4-H NEWS

Georgia 4-Her Wins 4husa.org iPod Promotion

(Leesburg, GA) Georgia 4-Her Chris Uppole of Leesburg, GA, was chosen Monday as the random winner of a shiny new metallic green iPod Mini as part of a 4HUSA.ORG promotion for registered users of the new Web site for, by and about 4-H's seven million youth. Chris received his iPod on Tuesday just in time for the holidays.

"This is great! I am shocked! Thank you so much!" Chris responded when told he was randomly chosen. Chris is a senior at Lee County High School and a member of the LCHS Varsity Swimming team. He is also very involved with 4-H and is currently serving on the 4-H Southwest District Senior Board of Directors.

4HUSA.ORG's interactive features are expanding regularly. The latest additions are creating your very own 4husa.org e-mail alias and personal blogs. Check out 4HUSA.ORG and register now so you can be part of the 4-H community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.

Look for details for a new promotion at 4HUSA.ORG just after the New Year!


Georgia 4-Her Chris Uppole shows off his new metallic green iPod Mini.
Return to top

4-H Holiday E-Card Launches at 4HUSA.ORG

The 4HUSA Web Crew launched the first 4-H e-card on 4HUSA.ORG this week, the result of an online collaboration of Web Crew members in five states. Jess Falkenthal of Ohio, Byron Hulcher of Maryland, Nicole Bratten of Georgia, Hayley Trahan-Liptak of Massachusetts and Emily Pumpkin Cox of Indiana brought their individual talents to the table to create the e-card that sends holiday greetings from the 4-H community of youth across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Click the picture below to see the e-card or click here

4HUSA.ORG - a Web site for, by and about youth is an interactive online community for 4-H's seven million young people. Registered users of 4HUSA.ORG can get their own e-mail aliases, participate in message boards, create their own blogs and upload 4-H related photos to the photo gallery. More interactive features are coming soon. Become a registered user at www.4husa.org.


Click the picture above to see the e-card or go to: http://4husa.org/cms/holidaycard/index.html.
Return to top

Wheat is Sweet: The Clever Kids 4-H Club Decorates a Tree

(Indianola, NE) A few clever kids in Nebraska found their way to the nation's capital without ever leaving the borders of their state.

The Clever Kids 4-H Club in Indianola, NE, sponsored the Nebraska state tree in the 2004 Christmas Pageant of Peace on the White House Ellipse in Washington, DC. Each sponsoring organization is sent 50 clear ornaments to fill with decorations of their choice.

Eager to share a genuine piece of Nebraska with the thousands of holiday visitors to the Pageant of Peace, The Clever Kids 4-H Club filled the ornaments with stalks of wheat significant of the agricultural roots of their Great Plains state.

The Nebraska state tree is part of the pageant's Pathway of Peace, which leads to the larger national Christmas Tree. Fifty-six smaller trees representing all 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia line both sides of the pathway.

In return for their efforts, the Clever Kids 4-H Club received a picture of their decorated tree and a program from the National Tree Lighting Ceremony.




The Nebraska Clever Kids 4-H Club decorated the Nebraska state tree displayed on the White House Ellipse with the national Christmas tree.
Return to top

4-H'ers Spread Christmas Spirit by Delivering Christmas Food Baskets

(Okemah, OK) Fifteen Okfuskee County 4-H'ers and their parents, community volunteers and Okfuskee County Oklahoma State University Extension personnel created and delivered 56 Christmas food baskets on Dec. 4 to deserving families across the county.

4-Hers and other community volunteers have been delivering Christmas food baskets across the county as a community service project for more than 10 years. Assistance and donations from individuals and organizations such as the Okfuskee County 4-H Program, Ministerial Alliance, First Christian Church Outreach Committee, Okfuskee County Home & Community Education Affiliate, Okfuskee County DHS, Okfuskee County FCCLA organizations and the Salvation Army make this project possible.


Members of Okfuskee County 4-H clubs gather food items to deliver Christmas food baskets across the county. From left to right are Mark Miller, Meghan Been, Cody Haddox, Dylan Been, Patti Miller, Mitch Miller and Elizabeth Been.
Return to top

Penn State University's Collegiate 4-H Club Sends Cheer to Troops
Featured in The Daily Collegian, Written by Holly Rosene

The Penn State University Collegiate 4-H Club shipped close to 50 boxes of supplies to troops overseas. The boxes included food, books, candy and toiletries. Many of the club members had friends and family overseas, making this project hit home.

The club's faculty advisor, Jacklyn Bruce, has a personal interest in sending boxes to troops overseas.

"Last year when we did this, I didn't have friends overseas, but this year I have some college friends stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan," Bruce said.

Click here to view the full story.
Return to top

Afternoon Party: Utah State University Students and 4-H Extension Specialists Put on Show for Families of Troops
By Arrin Newton Brunson, Salt Lake Tribune

(Logan, UT) Members of the Logan community gathered to show support for their military families. The 4-H community played a big role in creating Hero Bags, backpacks filled with toys and treats.

Deb Jones, Utah State University's 4-H extension specialist, said a camera and photo album were included in each Hero Bag so the deployed parents can watch their children grow and to help the families maintain communication with each other. Each item in the bag was put there to show the family members that they are truly cared about.

Cache County 4-H agent Cheryl Empey said letters from students throughout the state of Utah also were placed in the bags with messages of kindness and concern. Hero Bags will be delivered to National Guard families at Hill Air Force Base and Dugway Proving Ground in the future, she said.

Click here to read the full story.
Return to top

Youth in Governance/Literacy Education Grants Available

National 4-H Council is accepting applications for the National 4-H Youth in Governance/Literacy Education Grant Program, which provides community action grants from $500 to $2,000 to stimulate literacy education nationwide.

Grants will be awarded to 4 H/Extension groups to promote new and creative youth-led literacy education programs or support ongoing literacy programs. Proposals will address the program goals and outcomes listed in the application form and will include a community-based collaborative effort. By involving partners beyond the group submitting the request, community engagement and impact will be broadened. Proposals will provide a detailed budget showing 100 percent matching funds to the grant award they receive from National 4-H Council.

The National Institute of Childhood Health and Development reported in 2000 that almost 10 million children in the United States have significant trouble learning to read. Between 10 percent and 15 percent of these 10 million will drop out of high school, and only two percent will complete a four-year college program. In addition, many Americans reach adulthood with low-level reading skills, affecting their performance of basic tasks such as applying for a driver's license, filling out a job application, or reading directions for operating equipment.

The National 4-H Youth in Governance/Literacy Education Grant Program enables youth and adults to partner in addressing literacy issues critical to their lives, families and communities. The Bridgestone/Firestone Trust Fund and the Firestone Agricultural Tire Company, in partnership with National 4-H Council, make a direct impact at the grassroots level, where youth affect change. Youth identify needs within their communities and design solutions that utilize community resources. They create program models, which may be replicated by other community groups in addressing literacy education needs.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. EST Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, and program implementation should be completed by Oct. 7, 2005.

Youth must take the lead in decision-making, design and implementation of the proposed program and a youth older than 14 but young than 21 must serve as one of two primary contacts for the grant application.

For full information, including the application, click here or contact Wawa Ngenge (301-961-2858).
Return to top

Youth and Adult Judges Needed for Literacy Education Proposals

National 4-H Council seeks volunteer judges for the National 4-H Youth In Governance/Literacy Education Grant funded by Bridgestone/Firestone Trust Fund and Firestone Agricultural Tire Company.

Participating in a national 4-H program judging is a great leadership experience and a great way to educate yourself about the proposal writing and evaluation process besides giving you an opportunity to work with others across the country.

Judges will operate as youth-adult teams with one youth and two adults each. Interested youth must between less than 21 years and at least 14 years old, have strong reading and writing skills and previous experience working with 4-H adult volunteers. Experience or interest in the literacy education subject matter is helpful but not necessary.

Judging will be done between Feb. 6-25, 2005. Each team will evaluate proposals using a scorecard that will be provided. The scores are submitted to National 4-H Council and tallied. The review process will end with a conference call (if necessary) among all judging team members and a National 4-H Council facilitator to discuss the grant proposals to determine which are funded. The estimated time commitment depends on the number of proposals submitted, but typically a judge can expect to commit one-half to one full day (eight hours) for reviewing and up to two hours for the conference call.

To apply, send your contact information (name, youth or adult status, professional title and employer, address, phone and fax number, e-mail address and year in school, major and school attending (if a youth). Also needed are the following: 1) information about applicable volunteer position(s) and/or participation in community-professional organizations; 2) how you heard about this opportunity and why you are interested; and 3) a brief statement of no more than 100 words about what in your background would make you a valuable member of the Selection Committee. Please email this information to Wawa Ngenge.

Applications will be accepted until positions are filled or by Dec. 28, 2004, whichever comes first. If a group that you are active with is applying, you will not be able to participate as a judge.

For more information about judging or about the Literacy Education grant program, please contact Wawa Ngenge (301-961-2858). You also can download a more detailed application form: Click here, then choose Related Links at the bottom of the page.
Return to top

Home Baking Association Extends National 4-H Congress Local Link

National 4-H Congress further prepared 300 youth leaders to put their hands to work locally through four sessions of Bakers Lend a Humane Hand.

The 4-Hers learned how to prepare products like dog treats (Animal Shelters), housewarming baskets (Habitat Housewarmings), snowman soup cocoa mix (Emergency Shelters), wholegrain pancake mix, granola (Health Fairs) and soft pretzels and snowflakes (Heartfelt Thanks) for people and pets. The products were distributed to the Atlanta Animal Shelter and Cobb County, GA, new Habitat for Humanity homeowners and as thanks to adult and youth at Congress.

The session resource guide is available at the Home Baking Association website.
Return to top

4-H Wildlife Stewards Habitat Education Site Tool Kit DVD Now Available!

The Oregon 4-H Wildlife Stewards Habitat Education Site Tool Kit DVD is now available! This training DVD is designed to help teachers and 4-H leaders working with youth to create wildlife habitat sites on school grounds. The DVD includes more than 90 minutes of video and several instructional chapters including: 4-H Wildlife Stewards Program Overview, Creating and Using Your Habitat Education Site and Sustaining and Managing Your Project.

4-H Wildlife Stewards is a new and exciting program that is quickly growing in Oregon. 4-H Wildlife Stewards are trained volunteers working with students and teachers to create, use and sustain wildlife habitats on school grounds for science learning. The program began in Oregon in 1997 and now serves more than 12,000 students in 49 4-H Wildlife Stewards member schools. The 4-H Wildlife Stewards Volunteer Handbook, Trainers Guide and Project Sustainability Handbook will be available soon.

If you would like more information about how to order this DVD or receive additional information about our program contact the 4-H Wildlife Stewards office at wildlifestewards@oregonstate.edu or visit our website to learn more about our program.
Return to top

This Holiday Season, if You Catch a Buzz, Catch a Ride

Check out the latest links from the National Highway Traffic Safey Administration:

- Since 1981, every President of the United States has proclaimed December as National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month. NHTSA's 3D Month Holiday Planning Guide is now available through NHTSA's website. To access the guide, click here.

- Materials from the National Media Forum on Highway Safety are now posted online at NHTSA's website. The plan contains a section on impaired driving and an Impaired Driving Calendar for 2005. Click here for more information.
Return to top