by Whitney Cherry | Apr 13, 2016
Jerry is a retiree and currently volunteers in the 4-H learning gardens in Calhoun County, working as he is available. He also answers my many gardening questions and offers advice. I’m grateful for his commitment to the Calhoun County 4-H program, and am glad to share his 4-H story with you today in his own words. Jerry says:
“I became involved in 4-H at age nine so that I could go to camp. My older sister and brother were going, and I didn’t want to be left out. At camp, I caught the 4-H “bug” and it has never let me go.
As a member of 4-H, I always found new and interesting challenges to do such as learning to swim at camp, collecting insects, growing a garden, raising and showing calves and pigs, farm judging at North Florida Fair, judging beef cattle at Tampa, Florida and dairy cows at Waterloo, Iowa, and attending 4-H Congress at Gainesville. All provided experiences and knowledge that were not available to me elsewhere.
Youth enjoying the Calhoun County 4-H Learning Gardens which Mr. Wyrick helps to maintain.
Now in a volunteer capacity, I enjoy watching members grow and enjoy new and novel experiences which are available through 4-H Club programs and knowing that I am helping young people grow to be positive examples for their peers. “I continue to volunteer with 4-H because of the payback of having previous 4-H members relate to me what 4-H meant to them and how it helped them to achieve their personal accomplishments. If young people are expected to be positive influences on society, they must be provided examples and knowledge of meaningful lives. They must be exposed to new ideas and experiences so that they know choices are available to them. If the next generation is to be different – is to be a positive generation – they must be taught as young people. There are no better teaching methods than those available through 4-H Club programs.”
If you are not already a volunteer, think about sharing your talents with us! You can fuel the extraordinary efforts of our youth by joining us as a volunteer. To find out more, contact your local UF IFAS Extension Office or visit http://florida4h.org/volunteers. Happy National Volunteer Appreciation Week!
by Whitney Cherry | Apr 12, 2016
Students in Mrs. Peacocks 5th grade science class explored the Laws of Motion during 4-H National Science Day.
It’s day two of National Volunteer Week, and today our 4-H volunteer spotlight is on Mrs. Kim Peacock. Kim is a 5th grade science teacher at Blountstown Elementary School in Calhoun County. Recently I had the opportunity to chat with Kim about her experiences with 4-H in the classroom.
When I asked her what advice she has for someone who is thinking about becoming a 4-H volunteer, she responded, “I would definitely encourage them to do it. Especially teachers. If you can have 4-H programs in your classroom, you really should. It’s ok not to know anything about the topic going into it, because that’s what school is for – learning. And it’s ok to learn along with our students sometimes.
4-H has really made a difference in my students’ lives. We’ve done so many things. An Ag Adventures field trip where they learned about local ag commodities like corn, cotton, and peanuts; National Youth Science Day, where we built and launched rockets right there at school, and embryology projects where we learned about the embryonic development of baby chicks and hatched eggs in our classroom. I probably never would have done any of these things on my own, so first and foremost is the exposure to new and different things that I think makes a difference. But beyond that, I’ve seen my students gain confidence, show curiosity, and get truly excited about math and science without even realizing it.
These are the things they will remember when they leave school. These are experiences they will never forget, and if nothing else, it makes me feel good to know that despite what life may throw at them in the future they will always have these happy childhood memories to hold on to. Any opportunity that comes my way to add a 4-H project to my classroom in the future, I’m going to take it. It’s a no brainer. This is good stuff, and our kids deserve it.”
Although our traditional programs revolve around clubs, 4-H also offers opportunities for volunteers and teachers to provide 4-H opportunities in school settings both during and afterschool. These programs are a great way for youth to get a “taste of 4-H” before committing to longer term involvement in a club. 4-H Afterschool clubs also provide access to 4-H to youth who might not have transportation to evening or weekend club meetings. For more information about 4-H school programs, read this previous blogpost on 4-H Opportunities for Schools. If you are a teacher or community member that would like to make a difference at our local school, think about sharing your talents with us! You can fuel the extraordinary efforts of our youth by joining us as a volunteer. To find out more, contact your local UF IFAS Extension Office or visit http://florida4h.org/volunteers. Happy National Volunteer Appreciation Week!
4-H school programs include not only science, but public speaking, ag awareness, and even money management to help youth learn “soft skills” that employers seek.
by Whitney Cherry | Dec 25, 2015
Enjoy a high-energy game of exercise bingo as you race other teams to see who can win! This game is available at your local extension office.
The New Year is upon us, and it is so fun to celebrate its coming with our families. Do you have a favorite New Year’s Tradition? If not, there is still time to plan one for this year! Here are a few fun and easy ideas to inspire you:
- New Year’s Eve Bonfire– roast hotdogs and marshmallows and enjoy hot chocolate by the fire. More family friendly campfire recipes
- Game Tournament– set up a tournament of games. You can play Minute to Win-It Style games, board games, or even electronic/video games. Each hour until midnight, let a family member choose their favorite game to play.
- Balloon Countdown– You will need a balloon for each hour of the countdown, depending on when you start. I recommend starting at 6PM, so you would need six balloons. Place a slip of paper with a craft, game or activity written on it. Place a slip in each balloon, then blow up the balloons and label each one with a number, representing each hour in the countdown until midnight. For example, at 6PM, have a family member pop the balloon with the number six on it, and then the family would do the activity listed on the slip of paper. Continue to pop balloons until midnight! Some of the activities you might include are: make paper hats, write down New Year’s Resolutions, make noisemakers, enjoy fireworks, etc.
- Progressive Hors d ’Oeuvres– this sounds fancy, but is really simple. Just prepare your family’s favorite snacks. Each hour, enjoy a different snack until midnight.
- Family Movie Night is another inexpensive favorite. Make homemade pizza or pop popcorn and enjoy a night in with your family.
- Fireworks can also be a fun activity, but be sure to read our tips on firework safety beforehand.
- Balloon Drop– a nice alternative to fireworks. Use masking tape to tape together 2 lengths of netting. Extend the tape to make a “rip cord.” Fill with balloons and confetti and tape to the ceiling (use painter’s tape so you do not damage the paint). At the stroke of midnight, pull on the rip cord and enjoy a cascade of celebratory balloons and confetti!
- And finally, you can go all in and recreate your favorite game shows. Imagine win-lose-or draw, family feud, the price is right…the possibilities are endless.
Do you have a favorite family New Year’s Eve tradition? If so, share in the comments! We want to thank you for another great year in 4-H! If you are not currently a 4-H member or volunteer, contact your local UF IFAS County Extension Office for more information, or visit http://florida4h.org for more information.
by Whitney Cherry | Oct 8, 2015
Growing up, we lived on a farm. At the age of 8, and not weighing much more than 50 pounds, my dad called me outside to a relatively small pen that he had fenced off the weekend before. He taught ag, so farming was more of a hobby for us, but this was something new. I noticed my grandpa’s old beat up blue horse trailer backed to the pen’s gate. I can remember my dad helping me climb onto the wheel well of the trailer and peek through the slats to see two yearling steers. One black and one red and white. “Which one do you want?” he asked. At the time I didn’t know that the judge always picks the black cow to win, in fact, I didn’t know there were any judges involved at all. I didn’t know why these cows were at our house about to go into a special pen. All I knew was that red cow was beautiful, and that’s the one I chose. My dad laughed and said, “He’s a haus.” So that became his name.
As it turns out, Haus was a show steer. With my dad’s help I spent a lot of cold, dark evenings after school walking that steer with fingers so numb I thought they’d break off if he jerked too hard. I learned to groom him. I learned to lead him. I learned how to feed him properly. And I learned that extra hoses and an automatic waterer were well worth the investment the next year when it cut down on the number of trips I had to make with cumbersome, sloshing, five gallon buckets of water to make sure the cows didn’t go thirsty.
I quickly fell in love with the whole idea of showing cattle, and by the Fed Cattle Show, Haus was well over 1,500 lbs. Incidentally, I hadn’t gained an ounce – in retrospect it might have had something to do with hauling those buckets of feed and water. However, I wasn’t scared. You see, as Haus grew, so did I. Not physically as I mentioned before, but my skill had grown, and so had my confidence.
For those of you who don’t know, showing cattle isn’t like other 4-H competitions where you are placed in age categories. The classes are based on animal weight in a steer show. So I walked in the ring to show with people more than twice my age. I didn’t know any better. As luck would have it, Haus not only placed first in his class, but he placed 2nd in the show as Reserve Grand Champion behind the steer everyone said was the clear favorite. What they couldn’t believe was that an eight year girl with less than a year of show experience and a white-faced red cow had beaten a sixteen year old veteran pro with a pure bread black Angus on her lead. Apparently it was a bit of a toss up between her steer and mine as to which would take the Reserve Champion spot. And as I was repeatedly told, when it’s close, the black cow always wins – no matter who’s on the lead.
From this experience I learned that it didn’t matter my age or size, I could do anything. The confidence I gained from this experience sparked a courage in me that pushed me to become a champion in poultry, livestock, and land judging, in public speaking, and in showing rabbits, chickens and hogs as well. I used each of those experiences to fuel countless other successes in life. And each time I was further building that courage. The same courage that gave me the strength of character to be honest, to show integrity when it’s not easy, and to care for others around me. It gave me the strength of character to make wise choices even when they were widely unpopular and to stand alone when it would have been easier to follow the crowd.
It certainly hasn’t always been easy. And I’ve failed a time or two. But, I continue to grow – much like the 4-H motto suggests, “To Make the Best Better”. I will be forever grateful to my mom and dad for choosing 4-H as the vehicle to start my lifelong journey toward an upstanding character. Through them and their support and guidance I came in contact with agents, volunteers, and friends from other clubs and counties who have helped me grow. Now it’s my turn and yours to inspire the next generation. How will you empower youth in your community to grow through 4-H? 4-H offers a wide range of opportunities for youth and adults- everything from animal science to aerospace. To volunteer or enroll a child in 4-H, contact your local UF IFAS County Extension Office or visit http://florida4h.org. It’s never too late to start growing character and make a positive difference!
by Whitney Cherry | Sep 25, 2015
My husband calls me the one-trip-wonder because of my stubborn refusal to make more than one trip in from the car regardless of the size or number of items needing to be carried in. I know he thinks I’m crazy, but really, who has time to make 27 trips from the car to the house? I guess it’s that same “who has time for this?” mentality that has also caused my friends to deem me the one-pot-wonder. Truly, if I can get it all in one pan, that’s less dishes I took the time to dig out, and certainly less to wash and put back. Love it!
So, perhaps that’s why I feel uniquely qualified to share a few recipes with you that should help you manage your time in the kitchen during this hectic time of year. Don’t worry. These are not one-pot-wonder recipes. You will need to dig out an extra pot or two for veggies – canned, fresh, frozen – you’re choice. But even with the extra dishes, the time these recipes save at the grocery and in the kitchen will totally be worth it.
- Clam Linguine: I feed this to kids and they love it. Ingredients can be kept on hand at all times, so it’s great for the “no time to hit the store” weeks.
- Macaroni and Cheese Casserole: Another kid favorite. Brown the burger and throw it in the freezer in portioned out Ziploc bags. Now you have another dish on hand with ingredients that are always accessible.
- Shell Macaroni Casserole: Again, kid approved. Given your already browned burger is frozen in the fridge, you’re golden for a night without stopping at the grocery AGAIN!
- Crockpot Stroganoff: Easy peasy, but may require a grocery run if you don’t have some items frozen already.
- Chicken Quesadillas: Another easy one to keep all ingredients on-hand. And… you guessed it: Kid favorite.
Bonus recipes: Great for potlucks, parties, and guests.
Printer Friendly Version: All Recipes Included
I hope you enjoy these recipes and their accompanying time-saving tips. But my greatest advice to you is to think of the dishes your family loves most and look for faster or easier ways to make them on busy nights. I don’t really cook like this all the time, but there are nights when I’m moving so fast I could leave Rachel Ray in the dust. When you have to, do it and don’t feel guilty. When you don’t, call the kids in and make meal prep a leisurely, family affair. It’s all about the ever-elusive balance we all seem to be looking for. Truthfully, we’re cooking like this because we care about our families. We want them to have hearty meals and time to enjoy them together. Sometimes, getting them turned out a little quicker is all that stands between us and letting that happen. If you have other tips or recipes you’d like to share, please feel free to leave them in the comments.If you have a passion for culinary arts, consider sharing your love with the youth in your community. Contact your local 4-H Extension Agent today, and see how you can help him/her make a difference in the lives of young people.
