Youth Development (Otero County)

On April 13th the 4-H agent held a record book training morning at the local McDonald’s conference room. We had ten 4-H members and one parent attend. Only 3 of the 4-H members in attendance had ever submitted a record book before so it is encouraging to see these other 4-H members get involved in this important process. The group went over the new Livestock Record sheets in detail and answered questions on the importance of knowing why your animal’s gains a certain amount of weight and amount feed fed. There are vital skills learned through the record keeping process. Record keeping is a skill that these 4-H members will use for the rest of their lives. 80% of the youth in attedance said they gained a better understanding of the 4-H record book process and 90% of them understand now why it is important to keep records of their projects through the 4-H program year.

The 4-H agent visited Buena Vista Elementary, Mountain View Middle School, Imago Dei Academy, Legacy Christian Academy, 2 Home School/4-H Families and Tularosa Elementary in the month of April and presented the Egg to Chick program. Overall the 4-H Agent spoke to 270 students about Glo-Germ and the importance of hand washing. Students learned that eggs have over 7,000 pores and this transparency allows for gases to go back and forth from the egg. The importance of hand washing is not also critical for this program but for their entire lives. The students gained knowledge in the area of egg development, embryology development, and nutritional information about eggs. We also discussed the importance of record keeping skills in collecting data of turning the eggs in the incubator, reading temperature and humidity numbers from the incubator as well. They also gained vital skills in understanding how chicks grow and live once they hatch. As one teacher said, “It was breath taking to candle the eggs and see the chick’s heart beats. I was able to explain to the students that this is how small your heart beat when you were growing.” Another teacher reported, “We had a very successful hatch but with our recorded data information we were able to go back and see why some of the eggs didn’t hatch.”

Thirteen 4-H Members, Leaders and Extension Agents gave presentations at the Mesa Verde Ranch Days on April 28-29, 2009. Over 565 youth from Alamogordo, High Rolls, Tularosa, Cloudcroft and La Luz attended this educational extravaganza. The 4-H station at Mesa Verde Ranch Days presented a program in the form of three stations called, Gardening & Horticulture, Embryology- Egg 2 Chick and Wildlife. Youth gained skills in the area of hand washing, judging fruits and vegetables, learning how to plant seeds, the development stage of poultry embryos, investigating science through being outdoors in NM with wildlife. These youth also learned about many elements in life science such as plant development, recording data with turning eggs and the habitats of wildlife in NM. Many youth remarked they appreciated from the “Hands On Learning.” Many teachers said this was one of the best stations because the program was made for the 4th graders and about science topics they talk about in their science and social studies classes.

The 4-H Agent and County Director presented a program to the State 4-H Officer, Ambassador and Diplomat teams on March 6th, 2009 in Ruidoso, NM. This program was held in conjuction with one of their planning meetings. The State 4-H Specialist asked the Extension Personnel to organize a program and curriculum on, “Tips to being a Great Leader for NM 4-H,” and “How to Create a Workshop.” Fifteen 4-H members and three advisors were present at this program. This audience learned acquired skills on the importance of being a role model to 4-H members, punctuality, organized and the impact of representing an organization such as NM 4-H and NMSU. These members also gained important skills in the area of age appropriate planning for audiences for content and activities. The program also addressed the skills needed such as organization, creative thinking, managing and energy to present a workshop to multiple age levels through their year of service for NM 4-H. One 4-H member said, “This workshop really gave me the tools needed to create workshops at the various 4-H functions. I know understand why it is important to be organized and early to give workshops.”

26 4-H members and their parents attending a Show Goat Clinic for the Meat Goat Project Area on March 7th, 2009. Two 4-H members hosted the clinic at their farm and delivered this program. These two 4-H members gained vital skills in communication and demonstration in this 2 hour presentation on goat husbandry, selection, showmanship and nutrition. The 4-H members who attending this clinic gained very helpful skills to apply to their animal projects. The skills gained were selection of correct animals, nutrition of goats, how to show a goat and record keeping for their 4-H record books.