Adult 4-H Volunteer Leader Development (Bernalillo County)

Bernalillo County 4-H Fair & Rodeo: The major part of this Agent’s time was spent working with the Bernalillo County 4-H Rodeo Committee and financial sponsors throughout the year. August was the most intense time and several last minute large activities had to be orchestrated in order for the program to go well and make a profit for the local 4-H Council. Sixty-six percent of the profits help support the Bernalillo County 4-H Center. Important coordination was the Rodeo Draw, getting banners and signs made for sponsors, meeting with EXPO NM event coordinator, and having a Rodeo Judges meeting before we actually move to the fairgrounds. During the week, the committee had to haul all equipment to Tingley Coliseum, insure the earth work is done right in the arena, hang the banners from the ceiling, help with the Rodeo Dance, bury markers, conduct three performances and work with the photographer for sponsor tickets. This agent worked 126 hours between August 8 – 12, 2007 to accomplish these tasks. The Rodeo was well attended with about 3,000 people and 114 contestants State wide.

The Sandia Kiwanis Club sponsors six trophy buckles for the 4-H Rodeo for a total of $750. They request the County Agent and one Youth attend a meeting, present a program about the 4-H Rodeo and receive the sponsorship check in person. This agent took novice 4-H Member, Isabella Lucero and her father Danny Lucero to the lunch meeting, co-presented the program and received the check.

4-H Rodeo Sponsor: The Albuquerque Breakfast Lions Club was a $400.00 4-H Rodeo Sponsor each year and requested a program from the Cooperative Extension Service annually and presents a check to the County Agent to be applied to the 4-H Rodeo. The Program this year was home owner pesticide safety. The group was very interested and will use pesticides more carefully in the future. Their Support of the 4-H Program is appreciated very much. Twelve people are more aware of pesticide safety and support 4-H.

Tribal 4-H Planning Meetings: Northern District Director met with CES Agents, Specialists and Tribal representatives to discuss the needs of an underserved population in the Northern New Mexico Native Americans. Meetings were held in March, May and June of 2007 that this agent attended. Plans were discussed on being aware of the cultures and sub-cultures of the different Tribes/Pueblos before we develop programs. Different “tribes” have different protocol and different community issues. Community based programming was discussed to involve the entire community to promote adults and youth working together. The basic format is: 1). Conduct meetings at each Pueblo, 2). Develop a list of Tribal key leaders, and 3). CES needs to address importance of best practices in Ag., and of the importance of services offered by them (based on perceived mistrust of government agencies by Tribes).

Friends of 4-H Recognition Dinner / Dance: Each year, the Bernalillo County 4-H Staff and County 4-H Council officers host a friends of 4-H Dinner & Dance to recognize and thank the volunteers and sponsors who are critical to maintaining the Bernalillo County 4-H Programs. It was this agent’s pleasure to recognize one 4-H Rodeo Sponsor and one 4-H Rodeo Committee Volunteer by inducting them into the ranks of Bernalillo County Honorary 4-H Members. The food was catered, the dance DJ’d by a local Radio Station DJ, and attended by 213 adults and youth. The 4-H County Council Officers do most of the speaking and do a splendid job. The volunteers and sponsors enjoy this program very much because they can observe the results of their donations and support. All of the ninety 4-H Rodeo Sponsors returned in 2007 except one who sold his business.