December What a month it has been

It has been such a great month what a way to say that you participated in National congress I would recommend any 4-Her the opportunity to go it’s a great time I never would have thought of the friends that I would make from other parts of the country and how there involved in 4-H. it was really cool to learn how they did things in there region compared to the way that it is done in Pennsylvania. Some people had no clue what sour kraut was but we seemed to mess really good with the kids from Wisconsin and from Virginia. With Christ mas right around the corner it was a great time to be with my family and do things together. Now I’m gearing up for Farm Show. It’s fair on steroids. I have such a great time showing and participating in such a great and wonderful event. Can’t wait to see what kind of things are to come in the coming of Farm Show.

Brendin Freeman

New Year Resolutions??!

Hello Everyone!

I can't believe it is almost January. Here it is, New Years Eve and I don't even remember Christmas. I suppose New Years is always a time to look back on the previous year and think about all the good and bad. It is also a time to make resolutions that will never be kept or meant. But Hey, why not it is tradition isn't it?

I will start by looking back on everything that has happened to me this year. I am half way through my senior year of high school! This was a goal I never thought I would actually see happening. I still remember when I was six and senior year seemed as though it would never come. I was elected onto the State Council Team and I can't say this is something I even made a resolution about. I turned 18 and began applying to college. I've done all of those high school lasts that come with the senior year. It is hard to believe that I am growing up so fast (isn't that something my mother should say)!! I can't even remember anything bad that has happen to me in the past year... I suppose that goes to show that good really does hide evil.

Now for the resolutions...

•  I will finish my duties on the state council team!
• I will graduate high school!
• I will successfully start high school!
• Maybe lose ten pounds! (who doesn't make that resolution)
• I won't lose contact with my council team or high school friends!
• I'll try not to maintain my status as "Misery" (my state council family, you know what I'm talking about)

I guess most of these are quite achievable if I simply set my mind to it! So with my year summed up and my New Year right around the corner, I will be signing off! Happy New Year everyone! I'll talk to you again next year!

Kaitlin Rogers

Once upon a December

This month, of all months, is the one I enjoy the most. I'm not sure if it's the cheer running rampant through the air, the plethora of peppermint that suddenly pops up everywhere, or the break from school that always comes at just the right moment to save me from death by frustration. Of course, it might also be that my birthday follows Christmas by a mere four days. No big deal.

This year though, it kind of was. I turned 18 two days ago, and am now officially able to buy lottery tickets, spray paint, and cough medicine. I can also register to vote, open up a checking account, sign up for a credit card, get a loan, and work without a permit. Yay!

My local club is making some serious progress on our projects for our next County Round-Up. We decided to do Wood Burning again this year, mostly because of all the fun we had with it the first year we did it, almost 3 years ago now. Back then, I was still a competing in the Junior level, so it will be interesting to see how far my skills have come. (I'm thinking most of my improvement has come from my new found ability to exercise Hand-Eye Coordination. Something that gave me a lot of trouble the first year we attempted this project. Anyways, this year my design is less generic than the last time. I stenciled some of my favorite German lyrics onto the board, and am in the process of burning, and then coloring the wood with Oil Pastels that my Club Leader recommended. So far I really like the way it looks. When it's finished I'll post a picture.



Farm Show is just around the corner, and I can't wait for it. I've never been before, although I've been to the complex back in October for the Keystone BBQ Competition, and I'm really looking forward to the event. I believe there will be some excellent photo opportunities to be had.

As 2013 becomes 2014, and as I look back on my childhood, (and look forward to the rest of my childhood) I can't help but be amazed at where I find myself. And excited to see where I will be in the future.




Wishing you a Happy New Years!,
Amber J Pound
Council Historian

Goodbye December

So long 2013! This last month of 2013 has been a blur! 

     For Perry County 4-H December is month of club banquets, Christmas parties, and volunteering at the Christmas Walk at Little Buffalo State Park.  I spent two night making change for visitors who purchased warm drinks and cookies to benefit Perry County 4-H County Council.  The park was decorated in holiday lights and wooden characters around the walking trail loop. 

     Our State Council meeting was cut short due to Snow!  Still I had a great time seeing everyone.  It wasn't just flurries at my house though.  We actually had about six inches on the ground by Monday morning.  Just enough to play in with the truck!

     For me December was about balancing.  Balancing 4-H, livestock, school, hunting, wrestling and my job. I had many days when I worried about getting everything done.  I'm grateful to my sisters for helping out with the livestock.  And the rest of my family for their patience and help. 

     Hunting didn't go as I planned.  I must have had a locator beacon that told the deer just where I was sitting as I didn't even see anything to shot in rifle season. 



The highlight of my month, wasn't Christmas morning.  It came on the 28th at the Newport Holiday Wrestling Tournament!  I placed second for 170 pounds  - earning a silver medal!

    

"Hard work certainly goes a long way. These days a lot of people work hard, so you have to make sure you work even harder and really dedicate yourself to what you are doing and setting out to achieve."
-Lakshmi Mittal

      Wrestling has been a great experience for me.  I've made some great friends in my teammates.  And I learned that hard work on the mat pays off.  I'm looking forward to the rest of this season and my senior season. 

     The new year means it time for PA Farm Show and 4-H State Leadership Conference - I can't wait to get started!


Happy New Year PA 4-H!

H Wyett Johnson

    

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

The stocking are hung on the door with care, awaiting the candy, lotion, and iTunes card I get every year.  Now it might not be Christmas Eve anymore but I still love a good Christmas tune every now and again.  Hearing the Christmas songs gone from the radio and Christmas decor down from the walls could only mean one thing the New Year is here! Before the ball drops and the confetti flies let me rewind how my year has been, well just December that is.

This month started out like any December has for years, deer hunting.  Do I have very good luck hunting? Most certainly not.  The joke is that I just shoot so they run faster passed the next guy.  Can you believe I saw the same buck twice in one day and missed him twice?  It was OK though the hunter above me killed him. The snow during deer season was wonderful but not so much for state council members.

Well you see, our December meeting got cut short do to some snow flurries.  Such a shame because we were working on some magnificent things for the State Leadership Conference.  With State Council I also had the opportunity to attend the 4-H Lady Lions Basketball game.  Boy was it fun for this girl,  seeing the players so close and having their coach talk to us was really special.  The cool thing was Penn State won! WE ARE PENN STATE!

As school whines down to the last few days before break most students get pretty rambunctious. Around my school we really do because there is this little thing called the Christmas Pep Rally.  Its not really little nor does it give as a reason to settle down a little, it whines us up.  All it really comes down to is a battle between the grades of who has the most class spirit and which can make the most noise.  Sorry neighbors ;) Each class has a color they represent. Seniors are red, juniors are green, sophomores are blue, and the freshman are yellow. There is a winner every year, can you guess who?

THE JUNIORS!!!!! 

Cheering on the one hand gift wrappers

I'm holding the zero

The decorating crew

Now my favorite part of December, Christmas!  My Christmas's are always special, grandma makes a whopping amount of food,  laughter is always going on, and I can't forget the comments that made. Here are some of my favorite.

• "We gotta cut the ham, we are eating in five minutes." At seven in the morning.
• "I think someone is hard of hearing in there and it isn't Gram."
• "Now you bring the good stuff after I already stuffed myself."
• "I got some iTune thingy."
• "Is that that bling stuff?"
• "Grandma's got a snowboard!"
• "Mom, you were worried about my loud mouth?" As my aunt screams at the Steeler's players. 
• "I was going to smash him with a two by four if he didn't pop the question soon." 

You can see what kind of family I have.  This year I'm putting a new meaning to 12 days of Christmas. As of right now I am still waiting on one gift, its gift number four that UPs will deliver since Christmas.  

Has December comes to a close so does time left before Farm Show. Am I going to miss the late nights, early mornings,  walking livestock in the wind,  the cold or the radio playing has they finish up their feed, YES!  But what I will really miss is Pap having hot water ready for me in the mornings and my younger cousins helping me.  "No, Megan I'll do it."  They are four and eight years old and most days I believe they do more than some adults.  

The ribbons fade the buckles tarnish, but in showing livestock the memories last forever!

Its been and amazing year and I can't wait for what the New Year has in store for me.

Happy holidays,

Megan Anderson

2013 Was Kinda Cool I Guess

Merry Christmas 4-H!!

I guess I'll give in to the typical "I can't believe this year is almost over/everything has changed so much in the past year" type of thing that most small talk revolves around at this time of year and say: OH MY GOODNESS 2013 IS ALMOST OVER AND SO MUCH HAS CHANGED. Sort of. 



It's not like everything instantly changed all of a sudden just because we're going to write "2014" at the top of all of our papers, but the end of the year does give a little perspective on what was happening a year ago. 

For instance, I was not planning on going out for a position on the State Council team last December.  Now here I am, writing a post on this blog (that I didn't know existed a year ago) during my first winter break from college (which I hadn't even applied to at this time last year).  And I am very thankful for these changes. I've met some amazing people in both 4-H and college, and gained new great experiences at the same time.  Now that we're gearing up for the Pennsylvania Farm Show and the State Leadership Conference, I am super excited for all of the 4-H events that are to come in 2014.  And I'm not going to lie, I can't wait to get back to school and see all of my friends again.

I'm going to be punching myself in the face for saying that when homework starts piling up again...

Although many things have changed, both big and small, life goes on.  At this time next year, I will be reading some other 4-Her's blog posts about how they are excited for council and how they can't believe that the year has gone by so fast.  Because yes, things do change, but there are some things that will always stay the same.  

And who knows what I will be up to at the end of 2014? Not me, that's for sure.  Heck, I barely know what I'm going to do in 5 minutes.  Probably eat some food. Yeah, I think I'll do that. 

Have a great New Year!!

Sophie Hutchinson
Council Representative

Wait...It's Already January!?

Hey Everybody!
How is it already January!?!! The year has really flown by! Farm Show is right around the corner, and SLC is less then a month away! I can't believe how fast time flies when youre busy. It seems like just the other day I was posting my first post on here, and I was not sure what to say-not that that has gotten any easier :). And now, we've posted a whole bunch of times on here! But reflecting back on what 2013 has taught me, I've learned alot. I've learned to work with people that I may not get along with at first, and those people have become some of my best friends. I've also learned that you need to push yourself past what you think you can do, and do what you think you cannot do. I've been working really hard to push myself past my limits. I try new things that I thought I would never try, and those experiences have taught me alot. I hope your 2013 was great, and 2014 holds lots of promises for you!

Lydia Lion
2013/2014 PA4-HSC Secretary

Crazy Month!

Hi Everybody! This month has been little crazy and very busy for me. We had a productive and fun State Council face to face meeting where we made a video for the State Leadership Conference, and we, took a few pictures to be used at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. We also exchanged gifts with our “Secret Santas.”
On December 15, 4-H was invited to the Penn State Lady Lions Basketball game at the Bryce Jordan Center. 4-H State Council members who were attending the game were recognized. We had a State Council booth at the Bryce Jordan Center so people would know what we do in State Council. Dylan, Megan, and I had a picture drawn by a man. Dylan was happy that the artist added his beard to the drawing.
I was invited to speak about 4-H and my experience on the Pennsylvania 4-H State Council to the school board at my school. They asked many questions. I was happy to talk to the school board and tell them about 4-H and the Pennsylvania 4-H State Council.
I can’t wait until the Pennsylvania Farm Show begins. I will get to promote Pennsylvania agriculture, to see all of my State Council friends once again, and, hopefully, meet some new friends!
Merry Christmas!

 

Divya Reitz

What January brings....

Hello Pennsylvania 4H,

This month while exciting because the holidays are upon us has, for my 4H life been rather slow. This month I attended the December council meeting where we were chased out early because of a snowstorm. As I think about what December has brought I look forward to what January will bring. First off starting January 2 there is Farm Show. I am so excited to get to represent 4H in many things including when I compete in poultry showmanship. Also in January is SLC. After attending SLC for four years I am so excited to help plan this fifth year.

This month has been pretty awesome! First off I was accepted into Iowa State University. I do not know where I will end up going because I still have applications out there but at least I know I am going to college! I am also excited because at my FBLA regional conference I won first place I'm job interview which means I will be advancing on to the State competition at Hershey Lodge in April!

I am so excited to see what January brings and hope everyone has a Happy Holidays!

Forever 4-H,
Alexandra Adams
2013-2014 Pennsylvania State 4-H Council Vice President of Internal Affairs

Thankfulness

We all know that thanksgiving is all about the good food, football and family time, but do we ever stop and just take it all in and think to ourselves what we are really thankful for? I'm not talking about being thankful for you iPod or your car or material items like that I'm talking the things in life that put us here I this earth. For example just think if if Squanto and the pilgrims never met or never got along would we be here? If Britain would have won't the revolutionary war would we be here? These are the things in life you should be thankful for. Without these events who know what could have happened by now. On this holiday season I am thankful for our country's founding fathers and thankful for how they never have up on a dream of freedom!
   Don't get me wrong I'm not saying you can't be thankful for like your family and friends and events and activities in your life, because you can be just also in the back of your mind be thankful that you are here! After all the holidays are all about families and spending time with each other! Family time is something we shouldn't take for granted either because someday you will be going off to college and starting a new life for yourselves with out them always there, so take advantage of the time you have over the holidays and be thankful for them as well!
   Lets not lie we all do have those cherished items in our lives like iPods and stuff like that that we are thankful for but, do you know why you have those items? You have those things because of family members and because of freedom so to wrap this all up for you when you guys are laying on the couch after you are all that delicious turkey just think.... What am I really thankful for this holiday season? Any way you answer that question is the right way!
-happy holidays every one:)

“Assume you will live 80 years, and then translate that into 80 feet, with each month being 12 inches. Using that model, your time in high school is only 7.9 inches.”  -Eric Chester

Hello Pennsylvania 4-H! Nate Repetz here coming to you live from the Hyatt Regency Hotel in down town Atlanta, Georgia!

Why am I in Atlanta you ask? The reason, ironically, is due to the amazing opportunities that 4-H has to offer! I am a part of the Pennsylvania Delegation the National 4-H Congress! I am here as one of over 700 4-Hers from 45 States and Puerto Rico. As I’m writing this, I have been here for just over 24 hours, but I have already made a lifetime of memories. National Congress makes me realize the impact of the 4-H program more than any other 4-H event I have attended.

Speed Meeting!

So far three things stand out. First is the sheer amount of new people I have meet. For example, I just came back from a “speed meeting” workshop. I sat at a table from another delegate, and we got to introduce ourselves and have a short conversation, and after a few minutes we switched. Just before that workshop, I was out in the lobby playing Ninja with members from Wisconsin, Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky!!

A Lifetime in 80 Feet

The next thing that stands out is our opening ceremony keynote speaker: Eric Chester. He gave us a great analogy about our life. He stretched out a tape measure to 80 feet, saying that the average expected lifespan for our generation is 80 years. Each foot represented one year and each inch represented one month. He then asked us that if we had that time guaranteed, how would we live differently. For high school students, your time in high school only lasts 7.9 inches of those 80 feet! It may seem forever and hopeless when you are in it, but sick with it because those short inches have the possibility to be some of the best of your life. I have already passed that and started a new 7.9 inches of college, but I will continue to live by that philosophy.

The last thing that stands out is a conversation I had with my roommates: Council VPO Jesse Isenberg and Chris VanBlargan from Northampton County. We all shared or past 4-H experiences, and while they were all different we agreed on one thing: Without 4-H, we would not be near the same way we are today. I have said it before but I’ll say it again, 4-H is an awesome organization that shapes many lives. I am happy I get to see that first hand here at The National 4-H Congress!

 

Until next time, I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Nathan Repetz

Pennsylvania 4-H State Council
President