Opening doors
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sebrina Barrett credits Missouri 4-H for her career path in advocacy and organizational leadership. "It's no surprise that I am running an association," said Barrett, executive director of the Association for Community Living, an organization of not-for-profit agencies in New York State that provide housing and rehabilitation services to people with psychiatric disabilities.
Missouri 4-H youths test knowledge at State 4-H Horse Bowl Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The 2021 University of Missouri Extension State 4-H Horse Bowl Contest gathered 19 youths and their coaches in late March and early April.The contest consisted of an online qualifying exam in March; the top four teams in each age division advanced to the in-person portion in April.Top junior competitors (ages 8-13):First: Bailey Spalding, Jackson County.Second: Elizabeth Pruett, Jackson County.Third: Kelsa Kirk, Jackson…
Mary Beth Mitchell honored with Missouri 4-H volunteer leadership award
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Celebrating National Volunteer Week, the Missouri 4-H Foundation is proud to present Missouri 4-H volunteer Mary Beth Mitchell with the 2021 Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award. Mitchell, of Monroe County, is being recognized for more than 30 years of service and support to Missouri 4-H.
It all started at the show ring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Jenna Hasekamp, a member of the Audrain County F&L Hustlers 4-H Club, is helping to pioneer the participation of Missouri community college teams at livestock judging contests. This fall, Hasekamp will join North Central Missouri College’s livestock judging team, which started last fall and is currently the only Missouri community college team competing in livestock judging.
Missouri 4-H career-readiness programs get $75,000 boost from Healthy Blue's affiliated Foundation
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H has received $75,000 from Healthy Blue’s affiliated Foundation to help young people across the state explore colleges and careers. The 4-H Youth Futures College Within Reach program, developed by the University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, is a college orientation program that includes ongoing local mentoring, campus visits and a conference on the MU campus.
4-H youths test skills at 2021 State 4-H Horse Judging Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension State 4-H Horse Judging Contest took place virtually Feb. 27-28, drawing 81 competing 4-H members, said Maria Calvert, Missouri 4-H state agriculture and natural resources educator.
Marking a 100-year legacy for three Missouri 4-H families
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri 4-H Foundation recently recognized three families with the 2020 Missouri 4-H Century Family Award. Each family represents a combined 100 years or more of membership and volunteer service within 4-H.Bates CountyThe Arnold FamilyPike CountyThe Branstetter FamilyVernon County
Missouri 4-H faculty share expertise in national journals
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H faculty have recently shared their expertise and influence nationally about issues as diverse as programming for youths who are homeless and the decision-making process behind going to the State Fair in the midst of a pandemic. Four articles by Missouri 4-H faculty were published this past December in national journals directed at extension and youth development professionals.
Missouri 4-H'ers warm state with handmade blankets
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H’ers have been hard at work making blankets since the State 4-H Fashion Revue in October. Fifty 4-H’ers from 19 counties donated 72 handmade blankets to Project Linus as a result of a philanthropy challenge at the event.
Missouri afterschool programs receive micro-grants for Global Entrepreneurship Week
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri AfterSchool Network (MASN) announces the selection of seven afterschool programs to receive micro-grants for youth entrepreneurship programs during the 2020-2021 school year. The announcement coincides with Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 16-22, the world’s biggest celebration of entrepreneurship, with millions of event participants and awareness campaigns in 180 countries.
Missouri Care gift to help grow 4-H student nutrition advisory clubs
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H received $25,000 from Missouri Care Inc. to support young people across Missouri in promoting healthy habits in their communities. The 4-H Student Nutrition Advisory Council (SNAC) initiative, piloted last year in the Kansas City metropolitan area, creates new 4-H clubs that focus on teaching nutrition along with leadership and citizenship skills central to 4-H.
FilmFest 4-H helps youths reach beyond state borders
BARDSTOWN, Ky. – As COVID-19 numbers surged in Nelson County, Kentucky, 4-H extension agents Danielle Hagler and Nicole Howard brainstormed a drive-in movie approach for their county awards ceremony with the local 4-H council.
Missouri 4-H wins National Extension Diversity Award
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – “They were the students who were not supposed to make it,” says Donna Garcia. They are young people with the potential to become top scholars and leaders in their communities, but they face obstacles that might make success seem forever out of reach, says Garcia, University of Missouri Extension state 4-H specialist for college and career readiness.
Missouri 4-H: Preparing for the future
How can private and public partners across Missouri strengthen and enhance the state’s workforce? This is the focus of University of Missouri System Engagement Week, Oct. 26-30, in partnership with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The public is invited to register for the session on Thursday, Oct.
Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame inducts new members for 2020
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Making the best better” for generations of Missouri 4-H club members, 44 volunteers joined the Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame. The 2020 inductees, from 36 counties, have established a legacy totaling 1,008 years of service to 4-H.
4-H Goes Online now live through MU Extension 4-H
COLUMBIA, Mo. – This fall, Missouri youths ages 5-18 and the volunteers and faculty who serve them will have access to projects in 4-H Goes Online through Canvas, an easy-to-use online learning platform. Projects will be available in these areas: Clover Kids, Shooting Sports, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Science and Natural Resources, Plant and Animal Science, Healthy Living, Leadership and Personal Development, and…
Missouri 4-H is ready!
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It is a busy time of year in Missouri 4-H. Oct. 1 marked the beginning of the new 4-H year, and faculty, staff and volunteers are busy making sure everyone has what they need to start off right.
Missouri 4-H holds virtual livestock judging contest
COLUMBIA, Mo – The 2020 University of Missouri Extension State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest took place virtually Sept. 12-13. More than 100 youths from across the state applied their evaluation and communication skills in this contest.Youths involved with the livestock judging program develop key life skills to aid in their future career success, says Maria Calvert, state 4-H agriculture and natural resources educator.
Missouri 4-H'er selected as runner-up for national award
COLUMBIA, Mo. – National 4-H Council announced that Drachen Koester, of St. Louis, is a runner-up for the 2021 4-H Youth in Action Pillar Award for Agriculture. Koester is recognized nationally for his commitment to educating youths about the importance of native bees.
Wantland tops 2020 State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest
SEDALIA, Mo. – The State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest looked somewhat different this year, but Lila Wantland remained consistent and led the field in dominating fashion at the Aug. 22 event held at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Wantland repeated her 2019 win, following up 2018 and 2017 victories in the intermediate division.
4-H teens teach Healthy Habits
Teen leaders in the Missouri 4-H Healthy Habits program are promoting nutrition education and food access to underserved youths and families. The program is supported by the National 4-H Council and the Walmart Foundation.
Missouri 4-H launches youth nutrition ambassador program
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Earlier this summer, a special group of Kansas City area teens worked diligently to meet others’ needs in the midst of a pandemic. Part of an innovative new club format, six 4-H members assembled and distributed 54 healthy recipe kits to families through a partnership with the Walmart Foundation and the mobile food pantry at Kansas City’s Ruskin High School.
Missouri 4-H breaking down barriers, welcoming all youths
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H, in partnership with the Missouri After School Network (MASN), now has five faculty members trained as Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualifying Administrators. After attending training in 2019 and 2020, faculty members Donna Garcia, Brad Lademann, Sarah Morefield and Shaun Murphy dove right in, working with youth leaders within the Missouri 4-H State Council, conducting training, assessments…
His time to lead
COLUMBIA, Mo. – For Mike Kateman, selling his grand champion reserve calf, Boots, was a great life lesson, and joining 4-H was just an expectation.“You really learn to be competitive, but to be competitive with yourself in terms of ‘how can I continually do better?’” he said.Growing up in Cooper County, Kateman was a member of the Willing Workers 4-H Club in Blackwater, Missouri. He now serves as assistant vice chancellor for…
Missouri 4-H receives funding to prepare youths for STEM workforce
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H has received funding through the Union Pacific Foundation Local Grants program to support programming to raise awareness, educate and prepare youths for jobs in STEM fields.“The Missouri 4-H Career Exploration program will give rural youth opportunities that could develop into family-supporting jobs like those Union Pacific offers,” said Amanda Meek, University of Missouri Extension state specialist in…