Each year Southwest Iowa 4-H high school members have the opportunity to participate in the 4-H Area Recognition process. Held on March 29th in Murray, this year’s Area Recognition event saw thirty-one senior 4-H members from eleven counties participating in the categories of State 4-H Council, Youth Technology Team, National 4-H Congress, and State 4-H Project Awards.
Through this process, 4-H members determine personal goals, develop learning plans and evaluate their 4-H experiences. This information is summarized in their support material application for consideration by the area award evaluation committee. In addition, each 4-H member participated in a personal interview as part of the selection process.
State 4-H Project Awards provide recognition for youth who have excelled in projects by participating, learning and evaluating 4-H experiences. Southwest Iowa will send on sixteen 4-H’ers to the state 4-H recognition event in August, where they will compete for 50 project awards. Among the members advancing included Kirk Hatfield in Citizenship.
Kirk also participated with his woodworking project. Kirk is the son of Jerry and Terri Hatfield of rural Leon. He is a student at Central Decatur School and a member of the Wranglers 4-H Club.
If you would like to learn more about how you can participate in 4-H opportunities such as this, contact your county Iowa State University Extension office. 4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. 4-H is also the youth development program of Iowa State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
kp/bmr
5/31/2009