October is Over? When Did That Happen?

Hello Fellow 4-H'ers!

I'll save you the suspense you typically feel with posts of this nature and let you know right off the bat that this is Amber, State Council Historian, speaking to you not-so-live from Franklin County. Happy Halloween folks! October was a particularly busy and exciting month for me, and I'm especially psyched to tell you guys all about it.

This month began with my school's Homecoming Week, which I had a blast with. Particularly on the 2nd, when I played in my school's annual Powder Puff game. For those of you who have never heard of Powder Puff, it's basically flag football, except the girls are the players and the guys are the cheerleaders. Everyone gets really excited about it, and it's an incredible amount of fun. Seniors beat the Sophomores this year in overtime by one touchdown, and everyone was on the edge of their seats for the entire game. It was definitely one for the books.

On the 5th I was at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg with Dylan and Alex and the FFA State Council team. We were all helping with the Keystone BBQ Competition in whatever capacity we could. We registered teams, distributed supplies, fetched a lot of ice, drove a couple of golf carts, made some friends, drove some more golf carts, fetched some more ice, and then finished our day off by helping to actually judge some BBQ. We did the same thing all day on the 6th, with the addition of Megan and Brendin.


October also held our first face-to-face meeting, which was exciting! I was really glad to see everyone's costumes (of course we dressed up, it was only a few days before Halloween!) and excited to get deeper into planning SLC. It's gonna be amazing this year. I can tell.

With much regard,

Amber J Pound

State Council Historian

A Little Halloween Treat

Trick or Treat!

It's Halloween everybody! I love this holiday! Mostly because candy.

But my absolute favorite thing about Halloween is dressing up because I love costumes!! (Go figure.)

So I'm going to have a little Throwback Thursday and show you some of the crazy, creative, weird and wonderful outfits I have worn as a 4-Her...



Once upon  time, my 4-H friends and I decided that wearing costumes around the fairgrounds was a GREAT idea. We dressed up in crazy mismatched outfits and fabulous blue wigs and paraded through the barns like it was any normal day.

 

One of the things I used to do with some of my friends in the club was participate in the talent show at the fair.  Our signature act was putting together a short cheer and dance routine. We had a lot of fun dressing as cheerleaders, although I'm not sure how we made a connection between 4-H and cheerleading.



Camp Counselor Training 2011! This was taken after each group performed their skits. Yeah. I'm that girl dressed up as Batman. Cause I was a really cool kid.

 

This was probably my favorite year as a Jr. Camp counselor.  My group and I got dressed up in their finest outfits for the costume contest and fashion show, which we took first place in! Does that blue wig on the boy in the back dressed as Katy Perry look familiar to anyone?



I served a year as the Venango County 4-H Queen, which basically meant that I got to run the awards ceremonies throughout the year, make special appearances at events, and go to National Congress.  Plus I got an excuse to wear a sparkly crown. BONUS!



Another year at 4-H in the Mall, and I'm up to my usual shenanigans which include trying to get away with riding those baby rides outside of the stores.  My thought process at the time was probably along the lines of "nobody will recognize me in this lovely Clover Bear costume, lets ride an airplane like it's nobody's business!" Clearly though, I was caught in the act. No regrets.

Here's me and my crazy friends at the fair one year. I must think I'm Batman or something (shhhh) because this is the second time I make the life decision to wear this costume for 4-H.  The blue wig also makes another appearance.

Looking fiiiine at the 4-H Jr. Camp fiesta, where for some reason I was inspired to channel my inner Mexican spirit by wearing a tiny sombrero and posing for a picture next to my friend sporting a lovely mustache. The things we do to entertain the kids at camp...

 

I've had a lot of good memories in these and many other outfits over the years. But I am so excited that I finally got my official Council uniform this Saturday, and can't wait to make more memories while wearing the green jacket.

 

I'm also looking forward to SLC, where I will be wearing a super (hint hint) awesome costume. More on that later though.

    

But seriously. There is no reason why I shouldn't dress like this every day. 

 

Happy Halloween everyone!

Sophie Hutchinson, Council Representative

 

Free Parking with a Five Dollar Water!

Say What? Well, nobody that I know would spend five bucks for little old bottle of water but some people sure did.   While my father and I were on our way home from the NJSA Eastern Regional in Hamburg, New York, we passed this sign that said, "free parking with a five dollar water".   At the time the town we were driving through was Elliotville, which I may add is a pretty rich town.   It was having its annual Fall Festival.  From what we could see people just opened up their yards for parking, charge included of course.  So clear on the other side of town apparently people could not charge for parking so they charged for a water instead. To be honest I don't really know but Dad and I sure got a kick out of the five dollar water.  What ever floats your boat I guess.

People say you learn a lot from traveling and after that trip I sure did.  First, I learned  that a small restaurant named Eddy's has the BEST pizza ever!  If it was up to me we would have ate there for the entire weekend.  Also, that Jason Aldean was right when he says about "connecting little towns with funny names".  I saw more "funny names" for stuff than I could have ever imagined.  Killbuck road and Pumpkinville were some my favorites and when something says "pumpkins by the thousands", it literally means pumpkins by the thousands.  Did you know that four way stops are all way stops in New York?

The NJSA Eastern Regional was a blast.  Now, I might not have came home with all the hardware that other showman did but it was still the greatest time.  Speaking of livestock shows, at KILE I got to help friends with the sheep show.  That Sunday morning I felt like I had shown or help shown more sheep than I could have ever thought of. 

My gilt before we left for New York.

KILE was also fantastic because I helped with Farm City Day and the BBQ.  Yum!  I tasted more BBQ than one person could think of.  My favorite part of the BBQ was selling chicken legs for the "Best Legs in Town" contest.  Twenty-eight different types of legs we sold that day. Some legs were not so great I found out.  I handed one gentlemen a leg and immediately after he took his first bite, I could tell he wasn't going to take another.  A couple days after attending the BBQ, Farm City Day, and KILE, the state council went to the governor's mansion for the Friends in Agriculture Breakfast.

Just about a week ago Mom and I attended the PCLA awards banquet. Which was terrific since I got to see so many great people I haven't seen since early summer.  Not to mention, I was awarded champion 16-17 year old lamb and goat showman. I also got champion senior skill-a-thon! Those awards really made my evening but the cherry on top was my early birthday present!

My sweet new wash pants, thanks Mom!

Thanks to Dwayne Hay for having me speak at the Taste of Harvest and for Joanne Stoltzfus for having me speak and help with county council inductions.  It was great seeing so many old faces again.

Well by all of this one probably could  say I had a pretty hectic month. I wouldn't disagree, it was but I still found to time to hang out with friends and family and enjoy this awesome fall weather.

It's Halloween, don't get to scared and don't eat all your candy in one night!

Sincerely,

Megan Anderson

An Amazing Time

Hello Pennsylvania 4-H,

This month was a very action packed month. I have done so much in such little time. In the beginning of the month we attended KILE and it was a blast I had so much fun there looking for friends that I haven’t seen in a while and promoting 4-H. During KILE we had attended farm city day and it was interesting to me to teach some of the children about how a seed germinates some have never heard that term before. Also while we were there we attended and helped out at the Keystone BBQ.  There was so much BBQ. Some of the best BBQ I have ever tasted and much more food too.

                Next week I attended and showed at the Manheim community farm show where I took reserve in show rabbit. I had a great time attending and showing at the fair I was upset though that they had rain on their last day with the creek over flowing. That same week we had attended breakfast at the governor’s house. It was a lot of fun meeting with the agricultural community and talking with the numerous people.

That next week I was gearing up for the 90^th ARBA convention and show in Harrisburg PA. It was a great time while I was there. I showed my rabbits and I took BOV with by chocolate silver marten. I also placed 4th out of 10^th at a national show in open I was very happy when that happened while I was there I had a great time talking with numerous people about rabbits and council. I attended my specialty club meeting and learned how the club is run I met all of the people that I hear of and never knew what they looked like. Now I can put a face to their names.

 This month has been a great time on council I can’t wait to see what’s to come in the next couple of months.

Council Representative,

 Brendin Freeman

Fast Forward October

October was another busy month.  When I look back at my calendar, I'm amazed at just how much I did this month.  Some things can't be listed by successes but by the participation and the enjoyment I got from being involved. 

I always wanted to hunt as a kid.  This is my second year as a hunter.  As archery season has come and almost gone again - I still haven't gotten a deer.  Maybe in rifle season I will have better luck, then again I am not so sure. 

Perry County 4-H Livestock Club recognized buyers and members this month at their annual banquet.  I received awards for fundraising and scoring over 100 club participation points.  It's great to recognize not only the kids, but the buyers too for their continued participation in the Livestock Sale.

School has been busy as the first marking period comes to a close shortly.  I attended a school field trip to the PA Renaissance Faire this month.   It's always a great trip!  I'm taking web design this semester - I didn't think I'd like it.  But it's not that bad when things work!

This month with State Council, I participated in a few events.   Farm City at the Farm Show Complex was educational.  I had a great day interacting with the kids and the FFA officers.  Another group event was the Friends in Agriculture Breakfast at the governor's mansion .  I also went to a TAC meeting in Montour county.  I tied for first place with my un-carved pumpkin! (Thank you Linda for brining me a pumpkin!)

Looking at my plans for next month on the calendar, I am wondering how I thought this month was busy!
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Few highlights to my month

Hey everyone it's Dylan again! So it's been a quiet month for me but there have been some highlights like the first council face to face, the World Series, and I'm on an indoor soccer team for the winter!
The council face to face was AWESOMEEEE!!! All of us had our costumes on (I was a banana) and we got judged for best costume. Jesse won the contest, he was a minion. We did do productive things though like plan SLC, it's still a little bit of a work in progress but it's coming along nicely and I think it's going be an awesome one! The council also talked about farm show and other upcoming events. At the meeting we got out state council pictures which despite forgetting part of my uniform I was excited for! At the end of the meeting we had made some great progress in some things but you will have to come the different events to see what's planned I won't give it away;p.

For those of you that know me well you know I'm a sports freak! Well, it just so happens the World Series just finished up this month too. Now let's get this straight.my team wasn't in the series butttttt it's baseball so I don't care who was in the series I was going to watch it. Now we all know the Red Sox won but to be quite honest they didn't run away with it in my opinion, it was a pretty good series the Cardinals matched up well with the Sox. The unfortunate thing for the cardinals was David Ortiz and John Lester were in the zone and refused to lose the World Series! In all honesty though it made me happy to see the Red Sox win after what happened in Boston with the marathon, it's just a feel good story for the city and it will defiantly help them recover from such a devastating blow to a wonderful city! STAY STRONG BOSTON!
 
Lastly, I'm SOOOOO excited about doing indoor soccer because it's so much better then outdoor soccer! And I get to make my own team so I gathered up some good friends and made a team and entered the league! It's not all fun and games though! 2 a days practice starts this weekend and goes up till December when the season starts!
 
So sorry it wasn't a big eventful blog this month guys...it was a relatively slow uneventful month for me but lots of good things are planned for November so make sure you guys check out all of our blogs again! Stay fresh everybody!

Learn By Doing

“Learn By Doing”: 4-H Slogan

“What is the difference between the person who makes sure the train runs on time and the person who lays the tracks?”: Sam Hayes Jr.

 

What’s up PA 4-H??

                This has been a blur of a month! I have been busy with State Council. We appeared at Farm City Day and the Governor’s Mansion, and had our first face to face meeting. Now add on being a college student and athlete and you have crazy month, but I have enjoyed every minute of it!

                One of my favorite parts of being a 4-Her is seeing how my 4-H experiences help me in real life. One of the classes I am currently taking is Educational Psychology, which is the study of how people learn and how you can use that to be a better teacher. The other week I got a hand out about what we tend to remember. It said that, with a passive level of involvement, we tend to remember 10% of what we read, and 50% when we watch something such as a presentation. With active levels of involvement, we tend to remember 70% when we participate in something, and 90% when we do the real thing. Does this ring a bell? Just look at the 4-H slogan: Learn by doing!

                What I learned in class is that the best way to learn is to learn by doing. 4-H has taught me this long before I got to college. In 4-H we don’t read about showing an animal, sewing a dress, leading a meeting, or rocketry. We go out and do it!  It makes me happy to be a part of such a great organization.

                One other thought before I go. I got the chance to meet Sam Hayes Jr. when he spoke to my CFFA meeting. Secretary Hayes is the former PA Secretary of Agriculture, as well as a former PA House Majority Leader. He gave us a thought that I would like to share: “What is the difference between the person who makes sure the train runs on time and the person who lays the tracks?” The answer is that one is a leader, and the other is a manager. Both are essential, but we often confuse the two. A person can be a great leader but a poor manager, and vice versa. One person might have both roles. With SLC on the horizon, think of which you are. Whichever you are, be the best you can be! I hope everyone has a great Halloween, and a great November!

Till next time,

 

Nathan Repetz

2013/2014 PA 4-H State Council

President 

  

The Pumpkin that NEVER was

Hello Pennsylvania 4-H!

                    This month has been so awesome so I figured the best way to show it would be through Pictures. 

 

 

State Council helped out with Farm City Day at Harrisburg by helping tour the complex and having an awesome science experiment to give to the students. When we were able to have our lunch break we all stopped by the milkshake vendor.

 

 

Posing with a cow....enough said.

 

What shows up on your phone when you set it down during clean up.....

 

When we volunteered to help with the State Barbecue Championships we worked with the FFA officers and were given access to golf carts. WOOO-HHHOOO!!! The FFA girls finally let Dylan drive.....and he had to push it back when it ran out of gas.

 

Mya and FFA's State President Chris judging food at the State BBQ championships.

 

Dylan decided to take his senior portrait pictures in front of target.

 

 

Golf cart hanging at the BBQ with FA state officer team.

 

During KILE, I competed in the Stockman's contest with Delaware County 4-H's A Team. It was a long contest but very worthwhile. My team placed third in Team Management and tenth place overall.

 

 Next, State Council visited the Governors mansion for a Friends in Agriculture Breakfast.

 The final State Council Event of month was our face to face meeting at Penn State. Even though it is three and a half hours from my house it was definitely worth the ride. We did a lot of SLC planning(wink wink) and also took a lot of pictures. In the picture above the boys are seen trying to tie their ties. After a demo session the ties were tied and pictures taken.

And Finally there is The Pumpkin that NEVER was. Pennsylvania 4-H posted on Facebook to show them pictures of pumpkin carvings and I thought it would totally be awesome to have 4-H clover carved into a pumpkin. So here it is A pumpkin carved with a 4-H clover. I will admit though it is the pumpkin I had in mind but Never was.

Forever 4-H,
Alexandra Adams
2013-2014 PA 4-H State Council V.P. Internal Affairs

The realization that you are a senior

Hey everyone!

Ever since I started golf, my fall sport this summer, there has been a thought in the back of  my mind that this is my last year in high school. Well, whether it is good or bad, that "thought" is turning into a reality. I recently attended my last golf match, which, I swear, tears were not shed, but then the banquet came. I will admit that it is very difficult to say goodbye to all those warm fall afternoons spent joking around with my friends and "Happy Gilmoring" some balls at the driving range. Unfortunately, this is just the start of the wind down of my high school career.

I attended my first banquet as a senior. I stood up before all those parents and friends and thanked them for the support and memories that will last a life time. I carefully planned the coaches gift and made all those senior decisions that I was envious of as an underclassmen. Now that I am filling out senior bios and beginning the college applications (yes, I know, I'm very behind) I wonder did I make high school something I am proud of and will I enjoy the memories in a few years time?

Friday, at my last high school football game, my parents will walk me across the football field. I don't know if I will cry or scream with joy, but I do know that my moments in high school are limited and the next step in my life will be unforgettable. Even though I am unaware of where I will attend college or what I will major in, I realize that because of never giving up on myself, I made it to where I am today and I will make my future a bright one. It is so difficult to realize that the next big journey in life is right around the corner. Currently, my life is full of lasts, but soon the door will open to firsts.

I guess my point is: Don't be upset that a chapter in your life is ending, be happy that the pages are still turning and the book isn't closing.

Happy Halloween 4-Her's!
Sincerely,
Kaitlin Rogers

My New Extended Family

Hey Guys!
It's Lydia!!! So I want to tell you what an amazing experience it is having this amazing new family-my fellow council members!:) We've had so much fun already, I can't wait to see what's in store for us next!!! We've all gotten so close so soon that it's completely ridiculous and unimaginable! Last year I thought the last council was kidding when they said how close they all got, but it's true! You get so close so fast, and you don't even realize it. You just automatically tell each other the great things that haven happened to you, or if something reminds you of one of them, you tell them! We've become like a little-well actually not so little-family. I'm so lucky to have this fabulous group of people around me, and I honestly don't know what I'd do without them:)
This is my little gush about my council family, I'm sure there will be more to come, but this is the first of many I'm sure!

Signing off,
Lydia Lion
2013/2014 PS4-HC Secretary

Governor's Mansion

Six State Council members and our advisor went to Harrisburg to the Governor's mansion to meet with him and had a coffee hour. The six of us got to take a picture with the Governor and got to hear him speak. We also met the 2013 Pennsylvania Dairy Princess. One of the coolest things was seeing the Pittsburgh Pirate Flag hanging outside of the Governor's house. I enjoyed a day being there with the State Council to meet him and some of the people that are in the Agriculture program.

Divya Reitz

what a month

Hey guys it's Dylan!! I want to tell you about my amazing month of August!! First I had the great opportunity of  running for the 2013/2014 state council team. I arrived in State college and was so nervous to give my speech that very night, which is the first step to running for council. I eventually calmed down and delivered my speech and did well! Next step was the presentation and interview. This step was surprisingly not as nerve wracking as the speech was but it was still challenging. I got through it ok and then anxiously awaited the phone call that told me if I made it I date council or not, an guess what... I MADE IT!!! I can't even begin to explain to you how happy I was. I told so many people the great news that day! As you can imagine council is a lot of work and the new council team was busy right away the very next week at Ag progress days! We were there for 3 days and got to do some pretty cool things like ride pedal tractors, be the 4-H mascot, an help out at the 4-H science stand! Oh an not to mention that the day after Ag progress days was my 18th birthday! So I was very busy. However, it was right back toy council duties with attending training. At training we got to bond as a team and we got so much close and created a strong family like bond! We learned soooo many new things from our great presenters and got a better understanding of our council duties. After that eventful weekend I got to talk about the state events in 4-H at one of my county clubs. The kids there were stunned at all the different opportunities they have. So it was really cool to see them excited about all the things offered to them. So finally I got to the end of the month exhausted but I felt good about all my accomplishments! Being through all the things I've been through in the past month makes me realize that you got to do what makes you happy. Don't just do something to fit in do it to be happy! One last thing that I like to live by that has helped me a lot is a little saying I heard a while ago.... Don't just live a life to be normal, build a life to be happy because at the end of the day it doesn't matter about the money you make or the things you own it matters if you feel like you are living the life that you are happy with!

my new 4-H family

Hey guys it's Dylan so I have an awesome story for you about my adventure to Lawrence county.
It started Friday afternoon I got out of school at 10am and met my buddy John Hess to head out to Lawrence county. After a very long four and a half hour ride we finally made it to camp Agawam for the Lawrence county retreat. the first night started off with a thrill as I found myself on a late night scavenger hunt in the pitch black. The scavenger hunt was themed like the game Clue, so we needed to figure out who kidnapped the one educator. My team gathered the most clues and gave the right answer, we took first that night. As I was sitting in my cot at the cabin I was thinking how awesome it was that the 4-H'ers in Lawrence county treated me like one of their own and not like a stranger from the eastern part of the state.

Day 2
 We started off day 2  with some awesome game themed workshops like giant battleship and giant operation which my team won both games.  My favorite workshop that morning was the improve workshop because it taught us different acting skills and it was funny. Next came lunch time and then it was on to the workshop led by Sophie and myself. Our workshop was all about the different opportunities the 4-H program has to offer and how to get involved and it was a success the kids got a lot out of it. Then we had some free time to organize a skit that the team had to do. After that was the black light dance which was AMAZINGGGGG!!!! during the dance though, they had a game that each team had to take time to do. It was 4 items that were in containers that you had to toch and figure out what they were and it was pitch black out so you couldn't see them. The one item was a stuffed bear in soapy water and it turned out to be my gift from the Lawrence county teen council, I named him Lawrence... catchy right? I thought so. after the game I headed back to the dance and danced the night away until it was time to head to the cabin.

Day 3
Sadly this was my last day with my new friends. We had a game of silent library which is challenges you have to do without laughing and this was a lot of fun. I got lipstick on me peanut butter all over my face and I got to go down a big slip n slide! I'd say that's going out with a bang! As you can imagine it was a sad day because I had to leave my new friends so soon however I was invited back for different events and I became the second adopted child into Lawrence county! So all in all it was a great experience and I cant wait to go back to see everyone!

A Day with the State Council Members!

Hi it's your State Council News Reporter again. Four of the State Council members and I attended the 4-H Tailgate event on Saturday September 14th before the Penn State game. There were several exhibits at the event. I enjoyed going around to the different stands and learning about different things they have set up there. They had rabbits, insects, 4-H games, horse information, horticulture displays, and service dog stand. I also had a fun time hanging out with the new and old State Council members

Divya Reitz

Eisenhower

Hello Pennsylvania 4-H,

I cannot believe September went so fast. One moment for school to get started and the next moment it was gone. September was here and gone which means fall cleaning. I had to clean out all my fun tank tops and flip flops, in exchange for warm sweaters and cute boots. I think that's an even trade off.

I was looking on my Facebook feed and being friends with other 4-Hers The picture below popped up and all I could think was that is so true! From being around 4-Hers at conferences, interacting at my county and all over the state, 4-Hers are some really incredible people.

Forever 4-H,

Alexandra Adams
PA 4-H 2013-2014 State Council Vice President of Internal Affairs