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.
MU Extension, Platte County 4-H Pivots to Meet the Needs of Today’s Youth
Kansas City, MO., October 19, 2020. Meet Emma M., a 3rd year member of Hoover Heroes 4-H Club. She is passionate about increasing her life skills through her interests in entomology (study of bugs). Emma noted that "we need to remember how challenging 2020 was with COVID and what it was like to having to do things online, when we couldn't meet in person. I try to work hard for my club.
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.
Survey Results of COVID-19 Remote Arrangements
University of Missouri Extension Wright County Engagement Specialist Janice Weddle and University of Missouri Extension Douglas County Engagement Specialist Dr. Krista Tate conducted surveys in rural areas to better understand and document outcomes surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic remote work and school arrangements. After analyzing data collected from March to July, the results have been compiled.
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…
Saline County 4-H'ers do a quick pivot to attend county fair
SALINE COUNTY, Mo. – Saline County 4-H’er Audrey Tinoco was all set to compete in the fashion revue, demonstrations, building exhibits and poultry events this summer at the Saline County Fair. Then a family member tested positive for COVID-19, and their 14-day quarantine dashed plans to compete.
Keeping camp alive
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With in-person summer camps canceled due to COVID-19, Missouri 4-H went to work creating new opportunities for youths to make as many summer memories as possible.
Youths compete in 2020 State 4-H Sportfishing Event
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Almost 100 youths participated in the 2020 State 4-H Sportfishing Event, held virtually in June. Missouri 4-H’ers practiced their angling skills at local public fishing areas in a derby to catch the largest fish. They also tested their knowledge of species and tackle identification, aquatic ecosystems, and fish anatomy in the sportfishing “skill-a-thon,” said Maria Calvert, University of Missouri Extension state 4-H…
Competing from your coop: 2020 State 4-H Poultry Day
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Almost 90 Missouri 4-H’ers participated in a poultry judging contest, knowledge exam and photography contest at the 2020 State 4-H Poultry Day, hosted virtually in June.4-H members gained skills in grading eggs and poultry carcasses, identifying poultry cuts, and judging live birds, said Maria Calvert, University of Missouri Extension state 4-H agriculture and natural resource science educator.
Roots of resilience run deep in 4-H and agriculture: a reflection
Resilience. The agriculture industry is all too familiar with this word. When I stop and think about what resilience means to me, I am taken back to my childhood when my grandparents would share stories of what it was like for them growing up during the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. I found it unimaginable when my grandpa shared how they had to tie ropes from the house to the barns so that they could find their way to do chores.
Show Me Resilience T-shirt campaign raises almost $1,000 for Feeding Missouri
Good news! Thanks to those who responded to the #ShowMeResilience T-shirt campaign, almost $1,000 was donated last month to Feeding Missouri! The T-shirt captures the spirit of Missourians’ response to challenges around COVID-19 and was part of continuing efforts to help Feeding Missouri, the coalition of the six food banks across the state.
MU Extension announces '4-H Goes Online'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Starting this fall, Missouri 4-H will be able to reach more youths and families across the state through an easy-to-use online learning platform called Canvas that brings 4-H project-based learning directly into the home.
Birth order effects on personality and intelligence
“Birth order and it’s effects on the person has been fascinating scientists and the general public for at least one hundred years,” says Janice Weddle, County Engagement Specialist in Youth Development for the University of Missouri Extension. There have been several studies to try to pinpoint birth order effects on intelligence and personality, but results are met with criticism due to many factors, like the confounds of the…
Macon County 4-H club transitions to remote learning during COVID-19
Aaron Baker. ATLANTA, Mo. – 4-H club leader Aaron Baker says transitioning online was easy for 4-H’ers, and adults are the ones playing catchup.
4-H alumnus profile: Richard Maltsbarger
“In good times, 4-H is a wonderful resource to help develop the youth of America and around the world. In hard times, like what we’re going to feel through this crisis and into the coming recession, that value expands exponentially,” said Richard Maltsbarger, president and CEO of Pet Retail Brands, a multinational pet products company.Maltsbarger is also a 4-H alumnus from Pettis County, Missouri, and member of the National 4-H Council…