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Ohio 4-H Youth Development

Ohio State University Extension

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Ohio 4-H Highlights: July 2019

  1. Cloverbot Challenge

    Cloverbuds at Cloverbot Challenge

    The Ohio 4-H Cloverbot Challenge gives Cloverbuds the opportunity to work cooperatively in teams to problem-solve using STEM (science, engineering, technology and math) skills. This year’s challenge was held June 29 with the theme, “When I Grow Up.”

     Youth at Cloverbot Challenge

     

    Teams researched a topic, built a working model of their ideas and created a poster to illustrate their findings. On the day of the Challenge, more 125 Cloverbuds shared their work with families and reviewers at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. All were recognized at a closing celebration. Find more information about the 4-H Cloverbud Challenge here.

    Cloverbuds writing thank you notes to the sponsors of the event.


     

     

    Cloverbuds writing thank you notes to the sponsors of the event.

     

     

     

    Each team had the opportunity to share about their project with a reviewer.

     

     

    Each team had the opportunity to share about their project with a reviewer.

  2. LiFEsports Teaches 4-H Curriculum

    Youth at LiFEsports activities.

    LiFEsports is an Ohio State program that fosters social competence among youth through their involvement in sports, fitness, and educational activities. LiFEsports hosts an annual summer camp on campus, and this year, opened the doors to their first-ever community-based program at Beatty Community Center in Columbus, thanks to funding from the Lindy Infante Foundation, the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, Urban Strategies, Inc., and Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. Other sponsors include the ADAMH Board of Franklin County and Cardinal Health. This summer nearly 100 additional youth are being served at Beatty in LiFEsports+. Youth participating in LiFEsports activities

    Participants in LiFEsports+ at Beatty were introduced to 4-H programming with curriculum that included ChickQuest, Rockets Away and Young Engineers in Solar Energy. They learned basic art skills with Get Started in Art and experienced cooking lessons with Let’s Start Cooking, Snack Attack, Awesome Meals and Global Gourmet. Two 4-H educators from the Franklin County Extension office manage this program, along with leaders from the College of Social Work and the Department of Athletics.

     

    Youth participating in ChickQuest

     

     

    Youth participating in ChickQuest.

  3. Ohio 4-H Wins $10,000

    Lizz Share talking to the announcer about Ohio 4-H.

    The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association sponsored “Charity Night at the Races” last month at Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs racetrack in Columbus, OH. Participating organizations were matched with a horse for a special race and Ohio 4-H won $10,000! These funds will directly benefit 4-H animal sciences programming.

    According to Lizz Share, 4-H Extension Livestock Specialist, “It was a wonderful evening filled with networking and education about harness racing, while supporting Ohio charities. We enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look and having conversations about what Ohio 4-H is all about!” 

    Animal Sciences 4-H Intern Courtney Fulton cheering on our horse, Wondrous Sport. Animal Sciences 4-H Intern Courtney Fulton cheering on our horse, Wondrous Sport.

  4. Faces of Ohio 4-H

    Barbra and Howard Doster's 50th wedding anniversary.

    Each month we highlight an Ohio 4-H alum. They have amazing stories to share, from their personal experience in 4-H to how they have given back to the program. This month we have five questions for Dr. Howard Doster.

    Dr. Howard Doster is an Ohio 4-H alumnus and graduate of The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. He is a professor emeritus from Purdue University where he taught farm management. In addition, Dr. Doster was the second author on the Ohio 4-H beekeeping project and record book.

    How did you get your start in 4-H?

    My former one-room schoolteacher mom and tenant farmer dad got me into 4-H; first with a lamb in Warren County, then with a Jersey heifer in Clinton County. They also took me to 4-H Camp Clifton, where I once was selected as the Junior Camp “Spirit” and I was also a State 4-H Achievement Award winner. 

    Three Generations of state achievement award winners: Dan Doster, Indiana State Achievement Award winner, Howard Doster, Ohio State Achievement Award Winner, and Eric Glaze, Ohio State Achievement Award Winner (not pictured Nathaniel Glaze, Ohio State Achievement Award Winner).

    What did you do at Ohio State?

    I started at Ohio State in 1951. I wrote in my freshman survey class autobiography I expected to attend for one or two quarters. Thanks largely to my 4-H friends, I stayed longer – joining a fraternity, playing in the marching band, walking-on in baseball and basketball, leading the Baptist-Disciple Student Fellowship, the Ag Economics Club, and the All-Ag Council.  When I graduated in 1955, I was one of two finalists for Outstanding Agricultural Senior. In 1957, I started an MS in farm management at Ohio State and received my PhD in 1968.

    How did your 4-H involvement continue as an adult?

    We moved to West Lafayette, Indiana where I took a position as assistant professor at Purdue, helping start the Purdue Top Farmer Crop Workshop. All four of our kids were 10-year 4-H members. My wife Barbara and I started a county 4-H Entrepreneurship Club and the lessons from this club were included in a book I co-authored, entitled “The Creative Young Entrepreneur.”

    Haven’t you helped Ohio 4-H’ers, too?

    After my two Ohio grandsons could not continue their bee project because the manual was discontinued, I became the second author of a new Ohio 4-H bee book.  4-H beekeeping project bookBoth of those grandsons excelled in Ohio 4-H by winning six state fair clocks and both were Ohio State 4-H Achievement Award winners. 

    What’s next for you?

    Last September, Barbara and I started “Corn-Belt Top Farmers, Inc,” a non-profit, as “a Farmer-Directed Effort to Revitalize Land Grants, and Ourselves.”  Farmers are encouraged to gift money to Land Grant faculty/staff to do what they have a comparative advantage doing – soil site-specific crop research and management education.  And we’re ready to provide a clock for state fair winners when someone starts a new Ohio 4-H farm management project! When A.B. Graham started what became the first Ohio 4-H club, he created a corn club for high school youth, and their parents learned along with them.  I think parents will learn as they help their kids in a 4-H Farm Management Club. What fun!

     

    A few photos of special 4-H memories...Howard's daughter, Anne, planting strawberries.Howard preparing the field to plant 4-H strawberries

  5. Calendar of Events

    Clock trophies and Outstanding of the Day awards.

    July 24 – August 4 Ohio State Fair (Columbus) – Each day in the Lausche Youth Center, 4-H’ers from around the state compete for Outstanding of the Day awards and the infamous clock trophy. Come watch these amazing 4-H members show off their project work each day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    August 8 Whiz Bang Science Show (Wooster) Held at John Streeter Garden Amphitheater at Secrest Arboretum on Wooster campus from 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Free and open to the public.  Contact Gwen Zimmerly at 330-263-3761 or zimmerly.30@osu.edu for more information.

    August 14 Tree Walk (Wooster) – Held at Secrest Arboretum on Wooster Campus from 1 to 2 p.m. Free and open to the public. Check out here for more information.