Ohio 4-H Highlights: November 2019
-
New State 4-H Leader Named
The new Ohio 4-H state leader is a familiar face! Kirk Bloir has served as the interim director since September 2018 and was recently named to the position permanently. In this role, Dr. Bloir will provide overall leadership to the Ohio 4-H program. He said, “Ohio State University Extension is blessed to have a talented and dedicated group of 4-H professionals, volunteers, and community supporters across the state. I am excited to continue our collective efforts to build on our strong 4-H foundation and work to expand the reach of 4-H in Ohio to create even more opportunities for us to grow future generations of true leaders.”
Kirk received his BS in adolescent development, MS in human development and family science, and PhD in Extension education from The Ohio State University. He began his career with Ohio State in 1996 as an
Extension agent in Madison County and has since served in several other roles within Extension, including program director in the Department of Human Development and Family Science and in Family and Consumer Sciences administration. Most recently he served four years as the associate state 4-H leader, providing leadership in the areas of risk management, coaching professionals through volunteer and member behavior issues, crises communications and conflict resolution. -
4-H Members Explore Ag Careers
Teens from Adams, Jackson, Pike and Scioto counties traveled to Columbus this month to learn about careers in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at The Ohio State University. 4-H members toured the campus, ate lunch in the Union, and visited a dorm to enjoy the full college experience.
In a follow-up evaluation of the day, all of the teens indicated they had a better understanding of programs offered through CFAES. A highlight was a visit to the CFAES Animal Sciences Meat Lab and presentation from professor Dr. Lyda Garcia. Scioto County 4-H member David Brown said, “I learned so much from Dr. Garcia. She explained how our 4-H meat science projects result in really high-quality products. It connected what we do in 4-H with what happens in meat processing and production in the real world.”
This trip was made possible by a grant from the Ohio 4-H Foundation. Would you like to contribute to programs like this? Consider a gift to the Ohio 4-H Youth Development program.
-
JET Makes a Difference in Dayton
Youth participating in the Job Experience and Training (JET) Program at Adventure Central learn skills to prepare them for the world of work.
Adventure Central is a partnership between Ohio 4-H and Five Rivers Metroparks in Dayton. Minority youth ages eleven to seventeen participated in a comprehensive work-based learning program that emphasized the job skills needed for park-related careers.
During the eight-week summer program, participants worked as camp counselors, in administrative and clerical positions, with nutrition programs and in other parks programs. They also learned employment basics that included how to complete a job application and interview skills.
Youth who completed the program indicated an increase in their self-confidence, leadership skills, knowledge about the workforce, and time management.
You can support Adventure Central and the JET program. Click here to contribute.
-
STEAM in Lima
The fourth annual STEAM on the Quad took place this fall, continuing a partnership between The Ohio State University at Lima and OSU Extension. STEAM includes activities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
The program is a collaboration between Ohio State Lima and the 4-H programs in Putnam, Hardin, Allen, Hancock, Lucas, Auglaize and Logan counties, with support from the Patricia Kunz Brundige Youth Development Fund for Positive Youth Development Research. -
4-H Health Heroes Educate About Teen Vaping
When the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics was preparing a training to educate about adolescent e-cigarette usage, they wanted teens to serve on their advisory panel. Having already developed a presentation on the topic, Ohio 4-H Health Heroes jumped at the chance. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared the current trends in adolescent vaping and e-cigarette use an epidemic.
Vaping has serious health consequences. It’s one thing to educate one’s peers about an important health topic. It’s quite another to be a teen presenting to an auditorium full of adults. But that’s exactly what Ohio 4-H Health Heroes Madelyn Smith, Ivy Smith, and Callia Barwick have done, and have done effectively, according to Dr. Theresa Ferrari, Ohio 4-H Youth Development Specialist who advises the Health Heroes group.
These Ohio 4-H Health Heroes not only provided input into planning the training, they played a key role in the presentations themselves. They led the “myths vs. facts” component, an approach from their earlier presentation that was adapted for the adult audience. They also presented dos and don’ts about effective messaging to teens and promoted a peer-to-peer approach. The regional trainings reached a total of 500 educators and health professionals at four locations (Akron, Columbus, Toledo, and Dayton). “We hope our presentation gave adults better insight as to how to address teens about this issue,” said Madelyn Smith.
Dr. Michelle Dritz, an adolescent medicine physician and the medical director for the Ohio AAP vaping education initiative, believes that it is important to recognize the expertise that teens bring to the table. She noted that the 4-H Health Heroes added an important dimension to the training. “Over the years, I’ve found that few things are as powerful as hearing directly from teens themselves in terms of helping us as adults best help support their health and well-being,” she said.
Interested in supporting Ohio 4-H continue to promote the fourth H – health? Please donate.
-
Faces of Ohio 4-H
They have amazing stories to share, from their personal experience in 4-H to how they give back to the program. This month, we share stories from the Ohio 4-H Foundation staff: Crystal Ott, Ohio 4-H Foundation Manager and Emily Niemann, Program Assistant.
Growing Up with 4-H: Crystal Ott
To Make the Best Better is a motto I took to heart at age nine. I am a third generation 4-H’er, so it has deep roots for me and my family. I was an extremely shy youth and was incredibly nervous about joining 4-H, but had no idea the profound impact it would have on my life.
In my early years, I took more traditional projects such as cooking, sewing, photography and gardening, not realizing I was developing life-skills that benefit me to this day.
Club demonstrations, service projects and project interviews all contributed to the foundation of my work ethic. Each year I worked to make the best better in every aspect of these projects – and it was fun! As I became a teen, I still completed projects, but also became deeply invested in all the leadership opportunities offered by 4-H. I was a camp counselor, attended Citizenship Washington Focus, and served as a junior fair board member and advisor. I realized I was no longer afraid to speak in front of groups and even did some radio spots for the Licking County Extension office!
All these experiences led to my career in 4-H, where I’ve worked for almost ten years. I received a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in Family and Consumer Sciences and then a master’s at The Ohio State University in Extension Education, with a specialization in leadership. As the Ohio 4-H Foundation manager, it is exciting to support the continued growth of Ohio 4-H and share the stories that show the impact of 4-H. I am so fortunate to give back to the program that means so much to me and want other youth to have the same opportunities I had to make the best better.
The Impact of 4-H: Emily Niemann
Some of my earliest memories are of conversations with my mom about her 4-H experiences and what we would name the 4-H club she planned to start when it came time for me to join. We finally decided on Buckeye Barn Busters and in my ten years as a member I completed a wide-range of projects and participated in numerous local and state opportunities.
As an eight-year-old, I never imagined what I might gain from 4-H. I learned so much from projects that ranged from food and nutrition to beef cattle, STEM to sewing, and leadership to crop production. In addition, I served as a club officer, Tech Wizards mentor, junior fair board member, fair queen, camp counselor and Ohio 4-H Teen Ambassador. I also attended Ohio 4-H State Leadership Camp and Citizenship Washington Focus. Through all of those experiences, I made friends from around the state while developing skills in public speaking, mentoring, record keeping, and knowledge of parliamentary procedure. And the most important 4-H lessons I learned were to take advantage of every opportunity and the importance of completing projects.
As I got older, I decided to explore the possibility of 4-H and Extension as a career. This lead me to study community leadership and extension education at The Ohio State University. Now, as a member of the Ohio 4-H Foundation staff, I work with individuals who also have an affinity for 4-H, who recognize the importance of positive youth development, and who work to ensure 4-H is able to grow. Their stories and those of youth inspire me and truly show me that Ohio 4-H is making the best better.
-
Calendar of Events
December 4 – Processed Meats Product Show (Columbus) – 9:15–11:15 a.m., 117 Animal Science Building, 2029 Fyffe Road, Ohio State, Columbus. A variety of meat products developed and produced by CFAES students will be available for tasting and judging. All products are inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and are properly labeled. The show is part of a class taught by Macdonald Wick, a CFAES associate professor.
December 4–5 – Pi Alpha Xi Poinsettia Sale (Columbus) – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Howlett Greenhouse, 680 Vernon Tharp St., Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio. Annual sale benefitting the CFAES chapter of Pi Alpha Xi, the national honor society for horticulture students. You can find more details here or by emailing pialphaxi@gmail.com.
December 5–8 – Forestry Forum Christmas Tree Sale (Columbus) – noon to dark Dec. 5–6, 8 a.m. to dark Dec. 7–8. Annual sale of pines, firs, and others by the students of CFAES’ Forestry Forum, an official student chapter of the Society of American Foresters and the International Society of Arboriculture. Proceeds go to support the group’s scholarships and activities. Click here for more details.
December 6 – ExploreAg Experience at John Deere (Plain City) – 9 a.m. to noon. A hands-on experience to explore various agricultural careers in Ohio. Registration is free, lunch is included. Find more information here.
December 6–7 – Ohio State ATI Flower Shop and Greenhouse Holiday Sale (Wooster) – noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 7, Ohio State ATI, 1328 Dover Road. Annual sale featuring poinsettias in many sizes, types, and colors, including unusual poinsettia trees, all grown by Ohio State ATI greenhouse management students; potted plants grown by Greenhouse Club students; and holiday designs created by floral design and marketing students. Call 330-287-1243 for more details.
December 7 – Home for the Holidays 5K Fun Run (Upper Sandusky) – Enjoy a beautiful run through downtown Upper Sandusky while supporting the Wyandot County 4-H Camp Counselors. The race will start at 9 a.m. and will be followed by a pancake breakfast. Click here for more information and registration.
December 14 – Winter Wonderland (Columbus) – Ohio Military Kids invites you to the 15th Annual Winter Wonderland! Enjoy snacks, crafts, animals, Santa, and much more. There is no cost to attend. Click here to register.