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Impact Report

For plan Youth Development (McKinley County)
Date October 18, 2010, 9:43 pm
For Objective Medium-term Show medium-term objectives
Impact Report Situation McKinley has 115 traditional 4-H members and 10 Cloverbud members for a total of 125 enrolled in community clubs. Of the 125 traditional members, 13 were 1st year members, 34 were 2-3 year members, and 68 were members for over 4 years. These number represents a 5% overall increase over last year. The county has 12 community clubs for members to join and be a part of. 88% of the members developed skills relating to the projects they were enrolled in as is evident through their project completion, which includes, but not limited to, livestock shows, shooting contest, horse shows, indoor project competition and record book completion. 75% of the members displayed leadership traits through local club work by serving as officers, committee members, pledge leaders, etc. The Agent spent a substantial amount of time in assisting members, parents and volunteer leaders with the various livestock projects. These projects are designed to directly impact youth and increase their life skills. Members complete their projects at the Crownpoint – Eastern Agency Fair, Bi-County Fair, Ramah – Navajo Fair, Navajo Nation Fair, New Mexico State Fair, and the Northern Agency – Shiprock Fair. In 2010 the Bi-County Fair Junior Livestock Auction raised over $84,000 in sale receipts and “add-on’s” to 4-H members that made the sale. This past year in the county we had 11 market steers, 41 market sheep, 28 market swine, 5 market goats, 34 breeding animals (including sheep, and goats), 60 poultry entries, and 20 rabbit entries. Activities include: • Feeds & Feeding Workshop- The agent coordinated a program in March for members, leaders and parents about feeding and care of a market animals – this was presented by Purina Mills sales representatives. Through this education, members developed skills in all aspects of raising and showing animals as well as life skills, which include responsibility and dedication - 20 members and parents attended the workshop. • Home Visits - The agent set aside time to visit each member and check their projects as they progressed, this included weighing their animals and discussing the feeding and exercising practices. The agent evaluated the animals and suggestions were given to help make the project a success. Home visits are a great way for the agent to interact with members and parents on a one on one basis in a setting they felt comfortable in and able to ask many questions relating to their livestock projects. • Bi-County Fair - this is a joint fair conducted for youth in both Cibola and McKinley Counties. The Fair runs five days and members exhibit their animals as well as indoor entries for the entire length of the fair. The fair celebrated is 41st year this past September. Over 85 members (from both counties) exhibited 4-H animal projects (200 large animals entries) - 58 entries qualify for the Junior Livestock sale that brought in over $84,000 dollars. The agent assisted many members while at the fair and assisted with shows and performed many odd jobs during the week. 252 indoor 4-H projects were exhibited by members at the county fair. This is consistent with last year and indicates members are completing their projects and learning life skills. • 4-H Shooting Sports McKinley County has a growing shooting sports program. Disciplines include shotgun, .22 rifle, .22 pistol, and air rifle, compound archery and recurve archery. Our shooting sports program begins in late November with an organizational meeting presented by the agent and volunteer leaders. The agent is responsible for finding leaders in each discipline and working with the Gallup Shooters and the Archery Club to schedule practices at the only range in the county. Every member is required to receive safety training and the agent always recruits leaders that emphasize safety above everything else. Bi-weekly practices are held as the weather allows – the archery youth are allowed to practice at the indoor archery range. 15 members participated in practices throughout the year and members participated in county contests as well as district for the novice and junior members and state for the senior members. This was our first year as a combined group – members from all clubs participated as one shooting sports group instead of in their individual clubs. 4-H Rocketry Project This year a 4-H group did nothing but rockets. 45 youth built and decorated their rockets. The agents and leaders educated them on various safety guidelines for the rockets and they also learned to work together and help the younger members. We are waiting to set a launch date for these rockets. State Events This year four members and one agent participated in Senior Leadership Retreat in Albuquerque. Members learned many valuable leadership skills that they brought back to the county program. The also got a chance to meet and socialize with other 4-H members throughout the state. Three members and a leader participated in Youth Get-Away at Camp Inlow this year. All the members had a great time and learned communication and team building skills. The also got a chance to get to know other members throughout the state. Nine members and four parents attended and participated in the Northwest/Northeast District 4-H Contest. These youth were able to compete in various contests over the two-day period. Three members and one leader got a chance to participate in State 4-H Conference. These members judged at the state level and got to be a part of the State 4-H Council and electing a new leadership team. Expanded 4-H The agent is responsible for delivering the YCC Master Gardener Program to the member of the youth conservation core run by the city of Gallup. This is a program that teaches the basics of plant growth including soil, seeds, plant pathology, plant nutrient needs, and insects, as well as, water resources and conservation and riparian management. This year every student had the opportunity to make a rain barrel for rainwater catchment. Over 25 youth were directly taught by specialists and agents from the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service. A Germ Detective workshop was conducted for all 4th and 5th graders in the McKinley County School district at the annual Water Festival. 350 youth learned the proper way to wash their hands. This workshop showed them how some germs remain when you wash your hands to quick or without soap. Leader Trainings The agent is responsible for training leaders and parents so that they can assist the members with their projects. At the advisory committee meeting it was recommended that workshops related the leather craft project and braiding project be conducted for leaders and parents. Unfortunately, no one attended the leather craft workshop – flyers were mailed to all parents and leaders. The braiding workshop was successful with about 10 parents and leaders attending. An advanced braiding workshop will be conducted later in the fall.