4-H News:

Join the 4-H Brand Network

The 4-H Brand Network will become the first of its kind where 4-H advocates in communities across America can work together to strengthen the 4-H brand.

Clover Corner News is proud to introduce the 4-H Brand Network – the first community of its kind where 4-H brand advocates (that’s you!) can come together to strengthen the 4-H image.

What is the 4-H Brand Network? It is an interactive community where 4-H enthusiasts – members, volunteers, staff and alumni – can join together to increase awareness of 4-H across America.

Over the next few months, Clover Corner News will become your primary source of information about the 4-H Brand Network including the premiere of the 4-H Brand Network intranet site – an interactive resource and forum where all those involved in 4-H can go to learn, share and apply ideas and resources that will enhance the 4-H brand in your community. The site will feature tools and interactive resources designed to make promoting 4-H easier than ever before!

If you are interested in continuing to receive updates about the 4-H Brand Network, visit 4HMediaResources.org to sign up for more information. If you have any questions, contact Laura Phillips Garner at lgarner@fourhcouncil.edu or 301-961-2973 or Allyson McMahan at amcmahan@fourhcouncil.edu or 301-961-2915.
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National 4-H Week Kit Adds More Resources

The National 4-H Week kit has added even more resources including these Web banners with rotating photography of 4-H members in action.

National 4-H Week—October 1-7, 2006—is fast approaching. Looking for items to promote National 4-H Week in your community? Look no further! 4HMediaResources.org is your place to download kit materials. And new this week – the National 4-H Week brochure, fact sheets about the 4-H movement (that you can also use year-round), interview talking points and materials for media personalities to help you promote National 4-H Week.

Check out the new National 4-H Week Web banners which come in four different sizes. The banners also are available as moving .gif files. Ask those in your community to upload the banners and link to your Web site to promote National 4-H Week (Tip: Link the Web banners directly to the “Find out more about 4-H…” page of your 4-H Web site.)

The complete kit contains logos, print materials, ads, media relations materials, tip sheets, activity ideas and more. Many of the materials are available in a version that you can easily save and open in Microsoft Word, customize with your community and contact information and print on color printers. All files are in .jpeg (graphics), Adobe .PDF and Microsoft Word. A link to help you download the Adobe Reader software is right on the site.

We hope you find these materials helpful and look forward to promoting National 4-H Week across the 4-H community. Once you have used the tools provided, please take a moment to fill out our survey so we can make National 4-H Week 2007 even better!

If you have any questions, please contact Allyson McMahan at amcmahan@fourhcouncil.edu or 301-961-2915.
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4-H Afterschool Helps Military Family Adjust

Ben Candelaria’s 4-H Afterschool program helped him to cope while his mother, Andrea, was on active duty in the Middle East.

When U.S. Navy Petty Officer Andrea Candelaria was called to active duty in the Middle East, she was forced to leave her 5-year-old son Benjamin with his grandmother, Teresa Bengard.

Bengard felt overwhelmed when her daughter was called to duty, having recently undergone a series of back surgeries and preparing for another. Fortunately, Ben’s Loomis, Calif., 4-H Afterschool program eased the burden.

“Because of the back surgery, I was unable to keep up with him all the time,” Bengard said. “It was a blessing keeping him in that program.”

At first Ben thought he was spending another normal weekend with Grandma and Grandpa, but after a couple weeks, he would ask for his mother to come home. “Ben would say, ‘I’m missing her too much, she needs to come home,’” Bengard said. “We had some very sad nights.”

The safe familiarity of the 4-H Afterschool program became even more important as Ben began to withdraw, lash out at others and stop listening in school. One-on-one talks with Ben and the routine of games and learning helped Ben work past his anger and open up. “I think it was important he was there,” Bengard said. “They had the consistency and people to give him what he needed. We could love him and help him, but having that available gave me time to heal so I could better take care of him.”

The financial assistance they received to keep Ben in the program—support the 4 HAfterschool program often works to provide to children from military families—was another blessing, Teresa said. JCPenney Afterschool Fund is the national presenting sponsor of 4-H Afterschool.

Candelaria, who returned to Loomis in May, said knowing her son would be participating in hands-on activities, not just “sitting around in day-care watching cartoons” was great comfort to her while she was away serving her country. Now that she’s back, mother and son are inseparable.

“We’re each other’s shadows,” Candelaria said. “Where I go, he goes. Obviously, that changed for a long period of time, and it was difficult for both of us. It’s hard for kidsto readjust. But now that I’m back, we’re getting back to normal.”

4-H Afterschool trains staff and develops quality after-school programs where young people learn leadership, citizenship and life skills. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is the national presenting sponsor of 4-H Afterschool. Click here to check out the video of Ben’s story.
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Students Explore Careers at 4-H Youth Leadership Event

Dr. Linda Williams-Willis, dean, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences at PVAMU is pictured with the Outstanding Youth Leadership Award winners, De'Marcus Warren of Bexar County and Artisha Douglas of Grimes County.

Dr. Linda Williams-Willis and Dr. George C. Wright present scholarship award to Lloyd Prince of Harris County.

Dr. Linda Williams-Willis and Dr. George C. Wright present scholarship award to Quamisha L. Williams of Grimes County.

By DeTorsha N. Brunson, PVAMU communications student and Gloria J. Mosby, program director-Communications, Cooperative Extension Program

PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS—More than 100 youth gathered on the Prairie View A&M University campus from June 13-15 to explore various careers during the Cooperative Extension Program’s 4-H Career Awareness and Youth Leadership Laboratory.

This event brought young people together to participate in various workshops on topics such as vegetable gardening, agricultural communications, leadership, entrepreneurship, meat science and teen health issues and to receive information about enrolling into college.

“Thousands of youth, some of whom are enrolled in 4-H and many who have not had the opportunity to participate in a traditional 4-H club have attended our Youth Lab over the years,” said Dr. Linda Williams-Willis, dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences and Cooperative Extension Program administrator. “This is one of the Cooperative Extension Program’s featured activities that exposes youth to college life and to careers in the food, agriculture, and human sciences.”

An awards luncheon was held on the last day of the event to recognize and award scholarships to several youth leaders for outstanding support and being actively involved in the 4-H program. Volunteer leaders were also recognized for outstanding service. Prairie View A&M President Dr. George C. Wright was the keynote speaker and informed the young people about the value of a college education. “No matter what you want to do, an education can help you achieve your goals,” said Wright. “You must make sure that grades become building blocks for the next grade and listen to your teachers and parents.”

The San Antonio Livestock Exposition (SALE) recognized two scholarship recipients with $10,000 awards. Quamisha L. Williams of Grimes County attended Anderson-Shiro Secondary School and was president of her class the last three years. She is interested in pursuing a major in nursing. Lloyd Prince of Harris County is a graduate of Barbara Jordan High School for Careers and runs the retail department at Rap-A-Lot Records. He has served in various 4-H leadership roles including president, vice president, parliamentarian, and ambassador and will major in agricultural business.

“I first attended Youth Lab when I was in the eighth grade,” said Prince. “I remember going to a session about becoming an entrepreneur and it impacted me to the point where I started my own business venture. I definitely think Youth Lab is a very worthwhile event for any high school student to attend.”

The Outstanding Volunteer Service award is given every year to individuals who have contributed outstanding support to the 4-H program. This year’s recipient was Warren Smith of Bexar County, who has been an active member of the 4-H Youth Advisory Board for the past five years and also manages and maintains the board’s financial records.

The Outstanding Youth Leadership Awards are given to two 4-H youth leaders who have been actively involved in 4-H projects and demonstrated service learning in their communities. The first recipient, Artisha Douglas of Grimes County has been involved with the 4-H program for eight years and has received several other awards, including the 2005-2006 I Dare You Award, and the 2002-03 junior 4-Her of the Year award. The second award was presented to De’Marcus Warren of Bexar County. De’Marcus has been involved with 4-H for the past three years and has served as both president and parliamentarian. He is involved in several service learning projects and is well known for tutoring classmates in mathematics.

Several individuals brought greetings to the Youth Lab awards luncheon participants including Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith, provost and senior vice-president for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Michael McFrazier, associate provost, Dr. George Cooper, deputy administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service in Washington, D.C., and Laura Phillips Garner, director, Marketing Communications with the National 4-H Council in Washington, D.C.

Interested persons can contact Gail Long at 936-857-2517, g-long@tamu.edu for more information about the Career Awareness and Youth Leadership Laboratory.
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Teens Embrace Technology Changes

By Kelly Joines, Port Townsend Leader Staff Writer

Some of the first to take blogging, iPods and cell phones into Jefferson County's media news realm haven't yet graduated from high school.

These students are known as the 4-H Network News crew. Their mission: gathering news with attitude for the youth-run 4-H Network News, recognized at the national 4-H level and by Washington State University as a trend-setter for web communication and marketing.

"We are a national model," said Pamela Roberts, Jefferson County 4-H coordinator. "We are showcasing what people can do in small communities and have an effect on a national level."

To read the full story, click here. (Port Townsend Leader Newspaper)

For more information on the 4-H Network News, click here or contact Jack Olmsted at 360-379-5610 x207 or j_olmsted@yahoo.com.
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Texas youths put leadership skills to practice at summer event

Leadership Lab participants pick out supplies at a mask-making workshop.

LAREDO, TEXAS—For 79 young people from South Texas participating in 4-H Leadership Lab, it was more than just fun in the sun at a summer camp. It was three action-packed days full of activities to help them learn how to become leaders in their school, 4-H club and community.

Leadership Lab is an annual event that provides opportunities for members of 4-H clubs to develop leadership skills that will help them grow in skill and confidence, enabling them to adapt to a variety of situations.

“4-H Masquerade Under the Stars” was the theme for the event held June 13-15 at Texas A&M International University in Laredo. The event was open to 4-H members, ages 12-19, who live in the 20 counties of District 12, located in deep South Texas. The event was sponsored by the 4-H and Youth Development Program of Texas Cooperative Extension.

A variety of career and leadership development topics were offered. Participants explored jobs with the U.S. Border Patrol, explored the campus by shooting photos in a scavenger hunt and explored the night skies with a digital telescope.

Social graces were re-enforced at a banquet and dance with a live band; artistic sides were expressed at a mask-making workshop; and skin care routines and make-overs were demonstrated to stress the importance of good grooming.

A workshop of how first impressions count was presented by Luis Saldaña, Southern Regional Program Director of 4-H and Youth Development for Texas Cooperative Extension.

Participants heard a motivational talk on chivalry and hit the dance floor for salsa lessons. They practiced teamwork by taking part in competitive games that racked up points for individual teams.

“Leadership Lab is a safe environment for young people to explore new ideas,” said Nora Gorhum, a longtime 4-H parent volunteer from Frio County, Texas. “Where else can boys try skin care products and girls learn about careers in law enforcement without feeling negative pressure from their peers. Instead they are encouraged by those around them.”

Chairman for the event was Nora N. Garza, County Extension Agent at Hidalgo County. “Leadership is a skill that improves with practice,” said Garza, who is based in Edinburg, Texas. “As we become more skilled, it becomes a habit. Over time, we focus less on the process and more on the outcomes we want to achieve.”

Working with the planning committee to make Leadership Lab an exciting and memorable learning experience was Cris Mussett, Extension Agent in Webb County for the Cooperative Extension Program, Prairie View A&M University. Cris drew on her wide circle of contacts in Laredo for securing programs and facilities for the event.

The District 12 4-H Council, comprised of youth representation, provided a major leadership role at the event. The nine members of the council gathered a day earlier to make final plans and review the agenda.

They also led morning exercises, introduced speakers, kept participants on track from one activity to another, and presented Vespers, a time for reflection, at the end of the evening. Their involvement began last August when they started planning the event at a council retreat at South Padre Island.

A business meeting on Thursday allowed the Council and other youths in attendance to practice the leadership and teamwork skills they had just learned by writing and voting on an amendment to the bylaws.
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Resources and Opportunities:

JCPenney Jams

The JCPenney Jam: A Concert for America's Kids will air nationally at 8 p.m. EDT August 22 on CBS. Hosted by Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw and featuring some of the biggest names in music today, this spectacular concert event will raise awareness about the importance of quality after-school programs for America's children and generate support so that more working families have access to these programs. The show will feature performances by Sting, Mary J. Blige, 3 Doors Down, Andrea Bocelli, Alejandro Sanz, Bon Jovi, Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney and more!

A special DVD/CD twin-pack featuring the entire concert and behind the scenes footage will be available August 23rd at all J.C. Penney stores and online at www.jcp.com and www.aol.com.
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Be a 2007 Lead Agency for National and Global Youth Service Day

Looking for a way to increase participation in your programs while connecting with the larger youth service movement? Youth Service America has the perfect opportunity for you to do so; apply to be a Lead Agency for National & Global Youth Service Day 2007! Lead Agencies are organizations across the United States that increase the scope, visibility, and sustainability of National & Global Youth Service Day by leading city, regional, or statewide service projects. Past Lead Agencies have been successful in garnering national media attention, developing new partnerships, and engaging elected and public officials in their service and service-learning projects.

Lead Agencies receive a $2,000 N & GYSD planning grant sponsored by State Farm Companies Foundation and direct assistance and support from Youth Service America to ensure a successful National & Global Youth Service Day.

To complete an application click here. The application deadline is August 31, 2006. If you have any questions about the Lead Agency program or the application please contact Cassandra Miller, N & GYSD Field Manager at cmiller@ysa.org.
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Celebrate National Neighborhood Day

Save the date—Sunday, September 17, 2006—for National Neighborhood Day.

National Neighborhood Day encourages neighbors to gather together in a block party, a service/improvement project or a simple day of fun. As neighbors refresh existing relationships and establish new ones, they build connections that inspire collaboration, individual leadership and civic participation throughout the year.

Visit www.neighborhoodday.org to find free, user-friendly tools to help you plan, organize and spread the word about your event including ideas for your gathering. Questions? Please contact Zoe Hunton or Nan Becker at National Neighborhood Day: info@neighborhoodday.org or 401.454.3183.
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