Youth Development (Eddy County)

The Eddy County 4-H Awards Banquet, “Growing in 4-H”, was held in January to recognize those 4-Hers who completed project record books for the preceding 4-H year. The skills learned and developed through 4-H projects are shown in the youths’ record books. Supporters of the 4-H program in Eddy County were also recognized and given a token of appreciation. Those supporters included past and present 4-H leaders, fair board members, and government officials. Over 100 4-Hers, parents, leaders, and supporters attended the Awards Banquet. The theme was determined by the Home Economist and 4-H Agent so as to point out how youth who participate in 4-H become adults who support 4-H. The Eddy County 4-H Council will coordinate future Awards Banquets, which will allow them to further develop leadership, public speaking and teamwork skills.

The Eddy County 4-H Council had been inactive for a few years in the past. This year, the Home Economist reorganized and reactivated the County Council by encouraging 4-H members from all clubs in the county to attend the first council meeting. A new block and gavel were given to the first three clubs that had members attend three council meetings. The reorganized council has been successful in offering youth from the county more leadership opportunities. Council officers and members are encouraged to lead meetings, discuss and vote on business, and each month different members lead a new recreation activity.4-Hers who attend Council meetings are encouraged to deliver “county news” at their next club meeting. The County 4-H Council prepared early for National 4-H Week by recording radio spots, and asking the County and City governments to declare National 4-H Week in Eddy County. The council meets six times throughout the year to plan and discuss 4-H events and activities both on the county and state level. The Council officers work closely with the Home Economist to develop agendas, manage and council treasury, and communicate with club leaders

In order to encourage more youth to participate in 4-H sewing projects, the Home Economist conducted a series of sewing labs to teach basic sewing skills as taught in 4-H Sewing projects I and II. A total of 16 youth participated in ten labs where they used the skills they learned to complete projects to be modeled in the County and District 4-H Fashion Revues. The projects completed by the 4-Hers were also entered in County and State Fairs. 4-Hers participating in sewing labs learned basic sewing skills such as parts of the machine, threading a machine, fabric selection, measuring and cutting, sewing on buttons, making a waist casing, and basic straight stitching for seams and hems. Other skills taught during the labs pertained to modeling the garments made as projects and focused on posture and hygiene. The skills developed in the sewing labs will be used as 4-Hers pursue more advanced levels of sewing projects. The labs were not only opportunities for the Home Economist to teach sewing skills, but also for older 4-Hers to assist younger 4-Hers while practicing leadership skills even as they developed sewing skills.

The Home Economist was involved in coordinating various practice workshops to train 4-Hers for county, district, and state contests. Novice, Junior, and Senior 4-Hers from Eddy County were taught basic information regarding consumerism and other home economics skills. Once the youth gained a general understanding of the contest and information pertaining to each contest, they practiced in mock contests for Consumer Decision Making, Home Economics Bowl, Home Ec Skill-a-thon, and Parliamentary Procedure. The Home Economist coached a total of twenty five 4-Hers at eight practices. Skills developed by the youth for these contests will be used in real life situations as they choose careers, raise families, and become independent members of society.

The Home Economist assists other county agents and the South West Dairy Farmers organization in planning the annual Kids, Kows and More agriculture expo at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Roswell. Approximately 500 fourth grade students from Artesia and Lake Arthur attend the day-camp and participate in hands-on learning experiences as they learn basic components of agriculture produced in this area of the state, such as dairy, beef, wool, cotton, alfalfa, and more. In planning the agriculture expo, the Home Economist attends planning meetings and assists in preparing lunches for the participants, as well as communicates with schools regarding transportation for Eddy County students to the event.