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Impact Report

For plan Youth Development (Doņa Ana County)
Date October 15, 2007, 8:56 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report County Programs 4-H Youth Participated in: 4th Annual Cloverbud Share Fair is planned specifically for our younger group of 4-Hers, ages 5 to 8, to showcase the variety of projects 4-H has to offer. This year's event was held at the Downtown Mall, in conjunction with the Las Cruces Farmer's Market, which also gave us the opportunity to expose others to 4-H. Twenty-two Cloverbuds from Doņa Ana County participated in activities related to rodeo, arts and crafts, photography, horses, animal science, general 4-H, rocetry, sewing, baking, and many more. Twenty-one volunteers, including Junior 4-H Leaders, parents and club leaders helped in planning and running the activities, along with the 4-H Home Economist. 4-H Awards Night: Our annual end-of-the-year banquet was another success this year with almost 250 parents, leaders and 4-H members in attendance. Although it is mainly a night of recognition for our outstanding leaders and members, it is also a night that all the members participate in. By getting up on stage and speaking into a microphone, these members are learning lifeskills in communication. From leading the pledges to announcing record book winners, over 75% of all the members there participate in Awards Night in some way. 4-H members and their families also donated new, unwrapped toys to Toys for Tots. 4-H Leadership Training: Twenty-six 4-H members of all ages participated in our county's annual 4-H Leadership Training. This 4-hour training consists of many fun and interactive workshops led by the County Council Officers, that teaches members lifeskills such as communication, teamwork, trust and responsibility. 4-H Fun Fest: This annual event for Novice 4-Hers in Dona Ana County saw its largest attendance since the first event held in 2002! Fifty 4-H members spent two days at White Sands Missile Range Child and Youth Services attending a variety of worskhops taught by 4-H agents, leaders, Junior Leaderss and 4-H parents. These workshops covered different projects and contestst that 4-H has to offer and gave all participants a chance to step out of their comfort zones and see what else they can try. Workshops included Photography, Outdoor Cooking, NM Flavor, Archery, 4-H Record Books and Scrapbooking. County Shooting Sports: Ninety-three 4-H seniors, juniors and novice members participated in archery, rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader and pistol contests. Shooting Sports teaches members many skills, but mostly responsibility. Talent Show: Our 4th Annual County 4-H Talent Show was another success with a total of 33 4-H members participating in a variety of categories, including Drama, Musical, Vocal, Comedy and Choreography. Talent show teaches members communication and self-esteem, among others. 4-H County Contests: Over 100 county 4-H Novice and Junior members participated in a variety of contests including Crops Judging, Consumer Decision Making, Entomology, Horse and Livestock Judging, Fashion Revue, Public Speaking, Parliamentary Procedure and much, much more. County 4-H Awareness Day: This annual event is held each year to not only showcase the 4-H program to the community, but also to give 4-H members of all ages a chance to give demonstrations to the public related to their 4-H projects, therefore building confidence and communication skills. This year's event was held at Horse 'N' Hound Feed and Supply. Leaders, parents and members from eight different 4-H clubs participated in this event. Achievement Day: We had 77 4-H novice, junior and senior members enter a total of 238 completed exhibits in this event that showcases their handiwork. These numbers were up from last year, which was great! The exhibits were of everything from informative posters, to baked goods and articles of clothing to leatherworks. District Events: Southwest District Contests: Eighty-four novice and junior members traveled to Truth or Consequences for District Contests. Doņa Ana County had the largest delegation once again. Contests that members participated in included Public Speaking, Shooting Sports, Demonstrations, Horticulture, Favorite Foods and much, much more. State Events: State 4-H Conference: Twenty-eight senior 4-H members represented Dona Ana County 4-H for a week on the NMSU campus as they participated in a variety of events at NM State 4-H Conference. This conference included judging contests, leadership workshops and two members served as voting delegates as a new State 4-H Officer Team was elected. Members also helped raise the most aluminum can tabs of any county which were being donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Eight junior members participated in NM State Teen-Getaway where they participated in several activities including leadership workshops and a community service project. Our county sent 92 exhibits to be displayed in the 4-H Indoor Exhibit Area at the New Mexico State Fair. This was the most that had ever been sent in the 6 years the 4-H Home Economist has been in this county. Workshops/Clinics related to Home Economics Projects: 4-H Home Ecnomomist, in April, implemented a monthly "4-H Crop Night" to enhance the new statewide Scrapbooking Project. Once a month, 4-H members enrolled in the project come together to share ideas, learn new techniques and have time to complete projects to enter in Achievement Day and the fairs. With an average of 6 members in attendance, it is getting more and more popular. Events/Activities to enhance Citizenship Skills: There was a county-wide effort to gather new, unwrapped toys at our County 4-H Awards Night and almost 75 toys were donated to Toys for Tots. Dona Ana County won the challenge by the State 4-H office to collect aluminum can tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. The county worked together to gather stuffed animals to give to law enforcement around the state for children in crisis. Almost fifty stuffed animals were collected and sent to Teen-Get-Away. Schools/Organizations in Dona Ana County visited by the County 4-H Ambassadors and other 4-H members: Environmental Health and Science Fair: The County Ambassador Team presented 4-H information to almost 700 school-aged children at this event held at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. We received several calls in the days that followed of parents and children interested in enrolling in 4-H. Kids, Kows and More Program: Over 500 4th and 5th graders were taught the importance of agriculture in Dona Ana County through a series of presentations by Extension Agents, Specialists and other professionals in the agriculture field. County 4-H Ambassadors, Officers and Junior Leaders had a presentation there on 4-H. Gym Magic 4-H Awareness Day: County Ambassadors and Officers conducted a 4-H Awareness Day for Gym Magics Summer Day Camp. Just under 75 chidren received a hands on trining about the 4-H program with several calls afterwards to sign up. Harvest Day at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum: The 4-H Home Economist and a couple of County Ambassadors were present at this community event to teach a hands-on fall craft and present 4-H information to passers-by. Booker T. Washington Elementary Health Fair: 4-H Home Economist taught 125 children about healthy options for after-school snacks and also presented information on 4-H.