March 2012 - UAF

Kenai Peninsula 4-H Pledger

March 2012 Tuesday, November 02, 2010

December 2010 Dear 4-H Family, Cooperative Extension Service Kenai Peninsula District

43961 -Beach Rd, Suite A Soldotna, AK 99611 Phone: 907-262-5824 Fax: 907-262-3939 www.uaf.edu/ces/4h/kenpen

March 2012

Inside this issue: Oratorical Contest

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Opportunities

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Horse Camp 2012

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4-H’er of the Month

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Steer Farm Tours

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Social Networking

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Future Events

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For the March Pledger I decided to build on last month’s letter concerning our special 4-H community, how we relate to each-other and our organizational mandate to, “Make the Best Better.”

Through the course of our daily lives we each have opportunities to influence others with the things we say, do and demonstrate. I submit it is through these “opportunities” that the context for how others relate to us is determined and how in turn those relationships most definitely result in positive or negative experiences and outcomes. While each 4-H member, leader and volunteer carries this personal responsibility to continually improve one’s-self, it is important to recognize that we also share this responsibility with our families and clubs and as citizens of our greater community, country and world. To achieve the lofty task of “Making the Best Better,” at each of these levels, 4-H participants must learn the connection between strong public speaking skills, effective communication and successful relationships. It is through these relationships that we, as ambassadors of 4-H, become positive agents for change. By modeling responsible citizenship and through our service, we can truly achieve the 4-H motto. America’s Arctic University

Published by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution.

Attached to this newsletter you will find a registration form and a web link to resources that will help you prepare for Public Presentation and Educational Display Day on March 17. Please take some time to review these documents and discuss them in your clubs. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.” Public Presentation and Educational Display Day is a vehicle for those who wish to become great speakers, to practice this great art and to attain the most important tool available for making the world a better place. I eagerly look forward to hearing and seeing the many great presentations and educational displays our 4-H youth will provide at this upcoming event and encourage 4-H parents and supporters to seize this opportunity to meet and hear the next great orators of our time. “The best way to sound like you know what you’re talking about is to know what you’re talking about.” –Author Unknown Sincerely, Jason Floyd, LBSW 4-H Agent

The link for Public Presentations and Educational Display Day forms is:

www.uaf.edu/ces/4h/kenpen Sign up by March 14 and be entered into the drawing for a grand prize!

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Club News

On February 20, the Funky Farmers had a general club meeting at the Floyd's house. We spent the first hour learning how to put together records in the proper order. We also discussed the importance of keeping a record book as a 4-H member. During the business meeting the club decided to change the monthly meeting time to the first Monday of every month. The next meeting will be held at the Epperheimer's house at 6 p.m. on March 5. There will be no business meeting; instead we will focus our time on public presentations. This meeting will also be a potluck get-together. Funky Farmers, please plan on having a public presentation ready to share with the club even if you aren't planning on attending Public Presentation Day. Catrina

Horse and Livestock Unlimited met in January and had fun sledding and playing in the snow at the Braxling residence; thanks Todd and Beth. After sledding we enjoyed a chili feed. In February, we met at the Yancy residence with the Super Bowl as the main theme; thanks, Jeremy and Tori. We will meet on Sunday, March 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Soldotna Sports Center for our meeting and ice skating. We will discuss public presentations, ideas for community service, club fundraising and other fun ideas. The skate rental is $3 and ice time is $4. We will bring hot chocolate. If anyone wants to bring snacks, feel free to bring them with you.

The Kasilof Cooking and Sewing Club will meet Saturday, March 24, from noon until 3 p.m. Due to the small number of club members this year we will be combining both clubs into one. At this meeting we will be looking forward to fair time and getting ideas for projects for the fair as well as setting up our records books. So please bring your books to this meeting. Thanks, Mickey

Horse: On February 22 everyone doing a horse project met to talk about presentation day and received a miniclinic on how to lunge and hobble train your horse, taught by Shirley Cox. She showed us how and why we would want to do these with our horse General: On February 23 we had a general meeting. Joanna Daniels, our president, led the meeting wonderfully going over project reports and lots of new business. We went over plans for our horse camp this year. Senior Camp is May 29 - June 1, Horse Show, June 2 and Beginner Camp, June 3 - 5. Joanna also gave a report on the close-up trip her and four other girls are going on with some adults. We talked about helping out at the fair fundraiser April 14 at the Ninilchik fair grounds. We also discussed helping out at the NRA Banquet March 2 and 3. To conclude our meeting we made costumes and decorations for the Snow Rondy Parade this Saturday while the cooking kids made cake pops with Vicky Daniels. Melanie Mastolier. Members of the Trail Blazers 4-H Club participated in the Anchor Point Snow Rondy parade Saturday, February 25. To go with the theme of "Moving Forward in a Flurry," club members spray-painted T-shirts with snowflakes, made "flurry sticks" decorated with snowflakes and clovers, and rode stick horses in the parade. We represented 4-H on the Kenai Peninsula with pride, and fun was had by all.

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The Bang UP Club has started Lego Robotics! We had a great meeting on Saturday, February 18 at the CES office. WOW! We had a lot of kids show up interested in robotics. We’d like to welcome two new families to the Bang UP Club, the McKibbens and the Rankins. The date for our March meeting has not been set; everyone should be doing outstanding public presentations instead. I'll contact you by e-mail or by phone. Thanks! Beth and Trace Braxling, 262-1887

March 2012

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Rally Day Rocket Makers

Submit your best 4-H photo to Jason at [email protected] and you could win a $15 gift certificate from Fred Meyers as well as another $15 gift certificate for your club. A new winner for this contest is selected on a monthly basis.

Scholarships for up to $500 are being made available for projects that introduce or expand agriculture into your curriculum. For more information please go to: http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/ag_grantsTeachers.htm Information provided by Janice Chumley

Because so many groups use the meeting room at the Extension office, please remember to write your intended meeting date on the calendar in the meeting room. If you cannot make it to the office to do this, please call and ask one of us – we will gladly write your meeting date on the calendar for you. Remember to clean up afterwards so that the room will be ready for the next activity. Thank you!

Trailblazers walked in the Snow Rondy Parade in Anchor Point

Bang Up Club’s Lego Robotics

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Trail Blazers, Esther Knox, Kody Knox and Joanna Daniels participated in the American Legion Oratorical Contest on February 11. "The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship" (www.legion.org/oratorical). The contest is open to anyone of high school age who is willing to study the constitution and write and memorize an original speech about the U.S. Constitution that is 8 to 10 minutes in length. Contestants also study and prepare a 3- to 5minute speech on four assigned topics from specific sections of the Constitution. One of those topics is drawn at the contest and participants have 5 minutes to look over their notes before giving the speech on that topic. Winners on the district level are awarded $750, $500 and $250 for first through third place. Alaska is divided into four districts and one winner is chosen from each district to compete on the state level. The first place winner on the state level wins an all-expensepaid trip to the national contest held in Indianapolis, Ind. In our district contest, Esther Knox came in first

March 2012 place, Joanna Daniels, second and Kody Knox, third. Esther will be participating in the state contest in Anchorage on March 3. Let's cheer for Esther!

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March 2012

Horse Campers - ARE YOU READY?! Trail Blazers' Horse Camp 2012 is scheduled for May 29-June 5. Advanced camp will begin the evening of May 29 and end June 1. Basic camp will kick off June 3 and end June 5. The camp show (Saturday, June 2) will have a new twist this year. The Peninsula Fun Show Series is sponsoring the show, so it will be an all-ages event and have a "western" theme with great prizes. You kids will get the chance to compete against your instructors! Along with the western-focused show, there will be a costume class (Old West dress, of course!) and many classes with the western riding discipline that can be participated in with your English tack and clothing. The Fun Show Series will have two more shows over the summer, each with a different theme. Horse Camp is a great opportunity to improve your horsemanship skills, camp out with your friends and their horses and learn new training and horse management techniques. Club members have some great new ideas for camp this year, so don't miss out! If you are already planning to attend camp, these are some items you'll need: horse tack horse feed for the duration of the camp rain gear safe riding boots helmet sleeping bag air mattress toothbrush changes of clothes Bring an open mind and be ready to LEARN! If you have a rope halter and bridle with a snaffle bit, throw those in too! We provide you with a warm, dry place to sleep, a stall for your horse and some great camp cookin'! If you would like to attend camp, please contact the CES office for applications or e-mail [email protected]. If you or your parents would like to serve on the camp planning committee please contact Katie Matthews at [email protected] See you all SOON!

The March 4-H’er of the month is Eli Butler. Eli is a member of Junior Market Livestock and the Puppy Power Club. Eli was selected as 4-H’er of the month for her ongoing leadership service to the district and JML advisory councils and for her enthusiastic approach to “Making the Best Better.” In an attempt to improve the beef steer project area within the larger JML program, Eli has decided to organize a tour of JML member project sites where steers will be raised for this year’s auction. Eli proposes to improve her beef project over last year’s project and to gain and help increase local knowledge about proper practices for raising market beef. Eli noted that with the graduation of older 4-H’ers in recent years, a new class of JML members has lost those peer resources and are needing more direction, education and assistance with learning their projects. Way to go, Eli. Keep up the good work and that great can-do attitude!

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March 24, 1 p.m.: Begin at the Butler’s residence and go to the Hansen’s farm. If you have any suggestions, ideas or additions, please call Eli at 283-7359.

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Monday, March 12, 1 p.m.: Start at the Werner’s place and go to the Hauptman's farm. Saturday,


Privacy Time Privacy: Did you know that once information is posted online it is in the public domain. Be careful not to reveal too much information about yourself. What kind of information? Personal things such as where you live, work or go to school. Posting when you are leaving for vacation could seem like an invite to an unscrupulous person! Your e-mail address, date of birth and phone numbers can open a door to harassment or identity theft. Please! Be mindful of the information you make public. Once it’s posted, you cannot get it back. Time: Staying in touch has never been so easy, yet, when out of balance, social networking can leave those that we love and live with out of touch with our lives. We’ve all experienced the guest that is “glued to their phone.” How easy it is to spend hours consumed with the many electronic time absorbers that abound now. Live life physically and emotionally connected with those around you. Budget the time you spend social networking- then stick with it! Reputation: Did you know that what you post could have long-term consequences? It is now a common practice for employers and landlords to turn down a person for a job or an apartment based on what that person has posted online. Take a good look at your postings. What kind of reputation do they project about you? Is your language appropriate? “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Do your pictures portray the type of individual you are and want to be recognized as? Be careful and do not risk ruining your precious reputation.

March 2012

Reputation Friendships befriend can also influence how we think and act. Do the people you befriend post things that make you uneasy? Or that you would never post? We all need friends who nurture and influence us in a positive and productive manner. Be selective as to who you befriend. Social networking is a convenient way of communicating and sharing information with people around the world in an instant. There are many benefits to this kind of communication, such as alerting others when natural disasters occur, keeping in touch with distant relatives and close friends or reaching a large group of people all at the same time – like in 4-H! Make sure what you post and how you post it is in a way that well represents the person you are. Strive to use your Head (clearly think about what you are saying and how it portrays you), Heart (be loyal to yourself and others), Hands (serve and communicate in a positive, upbeat way) and Health (social networking can affect our mental and physical health, either in a positive or negative way) and always work at trying “To Make the Best Better.”

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Rebekah Ruzicka and Vicky Daniels were each awarded an $800 James Matthews scholarship for a close up trip to Washington D.C. If you would like to apply for this scholarship, the next opportunity to apply is by August 1.

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Friendships: Some befriend all who send a friend request to them regardless of how well they know that person (or if they know them.) Sad to say, there are predator-like people looking for easy targets. Who we


March 2012

Cooperative Extension Service 43961 K-Beach Rd, Suite A Soldotna, AK 99669-9728

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED E-mail Editor: [email protected] (Jason) Production, Layout & Design: [email protected] (Vicki)

Joanna Daniels and Esther and Kody Knox at the American Legion Oratorical Contest. They each won prizes in the competition.

Dates of Future Events:

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A Reelin’ Squealin’ Good Time The 7th Annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds. 4-H agent Jason Floyd will be a celebrity waiter. Tickets are on sale at the CES office. Have fun and support our local fairgrounds!

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March 15: JML sign-up deadline March 16: Holiday – CES office closed March 17: Public Presentation/Educational Display contests March 19: Council meeting, 6:30 p.m. March TBA: Shooting Sports Fun Shoot March 25-30: Jason is out of the office April 14: KP State Fair Fundraiser April 20-21: State Horse Contest, Palmer April 22: State Horse Clinic, Palmer April 28-29: 4-H Awareness Day/KPBA Homeshow

MARCH 2012 4-H EVENTS CALENDAR Sun

4 Horse and

Mon

5 Funky Farmer

Livestock Meeting 1–3 p.m.

11 Spring Ahead! Daylight Savings Time Begins

Tue

Wed

6

7

13

14

Thu

Fri

Sat

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2

3

8

9

10

Meeting 6 p.m.

12 Moose Landing Meeting 6:30 p.m.

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19

25

26

4-H Council Meeting 6:30 p.m. CES Office

Deadline to sign 16 up for Junior Spring Break Market CES Office Closed Livestock

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Public Presentations/ Educational Display Day

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22

23

24

27

28

29

30

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Facebook photo contest winner for February Penelope Litzen with her mini pony Pixie. Both Penelope and her club won a $15 gift card from Fred Meyers. Chantel Warfield is winner of the March photo contest. Here she is with her 4-H project, a batch of homemade jalepeno jelly. Chantel and her club, Horse and Livestock Unlimited, each won a $15 gift card from Fred Meyers.

Kasilof Cooking and Sewing Club Meeting, 3 p.m.