4-H in the Media

Teens reap satisfaction as they sew for Zambia

By Manny Crisostomo mcrisostomo@sacbee.com Published: Monday, Apr. 2, 2012 - 12:00 am | Page 3B Last Modified: Monday, Apr. 2, 2012 - 7:06 am Emma Meads, left, and Jenna Arciero, both 16, collect "gently used" pillowcases and cut, sew and transform them into colorful dresses for girls in Zambia villages. The Davis teens direct a Norwood 4-H project inspired by a campaign that has sent thousands of dresses to girls in impoverished nations since 2009. Both learned sewing at 4-H. They and others in the group are working on 20 dresses to send to a former 4-H member who works in Zambia with the Peace Corps. "It's simple sewing skills that we put to use to help someone else around the world," Meads said. "It will be super rewarding to be able to see how this one pillowcase can really change a girl's life." More than donations, Arciero is looking for more girls to help sew. "Spreading the idea is more what we are aiming for," she said. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/02/4383233/teens-reap-satisfaction-as-they.html#storylink=cpy

White House: Young Visitors Stir up Interest in Science and Engineering

Dr. John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science & Technology, center, greets 4H students during their visit to the White House March 28, 2012. (by Phil Larson, OSTP) Matthew, a high school senior from Oklahoma, has dreamed of becoming an engineer since he built his first “robot” in a 4H club years ago. Despite his passion and exuberance, his efforts to share exciting, fun, and accessible activities—and eventual career opportunities— in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) don’t always resonate with other students. Matthew was one of 40 young leaders from 4H clubs around the country addressing a crowd on Wednesday at the White House. He offered the analogy of a cool beverage on a hot southern day—to him, STEM activities can be as appealing as sugar in sweet tea, but someone must stir the ingredients to spread the flavor. During their visit with Dr. John Holdren, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and other Administration policymakers, these bright and energetic young leaders volunteered to stir up interest in STEM throughout their communities. The 4H students pledged to engage their peers in creative science and engineering activities  like the Maker Movement through video contests, newsletter campaigns, and mentoring programs. Together, they plan to build a national STEM peer movement. You can join them. Start a Maker Faire in your community. Encourage your friends to join in, and connect with new friends in the...

4-H Robotics Team Wins at Tournament

Posted by Jane Stahl | November 21, 2011 Congratulations to the San Bruno/South San Francisco 4-H Club’s robotics team on their win at the First Lego League qualifying tournament at Jane Lathrop Middle School in Palo Alto on Sunday, November 20th. The team, named “It Should Have Worked,” received the competition’s highest score as well as praise from the judges for their research project, team work and robot design. Guided by team coach, Claus Schafhalter, the project members researched this year’s challenge theme of "Keeping Food Safe," built an autonomous LEGO Mindstorms robot using engineering concepts, then presented their research and solutions.  Youth members were: Alexander Davis, Darren Diep, Kaitlin Leung, Samantha Rozal, Peter Schafhalter, Richard Schafhalter, Nina Schoener, and Peter Schoener.  The team now goes on to compete in the NorCal Peninsula Championship in Redwood City on Saturday, January 28. http://sanbruno.patch.com/announcements/4-h-robotics-team-wins-at-tournament

On a Turkey Farm, 4-H Meets Slow Food

Mon Nov. 21, 2011 2:30 AM PST This post is part of my series on 4-H Club. Read about the club's Big Ag ties here, and about kids raising pigs in Oakland here. For the past few weeks, I've been blogging about the two heritage turkeys that my friends and I have been raising in our backyard. But our turkeys aren't Berkeley natives. They spent the first ten days of their lives on the Thode Family Farm in Sebastopol, California. There, the four Thode kids raise dozens of turkeys every year for a collaboration between their 4-H club and the local Slow Foods chapter. Back in September, I visited the farm to learn more about this cool partnership. The turkey whisperer above is Zach Thode. A soft-spoken 21-year-old, Zach is the veteran turkey farmer of the family. Seven years ago, he and a few friends began raising heritage turkeys for their 4-H club. Through the club, the kids tried to sell their birds for Thanksgiving, but they had a marketing problem: Their customers wondered why they should pay $7.50 a pound when supermarket turkeys cost a fraction of that. "People didn't understand that organic feed costs more, and so does giving them enough space to live in," Zach told me. "Plus, we raise our birds for six months, whereas most supermarket birds only take three months or less to get to slaughter weight." But then, Slow Food Russian River got wind of the project. "We were so impressed with how these kids were raising their birds," says Jim...

NATIONAL 4-H WEEK: Local clubs prepare to celebrate

Mariposa Weekly Gazette, September 29, 2011 www.mariposagazette.com/news/2011-09-29/Local_News/NATIONAL_4H_WEEK.html Across the country, 4-H will celebrate National 4-H Week 2011 Sunday, Oct. 2 through Saturday, Oct. 8. National 4-H week, celebrated annually, provides recognition to youth and leaders involved in 4-H programs. With an expansive network reaching every corner of the country, 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. More than 6 million 4-H youth in urban neighborhoods, suburban schoolyards, military bases, and rural farming communities stand out among their peers: building revolutionary opportunities and implementing community-wide change at an early age. In the state of California there are more than 20,000 4-H volunteer leaders, and the organization serves over 120,000 youth. This past year in Mariposa County there were over 180 members and 66 4-H volunteer leaders. In Mariposa County the 4-H members from our four clubs: Bootjack 49ers, Cathey’s Valley, Triangle and the Don Pedro Rattlers 4-H will be wearing their uniforms to school, church, doing presentations at schools & clubs, and inviting their friends, young and old, to join this wonderful Youth Development Program. From self-defense to sheep to small engines, local clubs have had over 60 volunteer leaders each year in Mariposa who have pledged their head, heart, hands, and health toward improving their members, the community, and themselves. By pledging...