4-H Alberta Magazine - Winter 2016

PM41132526. If undeliverable as addressed, please return with the forwarding address to: 4-H Branch, 200-7000 113 Street, Edmonton, AB T6H 5T6.

WINTER 2016 // www.4h.ab.caVOLUME 12 ISSUE 1

PUBLIC SPEAKING: BENEFITS FOR THE FUTURE

page 17

HOLDING EXECUTIVE POSITIONS: A PRICELESS EXPERIENCE

page 22

JUDGING: THE ART OF EVALUATION

page 31

YOUR DEPENDABLE PARTNER. Rocky Mountain Equipment is a dependable partner in the community and in the field. We are proud to invest in our youth by supporting the 4-H clubs of Alberta. Serving the growing interest in agriculture, one member at a time.

Visit one of our 25 locations across Alberta and see for yourself why Rocky Mountain Equipment is the dependable choice.

DEPENDABLE IS WHAT WE DO.

ROCKYMTN.COM

WINTER 2016 // www.4h.ab.ca 1

SUBMISSION GUIDELINESYour stories and photos are important to us, and we want to publish

them in the next issue of the 4-H Alberta Magazine. Please send your stories and photos to Editor of the 4-H Alberta Magazine, at [email protected] to be considered for inclusion in the next Issue.

Tips for submitting stories and photos to the 4-H Alberta Magazine:

Stories: - Should be approximately 200 words in length.

- Should include the authors name and title. (ie. Jillian Jackson, Club Reporter, Sunnyside 4-H Club)

- Should include related photos with captions. (ie. Members of the Sunnyside 4-H Club brave the cold for their Community Service Activity.)

Photos: - Should be sent as email attachments rather than embedded

images.

- Should be a large file size, 1MB or larger is preferred.

4-H ALBERTA MAGAZINE

Guest Editor:Naomi Carter, Extension and Information Packaging Consultant,

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

Editorial Group: Collaborative effort between the 4-H Branch, 4-H Council, 4-H

Foundation of Alberta and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

Design and Layout:Perpetual Notion Design Inc. www.perpetualnotion.ca

Distribution: TBD

ADVERTISING INQUIRESPlease direct advertising inquiries to the Coordinator of Corporate

Partnerships with the 4-H Foundation of Alberta, Rae-Lee Erickson, at P: 587.999.2240 or E: [email protected].

Cert no. SW-COC-1383

On the Cover4-H senior members having fun in the snow at Senior Members Conference.

4-H Motto: "Learn to do by doing."

4-H Pledge: I pledge My head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, My health to better living, For my club, my community and my country.

Contents2 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR3 4-HIN THE KNOW12 LEADERSHIP16 COMMUNICATIONS22 LIFE SKILLS31 TRAVEL GLOBAL 4-H39 UNTIL NEXT TIME

2 www.4h.ab.ca // WINTER 2016

Contact Us4-H Alberta has a number of people who would be happy to assist you and to answer any questions that you may have. For a complete list of 4-H Branch staff, 4-H Foundation of Alberta staff and 4-H Council of Alberta staff and directors, please visit www.4h.ab.ca/contact.

4-H BRANCH P: 780.422.4444 E: [email protected] 97 EAST LAKE RAMP NE AIRDRIE AB T4A 0C3

Director: Marguerite Stark P: 403.948.8510 E: [email protected] Regional Specialist - Calgary: TBD P: 403.948.8501 Specialist - Communications & Marketing: Jalisa Barnett P: 403.948.1521 E: [email protected] Specialist - Programs: Katelyn Strang P: 403.948.8509 E: [email protected]

EDMONTON RM 200, 7000 - 113 ST EDMONTON AB T6H 5T6

Manager - Communications & Learning Tools: Shari Kubinec Smith P: 780.641.8892 E: [email protected] Coordinator - Electronic Systems: Corinne Skulmoski P: 780.427.4340 E: [email protected] Coordinator - Marketing & Learning Tools: Cindy Kremer P: 780.427.4309 E: [email protected] Assistant - Club Supplies Distribution: Jennifer Rutter P: 780.422.4444 E: [email protected] Specialist Volunteer Development: Alesha Hill P: 780.644.8550 E: [email protected]

LETHBRIDGE 100 5401-1 AVE LETHBRIDGE AB T1J 4V6

Regional Specialist - South: Ginny Smith P: 403.381.5815 E: [email protected]

STETTLER BOX 600, 4705-49 AVE STETTLER AB T0C 2L0

Regional Specialist - East & West Central: Yvonne Yaremcio P: 403.742.7547 E: [email protected]

BARRHEAD BOX 4560, 6203-49 ST BARRHEAD AB T7N 1A4

Regional Specialist - Northwest: Stacy Murray P: 780.674.8250 E: [email protected]

VERMILION BOX 24, 4701-52 ST VERMILION AB T9X 1J9

Regional Specialist - Northeast: Shelly Ann Dodgson P: 780.853.8115 E: [email protected]

FAIRVIEW BOX 159, 10209-109 ST FAIRVIEW AB T0H 1L0

Regional Specialist - Peace: Alexia Hoy P: 780.835.7537 E: [email protected]

4-H FOUNDATION P: 877.682.2153 TF: 1.877.682.2153 OF ALBERTA E: [email protected] Follow @4HFoundationAB on Twitter

WESTEROSE RR1 WESTEROSE AB T0C 2V0

Chief Executive Officer: Bruce Banks P: 780.621.8265 E: [email protected] Director - Alberta 4-H Centre: Meredith Hazen P: 780.898.3220 E: [email protected] Director - Corporate Partnerships: Lisa Patzer P: 780.352.1148 E: [email protected] Director - Finance & Administration: Joan Stone P: 780.898.7823 E: [email protected]

CALGARY 13-4101 19 ST NE CALGARY AB T2E 7C4

Manager - Corporate Partnerships: Rae-Lee Erickson P: 587.999.2240 E: [email protected] Corporate Partnerships Coordinator: A.J. Smith P: 587.583.1152 E: [email protected]

4-H COUNCIL P: 877.682.2244 E: [email protected] OF ALBERTA

WESTEROSE RR1 SITE 7 BOX 1 WESTEROSE AB T0C 2V0

Executive Director: Susann Stone P: 780.898.4223 E: [email protected]

Letter from the EditorNAOMI CARTER, Alumnus, Birch Lake Bitsn Spurs 4-H Light Horse Club

Its funny, as I am reading through the submissions for this edition of the 4-H Alberta Magazine, I have spent a great deal of time reminiscing on my years in 4-H. Perhaps it is not funny that reading about all of the fantastic things the 4-H family is doing would be reminding me of days gone by; perhaps it is more specifically what I am remembering. This time of year I would always re-visit the objec-tives I had set out for the year in my record book. And in my senior years of 4-H, I had one recurring objective, stay organized.

I think why organization has come to front of mind so frequently while reading through this editions submissions is because you, the 4-H family, are doing such an incredible job of it! On page 17 David MacTaggart (Canadian Young Speaker Champion) shares his story of how to organize oneself for a successful public speaking experience in, Public Speaking: Benefits for the Future. Starting on page 22 Megan Dorscheid of the Da-She-Be 4-H Multi Club shares her experi-ence holding executive positions and the organizational skills she has developed in, Holding Executive Positions: A Priceless Experience.

If you arent convinced that organization is an integral part of the 4-H program (or youre still wondering why I am thinking about orga-nization) the 4-H Branch has a host of resources and information to share that may change your mind! Looking to the Future of 4-H Alberta, on page 4 is an inside glimpse of how the recent 4-H Needs Assessment has been organized. On page 19, find a phenomenal summary on, Organizing a Communication Activity. Whether you are a junior, intermediate or senior member or a club leader or parent, 4-H Alberta has so many incredible tools and resources to help you stay organized!

Lastly, why organization is running through my mind, and perhaps youve already noticed as you took a quick glimpse through this edition of the 4-H Alberta Magazine, is that we have done some re-organizing of our own. Our four main focus areas for this edition have been organized into Leadership, Communications, Life Skills and Travel-Global 4-H. More important than new sections in this magazine, however, is what you, our 4-H family, think of this new organization. Wed love to hear from you at [email protected]! Tell us if this new organization is a strong reflection of the stories and resources we have to share, or do you have other ideas?

It has been such a pleasure to be involved with 4-H once again, even if only through the pages of this magazine. Trust me when I say that 4-H stays with youthrough leadership, through communica-tion, through life skills (including organization!), through travel. I wish you well, 4-H familystay warm, stay organized and keep 4-Hn!


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4-HIn the Know4-H Canadas New Look4-H CANADA

4-H Canada has a cool new logo! For the first time in over 25 years, the iconic 4-H Canada clover logo was redesigned to highlight a modern era of 4-Hers, while remaining true to the roots and heritage that make 4-H such a strong movement in Canada.

In 2014, a task force, including one of the Youth Advisory Committee representatives, was created to undertake this project, and after months of hard work they sure did deliver! The logo is fresh, bright and undeni-ably 4-H.

One of the most exciting aspects of the new logo is that you can add your club name and use it anytime you like in your own com-munities to show pride in your club. All you need to do to is to use the Clovermatic Club Logo Generator, which is an online app on the 4-H Canada website! You can also customize certain items in the 4-H Canada retail store to include your club and province.

Show 4-H Canada your club logo on social media by tagging 4-H Canada, and using the hashtag #4HClover, in photos where your new club logo appears!

To learn more about the new brand, and to create YO U R club logo, v is i t 4-H-Canada.ca/brand.


4-H Alberta Management Committee Update

Since the Collaborative Agreement Letter of Intent was signed in March of 2015, the 4-H Alberta Management Committee (4-H Foundation Chair, 4-H Council President and Executive Director of GOAs Rural Development Division) has met several times. The first action was to establish an Operations Committee, which enables the head staff of each of the three 4-H partners to work col-laboratively to oversee the daily operations of 4-H Alberta.

The Management Committee has also requested that a comprehensive Needs Assessment be carried out for 4-H Alberta. This will ensure that the needs of our members will be properly addressed, by creating a collaborative plan of action based on the results of this assessment. We look forward to these results. (Read more about the Needs Assessment in, Looking to the Future of 4-H Alberta, below)

We have also worked extensively on developing a Terms of Refer-ence for the Management Committee, with some welcome guidance in this process from Government of Alberta staff. We have developed a decision-making flowchart which should help the 4-H community understand the structure that the 4-H partners have established.

We are very encouraged by the positive collaborative environment that has been created through this Letter of Intent, and we look forward to many more positive developments moving forward. If there are any questions regarding this update, please contact one of the 4-H Alberta Management Committee members for more information:

Andy Pittman, 4-H Council of Alberta [email protected]

Arron Madson, 4-H Foundation of Alberta [email protected]

Rod Carlyon, Government of Alberta [email protected]

Looking to the Future of 4-H Alberta4-H BRANCH

The 4-H Alberta Needs Assessment is entering its final phases. Many thanks to all of the members, parents and volunteer leaders who took part in focus groups and completed the survey. The needs assessment was designed by a team of people from the 4-H Branch, the 4-H Foundation and the Provincial Council. When the team sat down to begin work on the project, it was clear that the key to success was to ensure that we got as much input from our various stakeholders as possible. Since a needs assessment of this magnitude has not been conducted in decades, the team agreed that we wanted to look at all areas of the organization to determine what was going well, and where improvements could be made. The goal is to ensure the results are a true representation of the opinions of our members, leaders and parents.

A competition was held for a contractor to conduct the research. After reviewing a number of proposals, Leger was the winning appli-cant. Leger has over 600 employees across the country and the Alberta team brought an incomparable level of research expertise.

The project was divided into four phases. The first phase included 17 focus groups throughout the province where participants were asked to describe what they saw as the ideal for 4-H Alberta. At the end of phase 1, a report was completed identifying the various themes

determined through the focus groups. In phase 2, a large scale survey was conducted to gain further insight into the viewpoints of our stake-holders. At the time of publishing, Leger is compiling the mounds of data gathered. Phase 3 of the needs assessment is an analysis of the gap between the ideal situation and the current situation. By identify-ing the gap we are able to develop recommendations and strategies for the future of 4-H Alberta.

The fourth phase of the project is finalizing the report and com-municating the results. Stay tuned to the 4-H Alberta website and Facebook for the results of the needs assessment project.

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Janet Kerr

Changes in the 4-H Branch4-H BRANCH

Last August, the 4-H Branch, the East Central/ West Central 4-H Regions, and the Northeast Region wished Janet Kerr and Leila Hickman all the best as they left the 4-H program to start new careers teaching at Lakeland College. Both Janet and Leila left a legacy of passion for positive youth development, agriculture advocacy and commitment to the 4-H program. Together they had dedicated over 35 years of service to 4-H members and leaders across Alberta. We all wish them every success in their new careers and we know that they will both continue to inspire youth in agricul-ture for years to come!

In addition to the departure of Janet and Leila, Barry Carlson has moved on from the 4-H Branch. Barry has been with the Branch for almost 3 years working in the stock room, packing supplies, sorting out farm safety displays, assisting with administration, data entry and phones. He has also been involved with 4-H as a member, leader, regional volunteer coordinating the Northwest Regional Winter Camp for several years, and helping out at provincial programs such as Club Week. Good luck Barry!

And in December, Andrea Church accepted a position as a beef specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry after being the 4-H specialist for the Calgary Region for the past 4 years. As a 4-H parent, Andrea will continue her involvement with 4-H, and will now share her expertise with Albertas beef industry.

The 4-H Branch is pleased and excited to welcome two new 4-H Specialists!

Yvonne Yaremcio is our new 4-H specialist for the East Central and West Central 4-H Regions working from the Stettler 4-H office. Yvonne has been involved with 4-H at many levels for over 25 years! She has been a 4-H specialist in the Northeast Region, a contract writer for project materials used in 4-H, a district agriculturist as well as beef specialist and most recently was a project manager with 4-H assisting with our provincial advisory committees as well as Leaders Conference and Selections.

Yvonne describes herself as a dedicated team player who is com-mitted to providing a positive experience to all of the 4-H members, leaders volunteers and parents she will work with. She is very excited to be part of our team!

Shelly-Ann Dodgson is the new face in the Vermilion office and is our 4-H Specialist for the Northeast Region. Shelly-Ann is also no stranger to 4-H and has been involved in 4-H in the Northwest Region at the club, district, regional and provincial levels. As a past member, key leader and parent, as well as a past regional 4-H assistant Shelly-Ann will bring a strong 4-H background to her new position. Shelly Anns strong agriculture and teaching background as well as her passion for 4-H has kept her involved in 4-H as a leader and dedicated committee member.

Shelly-Ann describes herself as a person who thrives on opportu-nities and believes in committing oneself to developing and promot-ing the visions of others. She is looking forward to working with 4-H in the NorthEast Region and supporting our youth to gain a competitive advantage in their futures!

4-H welcomes both of these enthusiastic staff to the 4-H family, and we are looking forward to the other new staff joining us.

Yvonne Yaremcio Shelly-Ann Dodgson

Leila Hickman

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Andrea ChurchBarry Carlson


National Scholarships4-H CANADA

3 Reasons to Apply for Scholarships

Applying for scholarships is an awesome way to start your post-secondary career, because it gets you to think about what you want to achieve at school and in your future career. It also gives you a great opportunity to use those communications skills 4-Hers are known for and tell the story of how your experiences with 4-H Canada have shaped your future aspirations.

Scholarships are a fantastic way to cut down on the cost of post-secondary tuition, books, and living expenses. Bonus: they dont need to be repaid!

The scholarship process can be a really great networking tool too! Writing letters of thanks to the scholarship provider is a must, so take the opportunity to build relationships whenever you can. Plus, schol-arships look great on your resume.

Keep an eye out for 2016 scholarship opportunities on the 4-H-Canada.ca!

Alberta 4-Hers Receive 4-H Canada Scholarships

TD 4-H Agriculture ScholarshipsThanks to the support of TD, 12 4-Hers across Canada, including Cayler Peltzer from Alberta, received a $2,500 post-secondary schol-arship for the 2015-2016 school year to pursue an education in agri-culture, ag-science or agri-business.

John Deere Canada 4-H ScholarshipsJohn Deere Canada generously provided 15 4-Hers across Canada, including three 4-H Alberta members, with $1,000 each, to put toward their post-secondary education for the 2015-2016 school year.

Cassidy Barnert

Aaryn Lynham

Megan Wanchuk

Weston Family 4-H Agricultural ScholarshipsThrough the generosity of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, 15 full year tuition scholarships with a total value of $100,000 were awarded to 4-H members from across Canada, including three from Alberta, who are attending a Canadian university in 2015-2016, pursuing an agricultural-based degree.

Cassidy Barnert

Casey Morey

Melanie Krupa

4-H Sheep Project Member Named 2015 Premiers Award Recipient 4-H BRANCH

Each May at the Selections program, 4-H Alberta chooses fourteen senior 4-H members to be Ambassadors for the 4-H program for a two year term. In addition to being named as an Ambassador, one individual is also named the Premiers Award recipient. This year at the Awards Breakfast, Brennan Munro of the Calgary 4-H region heard her name announced as the 2015 Premiers Award recipient. Brennan has been a member of the Irricana Beef & Multi 4-H Club for nine years, which comes as no surprise considering that 4-H mem-bership has been a long-standing tradition of her familys. During her time as a member, Brennan has truly experienced 4-H. Shes under-taken a variety of projects and executive positions at the club level and has participated in countless events and opportunities at the district, regional and provincial levels of the organization. Shes a member that has taken full advantage of the program, and is therefore extremely qualified to speak to others about all that 4-H has to offer.

Brennan is also a recognizable member and advocate of 4-H Albertas sheep project. Being the first in her family to participate in the sheep project, shes done and learned a lot with it. Shes had yearling ewes, ewe lambs, market lambs as well as a pen project. After her many years in the project, Brennan now has a flock of her very own. This summer at her final 4-H on Parade as a member, she proudly led her market lamb into the ring as it was announced Grand Champion market lamb. Along with her achievement at 4-H on Parade, some of Brennans 4-H highlights this year included: being a counsellor at some of her favorite 4-H camps, being named the top judge at the 2014 Provincial 4-H Alberta Judging Competition and being named the 2015 Premiers Award recipient. This past fall, Brennan began at the University of Alberta in pursuit of an education that will hopefully lead to a career as a veterinarian.

4-H Alberta Ambassadors and Premiers Award recipients are chosen based on their dedication and contributions to the program along with their demonstrated communication and leadership capa-bilities. Brennan couldnt be a more deserving recipient. Congratula-tions Brennan!

Brennan Munro receives Premiers Award from John Brown, acting Assistant Deputy Minister of the Industry and Rural Development Sector, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

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New Sponsorship Initiatives4-H FOUNDATION OF ALBERTA

4-H Foundation of Alberta is pleased to announce an exciting and innovative new sponsorship initiative with two of its Legacy Builder Sponsors - UFA Co-operative Ltd. and ATB Agriculture. UFA has launched a new accounts program which will allow 4-H Alberta members to open an account with UFA that will help them to purchase all the necessary tools, equipment, and feed that they need to complete and work with their 4-H projects throughout the year. At the end of each 4-H year they will then pay off the account. The account will be interest free until July 31st of each 4-H year.

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This new account system will help 4-H Alberta members to build more life skills as they learn to manage their money and budget their spending as they work on their project throughout the year. This unique opportunity will allow 4-H members to begin to handle their own finances and learn about the business side of their marketable livestock projects.

4-H Foundation of Alberta is pleased to have UFA present this type of account as a complimentary partner to the current ATB Agri-culture 4-H Loans program. The ATB Agriculture 4-H Loans Program allows 4-H Alberta members to receive a no fees loan up to $5,000 to assist them with the purchase of their 4-H project. They can then pay off the loan at the end of the 4-H year when they sell their project. The 4-H Loans program is open to any marketable 4-H project, equine project, and other 4-H projects subject to approval.

More information on each program, and applications, can be found at ufa.com and your local branch or atb.com.

An Inspired Vision of Community CaringJOANNE MCMAHON, Assistant Leader, Hastings Coulee 4-H Beef Club

The philosophy of 4-H is young people and adults learning project and life skills, cooperating and having fun together, sharing leadership and learning to do by doing. Through an inspired vision, a desire to help others and some great organization, the Hastings Coulee 4-H Beef Club has integrated this philosophy in a project that gives back to their community.Everyone has ideas; it is the ones that act on these ideas that make things happen. This just recently happened in our Hastings Coulee 4-H Beef Club (Woodworking Project). One of our leaders came up

with the idea to make wooden stars. One of our parents thought the kids could make a bunch and sell them for Christmas. Another leader put the idea in motion, organized a work bee and advertised on Facebook. Boom! Our kids woodworking skills and hard work have been put to good use and they have built, stained and delivered over 70 beautiful wooden stars. These kids have raised over $1000 for the Flagstaff Food Bank.

Ideas wont keep. Something must be done about them. - Alfred North Whitehead

Our local food bank is very thankful for this contribution as they have so many people using the food bank, and have many empty shelves. The donation from our 4-H Club will help to fill those shelves. Our Hastings Coulee 4-H Club kids will be helping with set-up and take-down for our Countys Christmas Sharing program. And their donation of time, skills and money will help families in need in our communities. Learn to do by doing, at its best!


CAPLs First Annual Spring Barn Burner: Wonderfully Successful!4-H FOUNDATION OF ALBERTA

Over the past 10 years the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen (CAPL) has raised over $134,000 for 4-H Alberta through its annual Steer Classic Raffle. In 2015 CAPL tried something new and it was wonderfully successful! The 4-H Foundation of Alberta is thrilled with the results of the first annual CAPL Spring Barn Burner, an outstanding event from start to finish. The evening was full of dancing to great country music by feature act, Aaron Pritchett and special guests Tanya Ryan and Lyndsay Butler. This brand-new fundraiser was a fun CAPL event that simultaneously raised dollars for 4-H Alberta!

Thank you to CAPL for all of its fundraising efforts; over $20,000 was raised from the 2015 Spring Barn Burner! A special thank you to the 2015 CAPL Barn Burner Committee for doing such an amazing job with planning, organizing, and making this event possible. Funds raised as a result of this years fundraiser will be contributed to CAPLs areas of support within 4-H Alberta: 4-H Alberta Regional Communi-cations, 4-H Alberta Summer Camping, 4-H Alberta Club Week, and two separate annual 4-H Alberta Scholarships.

Thank you to all who purchased tickets and came out on May 7, 2015 to Cowboys Dance Hall in support of this event. Thanks to the generosity of our dedicated Corporate Partners, such as CAPL, and

From left to right: Dean Gould, Terry Gottenbos, Alexa Birchall, Janice Redmond, Aaron Prichett, Terry Cutting, Alexis Hoeltzel, Todd Elligson, Michelle Holt

the community, 4-H is able to continue enriching the lives of young people all across Alberta.

This years second annual Barn Burner is scheduled for Thursday, April 14, 2016. It will once again be held at Cowboys Dancehall in Calgary. Please stay tuned for further details!

For more information please contact Rae-Lee Erickson; [email protected].

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Benefits of 4-H to the Youth of CanadaLUKE TITFORD, Alumnus, Rocky South Beef Club

Young people who grow up in Canada without the opportu-nity to participate in some type of 4-H program dont know what they are missing out on! My three siblings and I have been in 4-H since the age of nine which makes for a lot of combined 4-H years because the younger family members are taken along to the different 4-H functions until they are old enough to safely par-ticipate. Our family time spent together in 4-H are some of my most cherished memories. I believe young Canadians are so fortunate to have access to such a variety of 4-H programs across Canada and that invaluable life lessons are learned along the way.

4-H clubs in Canada are the foundation for bringing many families together with similar interests but sometimes vastly differ-ent backgrounds and levels of experience. Friendships are formed between children and adults that often last a lifetime. Everyone is able to share their knowledge at different meetings and functions so that everyone can learn from each other. It doesnt matter what club you belong to because the 4-H motto is the same for all; learn to do by doing.

Participating in the different compulsory aspects of 4-H teaches people many important life skills that will help them cope with future challenges. For example, public speaking can be very intimidating

Luke Titford

and terrifying for some people but with practice and persistence each year it becomes a little less frightening. Being a proficient public speaker will be a definite advantage in ones post-secondary educa-tion or career because it will add confidence to ones personality

Judging is a very important skill that is used every day by every Canadian. Formal judging competitions encourage 4-H members to think quickly and form an opinion; and then they have the opportunity to justify their decision. 4-H helps foster interpersonal communica-tion, cooperation with others and helps one to enjoy friendly com-petition. It teaches one to win with humility and to lose gracefully.

Participation in programs like Highway Clean Up and completing community services helps us to appreciate what we have and teaches the value of giving back to the community. The businesses and people of Rocky Mountain House are very generous and give so much support to the various 4-H programs. We are so fortunate. The social interactions from participating in all the awesome activities formed many great memories that will last a lifetime.

It can be said that 4-H has taught me how to be a more confident, conscientious person who has more compassion for animals and other human beings. It has helped me develop a strong work ethic that I will take forth with me in life because 4-H has proven to me how hard work really does pay off. I hope to enrol my children in 4-H one day so they too can experience the incredible journey of personal development I have through this outstanding program.

* This essay was originally submitted for the West Central Regional Scholarship and has been edited to fit in this publication.


Introducing the new ATB 4-H MasterCard program.ATB Financial and the 4-H Foundation of Alberta are very excited about this new MasterCard program that makes it easy for you to give a little and get a lot. For every approved MasterCard, ATB pays:

$25 to the 4-H Foundation of Alberta. $25 to your local club. $30 to you when you make your first purchase within 60 days! Its our way of saying thank you

for supporting 4-H Alberta.

Thats not allthe 4-H MasterCard will keep on paying. Youll enjoy:

Unlimited 1% cash back on all your purchases (credited to your statement every January). No annual fee.

To apply and receive this exclusive offer, stop by your local ATB branch or agency.

Its easy to support 4-H Alberta and your local club.

MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard Internal Inc. Alberta Treasury Branches is a licensed user of the registered trademark and design owned by MasterCard International Inc.

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This trip taught me that youth involvement in Canadas democratic process is important because youth are the future of our country. Youth should be involved and know whats going on in our political system because they are the upcoming voters. Youth should be educated so that they can make informed decisions that reflect what they want and value. Our country is truly in the hands of our youth.

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4-H Canadian Citizenship Congress: The Future of our CountryJULIA MCCRAE, Vermillion 4-H Sheep Club

From April 29 to May 3, 2015, ten delegates from 4-H Alberta with chaperone Cynthia Holthe from the Retlaw Prairie 4-H Beef Club, attended the 4-H Canadian Citizenship Congress in Ottawa, Canada. The Congress with the theme, Canada: Where do we Stand? gave delegates the opportunity to explore different aspects of the Canadian parliamentary system. We visited Turtle Island where we learned about the lifestyle of the First Nations people and got to eat bison burgers. We explored the Canadian War Museum, and walked to Parliament twice. On the first trip to Parliament we attended a question period and got to talk to some of the MPs. On our second trip we passed a protest on the street, and when we got to Parliament we had our own mock debate in the red room! We were split into teams and our debate topic was, Be it resolved that until all poverty and social issues are resolved within its borders, Canada will cease to provide humanitarian and economic aide to foreign coun-tries. Having the opportunity to debate in the red room made the experience truly incredible!

4-H Canadian Citizenship Congress delegates and chaperone in front of Parliament.

Delegates enjoy a mock debate in the red room.


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The FortisAlberta Community Cares Contest Kicks-off its 5th Year!4-H FOUNDATION OF ALBERTA

FortisAlberta partnered with 4-H Alberta once again in order to continue its annual Community Cares Contest. This contest is open to all clubs across the province and recognizes the efforts of 4-H clubs that are working to improve their communi-ties in our province by cleaning up and improving their own local community. FortisAlberta likes to recognize the efforts of these clubs. Each year four clubs are selected by a panel of judges provided by FortisAlberta, and awarded $1,000 each for a total of $4,000 in prizes.

4-H clubs that participate in the Community Cares Contest must exemplify a community improvement and or community cleanup project. All entries are required to document their progress and compile it into a final presentation, or journey. Clubs are then welcome to submit their qualifying retroactive projects to 4-H Alberta where it is then showcased on 4-H Albertas social media outlets for everyone to view.

Examples of various projects and entry ideas that are eligible are: cleaning up or repairing community property (ie. the local hall where the club hosts meetings), organizing a recycling drive, removing graffiti, planting a garden or flowers in community space, or coordi-nating events or fundraisers that benefit other charitable nonprofits with an environmental mandate and more.

COMMUNITYCONTESTCARES

Deadline for

submissions is

June 30, 2016.

We know you love your community, now show us how!All community cleanup/

improvement projects from Nov. 1, 2015 June 30, 2016

are eligible.

All clubs in Alberta are welcome to apply.

Winning clubs will be selected by a panel of judges.

$1,000Four clubs will each win

Projects can be submitted

to the 4-H Foundation of Alberta at:

[email protected]

During the 2014-2015 contest, eight clubs submitted their entries for their chance to win $1,000. Among the entries is the story pre-sented by the Tofield 4-H Beef Clubs Horse Project that put together a Community BBQ & welcoming party for the community for the Veterans Foundation Ride Across Canada (CVF).

The CVF started on the west coast and are riding their horses across Canada to the east coast to raise awareness about mental and physical challenges our serving and veteran military face when return-ing to their communities. They are attempting to bring communities together with their veterans. During each day of riding they have serving members and veterans from the local community ride with them on horses that have been trained to carry them.

Our 4-H Horse Project learned that they would be riding from Edmonton to Tofield a week before their arrival and pulled together to give them a warm welcome and let the community know they were coming. We coordinated having the Military Tribute Truck and SOT 500 Tribute Car out of Red Deer to come up and escort CVF through the town of Tofield to the arena grounds were the 4-H Horse Project put on a community BBQ. We had an article submitted and printed in the local newspaper prior to their arrival to notify the public to come out to support/meet the CVF and our local veterans. We liaised with the Town of Tofield to get permission to use the facility as their staging ground and the Tofield Legion to have their members come out as well. Our 4-H Horse Project served more than 160 hot dogs and burgers during the evening and watched as our community came together in support of our military veterans and serving members. ~Tofield 4-H Beef Horse Project Member

All clubs are welcome to submit their projects for this years contest as long as it occurs in between the time of November 1st, 2015 to June 30th, 2016. All entries and inquiries can be submitted to [email protected].


4-H Hall of Fame Welcomes two Outstanding 4-H Volunteers4-H BRANCH

This year, two dedicated, passionate and impactful 4-H leaders have been inducted into Alberta Agriculture and Forestrys 4-H Hall of Fame. Long time 4-H volunteers Dorothy Carlson and Sherry Howey have been honoured for their outstanding contri-butions to 4-H and their local communities. They were nominated by their peers, and formally introduced as the 2015 inductees on November 4, 2015 at the Legislature by Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, the Honourable Oneil Carlier.

Dorothy Carlson has been a general and project leader in the Cherhill 4-H Multi Club (Northwest Region) ever since she got her children involved in 4-H. As a constant promoter of teamwork, her club and community continues to benefit from her tireless efforts and hard work. She continues to build confidence in everyone she works with and works passionately to ensure that every member has the opportunity to be the best member possible.

Sherry Howey has been involved in 4-H ever since she joined 4-H as a member, and she continued her involvement as club leader when her son became eligible to join 4-H. With a strong focus on positive youth development, Sherry developed canine 4-H clubs and projects that young members wanted to belong to, and could excel with. As a strong promoter of the value of the 4-H program, Sherry encourages members and leaders to broaden their 4-H experience and knowl-edge by attending other regional and provincial events.

Dorothy and Sherry have both been instrumental in their 4-H dis-tricts and regions by becoming involved in the councils and sharing their skills to ensure effective programming and operations at these levels. They continue to be active on committees and work tirelessly to keep on making 4-H a positive experience for all.

Dorothy Carlson and Sherry Howey with the Honourable Oneil Carlier.

Dorothy Carlson

Sherry Howey

Involved in their communities, both Dorothy and Sherry are con-tinuing to make an impact to improve their local schools and other youth organizations that their children were a part of, or that their families and neighbours were involved with. Dorothy is acknowledged as a volunteer extraordinaire who goes above and beyond the expectations of her community to make it better for everyone. A nominee for Sherry stated, she works diligentlyand no job is too insignificant for her to lend a helping hand to ensure our productions are ready.

Many 4-H members, leaders, parents and other community leaders truly value the impact that both Dorothy and Sherry have made in the lives of others.

Thank you Dorothy and Sherry for the ongoing commitment and support you give to 4-H and your communities. Your inspiration and passion are valued by all of us.

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Do You Know an Amazing Leader?4-H CANADA

Its time to nominate YOUR amazing leader for 4-H Canada National Volunteer Leader of the Year Award. We love hearing all about how leaders across Canada make 4-H the best experience for members by continu-ally going above and beyond.

This year, clubs whose leader is chosen as the provin-cial winner will receive a pizza party to recognize the work and thought they put into their nomination. So get busy! Nominate your leader and tell us why they are so special to your club.

Visit 4-H-Canada.ca/NVLYA to nominate your club leader before January 31, 2016!

Building Future Leaders: Corporate Partnerships Appreciation Evening4-H FOUNDATION

The 5th annual Corporate Partnerships Appreciation Evening was held at Olds College on Tuesday November 3rd 2015. 4-H leaders, families and alumni from the Mountain View District and the wider Calgary Region gathered together to host our corporate partners in an appreciation evening that focused on this years theme Building Future Leaders. Sponsors were welcomed to the evenings event with a mix and mingle showcase and ice breaker game that allowed them and 4-H members to engage with each other.

Master of Ceremonies, Sawyer Daley, a 4-H alumnus from the West Carstairs Beef Club, kicked-off the speaking portion of the event. Sawyer had personal insight to how 4-H taught her to never give up, and to always learn from every set-back. It was one of many ways we highlighted this years theme of building future leaders.

Junior and Cleaver Kid members of the Central Ponoka 4-H Beef club presented their community project that invites special needs youth out into the rodeo arena during the Ponoka Stampede to teach them some of the rodeo events and techniques. This day allows them to experience rodeo up close and personal and be a rodeo contestant for the day! Central Ponoka 4-H Beef Club has been involved in this event for a few years, and their story showed once again how 4-H members are helping to build their communities.

Guest speaker, Dr. Troy Drake, an alumnus of the Irricana 4-H Beef & Multi Club, gave a very informative and enjoyable speech about how 4-H influenced where he is today. He talked of his experience with the leaders, family and volunteers within 4-H who helped to shape him and his future.

The 4-H Foundation would like to thank Sawyer Daley, Dr. Troy Drake, and members of the Central Ponoka Beef Club; Wyatt McAl-lister, Quiad and Addison McKinney and Jesse and Hannah Stretch, for speaking at this years appreciation evening. We would also like to thank the following 4-H Clubs who took the time to set up displays and talk to our Corporate Partners throughout the night; The Bergen 4-H Multi Club, Cremona 4-H Club, Eagle Beef 4-H and Multi, Golden Rod Multi, Red River 4-H, Ropes and Reins 4-H Club, Silversage 4-H Club, Sundre 4-H Multi, Western Stars 4-H Club and the West Carstairs 4-H Beef Club.

This night was another great opportunity for 4-H Alberta to thank our corporate partners.

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Communications

Presentations: A Learn to do by Doing OpportunityLYNDSEY PELTZER, Cow Country 4-H Judging Club

You might ask, What has giving a 4-H presentation done for me? When I started my 4-H career as a nine-year-old, I was very nervous, a little shy and definitely didnt want to be the centre of attention. The thought of standing up in front of our 4-H club, and possibly a crowd of people, to give a presentation was downright terrifying!!!

I attended a few public speaking workshops that were hosted by our District Junior Council and that definitely helped me out. I learned how to organize a presentation and how to deliver it. It made the process of preparing my presentations much easier and a lot less stressful. Over my three years of 4-H I have come to love giving pre-sentations and really enjoy teaching the crowd about something I am interested in. 4-H has given me the confidence to give a presentation, and at the same time, love doing it. It is all about, Learn to do by Doing. The more you public speak, the more confident you get. 4-H

has also given me the skills to organize and prepare a well written speech with interesting pictures, power points and funny quotes. I love presentations that have a little humor in them.

I have had the opportunity to give my presentations at the club, district and regional levels. Giving my presentations at the regional level has also given me the opportunity to meet new 4-H friends from different clubs. I see my new 4-H friends at all sorts of 4-H events like Regional Judging, Junior Camp and the Regional Heifer and Horse Shows. Last year I was given the opportunity to give my presentation The Pony Express at the Farming Smarter Conference in Medicine Hat. I entertained the 250 guests that were attending the conference along with two other 4-H speakers and my sister, Bryanne, who was the MC. It was definitely the biggest crowd I have ever spoken in front of. It was such a great experience! When I was finished my presenta-tion, I was very proud of my accomplishment and I received some great compliments.

Being able to stand up on the stage with a microphone pinned on my shirt and enjoy giving my presentation is an awesome feeling and I have to give 4-H a lot of the credit for all the great experiences! Good luck to the 4-Hers giving their speeches or presentations at the Farming Smarter Conference this year. Enjoy the opportunity!

Lyndsey and Frosty at the South Regional Horse Show.

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Feeling Comfortable and Confident when Public SpeakingBRYANNE PELTZER, Cow Country 4-H Judging Club

When we start 4-H, many of us feel challenged by public speaking. When I was nine-years-old and first joined 4-H, I felt this way as well. My first exposure to public speaking was when I attended a public speaking workshop that the Newell District Junior Council hosted. I was the second member to present an impromptu. The first speaker was an experienced senior member that knew what she was doing. She flew through her impromptu without a mistake; then it was my turn. I had to put on my brave face and present the topic of School Buses as best I could. As soon as I had finished, I raced back to my seat and cried. Fortunately, my speaking career got better with time and practise. In the next years of presenting, I slowly started to get more confident with each workshop and competition. My nervousness started to disappear and was replaced with comfort and confidence.

The Farming Smarter Conference has also helped me speak in front of crowds. Over the years, I have participated in two Farming Smarter Conferences. I have participated as a Master of Ceremonies and as a presenter. It is a whole new experience when you are speaking in front of 250 people instead of 25. Even though there is a lot of stress involved, it is a great experience that will tremendously improve your speaking skills. It has improved mine immensely. There is no doubt in my mind that every member that is given an opportunity like this should always take it. Presenting your topic that you have prac-ticed all year boosts your comfort level at this large event.

4-H has given me many opportunities that have helped me improve my skills in many different ways; from making presenta-tions, to emceeing events, or chairing a meeting, I have gained a lot of confidence speaking in front of large crowds. I have come a long way since running to my chair to cry! I would like to thank 4-H for this opportunity.

Good luck to all of the members speaking in their competitions and at Farming Smarter this year. If anyone has any presentation topic ideas, I am always open for suggestions! After all, I think finding a topic is the hardest part of public speaking.

Bryanne and Raisin at Summer Synergy 2015.

Public Speaking: Benefits for the FutureDAVID MACTAGGART, Central Lacombe 4-H Beef Club

As much as we might not want to believe it, our parents are right! Public speaking gives 4-H members skills that apply to every aspect of life. Whether you are running for prime minister, presenting at a conference or making a deal on this years calves, public speaking is essential to success. Since I joined 4-H eight years ago I have gained so much valuable advice from leaders, judges and mentors along the way. I would like to share some of the tips that have helped me over the years.

As a junior, I was scared of the audience! My leader assured me though that win or lose the audience appreciates your speech. They are there to support you! These wise words made making eye contact with members of the crowd easier. Presentations are much more entertaining for spectators when the speaker engages them through eye contact. As I have gotten older I have learned to treat the podium like it is my own personal space for speaking. It helps to keep me anchored to a specific spot on the stage and visible to the audience. Having this space is an excellent way to signal the beginning and end of the speech. To begin, a deep breath is always helpful before I step up to the podium. Once Ive spoken to the crowd I take a short pause and take one step back. This process has helped not only myself but others appear more relaxed and at ease as they present their speeches every year.

It is incredible to see the benefits that public speaking gives every single member of 4-H. I see it in the younger members of my club even after one year of participation. They are more at ease talking to people of the general public such as speaking to potential buyers at achievement day or fellow delegates at a 4-H camp. Public speaking helps them become more engaged members of their community. For myself I have gained the courage to step out of my comfort zone. This has helped me greatly this year as the student council president of my school. I enjoy speaking in front of the school because I can build con-nections with the student body and make peoples days brighter.

I am truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to partici-pate in 4-H public speaking. It has opened doors to new paths I could not have imagined! Going into the future, I look forward to using these skills in my life and sharing them with the next genera-tion of 4-H members.

David MacTaggart, Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Champion. senior component

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Online Communication Resources4-H BRANCH

How do you find the resources you need to run your communications activities?This year, several communication resources are only available for download online through the 4-H web site www.4h.ab.ca. To access these resources - under the green drop down For Members & Leaders select the title Oral Communications this opens up a webpage which will contain all the resources you will need for your communication activities in your club or district.

The Oral Communications page contains all the latest Public Speaking and Presentation resources you will need to run your com-munications activities. To help you, where appropriate, these resources are available for use in PDF, word or excel formats. By going through your Club Admin and Download Club Summary CSV this will provide you with an excel listing of your club members that you can then use with the word or excel format to merge to produce your Score Sheet, Comment Sheet or Timer Sheet for your competition.

Other resources available on this page are Speaking Your Way to Success, From Paper to Podium and How to Emcee an Event.

Communication is important, and in order to complete and get credit for their year, 4-H members must take part in a communication activity. These resources are available online to make accessibility easier for those members and leaders who are helping arrange com-munication activities.

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Organizing a Communications Activity4-H BRANCH

Tasked with planning your clubs communications activity? This is for you! With a little organization and these tips, your communications day will go off without a hitch!

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Selected an organizing committee, appointed a chairperson, chosen a date (two weeks in advance of the next level of competition and with an alternate date - you never know what the weather will be in Alberta!) and location, and ordered the Public Speaking Organizers Guide and/or the Presentations Organizers Guide. Dont have the Organizers Guide? Find it on www.4h.ab.ca.

Select and contact judges, officials, greeters, helpers, set up and take-down crews; obtain thank you items; confirm access to: P.A system, microphones, tables, chairs and podium; and if you are proving food- confirm those details!

You are in the home stretchmake sure you: promote your event, determine a speaking order, make a program, prepare materials (comment, score, placing, time and teller sheets), confirm judges attendance and make sure they receive their judges package, confirm attendance of officials, greeters and helpers. You will also need to confirm the facility.

1 Week to Go:

How many judges do you need? Good question! A minimum of three judges or any multiple of three judges- based on the size of your competition. Groups of 10 or less require three judges, 10-20 require six nine judges and groups 20 or more require 12 judges.

Past 4-H leaders, members and parents make GREAT Communications judges! Remember judges can only judge a particular category once per year. The club level is a FANTASTIC place to have new judges, saving the more experienced judges for the district, regional and provincial levels. Think about creating a contact list for future years, to make sure that there are always lots of choices.

If your club does not have a planning guide or supply box for Communications consider using this opportunity and your experience to make one!

Earlier in the club year your club should have:

6 weeks before your competition date:

2 Weeks Away:

Almost there! Prepare materials for the event. Supplies should include: notepads, pencils, erasers, stopwatches, calculators, water jugs, drinking glasses, chairs and tables. Take this opportunity to think about room set-up: Where will your judges sit? Where will the audience sit?

Day of Event: Stay cool, calm and collected, all your hard work leading up to the event will help the day go as planned. Meet with your judges prior to the start of the event to clarify procedures and meet with speakers, emcees, and timers. Be sure to thank sponsors, judges, emcee and officials.

After the Event: You are not done yetafter-event work is just as important as pre-work! Prepare and distribute a press release, inform winners of the next level of competition (this can be done at the event), pass on the winners information to the next level and write an evaluation for next yearmake sure to include your suggestions.


Tips for Executing an Excellent Speech or Presentation4-H BRANCH

Whether you are a brand new 4-H member or a seasoned 4-H member the tips and tricks for executing an AH-MAZING speech or presentation are the same! Start with the basics: Choose a topic that you are interested in, create a goal and if you are an intermediate or senior memberdo research. You will be more comfortable speaking about a topic: that you are interested in and know a lot of information about, and if you are confi-dent in your goal. As part of your goal, determine what kind of speech you would like to give: Do you want to inform? Persuade? Motivate? Entertain? Consider the situation you are going to be presenting in.

Now you are ready to Organize Your Material. Start with a hooksomething that will snag the attention of the audience! Be it a mean-ingful quotation, startling fact, personal story or an appropriate story you will need to capture your audiences attention. Include a saluta-tion (before or after your attention getter) in which you thank your chairperson, judges, the audience and fellow 4-H members. Now move into the introduction, body and summary. In your introduction be sure to set up what you are about to inform the audience of, your

Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect - Vince Lombardi

purpose and your subject, and why they should be concerned with your topic. Move into the body, presenting the important facts that you are covering. The body should be about 80% of the total time of your presentation or speech. Your summary is what the audience will remember most, but it should be the same length as your introduc-tion, about 10% of your time. Refrain from introducing any new facts. Leave the audience with the most important fact, a finished product or even a call to actionchallenge the audience!

Practice your speech or presentation! Each time you deliver your speech or presentation you build confidence and familiarity with your content which strengthens your delivery technique and confidence. Practice with a friend, a family member or a video camera so that you can get feedback. Practice your speech all the way througheven if you make a mistake! Pick up from the point where you made the mistake to build familiarity and confidence with ALL your material, not just the beginning. An added bonus is that this practice will help you in dealing with mistakes and teach you how to continue speaking after a slip. Practice your introduction and conclusion an extra amount as they are the most remembered parts!

Delivery DO Speak in a voice that is natural, distinct and loud enough to be heardbe friendly and confident! Enunciate! DO NOT Speak too fast, drop your voice at the end of a sentence or prompt the audience. DO Make eye contact. Aim for eye contact 75% of the time, looking around the audience in one constant motion. DO Stand with your feet slightly apart, with your weight evenly distributed. DO NOT Lock your knees, sway back and forth or rock up and down. DO Have fun and enjoy the experience!

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Environmental Sciences Information SessionMarch 4, 2016 Vermilion CampusRegister at lakelandcollege.ca/infosessions

If youre interested in protecting, restoring and reclaiming our natural resources, study environmental sciences at Lakeland College. Youll benet from skill-building opportunities that go beyond the classroom into forests,ponds, oil leases, grasslands and other locations.

Take charge of your future

Apply to Lakeland College today.

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ills Life SkillsHolding Executive Positions: A Priceless ExperienceMEGAN DORSCHEID, Da-She-Be 4-H Multi Club

Throughout my nine years with 4-H I have held various posi-tions at the club, district and regional levels. I have been the club reporter, historian, district and regional representative, president, and vice president. This year I was my clubs parliamentar-ian, the district secretary, the regional representative, and the Peace Region vice president. Within these positions I learned priceless skills. I learned how to run an efficient meeting, take notes in a way that I understand them, and keep accurate records. I learned proper parlia-mentary procedure, and how to create an agenda. I also improved on my communication skills, orally and written. I gained greater respon-sibility in the club, and became a role model for younger members. Most importantly I improved on my organizational skills. I am able to organize a club during a meeting, organize an agenda, notes, records, and school work, and those are simply the tasks I have learned at the club level.

Being on the executive at the district and regional levels has opened my eyes to the wide world of 4-H. At the district level I was able to create connections with the people in my area and community. In my time as secretary at the district level I became immersed in the goings-on of the community. It is because of these experiences that I was able to become involved in the other clubs within my district. I was given the opportunity to help other clubs with workshops and demonstrations. These experiences were truly unique, and I am sure

New Project is the Cats MeowSTONY RIDERS 4-H CLUB

The Stony Riders 4-H Club has added a new project to their lineup this year; feline project. While still an emerging endeavor, the Stony Riders feline project members have already attended a field trip. Meow Mania, hosted by the Edmonton Cat Fanciers Club on October 31, 2015, was held at the Edmonton Italian Cultural Center. The feline project members talked with feline breeders, attended information seminars, and even watched a costume contest. The announced winner of the contest was a Maine Coon cat dressed as a pirate! While talking with some of the breeders present at the show, the feline project members learned about many of the care aspects that come with breeding and caring for cats. In keeping with the 4-H motto, learn to do by doing, the feline project members participated in a mock judging competition, similar to 4-Hs multi-judging competitions. They learned how cat shows work, how to judge cats in conformation classes, and about some of the desir-able traits for many cat breeds. Overall, Meow Mania was a smashing success for the Stony Riders feline project members. Thank you to the Edmonton Cat Fanciers Club for supporting our 4-H project! Feline project members enjoyed the day at Meow Mania and learned a great deal about cats.

that I would not have been able to encounter these opportunities if I had not been involved at the district level. Holding a position at the regional level allowed me to become involved with my community in a much broader sense of the word. While attending regional meetings I received a greater understanding of the skills necessary to run an effi-cient meeting as well as the level of involvement that other leaders and members have achieved. Their level of involvement lead me to take up greater responsibility in the region and within all levels of 4-H.

Outside of 4-H the skills I have learned while holding various exec-utive positions have come in handy numerous times. Taking on responsibility in the club has made me more comfortable with respon-sibilities outside of the club. Stress, assignments and deadlines have become my friend. After being on the executive I am more efficient and organized in my tasks. I have noticed recently that the skills I have learned while on the 4-H executive, I have implemented into my school work. I am now taking notes in class like a secretary would. When asked a question I know how to give an answer without stress-ing out at my desk. I am not afraid to ask questions and when I do I am able to ask my question clearly and in an organized fashion. When I am given a deadline for an assignment I (usually) make it. The biggest advantage I have noticed I have gained after being on the executive is that my notes and thoughts have become more organized and clear. This skill I can apply to all aspects of life.

In short, holding executive positions at the club, district and regional levels has been a priceless experience where I have gained so many of the skills that are needed in day to day life. I would not have gained these skills had I not taken that leap of faith and taken an executive position. I am so very grateful for the invaluable skills that 4-H has equipped me with, simply by being on the executive.

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New Skills Gained Through Camp CounsellingRAINA IRONS, Midnight Express 4-H Horse Club

Counsellors in Training (CIT) camp is a superb way to gain new life skills and make new friends. Just attending the camp opens new doors and presents opportunities to any delegate that wishes to start counselling 4-H camps. All throughout the camp one gains new experience and learns how to interpret and adjust to the situation at hand. There are many courses with professionals that teach delegates what to do in different circumstance, and plenty of counsellors experienced in all of the possible situations anyone could encounter while counselling camp.

In general, 4-H camp is an exciting way to boost morale and obtain expertise in activities that keep all campers busy and engaged. So why not be the one to set up this amazing experience for 4-H kids? Being a camp counsellor means one gets to be the individual that is a part of a team of hard workers who make camp the optimum event of anyones summer. The more a counsellor interacts with the campers and engages them in different activities, the more the 4-Her will want

From left to right: Anika Huvenaars, Analiese Vissers, Sonia Pagenkopf, Maegan Vissers, Channel Pagenkopf, and Wylie Pietsch.

to attend future camps and eventually become a counsellor his/herself. There is nothing holding a camper back from becoming a counsellor once they become a senior 4-H member!

Although counselling may seem like all fun and games there is some level of responsibility needed to coach the camp to success. Some of the responsibilities include: needing to know your First Aid or being able to recognize a situation where more help is needed. One of the biggest responsibilities would be having to memorize and know camp song lyrics to be sung at the campfireand campfire songs must be sung at full volume, even if youre off key! Above all, the most important rule and responsibility is to have fun and engage others through activities and games. Having campers that are engaged and feel included is optimal when at a camp, so that you and all the people participating have the best camp experience possible.

Making new friends and learning skills are only some of the fun and refreshing material one will learn throughout CIT. A delegate will learn how to take responsibility and teach skill sessions to enable growth in learning and development. Counselling just one camp will definitely get you hooked on counselling and make you want to do it again and again!

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Cleaver Kids the Right Step for 6 to 8-year-olds4-H COUNCIL

Cleaver Kids are cool! With high energy and short attention spans, along with an eagerness to learn and boundless enthusiasm to embrace 4-H opportunities, 700 Cleaver Kids in clubs across Alberta are growing into our leaders of tomorrow. It must be said that Cleaver Kids are much more than mere young-sters with short attention spans. Since the launching of the Cleaver Kids, they have been developing new friendships, enhancing listening skills, developing abilities to express themselves all while belonging to a club and a welcoming community. Cleaver Kids are learning all that and more while achieving set goals, marking their progress and cele-brating their successes along the way. These areas on which Cleaver Kids focus are the building blocks for success as a 4-H member.

Have you ever taken a minute to reflect on these building blocks and how they prepare Cleaver Kids to become Junior 4-H members? Integrating Cleaver Kids into your club can be challenging but also very rewarding. When your club is incorporating Cleaver Kids, a major consideration is, how can we keep things interesting and foster pro-gression as the child gets older? It is not acceptable for Cleaver Kids to do the same as junior members as they generally are not develop-mentally ready and they need time to build those early leadership skills. Comparing the Cleaver Kids skill development areas and the requirements of a 4-H member, you will see many similarities, all of which serve to nurture the skills needed, but it is not mandatory for

these 6-8 year olds to demonstrate proficiency while they learn and grow. Developing these skills can be achieved by creative activities that have hands on based learning and are age appropriate. Cleaver Kids can participate in activities with the club but alongside their leader to be assisted and encouraged where necessary.

Volunteer leaders working with Cleaver Kids have a very special and important role. It is also a lot of fun! Working to grow future 4-H members just may be one of the most rewarding volunteer experi-ences one can pursue. Leader of Cleaver Kids is one of the most flexible and creative positions. The activities can be hands on, short and FUN for those involved. Cleaver Kids also keep those leaders on their toes with the high energy and questions. Really, 4-H in general is just a whole lot of fun wrapped up with achievements and leadership skills development!


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Strawberry 4-H Multi Club Cleaver Kids: now 4 out of the 6 are junior members and 2 are enjoying Cleaver Kids in this club year along with their new friends.

Heres what some people have said about Cleaver Kids:

This year I am a first year Junior member. I was a Cleaver Kid for two years. I learned not to be shy at meetings. The part I look forward to the most is to be able to ride my horse and Im happy that I learned how to care for my horse as a Cleaver Kid and what the riding clinics look like.

- First year Junior Member

I joined as a Cleaver Kid to meet new friends and for an activity I can do with my family. It sounds like fun too.

- 8 year old Cleaver Kid

I am excited that our club has 8 Cleaver Kids this year and I get to be a part of giving the Cleaver Kids a fun start to what I hope is a long career in 4-H.

First year Cleaver Kids Leader

Cleaver Kids is the kindergarten of 4-H. They are gaining basic knowledge about 4-H and have the opportunity to participate in activities that are fun and age appropriate while developing leadership skills at an early age. Families are looking for activities for kids at young ages and it is great that they can be part of 4-H to get familiar with the opportu-nities as their child grows

- Long time 4-H Leader


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Judging for Life: Consumer Decision-Making4-H BRANCH

Do you wish it was easier to convince your parents that the thing you really want to buy is a good value? Do you like shopping? Do you wish shopping was easier? Practicing consumer decision-making will help with all of the above. Everyone is a consumer. Were consumers our entire lives. The 4-H program is well known for teaching life skills. Judging is somewhat synonymous with 4-H and is definitely one of those skills. What better skill can you have than being able to critically evaluate several items, make a decision and then defend it by explaining your reasoning?

Consumer decision-making is simply a form of judging. Quality, quantity, end use, and price are just a few of the factors that must be considered when making a consumer decision. Just as when participat-ing in a multi-species judging workshop or contest, study guides provide members with proper terminology and criteria to consider when judging the items. A scenario, explaining the end use of the items, determines the actual emphasis put on the criteria for that class.

4-H consumer decision making classes are made up of four items to be placed. Each item will be numbered (one through four) and addi-tional information will be provided, either in writing or verbally at the start of the competition. This information will provide any specifica-tions to be used in making a decision, including price.

Additionally, as members start to understand this style of judging better, they should be encouraged to do their own research into consumer items. As all those who spend their own money on their wants and needs, some purchases should not be made hastily.

Thought as to what you really need out of your purchases, how much you can afford to spend, and the long term value of larger items becomes critical. This is a great way to start learning and developing those skills.

After looking through the study guide to learn some of the things most important to a specific class, members can follow a few basic steps of evaluation to ensure that their decision is sound. All classes should begin by picturing the ideal based on the scenario thats been given. Start determining the comparisons that could be used to compare the items remembering that comparisons end in er, -est, and include words like more and less. Take the time to perform a general evaluation of all four items to form some first impressions, making sure to look at the class from every angle. After performing each of these steps, it is time to move in close and examine each item individually. Make some notes as youre doing this to help keep track of the important things you see. Step back, confirm your impressions and build a firm picture of the class in your mind. Youll want to be able to see it in your mind while you are writing or presenting your reasons, or if you are asked about the class later. Make a final decision and mark your cards. If you follow the steps in order, there should be no reason to second guess your decision, or change your mind later.

As with all skills, practice is key. Regardless of the project they are involved in, all members are welcome to join in consumer decision- making workshops and competitions. However, those members who are not part of a livestock project are encouraged to take this opportu-nity to practice their evaluation and decision making skills. Generally, there are fewer places for the members with projects in the areas of active living, science, technology, trade, arts, leadership, and those around the home to participate in this type of competition, but we hope to see an increasing number available down the road. In the near future, there may also be an opportunity for senior members to compete at a provincial level, just as there is for those who judge live-stock. As a life skill, now is the time to start practicing! New genera-tions of well-informed and decisive consumers should be the result.

Members evaluate shoes as part of a consumer decision-making contest.


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Goal Setting and Record KeepingKASARA COOPER, Leader, Belle Valley 4-H Explorers

It's that time of year where members are ramping up their projects and the club is well underway. Lots of excitement and anticipation has gone into thinking about the year and how projects will be done. This is the time of year where I get nostalgic, and really miss 4-H. Having been a member for 11 years would do that thoughit really is thick in my blood. The first meeting comes, and between nominations and elections, the year kicks off with a bang. I remember how some-times the first meeting can take a while due to all the information that needs to be discussed; and members are not really listening as they're trying to catch up between themselves after a summer of activities. I was usually in beef and life skills, and every year I would push myself a little farther in my goalstaking what did not work for me very well last year and making it work for me this year. I would volunteer to take on that executive spot that made me uncomfortable. As a couple of my favorite quotes are: "A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but NOTHING ever grows there, and If it does not challenge you, it does not change you, I was always up for the challenge.

Record books are received by the new year, and the page with all the questions about you comes up while flipping through. Goal setting is an important step in planning the year, and we all know it is critical to use the space provided. If you're struggling on a goal for yourself in your specific project, name one thing and expand on it. I grew to love record books, which I know sounds crazy, but as I got older I got more creative and now they are wonderful to look back on. Setting a good goal, or goals, provides an opportunity to evaluate the year, along with

the ups and downs of the project. Depending on how it goes, adjust-ments to your goals can be made to better suit the needs of the project and then you can discuss how your goal changed and why you came to that. Goal making is a never-ending life skill, as rolling with the punches life sends your way is realistic. If you have no goal in mind of where you want to go, how will you ever know if you've made it where you wanted to, or if you're on the right track in your own life?

Another life skill that is very important is record keeping. Record keeping is a huge part of your 4-H project, and your life. I do not know how a budget would balance itself, because in my world, unless I am sitting in that chair doing it myself it does not happen. Keeping accurate records is a challenge that never disappearsit only gets worse if neglected. A trick I learned quickly was photocopying my record book and doing a rough copy to fill it out as the year progresses. As purchases are made, time is spent and activities are done, the record book slowly gets filled out. That way at the end of the year, when it comes time to do the good copy and hand in your record book, it is less challenging and nobody needs to rely on memory, which in my family equalled less stress! This works really well for those with multiple projects, like I had, who are practicing time management. At the end of the year it provided me the time to find my trusty black or blue pen that would finish the record book with me, as it bothered me to have different colored ink throughout. Also, I had what I was going to write right in front of me so I made fewer errors. Using white out also made me frustrated. I am sure some could relate to me, and others cannot. If you cannot, then I challenge you to focus on some of these points and grow in these areas. After all, "Outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens!" I wish all the members out there a wonderful year as you look at setting your goals for the year and as you face your record books. Have fun!


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4-H Financial Best Practices 4-H BRANCH AND 4-H FOUNDATION OF ALBERTA

4-H funds at any level within 4-H (club, committee, district, region) are to be viewed as public funds. These dollars are not owned by the members or leaders of the club, but rather, are owned by the club or the committee. The 4-H treasurer is responsible to the executive of the 4-H group, and responsible to the members of the group and the public. Club funds should be used as a tool for 4-H members to learn about money management.

A person elected as treasurer has a great learning opportunity and will develop skills that assist in ensuring the 4-H group has a high standard of accountability, integrity, and record keeping. All 4-H groups have the responsibility of helping the 4-H treasurer to protect the organization, him/herself, and the 4-H program from conflict by encouraging and practicing careful, responsible and accurate handling of the finances.

All funds should be held in a public financial institution and a chequing account should be established and maintained.

Cheques should require 2 signatures. Each club/com-mittee can determine who these should be (leader/member combination, or which two executive posi-tions, etc.)

Two members from the same family should not be co-signers.

Signing authority must be identified in the minutes. The entire executive must be listed along with which positions have signing author-ity. Ex. Any 2 of president, treasurer, secretary.

Cheques should not be made out to cash. Never pre-sign a blank cheque. If there is a cheque stub, indicate what the

cheque was for. Also, note on the bottom of the cheque for example: Communications photocopying.

A 4-H club/group should only have one bank chequing/savings account.


Treasurers Checklist

Before you, as a treasurer, issue any cheque, here is what you need ALL receipts/invoices:

Only issue a cheque to the person if the invoice has been paid. If the invoice has not been paid, issue the cheque directly to the company,

Made out to the person getting the cheque with a correct date,

Ensure correct addition if there are multiple receipts. All receipts/invoices must be readable. If the cheque is not part of the approved budget at the start of

the year, ensure the club has made a motion to issue a cheque. Full name and address of the person to whom you are issuing

the cheque. Ensure 2 signatures on the cheque. Ensure the receipt is a till tape, not a debit or credit card

receipt or an activation for a gift card.

When handling cash ensure a receipt is issued to the person so all monies are accounted for.

All funds collected by the treasurer should be deposited promptly whether it is cash or cheques.

All funds received should be acknowledged by a written receipt and a copy of the receipt kept by the treasurer

Receipt should include what the funds were collected for/ include the date and who provided the funds.

The treasurer has the responsibility of providing reports to the membership at meetings. Each report includes the following details:

1. The bank balance at the last meeting

2. Listing of all income generated and deposited

3. Listing of income generated but not yet deposited

4. Listing of all expenses that have been invoiced and paid

5. Listing of invoices/bills that have been received but not yet paid

6. Balance at the time of the meeting.

All treasurers must, at year end, provide an annual finan-cial statement. This financial statement must be reviewed and signed off by both the treasurer and one or two other unrelated person(s) who reviews all transactions for accuracy. This review will prevent misunderstandings and protect both the outgoing and the incoming treasurer.

Income and expenses should be categorized into sections such as: dues, fundraising, donations, sponsorships, investment income, events, etc.

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illsAll financial transactions should be managed by cheques and not cash to ensure accountability

If cash is required, cash should be taken from the bank and the reason for withdrawal documented.

The 4-H club should vote on all expenses that are over $25.00 or that are not mentioned in an approved 4-H budget.

Payments should be made only when the treasurer has been presented with a written bill or invoice. The treasurer is responsible for keeping all invoices/bills paid and should record the cheque number that was issued on each.

Cash register tapes that identify the purchase along with a bill can be sufficient.

Credit statements do not itemize a purchase and should not be used to issue a cheque.


Corporate Sponsors Help Build Life SkillsJUSTINA RENKE, Cactus Country 4-H Club

We would like to say a huge thank you to the Medicine Hat Co-op Agro Center for supporting Cactus Country 4-H members. The Co-op hosted a BBQ at their new stores grand opening and 4-H was glad to help by cooking and serving burgersthey were delicious! 4-H junior council was extremely fortu-nate to receive the BBQ profits. Junior council is a group of member representatives from all of the Cactus Country 4-H clubs. They work together to plan activities such as club trade show, public speaking workshops, dances, curling, skiing, gymkhana, attending Remem-brance Day service and almost any other activity that members come up with! With sponsors like the Co-op the members are able to work on not only event planning but also the budgeting and financing of events. We generally have events set up to support member atten-dance as keeping the cost per member low is a great way to encour-age members to try new things. Thank you again for supporting 4-H. There will be many more events planned because of your help and best of luck in your new awesome location.

Gain Lifelong Skills through Careers on the Grow 4-H CANADA

Do you have a dream for a greener, healthier, more sustainable world? Do you want to build your skill set, while gaining meaningful work experience and growing your professional network?

Careers on the Grow is your ticket to all that and more! Open to 4-Hers and alumni between the ages of 18 and 25, the 4-H Canada Careers on the Grow program features a series of creative partner-ships between 4-H Canada, businesses and organizations across Canada and North America, who are dedicated to improving the health of communities and the people who live in them.

Through a 2016 internship with one of 4-H Canadas placement partners, 4-Hers can take part in a hands-on learning opportunity within companies, on farms, and in rural and urban communities. Partner organizations and industry leaders will work closely with 4-H Canada to develop a range of high quality mentorship placements within their facilities. 4-H members will learn to do by doing through these placements, customized to meet the needs of the individual 4-H member and the placement partner.

Visit 4-H-Canada.ca/CareersOnTheGrow to apply before January 31, 2016!

Junior council treasurer Justina Renke is presented with a donation from Medicine Hat Co-op agronomist Gerald Sept with junior council president Jurnee Elliott. The members are excited about the future benefits for Cactus Country 4-H.

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Judging: The Art of EvaluationRILEY SHARP, East Lacombe Beef Club

After I competed in the Provincial Judging Contest in Vermilion in August, and placed ninth overall, I was quite excited to see my countless hours of giving reasons on anything from food to stuffed animals, had paid off. I was fortunate enough to win a trip to travel to Billings, Montana in 2015 to compete in the judging competi-tion at the Northern International Livestock Exhibition. Judging is something that all 4-H kids have done; and most kids have not enjoyed. However I was a keen junior member who loved to evaluate cattle, and getting into judging at a young age helped. The 4-H program has trained kids how to evaluate things properly, while making sure to remember the bigger picture. This is how I have been able to build a strong foundation herd of cattle for myself. All the skills I have learned in 4-H are transferable to anything and everything we do in a day! We judge every day of our lives: what to wear in the morning, what to eat, even what car we should drive. In the last few years as a senior member I have also learned about consumer decision-making classes, where I have learned how to compare and contrast options to ensure I am getting the most out of my selection. Topics have ranged from diet planning to credit cards. Judging has also given me a wonderful opportunity for a potential scholarship to be on a collegiate judging team at a college in the USA. With more practice to follow, I hope to be able to take on the challenge of com-peting at such a high level.

Unfortunately as I have grown up in the judging program, I have watched it slowly die out. I will always encourage younger members to get more involved in it, as it has given me a world of opportunities and broadened my skill set; from being less indecisive, to telling people how I placed my class, and being confident in my choices. Not to mention being able to ensure I am doing what is best for myself. This year senior members I encourage you to take on the 4-H judging opportunity,

Documents

4-H Alberta Magazine - Winter 2016