4-H Program Impact Statements

2007 Columbiana County Impact Statements

 OPERATING AND FUND RAISING

2007 marked the second year Columbiana county has operated with out county funding.  The Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Science, and Community development Programs have been suspended. Donations from 4-H supporters have enabled the Extension Office to maintain its presence through the operation of the 4-H Program.

• Phone calls for the suspended programs were redirected or answered if possible
• Donations were accepted from individuals, from the local Moose organization and three Memorial Funds were established
• Membership dues were charged raising $6,000
• A raffle and silent auction were held raising $17,000
• $2,000 was raised through the sales of barn posters sponsored through the Farm and Dairy
• A new pick-up truck was donated by Stadium GMC and raffled raising $7,000 for our county 4-H Program
• Charges were implemented for QA certification raising $1,500

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Julia B. Herron - Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

• A total of 685 youth participated in traditional programming in 2007.  As a culmiination of their 4-H project experience 600 livestock projects were exhibited at the Columbiana County Fair
• In school programming was suspended in 2007
• A total of 213 adult volunteers served 48 clubs and 9 committees county-wide. Seven new volunteers were interviewed, selected and trained in 2007.  Two new volunteer training sessions were conducted focusing on leadership and teamwork with the Extension Program.
• Three volunteer continuing education opportunities were conducted focusing on officer responsibilities, club chartering, and 4-H updates and opportunities for service.  Seventy percent of volunteers attended one of these trainings.
• Some 341 youth and more than 200 parents attended one of five Livestock Quality Assurance trainings for 4-H and FFA youth in Columbiana County in 2007.  Participants learned about the ten good production practices with concentration on #3 Properly storing, labeling, and accounting for all drug products and medicated feeds. #5 Educating all employees and family members on proper adminsitration techniques, and #1 Identifying and tracking all treated animals.  Questions from the testing option were discussed for testing in 2008.
• Overnight camp was held at Camp Whitewood June 10 - 15 with a focus on pond building.  "Finding Nemo" - a Fishy Adventure was the theme of the camp.  Camp was attended by 45 campers and 18 counselors.  The highlight of the camp was the construction of a fish pond complete with waterfall and fish by the campers.  Landscaping was also created around the fish pond.  The Fishy Science curriculum was taught to the campers as part of their experience.  Post tests showed a great increase in knowledge about fish and many campers were thrilled to take a goldfish home from camp with them.   Campers also participated in hiking, swimming, shooting sports, boating, craft projects, building sand castles, and building and racing cardboard boats.  Counselors participated in 24 hours of training to prepare them for supervising and planning the camp program.
• 27 youth ages 6-12 attended a one day Day Camp at the Columbiana County Fairgrounds assisted by 14 counselors.  Campers activities revolved around the space theme with the highlight being building and launching bottle rockets.  Counselors helped teach campers responsibility, respect, diversity, and caring.  The day was capped off with an ice cream social and a square dance.
• The Columbiana County Junior Leaders group of 24 4-H members, took part in various leadership activities.  This year the group cleaned out flower beds at the Extension office and at a local church.  They ushered at the Canfield Fair making over $1,500 with which they plan to shop for Christmas for a less fortunate 4-H family and to take a trip to Teen Leadership Conference in February.
• The Columbiana County Junior Fairboard consisting of 28 members coming from 4-H, FFA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Granges was served by the 4-H Educator as advisor.  This group learns leadership and life skills as they work to plan for, order supplies, and implement the Junior Fair Program at the fair.  They learn to coordinate their activities with committees, senior fair board members and each other to bring the junior fair to fruition.
• In partnership with Columbiana County Family and Children First Council a Sportsmanship Symposium was held in February featuring the Ohio State University Sportsmanship Council as speakers along with NFL former player Bill Triplett.  All eleven area school Districts were invited with participation by seven.  Good sportsmanship was stressed on the part of coaches, players, parents and other spectators.  It was hoped that each school district would in turn organize its own sportsmanship council to help monitor school sporting events.