My Years in the Pennsylvania Farm Show

Well, another successful PA Farm Show can go down in the books!  Hope you all had a chance to go there and experience it at least once this year.  The weather was fantastic and records were set once again for attendance!  I can remember my very first farm show I participated in many years ago.  I was very excited to actually be an "exhibitor" in the event I was in awe of.  That year, I proudly marched my "giant" pumpkin into the vegetable room to be displayed with all the others.  Little did I know that my pumpkin was going to be judged against all the fruit and vegetable farmers also displaying their product against mine.  I was awarded third place for my pumpkin!

Also that year, I can remember competing in an event called Aquaculture.  I loved that contest!  You were first given a written exam, something I didn't enjoy as an eight year old, then the fun began.  You went to a room where you were given an aquarium and filter.  It was your job to bring the substrate, plants, and fish to create a small native habitat for them.  I chose to create a habitat for Kissing Gouramis.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was very short and struggled to reach my tank, but I did it.  I stood on an upside-down turned bucket and worked feverishly to get my tank just right and when I was finished, I was soaked from head-to-toe! 

I proudly showed other commodities that year, but I must say that the pride I felt from completing the Aquaculture event has stayed with me all these years.  Why am I bringing this up now?  Well, this year, eight years later, I am still proud to be a participant in the Farm Show.  This year was an especially good one for me too.  I acted as a representative with the PA 4H State Council which offered me countless opportunities to meet some incredible people, speak at conferences, participate in celebrity cow milking, volunteered in the 4-H beef booth, and more.  I also volunteered for the first time as an official Dauphin County Master Gardener.  I participated in the fleece to shawl and sheep to shawl where I sheared a sheep for our team.  I showed my pig, which if you read my last post, not only made weight, but it also made sale placing second in its class!  Whew, sounds like a lot, but I wasn't finished there.  I also helped out with Equine Showcase that my sisters participated in and volunteered for my county 4-H in the information booths. 

I'm only sharing all of this with you because I was just a kid who used to get excited just going to see the PA Farm Show.  Then I joined 4-H and my world exploded.  The opportunities that exist for our youth are endless.  Hope I've sparked some interest in you too!  Oh, I hope they bring back the Aquaculture contest sometime because it was great!

December Blessings

First and foremost, I hope everyone had a delightful holiday season and enjoyed the much needed break from school! I know I surely benefited having some time off and time to relax.

This holiday season was one unlike any I had in the past seventeen years. Earlier this December, my family welcomed a new family member to our house-no, not another child in our clan, but my 93 year old great aunt. The move seemed so simple when I thought about it prior to the transition, but it has proved to be quite an adjustment.

Aunt Rosanne, or “Muffy” as she has been called since her childhood, brought along a great number of concerns for my family, but she has actually unintentionally taught me a few lessons. Let me start by saying, Aunt Muffy loves to eat, so she finds it very meaningful when we sit down and eat meals with her. My family typically doesn’t have the pleasure of sitting down to eat together because we simply do not have the time; however, this December has been a month filled with family dinners, and not only to celebrate the holidays. We made an effort to make time to eat together, and it really pleased Aunt Muffy. She was especially thrilled when I asked her to teach me about those scribbles she uses to write messages that nobody but her can comprehend, also known as shorthand. Indirectly, I relearned the significance of spending quality time with my family and how important my family is to me. Leave it to the holiday season to bring families closer together!

In front of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, 
Austria with my friends Catherine and Heidi. 

Along with learning valuable lessons about family, I learned lots in December about the importance of friendship. I have been very blessed with supportive friends, and naturally it’s difficult to be apart from them. In mid-November, one of my closest friends, Heidi, moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey to enter a vigorous physical therapy program to cure her Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). It has been sad not having her by my side and in town to be able to celebrate our traditions, but she is always around in spirit. I cannot wait for Heidi’s recovery and for her to return home! In the meantime, I developed bonds with other great friends, and I can easily say these next six months finishing senior year are going to be a blast.

 

Of course, January has tons in store for Pennsylvania 4-Hers and State Council. I’m looking forward to my first time at the Pennsylvania Farm Show and the best Pennsylvania 4-H State Leadership Conference: Leadership Your Golden Ticket!

Thanks for reading,

 

Cecilia Stuetz 

Pennsylvania State 4-H Council Secretary 

“The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” –Charles Kuralt 

A Reflection on a Year of 4-H

A Reflection on a Year of 4-H

This year with 4-H was truly something to remember not because of anything in particular but the fact that it was my second to last year within the organization that gave me so much.  Looking back I can think of several highlights which this year I look forward to again.

In January I kicked off the year of 4-H by assisting at the Farm Show with the 4-H Science Projects.  The Beef Rib Barbeque Sandwiches were the best food I had, excluding the always delicious deep fried vegetables.  This year I can’t wait for farm show and all the new fun memories that I will have.

SLC was the best part of January though.  Learning about myself as a leader and what it meant to be a leader was an experience which I will truly cherish.  This year I got the chance to help design SLC and the inclusion of chocolate … well let’s be honest chocolate and SLC might be better than chocolate and peanut butter.

Then Camp Counselor Training for the summer began.  Counselor Training is one of the few things I enjoy with 4-H because I get to see the new team that I will be working with.  Each year new people join and old people leave the team; each year is different.  This year we planned on teaming up the rest of District 18 Northampton, Lehigh, and Schuylkill.  I looked forward with teaming up with them for my fourth year as a camp counselor.

Then I attended Capital Days.  It was the first time in a long time that a Berks County youth was interested in going.  The one thing I will remember of that event was arguing with John Hess about the bill in question on the mock senate floor.  I never had a better time of achieving nothing reflecting on how we both were wrong in our arguments.  This year I get to watch other 4-Hers attempts what I attempted and I look forward to doing just that.

Camp!  My voice was sore from all the singing but I had a blast as usual.  I was no longer an inexperienced counselor and I got the honor of being an advisor for younger counselors.  The best parts of camp will always be mascotts, smores, animals in the cabins, and finally the new friends I make.  The friends I this year from camp I looked forward to seeing in a couple of weeks State Achievement Days.

State Achievement Days was probably the most stressed I ever felt at any 4-H event.  It was my fault cause I decided that for my final year in 4-H I was going to be a part of the State 4-H Council.  I had to make several presentations and prepare myself for the responsibility which came with being part of this amazing team.  I got to meet my friends from all over 4-H and then I got to make new friends as well.  The final night dance is always a great time.

The rest of my 4-H year all fell under State Council from the wonderful weekend in September called Officer Training, to State Council Events in October, November, and December.  The success I felt that my team and I achieved in these few months we have been together I never would have hoped for better teammates.  We have been all hard at work trying to be the best that we can be and are still trying to be better. 

I look forward to next year and I can’t wait to see what is in store for my final year in 4-H.  I have truly been blessed with what 4-H has allowed me to achieve.  What will the surprises that will be in my final year in 4-H? After ten years in this organization I cannot predict any part of it.  I can only walk forward with a smile and eagerness like I have every year of my 4-H Journey.

-George Dietrich State Historian and Reporter

Happy New Year!

January is going to be one exciting month! Not only does it include the start to the new year and everyones resoultions, but also the Pennsylvania Farm Show and State Leadership Conference! I absolutely cannot wait for the Farm Show. I not only get to be there for State Council, but I will be showing as well! It is going to be one busy week and month, that's for sure, but I wouldn't want to change any of it! I hope that everyone will be able to come visit the State Council at the Farm Show! It amazes me how many people in my county 4-H program alone have never been to the Farm Show and it is definitely worth your time to go! There is so much to do and see. The expo halls are filled with venders of all kinds, food booths, and of course, animals! There is almost always a show or activity of some kind to watch in three arenas that the Farm Show has, and they are always enjoyable to watch!
Besides just the Farm Show in January, SLC is also coming up very quickly! I hope that everyone got their registrations in! It is going to be a blast full of candy, chocolate, and many other surprises! The State Council along with our advisors, have been working very hard to plan SLC so it will be the best leadership conference yet!
So I hope that everyone has a very happy and safe new year! And also, I hope to see all of Pennsylvania 4-H at the PA Farm Show and/or SLC!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Until later,
Dawn Craft- 2012-2013 Pennsylvania State Council Vice President of Operations

Tick Tock.

Hello Everyone!

This year, I am again participating in one of my favorite sports, cheerleading.  Often times, people are amazed that I am both a cheerleader and equestrian, not to mention an avid and active 4-H member.  Basketball games just started this past month, which means that cheerleading now consumes most of my time.  In other words, here comes the art of time management.  

“How are you able to be a cheerleader, ride your horse, work a part-time job, do well in school, and be so dedicated to the 4-H program?” is something that I have been asked quite a bit now.  Well my dear friends, it is all about time management.  Over the years, I have learned that if you are doing what you love doing, things will get done.  If you put forth the effort, you can accomplish what you set out to achieve.  That is true, however, only if you truly commit yourselves to everything in which you partake.  This is something that I find myself struggling with sometimes.  It is not an easy skill to master and it is one that I admit that I am still working on.  

That being said, I CANNOT WAIT for the 2013 Farm Show and the 2013 PA 4-H State Leadership Conference!  The next couple of weeks are going to be crazy, but I am ecstatic!  For all of you heading out to the Farm Show, your State Officer team is excited to see you there!  And last but definitely not least, I am so thrilled for SLC!  Bubbles, chocolates, games, friends, food, and fun!  It’s sure to be a blast!

Until later,

Cassidy Baker
2012/2013 Pennsylvania 4-H State Council President 

PCS Varsity Cheerleaders

“Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One man gets only a week’s value out of a year while another man gets a full year’s value out of a week.”

Charles Richards

An Interesting Year, Before and Ahead

Looking back at the year of 2012, a lot of interesting things have happened and many friends have been made, including those that I am so thankful to have on State Council!  I have reflected on the other past events and how they might influence this upcoming year, to which, I am looking forward to with enthusiasm!
In the upcoming year of 2013, so many things can happen.  Some planned and some not, but isn't that what makes life exciting?  I may not know what exactly to expect, but there's no doubt that I'll make the best of it either having fun with it or learning from it as David Brinkley once said, "Lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at you."
The new year is another layer of my foundation, which I will strive to make the best out of!

Happy New Year and may your surprises bring you forward!

"Even if you stumble, you're still moving forward." -Anonymous.

Time For Family And Fun!

                During the holidays, people travel near and far just to see their families. It really shows how important family is to us, especially during special times of the year. This year, I’ve realized just how many crazy things we will do for our family.

                My brother’s church needed a Santa Claus for their Christmas party, because their normal Santa Claus wasn’t able to come. Apparently, I was the first one my brother though of to be Santa. I didn’t think I’d be a very convincing Santa, especially because half of the kids were related to me. Luckily, after a few pillows were stuffed into the outfit, no one recognized me. Later, my cousin told me that I needed to work on my Santa, because his son didn’t think I was the real one.

                When my sister came home on the 27^th, and we got a ton of snow, we started right up with a family creation. Snowboating. We hook the snowboat to the tractor, a sled to the back of the boat, build a snow hill, and drive through the yard. We’ve also started using inflatable sleds behind the four wheeler, taking them over jumps. We’ve even tried rafts and pool toys, like the alligator. Sadly, he didn’t survive the jump.

                Maybe my family is just a little weird, but I still love them. Well, it’s time to go spend the rest of the day with my siblings and cousins! Happy New Year!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like.........

 Can you feel it?  Taste it?  Smell it?  Hear it?  Almost see it?  I can and so can everyone else in my house.  It's that time once again where the many corners of our home, barn, and garage begin to be taken over by it.  What is it?  Preparation for the much anticipated Pennsylvania State Farm Show, of course!  You all know what I'm talking about.  Oh no, hold the one pig back, push the other, walk them, clean them, feed them again.  Are there any treats for them in the fridge?  Just yesterday, I was so upset with my sister for giving them the macaroni salad.  I love macaroni salad!  It was only in our refrigerator for less than 10 hours and already, it became a special treat for the stinking pigs! 

We've all been there.  If not for our pig project, for our sheep, goat, horse, beef, poultry, rabbit, or cavy!  Of course we all knew the kind, almost summer-like temperatures weren't going to hold on forever and the second snow of the year came just in time for sheep washing day!  If you have a wool breed of sheep heading to this years sheep to shawl or sheep show, you know the rules.  "All sheep may be washed no less than two weeks prior to the contest." 

Let's not forget about the family living section.  Bakers praying their cake turns out as the best yet, woodworking projects being sanded, stained, and varnished just right, sewing projects finally getting that hem, knitting needles working as fast as they can possibly go, and practice shawls washed and ready for their debut at the fleece to shawl contest.  Yup, I've seen all those things happening here too!

Why do we do it?  Sounds like a lot of work!  We do it because we love it!  It has become part of us, and we look forward to it each and every year!  What other event in Pennsylvania opens its doors to the number of people who come there?  They come to see it, taste it, hear it, smell it, and touch it!

I'm going to be there and I hope to see you all there too!



My sister and me at last year's sheep show!

The two Dauphin County Fleece to Shawl teams from last year

Looking back at the year

     Looking back at this year its safe to say a lot has changed in my life.  Things as simple as my driving status and what I'm doing athletically. To things that that will change my life for the better such as my college choice to my position in 4-H.
    On of the first things I was able to do in the beginning of the year was to get my drivers license, after not being able to pass two times, and then after so many months of working hard and saving, with some help with my project animals, I was finally able to buy my own truck.
     For most of my high school career I was not planning on going to college.  At the end of Jr. year our school had my class have interview with our guidance councilor asking what we had planed after high school. I told her I was just planing on going into the workforce.  Then she simply asked if I would at least look.  So I did as such, I found Penn College, and I was very interested in this school so I decided to visit there.  After the tore I knew I wanted to go to this school.  I am now accepted, have my spot reserved, and I know when my placement testing is.
     Football is a large part of my high school career and I worked all summer for a starting spot on the team. during summer workouts I was doing the the little stuff right. I was not the strongest, but I was technical and I stayed quick.  Finally, coach had me rotating in.  I was going to play! Then the the next week I'm on the phone telling coach I cant play this season because I had a life time opportunity that I was not letting pass by me. That's it my football career is over. So I thought, latter in the season I was once again on the team as a manager.
     When I found out that I was going to be a Sr. Councilor at 4-H camp I thought I did everything I could possibly do to become the best leader that I can be.  That thought easily changed after I was inducted into council.  Now I work with a work with a wonderful team.  Ones that I have worked with before, ones that I've that I worked against, and ones that I never really worked with.  With that said, I love working with everyone on this team.  It has been a great year and I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for us.

Not just a football team it's a family

     I would just like to take this opportunity to say great job to my high school football team. They made it to the PIAA AAA District 10 finals, unfortunately were not able to win the game. Altho they did not come on top at the end I know that the senior's and the rest of the team left it on the field and everyone was very proud of them. 

     Hello there this is John and you might of not know but before I was inducted to state council I was one of the players. 

     We had just finished summer workouts and we had a week break until two-a-days started. I was inducted within that brake. I remember getting home and calling the head coach about the opportunity that was given to me. I was not sure what his reaction was going to be, what he would say, or if he would try to talk me out of it. I was pleasantly pleased when he said that thinks that my choice was a good one. 

     Now that I was able to tell the coach now what was the team going to say to me on the first day of school. I was plaining on being called a quitter, or lazy, but that wasn't the case. Everyone thought what I was doing is great and I recall on one of my friends saying that I'm "awesome at 4-H".  

     Many players and even their parents missed me on the field saying that it was just not the same. I think that the person that was upset the most was our school Athletic Trainer. And then one game latter on in the season I seen that the team was down a manager or "water girl". I went to our trainer and asked if he wanted help. He said yes in a hart beat. Once I was back on the field I made sure that the team knew I was there hitting their helmets and shoulder pads. The faces on the player seem very happy, at least that's what I thought. Latter during that game when I was standing near our trainer he asked me what I was doing next Friday night and if I wanted to do it again and for the rest of the season. I quickly said yes with a huge smile on my face. Then once again I was part of the team, not as a player as I once was but as a manager or "water girl". (yes they called me water girl, but I didn't mind)

     Hello there this is John and you might of not know but before I was inducted to state council I was one of the players. 

     We had just finished summer workouts and we had a week break until two-a-days started. I was inducted within that brake. I remember getting home and calling the head coach about the opportunity that was given to me. I was not sure what his reaction was going to be, what he would say, or if he would try to talk me out of it. I was pleasantly pleased when he said that thinks that my choice was a good one. 

     Now that I was able to tell the coach now what was the team going to say to me on the first day of school. I was plaining on being called a quitter, or lazy, but that wasn't the case. Everyone thought what I was doing is great and I recall on one of my friends saying that I'm "awesome at 4-H".  

     Many players and even their parents missed me on the field saying that it was just not the same. I think that the person that was upset the most was our school Athletic Trainer. And then one game latter on in the season I seen that the team was down a manager or "water girl". I went to our trainer and asked if he wanted help. He said yes in a hart beat. Once I was back on the field I made sure that the team knew I was there hitting their helmets and shoulder pads. The faces on the player seem very happy, at least that's what I thought. Latter during that game when I was standing near our trainer he asked me what I was doing next Friday night and if I wanted to do it again and for the rest of the season. I quickly said yes with a huge smile on my face. Then once again I was part of the team, not as a player as I once was but as a manager or "water girl". (yes they called me water girl, but I didn't mind)

Lehigh County Awards Banquet

On November 9th, I had the honor of being invited to speak during the Leihgh County 4-H Awards Banquet.  As part of the event I got the opportunity to be the keynote speaker in which I got to promote 4-H State Wide 4-H events. 

The exciting part of the event was the honor I received to meet so many new 4-Hers.  Before I spoke I got to sit down and speak with 4-H Leaders, Parents, and Youth.  Sitting there I learned about clubs I never heard about and projects that seemed unreal.  Lehigh County has a Veterinarian Club that I never would have guessed as a project. 

Once I got to speak I had tremendous fun promoting Camping, Capital Days, Achievement Days, Leadership Conference, and State Council. 

I was able to promote Camping seeing how it benefits four 4-H groups: Youth, Pre-Teens, Teens, and Parents.  4-H youth love camp because of its fun and interactive experience with nature.  Pre-teens love camp because they get to chill with cool teenagers and be away from embarrassing adults.  Teens learn valuable life skills such as working with youth that is difficult to come by if you don’t experience camping. Parents love 4-H camp because it is a place that is safe and secured filled with caring counselors and staff.

Capital Days has by far been my favorite event to talk about.  The experience of meeting with state legislatures is a significant experience for any 4-Her.  Also learning how to implement Parliamentary Procedure was a new experience for me. 

Achievement Days is one of my favorite events because I get to hear of all the different events that 4-Hers compete in which is their passion.  We get to compete and then watch 4-Hers talents and fashion revue.

Leadership Conference is the event to go to this year for one reason, Chocolate River.  That’s right we are celebrating Leadership by grabbing our golden tickets and setting off into the wonderful world of chocolate.  At SLC we learn the importance of being a leader and improve our leadership skills.

The final experienced I mentioned was State Council.  Being part of this amazing team is truly the better part of being on the State Council.  I have gotten to meet people that I never would have hoped to meet.  The best part on State Council is not your personal experience but the team experience. 

I hoped my message that I gave to my fellow 4-Hers from Lehigh County was truly appreciated and will inspire 4-hers to pursue 4-H outside of their county, on a state level.

Thankful for National 4-H Congress

Pennsylvania Delegation  

Last summer, I discovered a unique opportunity to be able to combine two of my greatest joys in life: 4-H and traveling. I had the privilege to travel to National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia last November as one of forty Pennsylvania delegates. This premier national event gathers the best 4-Hers from across the county to celebrate their achievements and allow them to have a five day convention filled with fun learning experiences. In order to make National Congress a coveted and special trip, 4-H members may only attend National Congress once as a delegate. While at National Congress 2011, I heard of a leadership position that I could apply for to be able to be granted a second trip back to congress. This National Congress “Design Team” consists of eight passionate 4-Hers from across the country who serve as liaisons for all 800+ delegates and they assist other nationally recognized adults in the planning and execution of National Congress. As you may have concluded at this point, I applied for the design team, was humbly granted a spot on the team, and I got to travel back to Atlanta this Thanksgiving.

International Night with Tyler Shaw, your Vice President of Events 

The benefits of being on the design team were greater than I could have ever imagined. We had the distinct opportunity to meet with prestigious individuals in corporations such as Coca-Cola and AGCO. The personal networking that came out of being a National 4-H Congress design team member was unbelievable as well. Meeting several National 4-H Council members was significantly noteworthy to avid 4-Hers such as us.

Youth Leadership Team partner 

and new friend from Idaho, 

Trevor Kauer

Though meeting all of these “bigwigs” was impressive, what really made my 2012 congress experience spectacular was meeting as many of the 4-H delegates as I could. Sure, having a one on one conversation with Miss America, Laura Kaeppeler, and finding out we were in the same Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia was neat, but in no way did I have an affect on her life. Having the chance to talk with such enthusiastic 4-Hers from all over and hear how much fun they were having really brought back memories from when I was a delegate having a blast with some of my best friends in 4-H. I also remembered that I looked up to the design team as such high 4-H role models. They put in their hard work to achieve their positions and they put in a lot of time to creating the congress experience that I had. I had to keep my mentality from when I was a delegate in the back of my head. It was incredible humbling to hear people look up to me as a 4-Her and to be asked how could they become a design team member next year.

My mom, Toni Stuetz, was our state 

advisor at congress and our southeastern 

PA chaperone on the flight home. It was 

her birthday so we celebrated with 

cheesecake at Chili’s!

Even though National Congress 2012 is officially adjourned, the impacts and memories will live on forever. I had a marvelous time listening to so many different 4-H stories and trying to get to know lots of excellent 4-H members. I sure can’t wait for my future in 4-H and possibly attending other national 4-H events such as National 4-H Conference and/or Citizen Washington Focus!

Sincerely,

Cecilia Stuetz

Pennsylvania State 4-H Council Secretary

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou