Youth Development (Chaves County)

4-H Banquet
Twelve (12) Chaves County 4-H youth served as keynote speakers, emcees, pledge leaders and presenters at the annual Chaves County 4-H Banquet, increasing their public speaking skills and giving leadership to the overall program. Over 150 parents, leaders, guest and members were in attendance. 45 members received plaques and medals in recognition of their achievements and increase in life skills related to mastery, belonging, generosity and independence throughout the 2008-2009 program year. 126 members, leaders and guests attended the event.

Kids, Kows and More is an excellent learning opportunity for the 4th grade students in Chaves and Eddy County. Over 1300 were in attendance to this day camp. This program takes place each spring with the help of organizations like Southwest Dairy Farmers, Farm Bureau and other area agriculture organizations and businesses. This hands-on learning opportunity provides the student with knowledge about basic agriculture crops and resources produced in their county. This opportunity will help students have a better appreciation of how agriculture impacts their lives. The home economist attends monthly meetings to help plan this event and is responsible for meal at this event. This year, the home economist along with the Eddy County home economist presented a “Who Wants To Be a Germ Buster, a nutritional lesson on how to fight bacteria and keeping our food safe. A puppet show and a “food safety train” model were used as teaching props to reinforce the teaching concepts. Participants gained knowledge in the importance of hand washing, refrigerating foods, washing fruits and vegetables and keeping counters clean.

Farm Safety Day Camp is nationally sponsored and provides youth an awareness of potential dangers of farm and rural life. Even youth from the larger urban areas gain an awareness of dangers they may be exposed to as well. Over 750 3rd graders and teachers from Chaves County attended this event. Some of the classes taught included lawn mower safety, sun safety, and electrical safety. The home economist attended monthly meetings to help plan this event and is responsible for the meal at this event. This year, the home economist along with the Eddy County home economist presented a “Who Wants To Be a Germ Buster, a nutritional lesson on how to fight bacteria and keeping our food safe. A puppet show and a “food safety train” model were used as teaching props to reinforce the teaching concepts. Participants gained knowledge in the importance of hand washing, refrigerating foods, washing fruits and vegetables and keeping counters clean. Evaluation forms were filled out at both events and there were many positive comments about this workshop. One teacher commented that she “loved the visuals used as it really made the lesson fun for the kids.”

Four sewing workshops were held along with eighteen open sewing classes. Members learned the parts of the sewing machine, fabric selection and basic sewing construction. An average of twenty five youth attended the workshops and classes. Members then competed in the Fashion Revue on the county, district and state levels.

To help 4-H’ers with their projects, the home economist also conducted a sewing kit workshop, patchwork pillow workshop and pillowcase workshop. The projects completed from the sewing, workshops were entered at the county fair, ENMSF and NMSF. The skills learned through these workshops and project work will be skills that will be valuable later in life.

8 -Chaves County 4-H members attended a Favorite Foods Workshop. Youth received hands on training related to menu planning, basic nutrition, and proper table setting. 100 % of youth reported an increase in knowledge related to the Favorite Foods Workshop. 100% of youth reported an increase in mastery skills such as planning, organizing, self motivation and goal setting skills. All 8 participants entered the Favorite Foods on the County and District levels.