Youth Development

THIS YEAR WE HAD A JUMP IN 4H YOUTH FORM 40 TO 60 MEMBERS. OUR GOALS ARE TO KEEP INROLLMENT STRONG AND RETAINING MEMBERS FOR THE LONG TERM. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE THROUGH PROJECTS AND EXPERENCES THAT WE CAN OFFER.

* Bernalillo County 4-H Fair-
The 54rd annual Fair and Rodeo was held at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds. The agent worked alongside the Bernalillo County Fair Board, Bernalillo County 4-H Rodeo Committee, Bernalillo County Livestock and Sale Committee, Bernalillo County 4-H Small Animal Sale Committee and Bernalillo County 4-H Horse Council to ensure a quality event. In the Livestock Department, 114 youth exhibited 462 projects. This reflects the largest number in youth and projects since the 1999 Fair and is a 7.8% increase in members over the 2010 Fair. Proceeds from both the Livestock Sale and the Small animal Sale increased slightly from 2010. The Bernalillo County 4-H Leaders Association initiated a “Fun Night” which included events like watermelon eating contests, and “Minute to Win It’ games. Several dignitaries including County Commissioners and TV Personalities’ attended this year’s fair, KASA TV recorded a two minute segment encapsulating the fair. The Bernalillo County 4-H Fair & Rodeo gives 4-H youth an opportunity to exhibit their projects in a competitive environment.

* Bernalillo County Livestock Tag-in and Nomination Procedure-
Year after year there are more protocols that 4-H youth must adhere to in order to exhibit their project livestock at County and State Fairs. In order to comply with the guidelines set forth by the NM Livestock Board, the agent set up two tag-in days for the families. Members were able to tag, receive proper paperwork from the Livestock Board and nominate their animals for State Fair at a central location. 144 steers, swine, goats, lambs and dairy heifers were tagged. At this time youth were also given instruction on TB testing procedures and entry deadlines. The agent worked alongside the NM Livestock Board and the New Mexico State Fair for this to occur.

* Comcast Cares Day-
This large scale Service learning project teamed 75 Bernalillo County 4-H youth & leaders and employees of Comcast in an effort to work collectively and achieve the goal of community pride. This third annual event was held at the Rio Grande Community Farms which is a nonprofit section of City of Albuquerque Open Space Division. Volunteers were asked to clear beds, clean out a warehouse and potting sheds, weed, plant flowers and a number of other activities. If given a monetary amount estimate to the amount of labor provided to the farm, it would equal $4275.00. In return, Comcast awarded a check for $3500 to the Bernalillo County 4-H Council.
State Livestock School
Twenty-three youth attended State 4-H Livestock School held at the Expo NM Fairgrounds. Youth participated in hands on workshops and activities designed to increase life skills related to livestock management, feeding, disease prevention, facilities equipment and showmanship or horsemanship. 100% of youth reported an increase in knowledge in animal science self responsibility, motivation, self discipline, leadership, and basic life skills as evidenced by observation of school chaperons and self-reports. The agent acted as an assistant instructor during Lamb School.

* Competitive Activities
County Competitive events and contest trainings were conducted to expand life skills and knowledge. 75% of novice/junior/senior youth advanced to District/State level competition. Contest Areas included Horse Judging, Hippology, Horse Bowl, Livestock Judging, Dairy Bowl, Public Speaking, Spring Horse Show and NW District and State Horse Shows. 90% of youth participating in competitive events increased knowledge and skills related to problem solving, decision making, critical thinking, communication skills and teamwork in an animal science setting as evidenced by state winning hippology individual and completion of project related activities. The agent also trained a Dairy Bowl team which will participate at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY.

* Kids and Kows
County Extension personnel provided quality educational experiences for the Kids and Kows Program. 809 youth from 2nd – 4th grade youth gained knowledge related to Agriculture and agricultural products. Youth gained life skills related wise use of resources and healthy lifestyle choices through workshops on the dairy industry, sheep and wool and Beekeeping.

* Water Festival
County Extension personnel provided quality educational experiences at the Children’s Water Festival. 255 youth gained knowledge related to agricultural history and the evolution of innovative irrigation technologies called “Farming to Feed You.” The youth were given the opportunity to contribute to group efforts by experimenting with their own mini farm. Youth gained life skills related to wise use of resources by increased ability to reason and follow logical steps in completing tasks. This was evidenced by the average of all correct Post-festival Student Survey questions was 68.84%. The long-term goal is for all classes to correctly answer at least 70% of the questions. We are once again closing in on this goal

* River Exchange
In 2011 several Agents and Specialists coordinated the inaugural Alcalde Field Trip at the NMSU Science Center. The agent was part of the planning process and gave an onsite walking irrigation tour for 147 fourth grade students from Alcalde. During the tour the agents pointed out different irrigation systems that are present at the Science Center. Pre and Post test data indicated a 13% increase in knowledge.
The agent has acted as a guest lecturer providing programs on irrigation systems and water conservation to 684 youth and 33 classrooms in the Albuquerque Area.

RiverXchange is a long-term outreach project that motivates New Mexico fourth or fifth grade students and their teachers to protect local water resources by combining a year-long curriculum, computer technology and class partnerships from classes in other regions in the United States so that students become “high tech pen pals” to learn about each other’s river ecosystems. Participating classes learn about local water conservation and water quality issues through hands-on activities, participation in a field trip/service learning project, and by learning about water resources from guest lecturers. RiverXchange is a project of the New Mexico Water Conservation Alliance, a non-profit organization of individuals from municipal, industrial, institutional and commercial sectors who are dedicated to water conservation issues.

*Bernalillo County 4-H Council
Youth serve in leadership roles at the county level by performing the following duties: Elected Officer, Appointed Leadership, and Committee Chairs. Youth received training in the following areas through County and Multi-County trainings: Parliamentary Procedure, Public Speaking, Recreation and Goal Setting. 85% of youth actively involved in the County Council gained mastery of skills related to leadership as evidenced in an increased willingness to serve as leaders in their local clubs and their community. Two Council members went on to run and be successfully elected to the State 4-H Leadership Team and three Bernalillo County 4-H Horse Council members were selected to serve as Junior Leaders at the State 4-H Horse School.

Twenty youth served as keynote speakers, emcees, pledge leaders and presenters at both the Annual 4-H Achievement Night, Friends of 4-H Dinner and Bernalillo County 4-H Rodeo, increasing their public speaking skills and giving leadership to the overall program. Thirty five members received project pins for outstanding achievement in county record book work. Members were also recognized for achievement and increase of life skills related to mastery, belonging, generosity, and independence throughout the 2010-2011 program year. Leaders were recognized and new Friends of 4-H were enshrined at the Friends Dinner. 325 members, leaders, parents and guests attended this event.

Youth on farms and ranches learn how to do things at a very young age. Saftey is key when young people use a lawn mower or play around a grain elevator. Agent worked with other area agents to teach workshops at the 2011 Farm Safety Camp. Over 100 third graders form 9 different schools plus home schooled children participated. 100% of youth went through 8 different stations leaning about the proper way to be safe. These sessions included everything from lawn mower safety to ATV safety. All youth and sponsors were fed lunch, given an evaluation, and given a bag with educational materials in it. As a result, these youth are prepared to be safe when around equipment or other things that could cause injury if they are not paying attention.

AGAPE and Country Clovers 4-H clubs: Two new clubs started with focus on home ec projects.
4-H State Top Team, Consumer Decision 2010: 4-H Year 2010 saw an increased interest from 4-H Youth regarding the consumer decision making contest. State Specialist Mindy Turner had visited our county in FY 2009. Many of these 4-Hers were at her training the year before. This created more interest in this contest. Further success can be attributed in part to collaboration with the two FFA chapters and their spring trainings as well as 4-H conference and better understanding of the contest from the previous year, as well as junior 4-H members moving up to senior level. Home Economist served as coach and began practices in April. Attendance was great with an average number of 12 - 18 youth, novice, junior and senior. Their level of committment was up from previous years and the contests competition level was like none since I had been here. County contest, we had 20 compete, novice, junior and senior. We had the winning novice team at district and had two top performers in the junior division. State conference we had two teams, one individual in the top 5 and the winning team which will be going to the national contests in Denver!

Worked with other agent in preparing for District contest, County fair, farm safety day camp.