[CED/CD/EAT] 2021 February 4-H Volunteer Newsletter

Tue Feb 16 13:48:05 MST 2021

Arizona 4-H

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Message from the Director

At the inaugural Engaged Citizens Event (ECE), I gave a presentation about the origins of 4-H and an overview of 4-H funding. It made me reflect on the complexity of the organization and how that lends to many opportunities. 

4-H is funded cooperatively. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative Extension system. Cooperative refered to the shared funding from the federal (through USDA-NIFA), state, and county governments. Today, those public (tax-payer) dollars are supported by an increasing amount of grant and private donor dollars. This cooperative funding approach aimed to bring the resources of the land-grant university system (Morrill Act of 1862; University of Arizona) to bring the research of the worlds first public education network to communities across the state. This organizational structure remains.  

4-H programming is a partnership. 4-H aims to to create an environment where Arizona youth can learn how to empower personal leadership, hone in on creativity, and encourage positive social change in their own community by upholding the tradition of making the best better. This is achieved by using cooperative funding, community partnerships, and a valuable team of 4-H volunteers.  

The 4-H programming partnership in a county 4-H program is between the county-based 4-H youth development professionals, community partners (e.g. schools), 4-H volunteers, families, and youth to create high-quality youth development opportunities that are responsive to the current issues in our communities. 

I want to say thank you for each of your contributions of time and talents to helping youth learn how to empower personal leadership, hone in on creativity, and encourage positive social change in their own community through projects in Agriculture, STEM, Healthy Living, and Civic Engagement. Your partnership with us is invaluable and without you leading 4-H clubs, creating awesome learning experiences in project meetings, and showing up to support 4-H events our ability to reach 6,000 4-H club members and 200,000 4-H educational members in Arizona.  

My expectatation has been since March 15, 2020 has been for our staff and volunteers to continue to create these opportunities during COVID-19. What has changed are the COVID-19 mitigation requirements often requires that these experiences have to happen virtually. In our end-of-year evaluation 52% of volunteers shared they are holding virtual programs! This was a huge transition, one that no one wanted, but has been the prudent path forward. So, I thank each of you who have continued to create great programs in unfavorable conditions.  

Thank you and stay safe and healthy,

Jeremy Elliott-Engel

Associate Director & State 4-H Program Leader, 
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension

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4-H Ag At Home

Have you checked out the many resources to support your livestock project work - when you can't gather or you want to get more content in before you meet in person?  Topics are wide-ranging and there are both activities you can lead in your project meetig and virtual seminars to attend.  

Check out Arizona 4-H Ag(riculture) at Home (https://t.e2ma.net/click/4o9zyc/s3cj3mp/8f5tpj). If you have questions contact Arizona 4-H Ag at Home (mailto:betsygreene at arizona.edu?subject=Arizona%204-H%20Ag%20at%20Home), Equine Specialist.  

Still need 17 4-H members

Arizona 4-H is one of seven states selected to implement the 2021 4-H Ag Innovators Experience (AIE). We still need seventeen passionate agricultural advocates. This train-the-trainer program will prepare 4-H teens to conduct workshops and train other youths on the interconnectedness of our food system.

Do you have youth interested in learning about the importance of a healthy sustainable food supply to feed a growing world? And are those youth ready to share what they have learned with other youth as a leader through community service and civic engagement effort? Then this project is right for them! Go to the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience 2021 (https://t.e2ma.net/click/4o9zyc/s3cj3mp/o85tpj) event page to register and for more information. Contact Dr. Ag Innovators Experience (mailto:lopezg3 at email.arizona.edu?subject=Ag%20Innovators%20Experience), 4-H STEM Specialist with questions. 

Arizona 4-H College Scholarships is Open!

In December, we shared the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation Scholarship Application would be available through ZingBooks on January 4, 2021. Unfortunately, the programmers are still working but they will be open soon. The deadline remains April 1, 2021.

All college aged 4-H youth and recent alumni are eligible for Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation scholarships. Perennial youth miss out on scholarships because they do not apply, please encourage the youth in your club that are college age or recently aged out to apply.  Please check with your local Extension Office for any deadlines specific to your county. For questions, please contact the AZ 4-H Foundation Scholarship Chair, AZ4-HYF Scholarship Applications (mailto:norquest at email.arizona.edu?subject=AZ4-HYF%20Scholarship%20Applications).

A Civic Engagement Experience for Teens
The Engaged Citizens Event on January 27th, 2021 saw 40 Arizona 4-H Youth from all corners of the state learn about how the government functions. These Arizona 4-H youth members got to meet with 16 State Representatives and Senators. This event was the first civic engagement event in Arizona 4-H focused on state government.  The program will continue in the future, in person, to help meet our goals of educating youth about civic education while simultaneously making invaluable impressions on Arizona legislators.  We want to thank the support of  the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation, who's logistical and financial support made the event possible.  

1140 E South Campus Dr | Tucson, AZ 85721 US

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