Youth Development

4-H Favorite Food Show

The Favorite Food Show contest is open to all novice, junior and senior age 4-H members regardless of their area of project enrollment. Preparation for the contest includes choosing a favorite recipe with nutritional value, learning to make the recipe with ease, choosing the appropriate table service and centerpiece, practicing proper food safety habits, and learning the nutritional value of the recipe. One junior age 4-H’er competed in favorite foods at the county level competition held in Cimarron the first week of June. Beforehand, individual guidance was given to the 4-H’er and her parent in preparation for her first competition. The home economist coordinated the contest with the Cimarron Schools and critiqued the contestant’s presentation based on the quality of the favorite food, the table setting and display, knowledge of nutrition and food safety as it related to the favorite food and her presentation skills. Feedback was then given to the 4-H’ers and her parent in preparation for their next level of competition.

The home economist also served as coordinator and superintendent of the NE District Favorite Food Show held in Raton. Two other home economists from the district assisted the home economist in this effort. To prepare for the contest, the home economist sent correspondence to all NE District 4-H counties along with updated score sheets and rules; secured judges and arranged for contest facilities; and prepared contestant recipe booklets, score sheets and a contestant schedule for the actual contest held on June 22nd. A total of four junior age and two novice age 4-H’ers competed the first afternoon of district contests. Four counties – Harding, Santa Fe, Union and Colfax - were represented in the contest. Response from the parents, 4-H’ers and agents was positive.

On the state level, the home economist once again served as contest co-superintendent with the Union County Home Economist. Input from the State 4-H Home Economics Specialist was also given to prepare contest schedules, recipe booklets, and score sheets before the contest. Upon arrival at the state contest held during State 4-H Conference in Las Cruces, the three senior age contestants were given a brief orientation before proceeding to set up their display tables and prepare their favorite food. The home economist gave directions to the three contest judges and assisted them and the contestants during the judging process. Score sheets were tabulated and reviewed with the judges as they made their final decision for high point individual placing. This year’s contestants, representing Union, San Juan and Hidalgo counties, increased their nutritional knowledge, sharpened their public speaking skills, gained confidence in the development of new food preparation skills, and used their creativity to prepare their contest displays.

4-H Shooting Sports

Enrollment numbers in the 4-H shooting sports project areas of rifle, shotgun, archery and muzzleloader continue to remain strong in Colfax County with 26 novice, junior, and senior age youth enrolled in one or more of the above mentioned disciplines. Through practices, trainings, competitions, community service and fundraising efforts the youth gain valuable skills in marksmanship, gun safety, and service to others.

The Colfax County Senior 4-H Rifle, Archery and Shotgun competitions were held the first weekend of April at the NRA near Raton as qualifying events for the state competition. Five senior age youth participated in these contests, which allowed them to become eligible to compete in the state level competition.

The State 4-H Office requested assistance from the home economist in planning for events associated with the State 4-H Shooting Sports Contests held at the NRA in May. The home economist made arrangements for the initial superintendent’s lunch and meeting the day before the contests and contacted a local caterer to plan for a brisket dinner to be served at the welcome/orientation held the first evening of the event. Concessions were also coordinated with the same caterer for the next day’s competitions. The home economist also served as one of two official scorer’s for the State 4-H .22 Rifle Three-Position Contest and the .22 Silhouette Rifle Competition. After a full day of competition, the home economist and 4-H agent worked with Colfax County 4-H Council members and parents and members from all five 4-H clubs in the county to host a dance and concession for the shooting sports members in attendance at the state competition. The home economist secured the DJ, coordinated the use of facility with the Raton National Guard, prepared publicity flyers to be sent to all county Extension offices, purchased the concession items for the fundraising event and worked in the concession throughout the evening fundraiser, which netted over $600 for the County 4-H Council.

The home economist also worked with the 4-H agent, the NRA staff and our shooting sports leaders in setting up the ranges, scoring targets, tabulating scores and preparing awards for the Colfax County and Northeast District novice and junior rifle, archery and shotgun competitions at the NRA. Twelve Colfax and Union County youth participated in the Novice and Junior County Shooting Sports Contests in early June, while 64 youth from Union, Harding, Mora, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Colfax Counties participated in the NE District Contests the third week of June. The overall number of competitors showed a marked increase from the past few years.

In order to increase the level of funds in the 4-H Council shooting sports account, the 4-H Agent and Colfax County shooting sports leaders coordinated two major fund raising opportunities to benefit our 4-H youth. The shooting sports members and parents joined the 4-H Agent and home economist in “selling” special golf hole events for the golfers participating in the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Annual Golf Tournament at the Trinidad Country Club. The two day event netted nearly $1900 for the Colfax county shooting sports program. Although unable to assist at the second fundraiser, an additional trap shoot event, hosted by the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) brought in another $1000 for a total of $2,890.

Senior Leadership Retreat

The goal of Senior Leadership Retreat is to help senior age 4-H youth to succeed in personal and group leadership roles. Activities and workshops led by the New Mexico State 4-H Officer Team and officers from the state of Arizona gave the seven (7) Colfax County youth, who attended the two day retreat in Albuquerque, the opportunity to sharpen their leadership skills, which will in turn enhance the overall Colfax County 4-H program. These leadership experiences also enabled the youth to interact with other youth from throughout the state, thereby encouraging them to participate in other state level experiences, such as State 4-H Conference. The home economist worked with the 4-H agent to coordinate, plan and chaperone the weekend event.

Operational Military Kids (OMK) Community Service Project

Upon returning from Youth Get Away in the spring of 2010, a Rocky Mountain 4-H club member, reported on the Operation Military Kids community service projects that she and other 4-H’ers in the state made for youth whose parent(s) were being deployed by a branch of the military. When asked if we could begin this community service project in her club, the home economist, who was also the club organizational leader, responded by setting up a workday to make “quick and easy” pillowcases from the 4-H quilting project and scrapbook journals.
Before the first workday, the idea was also presented to the 4-H County Council and adopted as a county-wide community service project. OMK is the US Army’s collaborative effort with America’s communities, including the National 4-H Program, to support youth impacted by deployment. NM is an active OMK state and is serviced by Amanda Good, the OMK Program Coordinator, located in the State 4-H Office.

Thus far 33 members, parents and leaders have participated in a total of three workdays at the Maxwell HS Family and Consumer Science classroom to generate 16 pillowcases to be screen printed with a parent or child’s photo, 64 scrapbook journals, and 70 “Angel for Mommy/Daddy” bookmarks that have been delivered to the State 4-H Office for distribution at deployment sites around the state. The Rocky Mountain 4-H club purchased the initial supplies and fabric for the first workday, with additional financial support from the 4-H Council. The Raton Extension club members are also giving monthly financial contributions to the 4-H’ers as part of their support of military personnel. With such success and interest, the OMK project will be continued during the next 4-H year.

Senior members, including seven Colfax County 4-H’ers participating in contests at State 4-H Conference, also helped stuff HERO backpacks and wrote messages in note cards as part of the state OMK project.

Home Economics School 2011
Sixty eight youth participated in the 2011 Home Economics School. The Torrance County Home Economist has continued involvement in the state 4-H Home Economics School. The Torrance County Home Economist served as the Community Service Project Chair for the 2011 Home Economic School event. The Agent worked together with several Extension 4-H Home Ec Agents and developed three community service projects to be completed by 4-H Home Ec School youth. The first project coincided with Housing and Interior design where youth created napkin rings as part of a decoration on a table to be used at meal time at Senior Centers throughout Valencia County. The second project worked hand in hand with Food Preservation and Gifts from the Home. The youth completed Bean Soup Jars filled with six types of beans along with spices and soup directions. The jars were touched up with fabric and ribbon; the jars were donated to the Operation Military Kids community service project. The last community service project coincided with Creative Touches. Sock puppets were created as a gift to give to cancer patients. The Agent worked diligently with many colleagues to collect workshop material donations as well as maintain budget requirements. The youth gained knowledge in citizenship by participating in the community service projects. A total of 6 youth from Torrance County attended the event.