Expanded Youth Development

Youth on farms and ranches learn how to do things at a very young age. Saftey is key when young people use a lawn mower or play around a grain elevator. Agent worked with other area agents to teach workshops at the 2011 Farm Safety Camp. Over 100 third graders form 9 different schools plus home schooled children participated. 100% of youth went through 8 different stations leaning about the proper way to be safe. These sessions included everything from lawn mower safety to ATV safety. All youth and sponsors were fed lunch, given an evaluation, and given a bag with educational materials in it. As a result, these youth are prepared to be safe when around equipment or other things that could cause injury if they are not paying attention.

Youth on farms and ranches learn how to do things at a very young age. Saftey is key when young people use a lawn mower or play around a grain elevator. Agent worked with other area agents to teach workshops at the 2010 Farm Safety Camp. Over 130 third graders form 9 different schools plus home schooled children participated. 100% of youth went through 8 different stations leaning about the proper way to be safe. These sessions included everything from lawn mower safety to ATV safety. All youth and sponsors were fed lunch, given an evaluation, and given a bag with educational materials in it. As a result, these youth are prepared to be safe when around equipment or other things that could cause injury if they are not paying attention.

School enrichment programs help reach youth that do not normally participate in the 4-H program. Agent conducted a Bacteria hand washing workshop for grades k-6 in local school system. Agent demonstrated via the Glow Bar lamp how most youth do not wash their hands appropriately and how you must wash for longer periods of time than what they think. It took most youth 3 attempts before they had removed most of the bacteria from their hands. As a result, these youth learned in a "cool" format that to remain healthy and not spread germs, they need to concentrate on washing their hands longer and better.

Ranch tours go along way in educating students because it is a hands on experience. Agent hosted West Texas A&M ranch management class for a 2 day tour of ranch. Agent discussed various aspects of ranching including nutrition, range management, calving season, marketing options, and many other things. Fifteen students increased their knowledge of ranch mangagement in Northeast New Mexico by 25%. As a result, these students can continue to be successfull students of animal science and go on to productive and successfull carreers in agriculture.

Farm Safety Day Camp reaches thousands of kids across the nation and in New Mexico each year. Furthermore, farming and ranching ranks in the top five most dangerous occupations. Therefore, it is a neccessity to reach our youth about the precautions they should take when working on the farm or ranch, or simply around their home.
Agent worked with severl other agents to present farm safety program to over 100 kids representing over 8 schools. Agent taught lawn mower safety to over 100 kids. Kids increased their knowledge of how to safely operate a lawn mower and precautions to take. As a result, these youth can productively help out at home and be safe in operating dangerous equipment.