Almost There!

Hello Everyone,

I feel like I just wrote my last blog about four days ago, but its been four weeks! I can't believe that school is so close to being over. With everything that is going on in school and with 4-H in my county, I feel like my head is constantly spinning with hundreds of things to do. Does anyone else feel like this or am I going crazy?! I am the head of prom committee and prom is coming up so very quickly, it is this weekend actually! I have spent that last two days straight setting up and I'm going to go crazy. Our theme this year is "A Walk on the Wild Side." It is a jungle theme so I think that it will be exciting! I can't wait but I think that I will be relieved when it is all over.

Another thing that is coming up very soon is my school's blood drive, which I am in charge of. It is one of the greatest things though, you get to save people's lives and inspire other people to do the same thing. It is one of the greatest feelings in the world to know that you are actually making a difference. I encourage anyone that is over the age of 16 and that is able, to donate blood! It is such an amazing thing to do!

And sad to say, track season is almost over. But it isn't necessarily a bad thing because that means that summer and cross country are both on the way! I think that EVERYONE is ready for summer. Counting down the very few days of school that are left, and many people are getting ready to head to college in the fall or even in some cases, this summer. I will miss many of my friends but I know that they are all going to do amazing things. I can't wait to go to track states with my team and just have a good time at the end of the year. I hope that everyone finishes out school on a happy and positive note!

Until later,
Dawn Craft- 2012-2013 Pennsylvania State 4-H Council Vice President of Operations

Somos Los PP's

Hello Everyone!

So back in January, I wrote about how crazy of a month it seemed to be.  Well, I had no idea that April would be even crazier!  In April, I came down with a bad case of “Green Fever”!  Now don’t you fret, and don’t you worry, “Green Fever” is a GOOD thing!  From the 2013 National 4-H Conference, to the Northwest Pennsylvania 4-H Teen Leadership Retreat & Camp Counselor Training, to Cambria County Officer Training, to Delaware Valley College’s A Days, my April was packed full of 4-H. 

Souvenirs from the
2013 National 4-H Conference

 Out of all of the events I attended in April, I cannot stress how powerful my experience was at the 2013 National 4-H Conference.  So what’s with my title “Somos Los PP’s”?  Well, in Spanish, it is translated to “We are the PP’s”.  Still confused?  Have no worries, I’ll explain what this is all about.

At the 2013 National 4-H Conference, two completely different delegations united together to become a family and share an indescribable bond.  The two groups joined forces for an unforgettable experience and time at the 2013 National 4-H Conference.  The delegation from Puerto Rico and the delegation from Pennsylvania teamed up throughout the entire week.  Sharing laughs, memories, and enjoying each other’s company, there wasn’t a dry eye whenever the two delegations parted ways at the end of the week.

PA Delegation Being Crazy!

Since it was the unification of Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania, the joke between the delegations was that we were “The PP’s”!  Although we are separated by miles and miles, the family-like bond we formed at the 2013 National 4-H Conference will be unchanged.  I know that we will reunite once again.  Until we do so, the phone calls, the video chats, and texts will keep us in contact with one another.  There was definitely something special that happened at the 2013 National 4-H Conference that bought Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico together.

Pennsylvania & Puerto Rico!

With that being said, go out and make the most of your 4-H experience.  Apply for the 2014 National 4-H Conference!  Don’t be afraid to dive right into all that 4-H has to offer.  You’ll make memories that will last a lifetime and friendships that don’t fade with time.  So don’t be afraid to get “Green Fever” and let your passion for 4-H show!

Until later,

Cassidy Baker

2012/2013 PA 4-H State Council President

"Though miles may lie between us,

we are never far apart,

for friendship doesn't count miles,

it's measured by the heart"

Putting Our Hands To Larger Service

                4-Hers everywhere know the 4-H pledge by heart. It’s an important thing to know, but it’s even more important to live by. The pledge tells us to do four things, pledge our heads to clearer thinking, our hearts to greater loyalty, our hands to larger service, and our health to better living.

                They’re all good things to do, but one in particular part has been on my mind recently. My county’s Teen Council club is putting their hands to larger service by participating in the local Relay for Life in a few weeks. This Relay for Life is an event that raises money and awareness about cancer and save lives of people who are affected by it.

                I am personally excited to be a part of this, as it is a cause that is important to me. One of the most influential people in my life passed away almost two years ago from cancer. My grandfather was always my biggest role model. He was the most kind hearted, hardworking, and entertaining person I have ever met. No matter where he went, someone knew him, or he would find someone new to talk to. Watching his struggle is part of the reason that I decided to pursue a career in pharmaceutical research. One day, I would like to be a part of developing or improving some type of medication that will help ease the suffering of cancer patients. 

  

              Recently, I have had another person who is close to me diagnosed with cancer, my aunt Karen. Luckily, she has done well through her treatment, and things are starting to look better for her.

                My inspiration for putting my hands to larger service may be different than yours.  However,   we should all find a cause that is important to us and support it to the best of our ability. There are so many different causes that could use the service of hardworking 4-H members. No matter what our motivation is, we are all working toward a common goal; to make the best better!

Traveling the state

One of the things that I do a lot these days is traveling.  It's funny how I am place geographically in PA that I can be in many other places around the US and even Canada. I mean really 45 minuets east I'll be in New York, 45 minuets west I'll be in Ohio, and 45 minuets north I'll be in Lake Erie.  It may seem weird to be someone to live somewhere that if you go the wrong way you might be in a different state within a short time, but for me the opposite is true.

For the same Time it takes me to go Pittsburgh, PA I could be in Cleveland, OH or even Buffalo, NY.  Instead of being at Penn State I could be at Ohio State or even Syracuse for the same time, not that I would want to be.   In less time then going to these university I could visit the Niagara Falls, ether US or Canada side.  A trip to Harrisburg, I've made that trip a few times, but I could be in Cincinnati, OH and use the same amount of fuel.  If I wanted to go to Philadelphia I might think to go to New York City for close to the same time.  For all the diffident places I can be I do stay in this state a lot.

One thing is for sure, I do like to travel the state and seeing the great things on the road. From the Rivers in Pittsburgh, to the mountains in central Pennsylvania, its all a great sight.  Even though I don't have to be in PA and that I could be in many other places, I can't find it in me to be in another state.  Pennsylvania is in my blood and I don't think it will leave me.



Sincerely,
VP of Internal Affairs & Sentinel
John Hess Jr.

What lies ahead...

The end of the school year is near and there's a lot going on!  Spring soccer had just started, our first game being the same day as my prom, SAT, and livestock weigh-in, this weekend!!  What a day that will be!
We also had a very successful Earth Day themed 4-H kickoff in my county with many of the attendees being either first year members or newly looking into the 4-H program.  What an experience for everyone to be there and see a small part of the park with us, learning about 4-H and why the environment is important.  Certainly a day to remember!
Camp will be starting soon and I'm excited to be working with all of my first year counselors and our many campers this summer!  I'll miss those counselors who won't be coming back greatly, but I know they have important stuff ahead of them and I'm proud of them and they work they've done.  I'm hoping the new counselors will be doing their best because they certainly do well in their training!
Alongside 4-H camp this summer, I've gotten a scholarship to attend an acting workshop for a week in June!  I'm very excited to be going to this camp because from what I've heard, it's extremely useful!  Hopefully I can see some of the friends I made from the recent play I was in and make some new ones during that week!

Anyone heard of Pseudonymous Bosch, the author of a series called the Secret Series?  I'm on the way to challenging the original way of doing an author research paper by researching the author Pseudonymous Bosch, the pen name used as the author of the Secret Series!  But what better way to keep his fans intrigued in his mystery novels by making himself a mystery?  Truly a mystery master, but I'm hoping that with what evidence I have, I'll be able to twist the original author research paper into a very fun and challenging research project to even entertain myself!  I am quite persistent in my research!

"Not all novelists are power-hungry madman.  Some are power-hungry madwomen."
~Pseudonymous Bosch, The Name of This Book is Secret

4-H Speak Out Night

4-H Speak Out Night

Did you know that 74% of people have a fear of public speaking?  In fact, public speaking or Glossophobia is the number one fear among people, but for a small group of people who gathered from a tri-county area including Dauphin, Perry, and Cumberland counties, 4-H’ers had a chance to conquer that fear! 

Participants could choose their poison – prepared speeches, demonstrations, impromptu speeches, radio spot, pledge presentations, and PowerPoint presentations.  I personally decided to do a demonstration on back-yard gardening.  My younger sister Madison decided to throw her hat into the ring with a demonstration on rabbit showmanship.  We watched a variety of speeches on varying topics including the Civil War, Triple Crown winning horses, Man’s Best Friend – the dog, Pink Slime, GMO’s, Solar Power, and more.  One by one, each participant took the floor, collected their nerves, and delivered their speech.  The world didn’t end and they all were awarded a blue merit for their participation.

It just went to show how 4-H offers so much to so many.  It offers life skills beyond measure.  It isn’t just about the project or the blue ribbon they are receiving, it’s about much more than that.  Its helping them prepare for the future, giving them that confidence to rise above the fear, and providing them with a tool that over 74% of the population is lacking; pretty impressive if you ask me!

Dauphin County Participants

 

The curtains fall, but it's not over!

Finally, after a rather hectic month, our well rehearsed play brought in a great audience, the ranch is getting back to it's accustomed time, school is going well, and further plans are being made!  Soon, our 4-H kickoff with an Earth Day theme will be around and I expect a lot of fun and people interested in the 4-H program as we show off what we've got!  The combined help of the Teen Club and any willing in our county will be sure to have the greatest county kick-off leaving new shoes in my path and in those tracks of other club members I've grown to see as family as many of us age this and next year, and we'll be sure to leave with a blast!
But for now, we're focusing on what's just ahead!  Barbecues, Earth Day, fair, and Achievement Days!!  I'm looking forward to the rest of this spring and summer as 4-H, sports, and prom come around the corner!

As a very important person once said to me, "One foot up, one foot down!"

Have an awesome spring~

Stephanie McFall

Thoroughly Modern…Student Director?

This past winter, aside from State Leadership Conference, Capital Days, and local 4-H clubs and events I dedicated time to, I spent many evenings at my high school as a student director of the musical, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Filled with talented leads, scary stenographers, intense tap numbers, possible white slavery, crazy Chinese people, speakeasies, attractive male singing, and elegant jazz singers, the production of Millie was quite exhilarating.

Keeping with my eventful senior year, becoming a student director was yet another new position that I found myself in this year. Though I was in two musicals when I was in junior high school, high school level musicals are naturally a much higher caliber of production. With shows that are compared to the quality of a Broadway musical, it is safe to say that my high school is well known for their musicals. Hence, becoming a student director taught me a great deal about musical theater.

Being a student director simply meant I was there to be the right hand woman when our director needed something done or when there were stage directions, blocking, and other notes to be made. When show week rolled around, I was back stage helping the costume moms with the final alterations. It was a great feeling knowing that I was putting to use the sewing skills 4-H taught me when I sewed hem after hem after hem! Of course a show is not compete without numerous quick costume changes backstage and who better to help the actresses out than a fellow cast mate? Prior to the shows, it was a hoot trying to help the boys put on their makeup to make them pop on stage. I even got to experiment with my own ridiculous stage makeup because I had a special cameo role in the last scene being the new girl in town or the “new Millie.”  

With the last four performances at my high school being extremely popular shows such as Beauty and the Beast (2007), Les Miserables (2008), West Side Story (2010) and Phantom of the Opera (2011), the cast members and I found it difficult to market the musical to the community and our class mates. Many people questioned how those performances would be topped with a musical that nearly no one had heard of. Our director set a goal for us: to encourage our classmates to attend and our support hard work. He felt that only the older members of the community and veterans of BASH musical productions were patronizing the musicals yearly and he wanted to see younger generations supporting the productions. I can confidently say that we achieved that goal because we had great crowds filled with supportive fellow classmates and friends. Word got out that our show was thoroughly impressive and each night the auditorium got progressively fuller. By our fourth and final performance, the auditorium was nearly sold out!

I am grateful I had the opportunity to share my time and talents with my school musical and that I was a part of something that is so huge in my school and community. I had a blast getting to know a talented cast and a remarkable director in the four short months the show came together. The excitement of show week and the bonding with my fellow cast mates are moments I live for and I will cherish the unforgettable experience I had with Boyertown High School’s production of, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

Sincerely,

Cecilia Stuetz

Pennsylvania State 4-H Council Secretary 

"Individual commitment to a group effort, that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." - Vince Lombardi

Ice Cream at the Capitol Building

March has been an exciting month for 4-H.  One of the interesting events I got to attend was the Extension Capitol Day. 

 

I arrived with members of my county delegation which were all part of the Extension Agency.  I got the chance to talk to several Senators and Representatives about the importance of the Extension Program.  I believe it was good for many to recognize the impact the extension agency has on youth.  All of the 4-H Programs that Pennsylvania has, are created through the Extension Research, so trying to get support for the agency that helps run 4-H was a worthwhile experience. 

After talking with several senators and representatives I had the exciting opportunity of scoping ice cream.  That’s right scooping ice cream, who said being a state officer was all about being serious.  I had the pleasure of dishing out mint chocolatechip with fellow state officer Tyler Shaw and officer alumni Liz McAndrew.  We served ice cream to Senators, Representatives, and to their Aids.  At events like these, getting a chance to have some good laughs after a long day of advocacy is just what a youth needs.  I also learned something that day:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leadership is also scooping ice cream! 

 

George Dietrich, Historian and Reporter

 

 

 

Where did the School Year Go?

Hello everyone,

I don't know if anyone feels the same way I do, but I can't believe that the school year is almost over! For some of us this is an amazing accomplishment because you finally get to graduate and it's the start of a new beginning; but for some of us, we are not yet able to close the book of high school. Even though I am only a junior in high school, I am already looking into the future and checking out colleges and universities. Everyone always says to not wish time to go any faster because someday you'll want the lost time back and I am now starting to believe it. I just turned 17 this month and I feel like I haven't been greatful enough for some of the amazing things and oppurtunities in my life. Sometimes, I think that everyone just rushes around to much with everything that is going on and they don't focus enough on what really matters and what is really important. Even though I truly do believe that time flies when you're having fun, I think that it is better to slow down sometimes and enjoy the little things.

I myself need to focus more on this as well. Sometimes I feel like I am involved in way too many things, even though I like to keep myself busy. Being so involved sometimes causes me to miss minor things but I get to enjoy even better things instead. I am the head of the prom and graduation committees at my school at I cannot believe how fast these events are happening. I feel like everytime we plan something that we're not going to have enough time to get it accomplished, but like always, it will all work out.

I also cannot believe that we only have one more BIG statewide council event left together. So far it has been one of the greatest experiences that I've ever had and I know that the end will only be better! I have come to have another family known as the 2012-2013 PS4-HC. I will forever hold amazing memories with the other seven council members and my wonderful advisors.

I can't wait for the end of the school year and for State Achievement Days!! I hope that everyone plans to be there and I hope that everyone enjoyed Capital Days!

Until next time,
Dawn Craft
2012-2013 Pennsylvania State 4-H Counicl; Vice President of Operations

Never a Dull Moment!

This weekend, my dad asked me if I’d help him with a job. Aside from his actual work, he hauls animals or equipment for others.  Normally, when he asks me to go, we take a horse to a different barn.

Well, this trip was definitely not a normal delivery! We were to pick up a miniature donkey from an Amish farm, and take it to a birthday party at a restaurant in the city of Boardman, Ohio. It seemed like an interesting way to spend our Saturday evening, so we grabbed an oversized party hat and went on our way.

We took the horse trailer to go pick up the donkey. After we got him loaded and headed toward the restaurant, my dad said, “Oh man! We don’t know his name!” We laughed and I started suggesting names; Norman? Ralphie? Francis? After a while, we decided to call him Franklin.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I helped my dad groom Franklin and put the party hat on him. We unloaded him from the trailer and stood with him in the parking lot. Shortly, the people attending the party made their way out to see him. They all loved Franklin and had pictures taken with him. He got a lot of attention and even a few kisses! There was an abundance of laughter and, because I was holding him, I was asked many questions about him and donkeys in general. This was my first time handling a donkey. They may be similar to horses, but I don’t know much about donkeys. Despite not knowing much about the animal, I had a lot of fun. It was great to be a part of making people laugh.

Upon returning our new friend Franklin, my dad asked his owner what the donkey’s name was. His reply was, “He doesn’t really have one.”  When I told them that I had named him Franklin for the night, they decided that it would stick with him.

It was a nice evening of light-hearted fun, and I even got to name a donkey!

Vestibular Therapy Anyone?

Hello Everyone!

I’d like to start my blog by saying that I absolutely LOVE spring!  Spring is definitely my favorite season and I am so excited that spring has finally arrived!  With spring, people often talk about “spring cleaning” and with cleaning, comes change. 

During spring, the birds begin to chirp again, the fresh scent of new vegetation is apparent, the earth gives birth to new life, and everything seems to be merry in the world… well, for the most part.

Many things have changed in my life recently as I have been doing some “self spring cleaning”.  Have you ever heard of Vestibular Therapy?  No?  Yeah, I hadn’t either.  The first time I heard of Vestibular Therapy was not until my concussion specialist suggested that I undergo this type of therapy.  Since I have still been dealing with side effects from the concussion I received from my automobile accident way back in January, she thought that this would be a good idea.

So what exactly is this so-called “Vestibular Therapy”?  Well, it’s actually pretty neat.  Strangely enough, I have problems telling my brain to turn my head from left to right and I also have problems moving my head up and down.  My doctor explained that sometimes whenever the head is traumatically shaken, certain parts of the brain mess things up and systems get weaken.  For me, Vestibular Therapy is helping me to “get out of the fog” because sometimes I’m processing information much slower than my norm.    It is also helping me to increase my reaction time and to more normally move my head.  My problem is that I – to put in simple words – “don’t feel right” and Vestibular Therapy is helping me out tremendously.

For this exercise, 
I look at each letter
in a clockwise rotation 
and then, in a counterclockwise rotation.

So, once a week, I meet up with my doctor for an hour-long appointment.  During my appointments, the doctor asks me routine questions like “how are you doing” and “how have your headaches been on a scale from 1-10”.  After the cliché, I start doing my “exercises”.  Now, whenever I say “exercises” it’s not the typical treadmill or weightlifting, what I am doing are brain exercises.  One exercise includes walking while turning my head from left to right and another includes shaking my head while trying to maintain a clear imagine of the word “OK”.  Although these exercises might sound strange and fairly easy, for me, they are a huge help and are actually difficult.  It’s not until you’ve been

For this exercise, I first look at the
blue bead, then green, then purple,
and then I repeat the entire process.

knocked down that you can truly appreciate whenever you’re in good health.

With that being said, I hope you learned something new and appreciate your good health!  You never know whenever it might be taken away from you…  Although I’m still not 100% better, 4‑H has been my backbone.  I really appreciate all the support from my council members, 4-H friends, leaders, advisors, etc.  Also, I had an absolutely fantastic time at the 2013 PA 4-H State Capital Days!  I also had the opportunity to counsel at an “Inbetweeners Retreat” and share the opportunities 4-H has to offer at all age levels.  4-H is such a great program and I hope all of you reading this blog stay involved.  I cannot stress how great 4-H truly is.  In fact, one week from day I’ll be at the 2013 National 4-H Conference with six other delegates from Pennsylvania including PA 4-H State Council Members Cecilia and George!  I am too excited to express my words for joy!  Well, that’s all I have for now.

Until later,

Cassidy Baker

2012/2013 PA 4-H State Council President

"I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance.  It overcomes almost everything, even nature."

John D. Rockefeller.