Youth Development (Lea County)

Short Term Objectives
Objective #1: During the 4-H program year, 98% of youth involved in 4-H programming will learn subject matter concepts through hands-on experiences such as camps, clinics, workshops, etc.
Accomplishments:
• Extension Personnel organize and implement County and Multi-County Camps for 4-H Youth around the State. Camp sites include the Lujan Ranch; Elks Camp; Burn Cabin Flats; County Fairgrounds; White Sands Missile Range and Ghost Ranch. Youth gained life skills in citizenship; foods & nutrition; wildlife management; outdoor education; arts & crafts; scrapbooking; shooting sports; mapping; wood science; leadership; and recreation. Senior 4-H members served as counselors. 9,693 youth participated in overnight and day camps, increasing knowledge and skills related to subject matter, leadership, and basic life skills.

• Extension personnel provide quality educational experiences through hands-on workshops and trainings. Many included construction of actual projects or exhibit items to take home. 2008-09 Training topics included:

1. Baking, Foods & Nutrition
2. Bicycle Safety
3. Career Education
4. Citizenship
5. Cloverbuds
6. Consumer Education
7. Cultural Education
8. Dog Training
9. First Aid
10. Home Economics
11. Horse Science
12. Horticulture
13. Hunter Education
14. Interior Design
15. Leadership
16. Leathercraft
17. Livestock
18. Public Speaking
19. Photography
20. Record Keeping
21. Recreation
22. Rodeo
23. Scrapbooking
24. Sewing, Clothing & Textiles
25. Shooting Sports
26. Teamwork
27. This is 4-H


Over 3500 youth participated in educational workshops conducted in 25 counties. Youth increased life skills related to home economics, agriculture & natural resources and general 4-H projects, while gaining knowledge and skills in their chosen subject matter.

Objective #2: During the 4-H program year, 98% of youth involved in 4-H programming will develop life skills through project work, competitive events, real-life situations and career exploration opportunities.
Accomplishments:
• Competitive Events
o County – 33 Counties conduct competitive events and/or contest trainings to expand life skills and knowledge. Novice Youth advance to District level competition. Contest Areas include:

Consumer Decision
Crops
Dairy
Fashion Magic
Fashion Revue
Favorite Foods
Home Ec Skill-a-thon
Horse Shows
Horse Judging
Horticulture
Land
Livestock Judging
Meats
Parliamentary Procedure
Presentations
Public Speaking
Quiz Bowls
Rodeos
Shooting Sports
Talent Contest
Wildlife Habitat
Wool Judging


o District – 4 Extension 4-H Districts conduct District level competitive events annually. District competition is for Novice or Junior youth who qualify at the County level. Contests are hosted by Counties on a rotation and supported by State 4-H Staff. 2009 events were: Southeast District Contest in Lincoln County – 500 youth; Combined Northern District Contest in Santa Fe County – 350 youth; and Southwest District Contest in Catron County – 180 youth.

700 Novice age youth, with 1-2 years experience in 4-H participated in District level competition increasing knowledge and life skills through education.

• Fairs and Achievement Days
o Achievement Days – Counties with Fairs falling after the State Fair may hold Achievement Days to qualify exhibits for state level competition. 5 counties hold Achievement Days annually to showcase life skills gained by 4-Hers throughout the year.
o County Fairs – 33 counties participate in County or Bi-County Fairs with an indoor exhibit component and livestock shows. Indoor exhibits, livestock shows, horse shows and dog shows allow youth to showcase life skills gained throughout the year. Youth receive recognition through ribbons, plaques, premium awards and belt buckles.
o Regional Fairs – Counties may participate in three different Regional Fairs: Southern New Mexico State Fair; Eastern New Mexico State Fair; and the Navajo Nation Fair. Indoor exhibits, livestock shows, horse shows and dog shows allow youth to showcase life skills gained throughout the year. Youth receive recognition through ribbons, plaques, and special awards.
o State Fair – 30 counties exhibited items at the 2009 New Mexico State Fair. Extension Agents and Specialists work to provide a quality showcase of members’ completed exhibits. Indoor exhibits, livestock shows, horse shows and dog shows allow youth to showcase life skills gained throughout the year. Youth receive recognition through ribbons, premium money, trophies and livestock auction slots.

Over 5000 items were exhibited at County Fairs and Achievement Days throughout New Mexico in 2009. Over 1900 items submitted by over 600 youth from around the state were exhibited at the 2009 New Mexico State Fair. Over 500 youth received premium checks ranging from $1 to $285. Youth received recognition and feedback for continued improvement of knowledge and skills related to over 200 project areas. Over $1,000,000 was paid to New Mexico Youth through premiums, junior livestock auctions and fair related scholarships.
o A Dona Ana County 4-H member said, “I am a seamstress. I am a public speaker. I am a baker. I am a knitter. I am an electrician. I am an ice cream maker. I am a New Mexico historian and culturist. I am all of this because of 4-H.”
o One Hidalgo County 4-Her said, “Over time, those ribbons will fade and trophies will break, but the real rewards are the lessons you learn along the way to receiving those awards and recognition.”
Objective #3: During the 4-H program year, 50% of youth enrolled in 4-H will gain public speaking skills, strengthening communication and organization abilities and self-concept, through speaking at club, school enrichment and special interest events.

Accomplishments:
• Awards and Recognition Events
o County Faculty and Staff work with County Councils and Leaders’ Associations to provide recognition events to the over 6,500 youth involved in the New Mexico 4-H Club Program. More than 20 counties conduct recognition events annually with members serving as keynote speakers, emcees, pledge leaders and presenters. Members receive certificates, metals, plaques, belt buckles, jackets, and other appropriate awards. 4-H members from around New Mexico were recognized for their achievements and increase in life skills throughout the 2008-2009 program year. Members in leadership roles increased public speaking skills.
• Speaking Opportunities
o Local Club Meetings & Programs – 75% of all youth involved in the 4-H program increase public speaking and communication skills through demonstrations and leadership roles in their local club.
o Afterschool Programs – 50% of all youth involved in 4-H Afterschool programs increase public speaking and communication skills trough active involvement in leadership and speaking curricula
o Radio Programs & Other Media – 25% of all youth involved in the 4-H program increase public speaking and communication skills through providing ads for local radio and other media outlets related to County Fairs, National 4-H Week and other 4-H promotions
o County 4-H Council Meetings & Programs – 10% all youth involved in the 4-H program increase public speaking and communication skills through leadership roles at the County level.
• In 2009, 6,346 youth participated in age appropriate activities gaining knowledge and skills related to personal development and leadership.
o A Dona Ana County 4-H member stated, “One of my challenges in public speaking was that I have been in speech therapy since kindergarten. Through 4-H public speaking, I improved my “s” sound and became more confident with speaking in front of groups.”
o A Roosevelt County 4-H member says, “I have learned in 4-H to be responsible for what I undertake as my duty. Being in 4-H is helping me to learn some things for when I am grown and being on my own.”
o A Valencia County 4-H member said, “This next year, I’m running for Vice President, and am going to be the Junior Leader for our clubs Cloverbud group. I’m excited to have the opportunity to start leading our young 4-Hers!”
Objective #4: During the 4-H program year, 75% of youth in club, school enrichment, special interest and county 4-H events will develop cognitive skills, teamwork, leadership and citizenship potential.
Accomplishments:
• Local clubs conduct community service projects and participate in projects at the county level. Examples of County Community Service Projects include: Assistance at Civic Events, Christmas Cookies and other gifts for elderly members of the community, Visits and donations to Assisted Living Facilities, Project Linus baby blanket donations, Toys for Tots, Highway Clean-up, Petting Zoos, Beautification projects, Holiday food baskets, Food Drives, and many other creative community contributions. Over 2,382 youth from 33 counties increased knowledge and skills by participating in community service projects at the local, county, and state level.
o A Roosevelt County 4-Her said, “It helps me be a better person when I help others.”
o Another member from Roosevelt County said, “It was a lot of hard work, yet when it was completed it made me feel good to be a part of it. It really did take teamwork to get the job done. Knowing that we had helped our community in the work that we did means a lot to me. Even though I was not involved in 4-H for only a few months, I learned more about responsibility and working hard in what you do.”
• In 2009, youth with 1-2 years or more 4-H experience contributed to a statewide community service project during Youth Get Away collecting funds to donate to the UNM Cancer Center.
• Youth at all levels were given the opportunity to apply for Community Service Scholarships thanks to an anonymous donor. Youth must plan and conduct a service project, personally giving primary leadership to the project. Scholarship funds may be used to attend a statewide 4-H event or run for a leadership team position. 139 scholarships were awarded in the amount of $24,395.
• School Enrichment Programs - One of the three primary delivery modes in the 4-H Youth Development Program is school enrichment. Youth, ages 5- 19, can belong to a 4-H school enrichment group. Extension personnel provide quality educational experiences through cooperation with classroom teachers. 2008-09 Training Topics included:

Ag Awareness
Animal Science
ATV Safety
Career Opportunities
Character Education
Citizenship
Drug Awareness
Egg to Chick
Entomology
Farm Animals
Farm Safety Day
Financial Planning
Food Safety
Gardening
Germ Detective
GIS/GPS
Health
Kids, Kows & More
Leathercraft
Life Skills Training
Nutrition & Fitness
Sports Fishing
This is 4-H
Water Conservation


Over 28,462 youth ages 5-19 participated in school enrichment programs gaining knowledge and skills related to subject matter, cognitive skills and teamwork skills.

• Special Interest Programs - One of the three primary delivery modes in the 4-H Youth Development Program is the special interest group. Youth, ages 5- 19, can belong to a 4-H special interest group. The group focuses on a project (subject matter topic) for a minimum of six hours outside of school hours. Extension personnel and volunteers provide quality educational experiences through after school programs, day camps and other appropriate programs. 2008-09 Training Topics included:

ATV Safety
Babysitting
Beef
Cloverbuds
Communication
Conflict Resolution
Dairy Products
Gardening
Horse Science
Horticulture
Leathercraft
Livestock
Nutrition & Fitness
Plant & Soil Sciences
Sewing
Stress Management
Teamwork
Teen Parenting
This is 4-H
Water Conservation


Over 22,588 youth ages 5-19 participated in special interest programs gaining knowledge and skills related to subject matter, cognitive skills and teamwork skills.

Objective #5: During the 4-H program year, 65% of youth in the 4-H club program will gain leadership and teamwork skills through leadership opportunities at the club, county and state levels and demonstrate effective leadership and teamwork skills to local community members, organizations and projects, and provide primary leadership to statewide events.
Accomplishments:
• Club Leadership – all age groups
o Youth serve in leadership roles at the local level by performing the following duties:
o Elected Officer
o Committee Chair/Member
o Pledge Leader
o Recruiter
o Youth received training in the following areas:
o Parliamentary Procedure
o Public Speaking
o Recreation
o Conflict Resolution
o Leadership Skills
o Goal Setting
Over 5083 youth were involved in leadership opportunities at the club, county and state levels demonstrating effective leadership and teamwork skills.

Objective #6: During the 4-H program year, 50% of youth in the 4-H club program will begin establishing partnerships with local administrators and community leaders, effectively managing programs and facilitating change through youth/adult partnerships.
Accomplishments:
• Advisory Committees
o Youth serve on Extension Advisory Committees to assist agents in setting annual program calendars, choosing subject matter topics for workshops and clinics and planning events
o Youth work with adult partners to solicit donations and sponsorships for 4-H programming, scholarships and county fair needs as well conducting fundraisers. Counties conducted a variety of fundraisers to send youth on trips; provide for countywide trainings and socials; and maintain funds for general operations. Fundraisers included: raffles, gift wrapping, turkey shoots, candle sales, auctions, catering, bake sales, car washes, and many others. Counties raised over $19,000 toward providing quality programs. Youth gained knowledge and skills in organizing fundraisers and managing money as well as constructive youth/adult partnerships.

Overall Accomplishment for youth with 1-2 years experience:
• 45,963 youth ages 5-11 gained life skills through participation in the New Mexico 4-H Program.

Objective #7: During the 4-H program year, 85% of Agents and staff will increase professional and personal skills related to life skills and youth development by receiving quality training through theory, contest training, subject matter training, policy training and evaluation training.
Accomplishments:
• New Agent Orientations:
*Includes travel to county offices and review of 4-H Policies, Programming Efforts, Civil Rights, and other pertinent information related to 4-H
o Bernalillo County New Agent Orientation (2008): Robyn Kelley
o Cibola County New Agent Orientation (2008-09): Wendy Brown; Charles Schultz
o Rio Arriba County New Agent Orientation (2009): Marcella Talamante; Desaree Jimenez
o San Juan County New Agent Orienation (2009): Kathryn Babcock
o San Miguel County New Agent Orientation (2008): Samantha Ortiz
o Sandoval County New Agent Orientation (2009): Nicole Lujan
o Torrance County New Agent Orientation (2009): Corina Neish
o Valencia County New Agent Orientation (2009): Laura Bittner; Kyle Tator
• Centra Sessions:
*Online training sessions provided to agents, program assistants and support staff
o 4-H Frequent & Random Policy Questions (2008)
o 4-H Plus & ES237 (2008)
o 4-H Curriculum Update (2008)
o IRS and Other 4-H Policies (2009)
o Coaching Teams (2009)
o Western Institute Sharing (2009)
o Motivating Volunteers (2009)
• New Mexico 4-H InService:
*Includes workshops provided and/or recruited by State 4-H Staff
o 4-H Indoor Exhibits (2009)
o Grant Writing (2009)
o 4-H Shooting Sports (2009)
o 4-H Record Keeping (2009)
o Working with Fair Boards (2009)
o Event Coordination (2009)
o Media Relations (2009)
o 4-H Wildlife Contests (2009)
o Conflict Resolution (2009)
o Working with Elected Officials (2009)
o 4-H Club Charters, EINs and Tax Filing (2009)
75 agents gained knowledge and skills related to administration of the 4-H program and professional development.
• AXED Course Assistance:
o Hodnett, Frank, Richardson, Rick, Schultz, Linda, Turner, Mindy,& Zemler, Amy (2008). 4-H Programming in New Mexico. College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, AXED 120.
o Hodnett, Frank (2008). Extension Portion. College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, AXED 100.
o Schultz, Linda (2009). Volunteer Management. College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, AXED 486/586.
• Resource Development:
o Hodnett, Frank, Richardson, Rick, Schultz, Linda, Turner, Mindy & Zemler, Amy (R-2009). New Mexico 4-H New Agent Orientation Handbook. New Mexico State 4-H. (Training notebook for new employees including sections on civil rights, policies & procedures, 4-H programming and more).
• Civil Rights Reviews
*Includes travel to County Office, review of files and training for appropriate staff on maintaining 4-H Civil Rights files
• Bernalillo County Civil Rights Review (2009)
• Curry County Civil Rights Review (2009)
• Grant County Civil Rights Review (2009)
• Sandoval County Civil Rights Review (2009)
• Socorro County Civil Rights Review (2009)
• Valencia County Civil Rights Review (2009)

Agents received quality training in a variety of subjects, and provided positive feedback regarding overall trainings. Accessibility and timeliness of training has increased through Centra Trainings and New Agent Orientations. Achievement Levels serve to recognize professionals that excel at professional improvement and have been a positive incentive for agents related to attending professional development trainings and serving as resources in teaching

County Extension personnel provide quality educational experiences through cooperation with classroom teachers. 625 students ranging in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade gained knowledge related to nutrition, bike safety, weather, genetics, crops, sun safety, water safety and animal by products through the NM 4-H Cloverbud curriculum, Ag in the Classroom and Progressive Agriculture Safety Day curriculum. Youth gained knowledge relating to mastery and independence by critical thinking, problem solving, cooperation, responsible citizenship and self responsibility as evidenced by doing hands on activities and explaining what they learned as part of the wrap up of the lesson.

County Extension personnel along with community partners provided hands on, quality educational experiences through participating in Progressive Agriculture Farm Safety Day. 1,100 youth in Lea County participated in this event that focused on methamphetamine awareness, bike safety, first aid, 9-1-1, home chemical look a likes, home alone and stranger danger, wildlife safety and water safety. 76% of youth learned life skills related to independence, belonging, mastery and generosity as evidenced by healthy lifestyle choices, personal safety, critical thinking, problem solving, resiliency, and concern for others.

40 4-H youth attending NM 4-H Home Economics School participated in a community service track that provided information regarding service to community ideas to help local pet shelters. Youth made over 50 dozen dog treat to take to the local humane society in Belen, NM. Youth increased knowledge and skills relating to generosity by showing concern for animal health, sharing ways that 4-H clubs can help local dog shelters, volunteering their time to work with animals and responsible citizenship.

80% of Lea County 4-H Clubs participated in service to community activities by assembling 50 cookie baskets to take to local donors, sponsors and buyers who support Lea County 4-H. Youth increased knowledge and skills related to generosity as evidenced by contributing baked goods, time and writing thank you cards.

6 youth representing 6 different County 4-H clubs increased their public speaking and communications skills by providing Radio PSA’s to advertise for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo.