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Impact Report

For plan Youth Development (Sierra County)
Date October 21, 2008, 7:47 pm
For Objective Medium-term Show medium-term objectives
Impact Report Sierra County 4-H Council The Sierra County agent works with and advises the County 4-H Council that is made up of seven officers that actively plan and organize county wide events. The Council meets four times a year to discuss county 4-H business and make decisions for the county program. Officers are elected in January and hold office for the year. Council is in-charge of the Annual Awards Banquet which is held in January to recognize members and Leaders for their hard work. The youth also assist with other event such as Ag. Day, County Contest, County 4-H Camp, and the Turkey Shoot Fund Raiser. The agent acts as a resource for the council officers and works with volunteer leaders to coordinate activities throughout the year. - 4-H Camp - The Sierra County 4-H Council annually hosts a 4-H camp in the Gila National Forest at Burn Cabin Flats. Youth from all over the county participate in educational games and presentations by junior 4-H leaders, County 4-H officers, the agent, and project 4-H leaders. Forty one youth along with parents and presenters participated in 4-H camp this year. Youth gained knowledge in leadership by presenting workshops to the group and by leading the games and activities at the camp. Youth experienced a wildlife workshop, knot tying, archery, mapping, scavenger hunt, treasure hunt, using a compass as well as viewing a forest restoration project. Youth also experienced forest wildlife, plants, and an appreciation for the great outdoors. Twenty seven adult leaders and parents participated in and assisted with the camp. -Turkey Shoot Fund Raiser - The agent along with the Sierra County 4-H council held its annual Turkey shoot fundraiser at the Sierra county shooting range to raise money for 2008 4-H activities. Forty members, thirty two volunteer leaders, and the agent conducted the Turkey shoot were 4-Hers sold pie plates and shot the plates to win a turkey. On the day of the event shooters from all over the county competed in shooting matches at turkey silhouettes for turkeys. About two hundred shooters attended the event and one hundred and twenty turkeys were handed out. 4-H Shooting Sports This year at the request of the Sierra County Extension Advisory Council the agent coordinated with a local 4-H leader to organize and implement a county wide shooting sports club. The old county wide club in past years had depleted and many youth were showing interest in a new program. The first meeting was held in April of this year with 30 youth attending. Sierra County shooting sports showed a 95% increase of members in the new program and a 40% increase in the new 4-H enrollment in Shooting Sports. Practices were held bi-weekly during the months of April through June and monthly there after. Members learned gun safety, proper firing procedures, different disciplines, as well as competition, responsibility, and sportsmanship. 4-H Horse Program At the request of several volunteer leaders the agent implemented a new county wide 4-H horse program. Interested parties met for an organizational meeting in February to plan and make decisions of the structure of the new program. Over twenty adults and members participated in the meeting. The members planned to conduct educational trainings and practices during the year to better educate youth of Sierra County on Horses and Horsemanship. Nine meetings were held throughout the year and seven practice sections taught youth valuable riding skills and techniques. The horse club also assisted the agent by hosting the Southwest District Horseshow this year held in June. Twenty four youth are currently enrolled in the Horse Club. The 4-H horse project has increased by 60% in over-all enrollment and 11 out of 16 youth in the program winning first places at the Sierra County Fair Open Horse Show. Expanded 4-H In an effort to educate youth in Sierra county of the importance of their food supply the agricultural community along with leadership from the agent have banned together to create an annual Agricultural day for community youth. The impact that this program offers to Sierra County youth is the basic understanding of the different aspects of Sierra County agriculture such as wool production, honey production, the importance of insects and their control, farm production, cattle and dairy production, the grocery industry, as well nitch markets in Sierra County. This year over three hundred and fifty youth attended Ag. Day and gained knowledge of the over whelming ties that agriculture plays in society. Youth were presented a presentation on each agricultural entity and the role that the industry plays. Youth returned to their schools and discussed what they had learned. According to the teachers 93% of the youth understood that with out agriculture and farmland people would not be able to feed themselves. 55% of the youth also pointed out the different industries that were presented and how they are linked to one another. Several stated that they would like to have a career in agriculture. -4-H Contests- At the request of 4-H advisory committee the agent has continually hosted educational trainings and competition for County, District, and State 4-H competitions. Youth have participated in these trainings to better educate themselves on livestock evaluation, horticulture, insect identification, wool evaluation, crops identification, and rangeland plants. Over 40 youth have annual participated and gained knowledge in their respective areas. In the livestock competitions youth have continually increased their knowledge and skill with hands-on trainings that evaluate livestock animals for market and breeding traits that are desirable in the livestock industry. Youth have increased their knowledge as much as 50% according to score results at competitions and gained knowledge about livestock anatomy and physiology, breed characteristics, management, marketing, and public speaking through presentations. A senior age youth that continually participated in the program will usually obtain scholarships to college and universities and develop a mastery level of knowledge in their respective competitions These programs offer a valuable skill level that will assist these youth in a related agricultural career later in life and develops critical decision making skills that are essential for success.