The first step of a long road...

Becoming a Veterinarian is my dream job. When I first thought this would be a good match for me, I didn't realize how much work it really is. I realized that I would have to go to school for a really long time and that I would need really good grades, but I didn't realize I would need a lot of job shadowing hours! Around  500 I heard was a good amount! That means I have to have around 125 hours a year for the next four years. That's a lot when you think about all the other things going on in my life..riding horses, school, work, 4-H, family, friends, farm work, etc!

This month I started my job shadowing! Every Tuesday, I go to our small and large animal vet and shadow his every move! I have already learned and saw so much! I've seen plenty of dogs and cats spayed and neutered, cats declawed (which I believe is awful), tons of check-ups, a bloated fawn, checking cows to see if they were pregnant ( which was awesome!), and so much more! Unfortunately with job comes some tragedy.  The vet had to euthanize a miniature horse that had fallen and hit her head and an elderly dog that had cancer. Many people believe it's hard to watch an animal be euthanized and wouldn't be able to do it and believe me, so did I until I actually watched it. When you know it's that animals time to go and they have no quality of life, you know you are doing the right thing when you put the animal down. In no way does it make it easier, but at least you get some comfort knowing that they won't be in any pain and will be in a great place!

Job shadowing this vet has really helped to solidify in my mind that becoming a veterinarian is the best career for me and I can't wait to continue perusing it. I know that if I wasn't in 4-H there is no way that I would have chosen this path because 4-H gave me the opportunity to show with my horses and come to love animals in a way that I want to help them.

Truly,

Liz McAndrew

PA State 4-H Vice President of Operations and Events

Traveling to Kentucky

Ale-8-One, Darla, Build- a- Bear, Jumping photos, Call Me Maybe and Boyfriend are some of the words that describe our council exchange with Kentucky's 4-H. Our council made to drive to Kentucky starting June 9th. During the car ride we discorded our council likes to jam out to Boyfriend by Justin Bieber and Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. As Mya told us before we left, our council would become closer then ever during our drive. We took a seven passenger seat van with seven people. The seats were all full and where ever there was room to fit luggage, it was stowed.  

As soon as we got to the university, we presented their state council with a presentation of Pennsylvania's 4-H program. Their state council was surprised with a treat from the Penn State Creamery. As part of our exchange, it was our goal to find differences in each of our programs and come up with new ideas that Kentucky uses. The biggest difference we discovered was their state Council was much bigger then ours. They hold 52 members on the council with 4 officers. It was a big shot to find out that the entire delegation the first two nights was their state council team. 

Besides presenting our presentation, we helped their state council run their week where ever they needed assistance. We also joined in their workshops that included, jewelry making, science building, environmental protection, and much more. We were surprised to join in on two dances while we were down there. They had an opening dance and a closing dance. 

Kentucky opened their arms to us and welcomed us in like we were one of them. Some of the fun events we went to were bowling, laser tag, miniature golfing, and roller skating. Our time spent in Kentucky was fulfilled with lasting memories and many new friends. I can say for my entire team that this trip will be in our top ten adventures for a long time. 

With something to think about,

Ashley Mohn, State 4-H council secretary

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

Highschool to college

I never thought I would see the day that I was staring at family and friends, as my principal hands me my diploma. I graduated on May 29 2012, and it was the happiest day of my life. It's hard to believe my high school years are over ,but I have an awesome thing to look forward to, Penn State Dubois!! High school may be over ,but here is where my life begins. I have several people to thank for my accomplishments one is my mom. Mom thank you for everything that you did for me in my younger years. I want to also thank 4H for teaching me almost all I know. I will miss high school ,but college, bring it on.

What is your story?

“The Dash” by Linda Ellis was recently read to my class. This poem is about how we live our dash on our tombstones. Living our life to the fullest is almost writing a chapter book. Each year of our life a new chapter is added to our book. Once the poem was read, I began to think about my book so far. I have been fortunate enough to write many amazing events. As I looked back on the last 18 years I realized one thing. Most of those years were filled with dairy animals and 4-H projects. 4-H has been in my life for almost 11 years. 

Writing the chapters of your life, what stands out to you? I know for me, my projects in 4-H are the highlights that are bolded in my book. Not everything is a happy moment but those moments that are not happy mold us to who we are today. I also took the moment to think of people that have influenced me. Two people popped in to my head, my parents, but the next few people were 4-H volunteers, advisors and extension educators. I just want to take a quick moment and say thank you to those that influenced my career goal. 

Reading a book of someone else, is also part of your own book writing. As senior is coming to a close my school recognizes the seniors at an awards ceremony before graduating. As I sat watching my fellow classmates and I get called up for awards I realized that neither I or any of them did what they did alone. There was peers, teachers and other influences that changed our path and our story. Some students changed it for the better but others changed because people told them too. 

Influences come in and out of our lives that we might not see all of them at once, but when we do see some, it is those that change us the most. May it be 4-H influences, school, friends, or even parents, it changes our story. Taking those influences and molding them to fight our lives is how our story is created. What is your story telling others?

Ashley Mohn, Secretary

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”

May 25, 2012

...the day I will never forget! I finally graduated high school! I ended the first step of a very long road and I can't wait to start the journey to college. This has been a very exciting month! Not only did I graduate with honors but I also was ranked 8th out of the 94 other students in my class! I was also honored with several scholarships and an amazing graduation present from my mother.

What was this graduation present?? Well....we took a four day trip to CANADA! This was only my fourth time going but we did some pretty spectacular things! Of course our first stop was in Niagara, where we had an amazing view of the horseshoe falls right outside our hotel window! We also had some fun at the Bird Kingdom where we walked around three levels of a huge building filled with different types of birds! It was amazing seeing all the different colors and species of birds all in one area! After Niagara, we traveled even more north into the beautiful city of Toronto. I haven't been to many large cities but this was definitely one that I will always remember! It was bursting with different cultures and liveliness. I really hope I get a chance to go back there sometime and just browse around. While in Toronto, we went to a Medieval Times dinner and tournament. It was so cool to watch knights on horses joust and do events that they used to do along time ago. We also had a four course meal that we had to eat with our hands. It was a little messy but totally worth it! That night was my big surprise! My mom got us tickets to the play War Horse! It was so exciting because it was my first play and I was in a different country! The play was so amazing! I don't even have good enough words to explain how amazed I was at it! This was the best graduation present I could have asked for. Thank you so much mom!

Coming up, the State Council is heading to KENTUCKY and I can't wait to start the bonding time!

Truly, 

Liz McAndrew

PA State 4-H Vice President of Operations and Events

Horsing around

Trail riding is one of my favorite things to do and my horse Ryelee enjoys going on them just as much as I do. I have looked forward to having a horse that I can trust to go out on a trail ride with since I was young. When I was little I never really had a horse that I trusted, because none of them were trained well enough and would spook but the MAJOR issue was that I didn’t know how to do anything back then because I was young and inexperienced. With the help of 4-H I have had so many amazing opportunities to be able to take my young mare to events such as shows and clinics and train with her there. To get her used to new surroundings and letting her know that it is okay to leave her friends behind at home, because she would be able to return to them later. My older sister Kim has also been a HUGE help in teaching me how to do so many things with my horse. Without her my horse and I wouldn’t know how to do half of the things we do.

My sister has gone through 4-H as a horse member and she encouraged me to be a part in it as well. The first year I took Ryelee to the 4-H show we did awful.. She was scared from being in a new environment and didn’t know what I wanted her to do, so we did poorly because she never finished a pattern. The reason for that was she stood completely still inside the show ring not knowing what to expect from it. We improved by the next year and she was a lot calmer about being at the show than the first year. From all the work we did together we were able to finish the Contest and Showmanship patterns!  That was last year, this year I have worked more with her and we are continuously improving with each day. I have already taken her to a few shows and clinics to get her ready for the show at the end of the year. The last show I went to with her we placed 3^rd in Grooming and Showmanship and Trail! She has come a long way and I am excited to see how this year goes for us. It is my last year in 4-H and I plan to make it count as best we can, but always make sure to have a great time doing it. I have been working hard with Ryelee on Showmanship and Trail because those two classes we enjoy the most. I hope to place in the top 6 at my county Roundup in these two classes. The progress is great and hopefully this year I will be going to Districts to compete towards going to States! That is my goal this year, I want to make it to Districts with Ryelee. 

I am grateful for my sister and her continuous support to make this year possible for me. For the resources that 4-H has provided for me to help me improve on my horsemanship skills. I am excited to see how the year turns out for Ryelee and me. I hope that everyone else has a great year and I wish all 4-Her's GOOD LUCK on all the shows that you are competing in, whether they will be your last or your first. Just remember to always strive to improve on what you have done. Just like the 4-H motto goes "To make the best, better!" 

Sincerely,

Danielle Knapp 

Reporter

1 in 8 Million Chance!

 My cousin, Raina Wolfe, shows cows through the 4-H program, and if it wasn't for that she wouldn't have had the amazing experience that she had on May 16th.
  After school I sometimes watch my cousins. That Thursday when I went over to babysit I was greeted by a very excited Raina. She couldn't wait to tell me about her 3 new calves. Her cow, Mizzy, had triplets! It was amazing that they all survived. From what I have learned from my uncle it is rare for all 3 triplets to survive. However, there was something even more spectacular. All 3 calves were heifers! According Holstein World this is a 1 in 8 million chance. Raina named the 3 calves Bizzy, Tizzy, and Lizzy.  I am very surprised that she can tell them apart.
    Not only did 4-H give Raina the opportunity to say that she beat all odds with her calves, but it also gave her an opportunity to work on her public speaking. Since the calves were so rare Raina had several interviews for TV and news papers. I have to say that she did really well with the interviews.

Congratulations Raina on the calves!

Sarah Bassett, President

End of school activities.

As my senior year comes to a end, I can't help but look back and see all the great years spent with friends. All the times when we played jokes on each other, and even the the times where we had to console each other. My friends and teachers will be missed ,but each step closer to the end of school means that I am one step closer to college.
This Friday I will be taking a one day journey to Canada for my JR.-SR. trip. I will be visiting the Niagara Falls. I will be riding on the Maid of the Mist ship and will also have the opportunity to go under the falls.
Then next Friday is my Jr.-Sr. Banquet. This events is similar to a public school's prom, except no dancing. After this is graduation.
I am so excited but yet sad about the end of school. I know many people with the same feeling. Congrats class of 2012.
Sincerely Council VP of Internal Affairs and Sentinel
Garrett Richardson

Honoring a beloved friend...

 On January 14, 2012, the 4-H horse community in my area lost a beloved leader, friend, and coach. Lucy Blakley, will always be remembered for her dedication and support not only to the 4-H program, but to the many 4-Hers and non 4-Hers that she has helped over the past several years. I have known Lucy for as long as I can remember. She helped me lay the foundation for all of my riding and horse handling skills. She helped me to find my first horse, Sweetie, and I know I would have never been able to succeed as much as I did, without the help of Lucy.  

In her memory, a committee of leaders from Clearfield and Jefferson counties teamed together to start the Lucy Blakley Memorial Scholarship. All monetary donations made will support the academic aspirations of a local Clearfield or Jefferson County 4-H Horse Club Member  who seeks to further their education beyond the High School Level. Recently, a friend of Lucy donated his newly foaled filly. The name of the filly, in memory of Lucy, was named Lucy and is a palomino. She was born on Friday April 13, 2012. I was asked by the owner to show Lucy in 4-H horse production this year. I feel very honored that they asked me to help train her and show her in 4-H. I've already been out to see her and started handling her and her mom. So far it has been an amazing experience to work with her and to have been given this opportunity.

4-H has given me so many opportunities, like this one, that I get to learn from and grow as a person to make myself better in the future. I have learned how to take on huge responsibly, how to be a gracious winner and even more gracious loser, hard work does pay off, and to always remember to have fun. Without 4-H, I would have never known how great of a person Lucy was and how 4-H has affected my life. 

Sincerely, 

Liz McAndrew

PA State 4-H Vice President of Operations and Events

America the Beautiful

     Every year in honor of Earth Day my 4-H club, The Backwoodsmen, takes a Sunday to clean the roadsides in the the area. So, on April 15th about 15 members and leaders split up the roads and picked up about a miles worth of roadside. Now, everybody can usually find some interesting things that people have dumped over banks. One year my brother found a cell phone, a brand new CD, and a pair of sneakers. Other years multiple soccer and basket balls have been found. One year I even found a salamander when picking up bottles. Of course there are some years that I only found cigarettes and empty soda bottles.
      So this year I was full of anticipation as to what I would find. Within 5 minutes of starting my stretch of road I found an old metal vacuum cleaner. My friend and I still have no idea as to how the vacuum cleaner ended up over the bank in the middle of no where, but there it was. So my friend decided she wanted to retrieve it. She jumped over the guard rail and started down the bank. Little did she know there was an ant hill right where she had jumped. While she was working her way down the bank I saw the ants swarming about. I called out to my friend saying, "Hey look at all these ants!" At that time she noticed all the ants crawling up her legs. luckily she didn't fall down the bank as she started hopping and slapping her legs. After she rid herself of the ants she grabbed the vacuum cleaners cord and drug it up the bank.
     We were both pretty proud of our discover of the vacuum cleaner, because we doubt that anyone will ever find another vacuum cleaner along side the road. And discoveries like this make cleaning the roadsides fun.

Wishing for Change

Senior year is a year for celebrating, focusing, making decisions, and even having fun. I would have never thought senior year is a year to change. Change in attitude, change in experiences, and change in where you are headed are all changes that occurred during my senior year.

As you begin to become more involved with situations around you, you have no idea how it will affect you. Senior year is a situation that changed my whole life. It is a time for college acceptances to begin arriving and your decisions become finalized. My search for a college started as a broad want and finished with a narrow-down to a major and college choice. With any situation, the beginning doesn’t matter; it is the ending people notice.

In the summer, I had no inclination of where I wanted to be attending college after four years of high school. Sure I had goals and aspirations, but what if the path I choose isn’t the right choice for me. If I wrote my credentials for college applications once, I wrote them at least 5 more times. As I filled in my name, I saw a clear ending of where I wanted to be. One by one, colleges began to fall off of my list and left me with one choice. That choice I realized is a change in what I will become four years from now.

My suggestion for all of you is that when you start  the college search, you might know where you will end up or why you are making the choices you did. Everything that you do know will help you later on. If you stumble, you are still moving forward, which is what matters the most. When you start a project, event or anything else, finish it with the smile you started out with. Through your decisions and choices it doesn’t matter where you are, all that matters is where you end up. Change is a positive element in life.

With something to think about,

Ashley Mohn

PA 4-H State Council Secretary 

“A year from now you will wish you had started today.” -Karen Lamb

Everyone needs a few goals

Do you know that feeling you get when you accomplish something you set out to do? It's a sweet satisfying feeling, one that comes after a great accomplishment that keeps you smiling for days. Yeah, I love that feeling. The first start to getting that satisfaction is by setting goals for yourself. Goal setting is a great thing to do, especially when you finally achieve the goal after you worked hard to get there. There is great satisfaction in knowing you are capable of completing something you wanted to do. I have set a few goals for myself already this year, some involving my 4-H horse project and another just involving something I have always wanted to do.

First I’ll tell you about my goals involving my horse project. I have worked with my mare for the last few years, and each year we have improved considerably. It is amazing to think back on how she used to be, and then look at her now as what she has become. So two of my goals that include her are –

1.  Place in the top 6 at Round up in the Grooming and Showmanship class.

2.  Place in the top 6 at Round up in the Trail class.

I think that these will be tough to get, but not impossible. It will be even more fulfilling if I do make it to districts because my sister and I were the ones to put in all of her training. There was no professional instructor for us, which is the most rewarding way to achieve my goals.

The next goal is something I have been meaning to do for the last several years, and this year I am finally going to do it! I have wanted to participate in the Apple Pie contest held at my county’s fair, but have never actually gotten to do it because I was busy preparing my market animals. It always slipped my mind until after the submissions were done. This year I intend to not forget and actually get one submitted. Perhaps I will even make it to Farm Show? But I won't get ahead of myself. That would be amazing, but for now I will just be happy with submitting my apple pie into my county contest.

What about your own goals? Do you have any set? If not you should think about some, even if they seem like they are simple ones. When you do reach them be sure to enjoy accomplishing them, because you were capable of attaining them! 

Sincerely, 

Danielle Knapp

Reporter