Youth Development

The 4-H year has been very busy as usual.

A 4-H member was selected to serve as a State 4-H diplomat.

23 4-H first year members attended the This is 4-H workshop. This workshop gives new 4-H members a better understanding of 4-H and will asssist the new members with their demonstrations, record books, and social skills.

15 contest practices were held to educate and prepare 4-Hers in several contest areas. My goal is to educate the 4-Hers and give them knowledge that they can use in life not just to go and win a contest.
through these educational contset practices the 4-Hers did win the state conference meats contest and will represent New Mexico at the National Contest in Kansas City. Many of the past 4-H members have received full ride scholarships to college because they were succesful in judging in 4-H. To me this is a great impact for our 4-H program.

The annual dinner and pie auction was again a great success. The 4-H council raised $3639.65 for the 4-H program. This money is used to send 4-Hers to SLR, Teen Get Away, Novice Camp, District and State Contests and National Contests.

Through many project vists the 4-Hers had a great year exhibiting their livestock at the county and state fairs. I assisted in raising $10,650.00 to spend at our county fair. The livestock sale was a record in 2007 with the sale bringing in over $130.000.00 to the youth of Torrance County.

Several 4-Hers participated in the State Fair. 10 of the 4-H members made the livestock sale at the State Fair. This is attributed to my assistance and educational advice to the 4-H members. 6 4-H members qaulified to show in the State Fair 4-H horse show, these 4-Hers did very will with one of them being reserve hi point senior.

33 indoor 4-H projects placed first at the New Mexico State fair. The is attributed to the strength of our volunteer leaders and assistance of the extension office staff.

4 4-H members were selected as scholarship winners by the New Mexico Jr. Livestock Foundation.

The Taos County Agent and Extension Program Assistant work deligently this year to promote opportunities and provide educational programs, workshops and conferences for 4-H youth in order that they may have ample opportunities to learn through leadership and citizenship activities over the course of the 4-H year.

The following are programs, workshops and conferences in which Taos County 4-H Youth participated in this 4-H year:
--The Taos County Agent and Extension Program Assistant sponsored an Officer Training and Parliamentary Procedure Training for all 4-H Council Officers as well as for any other 4-H Club Officers and leaders who wished to attend this training. Twenty-one 4-H members and adults participated in this training.
--The County Agent and Extension Program Assistant worked with 4-H Council Officers, members and leaders to put on the Annual 4-H Banquet which is handled solely by 4-H members. Over 125 people were in attendance at this awards banquet.
--Three 4-H senior age members attended a three day Senior Leadership Retreat in Albuquerque.
--Thirteen 4-H members participated in the annual lighting of farolitos at the Town of Taos Plaza.
--Five 4-H Clubs sponsored three game booths at the annual Halloween Carnival held at the Town of Taos.
--One 4-H Club sponsored a "Photos with Santa" picture-taking booth at the annual Yuletide In Taos Arts and Crafts Fair.
--Two 4-H members attend State 4-H Horse School.
--Six 4-H youth and six adults attended District/State Contest Training sponsored by the County Agent and Extension Program Assistant.
--Four 4-H members signed on to establish a Horse Judging Team and a Livestock Judging Team. They attended several training sessions over the course of six weeks. The Horse Judging team came in 9th out of 19 teams and the Livestock Judging team came in 14th out of 29 teams statewide.
--Three 4-H senior age members attended State 4-H Conference at the NMSU campus.
--Two 4-H Clubs participated in the Trek For Trash Campaign sponsored by the Town of Taos.
--One 4-H Club continued their participation in the Adopt-A-Mile highway program sponsored by the State of New Mexico Transportation Department.
--One 4-H Club participated in planted sod and shurbs at the Town of Taos town hall properties.
--Over 80 4-H youth and adults participated in the annual Taos County Fairgrounds Clean Up Day.
--One 4-H Club participated in a visit to the Taos Living Center and performed singing and gift giving.
--Four livestock clinics were held for 4-H members enrolled in livestock projects. One was a total quality assurance program, one was a showmanship program for large livestock, one was a poultry showmanship clinic and one was a rabbit showmanship clinic. Over 120 4-H youth and adults attended these clinics.
--Nineteen 4-H members and two adults attend County 4-H Camp wherein senior age 4-H members were afforded the opportunity to plan, perpare and execute games, workshops and team building acitivities for younger 4-H members.

The above listed programs, events and competitions helped to guide, direct and teach participating youth leadership and citizenship that they can carry throughout life. Participants had an opportunity to and exercised these lessons as they progressed through the 4-H year. One such example was the leadership applied by senior-age 4-H members in planning and conducting 4-H Camp almost all on thier own.
Similarly, our youth were observed helping and teaching each other during county-wide events and activities such as fair preparation days, county fair, annual 4-H banquet planning, 4-H Council Meetings, etc.

Kevin Branum has signed on to support Youth Development within Curry County.

Agent works with FFA youth during judging season to develop life skills in the are of livestock and meat judging. Agent spent over 40 hours preparing students for their contests and teaching them about production agriculture. The youth increased their knowledge of livestock and carcass evaluation by 25%. As a result, they will be able to make critical decisions later on in life.

Woods Houghton has signed on to support Youth Development within Eddy County.