We had our our yearly 4H banquet this past Saturday. It is rather late, so late that the year in review is October 2006 through September 2007. This makes for some interesting “what we did” speeches as many of the leaders kept getting confused. Our group was in better shape–I send out reminder letters that tell the members what we will be doing at the next meeting. My memory is all in computer files.
While this may give the appearance that I am an awesome leader I will let it be known that 1) I have been group leader for at least 10 years (no one including me can remember) and 2) my group has some favorite ruts projects they like and now expect prefer to do again. I have no complaints as it makes planning easier and the kids like moving from “not having a clue” to “the expert” at least to the newer members. My internal thought commentator is in red.
October: The official beginning of the 4H calendar. We begin every year with pumpkin painting. Every year I am surprised at what the kid’s imaginations can see in a fat orange pumpkin. This year it was how my 4yo Zach painted his pumpkin–complete face on one side and a story picture on the other. Best of all was it could be seen without asking for an explanation. Too cool.
October also brings our hamburger stand at the local fourth Saturday in October Harvest Festival. That year we had 30 helpers–including members aged 7+ and ag agents. We sell 1,000+ hamburgers. The great thing is the profit allows us to do all the listed activities with no or little cost to the families in our group. This is a definite plus as we are a Delta poverty area. (still have to pull teeth to get workers–something for nothing everywhere these days, but still I/we pull it off every year so what can you say?)
We participated in the county Fall Fun Festival with our group providing drinks and enjoying the weennie roast & hay ride. (too cold as some were not prepared and one group needs to provide more supervision for its very young members such that there are many more grey hairs on my head)
November 2006: Asked the state winner to come give her award winning speech and give pointers to the group. Project was the annual tie-dye which is an eternal favorite. (No child in our group & 99% of the county will give a speech. It is a sure advance to regional competition if anyone would even stutter through. We moved the tie-dye to later in the year because kids would come for all the freebies early in the year and disappear as we moved into 4H*work* areas. very frustrating.)
December 2006: Just about the busiest month for our group. First Community Service: We worked with the ***Church and a member’s prison ministry to make cookie packages for the inmates in the county jail. Somewhat of a reward for attending Bible study/counseling but the rules say that everyone must get one so also a nice gesture. This was our first (and only) year of doing this as some later expressed reservations about rewarding inmates.
Our annual project is to shop for one boy and one girl from the angel trees. I usually select younger children as the $75 per child we have allotted goes farther. The girls buy for the girl and the boys for boys. They compete to see who can get closest without going over. This is an excellent learning experience as we try to get as much as requested/suggested as possible. Real budgeting in real life brings home the *can’t have everything* without a lecture. Again it is amazing to see how well the kids do.
For the fun projects: For the second year we learned to build a Christmas gift basket. The kids did egg yolk painted cookies, chocolate dipped pretzels, candy mice, decorated prebaked gingerbread men, handrolled & coated several different candies, bagged sampler of fancy tropical trail mix, added hot drink packages (chosen from flavored hot teas, hot cider, and flavored hot chocolates). These where topped with foiled candies & candy canes and wrapped in fancy decorator plastics & bows. The kids did all the work with supervision. This meeting had a ‘bring your favorite party food’ so we noshed while we worked.
We ended the season with a trip to the “Nutcracker”. Even the kids that griped going in enjoyed themselves and asked to go again the next year. (kids DO NOT roll candy centers into neat little ball of approximately 6 and then coat in assorted stuff. They lump into one or two giant balls and go on to the next section. Forget peanut butter, coconut, or any other flavors for the basket. But the baskets were lovely & third years were also and next years will be too).
January 2007: We toured the local veterinary clinic. The vet showed the kids the entire facility from kennels to medical equipment. We saw doggie gall stones and a new mother. The hands down favorite was the internal camera and the demonstration of how it works. Second favorite was the surgical room and the doggie gall stones. Our group turned in three project journals. The two cloverbuds stayed in county while the Sr. won at the regional level. (these are my kids and it was a challenge as I am notorious for not developing pictures and there are at least 4 pages for pictures. Important as it is easy to claim the work so pictures back up the claim. Journal are also the part that scares off most parents, although I do not mandate that one gets turned in ever. My older children never did and still learned a lot. The problem is that 4H is a government supported group and must *prove* that we are doing what we should be–which is what record journals do. The state is really pushing, so I really encourage, and so on…)
February 2007: Mrs. Susan came and taught those 10+ how to weave baskets while I taught the younger ones how to weave paper heart baskets . It was very very involved and while the older ones enjoyed the end result it will be a long while before we do this again. Most adults present were ready to do a little basket weaving ourselves. Note: the link has good directions just practice using a different number of cuts for best results.
March 2007: Time to prepare for O’Rama–what the competition is called in 4H. KG did a fashion review (area of competition) for the group. We discussed the different competiton areas and the chicken BBQ contest (thus the matches & lighter fluid reference in an earlier post). BBQ contest is the hardest for parents as the kids must to EVERYTHING themselves from lighting fires, to preparing and cooking the chicken. Lighter fluid & matches = grey hairs on even the most hands on learning parents.
April 2007: O’Rama practice and competition. We invited Mr. Billy from Arkansas Fish and Game to come and teach us how to tie fishing knots and fish habitats for the sports fishing contest. There were many questions about fishing & hunting asked so the kids learned a lot. At the O’Rama Lindsay completed an insect collection and displayed for a participation ribbon. (cloverbuds ages 5-8 compete for participation ribbons only so they can concentrate on learning the ropes). Robert won several areas and chose to advance in the bicycle area. He also advanced in the BBQ so on to regionals.
Ball season began so we encouraged working on individual projects. Five families signed up to grow giant watermelons & pumpkins.
May 2007: Robert competed a BBQ and placed in the top 5. The group received their seeds and planted after the beginning date. Ball season severely challenges 4H. Planned for regional O’Rama in June.
June 2007: Robert competed in bicycle and won first so he advanced to the state competition.
July 2007: Robert competed and came in fifth at state. He was disappointed but enjoyed the trip. It is a 3 day-2 night stay at the university at Fayetteville. The kids are given a variety of tours and classes to choose from (in addition to competing) so are very busy. Drought had set in so the pumpkins & watermelons are doing poorly–eventually dead poorly.
August 2007: Behind the scenes Mrs. Stephanie is getting as much done as possible for the stand as a baby came on the 13th. The group took a break meeting.
September 2007: We began the get ready for hamburger stand chant. Just a get into the swing of things meeting & asking what they might want to do in the new year. Mostly they like their rut expected activities.
In addition to this every month the newsletter encourages the members to do one thing in their project books or something related and tell us at the meeting what they did. This works well and we have gotten a lot of project work done.
Now we are gearing up to stress individual project work and summertime projects. The county is trying to find volunteers to begin a shooting club but it is proving difficult. Most adults do not shoot anything anymore. Add in training (two days) and over all commitment and it is difficult.
I am also trying to find new activities to do with the kids. Something for ages 5 – 16 is not easy so if you have a suggestion please post in the comments.
Whew! Sure am busy aren’t I?