Blair County 4-H Volunteers Pave Way To Program’s Success ALTOONA (Blair Co.) Today more than ever, youths have many questions about their future. Changing lifestyles, in creased mobility, technology ad vances, communication, all have great effects on their expecta tions. It is these factors that make the 4-H program so effec tive and necessary today. Volunteerism is the integral to the American way of life, and the National 4-H Council Announces National Volunteer Recognition Effort CHEVY CHASE, Md. The Salute to Excellence Fund has been established to recognize the contributions and achievements of outstanding 4-H volunteer leaders. On an annual basis, states and territories will nominate merito rious candidates for selection of two National 4-H Volunteers of the Year. The Salute to Excellence Vol unteers of the Year will each re ceive a monetary award of up to $lO,OOO and round-trip travel for each of them and a guest to Washington, D.C. for the recog nition ceremony. This program has been initiated through the vi sion and generosity of Gene and Sharon Swackhamer, of Sparks, Maryland. Gene Swackhamer is a former national 4-H council board of trustees’ member and board treasurer. Lynn D.W. Luckow, national Adams County 4-H’ers Attend Science Retreat GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.) Adams County 4-H members participated in the Regional Super Science Pre-Teen 4-H Re treat held at Refreshing Moun tain Camp, near Denver, Lancas ter County. The program focused on helping 4-H youth become better acquainted with 4-H youth throughout the area and intro duce them to a variety of life skills through science and new 4-H projects. The program began Friday evening and concluded Sunday morning. Eight workshops were offered: 1) “What Buzzin;” 2) “Soils Alive;” 3) “Rocket Cars;” 4) “Duck and Cover;” 5) “Pop up Cards;” 6) “Electric Excite ment;” 7) “Elegant Earth worms;” and 8) “Food Funda mentals.” 4-H Youth Program Makes Major Contribution To Nation STROUDSBURG (Monroe Co.) 4-H, one of America’s largest informal educational pro grams for boys and girls, ages eight to 18, makes a major con tribution to our nation by helping youth acquire knowledge and de velop life skills that help them become self-directing, productive and contributing members of our society. Monroe County 4-H chal lenges you to take a look at us now and you’ll see more than young people talking about the future you’ll see them becom ing the future. 4-H members find that learning can be fun. 4-H projects range from sewing, foods and nutrition, rocketry, key to the success of the 4-H pro gram. I voluntarily came involv ed in the 4-H program as a youngster and received much guidance from the volunteer leaders in the clubs in which I participated. As I look around, many of the volunteers in Blair County all grew up in 4-H, or knew of it as youth, and are now volunteering to help mold the youth in our county. 4-H council board of trustees’ chair said, “It is the selfless dedi cation of volunteer leaders that makes a difference in the lives of young people as they develop im portant life skills. I’m thrilled to know that citizens are stepping forward with donations to ensure that 4-H will be able to encour age other adults to become vol unteer leaders by recognizing outstanding volunteer perform ance.” “The goal of Salute to Excel lence is to recognize two out standing volunteer leaders each year beginning in 2002, 4-H’s Centennial year. Volunteers play a vital role in 4-H. Last year, 494,260 adult volunteer leaders donated their time and energy to the 4-H youth development pro gram,” said Don Floyd, national 4-H council president and CEO. One award will be conferred for Adams County 4-H members participating were: Jessi Nolan, Fairfield; Sarah and Jessica Gray, Biglerville; Lee Wilkinson and Sara Myers, Aspers; Amy Becker and Shaun Scott, Gard ners; Kyle Tuckey, Dwight Byers, Amanda and Amber Coinbert, Biglerville; and Cody Riley, Gettysburg. Amber Grimm and Josh Buckley, Abbottstown served as teen counselors for the over 100 youth from eight counties who participated. Cindy Riley, volun teer 4-H leader from Gettysburg and Darlene Resh, Extension Agent 4-H, served as chaperones. Darlene Resh presented a work shop for the preteens on earth quakes. theatre arts and almost every thing in between. In addition to working on a 4-H project in their club setting, members give uun onstrations, attend camp, partici pate in county and state events just for 4-H’ers and have fun with the new friends they’ve made. Monroe County 4-H invites in terested adults to work with our young people in the 4-H pro gram. We need adults to teach members about caring for ani mals, growing plants, and caring for the environment, as well as other topics. If you are interested in helping children get involved in today’s issues, develop job skills, meet other kids, and just These volunteers are the back bone of a program that delivers practical educational experiences to Blair County Youth, as well as youth all across the nation. The time, travel, energy and support that the Blair County volunteers contribute is valued highly by all those involved in the 4-H pro gram. These volunteer leaders help shape 4-H youth into tomorrow’s lifetime achievement and the other for outstanding perform ance by a volunteer with less than 10 years of experience. Floyd further said, “It is the dream of many associated with 4-H that these awards will be come the ‘Oscars of 4-H’ cele brating the very best of volunteer leader success.” As the Salute to Excellence Fund reached the funding mid point this week. National 4-H Council honored 97 donors from 22 states and Puerto Rico, whose contributions to the fund total $150,000. In appreciation of the hard work of the many volun teers and staff who made the program a reality, the board of trustees of national 4-H council authorized an $ll,OOO gift to the fund, matching a contribution by a donor earlier this year. National 4-H Council works to advance the 4-H youth develop ment movement to build a world in which youth and adults leam, grow, and work together as cat alysts for positive change. Na tional 4-H Council partners with the Cooperative Extension Sys tem, communities, and other or ganizations to provide technical support and training, develop curricula, create model pro grams, and promote positive youth development to fulfill its mission. The National 4-H Conference Center, a full-service conference facility, and the National Supply Service, the USDA nationally au thorized agent for the interstate sales of paraphernalia bearing the 4-H name and emblem, are also under the management of National 4-H Council. The 4-H name and emblem is protected under 18 U.S.C. 707. National 4-H Council is a nonprofit SOl(cX3) organization. For further information on Sa lute to Excellence or 4-H pro grams, please click on www.fourhcouncil.edu. have fun we’U be happy to hear from you. To provide a safe environment for jouth involved in extension activities, Penn State Coopera tive Extension has implemented a process for screening individu als who desire to work with youth. This screening process is a prerequisite for becoming a 4-H volunteer leader. For more information on the Monroe County 4-H program, or to become a 4- leader, contact Sherri Abbruzzi, 4-H program coordinator at Penn State Coop erative Extension in Monroe County, 4499 Route 611, Stroudsburg 18360, (570) 421-6430, or e-mail at sla4@psu.edu. leaders. These volunteers not only give leadership to 4-H expe riences; they keep the program relevant to the local community needs and interests. Today, more than 50 4-H adult volunteers in Blair County work with approxi mately 300 members from 8- to 19-years-old. These volunteers share their skills and experiences by assisting young people with a variety of 4-H projects and activ ities. Volunteers do not have to be experts in specialized subject matter areas. They can rely on the Cooperative Extension Serv ice at Penn State University, to provide them with training, edu cational materials and resources to use in the 4-H program. The land grant system makes 4-H uniquely qualified to meet both the constant changing needs of both the youth and adults. Many people question why they should become a volunteer, being a volunteer in the 4-H pro gram gives you many rewards. This opportunity allows you to help youth become better citi zens, helps you learn about your self as well as youth, and gives you the opportunity to broaden your circle of friends, and ac quaintances. Lancaster County 4-H horse club champions, from left, Alisha Liles, Reid Fellenbaum, and Sarah Bechtel. Lancaster County Names 4-H Horse Winners LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Thirty-four 4-H horse club members were recognized for their outstanding horsemanship skills. The 4-H youth have worked hard all year trying to “make the best better” with their 4-H horse projects. Those horse club members fortunate enough to own horses are responsible for the daily care, management, and record keeping of their project animals as well as providing leadership and community serv ice within their club. Sarah Bechtel was named the junior high point award winner. At the county horse show, Sarah placed first in pleasure pairs, sec ond in English grooming and showmanship junior, second in hunter seat equitation junior and third in hunter hack horses. At the district show, she won first in English grooming and showman ship, junior and first in pleasure horse pairs. Senior high point winner was Alisha Liles. At the county show, Alisha placed first in pole bend ing horses, first in clover leaf bar- Many times leaders do not re alize exactly what they are to a child. In doing some research, I came up with the definition of leader: • A leader is a person who guides or directs. • A glutton for punishment, a person who offers themselves willingly for services without pay. • A friend, a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. • A teacher, a person who in structs. • A protector or guardian. • An adviser/counselor, one who gives advice. • A role-model, and example for imitation. • A public passenger vehicle, used to transport many individu als from place to place. • A person who answers any questions asked. As you can see, a volunteer leader is many different things all at once, and all these are very important to the youth in Blair County, as well as youth across the nation. Anyone who is interested in becoming an important part in the life of some Blair County youths, call (814) 940-5989. rel race horses, first in raised box keyhole horses, third in western grooming and showmanship sen ior, and third in western riding. She then won first in pole bend ing horses and clover leaf barrel race horses at the district show. Alisha also placed fifth in the clover leaf barrel horses at the state horse show. Reid Fellenbaum was named Horseless Member of the Year. Reid submitted an essay explain ing his participation and leader ship in the 4-H horse program. Other winners included Julie Anspach, Shelly Fairchild, Ash ley Hammer, Stacy Landis, Al isha Liles, Heather McCormack, Keith Miller, Sara Shimko, Megan Showers, Callihan Schil laci, Lindsev Shreiner, and Mol lie Shreiner received bridle bags for placing at the state horse show. Kim Weidman who also received a bridle bag, won the first place horsemanship award in the junior division at the State 4-H Trail Ride.
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