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Michigan 4-H Today
November- December 2015

Welcome to Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development!
Photo of Julie Chapin
"In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, and life cannot be rich without such gratitude. It is so easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements compared with what we owe to the help of others."  Dietrich Bonhoeffer
 
It is again the time of the year when many of our major holidays occur. Thanksgiving is the next of our important celebrations. The quote above expresses my thoughts about the debt of gratitude I owe you - the Michigan 4-H volunteer leaders, parents and staff - for all of the hard work you do on behalf of Michigan's young people. It is easy to lose sight of the abundance of time, skills and treasure you share with the youth in Michigan 4-H, and what a difference it makes in the lives of so many.
 
So, at this time, I would like to say "thanks for giving so much" and I would like to wish you a joyous and healthy season of holidays starting with a very Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Julie Chapin 
 
State Leader, Michigan 4-H Youth Development
Director, MSU Extension Children and Youth Institute

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Impact
Yet again, a young Michigan 4-H'er, 10-year-old Grace Servinski from Manistee County 4-H, has unselfishly donated nearly $1,200 to Munson Healthcare's cancer patient fund. She donated the money in memory of her grandmother and Grace's philanthropic efforts are not over. Find out what Grace is planning next and read all of the details about this inspiring story in this article from 9 & 10 News.
 
It's amazing what great things can be done when two or three inspired people come together and harness their efforts with the goal of building a brighter future for the children in their old neighborhoods. This article, from the Midland Daily News, details the very hard work former Wayne County 4-H'ers are doing to create a community center in an area where they once enjoyed the benefits of Michigan 4-H.

Read this article from the Daily Press; see if you aren't impressed by the way U. P. State Fair livestock buyers banded together, for the second time in two years, to support a 4-H member dealing with a serious health concern. Read last year's story on the Michigan 4-H web site.
 
To find out how the impact 4-H has had on several veteran 4-H'ers, as well as their advice for current 4-H members, read this article in the Sturgis Journal . Then read the final paragraph of this blog posting to find out how 4-H continues to impact the thinking of one Michigan 4-H alumnus. 
4-H Highlights - Past, Present, Future  
Congratulations!
  • Michigan 4-H Legacy Grant - $1,000 each Michigan 4-H Foundation logo
  • 4-H Garden Grant - $1,000
  • On-Target Grant - $500 each
  • NorthStar Cooperative 4-H Dairy Science Grant - $500 each
MFB Excellence in Agriculture logo The Foundation also announced the recipients of the 2015-16 Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) 4-H Excellence in Agriculture awards. The recipients, who will be honored at the Michigan Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in December, are:
Events
Some Wrap-Ups
On June 6, 93 youth from 16 counties participated in the 2015 State 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Expo . Goat show judging Expo results are posted at the link listed.
 
This year's State 4-H Goat Show was held June 27 with 59 youth and 230 goats in attendance. Results can be found at the link above.
 
Results are in from the 2015 Michigan 4-H State Horse Show, held August 7-9. Champion Class Results may be found here and this link will take you to the results by county. Dog
 
The 2015 State 4-H Dog Show was held on August 15 at the MSU Pavilion. There were 191 participants from 29 counties. The results may be found here.

Attached are the results from the August 22 State 4-H Miniature Horse Show.

Way Down the Road, But Requiring Action Soon
Michigan 4-H shooting sports logo The 2016 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships will be held June 26 to July 1 at Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Nebraska. However, the application deadline  is December 1, 2015. If you are interested, contact your local 4-H program staff for details and an application.
 
Awards and Contests 
Do you know someone who possesses the following qualifications? He or she: 
  • Is a 4-H member or recent alumni within the United States, between the ages of 16 and 21.
  • Represents the passions of 4-H youth nationwide, demonstrates outstanding leadership, showcases the essence of 4-H positivity and possesses a proven ability to engage others. 2016 YIA logo
  • Is able to demonstrate how:
    • 4-H personally impacted his or her life and developed leadership skills
    • 4-H has empowered him or her to positively impact family, peers and community; and
    • He or she demonstrated excellence in a 4-H project.
The Youth in Action (YIA) Award honors four 4-H'ers who have gained critical life skills through their 4-H experience and have used those skills to overcome a challenge, or challenges, they have faced. Each winner will receive among other things: a $5,000 scholarship for higher education and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. Additionally, the winner's county will receive a $5,000 grant. Find the complete guidelines and an application here. 
While the final deadline is noon on November 30, check your local 4-H office for the county deadline.
 
If you know an outstanding Michigan 4-H alumnus, why not nominate him or her for the Michigan 4-H Emerald Clover Society (ECS)? ECS nominees must be living. Selection is based on ECS logo evidence of three or more years of 4-H youth membership, professional and business achievement, leadership in community service and philanthropy, contributions to - or impact on - American society, and significant leadership and achievement as a 4-H member. Download a nomination form at the link listed above. Nominations are due to the Michigan 4-H Foundation by January 31, 2016.
   
Beekeeper at work The 2016 National Bee Keeping Essay Contest, sponsored by the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, is now open. This year's essay topic is "Bees and Pollination. How Important is it?" The attached announcement provides guidelines and complete details. Since state selection must be done through the 4-H system, interested Michigan 4-H'ers should contact their local 4-H office for submission details. The Michigan deadline is February 19, 2016.

The World of 7 Billion's student video contest for middle- and high-school students is back. The contest challenges young people to create a short (60 seconds or less) video illustrating the connection between world population growth and one of three global challenges: (1) deforestation, (2) public health or (3) water scarcity. The contest deadline is February 25, 2016.  
Upcoming Events    
November
 
November 27-December 1
Atlanta, Georgia
 
 
 
December
 
December 3
Online
 
December 8
Online
 
December 10
 
December 16
Online
 
 
 
2016
 
January
 
January 8-10
Kettunen Center, Tustin
 
January 13
Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, East Lansing
 
January 15-18
National 4-H Conference Center, Chevy Chase, Maryland
 
January 16
4-H Day at the Breslin
Breslin Center, MSU, East Lansing
 
January 29-31
MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
 
January 30
MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
 
January 30-31
Kettunen Center, Tustin
Help Wanted 
Sharpen Our Focus logo If you are a Michigan 4-H parent, alum or volunteer (anyone over the age of 18), please help Michigan State University Extension  determine where to direct its future efforts by taking this short, online survey. Prior interaction with MSU Extension is not required; so, share this opportunity with friends and family. Although not collected in the survey, input from youth will be solicited through a series of face-to-face meetings. The deadline is January 31, 2016.

  1. Are you between the ages of 13 and 19?
  2. Do you want to have an impact?
  3. Do you have an interest in natural resources, environmental problems, outdoor recreation and/or politics?
If you answered "yes," to the three questions above, check out the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council on the Michigan 4-H web site and on its Facebook page . If you like what you see, apply for membership by December 15. For more information, check with your local 4-H staff. 

Corolla wild horse A North Carolina 4-H member, Michaela Quinlan, is reaching out to 4-H'ers across the country asking rather a simple favor that could have a huge impact. Michaela's 4-H project this year involved the North Carolina Corolla Wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs. These horses, which have been a part of North Carolina's heritage for more than 500 years, are on the endangered list and are almost extinct. Michaela wrote the attached letter to all 100 senators and is hoping that many Michigan 4-Her's will send an edited version of the letter, asking them to support the bill. As Michaela's mom points out, this is a great community-service project. Michaela thanks, in advance, any 4-Her who decides to write his or her senators. Feel free to share her video , as well. More details are contained in this article in the Wake Forest Weekly.
More Michigan 4-H News    
July 21
Would you believe someone paid $4,000 for a gallon of milk? Read it here in this article from the Ionia Sentinel-Standard. It really happened and it was all for a good cause!
 
August 20
4-H'ers from Iosco, Ogemaw and Roscommon Counties spent July 6 to 7 at the Michigan 4-H Forestry Fun Day Camp, where they explored ideas and took part in hands-on, forestry-related activities at the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds in West Branch. Read about all about it here in the August 20 issue of MSU Extension Director Ray Hammerschmidt's MSU Extension Spotlight.
 
August 24
Watch and read this article from the Detroit Free Press. It explains how this year's 4-H Poultry Showmanship event, at the Northwestern Michigan Fair, was conducted without live birds.
 
September 13
Learn here from the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News about a youth science program that Chippewa County 4-H, Lake Superior State University and North Dakota State University are sponsoring. The program seeks to stimulate research about local water-quality issues.
 
September 17
This write-up in the MSU Extension Spotlight describes what a lot of hard work went into making this year's Michigan State Fair such a huge success for MSU's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H.
 
October 15
The STEM Food and Ag Council (SFAC) - a project of STEMconnector® - announced the launch of a new initiative, entitled Feed, Nourish, Thrive to increase the number of people working to feed the planet's growing population through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The initiative aims to inspire the next generation of innovators in food and agricultural production.
Resources   
Grant
MCSC logo The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is awarding minigrants to Michigan organizations who host volunteer projects as part of the 2016 Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service. The minigrants are intended to encourage volunteer projects that address at least one of the eight MCSC focus areas. Complete details and the application are on the MCSC web site. The application deadline is December 11.
 
Program Japanese Labo students welcoming new arrival to Japan
Michigan youth can build global citizenship skills through the Michigan 4-H Exchange to Japan during the summer of 2016. This international exchange is a chance to build friendships and skills that last a lifetime, while learning about the daily life of a Japanese family. This, in itself, provides a much richer experience than traveling as a tourist. The dates for the:
  • Four-week program are July 13 to August 11
  • Eight-week trip (that includes an intensive language program) is June 15 to August 11.
Information on the outbound Japanese exchange including application forms is available on the Michigan 4-H International Exchange web site or by emailing Nancy Victorson, the Japanese Outbound Coordinator. Don't miss this great opportunity! The deadline to apply is December 15. (Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Nguyen).
 
Publications
Animal Science Anywhere logo There are now 11 Animal Science Anywhere lessons online, with three more coming soon. This series is designed to help leaders engage 4-H young people, in teams or individually, in learning more about the science and life skills involved in animal- and veterinary-science projects. The lessons are flexible, providing adaptations for various locations, ages and audiences.

Submission Guidelines

This is a newsletter for and about Michigan 4-H Youth Development. It is a means by which we can communicate with one another and promote our great program impacts, showcase resources, spotlight staff, volunteers, members, alumni and curriculum. Therefore, we want articles that are not only pertinent to Michigan 4-H, but which have the most complete information possible and that will capture the reader's interest.

 

To that end, we are asking you to submit articles that are concise and contain answers to the questions who, what, where, when, how and why. We will be happy to include Internet links that will take the reader to the pertinent information. Therefore, please make sure links are live and take the reader right to the spot with the information not to a general Web page where the reader will have to hunt to find the information. To help highlight articles, we would like to include pictures. So, send us a few pictures with your article. Be sure they are the highest-possible resolution and do not embed them in the text.  

 

Ideas for article content might include those that feature:

1.       Programs (One that is upcoming or has been successfully completed)

2.       Grants (Possibilities, already funded and running or successfully completed)

3.       Scholarships (Possibilities or winner announcements)

4.       Resources (New or updated curricula)

5.       Honors, Awards

 

So we can meet publishing deadlines, please email your articles in Word or WordPerfect (no PDFs) to Priscilla Martin by the 15th of each month.

 

Note: To print a copy of this newsletter complete with formatting, prior to printing from Internet Explorer, go to:

1.       Tools

2.       Select Internet Options

3.       Press Advanced

4.       Scroll down to Printing and check "Print background colors and images"
Contact Information  
Michigan 4-H Today is a bimonthly newsletter for all those interested in 4-H Youth Development programs including its members, parents, volunteers, staff, alumni and retirees. It is published by the   Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development office and it is distributed online.
Please contact Michigan 4-H Today:
 
Priscilla Martin, Editor
Room 240
Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture 
446 West Circle Drive
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-432-7635
Fax: 517-353-4846

 

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ray Hammerschmidt, Interim Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. The name "4-H" and the emblem consisting of a four-leaf clover with stem and the "H" on each leaflet are protected under Title 18 U.S.C. 707.