Sunday, May 5, 2024
Part 2
As the 2023 calendar year comes to a close, I’m reminded of the personal growth, celebrations of goals met, and outstanding achievements of our 4-H members. Looking back, it’s extremely rewarding to revisit each month of accomplishments and hard work yielding success in our program. 4-H continues to be the premiere youth organization for helping young people reach personal goals and learn lifelong skills to be successful in whatever endeavors they choose to encounter. From an agent’s perspective, it’s most rewarding to consider how our program impacts the growth and development of the youth of our community. Reflecting back, I’d like to share some highlights that culminate the year of progress made. Here is a list by month of some of my “favorite things” that may or may not have been included in the headlines but are the heart of what we are truly about.
July
-Forty county 4-H youth attended the club officer training where they were taught about their roles as 4-H youth leaders. Skills attained included: knowledge of business meeting agendas, parliamentary procedure, ice breaker speeches, leadership of younger members, and program planning.
-State level 4-H Ambassadors took trips to Europe and Ecuador on leadership tours. Coryell County had six representatives attend.
-The Tri-County Youth Ag Tour (Bosques, Coryell, and McLennan counties) was held for youth interested in learning more about production agriculture and agribusiness.
August
-County & State Ambassadors spoke at the Gatesville Exchange Club meeting, giving a presentation about their tour in Ecuador.
-The Ambassador Team led 4-H Recruitment booths at campuses across the county at Meet the Teacher Events. A new club was formed in Evant.
-Ambassadors packed back- to-school backpacks for children at the Gatesville Care Center.
September
-Range and Plant ID Teams traveled to Lubbock, Canyon, and Amarillo for their senior plant team tour with stops at Tri-State Fair Contest, Palo Duro Canyon, Prairie Dog town, and Cadillac Ranch. Plants were collected along the way.
-Agriculture Awareness Day was presented by the County Ambassador Team to fourth graders, and the 4-H Color Run Recruitment event was held.
-Judge Miller signed the proclamation declaring National 4-H Week after hearing our Senior Ambassadors speak about their 4-H project growth.
October
-Livestock Judging team members spent the weekend in Aggieland competing at the Brazos Valley Fair and AggieFest contests.
-The Plant I.D. team cut, assembled, and delivered sunflowers in bud vases to Hillside Rehabilitation Center, visiting with residents and spreading sunshine indoors.
-Clubs & County Ambassadors celebrated National 4-H Week by completing service projects, handing out 4-H fliers, and assisting with community events, such as National Night Out.
November
-Twenty-five youth competed at the District 8 Quiz Bowl contests representing Coryell County with all three senior teams advancing to State.
-Junior and Senior Leaders 4 Life Teams competed in the District 8 contest exhibiting their skills acquired in parliamentary procedure and meeting operations.
-Ambassadors and club members rang the bell at Walmart in Gatesville and Copperas Cove in support of the Salvation Army Red Kettle collection campaign.
December
-Eighty-five attended the County 4-H Christmas Party and Dance at the Gatesville Civic Center. Youth brought donations for the Care Center, played games, made crafts, learned line dances, and had a blast dancing at the party.
-Twenty youth representing the county competed in the District 8 4-H Food Challenge at Belton.
-Scholarship, Record book, Photography, and Horse Clinic Workshops were held to educate youth and parents on how to be successful at upcoming events.
