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Oregon 4-H Newsletter
For December 2006
Greeting from the State Leader
The Gift of 4-H
Over the years I have given considerable thought to the wide variety of roles that we as 4-H professionals play in our daily work. They include teacher, counselor, publicist, babysitter, fund raiser, chauffer, judge, and janitor. We are clerks, administrators, caterers, scholars, coaches, advisers, executives, reporters, entertainers, and evaluators. There are many days when we play more than one of these roles.
But why all of these roles? Well, they way I look at it, they are related to what I would describe as a superordinate role of steward. Stewardship can be defined as the assumption of responsibility for the welfare of something bigger than oneself. Stewardship is a perpetual force which acts to preserve the universe or some part of it from harm.
4-H doesn't belong to us as professionals. When the community sees 4-H as something we as professionals own or control we endanger the long-term survival of 4-H. Rather, we are stewards of 4-H. We share that stewardship role with volunteers, youth, and the broader community. We are here to ensure that 4-H is here for years beyond our tenure with the organization.
The holiday season is a time of many gifts. Some gifts are lasting. Some are not. As we move into the new year, I challenge us to further explore our role as stewards to ensure that the gift of 4-H remains for many generations to come.
~ Roger Rennekamp
Calendar
(click "Calendar" to go to State 4-H Calendar)
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4-H Center
4-H Center Open House/ Field Day
Please note on your calendars that there will be open house field day at the Oregon 4-H Conference and Education Center on Saturday May 19, 2007.
A major focus of this event is older youth leadership. 4-H camp counselors will help run activities and teach classes. Statewide county 4-H leader's associations and all 4-H staff (agents, program assistants, instructors, etc) will be encouraged to bring vans with members, parents and leaders. Counties coming from longer driving distances may wish to spend the night before or after the event. They would make arrangements directly with the Center regarding staying in the cottages, and related costs.
Objectives of the event include:
- Provide tours of the facility to see locations for crafts, swings, horses, etc.
- Have a free snack and lunch and discover that 4-H Center camp food can be delicious and nutritious.
- Experience the activities: go canoeing, try archery, etc.
- Parents and prospective campers will look at the camper cabins and shower houses to become familiar with their home away from home for 5 days
- Prospective renters of the Center for other occasions can tour the
newer cottages, see meeting rooms in Cascara, the Chapel, Greider, etc.
Brochures will be sent to county offices after the holidays. For more information contact Robin Galloway robin.galloway@oregonstate.edu or Virginia Bourdeau mombear@proaxis.com
~ Robin Galloway
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Ag in the Classroom
December 2006 Calendar Picture
Bradley B. " Grade 5, Boy's & Girl's Club, Coos Bay " Teacher: Carolyn LeGrand
The next time you are on campus, plan to pick up a box of calendars and
the new teacher resource guides for distribution in your county.
You will find daily agricultural facts with student artwork on our website
at http://AITC.oregonstate.edu.
The following are a few December 2006 Calendar Facts:
- Trees are considered adults when they produce viable seeds.
- 30% of mint oil is used in dental products.
- Long ago, poinsettias were used as dye and to reduce fevers.
- The study of soil is called Pedology.
- Oregon is the nation's leading producer of Christmas trees.
- The world's largest trout caught weighed in at 102 pounds.
- The Douglas-fir is our State Tree.
~ Tami Kerr, Program Director (541) 737-8629
~ Cathy McClaughry, Program Assistant (541) 737-1318
http://AITC.oregonstate.edu
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Animal Science
Rabbit U Comes to Oregon
Rabbit U, a one day rabbit conference sponsored by the State 4-H Program and Purina Mills, will be held Saturday, June 2nd at the Linn County Fairgrounds. Open to adults and youth, participants will choose from a variety of classes on health, nutrition, basic husbandry, humane tattooing, and more. A nominal registration fee will be charged which includes lunch and a t -shirt to all "graduates". Look for more information as it becomes available later this winter.
~ Vicki Avery
Dog Project Equipment Revision
The dog development committee recently revised the equipment section of the contest guide to read as follows:
You will need a fabric or leather leash about 6 feet long, with a bolt
or spring snap on one end and a loop on the other end.
Dogs must wear properly fitted collars. Collars with prongs or spikes
on the inside or outside, electronic collars, or special training collars
(such as a haltie or gentle leader), are not permitted. Nothing shall
hang from the collars.
Consult the 4-H State Fair book for additional equipment guidelines at:
http://oregon.4h.oregonstate.edu/programs/events/state_fair.html
The new language allows us to potentially allow new equipment that becomes available without updating the contest guide every year. Equipment should always provide control for the member. As always, a properly adjusted flat buckle collar or slip collar is always appropriate.
~ Vicki Avery
State Dairy Judging Team Selection
The selection of the state dairy judging team will be done by county team scores instead of high individual scores beginning in 2007. The livestock development committee agreed that difficulties in practicing as a group and fund raising were especially difficult for mixed county state teams. Counties will still have the option of combining with members from another county (referred to as a "mixed" team) on a pre-arranged basis with agent signatures. The state dairy judging contest will be held at the OSU dairy on Monday, May 7, 2007. Look for registration materials in upcoming newsletters.
~ Vicki Avery
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Forestry
Oregon 4-H Forestry Field Day and Contest
The date for the 2007 event will be October 6 at the Oregon 4-H Center. Registration materials will be on line on the state 4-H office web site this spring. The deadline to register is September 21.
This year 60 youth and 13 chaperones attended the Field Day. Twenty-four
senior 4-H members competed in the state contest. Mike Knutz and Judi
Peters will be coaching the 2007 Oregon State 4-H Forestry Team for their
trip to the National 4-H Forestry Invitational in West Virginia in July.
Representing Oregon on the 2007 team are Susan Torgenson, Benton Co.,
Anna Smith and Kelsey Kennedy of Polk Co. and Alex Johnson of Josephine
Co. Alternates are Brennan Burbank and Grant Jungvirt of Polk Co.
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Grants
Oregon 4-H Foundation Grants
Just a reminder that new deadlines for grants through the Oregon 4-H
Foundation (4-H Innovative Grants, 4-H Regional Leadership Grants, and
4-H Community Pride Grants) are now November 1, January 1, and March 1.
For more information or to obtain an application form, please call Laura
Campbell (541-737-1302) or email to laura.campbell@oregonstate.edu.
~ Laura Campbell
Recognition
Beekeeping Essays Due February 1, 2007
Announcing the 2007 Beekeeping Essay Contest:
"Pollinator Conservation"
The 4-H Beekeeping Essay is a great opportunity for 4-H members to research
and write about honey bees. Cash prizes of $250, $100 and $50 will be
awarded to the 3 top winners. In 2006, Rocko Worth from Deschutes County
was the THIRD PLACE NATIONAL WINNER! 4-H members can also use the information
they gather to make an educational display for the fair. Essay contestants
are not required to be enrolled in a 4-H beekeeping project.
For detailed essay contest information, please check the American Beekeeping
Federation website http://www.abfnet.org/
Essays are due to the State 4-H office by February 1, 2007
~ Helen Pease
State level Recognition and Scholarship Opportunities:
Information on the State 4-H Recognition Program has been updated for
2007, and is now available on the 4-H website. Updated information includes
criteria for evaluating scholarship applications! Over 15 scholarships
valued at more than $14,000 are available to college bound high school
seniors.
State Resumes and Applications for State 4-H scholarships, State Fair
scholarships, National 4-H Congress and State level awards in citizenship,
leadership, communication and team community service are due in the State
4-H office March 1, 2007. Don't delay….start helping your members
prepare their resumes today!
~ Helen Pease
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Celebrating 11 State 4-H Volunteers
Congratulations to eleven (11) volunteers who have been identified as
outstanding 4-H volunteers in their respective county's. The following
volunteers were candidates for the Oregon 4-H Volunteer of the Year:
Elizabeth Fox, Lincoln County
Robin Gerber, Union County
Cliff Kelley, Lane County
Roberta Lundeberg, Benton County
Carol Mills, Umatilla County
Charr Moses, Curry County
Melissa Padgett, Clatsop County
Jeanne Plummer, Washington County
Kathy Rice, Linn County
Barbara "Bobbie" Rogers, Josephine County
Schevelle Wortman, Wallowa County
Thank you to these volunteers for their time and talent dedicated to young people in Oregon, to their community and to the 4-H youth development program. Each of these volunteers receives a sponsored registration to the state Leader Forum, from the Oregon 4-H Leaders' Association. The volunteers will be honored at the Oregon 4-H Leader Forum during a Recognition Breakfast Saturday, April 14 at Crater High School in Central Point.
~ Marilyn Lesmeister, Volunteerism and Civic Engagement
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Oregon's 4-H Leader of the Year
The Oregon 4-H Leaders' Association selected Umatilla County, Carol Mills, as the 2006 Leader of the Year. Carol has shared her love of raising sheep and sewing beautiful items with many youth for at least 34 years. She has also shared her leadership skills on statewide clothing curriculum reviews, the 4-H Advisory Board, Camp Board, as Union County Fair Superintendent, and much more.
Adult partners that she works with, say, "Carol is able to assess the learning styles of each of her members and adapt her teaching techniques to effectively reach each child in a positive "you can do it" attitude."
Thank you Carol for all that you have contributed to the Oregon 4-H Youth Development program.
As the state Leader of the Year, Carol will receive a sponsored registration
to attend the Western Region 4-H Leader Forum at Phoenix, AZ in January
2007.
~ Marilyn Lesmeister, Volunteerism and Civic Engagement
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Shooting Sports
Next 4-H shooting sports training - April 13-15, 2007
The next Master 4-H Shooting Sport Leader Training will be in Jackson County as part of this year's volunteer leader forum. Remember that your leaders must have completed the full county enrollment process, including the back ground check, prior to attending this state training.
~ Virginia Bourdeau
Staff Development
Mexicans and Americans: Cracking the Cultural Code
Recently I facilitated a campus book club meeting on Ned Crouch's book Mexicans and Americans: Cracking the Cultural Code. I suggested the book for discussion because I found it to be not only very informative, but also very enjoyable reading. The author has a great sense of humor. The book is written from an applied perspective, and provides information useful to our everyday professional and personal lives. If you don't feel you have time to read the book, a web cast of a talk by the author is available. It is 45 minutes long and covers the main points of the book. The web cast can be found at the Library of Congress web site: http://www.loc.gov . Search under the author's name.
~ Beverly Hobbs
Volunteer Development
National Volunteer Week
April 23-29, 2006
Oregon 4-H Leaders' Association, Executive Board
The fall meeting of the Oregon 4-H Leaders' Association Executive Board was held October 13-14 at the 4-H Center. They made a number of important decisions and recommendations. The Oregon 4-H Leaders' Association Executive Board:
- Selected Carol Mills, Umatilla County, as Oregon 4-H Leader of the Year. Congratulations Carol. Carol and ten other county nominees will be honored at a Recognition Breakfast held during the 2007 Oregon 4-H Leader's Forum, Friday, April 13 - Saturday, April 14.
- Supports the 2007 host counties as they plan an exciting Oregon 4-H Leader Forum at Crater High School in Central Point, April 13-14.
- Established two sub-committees to:
- A) Survey county 4-H Leader Association members to gain input regarding the State Leader Forum
- B) Develop a plan to offer resources to county 4-H program that encourage positive, ethical behavior during all Oregon 4-H programs, including competitive events.
- Accepted the Budget Committee's recommendation to increase membership
dues by $ .10. One year from now (2007 - 2008) Association dues will
increase from $.40 to $.50 per 4-H volunteer. The recommendation was
accepted by the Executive Board because:
- There has been an increase in the cost of programs sponsored by the Executive Board.
- There has not been an increase in membership dues for many years.
- The Executive Board plans to have greater educational impact on county programs through programs, such as: a focus on Ethics Education for Oregon 4-H youth and adults.
- The Executive Board would like to contribute to other state 4-H programs as opportunities occur.
~ Marilyn Lesmeister, Volunteerism and Civic Engagement
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Oregon
4-H Leaders' Forum
2007
Oregon State 4-H Leader Forum
Workshop Proposal Form
Oregon
4-H Leader Forum promotional material
WORLD CITIZENSHIP
Upcoming Dates to Remember
December 4 4-H Japan Intern Applications due to State 4-H Office
December 15 Outbound applications to Australia and Mexico due to State
4-H Office
January 15 Outbound applications to Finland and Japan due to State 4-H
Office
Complete information on these opportunities is posted on the Oregon 4-H web site. Just click on the World Citizenship icon on the front page.
~ Lillian Larwood
Annual Statewide Coordinator Training for International Exchange Programs
The state training for international exchange programs is scheduled for March 16-17 in Salem or Albany. Plan now to attend if interested in exchange programs in 2007.
Give me a call if you have any questions about this training.
~ Lillian Larwood
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