Youth Development (Otero County)

Forty-two 4-H members and parents attended Otero County 4-H Council's "Leadership Training." This training was facilitated by the Otero County 4-H Council Officers as they presented workshops on their respective office positions as well as implemented information through trainings on citizenship and community service. One 4-H member said, "I believe I can be a better club officer because I now know what is expected of me." This training also was a huge success in allowing the Otero County 4-H Council Officers an opportunity to be a leader and learn how to develop, plan, prepare for and deliver a workshop. These seven 4-H members learned immeasurable skills in designing a workshop for their peers while making it interactive and involving their workshop participants. The Council President said, "I am thankful for this opportunity. I have been to lots of leadership camps and trainings, but I finally got to be the leader. This is one way high school youth can stay involved in something positive, because 4-H lets us lead instead of listen to adults all of the time."

The 4-H Agent presented to ten area elementary classrooms and a total of three hundred and sixty seven students on the Embryology: Egg to Chick. These youth were able to gain information and knowledge on handwashing, embryonic development, nutrition, cell growth, incubation and record keeping skills. These youth all received chicken eggs and incubated them for 21 days. They recorded data with humidity, temperature and observations during these 21 days. As one student said, "I had so much fun learning how chicks develop." Even in experiments that do not have a successful hatch students gain valuable science information because this opportunity isn't a typical thirty minute science experiment, it allows the students to see changes for over 21 days.

The 4-H Agent and three 4-H volunteer leaders organized and facilitated a 4-H Showmanship Clinic on July 17th, 2010. The aspect of this showmanship clinic was to allow 4-H members to gain hands on practice with an expert in their species guiding their showing techniques. Over forty three 4-H members and adults were in attendance. The species covered in instruction were market swine, market lamb, meat goat and market beef. One 4-H member said, "These was really helpful to be able to practice on my own lamb instead of watching someone."

The Otero County 4-H Agent and one 4-H Volunteer Leader organized and held a Beef Project Clinic at a 4-H famliy's barn. The topics covered were: bovine nutrition, show cattle selection, health management, hoof care and showmanship. Over twenty 4-H members and their parents were in attendance. This year Otero County saw a 5% increase in the 4-H Beef Project involvement. Additional information and guidance was provided throughout the year by the 4-H Agent to the youth as they asked questions and needed assistance with their 4-H Beef Projects.

The Otero County 4-H Agent and one Otero County 4-H Volunteer created, organized and facilitated a workshop at the 2010 Western Regional Leaders Forum in March 2010. Over thirty five adults were in attendance at this workshop. The workshop was entitled, "How to Keep Senior 4-H Members Involved." The 4-H Agent and Volunteer Leader focused on the four main reasons why senior 4-H members are needed and ways that they contribute to our 4-H programs. The facilitators also had a group discussion on solutions for solving some of the challenges with working with senior 4-H members. 99% of the participants felt that they learned and enjoyed the workshop. These participants also were encouraged to share methods they currently use when working with senior 4-H members.