Maybe I should back up a bit, here...

I can start by explaining all of the fun and interesting things that I've done with 4-H over the past few months. I think I'll rewind to about June of last year...

(more than just a few months? oh well...)

Back in June, we had a bunch of things goin' on...

• I helped with a fun video for our teen association district representative's campaign video: Watch Kale's Video on Youtube
• I helped plan and organize STAC, the State Teen Association Convention (see image at right)

In July...

• I helped chaperone not just one, but TWO 4-H camps, the CL2NI 4-H camp held at Tensed, and the Kootenai County 4-H STEM camp

  side note, that Kootenai county 4-H camp had some super cool underwater drones that the kids (and some adults) played around with... AWESOME! [go look, yourself!]

In August...

• I joined the fine folks in Gem-Boise county to help judge for their herdsman award (animal care, clenliness, upkeep, etc.)
• I visited some youth and represented the Idaho 4-H Volunteer Association at the Bonneville county fair (namely, some of the youth who are helping with BetterPix)
• I helped set up and run the camera system for the Kootenai County 4-H youth livestock auction [go look, yourself!]
• I made it over to DJ for Idaho County 4-H at their fair! [go look, yourself!]

In September...

• The Latah County Fair was a blast! [go look, yourself!]
• I also made it over to the Lewis County fair to visit with the staff, and help out (where I could)

In October...

• It was time to recognize some volunteers in some cool places around the state!
• I attended and chaperoned the Idaho LEAD (Learn, Engage, Act, Develop) Summit [go look, yourself]

In November...

• We had our first Latah-county-wide swine project meeting, which was pig-tastic! [go look, yourself!]
• I traveled to Mackay, Idaho to help with a 4-H Senior's senior project, and we had a blast tearing apart all sorts of computers and electronic stuff [go look, yourself!]

At the end of December...

• The FMBE club (and I) participated in a volunteering activity in Moscow to help provide gifts for the "Sharing Tree" a program to give gifts to children in need. [go look, yourself]
• We resurrected our Northern District teen retreat to great success! Small turnout, sure, but it was greatly enjoyed by all involved! [go look, yourself!]

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Now we're all caught up, let me share with you the plans for the new year...

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We just got back from a teen planning meeting for youth to organize two of the major 4-H conferences in the state, STAC and I-LEADS. (You can go listen to some interviews on the Idaho 4-H Roundup podcast: https://idaho4hroundup.com/episodes/recorded-live-at-the-2024-steering-committee-meeting/)

I'm still working with a few youth to finish up recordings for a statewide presentation contest organized by the Idaho Pork Producers Association, and that's going quite well. It's been great to get some of the youth involved in recording videos and editing their work.

I'm now gearing up to help educate youth at the multi-county Swine Field Day coming up in March. There, I'll be educating youth about ear-notching, and I've got a pretty fun activity planned. I'll be sure to take pictures and share what I'm doing.

I'm also working on some more electronics dissection workshops with youth in Latah County. Hope to have that program going in mid March! (YAY!) Plus... I've got youth engaged with me for planning it.

Lastly, I'm also working on what I think will be a fun program for the swine project in my club... "Pig Papers Please" where youth will learn and better understand the importance of having the correct documentation for crossing state lines with their livestock.

And so many more leadership opportunities with youth...

This is shaping up to be a fun year in 4-H!