Tennessee 4-H Ideas. Pathways to Sustained 4-H Involvement. Dr. Richard Clark

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1 Inside This Issue: College Scholarship Applications Due Ride em Cowboy. Cowgirl Project Portfolios 4-5 Teen Leader Application process: Elec. & VOLSpotlight Denise Routzhan, Robertson County Is it Really Worth it? 9 Tennessee 4-H Ideas Feature Friday 10 Upcoming Events 11 Volume 18, Issue 14 April 6, 2018 Pathways to Sustained 4-H Involvement Dr. Richard Clark Now is the time to transition your school 4-H club members to on-going community 4-H events/project groups/camp or activities for the summer. Continuous long-term 4-H involvement is the key to youth mastering the knowledge and skills they need for lifelong success.

2 Page 2 Reminder: 4-H College Scholarship Applications due to the State Office May 1* Carmen G. Burgos, Extension Specialist We are now using an online 4-H College Scholarship Program to submit scholarship applications. The program is very easy to use. Each section has brief instructions to follow. A summary chart of college scholarships is available on our web site at forms_materials.aspx#16 Note that not all of the scholarships require youth to major in agriculture or attend UTK. Some scholarships are also available to youth who have already completed one year of college so read the guidelines carefully! There is additional information on each scholarship in the Awards and Recognition Handbook, Section VI. The handbook is located on our web site (click on the Green AWARDS circle and select Recognition.) In addition to the summary chart, there are other resources available on the web page to facilitate the process of completing the application. Make sure you read those resources before you start working on the application. Among the resources is a User Guide for the application process. The link to the application program is The online process requires an electronic approval from the county agent before the applicant submits the final application to the state 4 -H office. This feature is to allow the agent to review and give feedback on the content of the application. The applicant can then review and update the information on the application before submitting the document to the state 4-H office. Applications are due on the date announced by the county Extension agent and must be submitted to the state office no later than May 1*. After May 1, the program locks and applications will not be accepted. Listing of 4-H College Scholarships African-American Scholarship - $300 Alpha Gamma Rho Agricultural Scholarship (AGR) - $500 Alan Peace Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 Arthur Wells Memorial Scholarship - $500 Charline H. Powell Scholarship - $1000 Earl Knepp Agricultural Scholarship - $600 Farm Credit Services of Mid-America 4-H Scholarship - $1000 FarmHouse Agricultural Scholarship - $500 Gilbert N. Rhodes Agricultural Scholarship - $1,000 G.L. Herrington Agricultural Scholarship (due 3/1) - $1000 Harold Robbins Agricultural Scholarship - $300 Hamilton-Brown Scholarship - $500 Lovelace-McKinney Scholarship (renewable for 4 years) - $1500/semester Mary Basinger Elliott Memorial Scholarship - $1500 Mary Stanfill Family & Consumer Sciences Scholarship - $200 Mary Stanfill Memorial Scholarship - $1000 Richard Shadden Memorial Scholarship - $250 Stephen McNeil Memorial Scholarship - $500 TEAFCS Scholarship - $500 TFGA Mary B. Cooper Scholarship - $500 Tennessee Farm Bureau Health Plans Nursing Scholarship - $1250 Troy & Susie Johnson Memorial Scholarship - $500 UTK Collegiate 4-H Scholarship - $ W.B. & Imogene Kyker Agricultural Scholarship - $250

3 Page 3 Ride m Cowboy and Cowgirl Timothy Roberts, Ag Extension Agent, Shelby County Prior to the High School Rodeo at Agricenter s Show Place Arena, Shelby County Extension, Agricenter, and the High School Rodeo Association, teamed together to provide a Rodeo class for a local elementary school. These teen leaders shared their love for Rodeo by teaching the youth about the various Rodeo events. Shady Grove Elementary students learned how to rope, tie, barrel race, and be a Rodeo Clown. They also were introduced to a Veterinarian and got to see a demonstration of a Barrel Race. This group of high school rodeo teen leaders missed school for an opportunity to work with younger students to show them what they do on a daily basis. The youth were divided into groups and paired with a teen leader. The teen leaders demonstrated and gave the youth an opportunity to try to see if they could rope. This young cowboy talked about safety around large animals. He showed the youth his saddle and they even got to feel how soft the horse was.

4 Page 4 4-H Project Portfolios Due in State Office by May 1 Minor changes to Portfolio Process for 2018 Don t forget May 1 is the deadline to submit 4-H Project Portfolios to the state office. Again, this year, all submissions will be electronic (either or through the UT Vault) same as last year. You will have until 11:59 p.m. on May 1 to complete the task. Again, I will you within 24 hours to let you know that I have received the portfolio(s) successfully. If you do not hear from me within this time, please double check with me. Remember, we are in the process of moving to a more technology-friendly, web-based portfolio format so minor changes will continue to occur until we reach this goal in A couple of minor changes to portfolios for 2018: Rubric We will use the same scoring rubric as we did in You can see the new rubric by going to the 4-H Website and clicking on Forms and Materials on the top bar. Then scroll down to portfolio. You will find the new rubric listed as Portfolio Score Card, Rubric, Comments Page (2018). It is also listed in the 4-H Roundup section (under Activities ), scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Project Competition or simply click on this link: There are three changes to the rubric and they are as follows: A zero column has been added. This will be used to mark sections of the portfolio that are missing (instead of leaving the section blank and with no score indicated). The Friends, Family and Community section of the Section C Citizenship has been divided. Contestants will be given a score for Friends and Family. They will also be given a separate score for Community. The overall benchmark scores for the Friends, Family and Community have also been divided. So, for example, if in order to get a score of 3, a contestant needed to have a minimum of 10 activities related to friends, family and community... then the contestant now has to have 5 activities for friends and family and 5 activities for community. Contestants may use the same Section C form as in year s past. The form will be changed to reflect the previously-mentioned modifications for In the interim, the judges for citizenship and leadership will be instructed to divide this section and look for the work in family and friends AND community. The ranking on each section of the rubric has also been modified. Instead of being ranked 1-5 on each section, contestants will be scored 1 15 with each of the five benchmark areas of each section having a range of three points. Whew!? Sounds confusing?! Let s make this simple. Last year, the rubric looked like this:

5 Page This year, a three-point range will be provided for each score. This encourages a higher quality of work on the part of the 4-H er and allows for more autonomy of judging by the judges. The rubric now looks like this: How does this work? It s very simple. While a 4-H er may have the minimum number of activities required to receive a score of (formerly 4), the judge may only award a 10 if the quality of the work appears to be mundane, repetitive and not contributing to the growth of knowledge and skill -- which is the objective of the portfolio. Keep in mind, it is about the quality of work not the quantity! SUPER Registration For 2018, in addition to electronically submitting your portfolios, please register EACH portfolio in SUPER. The link to the registration link is as follows: Registration will make it easier to keep up with submissions and hopefully cut down on s and phone calls regarding checks and double checks between you and the State 4-H Office. Level I Narrative/Resume and Interview Based on the recommendations of the Portfolio Workgroup and with approval of the state and regional 4-H staff, Level I competitors will move away from the narrative and to a resume. All Level I contestants, therefore, may submit either a narrative or a resume in their portfolio. State finalists in Level I will NOT use a display during their interview at 4-H Roundup. Instead, Level I finalists should bring a resume with them to the interview just like Level II finalists. Scores All finalists will receive a copy of their scores and judges comments from the portfolio judging on stage the evening of the awards banquet. This is a new format with Showare that was piloted and implemented with success during 4-H Congress. As always, I am happy to answer any questions!

6 Page 6 REMINDER: State Teen Leader Applications Process for Electric Camp & Target Smart Camp Daniel Sarver, Extension Specialist We are approaching the time of year when State Teen Leader Applications for Electric Camp and Target Smart Camp are coming due to your Regional Office. We know that you will have some very anxious teens and families waiting on the outcome of the application process. As a reminder, please be aware of the process. The regional deadline to get the State Teen Leader Applications for Electric Camp to the State 4-H Office is May 1 and the Target Smart Camp deadline to the State 4-H Office is May 15. Here is the process, as outlined on the application: STEP 1: Counties submit application to the Regional Office for review. STEP 2: Regional Offices review the application and either approve or deny for submission to the State 4-H Office STEP 3: State 4-H Office committee reviews applications and approves or denies application STEP 4: All applicants are notified of the results We anticipate receiving many applications, and a committee will be making the critical and painstaking determination of selecting these worthwhile young people to the important role of Camp Teen Leader. Counties should expect the announcement for Electric Camp by May 18, and for Target Smart Camp by June 1.

7 Page 7 Carmen G. Burgos, Extension Specialist A new addition! Vol Spotlight We have outstanding 4-H volunteer leaders throughout the state of Tennessee involved in growing future leaders and expanding learning opportunities for youth and other 4-H volunteer leaders. They bring a diverse set of skills to the county programs and give of their time and resources to youth. Our 4-H volunteers are dedicated and making a difference as they collaborate with county 4-H agents. They plan and implement educational activities, events and provide unique opportunities for youth to experience. They are the significant adults every child needs, in addition to parents. This is the first of a number of articles that will highlight the work of our 4-H volunteer leaders and agents. If you have a volunteer, teen or adult, engaged and contributing to programs in your county, please recognize them by contributing an article for the Vol Spotlight section of our newsletter. Share their accomplishments with youth and the community. The 4-H program has very dedicated agents. Volunteers, share how you work with your agent and how the agent-volunteer partnership is contributing to growing youth in your county. Send your article to Carmen G. Burgos at cburgos@utk.edu. If possible, send a picture of your volunteer or agent (a headshot or an action picture).

8 Page 8 Denise Routzhan, Robertson County Carmen G. Burgos, Extension Specialist 4-H taught me so many life skills that I wanted to keep doing and learning in 4-H. Denise Routzahn is a former 4-H member from Robertson County. As a 4-H member, she was an Honor Club member, an All Star and a Vol state recipient. Her projects work included public speaking, arts and crafts, citizenship and leadership, plus participated on several judging teams. She decided to volunteer with Extension when considering the impact volunteers had on her while growing up in 4-H and realizing the impact that helping one child can have. Denise has served as a 4-H volunteer leader for approximately 25 years! Denise is the organizational leader for the Robertson County 4-H Shooting Sports, currently working with 20 members. She is a certified Shooting Sports instructor. Denise has served youth in Robertson County in many ways, including conducting fundraisers for Shooting Sports and Exchange programs, writing articles about 4-H shooting sports for the Robertson County Times, serving as judge for county 4-H public speaking contest, and assisting with Shooting Sports workshop at Volunteer Leader Forum. In 2012, Denise received the State 4-H Adult Volunteer Leader Award and won a trip to National 4-H Congress. When she won the award and asked to make a comment, she expressed the following: 4-H taught me so many life skills that I wanted to keep doing and learning in 4-H. I have continued to be a believer in 4-H as a volunteer for more than 20 years. It would be an honor and a privilege to finally represent Tennessee at National 4-H Congress! Not only has Denise been involved in developing youth, she has served and provided leadership to a number of committees including as president of the Robertson County Volunteer Association, and is currently serving as one of the Tennessee volunteer representatives on the Southern Region 4-H Volunteer Advisory Group. Besides volunteering with 4-H, her other hobbies and interests are painting and traveling. Denise describes the most rewarding part of volunteering in the community through Robertson County Extension as continuing to contribute to Robertson County 4-H and its motto: To Make the Best Better. She sums us the work Robertson County Extension does in three words: Important Rewarding Priceless

9 Page 9 Is It Really Worth It? Nicole Marrero, Overton County If you are like me, at some point in your year, you ask yourself, Is all this promotion, marketing, long hours, and preparation worth it? Does anyone even notice? I was having one of those days that turned into a week. I felt behind on EVERYTHING. The phone was ringing off the hook and I had a million other things to do besides answer the phone. I answered the phone regardless, this 4- H alumni asked to remain anonymous, so I will call him Chad. Chad said, "I am calling from [far away state], I moved away years ago, but my family was reading the newspaper and saw you look for donations for camp. Can I help?" I was a little worried that I had ed an article to the wrong newspaper, but I cheerfully responded, "Of course, but I have to ask, how on earth did you get a newspaper from here in your current state? Are you sure you are calling the right office? Chad laughs and says, "My family loves reading the local papers from where we grew up. We subscribe to both of Overton s and each month we mail it from family to family and read it. I loved going to camp! I think our group was actually the first to camp there! Did you know it was a POW camp first? I always loved that story...i was also a state vice president and did so many judging teams your head would spin! While our conversation went longer, you could not imagine how big my smile was. I forgot every worry I had and my ears recorded every word he said. This is what late night meetings are about. This is why we write article after article, and promote on every method we can. This is why we spend hours in clubs and camps: for a phone call to happen over 60 years since a 4-H members initial experiences that impacts lives around them for generations to come. If you have had a week that has made you ask some version of the question, Is it Worth it?, I hope you can remember the story of Chad and know the answer is ABSOLUTLY.

10 Page 10 Feature Friday Shelby Brawner, Extension Assistant/Grant Manager

11 4-H Motto: To Make the Best Better ALEC Graduate Program Masters of Science in Agriculture Leadership, Education and Communications (ALEC) Online degree available!! For more information, please visit ag.tennessee.edu/alec Or Call Carrie Ann Stephens Professor, 4-H/ALEC State 4-H Office 2621 Morgan Circle Room 205 Knoxville, TN Phone: Fax: H PLEDGE I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking; My HEART to greater loyalty My HANDS to larger service; and My HEALTH to better living, For my club, my community, my country and my world State 4-H Calendar Upcoming Events April 7-12 April 13 April 13 April 21 National 4-H Conference, Washington, DC Performing Arts Troupe Audition Tapes Due June Dairy Month Posters Due State 4-H Air Rifle & BB Jamboree Want to see your story in Ideas? it to state.4h.office@utk.edu 4h.tennessee.edu TN4hfoundation.org ALEC.utk.edu