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4-H Portable Challenge Training
--Vicki Hebert
San Juan County is hosting a 4-H Portable Challenge Training on April 18-20.
Shooting Sports Training
--Janet Schmidt
Attention current and prospective shooting sports leaders! Many volunteers from across the state have requested 4-H shooting sports training. Here is an opportunity for you! University of Idaho- Kootenai County Extension will be hosting a State 4-H Shooting Sports Training on April 26 & 27, 2008, at the Coeur d'Alene Rifle and Pistol Club. The training will feature archery, hunting and rifle disciplines. The registration fee of $70 per person is due by April 18 to the Kootenai County Extension Office. WA and ID have similar shooting sports training requirements so Washington 4-H leaders will receive full credit for participating in the training.
Visit the Shooting Sports Project page at http://4h.wsu.edu/projects/shooting.htm for the registration form on this event. For questions or more information, contact Janet Schmidt at (509)397-6290 or Jim Wilson at (209)446-1680.
Washington Afterschool Association Conference Scholarships Available
--Janet Edwards
An exciting training opportunity is available for Extension faculty, staff and volunteers at beautiful Lake Chelan on April 28-29. If you would like to add to your skills in working with afterschool providers, this two day leadership conference is a great opportunity. See the details on the WAA website, http://www.washingtonafterschool.org/, for more information. If you would like a scholarship to attend this training, please send an email message to Janet Edwards at edwardsj@wsu.edu soon.
State 4-H Forum Workshop Proposals Due May 7
The 2008 State 4-H Forum will be held October 17-19 at the Holiday Inn – Downtown Everett. You will find the Call for Workshop Proposals description and response form at http://4-h.wsu.edu/conferences/Forum/. Please share these 2 pages with 4-H volunteers, faculty/staff, administrators and youth who are interested in providing quality educational workshops at this year's State 4-H Forum. Proposals are due by May 7. Contact Tony Dell at adell@wsu.edu if you have questions.
Northwest Junior Sheep Exposition
--Sarah Smith
The 2008 Northwest Junior Sheep Exposition (NWJSE) will be held July 17-19 at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake, Washington. The Junior Sheep Expo offers an excellent opportunity for young people from throughout the Pacific Northwest to showcase their sheep projects in a competitive, fun, and educational environment.
According to the show's President and lead organizer, Scott Mortimer of Wilson Creek Washington , “The Northwest Junior Sheep Exposition provides a unique and fun learning experience for all youth interested in sheep by combining the most current technology in animal science with the traditions of the past.” This event will include classes for market lambs, prospect lambs, and breeding sheep. Other competitions include the Sheep Skill-A-Thon, which tests one's knowledge and skill in sheep husbandry and educational displays. The NWJSE uses ultrasound technology and an indexed appraisal system that promotes a more accurate and systematic market lamb evaluation and enhances the educational experience of exhibitors and spectators.
Due to the excellent financial support of several organizations and donors, over $3,000 in cash prizes and awards will be presented. The show also precedes the Annual Ram and Ewe Sale sponsored by the Washington State Sheep Producers held on July 19 at the same location.
Exhibitors desiring to enter market lambs in the 2008 NWJSE should complete and return an entry form by May 1. The entry deadline for feeder lambs, breeding sheep, educational exhibits, and other contests is June 16. Premium booklets are sent to northwest extension offices, FFA Advisors, and previous exhibitors middle of March. Premium books and entry forms are also available on WSU Grant-Adams Area Extension web page at http://grant-adams.wsu.edu or http://animalag.wsu.edu under “Upcoming Events.” Additional copies are also available by contacting Sarah Smith at 509-754-2011, Ext. 413 or by email at smithsm@wsu.edu.
Health Rocks!® Local Community Implementation Grants - Awards of up to $5,000 Each
--Sally Miske
Deadline: May 1, 2008
Contacts: Dr. Susan Holder at susanh@ext.msstate.edu or Dr. Rae Wilkinson at raew@ext.msstate.edu
Mississippi State University Extension 4-H (MSU-ES 4-H) is working with National 4-H Council to support implementation of the Health Rocks!® Healthy Life Program. Organizations selected as community sites will receive a grant of up to $5,000 through MSU-ES (depending on youth reached), newly revised beginning level curriculum, training, and incentive items at no charge.
Selected community sites will send a team of three (two teens between the ages of 14 and 18, and one adult leader) to training at the C. A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center in Little Rock , Arkansas June 27-29, 2008. Travel, meals and lodging will be arranged and paid by MSU-ES 4-H. Implementation runs June 30, 2008-April 30, 2009.
Anyone interested in this program is encouraged to submit a proposal to MSU-ES 4-H. Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. Central time, May 1, 2008. Proposals may be emailed, faxed or mailed to the contact person listed in the RFP - not National 4-H Council. Decisions will be announced on or before May 12, 2008. Questions regarding the Request for Proposal are encouraged and should be submitted to Contacts listed above.
Health Rocks!® is a prevention and decision-making program, which also provides key health knowledge. Curriculum is taught by teen/adult leadership teams that help youth learn skills such as critical thinking, decision-making, stress management, handling peer pressure, and effective communication. Special emphasis is placed on tobacco use prevention. The program also includes components that bring youth and adults together as partners in developing community strategies that prepare young people to make healthy lifestyle choices. Developing life skills helps youth develop internal strength to resist risky behaviors. Since its inception, the Health Rocks! healthy life program has been implemented in partnership with Mississippi State University Extension (MSU), which serves as the virtual training facility - providing training to youth/adult implementation teams, incentive support, personal and web-based technical assistance, and facilitating program evaluation and reporting. To find out more about Health Rocks! go to http://msucares.com/4h_Youth/health_rocks/.
Washington Pork Producer's Spring 2008 Newsletter
--Sarah Smith
Washington Pork Producer's Spring 2008 Newsletter. In the past hard copies of the newsletter has been sent to each Extension office and FFA Advisor. However, in order to save on postage and printing cost the newsletter will be sent to Extension offices and FFA advisors electronically. Hard copies are still available to swine producers. The newsletter can also be downloaded at http://animalag.wsu.edu/swine/index.html. Page 5 is dedicated to topics pertaining to youth producers and project animals.
4-H National Curriculum Pre-Press Sale Has Begun
--Submitted by Nancy Mordhorst
Don't miss this special opportunity to purchase National 4-H Curriculum items for less!
The National 4-H Curriculum pre-press period is April 1st – 25th, 2008. All National 4-H Curriculum orders placed during this pre-press period will receive a 35% discount. (Please note: Pre-press discounted online orders for National 4-H Curriculum items will not be included in the Fair Share program.)
National 4-H Curriculum prices on the 4-H Mall have been changed to reflect the 35% discount during this period. After April 25th the prices online will be changed back to the original prices.
To read more about the National 4-H Curriculum collection and this special pre-press event, please click here.
Come Support 4-H Youth at the 16th Annual Pacific Challenge
--Vicky McCarley
May 16, 17, and 18 marks the 16th Annual Pacific Challenge. A weekend event bringing youth, their maritime mentors, and community supporters together, designed to test the nautical skills and knowledge of young mariners aged 14-18 aboard traditional wooden longboats and gigs.
Two of the 4-H boat programs will be represented at this event! The event will be held at the Seattle Center for Wooden Boats http://www.cwb.org on Lake Union. Come and support the 4-H youth participating in this event! Visit http://www.pacificchallenge.net for more information on this event!
This competition celebrates the team's achievements in teamwork, leadership, and their mastery of rowing, sailing and seamanship. This is accomplished through friendly competition rooted in long-standing tradition. For many of these young crews, the Pacific Challenge is the culmination of a year's worth of studying and training in their home maritime program.
Note: this is not a 4-H sponsored event, although there will be 4-H sponsored boat programs participating in this event.
National 4-H Volunteerism Spring Update
--Submitted by Pat BoyEs
4-H volunteer development update. Highlights include a progress report on the National 4-H Volunteerism Strategy, National Extension Volunteerism Conference dates and news from the National Learning Priority volunteerism team.
Save The Date! National Extension Volunteerism Conference 2009
--Barbara Stone
The 2009 National Extension Volunteerism Conference (NEVC) is scheduled for April 27 – 30, 2009. The conference will be held at the General Butler State Resort Park in Northern Kentucky, 30 minutes from the Cincinnati airport and major amenities.
Over the past decade, Extension professionals from the nation's Land-Grant University system have held a national conference for those that work directly with volunteers or administer complex volunteer management systems within the Cooperative Extension system.
The National Extension Volunteerism Conference (NEVC) is an opportunity for sharing and learning the latest research and trends in volunteerism, innovative ideas for reaching new volunteers, best practices for developing and keeping current volunteers, and strengthening volunteer management efforts.
NEVC welcomes anyone who has local, state or national responsibility for volunteer development; those interested in greater involvement of volunteers in extension programming or outreach education; and those who provide leadership for board development. Professional staff and key volunteers are encouraged to attend NEVC as teams to build capacity and to apply volunteer competencies to Extension programs.
The NEVC planning committee will send out a call for proposals, preliminary agenda and registration information soon. Please contact me if you wish to be involved or want to recommend topics or educational content to share that would be appropriate to this audience.
Job Opportunity: Washington State Migrant Bilingual Director
--Submitted by Pat BoyEs
The position announcement for the Director, Migrant and Bilingual Education Office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Application deadline is April 25, 2008 and can be obtained by contacting:
- Dr. W. John Bohrnsen at jbohrnsen3@aol.com, home/office/fax 360-225-9240, or cell 360-281-6035
- Dr. Bill Jordan at bjordan@pocketinet.com, home/office/fax 509-526-5663, or cell 509-520-8069
- Cheryl Mayo at mayodc@charter.net, home 509-965-1076, or cell 509-480-2782
Job Opportunity: 4-H Curriculum and Outreach Specialist in Montana
--Submitted by Pat BoyEs
Montana State University Extension and the 4-H Center for Youth Development are in search for an outstanding 4-H Specialist, Curriculum and Outreach. Visit http://extn.msu.montana.edu/Jobs/Curriculum2008.pdf for the position announcement. Screening begins May 2.
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.