4-H News:

4-H Teens Are Hot Shot Entrepreneurs

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.—Nectarine salsa sounds like an exotic recipe from a hip New York restaurant, yet this concoction of sweet fruits and spicy peppers is the brainchild of youth who produced it through their 4-H Afterschool program.

In the Green Teen Community Gardening Program, at-risk youth ages 14-19 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., develop a unique product while learning gardening, nutrition, business and leadership skills. The hands-on program gives teens the knowledge to develop local food sources and teach their urban neighborhood—which doesn’t have a supermarket that sells fresh produce—about healthy eating habits.

Hot Shot Nectarine Salsa is the group’s most recent success. The teens were involved in every step making the low-sodium, all-natural salsa. First, they researched the food business climate and worked with a Culinary Institute of America chef to create their recipe. After testing it at the local farmers market, a business specializing in food products helped them learn regulations and design the salsa’s packaging.

The teens grew the fresh fruits and vegetables with seeds they cultivated to thrive in the native climate and limited space at the downtown center. Then they prepared, processed, cooked and bottled 1300 jars of salsa. When the teens marketed it at the farmers market and retailers, it was an immediate success, selling more than 80 percent of the stock in the first month.

The 4-H Afterschool program helps teens realize they are capable of creating a product from scratch and seeing it through to success. “I’ve learned how to be more conscious about the things that I do and decisions that I make, and I’ve learned that hard work builds character,” said Paris Sims, 18. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is the national presenting sponsor of 4-H Afterschool.

Through the year, the teens also work with emotionally disturbed children in the gardens and sell produce at the farmers market. This fall, they’ll look at ways to solve the unusual business problem created by Hot Shot salsa—how to change a business plan when product demand exceeds supply.

Barbara Belotte, 19, may be able to help. “I have learned how to keep track of money and budget and the amount of time and patience that it takes to make a business work,” she said.

4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Learn more about the 4-H adventure at www.4husa.org.

Poughkeepsie, N.Y.—Through their 4-H Afterschool program, New York teens created, developed, bottled and sold a half-ton of nectarine salsa popular for its “unique taste and versatility.”
Return to top

Watch 4-Her Kelly Keiser in 2006 Miss America Pageant

LAS VEGAS—4-H alumna Kelly Keiser, a native of Gothenburg, Neb., will be walking down the Miss America aisle Saturday, January 21, 2006 as a contestant in the 85-year-old pageant. Kelly was crowned Miss Nebraska 2005.

Kelly holds her 4-H experience close as her platform is 4-H and youth and adult partnerships. As a senior business marketing major at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Kelly encourages youth and adults in all sizes of communities to become involved in the diverse 4-H programs that are available. Kelly volunteers at her state 4-H office where she works on marketing the youth development program.

Watch Kelly live at the 2006 Miss America Pageant on CMT. Click here for more information on the Miss America Pageant or click here to learn more about Kelly and the Miss Nebraska Pageant.

Washington, DC—Miss Nebraska Kelly Keiser, right, meets with Nancy Redd, Miss Virginia 2003 and National 4-H Council Board of Trustees member, and Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO, National 4-H Council, during National 4-H Council’s recent Board of Trustees meeting.
Return to top

National Call for Papers for "Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice"

The National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) is pleased to announce the creation of an exciting new multidisciplinary applied research and practice on-line journal, “Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice.” This journal focuses on the development of school-aged youth through the transition to adulthood (ages 6-22).

With funding support from the National 4-H Leadership Trust, this refereed journal will feature original research, best practices in youth development programming, innovative research and evaluation methods and strategies, and reviews of resources of interest to youth development researchers and practitioners.

The “Journal of Youth Development: Bridging Research and Practice” is currently accepting submissions of papers for publication consideration in any of the following categories:
• Feature Articles—2,000-5,000 word original research articles.
• Program Articles—1,500 word articles that highlight unique, successful or promising youth development programs or initiatives.
• Research and Evaluation Strategy Articles—1,000 word articles that describe innovative methodologies and strategies in the collection and analysis of quantitative or qualitative research and evaluation data.
• Resource Reviews—300 word critical reviews of resources and tools that would be helpful to youth development professionals.

Manuscripts are accepted at anytime. Deadline for consideration in the Fall issue is March 15th and Spring issue is September 15th. To download the complete submission guidelines click here.

For more information, please contact the editor, Patricia Dawson, at Patricia.dawson@oregonstate.edu.
Return to top

4-H Hurricane Relief: Share Your Efforts and Make an Impact!

Across the nation, the 4-H movement has come together like never before to provide relief and support to states which were devastated by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Countless dollars, hours and resources of all shapes and sizes have been contributed by 4-Hers, their parents, volunteers and staff. Not only have these efforts touched so many lives, but they are the untold story of how 4-H continues to live up to the four H’s of Head, Heart, Hand and Health!

Help us tell your story! An online survey is available on 4-HUSA.org to capture and catalog hurricane relief efforts 4-H members, volunteers and staff. Please click here to complete the survey and share your story of how you have participated in hurricane relief efforts. Any and all relief efforts can be included—whether you made a personal donation, worked with your 4-H club to collect items for those in need or participated in a special project of support. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey AND be sure to share this announcement with your colleagues and friends in 4-H!

Thank you in advance for your time and effort!
Return to top

Resources and Opportunities:

Be a Leader for Citizenship and Service-Learning

Join a national network of 100 district leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to high-quality citizenship education. Members of the network will continue efforts to strengthen and expand citizenship education and service-learning in their districts and promote civic engagement in their states and nationally. This initiative is sponsored by the Education Commission of the States' National Center for Learning and Citizenship, the National School Boards Association and the American Association of School Administrators.

Eligibility: District superintendents and school board members who exemplify the highest ideals of supporting and promoting civic engagement in their schools and communities.
Deadline: Applications must be received by January 30, 2006.
More information: Application form available at www.ecs.org/nclc.
Return to top