Youth Development

Showmanship in the 4-H steer and heifer project is important for youth to properly present their projects in a junior livestock show. Youth need experience in grooming, feeding, preparation for show, and showmanship prior to the show to increase their success and knowledge in the beef project. In an effort to educate these youth the agent conducted a steer and heifer training and jackpot for Sierra county youth. 9 youth worked on 10 beef animal projects and gained valuable knowledge in selecting, feeding, presenting, and demonstrating the best qualities of their livestock. Youth were presented awards for there efforts at the completion of the jackpot. This program helps to promote success in the Sierra County Beef project and assists new 4-H members with answers in presenting and demonstrating their projects.

The Sierra County 4-H Council annually hosts a 4-H camp in the Gila National Forest at Burn Cabin Flats. Youth from all over the county participate in educational games and presentations by junior 4-H leaders, County 4-H officers, the agent, and project 4-H leaders. 24 youth along with parents and presenters participated in 4-H camp this year. Youth gained knowledge in leadership by presenting workshops to the group and by leading the games and activities at the camp. Youth experienced a wildlife workshop, knot tying, archery, mapping, scavenger hunt, treasure hunt, using a compass as well as viewing a forest restoration project. Youth also experienced forest wildlife, plants, and an appreciation for the great outdoors. 27 adult leaders and parents participated in and assisted with the camp.

At the request the 4-H advisory committee the agent has continually hosted educational trainings and competition for County, District, and State 4-H competitions. Youth have participated in these trainings to better educate themselves on livestock evaluation, horticulture, insect identification, wool evaluation, crops identification, and rangeland plants. Over 40 youth have annual participated and gained knowledge in their respective areas. In the livestock competitions youth have continually increased their knowledge and skill with hands-on trainings that evaluate livestock animals for market and breeding traits that are desirable in the livestock industry. Youth have increased their knowledge as much as 50% according to score results at competitions and gained knowledge about livestock anatomy and physiology, breed characteristics, management, marketing, and public speaking through presentations. A senior age youth that continually participated in the program will usually obtain scholarships to college and universities and develop a mastery level of knowledge in their respective competitions. During 2007 two graduating seniors received scholarships to universities and are participating in competitions nation wide. These programs offer a valuable skill level that will assist these youth in a related agricultural career later in life and develops critical decision making skills that are essential for success.

Only two percent of the U.S. population currently deals on the regular bases with agriculture and many youth in Sierra County do not know where there food comes from. In an effort to educate youth in Sierra county of the importance of their food supply the agricultural community along with leadership from the agent have banned together to create an annual Agricultural day for community youth. The impact that this program offers to Sierra County youth is the basic understanding of the different aspects of Sierra County agriculture such as wool production, honey production, the importance of insects and their control, farm production, cattle and dairy production, the grocery industry, as well nitch markets in Sierra County. This year over 400 youth attended Ag. Day and gained knowledge of the over whelming ties that agriculture plays in society. Youth were presented a presentation on each agricultural entity and the role that the industry plays. Youth returned to their schools and discussed what they had learned. According to the teachers 95% of the youth understood that with out agriculture and farmland people would not be able to feed themselves. 65% of the youth also pointed out the different industries that were presented and how they are linked to one another. Several stated that they would like to have a career in agriculture.

Beginning in October of 2006, the agent began researching possible ways to recruit new members, retain members, and distribute 4-H literature. The agent decided to begin this process at local schools. Membership in clubs affiliated with these two towns had dropped considerably, and a change or increase was needed to better serve clientale in these communities. At one of the schools, the local club recruited 15 new members, retained 5 previous members, and recruited two new club leaders. The club saw enrollment almost double and members now have a more structured club setting. From this recruitment trip, teachers in the district also began to understand the benefits of 4-H curriculum, and one teacher even utilized some school enrichment plans for a three week summer school course for elementary students. The other community saw a slight increase in new membership, but with factors such as decreased enrollment in the school, the club is more likely to meet the agents medium term objectives in terms of recruitment and retention. Another school community was addressed by the agent in correlation of how school enrichment could fit into the school's curriculum and how this programming method could assist in recruiting new members.