Is January Over Yet?

This past month was a little crazy for most of us council members; what with Farm Show and State Leadership conference. But now with those out of the way we can take a short break for a bit. However coming up in May we have our PA State Capitol Days.

But with 4-H aside, this past week I delivered my final presentation for my high school senior project. (an assignment necessary for me to graduate) I did my project based on the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program, which is sponsored by the NRA. The program teaches children in grades K-3 about the 4 basic ways to stay safe around firearms, which are,

STOP

DON'T TOUCH

LEAVE THE AREA

AND TELL AN ADULT.

I particularly liked this program, because sadly gun safety is no longer taught in schools, so children are no longer instructed about gun safety unless the attend a hunter's safety class. As a plug for the 4-H program after I presented I also offered the number for the local extension office for interested kids, who when they were ready, could enroll in our local shooting sports clubs.

WOW time does fly!

WOW, what a month!! When I last posted a blog I was packing to head to the farmshow for a fun filled adventure with family, close friends, and my fellow council members; now the month is over and I have made many new memories, new friends and learnt many new things. My week at farmshow allowed for many new friendships I met many new people and strengthened friendships by staying with my council members for a night! Attending the farmshow as a state council member was a once in a life time event!! Attending the governors banquet I talked to many people who are involved with Ag like I! Then the opening ceremonies where I got to represent 4-H as a state council member was so much fun hoping it didn't turn out like Noah's Ark we entered the large arena with all eyes on us the representatives of 4-H. Farmshow allowed for some personal goals to be reached as well! I got master showman with my lamb!! That was great honor for me. The next weekend I was PSU bound for one last chance to practice! After listening to CJ ask me if I was going to hop one hundred or so times we had our lines down. We were ready to go!! When we got to the conference center the next weekend we all had jitters!! After decorating we decided to give Mya her birthday gifts and cake (which she knew nothing about) Good job council. Kicking off the weekend we all got to see if a carer as a quick change artist would be good for us as we switched outfits from our skit clothes to our official dress. Then we had many wonderful speakers who we are grateful for. As the weekend continued we made new friends (The wonderful folks from Tennessee state council) and many others we learned new things and made many unforgettable memories. As I start to finish this entry realizing I could go on and on and on about this past month I would like to say Thanks for helping us make a great conference and hope to see you all in the near future!! Have a great 2011 its off to a wonderful start!!

Thanks for reading,
Echo Kincaid
VPO :)

The time of OUR lives

The new year approached so fast and state council was busier then ever. We kicked off our new year by spending a weekend at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show. We had the opportunity to dine at the governs dinner, and participate in the opening ceremonies parade of commodity reps. After participating in those two events it makes you look at the Farm Show in a whole different perspective. As the excitement of the Farm Show came to an end it was time to prepare for the Leadership Conference.
The weekend came so fast as we were all warming up by practicing the hand jive and getting ready for Saturday's hop. This was our time to shine, as we hosted the biggest number of people ever to attend the conference, which was 360 people. We also hosted our special guest from the Tennessee council.The conference was so much fun and it all started off with fifties games and root beer floats, and of course I can't forget about the great skit that the we preformed. It was a great way to kick-off the conference. The next day was another day of fun and excitement. Of course there were the great workshops throughout the day, but this years dinner speaker was truly amazing. The Brain show was highly entertaining, educational, and full of fun dances. Then as the conference came to an end, it was sad to leave, and say goodbye especially to are new friends from Tennessee but thankfully we will all be visiting them in July for their conference. This event was so much fun, stressful at times, but when we look back at those moments we will just laugh. It was a phenomenal experience, and I can't wait for Capital Days!

State Council Secretary
~Samantha Gstalder~

WHAT A MONTH!

What an incredible beginning to the year 2011 for the Pa 4-H State Council. As a council we spent the first weekend of the Pennsylvania State Farm Show together representing Pa 4-H and the 125,000 plus youth we represent. As president I was given the privilege and honor to get my photo taken with Secretary Redding and then with all the other representatives of the Ag Community. We then got to enjoy the Governor's Dinner and speak with a number of people that are supporters of 4-H as well as supporters of Agriculture as a whole. As the week continued I stayed busy volunteering and representing 4-H. My 2011 Pa State Farm Show week consisted of volunteering at the Livestock Office, volunteering at the 4-H booth, and having the once in a lifetime opportunity to be asked to represent 4-H as one of the selected few asked to be there to accept a check for the Farm Show Scholarship Foundation. It was an week of fun, meeting new people, representing 4-H and making unforgettable memories with every opportunity I was given.

As the Pa State Farm Show came to an end I headed to the Penn Stater for the State Leadership Conference Walk Thru the Council had. We got a chance to finalize our last few plans for the conference so we could make it the best.

A week later we all returned for the conference we had been planning since our term began. More than 360 4-H youth were at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center to take part in an amazing opportunity for 4-H teens. This was a weekend of teens getting the chance to expand and learn more leadership skills while getting to meet other 4-H members from all over Pennsylvania. The Conference was a true success. As a state we expanded our leadership skills and took this opportunity which helped us be a step ahead in the world. As a council we were given the time to show our hard work and it helped our bond as a council grow tremendously. We spent a large number of hours working to strive toward success which is believed was reached. As a council getting to see that end product makes every tough moment worth it. The memories as a council, the laughs, the tears, the disagreements, the fun, and the joys will stay with each one of us for life. We also got a chance to meet some pretty amazing people from Tennessee State Council and we cannot wait to see you all in July! Being one of the seven council members that plan one of the largest youth leadership conferences is Pa is a privilege and a honor. A huge thank you to every volunteer and educator as well as every speaker and presenter that helped make 2011 SLC one to remember. And remember Pa 4-H as Ms. Christy Bartley said, "You have to do your best 100% of the time not just 99.9%." I cannot wait for all the other opportunities awaiting for council, as well as myself personally.

Your PA 4-H State President,

Logan Hall

Remember, "There are always issues; they come with every event. It is how we handle them and get past them that matters." - An incredible Advisor

New Year, and boy is it busy!

Well, happy New Year everybody. And we had Christmas last week. I hope all of you in PA 4-H had a great Christmas.This month should be a good month for me and everybody in 4-H. This weekend is Farm show which, I have heard is one of the greatest weeks of the year but I have never gone. So, farm show will hopefully be a great experience for me. This month we also have State Leadership Conference so get your leather jackets and your poodle skirts and prepare for an amazing weekend at the Penn stater. I hope to see you all at at least one of the events this month. Have a great January!

Another year over and another one has begun!

The new year is beginning and the 4-H State Council is ready to bond and spend a ton of time together! We have farm show, one of the best weeks in the year! The past year has been a blast the days aways pass by so fast. There were tough times to arise but we always have our eye on the prize. Graduating from high school and now testing those learning tools. Now the first semester of college went right by and it felt like just yesterday we all said goodbye. Our new team is ready for State Leadership Conference in Happy Valley the 50's will be this years rally. As the state comes together as one we are always for sure to have fun. But always remembering we are there to grow in leadership on our three day trip. Happy 2011 from Pennsylvania's top seven! Good luck to everyone for a good year and we all know in July we will hold back that tear.

Logan Hall
2010 - 2011 Pa State 4-H President

January keeps council close

So as I sit here and debate about what to put in this blog entry I think of all the times I will see my fellow council members in the next month! To start off this month we have farm show. At farm show we will all be together at the governors diner and then at opening ceremonies for the farm show. We will stay together in a hotel near Harrisburg and all commute together to and from the farm show complex. I know for a fact we are all excited do to the fact we have not seen each other since October. Then on the 15Th of this month we will all be together for our council walk through at the Penn stater for state leadership conference (less than a month away)!!! Then the next weekend is the 2011 State leadership conference!! Our council has worked so hard to pull things together to make it an SLC to remember!! We are excited to meet new 4-Hers from across the state and to reconnect with old ones we have made at previous SLC's. So I have come to the conclusion that January will keep me busy and well acquainted with my fellow council members. So until next time have a safe month and I hope to see you all at farm show or SLC! Here's to a great year,
Echo Kincaid (state council Vice president of operations)

Rolling in the New Year

As 2011 fastly approaches it is always great to look back and reflect on the things that happened in 2010. So I don't know about all of you but I have a list of the top 10 exciting things that happened to me during 2010... so here goes nothing. 1.) I Got my driver's license 2.) I got my first Dairy goat (Queen Latifah is her name and she is my pride and joy) 3.) I won the Pride award in band 4.) I got my first job at Scot's Lo Cost (which is soon to be a Weis) 5.) I graduated Montoursville Area High School 6.) I am a freshman at Pennsylvaina College of Techonolgy and I made the Deans list for the first semester 7.) I recieved a 4-H scholarship 8.) I won the most outstanding 4-Her in Lycoming County 9.)This christmas I got an ice cream Maker 10.) I am the New Secretary of 4-H state Council.

It is always nice to take a step back and look at the things you did before you move on. So the challenge is up for everyone. You should think about your most 10 exiciting things that happened in your 2010. Then you will be ready to move on and focus on the new year and your new year resolutions. So for now I hope everybody has a happy and safe New year.

State Council Secretary
~Samantha Gstalder~

Christmas, bagpipes, and the ASVAB

Based on my favorite gift I got this Christmas you'd think I was an 18-year-old in the '70s. The thing that I wanted most this Christmas was a record player. For the last few years my friends and I have been amassing a decent sized record collection of classic rock, polka, and any other genre we felt was necessary to have around. A new favorite pass time of mine now is listening to the Bagpipes of the Royal Scots Dragoons at 45 RPMs while they play amazing grace.

Another thing I've gotten around to doing over my vacation was taking my ASVAB. I buckled down and spent the three days prior to my test date reading The ASVAB for Dummies and actually found the information in it very useful, and would recommend it to anyone who plans on taking it. The book covers all nine of the categories in depth that are on the 225 question test.

Best Wishes to all, and may all your New Year's Resolutions come true!

God Bless.

Seth Jones VP of Internal Affairs

Winter, Oh How I've missed Thee

As December begins, along with deer season, that seems to be the real start of the holiday season for my family and myself. Thanksgiving for us is just a meal together for a couple hours; but deer season? Now that is an entirely different story. For three weeks in a row we spend the majority of our mornings in each other's company sitting in our stands waiting for our four-legged bounty to wander within accurate range of our generation (generations in my youngest cousin's case) old rifles.

Another thing I look forward to in the upcoming weeks is my eighteenth birthday. One of the downsides to being a December baby is no matter what, your party is always weather dependent. On more than one occasion I've had to delay it a week or three. But thankfully my birthday is just barely far enough away (on the 12th) from Christmas that I'm not one of the unfortunate souls that receives only one gift that "counts for both."

Well that is about everything on my mind at the moment, may you all have a wonderful rest of the holiday season with your families and God Bless!

-Seth Jones

Happy Holidays

Happy holidays to everyone here! I hope that your Thanksgiving was great and you had fun with all of your family members. We now know the Christmas is near because we finally have snow. So everyone get ready for some more holidays that are soon to come.

My Christmas is going to be extra special this year because I will spend it with two of my exchange siblings. My host sister from Brazil, Bruna, is coming to visit my family and I for three months, and will be arriving on December 19th. Also my exchange brother, Eray from Turkey, will be here too. My entire family is very excited for Christmas and New Years this year.

As many of you know 4-H National Congress was just held in Atlanta Georgia. I attended this conference and would recommend this to any 4-Her around the country. At National Congress we attended workshops, did community service, went on tours of Atlanta, and practiced leadership skills while meeting 4-Hers from 43 states and Puerto Rico. We also raised over $60,000 to build the second Clover House for the Habitat for Humanity organization. Some of the community service acts we took part in were cleaning parks, raking leaves, reading to underprivileged children, and helped the Books for Africa Program. We had several motivational speakers and all of them were simply amazing.

Happy holidays

Stephen McFall, Sentinel

Relax

As we rap up Thanksgiving and begin to think about Christmas I hope a few things are happening at you and your family's houses. I hope number one: you're eating to much of that tasty holiday food. :) Number two: I hope you're spending lots of quality time with family and friends the memories you make you will cherish for years. And last but not least, I hope you take some time to RELAX!! The months have been crazy and as the year is coming to an end we all need some relaxation so kick back and relax!! Don't allow the holidays to stress you out!! Have a great Christmas, and don't forget to relax!


Happy Holidays
Echo Kincaid
State Council VPO