Youth Development

KIDS KOWS & MORE
Kids, Kows & More is an educational program that focuses on how everyday agricultural products are made. Unfortunately, many students never have a chance to see crops and farm animals in person. Kids, Kows & More shows them that agriculture isn’t some abstract idea – it’s the food they eat and the clothes they wear. The program also emphasizes the importance of agriculture to the local community economy.
This program was introduced in 2011 to 538 fifth grade students in the Rio Rancho/Corrales and Bernalillo elementary schools. Students from the Jemez Valley Elementary School also participated. Adult participation included 27 teachers and 20 chaperones.
Pre- and post- tests were conducted utilizing electronic survey. 58% of the students answered post-test questions correctly. The average overall score was 12% higher in the post-test compared to the pre-test. A teacher stated, It is important for children to be in touch with the sources of their food. Thank you for doing this program!” and another teacher remarked, “This was a great event; students, teachers, and parents enjoyed every presentation.” A student commented, “I really appreciate all the presentations because it gave me information about what people do for a living and how to do special things. Also, how to prepare for a bad situation.”

COMMERCIAL USES OF THE RIVER “AGRICULTURE”

RiverXChange is an outreach program that integrates water resource topics with computer technology, hands-on curriculum and classroom partnerships. Goal is to strengthen 4th grade students’ and teachers’ understanding and appreciation for the local river ecosystem and to protect water resources. County 4-H Agent presented commercial uses of water: “Agriculture” a hands-on educational program related to farm irrigation systems and conservation technology. 334 students from 5 Rio Rancho schools participated. Students gained knowledge about their local river, watershed and water resource issues and posted what they learned on a wiki website. Each class was partnered with a 4th grade class in another US state.
A teacher stated,” I would love it at the end of the year if students remembered what watersheds are, what a delta is, and so on; but more importantly I want them to leave with the deep rooted idea that water is valuable, water is sacred, and here in New Mexico, water is scarce.”

ALBUQUERQUE BERNALILLO COUNTY CHILDREN’S WATER FESTIVAL

County 4-H Agent provided educational experiences related to water quality, conservation, erosion and protection of watersheds. 1,100 4th grade students from 45 classes of 16 Albuquerque area schools attended. Pre- and post- festival student surveys were conducted. 71.82% of the students answered post-festival survey questions correctly. The average overall score was 20.79% higher in the post-survey compared to the pre-festival survey.

Youth Development
San Juan County has 527 traditional 4-H members enrolled in community clubs. Of these 527 members, 142 were 1st year members, 148 were 2nd and 3rd year members and 156 were members for 4 or more years. Of these members 81 were cloverbuds. San Juan County has 32 community clubs. These clubs are available for members to join and participate in. These clubs help guide the youth of the county in their leadership, citizenship and public speaking skills.

County Council
In March the eight county council officers hosted their annual Youth Officer Training in the form of a Spring Break Day Camp. Fifty two 4-H’ers attended the day long training. The agent was responsible for organizing the schedule and gathering necessary supplies. The Youth Officer Training has become a vital part of the county council agenda because over the last year officers in the community clubs are largely novice and junior members. These youth require the knowledge necessary to be responsible leaders. Along with this officer training county council also introduced the 4-H’ers to various 4-H projects available.
This spring the eight county council officers hosted the annual San Juan County 4-H Carnival in April. The carnival is an important opportunity for clubs and members to socialize and interact in a non competitive environment. Carnival also serves as the primary fundraiser for County Council. The 4-H Carnival also allows non 4-H families to interact with 4-H’ers in a relaxed atmosphere. This year over 300 members, parents and friends enjoyed the evening.
The annual End of the Year Awards Banquet was held in November. The county council officers plan and oversee the banquet that recognizes the youth and leaders in the county.

County Wide Workshops
In the December 4-H Advisory Committee meeting the panel expressed that one of the programs they would like to see more work done in, is record books. They also expressed that they felt record books were extremely beneficial to the youth for numerous reasons one of the biggest being scholarships. They request that the agent offer more record book trainings. Therefore, the agent attended club meetings for two clubs to educate the members and leaders on the record book process. In these workshops the 4-H’ers gained the knowledge and tools to complete a successful record book. They also had the opportunity to see examples from award winning record books.
Four baking workshops were hosted by the agent throughout June and July. The 51 youth in attendance learned valuable skills including safety, critical thinking, baking techniques and team work. 75% of the youth that attended participated in County Fair, entering projects learned in the workshops.
Eight sewing workshops were hosted by the agent throughout February and March. The ten youth in attendance learned vital sewing skills including safety, critical thinking, sewing techniques and responsibility. 50% of the youth that attended in the sewing workshops participated in County Fair, entering projects completed in the workshops.
Fifty seven youth and twenty three adults attended the first annual 4-H Christmas. The youth had a unique opportunity to attend a morning of making Christmas crafts that they could then take home and give as gifts. It has been expressed by our advisory committees and adult leaders that non-competitive events are essential. The agent was responsible for securing a location, planning the crafts, buying supplies, registration, and teaching the youth the crafts.

State & National Events
In January thirteen youth from San Juan County attended Senior Leadership Retreat in Albuquerque. The youth participated in various workshops and further developed important life skills that included: teamwork, public speaking, leadership and citizenship skills.
In July eighteen youth traveled to Las Cruces for the annual New Mexico State 4-H Conference. All youth competed in the various contests offered as well as workshops offering leadership and team building. Multiple teams qualified for National contests. The agent chaperoned the youth.
In June three youth traveled to Albuquerque for the State 4-H Livestock School. Once there with their animals they participated in various workshops and seminars in showmanship, animal health, selection, care and ethics.
Thirty seven youth from San Juan County traveled to Estancia for the Annual Northwest district contest. The youth competed in various contests. The agent was responsible for two youth in the horse judging contest and one in the horse bowl contest with the novice high point individual in each contest. The agent was also responsible for overseeing the Horse Bowl Contest. She was responsible for gathering all questions for the various rounds and well as those for any ties. She was also liable for points and the overall quality of the contest.

Horse
Thirteen youth attended a county wide horse judging clinic held in March. The youth learned basic horse judging skills of conformation and equitation. They participated in the judging of several classes to further their knowledge of horse judging.
Three youth participated in the county wide 4-H Horse Judging Program. The agent was responsible for organizing and providing instruction at practices held from April to July. The three youth members increased their knowledge of horse judging as well as their critical thinking and public speaking skills through reasons. Two of these youth went on to successfully compete at the district level.
Six youth attended the New Mexico 4-H Horse School. Here they worked with their horses on various horsemanship skills. The agent was an instructor at this year’s horse school. She was directly responsible for nine youth during the riding times. She was responsible for the lessons during the eleven different riding sessions.

County Contest
Sixty eight members participated in the San Juan County Contest. The youth participated in various contests for a chance to qualify for a district or state contest. The agent was responsible for the organization of various contest including horse, horse bowl, talent, fashion review, prepared speech, demonstration, and impromptu speech. She was in charge of securing a location for the contest, recruiting volunteer judges, preparing judging sheets and acquiring any necessary equipment or tools.

County & State Fairs
At the San Juan County Fair the agent was responsible for the 4-H Indoor Check-In. She was in charge of organizing check-in, securing numerous judges, and training volunteer leaders to assist in check-in. The agent also implemented a new format for judging that included using judging score sheets. The score sheets allowed all 4-H’ers to view what they accomplished and what they might need to work on next time. This was met with rave reviews from the 4-H families. For the indoor check-in 543 exhibits were entered from 106 different youth.
From those youth that participated in the San Juan County Fair 57, over half, were eligible for the New Mexico State Fair. The agent was responsible for the 116 State Fair entries. This included re-tagging the exhibits, transporting and checking them in. While at State Fair the agent assisted at the 4-H Horse Show. She was responsible for keeping track of placing’s and tallying points as well as any other miscellaneous activities. Three youth participated in the New Mexico State Fair 4-H Horse Show.

Ski School
Every year two 4-H Ski Schools are offered to 4-H’ers at the Durango Mountain Resort in Purgatory. Between the two ski school 60 youth and 46 adults attended. The agent was responsible for holding the orientation meeting, keeping track of participants and getting the appropriate paperwork turned in to DMR. The great Ski School discount gives the youth of San Juan County a unique opportunity to participate in an activity that may not otherwise be available to them. It also brings together numerous 4-H families from various clubs and parts of the county in a fun and non competitive atmosphere.


Expanded 4-H
The agent assisted the Aztec FFA chapter with its horse judging team. The agent worked with 5 youth in the program. The agent introduced the youth to the principles of horse judging for numerous classes that included halter, western pleasure, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equation, western horsemanship and reining.

This year in Cibola County there was 10 4-H clubs. Cibola County has a total of 123 members enrolled in clubs. There were new 47 members, 30 where older 4-H and 17 were Cloverbuds. This breaks down as 98 4-H members and 25 Cloverbud members. There were 22 members enrolled as 1st year, 40 members were in their 2nd or 3rd year, and there were 36 4-H’ers that have been members for 4 or more years.

The Agent spent a considerable amount of time in supporting Cibola County 4-H youth, parents and leaders with in a variety of projects. By working on these projects youth are developing life skills and gaining a greater knowledge of the project subject matter. Cibola County 4-H youth showcase and complete their projects at Cibola County Achievement Day, Shiprock Fair, Ramah Navajo Fair, Bi-County Fair, New Mexico State Fair, and the Navajo Nation Fair. This past year in the county we had 16 market steers, 27 market sheep, 48 market swine, 12 market goats, 2 dairy goats, 8 breeding stock. There was also an increase in rabbit and poultry projects.

Leaders Advisory

This year the Cibola County 4-H Leader’s and Advisory Association were developed. This Association’s objective is to aid the Cibola County 4-H Council, with their yearly projects and events, assist the agents, and contribute the county 4-H programs as needed.

Leaders training

Cibola County had a braiding workshop for the leaders. Tribal agent Wayne Franklin instructed a total of 16 leaders/parents in the workshop.

Youth Workshops

Over the year the agents put together many workshops for the 4-H youth. The larger ones where a chicken and rabbits workshop, a rope bowl making class, and record book compiling class. At the chicken and rabbits workshop there were 22 youth participants, the rope bowl making class had 13 participants, and the record book compiling class had 11 participants.

Home Visits

The majority of youth in the Cibola County 4-H program are involved in livestock projects. The 4-H agent made visits too many residences to ensure progress of projects, weigh, offer suggestions, and assist with any questions. Projects seen while making these visits include market swine, market lamb, market steer, meat goat, dairy goat, breeding stock and poultry projects. Home visits make it possible to ensure that the project is progressing and will be successful. Also, home visits provide one-on-one contact for the agent and the family.

Horse School

The Agent along with 8 4-H members and 1 volunteer from Cibola County attended.

Livestock School

The Agent along with 10 4-H members and 3 volunteers from Cibola County attended. There were 3 youth that attended pig school, 1 youth that attended steer school, 3 youth attended lamb school, and 3 youth attended goat school.

Cibola County Achievement Day

Cibola County Achievement Day is for the 4-H youth of Cibola County. It is a one day jackpot style livestock and indoor project show. Many leaders and parents volunteered and there were 45 4-H youth participants, all from Cibola County. Although there are awards at Achievement Day, its main purpose is to serves as a practice day for the youth to prepare them for other fairs they plan to attend. This day provides an additional opportunity for the agent to ensure that the projects are progressing properly, to make suggestions on project finish, and to offer showmanship tips.

Bi-County Fair

The Bi-County Fair is for 4-H youth in both Cibola and McKinley Counties. The Bi-County Fair is a five day event. The participants exhibit their livestock and indoor projects for the entire length of the fair. This was the 42st year for the Bi-County Fair. There was an attendance of 78 4-H members from both Cibola and McKinley counties that exhibited 4-H livestock projects. Of the 200 large animal entries, there were 58 entries that qualified for the Junior Livestock sale. There were 347 indoor 4-H projects that were exhibited by 4-H youth; this is a substantial increase from the previous year. This year the Bi-County Fair Junior Livestock Auction raised over $86,000 in sales and add-on’s (donations) to 4-H members whose projects qualified for the Junior Livestock sale. During each day of the fair the agent assisted the 4-H youth and assisted with conducting shows and preformed other needed jobs.

NM State Fair

Cibola County had 4 youth exhibiting livestock projects at the State Fair. There was also a strong showing of indoor exhibits from Cibola. Also, there were a number of youth that set up a 4-H county booth this year, the first in around ten years. One child was a youth state fair official.

State 4-H Events

Cibola County had 8 members and 5 parents/leaders attended and participate in the Northwest District 4-H Contest. These members competed in many various contests over the two-day period.
One member and a leader participated in Youth Getaway. The youth served as a camp counselor.
There were 3 leaders that attended the State Shooting Sports leaders training in San Juan County.
There were 8 4-H youth and 4 leaders that attend the NM 4-H State Shoot from Cibola County.
One member participated in State 4-H Conference.

4-H School Enrichment

This year the agent conducted the egg to chick school enrichment program. The program was presented at San Rafael Elementary School in April. I worked with the science teacher Mrs. Monique Martinez. The program was presented to 41 students, 10 Kindergartens, 19 First Graders, 6 2nd graders, and 6 3rd Graders.