The 4H Tip Sheet
A Monthly Newsletter
September 2012
IN THIS ISSUE...
DEADLINES
Aug 15 KSFAIR Entry deadline Aug 15 KSFAIR Volunteer entry deadline for gate passes (no extended deadline available). Aug 15 State Horticulture Judging Contest entries due in local offices. Aug 15 KSF fees to the State 4-H Office deadline. Aug 20 Extended deadline ends at 5pm for Extension Offices to review entries on KSFAIR System for accuracy. Aug 20 Extended deadline ends for Extension Offices to submit KSF fees to the State 4-H Office. Aug 25 Northwest Youth & Leaders' Forum (NWYLF), KSRE Ag Research Center Auditorium, Hays, KS
Aug 31 North Central Region Volunteer Forum regular registration ($250) deadline
Sep 7 Kansas 4-H Wheat Varities for 2013 passed out at Kansas State Fair, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., east side of 4-H Centennial Hall, Hutchinson, KS Oct 1 State 4-H Youth Council Applications due online by 5 p.m. and signatures pages postmarked today
Oct 1 Dog Conference Registrations Due (Details Later) Oct 1 Dog Conference T-Shirt Designs Due to State 4-H Office
Oct 1 Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program application package due to Becky Sullivan Oct 1 Youth Council Applications due
Oct 5 North Central Region Volunteer Forum Hotel reservation deadline (earlier is better) Oct 15 Salute to Excellence Volunteer Recognition Awards Nominations due Oct 16 Kansas Youth Leadership Forum Registration Due
AMERICA'S FARMERS GROW COMMUNITIES
Students who participate in 4-H programs are 25 percent more likely to make a positive contribution in their communities, according to a study by Tufts University. Now, thanks to America’s Farmers Grow Communities, rural community members and farmers can help give back to local 4-H organizations.
Now through Nov. 30, 2012, eligible farmers can enter for a chance to win $2,500 that can be directed to their local 4-H. And new this year, the entire community also has a voice. Rural community members can suggest an idea or initiative that needs funding for their local 4-H, such as a community garden or camp scholarships. Farmers may review the ideas and consider them in their application. To plant your idea and encourage farmers to support your 4-H, go to GrowCommunities.com.
In addition, in communities impacted by drought, the Monsanto Fund will provide twice the financial support. Winning farmers from counties that have been declared natural disaster areas will now receive double the donation, a total of $5,000. These winners may choose where to direct the additional $2,500 disaster relief donation based on community needs brought forth by the drought. Last year, winning farmers directed $380,000 to 152 4-H organizations across the country! One winner will be selected at random from each of the eligible 1,271 counties and winning farmers and recipient nonprofits will be announced in January 2013. Complete your Printable Application Form today!
Submitted by Stone via America's Farmers Grow Communities & The Monsanto Fund
STATE FAIR DOG SHOW PROVIDES UKC OPPORTUNITIES
UNITED KENNEL CLUB: Real Dogs for Real People!!! Kansas
State Fair, September 15, 2012 To: All Kansas 4-H Dog Show Exhibitors
Qualifying legs at the 2012 Kansas State Fair in 4-H Novice
Obedience, AGI agility, AGII agility, and Rally Obedience will qualify as legs
for United Kennel Club titles.
No charge to enter.
Dog must have UKC temporary or permanent listing number. Entry forms and temporary listing number
forms will be available at the Kansas State Fair. To register and sign up, see Bev Benjes, Event Manager for
UKC. Table located on the north side of
the grandstand in the Bison Arena Building. Sign up 8:00-11:00 a.m.
E-mail: bbenjes@cox.net or call (620)664-8233 for more information.
REMEMBER: If you are
currently registered with UKC, please bring your junior handler number and
dog’s registration number with you. Adams
CURRICULUM CORNER
2013 4-H Project
Materials Guide is posted as the first item on the Kansas 4-H website after
clicking on Projects. The recommended
and most current materials for each project are listed first with a brief
description. Most of the materials have
been developed via a national peer reviewed curriculum system and can be
purchased from the KSRE Bookstore or directly from the National 4-H Mall online. Price will be lower at K-State
due to pre-press discount ordering. We
highly encourage each local Extension Office to plan a way for each 4-H member
to get a project manual every three years they are enrolled in a project.
Additional resources are listed for almost every
project. These resources will supplement
the learning experiences of members by providing more learning activities via Helper’s
Guides or Kansas Project Leader Notebooks plus record sheets or other
references. Remember that Helper’s or
Leader’s Guides are written for adults to use with youth and should not be
given directly to youth.
Publications not listed in the Project Materials Guide or in
the 4-H Publications Section of the KSRE Bookstore/Library should be removed
from your shelves and recycled or thrown away.
Using outdated materials puts you and the University at risk if the
information is no longer valid.
If you find an older publication that has been useful and
popular but needs revised or updated, please send a copy to my attention at the
state 4-H office. Adams
CAMERAS AT THE SPRINGS - CATS
CATS will be held October 26-28, 2012 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. Housing will be at the Rim Rock Area.
CATS is an informal photography retreat for adults at the beautiful Rock Springs 4-H Center south of Junction City, Kansas. Sponsored by the Kansas 4-H Photography Action Team, CATS provides a relaxing shooting experience for adult photography project leaders as well as other adults having an interest in photography. Formal classes will not be held. Photo Action Team members will be in attendance to lead photo excursions and answer questions relating to photography and the 4-H Photography Project. For full information go to: http://www.kansas4-h.org/p.aspx?tabid=191Registration deadline is October 15, 2012. Registration will be by paper copy.Buchele
4-H FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR 4-H PROGRAM EXPANSION
The Kansas 4-H program is making a difference in the lives of
young people all across Kansas.
Dedicated youth development professionals and volunteers are reaching
youth in clubs and through their communities including clubs, before, during
and after-school programs, day camps, and short-term programs of special
interest to kids. However, despite the
best efforts of current staff and volunteers Kansas 4-H members and volunteer
numbers continues to decline. The
“Life’s Little Questions” recruiting campaign, introduced in September 2011, targeting
3rd graders and their moms, is still gaining momentum and we
anticipate an increase in 4-H enrollment and retention of this age group. However,
a recruiting campaign is not enough. To attract
and keep more 4-H youth, the program must be of high quality, meet the needs of
contemporary families and appeal to a new cadre of volunteers who are willing
to share their time and interests but unfamiliar with how to connect with 4-H.
Increasingly, a partnership is needed to reach new audiences, engage more
volunteers in 4-H and marshal the resources needed to significantly grow the
4-H program in Kansas.
We are pleased to
announce a Growing Kansas Leaders: 4-H Program Expansion grants that will
partner with 5 local units (district or county) to develop and pilot a strategy
that will recruit volunteers and increase 4-H membership over the next 3 years.
The project includes developing a “business plan” that will advance the goals
of recruiting more volunteers and increase 4-H membership over the next 3 years,
with a focus on reaching new and underserved audiences. This project supports the
4-H Focus on the Future strategic priorities, Volunteer Engagement and Reaching
New Audiences.
The Program Expansion Grants announcement in this Tipsheet includes a description of the project,
application and timeline. We have an exciting future ahead of us! See you
there.
Stone
KANSAS 4-H ON PINTEREST
As part of my summer internship here at the Kansas 4-H state office, I started a
Pinterest page for the Kansas 4-H. The purpose behind this Pinterest page was to
have a place where 4-Her's, extension agents, and the general public could go to
check out what Kansas 4-H is all about and get some new ideas. The site
showcases each project (where new ideas, helpful hints, etc. can be found), club
management, volunteering, community service ideas, programs, events, social
media tips and much more. In total there are 48 boards with over 1,000 pins!
Feel free to follow us and spread the word! Here is the link:
http://pinterest.com/kansas4h/ Pray
NORTH CENTRAL REGION VOLUNTEER FORUM SCHOLASHIPS
Thanks to the great generosity of the Kansas 4-H Foundation, the Monsanto Volunteer Development Initiative and the Kansas Youth Council, a significant number of scholarships for Kansas 4-H Volunteers (Adult and Youth) to attend the North Central Region Volunteer Forum are available. The scholarships will be for $100, (half the Early Bird Registration Fee). The scholarships will be continue to be awarded until all money is awarded. There are still plenty of scholarships available. Information and applications are available at: http://www.kansas4-h.org/p.aspx?tabid=314. Go to the second section on the page. Scholarship applications will be accepted until all scholarships are awarded. Apply now!
Send scholarship applications to: Rhonda Zook, Rhonda_zook@hotmail.com or Rhonda Zook, 298 Boston Mills Rd., Columbus KS 66725 The Forum will be October 11 - 14, 2012, at the Hyatt Hotel, Wichita. Early Bird registration deadline is now August 15th.
Hotel room cost is $99 per night per room.
If you have questions contact Rhonda, Donna Maskus, djm@eaglecom.net or Jan Keim jan@claycentercovenant.com Buchele
GROWING KANSAS LEADERS: PROGRAM EXPANSION GRANTS
The
Department of 4-H Youth Development, the Kansas 4-H Foundation and KSRE is
pleased to announce Program Expansion grants that will partner with 5 local
units (district or county) to develop and pilot a strategy that will recruit
volunteers and increase 4-H membership over the next 3 years. The goals of the
project include developing a “business plan” that will advance the goals
of recruiting more volunteers and increase 4-H membership over the next 3 years,
focusing on reaching new and underserved audiences.
Each pilot site in this 3-year pilot
program must be able and willing to provide personnel and a commitment to
expanding the 4-H program locally. The pilot sites will work in collaboration with
the Department of 4-H Youth Development and the Kansas 4-H Foundation to reach
the following project goals:
- · Increase the number of 4-H volunteers in participating local
units by 20%
- · Increase the number of 4-H project clubs by participating
local units by 15%
- · Increase the number of 4-H youth in participating local
units (with a focus on 3rd graders) by 25%
- · Increase retention of new 4-H families by 10%
Pilot sites will receive $5,000 for their
program expansion efforts. An additional
$3,000 will be available for supporting the volunteer screening and selection
process, including background checks. There will also be funds available for
professional development for Extension professionals and volunteers leading the pilot,
consulting and assistance, and program evaluation resources.
The Program Expansion Grants
includes a project description, application and timeline. Deadline for
application is October 1, 2012.
Stone
NORTH CENTRAL REGION VOLUNTEER FORUM UPDATE
2012
North Central Region Volunteer Forum
Early-Bird Registration Till August 20
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Workshops
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The forum will feature
50 workshops covering a wide variety of 4-H-related subjects. To give you an idea of
just some of what will be included, there will be workshops on:
4-H club management
- There's an app for that
- Cake decorating
- Foods
- Games and activities to involve members
- Putting science in livestock projects
- Photography
- Rabbits
- Robotics
- Growing 4-H Science
- Service learning
- Sewing
- Technology
- 4-H on the web
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And so much more!
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Speakers
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Michelle
Cummings - Well-known speaker, author and leader in the team- development industry, and founder of
Training Wheels - will deliver the keynote address, Leadership and the Trust Factor.
Barbara
Stone -
Kansas 4-H director - will share the Promise and Power of Positive Youth Development and excite volunteers about implementing positive youth-development practices.
Lisa
Lauxman -
USDA's director of the
Division of Youth and 4-H - will remind listeners that There Is No Place Like 4-H as she tells stories of 4-H successes.
Buchele
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FCS JUDGING CONTEST UPDATE
The Family and Consumer Sciences Action Team is looking forward to the Family and Consumer Sciences Judging Contest at the Kansas State Fair on Saturday, Sept. 15. Following are a few highlights from an e-mail sent to "County/District Agent in charge of 4-H FCS Judging". Complete contest rules can be found in the state fair book
CONTEST ASSISTANTS - We still need volunteers to help with all aspects of the contest. Please sign up yourself or volunteers from your county through the KSFAIR State Fair Online. If you have specific times you can help, please call or e-mail Linda Biles for scheduling.
Contest topics can be found at: http://www.kansas4h.org/Contacts/doc12002.ashx (Project Meeting Topics for 2011-2012). All teams and individuals must pre-enter on the KSFAIR Data Entry System. An entry fee of $5.00 per individual or $10 per team will be due with the August 15 pre-entry. All teams must register between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. the day of the contest.
ALL TEAM MEMBERS MUST BE REGISTERED AND START JUDGING AT THE SAME TIME!
Substitutions will be handled the day of the contest. Please be sure the person registering the group specifies which pre-entered team member a substitute is replacing. The format for reasons questions has been changed this year. All questions will be written as true/false questions for each of the four choices. The traditional table will not be used. A sample reasons work sheet and scantron card, can be found on the action team page of the Kansas 4-H website. Please share this with your contestants ahead of time.
We hope this will help answer most questions you might have about this year’s contest format. If you have additional questions, contact Linda Biles(lkbiles@ksu.edu) at 785-357-0978 or Berny Unruh (bunruh@ksu.edu) at 620-793-1910. Biles
NEW 4-H T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE
Be 4-H proud by ordering a new 4-H t-shirt. Two designs are available, one with “Life’s Little Questions” and one designed by 4-H Youth Council members. Shirts will be available for purchase at the Kansas State Fair or by ordering them from N Zone Sportswear. Order form may be found under What’s Hot on the State 4-H web page.
Shirts are $12 each. Order form is due September 24. Shirts will be delivered by October 6 just in time to celebrate National 4-H Week. Proceeds of t-shirts benefit the Kansas Youth Leadership Council and the 4-H Marketing Action Team.
Mack & Hinshaw
INCREASE 4-H RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AS YOUTH HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL
Take advantage of this new school year to invite new families to join 4-H. Drive parents to include 4-H as part of their fall activities. Need help with your recruitment efforts? The Marketing Action Team, through a Kansas 4-H Foundation “Grow 4-H Grant,” is offering units a 4-H Recruitment Tool Kit containing Life’s Little Questions campaign items.
Campaign items include: 3 panel Life’s Little Questions display, 250 fliers, and a set of 15 posters valued at $135.00. In order to receive a tool kit, each part of the action plan must be completed and the agent must agree to complete a short progress report highlighting the results of the recruitment action plan. Complete the action plan on the google form at: http://tinyurl.com/6uzevcv
A youth data sheet with specific youth population and membership data will be sent to each local unit. These figures will help in completing the action plan. As soon as you complete the form, a toolkit will be mailed to you. We appreciate the support from the Kansas 4-H Foundation to offer these kits to help grow Kansas 4-H.
Diane Mack & Members of the Marketing Action Team
LAST CALL FOR NORTHWEST YOUTH & LEADERS’ FORUM (NWYLF)
Join Northwest 4-H at the 6rd Annual Northwest Area Youth & Leaders’ Forum and Day
Camp Training, Saturday, August 25, 2012, at the K-State Ag Research Center in
Hays, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The 2012 NWYLF theme is “Race into Leadership -
2012” Alexander Crownover, former Sedgwick County
4-H member and former Kansas 4-H Youth Council member will be the guest
speaker. Participants will also pick
from three workshops.
Registration will be accepted
until Monday, August 20th. Cost is $10.00 with checks
made payable to KSU. The NWYLF is
open to any Kansas youth 12 and
older, 4-H leaders, other community volunteers and Extension staff.
Participants may register by hard copy or on a Google registration system that
will be functional by July 20th. All
participants must submit a 2012 copy of the Kansas 4-H Participation Form
in order to attend. Visit the NW Area web site to download the registration form and
information: http://www.northwest.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=19. For more information, contact Deryl Waldren,
785-462-6281 or e-mail dwaldren@ksu.edu.
Waldren
2012 TAIWAN AGRICULTURAL YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY
The country of Taiwan is again offering a wonderful
opportunity to travel and learn about Taiwanese agriculture. National Taichung Agriculture Senior High
School in central Taiwan will run this program again and it is tentatively
scheduled for six days in mid-November to early December 2012 (exact dates to
be determined). For complete details
visit: http://www.ksda.gov/marketing/events/.
Criteria for
applying:
- Must currently have a valid passport in hand.
- Open to 3 youths with strong backgrounds in
Kansas agriculture.
- Must be at least 18-years-old at time of
travel.
- Must be a high school senior or a college freshman.
- Delegates will have about half their airfare
and all local accommodations, meals & transportation in Taiwan sponsored
by the government of Taiwan.
- Delegates must be able to commit to
approximately $1,050 towards airfare costs, plus other personal costs like
souvenirs.
- Selection will be based on resume, letter of
intent that includes agricultural background, career aspirations, and what
you hope to gain from this trip (1 page maximum, 12 point font minimum.), and
two reference letters. Include in
the letter of intent: name,
address, town, zip, e-mail and mobile phone number. Application
package is due Monday, October 1, 2012. All required information pieces should be
e-mailed to the below address as well as questions should be directed to
Becky Sullivan, 785-296-6080, becky.sullivan@kda.ks.gov.
Waldren
COUNTIES/DISTRICTS NEEDED FOR 2013 KANSAS 4-H JAPANESE EXCHANGE
This summer inbound program which Kansas has
conducted with LABO and LEX in Japan since 1977 is seeking counties to
participate in 2013. Based on your county/district responses, Kansas will
commit to hosting a specific number of youth and adult chaperones for the
2013 summer inbound program. In 2012, Kansas hosted 31 Japanese youth and
adults. Participating counties get to
host a small group of young Japanese teens who are highly motivated to become a
member of their Kansas
host family and to learn English. Kansas 4-H families have
reported many good experiences and say that the program has had a positive
impact on their children.
The Japanese will arrive in counties about
July 21, 2013, and stay with one family each for around four weeks. Consider
getting involved with your county/unit.
Participating counties/units must locate a volunteer coordinator who then
manages the recruitment and screening of five to six host families, and
organizes local activities during the stay. Training, resource materials
and some expense money are available for the coordinators and agents.
Extension agents oversee the program and may be as active as they wish in its
conduct.
If you think your
county might be interested, or to find out more details about your
county/district hosting Japanese youth from 12-18 years-old in 2012, contact
Rose Scott by September 14th: rose@threeriversinc.org,
or call Rose at 785-388-2009 or 785-565-3197 (cell). Please consider trying this popular
program this upcoming year. Waldren & Scott
KANSAS OUT-OF-SCHOOL CONFERENCE
Kansas Out-of-School Conference, October 2. The Kansas Out-of-School Conference, co-sponsored by Extension 4-H and Kansas 21st Century Community Learning Centers, has been scheduled for Tuesday October 2, 9:30 a.m.- 2:30pm p.m., at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center, 7001 W. 21st. Street N., Wichita.
The Kansas Out-of School Conference provides an excellent opportunity for sharing and networking with professionals that are planning, organizing and facilitating educational activities for out-of-school youth participants. This one-day event highlights hands-on curricula that adapt easily to any out-of-school setting.
If you are interested in organized after-school activities, residential and day camps or summer recreation programs we have resources for you! Registration form is available on the 4-H Web Site, Kansas4-H.org under “What’s Hot," or simply click here. For more information contact Beth Drescher, drescher@ksu.edu. Van Horn
NEW INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE DESTINATIONS FOR 4-H'ERS IN 2013
Want to experience a new culture, learn a language different than your own, or expand your horizons? Then don’t miss your opportunity for a 4-H outbound exchange. In 2013 Kansas 4-H is adding the possibility of traveling to two new destinations—Tanzania in East Africa and Argentina in South America. These new programs are available for 4-H’ers 16 and over and should offer something new to all. The program in Tanzania will likely be about two weeks in which 4-H members from the U. S will learn about and assist 4-H clubs in Tanzania. The Argentine program is a month-long home stay and cultural immersion program in the area of Lincoln, Argentina, a great way to improve Spanish-speaking skills. In addition, Kansas 4-H’ers may apply for long–time favorite exchanges in Australia, Finland and Japan. All offer four weeks abroad with host family stays during the majority of the period. Delegates to Japan may add four weeks of language and culture programming in Tokyo prior to the home stay. Some of these exchanges are offered to 12-15 year olds. Others require that delegates be at least 16.
International 4-H youth Exchange (IFYE) Representative opportunities are offered to 4-H alumni who are 19-25 in a variety of countries with stays of 6 weeks to 6 months. These programs are arranged with 4-H partner organizations and are individualized to meet personal interests and/or goals. Exchanges are possible on most of the continents. The majority include the summer months.
Not ready to travel abroad? Then hosting delegates from one of these programs is a good way to get a cultural experience for the whole family for 2-4 weeks next summer. Apply anytime, but there will be more choices open to those applying by February 15, 2013. If you’d like to host a 4-H aged youth from Norway applications should be in by this date. Japanese youth 12-16 are placed in March and April through local coordinators; contact Rose Scott at rose@threeriversinc.org if you’d like to have a Japanese group in your area.
The universal applications and descriptions of these programs are located on the Kansas 4-H web site, www.Kansas4-H.org. Follow links to programs, World Citizenship and Kansas Exchanges Information and Forms, or simply click here. New program flyers and the 2013 Outbound Applications will be available around September 1. The application date is November 3, 2012 with the state interviews and first orientation on November 30 and December 1 in Manhattan. Contact Mary Kay Munson, 785-238-3631 or at munson@ksbroadband.net for further information. Munson
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