. We hope you have been contacted by your state 4-H SET Liaison. If not, please contact the liaison to learn more about the 4-H SET mission mandate (a liaison contact roster is attached).
As most of you know, our goal of reaching 1,000,000 new students through SET by 2013 is ambitious and will require your support in doing so. To assist in this goal, 4-H recently entered into a partnership with the National Association of Rocketry Plans (NAR). The NAR has committed to help start new 4-H clubs focused on aerospace and rocketry over the next five years through the leadership of 1,000 of their members across the country. Discussions are underway to solidify other national partnerships to assist in achieving this goal.
Plans are being made for a National SET Launch event during National 4-H Week in October. Details about the Launch and how you can be engaged will be forthcoming once the date and location have been finalized. It is our plan for SET to be the theme of the 2007 National 4-H Week. To that end, the marketing and communications team at National 4-H Council will be developing a tool kit, similar to years past, to be used to promote National 4-H Week.
To learn more about the 4-H SET mission mandate, please visit the National 4-H Council web site at: http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/. On the page, click Programs to learn more about 4-H SET.
Just a Reminder!
When you have new Extension staff that will be working in some capacity with 4-H, please let Nancy in the State 4-H Office know. They will be added to mailing lists, added to the 4-H Talk list serve, sent a 4-H Welcome Packet, and be assigned a state 4-H staff person as a point of contact, as appropriate. 4-H News is sent via the 4-H Talk list serve each week. Archived copies of previous weeks “Tuesday 4-H News” are available on the 4-H web site: http://4h.wsu.edu/. Please send submissions by Friday of each week to Tiffany Boswell, State 4-H Office, tiffany_boswell@wsu.edu. Detailed event information and registrations forms can be found on the 4-H web site.