AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University (ISU) Extension’s 4-H Youth Development program will recognize former 4-H members who currently are serving in the military at a special display at the Iowa State Fair. Families of military 4-H alumni are invited to send in names and photos of their soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to their county extension offices for inclusion in the display.
The 4-H alumni military display will be just one part of the interactive program to recognize and support the military at the fair. Fairgoers can use kiosks to insert video or still digital greetings into a selection of e-postcards to send to deployed military or military families. The kiosks will be provided through 4-H’s Operation Military Kids, an outreach program for the children of National Guard and Reserve soldiers, in partnership with ISU Extension’s Communications and Marketing Service.
Youth involved in the 4-H Technology Team and Speak Out for Military Kids will videotape fair highlights for Internet podcasts and create a longer version on compact discs to mail to deployed service members. The 4-H Technology Team also will teach Podcast 101 at the fair to educate military families and the public on how to produce and put podcasts on the Internet.
An e-mail from a deployed sailor sparked the idea for this program, according to Chris Gleason, 4-H’s Operation Military Kids project director. The sailor is her son, Navy Lt. Matthew Gleason, a 4-H alumnus whose e-mail detailed a conversation with fellow Iowan, Lt. j.g. Ben Eastburn.
He wrote, “We were reminiscing today on watch about the state fair and how long it has been since we have been able to go! Memories can get you through!”
Shortly after that, project director Gleason and her ISU Extension co-workers brainstormed ways to send the fair to deployed service members.
Chuck Morris, 4-H Program Director, said he is not surprised at the number of 4-H alumni serving in the military. Morris said “The four H’s stand for head, heart, hands and health, and 4-H members pledge ‘my hands to larger service…’ Communication and leadership are two major outcomes of participation in the 4-H program and we are proud of our young men and women who put these skills to use in service to our country.”
For more information about Operation Military Kids and 4-H, contact the local county office of ISU Extension.
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