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Impact Report

For plan Youth Development (Quay County)
Date October 31, 2011, 4:58 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report 4H Advisory Committee: The committee was pleased with the results of last year's goals, which outlined programs and partnerships with Tucumcari Elementary School and Mesalands Community College. To continue the partnership, the committee advised to now go forward with developing added, more long term programs which could remain in place for several years. As was done the prior year, this agent and the rodeo coach at Mesalands are developed a proposal for repairs and upgrades to the Quay County Rodeo Arena.This proposal would effect not only the 35 4-H members who participate in rodeo, but also collegiate rodeo students. Developing more recruitment efforts and offering more subkject matter training were also goals formed from the advisory committee meeting. This agent held a one specialized cattle clinic for regional youth, and continued to utilize expanded 4-H and school enrichment as a means by which to recruit new members. 4-H Livestock Programs: This agent believes that the 4-H livestock program in Quay County is necessary to teaching members the importance of responsibility, proper care, money management, and time management skills. In March of 2010, the agent worked with local brand inspectors to set up a tagging day in two locations of the county, and invited a professional hoof trimmer to come to work on the cattle. Also, cattle from Curry County were invited, to save those members a long trip to Clovis. In April the agent assisted those members wanting to show sheep, goats, and swine, in selecting their projects. This year, 28 members exhibited livestock projects at the Quay County Fair with 80% making the sale. Also, thirteen 4-H members competed at the New Mexico State Fair and Eastern New Mexico State Fair, with 20% making the sale. In December of 2010, the agent met with advisory committee members to plan the programming needs for Quay County 4-H. An idea was brought forth to host a regional clinic for members exhibiting cattle. This agent made arrangements to schedule Kirk Stierwalt to come to Quay County to hold the clinic. Twenty-three steers were allowed into the clinic, representing 25 youth and 43 adults. Participants came from New Mexico, Texas, and Kansas. The clinic ran for two full days, with a jackpot show to follow. Topics included nutrition, fitting, and showing. Based on post-program evaluations, participants increased their knowledge in nutrition by 43%, fitting 98%, and showing 70%. Also, the evaluations reflected major needs and attitudes of participants in relation to the condition of the fairgrounds. Reports on the conditions of the fairgrounds are as follows: • “It would be nice for the breakers to be looked at so exhibitors can plug in multiple devices such as clipper and blowers at the same time.” – adult participant from Kansas • “The fairgrounds in this county are very useful, but it would be even better if the grounds were freshly painted and clean.” – adult participant from New Mexico • “I had to wait for an hour before I could wash my steer, since the drain was plugged. I hope next year this is fixed.” – youth participant from Texas From this evaluation, over $9,000.00 in upgrades were performed at the Quay County Fairgrounds. Based on the quality of the clinic, this agent is planning to hold another Stierwalt clinic next year, as well. This agent utilized the relationships built as the Extension 4-H Agent to assist local beef producers to develop their herds. Working alongside parents of 4-H members, the agent has developed a heifer development program for 4-H members and their parents. Although 90% of the heifers which are exhibited go into a production phase, only 10% actually have to develop into quality replacement which can be useful in the range conditions of Quay County. The program consists of assisting members and the parents in locating quality show heifer prospects at sales, farms, or on their own ranches. Once the member owns the heifer, plans are set forth for breeding and calving. This agent has traveled to 4 homes of the 4-H members who own heifers to synchronize the animals to come into heat. The agent tries to fit this breeding schedule into the schedule used at that ranch, so the heifer can become a part of the herd once her show career is finished. The agent works with the member and producer to purchase semen and has it shipped to Tucumcari for storage until use. Once scheduling and synchronization is complete, a local 4-H/FFA supporter travels to each location to artificially inseminate the heifers at no charge to the member, and a minimal fee to the parent. The heifers remain to be cared for at the member’s home and in June each heifer is pregnancy checked by the agent. After the Quay County Fair in August, the 4-H member will either sell the bred heifer or keep the animal. Other producers in the county understand how this program works, and often buy these bred heifers to use on their own ranches. The predicted outcome of this program was to enable youth to utilize outstanding genetics, in order to raise valuable stock and to improve their herds. This has been achieved, and the parents of these youth who are involved in cattle production have gained more knowledge and improved their genetics, as well. From 2009-2011, 14 of 19 heifers were successfully bred through artificial insemination, 3 were bred by a cleanup bull, and all but 2 delivered live calves. Expanded 4-H Programs: This agent provided opportunities for K-8 teachers to utilize the school enrichment curriculum in their classrooms. By following up on a program done last year, involving team teaching a farm animal lesson with a kindergarten teacher, a more permanent program was developed for kindergartners. The day long lesson was presented to 35 students and was given by 1 novice 4-H member regarding his swine and sheep projects. The 4-H member brought his animals to school and performed half a day demonstration over feeding, grooming, health, and showmanship. covered the basic domestic farm animals. The agent was involved in preparing the Quay County schools for the Farm Safety Day program for Quay, DeBaca, and Guadalupe Counties. Approximately 200 students from area schools were in attendance. The Egg to Chick program was conducted in five 3rd grade classrooms in two different schools. 104 students learned about the embryology, development, and life cycle of a chicken, during the three week program. The agent participated in the Quay County Elementary Earth Day, in which 765 students from area elelmentary schools, were instructed about the Earth, its resources such as plants and animals, and how to care for these resources. Leadership Development: Leadership opportunities for 4-H members are vital to their growth and development. This year, the agent encouraged members to participate in more state wide leadership experiences, so they could expand their networks, meet new people, and learn outside of the county. This year, the agent had 7 members participate in the State 4-H Conference. County Council officers hosted a leadership workshop in December, to assist members with developing skills susch as teamwork and personal development at the club levels. Volunteer Leadership: Four volunteer leaders attended the organizational leader meeting, in order to bring them up-to-date with various 4-H policies in New Mexico. It also served as a great question and answer session, so that the agent to better identify needs of the clubs. Three organizational leaders attended volunteer related training. One leader attended the Shooting Sports Leaders Certification training, so he could properly provide instruction for 4-H members in the archery discipline. Seeking a need to renew and discover ideas related to club programming, two leaders attended the Western Regional Leaders Forum in Alaska. Visibility & Leadership: This agent believes that visibilty and image are major components of the 4-H program and its perception by the public. By partnering with local agencies and schools to conduct programs, this agent and the 4-H prgram is very visible in the community and plans to expand this image to other communities by putting these programs into place there as well. This agent volunteered to serve as the co-chair of the Earth Day Committee with a local school principal. Also, the agent took on a leadership role by serving as the superintendent for the livestock skillathon contest for the Southeast District. The agent worked with other agents to conduct the contest, which was once again, one of the most popular contests with 86 contestants.