Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Life Lessons Learned from 4‐H and FFA
By Gwynn Stewart, Community Development Educator – Ohio State University
Extension: Noble County
One day around the Extension office lunch table, my co‐workers and I were
discussing our experiences in 4‐H and FFA. We discussed club activities, The Ohio State Fair, of course,
and lessons that we learned. There are seven staff in our office. We each participated in either 4‐H or
FFA and some did both.
With nearly 40 years in combined 4‐H‐er experience and another 16 years in FFA, there are a plethora of
good memories and lessons learned! Some of those shared include memories from club activities, the
State Fair, showing animals at the county fair and of course, the Caldwell, Ohio, Fireman’s Festival 4‐H
parade.
1. 4‐H & FFA Teaches You About Friendship and Leadership (for Life). When asked how 4‐H or FFA prepared you for today, the responses were passionate.
“My most memorable moments were spent at 4‐H Camp,” said current Noble
County 4‐H Educator Samantha Schott. “I met some of my best friends and
then had the opportunity, as a Camp Counselor, to help others meet their
forever friends. Schott was in 4‐H for 11 years and attended State Fair for 11
years as well.
Schott earned a degree in Communications from Bethany College and
returned “home” to an internship at OSU Extension in Noble County. She
eventually landed her “dream” job as a 4‐H educator where she has the
opportunity to work with youngsters in 4‐H. Her 4‐H responsibilities include
project evaluation, camps, leadership and workforce skill development, junior
fair and school enrichment programming. Schott also shared that 4‐H helped her learn to be a better
leader and role model. She certainly uses those skills as the Head Coach of the Shenandoah High School
Ladies’ Basketball program.
2. 4‐H Teaches You to Persevere Another 4‐H life lesson was shared by current Noble County 4‐H Educator 4
Nancy (Secrest) Snook. Snook has served as the 4‐H Educator in Noble County
since 2003. She has been a 4‐H Educator in Ohio and Kentucky Extension
service for nearly 30 years. Snook has a Master’s Degree in Agriculture
Education with an emphasis in Extension Education.
“My first year with sheep, I received a White Ribbon (Grade C). I could have
been discouraged and never continued with my sheep project, but I was
determined to do better. I never felt embarrassed by that grade; I just knew I
had to do better and put more effort into it.” Snook went on to win a variety
of awards with her 4‐H animal and sewing projects as a member of the
Brookfield Buckeye Lassies Club.
Nancy (Secrest) Snook, Noble County 4‐H
Educator with her first place trophy and ribbon
for sheep showmanship.
3. 4‐H Teaches You Lessons About Creativity, Administration and Money
Each year, you’ll find Noble Office Associate Tracy
Blackstone at both the Monroe and Noble County
fairs. Having served on the Junior Fair Board during
her nine‐year 4‐H career in Monroe County, she
remains supportive of the fairs through her
organizational and administrative support and
through her State‐Fair winning photography skills at
the Jr. Fair Sales! Another staple at the Noble
County Fair is Carla Wickham who supports the Jr.
Fair Sale. She was also a 4‐Her showing lambs
Tracy Blackstone Carla Wickham during her 4‐H career.
At left, SNAP‐Ed Program
Assistant Lori Harris in her 4‐H years.
4. 4‐H Teaches You How to Win or Lose “4‐H has taught me a lot about life,” said SNAP‐Ed Program Assistant Lori Harris. “It’s taught me to
prepare for things ahead of time and also how to meet deadlines. It's also taught me win or lose, I am
still happy for those that did win.” Harris also speaks fondly of the annual Caldwell, Ohio, Fireman’s
Festival 4‐H parade, both as a 4‐Her herself and now, as a mother of two young 4‐Hers.
“I think about it every year when I take my kiddos to the parade,” said Harris. “It was always fun!” She
remembered one specific year’s float and the theme “4‐H is a TWISTER of FUN!” The movie Twister had
just been released and members of her club all teased their hair to make it stick out!
5. 4‐H Teaches you Parliamentary Procedure Skills for Life At left:
Some of Stewart’s 4‐H
memorabilia.
Noble County Community
Development Educator, Gwynn
Stewart, was a member of a 4‐H
club in Monroe County. Her
memories of 4‐H include learning
that sewing was NOT for her and
club projects like fishing (because the boys out‐voted the girls) and a
specialized program where 4‐Hers learned the art of clown make‐up, costumes and making people
laugh. She also completed an antique furniture refinishing project that got her hooked on the beauty of
antiques for life! That antique table still sits beside her father’s chair in her childhood home.
“I learned a great deal about organization, leadership, research and fact‐checking in 4‐H projects,” said
Stewart. She remembers going to The Ohio State Fair one year as well. Her degree path took her into
Journalism and Marketing. As the Noble County Community Development Educator, lessons learned
from club meetings (on parliamentary procedure) are still relevant in her work today with the Noble
County Planning Commission’s meetings.
6. 4‐H & FFA Teaches You to Make Wise Choices Noble County’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Christine Gelley
was not in 4‐H. In one respect, it taught her that life sometimes forces you to
make choices. A daughter of a single, working mother, Christine had to choose
between 4‐H and choir. She chose choir and spent ten years getting an
education in vocal performance.
The National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization is a career and
technical student organization, based on classes that promote and support
agricultural education. Three of the seven Noble County staff were involved in
FFA and have each made Agriculture both their careers and their hobbies.
Gelley was heavily involved in Future Farmers of America where she served as
an officer for three of four years, went to State for both the Parliamentary Procedure and Public
Speaking contests. She also showed livestock, and did dairy and soil judging. Gelley completed several
supervised agricultural experiences including greenhouse and landscaping work, food preparation,
gardening, soybean and corn entomology research with Monsanto and agricultural writing and
photography. As an award‐winning researcher, agricultural writer and photographer, she uses skills
gained from FFA to share updates with Noble County farmers and other groups around the state.
Nancy Snook was also active in FFA where she earned a State FFA degree and served as a State FFA
Officer. Sami Schott also held student advisor and secretary positions in FFA and received both State and
American FFA degrees. She served on the Parliamentary procedure and meat judging teams, was a state
public speaking finalist and a Star Greenhand (1st year member) and a Star chapter farmer.
Other reflections also included making forever friends, memorable advisors (volunteers to who give
time and talent to shape young lives), winning and losing, getting 4‐H scholarships, and gaining
resources for life.
4‐H is an educational, youth development program that focuses on experiential learning and activities
that stimulate lifelong learning. In 2018, Ohio 4‐H had more than 557,000 participants with 762 in Noble
County. Noble County's 4‐H program tops the state with the highest percentage of population
participating. To learn more about Noble County 4‐H, visit https://noble.osu.edu/program‐areas/4‐h‐
youth‐development or call 732‐5681.