Youth Development

County Contest

Teams that competed in livestock presentations, poetry, shooting sports, favorite food show, prepared speech, and horse judging were coached by the 4-H agent, Agricultural Agent, and the County Director. Sixteen youth participated and five volunteers helped at county contest held in Eagle Nest. The agent was responsible for providing horses for the Horse Judging and helping the host club prepare for the contests. At the contest the agent was responsible for handling the horse judging contest, assisting the 4-H agent with the livestock skill a thon, entomology, horticulture, and wildlife. These annual 4-H contests offered novice and junior, 4-Hers an opportunity to prepare and/or qualify for the district and/or state level 4-H contests.

Canadian River Riparian Area Restoration Project
Agent collaborated with two different agencies to provide programming for Colfax 4-H youth on riparian areas, and the restoration of them. The other collaborating agencies were National Resource Conservation Service, and the Canadian River Riparian Area Restoration Project Group. This project was originally to have the 4-H youth help plant new trees and vegetation in the target riparian areas, and it was rescheduled about 4 times because of mostly weather related issues, we had lots of snow this winter and mud. So I think we lost some of our original following as far as the 4-H goes. The activity occurred on a weekday so we were lucky that it fell on one of the schools spring breaks and we were able to have 6 youth there from 4-H. On the day of the event it was determined that the tractor we had could not cross the river as the runoff was too high. We had an educational component where the specialist from NRCS talked to the kids about riparian areas are and why they are important and what we would be trying to accomplish in this project. Then we went about planting about 50 to 100 trees and shrubs with a tractor and an auger and the kids would backfill the holes.

Agent has continued to be involved with the youth of the county. Agent's role remains the same and continues to teach and motivate 4-H members toward achieving each members expected goal. Agent has multiple practices weekly beginning in May and running through July. Age the members range from 9 to 18 years. Each member receives the same information from the agent but on a different educational level. Through the agent's role training judging events he has been able to receive approximately $18,000 in scholarship dollars to the present day. Also, the agent works with members of Lea County 4-H in the areas of showmanship, nutrition,selection, and care of show projects. Through these efforts Lea county 4-H members have received nine placings in the top five of showmanship contest at either county, state or national events. Furthermore, Lea County 4-H members have earned approximately $240,000 in sale money at the state fair. Agent has found that, through surveys, that his role assisted these members in obtaining these additional dollars. Agent believes in these competitive events and will continue to offer support to the youth of Lea County.

Youth development research emphasizes the importance of meeting the four basic human needs of belonging, generosity, independence and mastery. The Valencia County 4-H Youth Development Program strives to ensure that every youth involved will have the opportunity to participate in 4-H experiences that strengthen a young person’s sense of belonging, generosity, independence and mastery. Through projects and activities in 4-H, youth have many opportunities to develop life and leadership skills that include responsibility, self-confidence, self-esteem, communication skills, teamwork and decision making. These skills are introduced, developed and expanded throughout a lifetime.

During the 4-H program year, youth involved in 4-H programming will learn subject matter and develop life skills through hands-on experiences via project work, competitive events, real-life situations, and career exploration opportunities. Youth will also gain public speaking skills, strengthening communication and organization abilities and self-concept, through speaking at club, school enrichment and special interest events. Finally, youth in the 4-H club program will gain leadership and teamwork skills through leadership opportunities at the club, county and state levels and demonstrate effective leadership and teamwork skills to local community members, organizations and projects, and provide primary leadership to countywide events.

Enrollment:
This year in Valencia County, there was 90 new 4-H members, 165 returning regular members and 41 Cloverbud 4-H members enrolled in the program, resulting in a total enrollment of 296 youth. There was also a total of 115 enrolled adult volunteer leaders to assist in programming.

Newsletter & Communication Efforts:
Newsletter: A bi-monthly newsletter is prepared and sent to approximately 200 4-H members, leaders and supporters in Valencia County. The newsletter is the most effective way of communicating information to 4-H’ers and highlights 4-H’ers and their accomplishments as well as upcoming news and events for 4-H members, leaders and supports to get involved in. Increased awareness about upcoming County, District and State events through the newsletter is indirectly evident by the participation from 4-H’ers in these events.

E-Newsletter: The Agent contributes articles and information about the 4-H program to the bi-monthly Valencia County e-Newsletter. The agent uses this avenue to inform and recruit potential new 4-H’ers and volunteers to the program. This newsletter is distributed to a minimum of 250 Valencia County residents.

Website: A county website is kept up to promote and provide information for the Valencia County 4-H program. The website provides information to 4-H members and their families on events and deadlines as well as information to potential 4-H members on enrolling in the program.

Open House:
An annual Open House was used to promote the county 4-H program, clubs and projects. This year and Ice Cream Social was used to attract attendance to the Open House. 4-H’ers were present to answer questions about the 4-H program to potential 4-H’ers. 35 4-H’ers and volunteers attended this event and approximately 15 new youth were recruited to join the 4-H program.

Competitions:
In order to prepare for 4-H competitions, CES Staff and volunteer leaders plan and conduct practices and workshops which enhance the 4-H’ers knowledge of the contest areas and prepare them for the contests themselves. These practices and workshops are designed for the 4-H’ers to learn not only the subject materials, but to learn friendly competition and decision making life skills. While not all of the practices and workshops are highly attended, those 4-H’ers who do attend express their increase in knowledge after attending. The youth who participate in these practices and workshops demonstrate the increase in their knowledge through their participation and placing in the competitions.

National Contests: Two 4-H’ers traveled to Denver, Colorado to compete at the Western National Roundup in the Impromptu and Consumer Decision Making contests. The Impromptu contestant won first place.

County Contest: This year, 80 4-H’ers enrolled and participated in Valencia County Contests. Decision making and public speaking/communication skills are among the many life skills 4-H’ers develop while participating in these competitive events. These contest help prepare 4-H’ers for future competitions where they compete as teams. County Contest is used as a qualifier for District and State Contests. The volunteer leaders, judges and CES staff who help with these contest strive to build the 4-H’ers self-esteem and self-confidence through positive constructive criticism and advice for future competition. Currently 31% of 4-H’ers enrolled in the county participate in County Contests.

District Contest: This year, 25 4-H’ers participated in the Northern Districts 4-H Contests in Santa Fe, NM. Building on the decision making and public speaking/communication skills 4-H’ers developed while participating in County Contest, 4-H’ers developed essential team work skills while preparing for and participating in these contests. Approximately 10% of 4-H’ers enrolled in the county participated in District Contests.

State 4-H Conference: This year, 11 4-H’ers participated in State 4-H Conference held in Las Cruces, NM. Through contests, workshops and meetings this week long event allows 4-H’ers to increase the development of their team work, public speaking, leadership and decision making life skills. An understanding for 4-H subject matter is evident through the Horse Bowl and Home Ec. Skill-A-Thon teams both taking top honors in their respected competitions. These two teams have earned the right to compete at the national level in January 2011. Three 4-H’ers who attended this event returned with goals of running for a State Leadership Team position. 4% of 4-H’ers enrolled in the county participated in State 4-H Conference.

Record Books:
Two record book trainings were held to give an overview of the new record book guidelines and to emphasize the importance of record keeping and how it will help 4-H’ers in future endeavors like college and career application. 4-H’ers received information on what should be included in record keeping and how to complete a record book. Along with record keeping, 4-H’ers learned the difference between achievement, citizenship and leadership and how they apply to 4-H work. Sixteen 4-H’ers and their parents attended the workshop. Thirty-two 4-H’ers and one Cloverbud completed record books this past year.

Horse Activities:
State 4-H Horse School: 17 4-H’ers from Valencia County applied to attend State 4-H Horse School. Due to extenuating circumstances, the school was cancelled. All 17 4-H’ers all expressed how much they look forward to next year’s school.

Livestock Activities:
State 4-H Livestock School: 24 (15% of youth enrolled in a livestock project) 4-H’ers from Valencia County attend this year’s State 4-H Livestock School. 4-H’ers who attended received hands-on training on how to care for their 4-H livestock animals as well as feeding, veterinary needs, nutrition, selection, and showmanship. 4-H’ers who attended this event were able to take the knowledge gained from the school and help other 4-H’ers with their livestock projects in preparation for the County Expo. Improvement in showmanship by youth who attended livestock was evident at the 2010 Valencia County Community Expo.

Prepare for Fair: Two “Prepare for Fair” livestock project workshops were presented to 4-H youth enrolled in livestock projects or who will be in the future. These workshops provided youth with information on livestock selection, nutrition and feeding, veterinary care, showmanship, and preparing for the various fairs the youth can participate in. Twenty-five youth (16% of youth enrolled in a livestock project) participated in the two workshops presented. 71% of youth surveyed strongly agreed that the information gained was valuable in helping them prepare for fairs this year and in the future. 81% felt the most useful information gained was about livestock bio-security.

Fair Activities:
Tagging Days: Tag days were coordinated and set up by the 4-H Agent and New Mexico Livestock Board and representatives from both the Valencia County Community Expo and the Valencia County Fair. These dates were coordinated for the 4-H and FFA youth of Valencia County. One steer tagging date was set in April and two tag dates were set in May for pigs, goats, lambs and dairy heifers. The Agent was responsible for coordinating dates and locations with the 4-H and FFA members showing livestock. The two representatives on the Junior Livestock Board assisted in the tagging process of the animals.

Valencia County Community Expo: The 2nd Annual Valencia County Community Expo (VCCE) was held in Los Lunas, NM. This event was the venue for 4-H’ers to showcase their 4-H indoor and livestock projects. Sixty-six 4-H’ers (25% enrolled) exhibited 314 indoor projects at the Expo. This was a 73% increase (82 projects) from the previous year. An additional 99 4-H’ers (63% of 4-H’ers enrolled in livestock projects) exhibited their livestock projects at the Expo.

Fall Farm Festival:
The 4th Annual Fall Farm Festival is sponsored by the Valencia County 4-H Program, CES staff and Staff from the NMSU Agriculture Science Center, to promote the agriculture industry. With a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and several agricultural demonstrations, visitors to this event learn about agriculture and the 4-H program. Individual 4-H clubs put on game and activity booths, to promote their clubs, while booths and materials from the Southwest Mobile Dairy, Farm & Livestock Bureau, New Mexico Beef Council, Master Gardeners, New Mexico Game and Fish and Costanza Orchards to promote agriculture. Approximately 1,000 people attended the event, an increase of 66% from the previous year. A total of $4,200 was raised for the 4-H program, a 180% increase from the previous year.

Shooting Sports
Ten Valencia County 4-H’ers (18% of Senior youth enrolled in shooting projects) participated in the State 4-H Shooting Sports contest in Raton, NM. By participating in the different shooting competitions, 4-H’ers further developed their teamwork self-confidence and self-discipline life skills. This event is used as a qualifier for the National Shooting Sports Contest.

The Project Fair, judging practices, day camps, and one on one work with livestock exhibitors resulted in many members participating in county contest, district contest, district shooting sports, state conference, and county fair.
19% of all members enrolled participated in local county contests.
33% of all members enrolled participated in district or state wide contests/project or leadership event.
22% of all members enrolled completed a record book.
32% of all members enrolled competed in county fair with a livestock exhibit.