Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Impact Report

For plan Youth Development (Los Alamos County)
Date October 29, 2010, 8:35 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report The 4-H agents dedicated time to maintaining and supporting 4-H club leaders and members. 4-H members and leaders had an opportunity to participate in a variety of county-wide 4-H activities during the year. Advertisement for activities was done via e-mail reminders to leaders. These activities included: Objective # 1 – Camps, Workshops, Clinics & Trainings: • Two 4-H members [1(W) 1(H); 2(F)] and two 4-H leaders [2(W); 2(F)] participated in Home Economics School. 100% of youth reported an increase in knowledge in sewing and baking skills as well as an improving life skills related to decision making, cooperation, teamwork and wise use of resources. Objective # 2 – Competitive Events • Six 4-H members [4(W) 2(A); 4(M) 2(F)] submitted end of year record books. Record books provide 4-H members with an avenue to report on the life skills they have mastered as well as demonstrate their level of belonging, generosity and independence throughout the 4-H program year. • Los Alamos County 4-H program hosted the 2010 Northeast District 4-H Horse Show on June 12, 2010. Nine 4-H members [5(W) 4(H); 9(M)] from four counties participated in eight classes. All contestants are eligible to participate in the State 4-H Horse Show. 4-H Agents secured the location, a judge and purchased ribbons and high point awards. Staff from the Los Alamos County Recreation Department assisted with the event by preparing the arena, providing show equipment, setting up classes and assisting with clean-up. Cost of conducting the show deducting participant entry fees was 1,672.44. Two [1(W) 1(H); 2(F)] Los Alamos County 4-H’ers assisted with the presentation of ribbons and awards. • Two 4-H members [2(H); 1(M) 1(F)] participated in the Northern District 4-H Contests held June 29-30 in Albuquerque. 4-H’ers participated in the Favorite Food Show and the Home Economics Skill-a-thon contests. The 4-H home economist served as superintendent of the Public Speaking Contest and the 4-H Agent was superintendent of the Entomology Contest. • State 4-H Conference and Contests – Three 4-H members and one 4-H leader [4(W); 2(M) 2(F)] attended and participated in the week long program July 12-16 on campus at New Mexico State University. Two members [2(W); 1(M) 1(F)] served in the role of voting delegates. • Los Alamos County Fair. Nine [7(W) 2(H); 4(M) 5(F)] 4-H members exhibited 35 indoor exhibits. 75% of County 4-H youth showed an increase in knowledge and skills related to home economics, creative arts, livestock and personal development as evidenced by quality baking products, garments made, products exhibited, and ribbons awarded. • New Mexico State Fair -- Seven 4-H members [5(W) 2(H); 4(M) 3(F)] exhibited 25 exhibits. Seventeen or 68% of the twenty five exhibits received first, second or third place awards. Objective # 3 -- Awards & Recognition • An Annual 4-H Awards Program was held November 7, 2009 at the Los Alamos Community Building. The purpose of the program was to recognize 4-H members who completed 4-H record books, and to recognize 4-H members and leaders for the number of years they’ve been involved in the program. Outstanding 4-H youth and volunteers were also recognized. Twelve (12) 4-H’ers [10(W) 2(A); 5(M) 7(F)] and four 4-H leaders [4(W); 1(M) 3(F)] received awards. Prior to the presentation of awards, one senior 4-H [1(W), 1 (M)] presented a slide presentation of his 4-H International Exchange Program to Australia. Bruch, provided by the 4-H families in attendance, was a new offering at this Saturday morning program. Eighteen [16(W) 2(H) 2(A); 9(M) 11(F)] members, leaders and parents were in attendance. Objective # 4 – Community Service • 100% of local club members participate in service projects at the county level. A County Community Service Projects was the creation of “Hollow Holly” for the Los Alamos Scarecrow contest. The scarecrow contest is sponsored by the Los Alamos Arts Council and is open to any community organization. The Council was awarded the Sleepy Hollow Award consisting of a certificate and cash award. Youth increased knowledge and skills relate to generosity and service learning, contributions to group efforts and responsible citizenship as evidenced by willingness to serve, appreciation of service opportunities and youth assuming leadership roles related to service. Results were reported by club leaders and in member record books. The home economist served as judge for the Rio Arriba County 4-H Contests held April 26 in Abiquiu. She judged the Favorite Food Show, Consumer Decision Making Contest and Talent Contests. A variety of 4-H enrichment expansion efforts occurred during the year. The home economist continues to meet with home economists from Santa Fe and Rio Arriba Counties to plan Just Be It – Healthy and Fit, a regional nutrition related school enrichment program being offered to fifth graders from the three counties. Time was dedicated to the components of the program: nutrition and fitness field trip, in-depth education program and parent education component. Just Be It! Healthy and Fit Nutrition and Fitness field trip Component – The short-term objective of knowledge gain for students attending a one-day field trip, held in September 2009, was met. There was a knowledge gain for fifth grade students on nutrition guidelines, making healthy snacks, physical activity, and goal setting as a result of attending workshops at a one-day educational field trip. In 2009, 269 students from 5 schools in Los Alamos County participated. Pre and post knowledge tests for the day long program were administered and showed a 43% knowledge gain for the students. Extension Agents from Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties conducted Just Be It! Healthy and Fit nutrition and fitness school enrichment field trip experience offered during September to fifth graders from the three counties. Participation in the full day program involved 532 students [243(W) 236(H) 27(NA) 24(A) 3(B); 253(M) 279(F)] from 24 classrooms from 9 schools. Just Be It! Healthy and Fit In-depth education program The medium-term objective (1) for students to increase their nutrition knowledge during the school year was met. There was a statistically significant increase in nutrition knowledge scores for fifth grade students at Barranca, Aspen, Chamisa, and Mountain Elementary schools from September 2009 to May 2010. Students increased their nutrition knowledge after receiving nutrition classes during the school year. In Los Alamos County, 142 students completed both the pre and post tests on nutrition knowledge. The pretest average score was 9.6 (60%) and the post test average score was 13.7 (86%) showing a 4.1 point (43%) gain. The difference in scores was statistically significant (p=.0001). In addition, pre and post tests were administered to a second classroom at Aspen Elementary. This class did not receive in-class lessons and served as a control group to test the efficacy of the in-class instruction. While the control classroom’s scores (63%) were similar to the classroom which received in-class lessons (treatment) at the pretest (59%), post test scores were statistically different. The control group’s post test score was 72% showing a 15% gain and the treatment classroom’s post test score was 88%, showing a 50% knowledge gain. These differences were statistically different. The medium term objective (2) for students to increase their fruit and vegetable intake was not met. In Los Alamos County, 139 students completed pre and post surveys on the intake of fruits and vegetables. The pre-survey average score for fruits was 2.66 and the post test average score was 2.64. The difference in scores was not statistically significant. The pre-survey average score for eating vegetables was 2.4 and the post test average score was 2.22. The difference in scores was not statistically significant based on a paired t-test. The medium term objective (3) for students to increase their amount of physical exercise was not met. In Los Alamos County, 139 students completed pre and post surveys on physical activity. The pre-survey average score was 3.46 and the post test average score was 3.39. The difference in scores was not statistically significant. Just Be It! Healthy and Fit Parent Component The medium term objective (4) for parents to increase their nutrition knowledge was met. In Los Alamos County, 45 parents returned the evaluation and showed an increase in knowledge after receiving newsletters at home. The pretest score average was 78% and the post test score average was 92%. There was an 18% knowledge gain for parents. The return rate for newsletter evaluations was 32% (n=142). Almost everyone wrote comments about what they liked best about the in-school program, such as “It was very good they told us how many vegetables to eat.” “Teaching them early how important it is to make the right choices about foods.” “Guest speakers, healthy tips, to have more physical exercise.” “How to read labels on food containers and how to live a balanced life as he grows up.” “How the classes are spaced throughout the year.” Just Be It! Healthy and Fit Expansion Efforts The long term objective of expanding the program to other New Mexico counties showed progress. The Just Be It! Healthy and Fit curriculum is in the final stages of being produced and disseminated to counties. It is expected that county agents will offer the program in their county and show positive results for youth. Presentations on the JBI curriculum will be made at the national conferences, NEAFCS and NAE4-HA, in September and October 2010. Additional Home Economics Related Enrichment Efforts include: • Los Alamos Middle School Lunch Hour Fun Fair – students visually learned how much sugar is found in a variety of beverages. “To Drink or Not Drink” consisted of four learning stations – healthy drink station, juice station, serving size station and beverage session. Using sugar and measuring spoon, students could calculate and actually measure out the amount of sugar in their favorite beverage. Approximately 125 students [85(W) 30(H) 10(A); 70(M) 55(F)] participated. Students were alarmed when they discovered 28 teaspoons of sugar are in their favorite 32-ounce soda! • Family Festival – Blast-Off My Pyramid Trail Mix – Five 4-H youth and six adult volunteers [10(W) 1(A); 3(M) 8(F)] provided leadership to this annual event geared to families. One hundred twelve (112) youngsters [74(W) 3(B) 12(H) 2(NA) 28(A); 47 (M) 65(F)] participated in the “Blast-Off MyPyramid Trail Mix” activity. Children learned about MyPyramid by making a trail mix from foods of each of the five food groups. The activity was coordinated by the home economist.