Your 2014 State Council
Friday, February 28, 2014
Dylan's Crazy Month!
Hey guys this month has been crazyyyy! It's been full of highs and lows and really has been a roller coaster! First off I dislocated my shoulder which is by far the worst pain I've ever felt! I did that playing soccer for my indoor team. So So I went to see the doctor and he popped it back in and said in a week I'd be ok. So a week came and I was back to normal stuff and started baseball. I had a follow up with the orthopedic doctor and he said I was cleared to go back and play soccer so that's what I did! And I got through the first half and then in the second half I dove for a ball and popped my shoulder out again! It was MUCH more painful this time, and now I'm being told I will most likely need surgery...greatttt! Well enough with the negatives. So about 3 weeks ago I submitted an application to try out for the team USA bobsled team, and guess what....I got the tryout so I started to train for it, but as you can imagine the dislocated shoulder is making things hard so I decided to just try out next summer! And also I finally got accepted to college! Well, kinda... I have to interview for a program that makes me move in early and take college prep classes and if I do good in the interview then I'm in. Good news tho my admissions counselor said I should be golden so we will wish me luck guys! I know your thinking wow that's a lot but that's how crazy this month has been!
Southwest Regional Leader Symposium
Greetings PA 4-H!
Two weeks ago on Friday and Saturday, I attended the Southwest Regional Leader Symposium! For those of you who don't know about it, it's like a smaller version of the State Leadership Conference or it's about the same as a regional teen leader retreat, but the difference is, it's for the adult leaders! It was certainly a really enjoyable experience.
On Friday night, I welcomed the leaders, told them a little about Indiana county, and told them about myself and what I do as a state officer.
After that, it was off to the evening workshops! I was in a communications workshop and the presenter was my extension agent, Carol Schuman. She started off the workshop by playing with Playdoh! She had everyone use the Playdoh to make something that they enjoyed about 4-H. We had everything from pigs to campers at camps. Then she had me do a presentation that I've done very well with at competitions so that the people could see an example of a good presentation.
Jesse Isenberg
2013/2014 Pennsylvania State 4-H Council
Vice President of Operations
Two weeks ago on Friday and Saturday, I attended the Southwest Regional Leader Symposium! For those of you who don't know about it, it's like a smaller version of the State Leadership Conference or it's about the same as a regional teen leader retreat, but the difference is, it's for the adult leaders! It was certainly a really enjoyable experience.
On Friday night, I welcomed the leaders, told them a little about Indiana county, and told them about myself and what I do as a state officer.
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| Introduction aka impromptu speech aka "Wait, I'm speaking?" |
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| Presentation time! |
Then we had a presentation that would have been by Christy Bartley, but she couldn't attend that weekend. The presentation was about things that the state staff would like help improving and we (the leaders and a few teens) brainstormed ideas about how to change help.
The next day I did a workshop that Christy was going to do, but as I said before she wasn't able to be there because of weather. The workshop was about opportunities outside your county, and luckily, I had done almost all of the things that were in the presentation, so I was able to talk about them easily and give first hand accounts! It was my first workshop and I really liked doing it! After that, I had a few more workshops before we called it quits to a really great weekend!
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| Lunch with a (hopefully) future council applicant! |
Jesse Isenberg
2013/2014 Pennsylvania State 4-H Council
Vice President of Operations
Busy Month!
Hi everybody! It's your reporter again! I would like to say that this month was pretty busy for me.
I was cheering at boys and girls basketball game and wrestling matches. I was so happy that the boys basketball team made it to playoff because I was afraid at Senior Night would be my last time cheering for my school. I did cry at the 2nd round of playoff when we lost because that was my last time cheering!
I also had a county council meeting and we made Valentine Day cards for the people who are in nursing homes and the hospital. So that was a lot of fun! We talked about Capitol days and I told my county that they should participate in that event. We had our spring kick off party with my whole county and it was a lot of fun.
Also this month is where I started my toastmaster club. I did my ice breaker on State Council and everybody so excited to hear about that. Toastmaster is helping me a lot with getting better at speaking in public!
We'll I can't wait for Capitol Days because I get to see all my friends, learn a lot of cool information at Capitol Days and I also get to see my council family!
State Council Reporter
Divya Reitz
I was cheering at boys and girls basketball game and wrestling matches. I was so happy that the boys basketball team made it to playoff because I was afraid at Senior Night would be my last time cheering for my school. I did cry at the 2nd round of playoff when we lost because that was my last time cheering!
I also had a county council meeting and we made Valentine Day cards for the people who are in nursing homes and the hospital. So that was a lot of fun! We talked about Capitol days and I told my county that they should participate in that event. We had our spring kick off party with my whole county and it was a lot of fun.
Also this month is where I started my toastmaster club. I did my ice breaker on State Council and everybody so excited to hear about that. Toastmaster is helping me a lot with getting better at speaking in public!
We'll I can't wait for Capitol Days because I get to see all my friends, learn a lot of cool information at Capitol Days and I also get to see my council family!
State Council Reporter
Divya Reitz
Cross Country is like Life
“The gun goes off and everything
changes… the world changes… and nothing else really matters.” - Patti Sue
Plummer
“Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.” -Steve Prefontaine
“It is often said that all runners are trying to run away from something. I’m running away from that little voice in my head that is telling me to slow down and stop”-Nate Repetz
Now that the weather is warming up, I
can’t wait to toe the starting line in August. It will be my last season as a scholastic
cross country runner, I have the potential to do great things, and I do not
intend to waste the opportunity. I know that when I cross my last finish line
in November, I will be able to take everything I’ve learned and carry it
through life. I won’t stop running, but the lessons I learned competing though
school will always hang with me. Life isn’t a sprint, it’s a long cross country
race, and I can’t wait to see where this race will take me.
“Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.” -Steve Prefontaine
“It is often said that all runners are trying to run away from something. I’m running away from that little voice in my head that is telling me to slow down and stop”-Nate Repetz
Few understand what motivates someone to
put their body though everything that a cross country race entails, and to be
honest I don’t fully understand it myself. I mean, I willingly pushed my body
to such a limit that I have almost passed out after races. How can that be
fun?? I enjoy racing because there is no greater test of human endurance and mental
toughness then running 5 miles at full speed while every muscle in your body is
begging you to stop. When that gun goes off, you are essentially alone. It is
your strategy verses the strategy of the guys around you. It is the adrenaline
rush of knowing that you will be trampled if you fall. It is ignoring the
lactic acid in your legs and sprinting past your competitors at that last half
mile. At the end of a race, the winner isn’t always the strongest runner, it is
the one who refuses to loose. The pain is refreshing. When you run a race, you
find out what you are made of.
One of my favorite movies is a cross
country documentary called The Long Green
Line, and in it there is one quote that sticks out: “Cross Country is like
life”. Many of the lessons I’ve learned in cross country can be directly related
to life, and this movie has a wonderful way of summing it all up. Here is the
link to a preview of Long Green Line:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GB3LYcfg9I. I encourage you to
watch it, it may be the most inspiring 6 minutes you have all day.
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| A throwback to my Sr, year of high school |
Nathan Repetz
2013/2014 PA 4-H State Council
President
February . . .
The end of February is finally here! Hopefully spring is around the corner.
Being cyber-schooled means I don't get snow days or two-hour delays, but I still have shoveling, trudging thru the snow, and thawing water buckets.
My wrestling season came to an end this month. I was eliminated at Sectionals, but overall our team did pretty well. I'm looking forward to next year.
Now it's time for 4-H Winter Academy at Doubling Gap! I can't wait to get on the bus tonight! We are going to have so much fun this weekend.
March will mean the beginning of kidding season here on the farm. I'm looking forward to the new additions and seeing how my genetics are improving.
Until Next Month,
H. Wyett Johnson
P.S. I hope to see EVERYONE at Capital Days the end of March!
Being cyber-schooled means I don't get snow days or two-hour delays, but I still have shoveling, trudging thru the snow, and thawing water buckets.
My wrestling season came to an end this month. I was eliminated at Sectionals, but overall our team did pretty well. I'm looking forward to next year.
Now it's time for 4-H Winter Academy at Doubling Gap! I can't wait to get on the bus tonight! We are going to have so much fun this weekend.
March will mean the beginning of kidding season here on the farm. I'm looking forward to the new additions and seeing how my genetics are improving.
Until Next Month,
H. Wyett Johnson
P.S. I hope to see EVERYONE at Capital Days the end of March!
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Closed Again!
ATTENTION PENNSYLVANIA 4-H:
Grab the milk, grab the bread it's going to snow, AGAIN! Like most of Pennsylvania, I have had my fair share of snow this month. School has been closed more times than I can think of. Two hour delays have become the new normal. The last full week of school I had was who knows how many moons ago. It's all going to be just peachy because spring is right around the counter, I hope!
It might not be the official start of spring but track season is when spring starts for me. My season starts the first week of March. Lately I have been trying to run has often has possible but with the never ending snow we have gotten it has been very tricky. Mark my words this weekend I will go for a run. That is before we get smacked with another shot of cold weather.
Don't get me wrong, I have greatly enjoyed the snow we have had. I have build snow forts, went snowboarding, got hit with a few snowballs, and build a few snowman but spring can not come soon enough. I huge sign that spring is approaching is all the new baby animals that are popping up everywhere. There's lambs taking there first breath, baby pigs drinking that first sip of milk, and goat kids taking their first wobbly steps. There is nothing more amazing than watching baby animals take off.
As sick is everybody may be of snow, cold, and wind come July everybody will be wanting this weather back. The cycle of life, "Where's winter" " I can't want for summer". Take this snow and enjoy it, we will blink again and summer will be here!
Happy sledding,
Megan Anderson
Grab the milk, grab the bread it's going to snow, AGAIN! Like most of Pennsylvania, I have had my fair share of snow this month. School has been closed more times than I can think of. Two hour delays have become the new normal. The last full week of school I had was who knows how many moons ago. It's all going to be just peachy because spring is right around the counter, I hope!
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| Its great to see cornstalks again! |
It might not be the official start of spring but track season is when spring starts for me. My season starts the first week of March. Lately I have been trying to run has often has possible but with the never ending snow we have gotten it has been very tricky. Mark my words this weekend I will go for a run. That is before we get smacked with another shot of cold weather.
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| A new addition to the barn. |
Don't get me wrong, I have greatly enjoyed the snow we have had. I have build snow forts, went snowboarding, got hit with a few snowballs, and build a few snowman but spring can not come soon enough. I huge sign that spring is approaching is all the new baby animals that are popping up everywhere. There's lambs taking there first breath, baby pigs drinking that first sip of milk, and goat kids taking their first wobbly steps. There is nothing more amazing than watching baby animals take off.
As sick is everybody may be of snow, cold, and wind come July everybody will be wanting this weather back. The cycle of life, "Where's winter" " I can't want for summer". Take this snow and enjoy it, we will blink again and summer will be here!
Happy sledding,
Megan Anderson
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Swimming Districts, Here I Come!!
Hello all!!
I'm very excited to say that as a senior, I have the chance to attend my first district swimming meet. I am very excited to be going with a team of seven girls. It is one of the greatest feelings in my life to know I will be seeded second in my Medley relay. I am not the greatest high school swimmer, but putting in the long hours since October has paid off.
On Friday, I will step up to the block as the anchor for my swim team's first relay. I will start off of my best friend, who has pushed me so hard since I was a freshman. I really hope I have the chance to go to states with the rest of the senior girls on my team. To many, this experience may not seem exciting, but to me it is the chance of a life time.
I am sure so many of us can relate to my feelings. When you are given the chance of a life time, but you feel like there are so many people counting on you. I have been given so many amazing chances in the past year. This will definitely be a memory that I will never forget, just like my experience on State Council. It is hard to persevere through the challenges, but hopefully the result is extremely worth it.
I can't describe how grateful I am to everyone that helped me get to where I am today. I hope I can succeed in Districts and help take my team to states. I know I have a strong group of supporters! I'll update everyone on the results!
Kaitlin Rogers
2013-2014 State Council Vice President of Events
I'm very excited to say that as a senior, I have the chance to attend my first district swimming meet. I am very excited to be going with a team of seven girls. It is one of the greatest feelings in my life to know I will be seeded second in my Medley relay. I am not the greatest high school swimmer, but putting in the long hours since October has paid off.
On Friday, I will step up to the block as the anchor for my swim team's first relay. I will start off of my best friend, who has pushed me so hard since I was a freshman. I really hope I have the chance to go to states with the rest of the senior girls on my team. To many, this experience may not seem exciting, but to me it is the chance of a life time.
I am sure so many of us can relate to my feelings. When you are given the chance of a life time, but you feel like there are so many people counting on you. I have been given so many amazing chances in the past year. This will definitely be a memory that I will never forget, just like my experience on State Council. It is hard to persevere through the challenges, but hopefully the result is extremely worth it.
I can't describe how grateful I am to everyone that helped me get to where I am today. I hope I can succeed in Districts and help take my team to states. I know I have a strong group of supporters! I'll update everyone on the results!
Kaitlin Rogers
2013-2014 State Council Vice President of Events
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Snow Day
Hello Pennsylvania 4-H,
Ok it is now February 13 and my school will have had seven snow days! In the past twelve years in my school district I have never ever had that many! For the past two years we have had very little snow and I kept on saying that it did not feel like winter. Well I cannot say it did not feel like winter this year. We have had powdery snow, heavy snow, solid snow, slippery snow, and now thunder snow. Yep, that's right folks it has now thundered and snowed. I believe my life is now complete.
So on a snow day there are many possibilities of things you can do:
1. Nothing(always a favorite)
2. Chores
3. Exercising
4. Watch Netflix for 20 hours straight
5. Post a blog
5. Shovel Snow
6. Shovel more snow
Now the above options can be done in any order with substitutions for any and also just choosing to do number 1.
Keep warm and safe,
Alexandra Adams
2013-2014 Pennsylvania State 4-H Council Vice President of Internal Affairs
Ok it is now February 13 and my school will have had seven snow days! In the past twelve years in my school district I have never ever had that many! For the past two years we have had very little snow and I kept on saying that it did not feel like winter. Well I cannot say it did not feel like winter this year. We have had powdery snow, heavy snow, solid snow, slippery snow, and now thunder snow. Yep, that's right folks it has now thundered and snowed. I believe my life is now complete.
So on a snow day there are many possibilities of things you can do:
1. Nothing(always a favorite)
2. Chores
3. Exercising
4. Watch Netflix for 20 hours straight
5. Post a blog
5. Shovel Snow
6. Shovel more snow
Now the above options can be done in any order with substitutions for any and also just choosing to do number 1.
Keep warm and safe,
Alexandra Adams
2013-2014 Pennsylvania State 4-H Council Vice President of Internal Affairs
Saturday, February 1, 2014
My First SLC
Hello PA 4-H!
During the month of January, I was very busy with council doing so many fun things I never would have known about 4-H if I was not part of the council team. I attended the Farm Show and meant so many great people. There are so many things that happen at Farm Show I had no idea happened. I'm so glad to share all those experiences with my council team, but what I really want to talk about is my very first SLC.
Like many 4-Her's in my area, I had no idea that 4-H offered Leadership events, but because of running for State Council, I got to enjoy the State Leadership Conference. I'm sure it was quite the different experience for me because I was behind the scenes, but it was still so amazing. I never knew so many 4-Hers from across the commonwealth came together at one large event. I learned so much just from being there and helping presenters.
Opening ceremonies was so amazing, and the speaker, Cecil Shelton, taught me a great deal about superheroes and the true meaning behind being one. I meant so many 4-H kids and learned their stories. I got to work with two amazing workshop leaders who taught me about citizenship and the importance of health and fitness. I guess I could say the dances were fun too! Saturday nights dinner was so amazing and hearing Mr. Ben Glenn speak was the chance of a life time. Hearing his story and how he over came it changed my mind set towards certain things.
I have to say my first SLC was so amazing. I made so many great memories with 4-Hers from across Pennsylvania, my council team, and Rachel and Cody, two Kentucky State Officers. I wouldn't change my experiences on council for anything. Although it may be challenging at times, State Council is an amazing thing to be part of. I loved SLC and wish I could experience it as a delegate!
For those of you who missed the council superheroes at SLC, don't forget to sign up for Capital Days! I can't wait to share my adventures in February!
Signing off,
Kaitlin Rogers
During the month of January, I was very busy with council doing so many fun things I never would have known about 4-H if I was not part of the council team. I attended the Farm Show and meant so many great people. There are so many things that happen at Farm Show I had no idea happened. I'm so glad to share all those experiences with my council team, but what I really want to talk about is my very first SLC.
Like many 4-Her's in my area, I had no idea that 4-H offered Leadership events, but because of running for State Council, I got to enjoy the State Leadership Conference. I'm sure it was quite the different experience for me because I was behind the scenes, but it was still so amazing. I never knew so many 4-Hers from across the commonwealth came together at one large event. I learned so much just from being there and helping presenters.
Opening ceremonies was so amazing, and the speaker, Cecil Shelton, taught me a great deal about superheroes and the true meaning behind being one. I meant so many 4-H kids and learned their stories. I got to work with two amazing workshop leaders who taught me about citizenship and the importance of health and fitness. I guess I could say the dances were fun too! Saturday nights dinner was so amazing and hearing Mr. Ben Glenn speak was the chance of a life time. Hearing his story and how he over came it changed my mind set towards certain things.
I have to say my first SLC was so amazing. I made so many great memories with 4-Hers from across Pennsylvania, my council team, and Rachel and Cody, two Kentucky State Officers. I wouldn't change my experiences on council for anything. Although it may be challenging at times, State Council is an amazing thing to be part of. I loved SLC and wish I could experience it as a delegate!
For those of you who missed the council superheroes at SLC, don't forget to sign up for Capital Days! I can't wait to share my adventures in February!
Signing off,
Kaitlin Rogers
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