4-H and State Council

Well I guess my 4-H and State Council is almost coming to an end. About nine years ago I joined the Pioneer Valley 4-H Club where my sister was in before I joined. When I first joined 4-H I know that for my projects I wanted to do cooking to start and each year I would do a new project. The project I did when I was in Pioneer Valley was cooking, basketry, leathering, babysitting, market lambs, market goats, market swine, and toastmaster. I was also in other club that was County Council where it was open to the County and we would meet once a year at the Extension Office, Hoopla's, and Bowling. I was really sad when my last year showing animals at the Lycoming County fair came to an end. At the Livestock auction I got a 4-H Scholarship for $1200. I will miss all my friends that I have showed with and that I been hanging out every year at the fair. I did cry at the livestock auction after selling my last animal because I knew it was over for me. Through out my 4-H life I have made a lot of friends with other 4-H teens and also adults and they have all been supported towards me when they knew I wanted to either go in the Military or when I wanted to get on the State Council. 4-H did change my life because without 4-H I wouldn't get all this great opportunity or experience that I am or did get. About a year ago I attend State Achievement Days. The first night I was up on the stage doing a one minute about my self and answering a fish bowl question and my question "If I could add a 5th H into the 4-H program what would it be"? and I said Happy! Then the next day I had to do a 10 minute power point presentation about How has 4-H changed my life? That night I got a called saying the I got on the State Council and I was so happy that I got on. My advisor Mya told me that I would be the reporter and I was glad to become that because I knew that I was good at doing that. In August our State Council year began to State Council Training, Farm Show, State Leadership Conference, Capitol Days, and now State Achievement Days. I will miss being on the State Council and friends that I have made from being on the State Council. I will miss all the good times we have from being on State Council even though we had some ups and downs but we all knew that we can do it and we did do it! I will miss every one the State Council Team including Mya and Jared! Thanks for all the love and support I had throughout my 4-H life and State Council year!:)

It's Fair Time!

Well it's that time of year again can't beleive it has been one whole year. It's fair time once again for most people its a chance to get outta the house and have a little fun but for everyone in 4-H and FFA its that time of year to show off our hard work and see how it pays off in the end. They say farming is a gamble and that is very true. Pa fairs are part of two of the biggest industries in Pennsylvania agriculture and tourism. Pa fairs help people get connected to the agriculture industry since most people have been removed from farms by three generations and help educate the puplic on the industry. Fairs to me means a lot I have been apart of our county fair since birth it has been a major part of my 4-H career it made me want to push for more with in 4-H and since my school did not offer FFA I have only till I am 18 tk make the most of it and that is what I am doing. This year is our fairs 30th year at our current location in summit station Pennsylvania. I always get excited about fair each year for many reasons I get to show my animals and tractors off to the oublic for everyone to see. Another reason is because of the many friendships that have came out of being apart of our big fair family. Also it means truck and tractor pulls through out the week. The Schuylkill County Fair Association has been a major influence on this love of our fair from the time I was little going to fair meetings and now sitting on the fair board as a junior fair board member we are one big family. as I said be for about showing our 4-H and FFA project to the community to show what agriculture is all about.
Brendin Freeman

What's Next?

Where do I begin with an experience like this. Council has been everything I hoped it would be and more. From training, to SLC, and my very first every Capital Days it was surreal. I learned more about myself, parliamentary procedure, and the 4-H program than I could have ever dreamed of.  But the real question is what's next.

What door will open next? The most logical opportunity is college. As an incoming high school senior, where I'm going to go to college has to be a priority.  Thanks to SLC my college path is clear to me now. Agricultural communications at either Penn State or Ohio State (please save your comments for the birds). After many times of answering “I don’t know” or “It’s agricultural related”, I can finally say where I want to go to college.

That's not the only thing council has helped me with.  I now say what I want when I want whether it be good or bad.  Mostly it’s good! I'm open to talk to anyone about anything.  I never realized how small the world was until I traveled and explored it a little.  The saying never burn a bridge is SO SO true. With my council experience I can now say I'm ready to tackle anything life throws at me.  

This wouldn't be complete without saying thank you to a few people.  Thank you to Mom and Dad for supporting me through this year and putting up with me crazy schedule. Thanks to my brother for picking up my slack at home.  Gram, always being there for the last minute things I needed. Pap, for feeding so many times when I wasn't around.  Judy, Wayne and the boys thanks for always putting me in a good mood when I was stressed.  Thank you family!

Thanks to an amazing advisor for believing in me even when I didn't at times.  Thanks Jared for always giving that extra guidance to the team. Dwayne for helping me anytime I needed during the year.   Council alums, thanks for inspiring me to be part of the family. The most important my council team! Thank you for everything! I don’t know what I would do without each and everyone of you. We made this year rock.

If you're reading this and you have any doubt about running for council, JUST DO IT!

See ya down the road,

Megan Anderson

Play It Again

Hey PA 4-H!!!!
So apparently at the end of this month we have to take off our jackets and hand over our offices!?!?! No one told me this!!! So I have a question; can we just repeat this year? This year was truly one of the best years of my life and I just want it to keep going!!! And because of this, I decided to make a list of the top 5 reasons why I love state council.
1. The bonds you make with your fellow council members.
2. Our amazing adviser :)
3. Being able to meet members from all around the state, is such an amazing experience.
4. Planning the conferences was AWESOME!!!
AND
5. Meeting people from all around the state that are involved in Agriculture in so many ways, and hearing their stories.

I hope you all have enjoyed reading all of our blogs this year, and are thinking about running for state council!!

Signing off,
Lydia Lion
PA 4-H State Council Secretary

It's July? I thought it was still June!

June was so busy - I didn't even realize it was OVER!
My eleventh grade year finished on the 6th - I even passed Spanish!  Hard to believe I'll be a senior in the fall - and in a year I'll be graduated!
The first week of June was filled with club meetings and volunteering at the truck show with Perry County County Council.  Then it was off to State College for a State Council meeting.  From there I was part of the group to travel to Kentucky, to be part of the Kentucky 4-H State Teen Conference.  It was amazing! I met so many new people and made some wonderful new friends.  It was an experience I won't forget!
Once I got home, it was time try to squeeze everything into my schedule.  Working, meetings, and making hay had to fit in with chores, errands and getting ready for 4-H resident camp at Camp Shehaqua.
I have a feeling the July is going to fly by too - but I wish it were longer or would go slower.
Gotta get back to the campers!

Until next month,
H Wyett Johnson
State Council Representative

It's just goodnight and not goodbye

Well Pennsylvania 4-H the 2013-2014 council is down to its last month :(. Let me just say this has been the best year of my life and it is all because of every single PA 4-H member and my council team. During this year I have met tons of new people, tried many new things, and even traveled to new places. There are too many memories to list however the one I will never forget is state achievement days last year getting up on stage in front of all of you and giving my one minute speech to introduce myself! That was one of the most challenging but rewarding things of my life. Before I am relieved of my duties on council I want you all to know that no matter what you want to do in you life and no matter what you are currently doing in your life just stick with 4-H it will lead you in the right direction. Don't be afraid to try new things, go to a state event, join a new club, maybe even run run for council! Be for I end my last blog on council I just want to thank you all so much again for making this THE GREATEST year of my life. Until I see you all again remember "it's just goodnight and not goodbye."