Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.
Youth Development (Chaves County)
Plan Goals
4-H members will enhance their personal growth, through the development of leadership, citizenship and life skills, and experience the satisfaction of making a difference in their own lives, their families, their schools, and their communities.
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Youth Development
Impact Reports
4-H Noxious Weed Program
The agent coordinated with the Chaves County Noxious Weed Program Coordinator (Chaves and Dexter/Hagerman Soil and Water Conservation District) and the 4-H agent to deliver programs on noxious weeds and their management to third grade youth. Presentations were given at six Roswell elementary schools. Participants learned about the 4-H program and the basics about noxious weeds. Specific topics included the definition of noxious weeds; why we are concerned about them; how noxious weeds impact agriculture, recreation, and wildlife; and what students, teachers, and their families can do to help with the problem. A total of 385 youth gained knowledge about noxious weeds in New Mexico and how they can prevent the invasive plants from impacting their own lives. Students also gained information about joining 4-H in their home community. Since there is an active noxious weed management area in Chaves County, education will be ongoing to meet the goal of the noxious weed program. Education is key to managing these invasive plants.
The agent coordinated with the Chaves County Noxious Weed Program Coordinator (Chaves and Dexter/Hagerman Soil and Water Conservation District) and the 4-H agent to deliver programs on noxious weeds and their management to third grade youth. Presentations were given at six Roswell elementary schools. Participants learned about the 4-H program and the basics about noxious weeds. Specific topics included the definition of noxious weeds; why we are concerned about them; how noxious weeds impact agriculture, recreation, and wildlife; and what students, teachers, and their families can do to help with the problem. A total of 385 youth gained knowledge about noxious weeds in New Mexico and how they can prevent the invasive plants from impacting their own lives. Students also gained information about joining 4-H in their home community. Since there is an active noxious weed management area in Chaves County, education will be ongoing to meet the goal of the noxious weed program. Education is key to managing these invasive plants.
Kids & Kows & More
The Chaves County Extension Office cooperated with Southwest Dairy Farmers and local businesses and individuals to co-sponsor the Kids & Kows & More Program for area fourth grade students and their teachers. The Kids & Kows & More program provides both urban and rural children with a taste of the farm. This program educates youth on area natural resources and local agriculture production, while also impressing upon the youth the importance of New Mexico agriculture and our natural resources. The three day program, held at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Roswell, consisted of eight educational stations including the “Mobile Dairy Classroom,” “Chile,” “Pecans,” “Food Safety,” “Beef and Ranching,” “Bees and Pollination,” and “Sheep and Wool.” A total of 1026 students, teachers, and parents gained knowledge of the area’s agriculture products. Youth learned that milk, other food products, and many of our clothing items do not just “come from the store,” but are produced by farmers and ranchers who strive to produce safe and wholesome products. Students gained positive attitudes about agriculture products due to the knowledge gained. These positive attitudes result in an educated public that supports and protects agriculture.
The Chaves County Extension Office cooperated with Southwest Dairy Farmers and local businesses and individuals to co-sponsor the Kids & Kows & More Program for area fourth grade students and their teachers. The Kids & Kows & More program provides both urban and rural children with a taste of the farm. This program educates youth on area natural resources and local agriculture production, while also impressing upon the youth the importance of New Mexico agriculture and our natural resources. The three day program, held at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Roswell, consisted of eight educational stations including the “Mobile Dairy Classroom,” “Chile,” “Pecans,” “Food Safety,” “Beef and Ranching,” “Bees and Pollination,” and “Sheep and Wool.” A total of 1026 students, teachers, and parents gained knowledge of the area’s agriculture products. Youth learned that milk, other food products, and many of our clothing items do not just “come from the store,” but are produced by farmers and ranchers who strive to produce safe and wholesome products. Students gained positive attitudes about agriculture products due to the knowledge gained. These positive attitudes result in an educated public that supports and protects agriculture.
Progressive Agriculture Safety Day
The agriculture agent worked with the 4-H agent and home economist to coordinate the annual Progressive Agriculture Safety Day that was held at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Roswell. Students from public and private schools in the Roswell, Dexter, and Hagerman communities attended the camp over a two-day period. Youth received instruction on ten topics including Meth Awareness, Electrical Safety, PTO/Lawnmower Safety, Firearm Safety, Animal Safety, ATV Safety, Chemical Safety, 9-1-1, Fire Safety, and Food Safety. A total of 933 elementary school students and their teachers and chaperones attended the day camp and gained information that can prevent serious accidents or health problems from occurring. Volunteers that made the program possible, including teachers, aids, presenters, and other adult and youth volunteers totaled 199. Evaluations completed by the school teachers showed the topics were relevant to the students’ safety and students gained information that could save their lives or will assist to keep them healthy. Life skills gained included learning to make healthy lifestyle choices, disease prevention, and personal safety. The agent attended a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Coordinator Training in Santa Rosa, California, in order to be approved to conduct a Safety Day in the Chaves County area.
The agriculture agent worked with the 4-H agent and home economist to coordinate the annual Progressive Agriculture Safety Day that was held at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Roswell. Students from public and private schools in the Roswell, Dexter, and Hagerman communities attended the camp over a two-day period. Youth received instruction on ten topics including Meth Awareness, Electrical Safety, PTO/Lawnmower Safety, Firearm Safety, Animal Safety, ATV Safety, Chemical Safety, 9-1-1, Fire Safety, and Food Safety. A total of 933 elementary school students and their teachers and chaperones attended the day camp and gained information that can prevent serious accidents or health problems from occurring. Volunteers that made the program possible, including teachers, aids, presenters, and other adult and youth volunteers totaled 199. Evaluations completed by the school teachers showed the topics were relevant to the students’ safety and students gained information that could save their lives or will assist to keep them healthy. Life skills gained included learning to make healthy lifestyle choices, disease prevention, and personal safety. The agent attended a Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Coordinator Training in Santa Rosa, California, in order to be approved to conduct a Safety Day in the Chaves County area.
4-H County and District Contests
The agent assisted the 4-H agent and home economist with the Chaves County Contests. Thirteen contest areas were offered to the 4-H youth of Chaves County during a day-long competition. Forty youth participated in at least one contest area. Southeast District 4-H Contests were held in Lincoln County in June. 4-H members from nine counties participated in 24 contest areas. The agent served as superintendent of the Archery Contest and Wildlife Contest. Twenty-two Chaves County 4-H’ers competed in 13 events on the district level. 4-H competition teaches the youth critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making to be more successful, contributing members of society.
The agent assisted the 4-H agent and home economist with the Chaves County Contests. Thirteen contest areas were offered to the 4-H youth of Chaves County during a day-long competition. Forty youth participated in at least one contest area. Southeast District 4-H Contests were held in Lincoln County in June. 4-H members from nine counties participated in 24 contest areas. The agent served as superintendent of the Archery Contest and Wildlife Contest. Twenty-two Chaves County 4-H’ers competed in 13 events on the district level. 4-H competition teaches the youth critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making to be more successful, contributing members of society.
4-H Garden Program
The Pecos Elementary School garden project was once again conducted in Roswell. For the second year, the second and third grade students planted seeds in the raised garden beds on the school playground in late April and early May. Crops planted included snap green beans, zucchini squash, yellow squash, okra, cucumbers, and sunflowers. Due to an extended school year at Pecos School, students attended school throughout July, which provided an extended opportunity to teach about garden care and about the vegetables that the garden was beginning to produce. Students learned to harvest the vegetables and sunflowers, and were amazed to discover that the food they eat everyday is grown in the same fashion. Nutrition educators through the Chaves County CES’s ICAN Program also taught a class to the youth about the nutritional aspects of their gardening venture and how to properly prepare and eat those vegetables for a healthy lifestyle. Students also planted tulip bulbs in the beds in the fall 2008, and those bulbs were left in place in the spring 2009 in hopes of again having flowers in the spring 2010. Students became aware of how their food is produced and became more experienced in gardening techniques. Life skills gained included health lifestyle choices (healthy food choices, food preparation), marketable skills (food production), and teamwork. The youth also learned how agriculture is important to them and were made aware of the Chaves County 4-H program and how to join the youth organization. The garden project was coordinated by the agriculture agent and was funded in part by donations from the Chaves County Iris Society and local businesses.
The Pecos Elementary School garden project was once again conducted in Roswell. For the second year, the second and third grade students planted seeds in the raised garden beds on the school playground in late April and early May. Crops planted included snap green beans, zucchini squash, yellow squash, okra, cucumbers, and sunflowers. Due to an extended school year at Pecos School, students attended school throughout July, which provided an extended opportunity to teach about garden care and about the vegetables that the garden was beginning to produce. Students learned to harvest the vegetables and sunflowers, and were amazed to discover that the food they eat everyday is grown in the same fashion. Nutrition educators through the Chaves County CES’s ICAN Program also taught a class to the youth about the nutritional aspects of their gardening venture and how to properly prepare and eat those vegetables for a healthy lifestyle. Students also planted tulip bulbs in the beds in the fall 2008, and those bulbs were left in place in the spring 2009 in hopes of again having flowers in the spring 2010. Students became aware of how their food is produced and became more experienced in gardening techniques. Life skills gained included health lifestyle choices (healthy food choices, food preparation), marketable skills (food production), and teamwork. The youth also learned how agriculture is important to them and were made aware of the Chaves County 4-H program and how to join the youth organization. The garden project was coordinated by the agriculture agent and was funded in part by donations from the Chaves County Iris Society and local businesses.