4-H Beef to Host Preview Show!

3542 Turner Road

Cornell University

Jamestown, New York 14701

Cooperative Extension

Chautauqua County

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Emily Kidd

664-9502, x212

 

4-H Beef Project to Host Preview Show!

4-H Youth will practice at Beef Classic Show at County Fairgrounds.

 

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (May 10, 2013) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension 
Chautauqua County’s 4-H youth in the Beef Project have been gaining 
knowledge and raising animals since November in preparation for this 
year’s County Fair. On May 11th youth will have the opportunity to 
practice at a preview show held at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds 
in Dunkirk, NY.

The Chautauqua County Beef Classic show opportunity gives 
participants a chance to do a “trial run” with their animal in a show
 arena situation. Animals can be unpredictable, and steers in 
particular are over 10 times the weight of their handlers. 
Participants in this preview show will have the chance to see 
how their animal might react to the show arena atmosphere, 
including interaction with other animals, hearing voices on 
the loudspeakers, having people all around and having a judge 
examine the animal. 

Professional Beef Judge, Becky Snyder has been contracted as a judge
 for the 2013 Beef Classic Show and will provide the youth with 
interaction, critique and information that they can incorporate 
into their daily routines as they continue to raise their steers 
for the 2013 Chautauqua County Fair.

This mock show is hosted by the 4-H Beef Advisory Committee. 
They expect over 25 participants to exhibit steers, and heifers 
involved in the breeding program. This event is open to the public.
For more information about the 4-H Beef Program or to find out how
you can become involved in Chautauqua County 4-H, call the 4-H 
Office at 716-664-9502 Ext. 214.

Conservation Education

3542 Turner Road

Cornell University                                                                   Jamestown, New York 14701

Cooperative Extension

Chautauqua County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Emily Kidd

664-9502, x212

 

CONSERVATION EDUCATION MARKS ITS 47^th YEAR

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Program to conduct Conservation Field Days

 

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (May 10, 2013) — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Program is proud to announce the 47^th Annual Conservation Fields Days Event, which will be held on Wednesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. at Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center in Bemus Point, NY. Remembered by many as one of the greatest fifth grade field trips in the county, Conservation Field Days provides Chautauqua County youth an opportunity to learn about environmental conservation issues “beyond classroom walls.” Conservation Field Days began in 1966 under the inspiration of James Gould. Mr. Gould was the Cornell Cooperative Extension Director that organized and implemented the very first Conservation Field Days.

 

Conservation Field Days invites all Chautauqua County fifth grade students to participate in seven sessions concerning conservation. This year 4-H is excited to have returning subject matter experts whom will be teaching lessons related to conservation and the environment. 4-H is also seeking new instructors to teach engaging and interactive 20 minute presentations that relate to conservation. Some current topics include trapping, fishing, recycling, beekeeping, soil and water conservation, grapes, wild flowers, bugs, rabies, baby animals and many more. Conservation Field Days provides a unique opportunity for adults to share their passion, knowledge, and talents with Chautauqua County students.

 

Conservation Field Days is just one of many programs available through the Chautauqua County 4-H Youth Development. Program activities and events are designed to provide children with quality youth development opportunities that otherwise may not be available or accessible. Cornell Cooperative Extension development programs create a supportive learning environment in which diverse youth and adults reach their fullest potential as capable, competent, and caring citizens.

 

Through 4-H programs youth experience opportunities of positive youth development including independence, belonging, generosity, and mastery. Conservation Field Day attendees are encouraged to interact with colleagues and adult instructors in learning about our environment and conservation. Youth may be asked by instructors to solve problems, work through a scenario, and/or observe natural occurrences. Youth are encouraged to reflect on their experiences at Conservation Field Days through a county-wide essay contest sponsored in conjunction with Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District.

2013 Animal Crackers: Walk, Trot & Hop to It!

May 7, 2013,  D. Palmer

Held on Saturday, May 4th, the 23^rd annual educational spring outreach event, affectionately known as “Animal Crackers” hosted by the Department of Animal Science, exceeded capacity in Morrison Hall with over 300 participants travelling from 33 different counties in New York State.  The workshop series was once again organized by a planning committee of campus and county based Cooperative Extension 4-H Educators in cooperation with Department of Animal Science staff and was designed to encourage youth to engage in science themes related to animals.

From healthcare, nutrition and disease prevention to genetics, animal behavior and safe handling topics, Animal Crackers addresses the current national 4-H mission mandate of “growing one million new scientists”.   This year, with the help of nearly 50 volunteers, 14 different workshop experiences were offered to beginner 4-H’ers who had an interest in horses and rabbits.  Guests were treated to opening remarks by Dr. Patricia Johnson, newly appointed Animal Science Department Chair.  Dr. Johnson encouraged attendees to think about the importance of science in every-day things and inspired students to think about Cornell in their future, especially if they had a keen interest in science.  Nancy Schaff, NYS 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) specialist, also welcomed participants to campus and reminded the audience of the many careers and opportunities 4-H offers youth.

Nancy Schaff, NYS 4-H STEM Specialist during her welcoming remarks

Keynote speaker, Kelsey Keathly, a fellow New York 4-H’er and active 4-H horse project national event representative, encouraged youth to stay involved and take advantage of state and national experiences.  Kelsey enthusiastically reminded the audience that interest is important, yet “when you are committed to doing something, you accept no excuses, only results.” The primary objectives of the 4-H youth animal science program are to: 1) Increase understanding of and engage youth in critical thinking about animal biology concepts, 2) Increase understanding of safe, ethical, responsible and sustainable ways to raise and manage domestic animals, and 3) Increase career awareness and access to educational opportunities needed to prepare for animal related careers in adulthood.

For more than two decades, Animal Crackers has been credited by 4-H’ers as their very first step onto a college campus which provided motivation and encouragement to continue exploring opportunities to learn more. Many thanks go out to all the volunteers from Cornell University, Cooperative Extension and the community.  In addition, the 2013 event would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors including the NYS 4-H Foundation Willman Fund and Wegmans Food Market of Ithaca.  To learn more about future opportunities to connect kids to Cornell, visit Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development website  http://nys4h.cce.cornell.edu/Pages/default.aspx  or Cornell’s Department of Animal Science http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/4H/crackers/index.html

Columbia-Greene 4-H’er a Member of National Leadership Team

Suzanne Le Menestrel, National Program Leader, Youth Development Research
4-H National Headquarters, Division of Youth & 4-H
Institute of Youth, Family & Community, NIFA, USDA and Rachel at the 2013 National 4-H Conference

Rachel, an eight-year 4-H member from Chatham, NY, was selected to represent 4-H youth on two National 4-H Leadership teams that met in April 2013 in Washington, DC. Due to her involvement in her local Choose Health Action Teen program and these national opportunities, Rachel has chosen as her career goal to work at the CDC; conducting research related to communicable diseases.

Rachel is a member of the National 4-H Healthy Living Mission Mandate Planning Team. She joins with four teens and local 4-H staff from across the United States as well as representatives from National 4-H Headquarters. Rachel’s participation involves sharing her thoughts and ideas related to growing the goals of the 4-H Healthy Living Mission Mandate among youth across the United States. During her most recent meeting the team worked to create goals for the next five years, evaluate progress made and determine a plan to reach their goals.

Rachel is also a member of the National 4-H Conference leadership team along with Linda Tripp, Issue Leader for 4-H Youth Development in Columbia and Greene Counties. The leadership team consisted of four other youth-adult partnerships from across the US as well as several National 4-H Headquarters staff. They planned and facilitated the 88th National 4-H Conference. This five-day conference, centered in Washington, DC, brought together over 250 4-H teen leaders and their chaperones to develop the next generation of our country’s leaders.

The purpose of this conference is to engage 4-H youth in personal development experiences, create opportunities for youth voice about issues central to partnering federal agencies, and to empower 4-H youth to create positive social change in their communities.
The National 4-H Conference is sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Agriculture Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, kicked off the conference.

“For almost 100 years, USDA and 4-H have partnered to produce some of our nation’s best and brightest, including farmers and ranchers who have supported the American economy and put food on our tables,” Vilsack said. “You all are tomorrow’s leaders. We need you to think big, innovate and help tackle the important challenges standing between us”
Rachel felt that, “Being on the National 4-H Conference leadership team was an amazing opportunity, I feel honored to have been a part of it”.

Since the first conference in 1927, the National 4-H Conference, known as the “Secretary’s Conference,” continues to be USDA’s premier forum to engage youth in developing recommendatons for the 4-H Youth Development Program.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties provides equal program and employment opportunities. 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization, serving more than 6.5 million young people across America. 4-H is the youth development program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. To find out more about our programs contact us at 518-828-3346 or columbiagreene@cornell.edu or visit http://www.cce.columbiagreene.org.

CITIZEN U Teen Leaders Attend the Cornell Model UN Conference (CMUNC)

CITIZEN U Monroe County Teen Leaders at the 2013 CMUNC, State Theatre

Aziza, Jaynell, Mariamo, Mattu, and Rukia are each CITIZEN U teen leaders in Monroe County. They have been preparing for months now for the Cornell Model UN Conference (CMUNC). They worked alongside Rochester Institute of Technology undergraduates and were advised during the CMUNC opening to follow their “day dreams” by keynote speaker Tom Fox; Vice President for Leadership and Innovation at the Partnership for Public Service.

They did just that and came to the 2013 CMUNC excited about their preparation, having learned a lot about Somalia, and this opportunity was riddled with lots of hard work. Aziza shared “It was exciting – it’s kind of new and different and this type of preparation was new to me; but I was excited the whole way.”

Mariamo also shared that [she] “learned a lot about Somalia that she would not have learned otherwise nor would she have found as much time as she did.”

This opportunity was very exciting for the team and even more exciting for Rukia as her family is from Somalia and so she was learning about her very rich history!

Congratulations to the CITIZEN U Monroe County teen leaders for their hard work at the 2013 CMUNC.

Spring Break Keeps Local Kids Wired

Also available at: http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20130405/NEWS01/304050065/Robotics-Camp-spring-break-keeps-local-kids-wired?nclick_check=1

From a visit to the da Vinci® Robotic Surgery Program at Lourdes Hospital to see how surgeons use state-of-the-art robotics to guide less invasive surgery and laparoscopy–to a demonstration at the Binghamton YMCA by the Broome County Water Rescue and Dive Team to see how they use underwater robots to support police and emergency response team in water rescues and investigations, Broome County’s 4-H Robotics Camp had it all! Congratulations to Kelly Adams, 4-H Program Educator/4-H Tech Wizards Coordinator for all her hard work in organizing this terrific “spring break” camp.

4-H Dairy Members Participate in Dairy Quiz Bowl

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Emily Kidd
664-9502, x212

4-H DAIRY MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN DAIRY QUIZ BOWL

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (March 18, 2013) — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County Congratulations to the Chautauqua County Dairy Bowl team members who recently participated in the 2013 Western District 4-H Quiz Bowl Contest held in Wyoming County.

A total of 81 youth representing 21 teams from Allegany, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, and Wyoming counties completed in this event that tests 4-H youth on their knowledge of the dairy industry.

Chautauqua County 4-H members placed as follows:

Senior Team 1 – 8th Place Team
Ben – 18th (Tie)
Trenton – 27th
Andrew – 10th
Clarke –18th (Tie)

Senior Team 2 – 7th Place Team
Hewitt – 11th
Justin – 12th
Kayla – 22nd

Junior Team 1 – 7th Place Team
Bobby – 4th
Chance – 25th
Zachary – 31st (Tie)

Junior Team 2 – 6th Place Team
Katelyn – 11th
Heidi – 7th
Joyce – 31st (Tie)
Cheyanne – 18th d

Novice Team – 3rd Place Team
Lynn – 2nd (Tie)
Miranda – 11th
Sophia – 6th
Lily – 19th

Thanks to Sarah and Jenny for coaching this year’s teams and to all of the parents for their help at dairy bowl practices!

For more information about the 4-H Program or to find out how you can become involved in Chautauqua County 4-H, call the 4-H Office at 716-664-9502 Ext. 214.Cornell Cooperative Extension provides Chautauqua County residents low-cost, high-quality, and research-based programs in agriculture, the environment, youth development and human services.

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