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Impact Report

For plan Youth Leadership Development (Valencia County)
Date October 27, 2009, 6:49 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report In Valencia County there are many opportunities for youth to show off their leadership skills. The 4-H youth in Valencia County are very active in their club and county leadership roles and have done an outstanding job over the past year representing the county. The following is a list of activities that allow for leadership development of 4-H’ers in Valencia County participated in. County Officer Trainings Council Officer Training: County Council Officers participated in an Officer Training and Team Building workshop presented by the 4-H Agent. All seven of the Council Officers attending this training learned about their roles, responsibilities and expectations as Council Officers. They also learned information on running a proper business meeting, and what the meetings should include. This training was used as an introduction into the office they will be serving and as a planning session for the Officer workshops they presented at the County-wide Club Officer Training. Team building activities were used to construct trust and friendships between the team members. These activities were done with just the Officer team and then similar activities were conducted with the Officers and diplomats together as the Valencia County Leadership Team. Officers participating in this training expressed their experience was positive and that they learned how to be better effective leaders and Officers. Club Officer Training: County Council Officers presented a Club Officer training to county 4-H’ers who serve (or would like to serve) as Officers in their club. Each Council Officer prepared and presented a workshop on the office they serve. Each Officer did their Officer specific workshop three times to give everyone present the chance to learn about the offices they were interested in. Club members present gained the knowledge and leadership skills necessary to conduct their club meetings. Ten of the 12 clubs in the county were represented at the training. 4-H’ers participating in the training felt they learned how to be better leaders in their clubs as well as how to run proper business meetings. County Diplomats: County Diplomat Training: County Diplomats participated in a Leadership Team Training and Team Building workshop with the County Council Officers presented by the 4-H Agent and Home Economist. Seven of the eight Diplomats attended this training where they participated in team building activities as a group and with the officers. These activities were used to facilitate friendships and reliance among team members. While at this training, Diplomats learned more about their roles, responsibilities and expectations while serving the county, as well as worked on the development of their team community service project. This was the first time the Diplomats in this county had gone through any formal training and they all expressed how much they enjoyed learning about how they can serve the county through leadership and citizenship projects. Legislative Leadership: Seven of the eight Diplomats traveled to Santa Fe, NM to participate in Ag Day activities at the Legislature. The Diplomats spent the day meeting State Senators and Representatives and discussing the importance of 4-H to the youth in Valencia County. They also spent the day learning about Legislative processes and the leadership behind our laws. The Diplomats all expressed how much they learned about being a good leader in your community as well as enjoying the overall experience of representing the 4-H program. At the Annual Ag Fest, the Diplomats represented the State 4-H booth to Senators, Representatives and Industry Leaders. New Mexico 4-H: The County Diplomats helped 4-H staff administer the monthly New Mexico 4-H workshops. The Diplomats helped teach new 4-H’ers about the 4-H program while working through the New Mexico 4-H workbook. The youth who participated in these workshops expressed their enjoyment of being able to work with and learn from experienced 4-H youth. The Diplomats enjoyed working with the new 4-H’ers and expressed how much teaching others about 4-H enhanced their leadership skills as well as their knowledge of the overall program. County 4-H Council: The 4-H Agent acts as an advisor to the county Council. The Agent assists the county Council Officers in preparing meeting agendas and business to be conducted as well as minutes from the meetings and treasurers reports. By working hand in hand with the youth, the youth gain leadership and business skills they will use later in life. Junior Livestock Board (JLB): This year I tried to revive the Junior Livestock Board in Valencia County. The purpose of this group is to give older, more experienced 4-H’ers the opportunity to teach new and younger 4-H’ers about the 4-H Livestock projects and aid them as they prepare for shows and fairs. This year, we had three applications from youth wishing to participate on the board. This, however, was not quite the turn out I had expected for this program. The youth who did apply, helped with livestock tag days and with livestock at our County Expo. Because of the low number of applications, myself, along with the three applicants, worked on recruiting 4-H’ers to participate next year. A group of potential 4-H’ers were gathered and helped other youth get their animals ready for shows at the Expo. This hands-on experience gave potential 4-H JLB members an idea of what will be expected from them while serving on the Junior Livestock Board. State Camps and Workshops: Senior Leadership Retreat: Nine Senior 4-H’ers participated in this year’s Senior Leadership Retreat. The State 4-H Diplomats and Officers administered hands-on workshops and activities designed to increase life skills related to teamwork, character building, community service, goal setting, leadership and self-discipline. All nine 4-H’ers who attended this event expressed their increased awareness of their own personal leadership skills as well as the importance of working with others. Because of this event, three of the nine 4-H’ers who attended have expressed interest in taking on a State 4-H leadership role. Youth-Get-Away: Five Junior 4-H’ers from Valencia County participated in this year’s Youth Get Away camp in April. The State 4-H Officers administered the hands-on workshops and activities designed to increase life skills related to teamwork, cooperation, character building, leadership and goal setting.