Ohio State University Extension, Pike County

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Ohio State University Extension, Pike County

• Katelin McKnight

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Extension in Ohio

• Ohio State University Extension is a tool for
  bringing resources from the university to each of
  Ohios 88 counties.
• Engaging people to strengthen their lives and
  communities through research-based educational
  programming.

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4 Areas of Extension

• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• 4-H Youth Development
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Community Development
• Ohioans can use scientifically based information
  to better their lives, businesses and
  communities.

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Extension in Pike County

• Extension Educators
• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• 4-H Youth Development
• Other office workers
• Office Administrative Assistant
• FCS Program Assistant
• Two Part-Time Program Assistants

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Where is Pike County?
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My Position

• 4-H Youth Development
• Part-time Program Assistant
• June 14 August 1
• 40 hours per week

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What is 4-H?

• 4-H is a community of young people across
  America who are learning leadership, citizenship,
  and life skills
• Educational program for children age 5 and in
  Kindergarten to age 19.
• Youth are involved in hands-on, experiential
  learning that allows learning by doing .
• All 4-H programs focus on active involvement and
  experiences which stimulate lifelong learning of
  values and skills.

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4-H In Pike County

• 64 individual 4-H clubs
• 2300 youth members
• 250 adult volunteers

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Groups Involved With Pike Co. 4-H

• Pike County Agricultural Society (a.k.a. Fair
  Board)
• Junior Fair Board
• 4-H Committee
• Group of 4-H Club advisors
• Set forth policy and procedure regarding 4-H
  projects within the county
• Raise money for 4-H to be used to sponsor camps,
  trips, and scholarships.

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4-H Programming

• 4-H Camp
• School Enrichment
• 4-H Projects

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4-H Camp

• Involves approximately 300 youth
• Ages 5-19
• Youth gain leadership, social, and cooperative
  skills and practice service to others.
• Overnight camp at Canters Cave
• Day camp at Pike County Fairgrounds

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Beginner 4-H Camp

• Canters Cave 4-H Camp, Jackson, OH
• 4 days, 3 nights
• Grades 3-5
• 120 youth from Pike County
• Theme Mardi Gras

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Beginner 4-H CampPersonal Learning Experiences

• Planned events that catered to 3-5 graders
• Worked with other adult volunteers to coordinate
  4-H camp
• Had hands-on experience in educating youth
• I was constantly in a role model position

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Beginner 4-H CampPersonal Learning Experiences

• I also learned more about what a 4-H Extension
  Educator does
• Camped with two other counties
• Interacted with Educators from those counties
• Learned more about other 4-H programs

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Cloverbud Program

• Cloverbuds are 4-H members ages 5-8
• They do not compete in projects
• Learn by doing in group activities
• Activity based
• The Cloverbud Program is FUN!

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Cloverbud Camp

• One day camp
• Approximately 125 youth
• Youth are split into small groups
• Meet new people
• Small leadership roles
• Learn skills for independence
• Youth group leaders
• Ages 12 and up
• Teaches skills for future camp counselors

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Cloverbud Camp

• I helped by training two counselors who had no
  experience in the 4-H camping program
• Taught songs traditionally sung at 4-H camp
• Taught skills for leading and keeping the
  attention of 15 5,6, and 7 year olds!
• Cloverbud Camp wore me out!

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4-H Projects

• 4-H Isnt Just Cows and Cooking
• Covers 60 project areas
• Includes a self-determined project
• Some areas are targeted toward specific ages
• Age levels within projects

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My Role

• Secretary
• Answer phone/make phone calls
• Make copies
• Compose mailings
• Learned about record keeping for animals and
  youth 4-H members
• Gopher
• In preparing for the fair, I went to Wal-Mart a
  lot
• I had to keep accurate records of everything
  purchased

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My Role

• Counselor
• Served as a counselor to camp counselors
• Had a more advanced role in planning camp

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My Major Project

• Still Project Judging
• 200 youth
• All projects not in the area of animals,
  clothing, or nutrition
• Obtain 15 judges for the day of judging
• Design a schedule to allow for ample time for
  each child to be judged
• Secure building, set-up, and tear-down
• Deal with parents

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Adams County 4-H Project Judging

• Judged 30 youth
• Small Animal project areas
• Interview youth for 5 minutes
• Asked questions to see what they learned
• Gave them encouragement and ideas on improvement
  for next year
• Gave grades and picked project and category
  winners

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Lawrence County 4-H Project Judging

• Similar to Adams County
• Judged 9 youth
• Home Equipment and Family Life categories

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Pike County Fair

• August 1-7
• Showcase of 4-H Animal Projects
• Helped with Pre-Fair activities

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Pike County Fair

• 4-H Market Animal Sale preparation
• Sent brochures advertising sale to potential
  buyers
• Updated database of buyers and addresses
• 500 mailed

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Pike County Fair

• Many miscellaneous items
• Wheelchair accessibility
• Carpet to cover stage for awards ceremony
• Cleaning the fair office
• Ordering awards and keeping inventory of existing
  awards
• Moving the permanent office to the fairgrounds

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Pros

• I got to work with adults and youth within my
  local community
• Opportunity to work to strengthen the 4-H program
• Learned what I would like and not like if I chose
  to be an Extension Educator
• Fast-paced
• My job was rewarding

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Cons

• Busy schedule
• Working with (some) parents
• Working with (some) kids
• Local politics
• Relationships within and between families

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Advice To Those Considering the Extension Field

• REQUIRES good people skills
• Public speaking
• Organization
• Personal organization
• Organizing of the position
• Demanding schedule
• Not always 800 am 400 pm Monday - Friday

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Advice To Those Considering the Extension Field

• It is fun!
• Helping youth reach their full potential and
  learn new things is rewarding
• Ask early so it can be planned ahead and into
  their schedule.