Youth Development (McKinley County)

4-H Project Workshops are currently offered twice a year. During winter break December 27 & 28, 2007 6 members completed a holiday patch work pillow and learned several weaving patterns. On August 4 & 5, 2008 the second set of project workshops were offered at the McKinley County CES office 5 members attended and completed their projects. The sessions offered scrapbooking, beginning crochet and leathercraft. The goal is to increase the number of members that attend the workshops, but have been very low in attendance. The third workshops are offered before District Contest, members are required to attend contest practice one member attended.

Kids Kows and More 2008- This year on April 18th 900 students and 100 teachers/parents grades 2-5th attended the program. The numbers doubled from last year and teachers indicated that the program has had a positive impact on the students. The students rotated around several stations and learned about ranching from the New Mexico Cowbells’, sheep sheering from Jimmy Plane the Cibola Agent, water awareness was presented by Dr. Willis Fedio, the 4-H program and food safety was presented by Coral Wallace a 4-H senior member and finally the mobile dairy. Each student received a packet with several handouts and other educational items and the teachers received teacher packets. This year several students entered the essay contest and there were several very well written essays.

Cloverbud’s Unite,
after working on several leader training sessions with Dawn Shoultz she embarked on her new venture the first all Cloverbud Club. Her training included Policy and Procedures, Project Planning, and introduction to the Leader’s Handbook she also attended the Leader Forum in September. In October of 2007 Dawn Shoultz from the Red Rock 4-H Club volunteered to head up a Cloverbud Club. McKinley County Cloverbud members from each club were invited to meet once a month as a club focusing on just Cloverbud activities. Eleven Cloverbud’s registered in their traditional club and also met once a month with other Cloverbuds. They met at Gallup Community Pantry held their meetings, they work together on their 4-H discovery program books, and volunteered for several community projects. One of those projects was for the Community Pantry preparing the holiday boxes for underserved community members. They completed Our Animal Friends, Fun with Food, Family Friends and Community, and Eat Smart Play Hard an ICAN curriculum. Each of the members made a Gourd Bird House to enter at the Bi-County Fair and included their Cloverbud discovery books for judging.

2008 Bi-County Fair was held August 28 through September 1st 2008 at Prewitt, New Mexico
This year the indoor 4-H projects entries doubled. 276 entries were turned in from about 50% of our membership. Cloverbuds, Novice, Junior, and Senior 4-H members entered exhibits ranging from Home Ec. projects (baking, sewing, cross-stitch) to ceramics, wood science and electricity. Judging was held on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. and all exhibits were judged by 10:00 p.m. On Friday the Market Lamb Show began at 1:00 p.m. followed by Market Goat, and ended with the Booster Lamb Show at 3:00 p.m.
On August 30, 2008 the day began with Market Swine/Breeding Swine Show and Booster Pig
Show and ended with the Market Steer/Breeding Show. The Public Speaking was also held on Saturday afternoon. Fun activities included the Watermelon Eating Contest (youth/adult), Pet Show and Stick Horse Race, and concluded with the Award Presentation, which were all held on Sunday morning the 31st. A great time was had by all participants.

During the 4-H year members in sewing, leathercraft, NM flavor, etc., attended project workdays on July 23-27, 2008. The workshops are held at the McKinley County Extension office from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Project work days have been offered to anyone who wants to attend for the last 5 years and continue to be successful. These workshops are designed to help members to work on their project and complete it with the help of a leader/agent. In July of 2007 about 20% of the members attend and completed a project. These projects were then entered at the Bi-County Fair during Laborer Day weekend. During the project days members are also introduced to new projects for future enrollment.