Wednesday, October 1, 2014

October Comments for a Cause - Iowa 4-H Foundation

Temperatures are cooling and harvest has started.  Sounds like it is October 1st to me and time to talk Comments for a Cause!  In the month of September I had a total of 41 comments, equaling a $20.50 donation to the Hampton Public Library.

In the month of October I'm excited to be donating $0.50 for every comment to the Iowa 4-H Foundation.  I'm also planning on sharing more about 4-H next week during National 4-H Week (October 5-11) through my 31 Days from a Tractor Seat series.


I was involved in 4-H as a youth and I credit this activity for helping me explore my interests and ultimately helped me choose the major of agricultural communications for college.  Because 4-H gave me so much, I wanted to give back immediately.  I began judging 4-H projects and contest at the age of 19 and have volunteered with my county 4-H program for the past six years.  For my local county Extension program I am the Communications Project Leader, chaperon conferences, help during the County Fair, serve on the Extension Council Nominating Committee, and have been a 4-H Club Leader.

And I'm excited to give back one more way this month, by highlighting 4-H as my Comments for a Cause organization.  Help me give back by commenting all month long.  Were you in 4-H?  What does 4-H mean to you?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

58 comments:

  1. 11 year member of the Jr. Bees 4-H Club. Served three years on the State 4-H Council. Served on the State 4-H Foundation as a youth trustee. Now a mama of 4-H'ers and a Clover Kid Leader. 4-H gave me more than I probably realize and now I am giving back. The "clover" is complete!
    Laurie - Country Link

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    1. I love it - the "clover" is complete! I was on the State 4-H Council too and loved it! Happy National 4-H Week early to you Laurie!

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  2. Thanks Val!! State Council was one of my very favorite times in 4-H. Many friends that I still stay in contact with!

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    1. Same here! One of my closest friends today, I met while we served on the State 4-H Council together and my husband had one of my former State 4-H Council-mates as a groomsman in our wedding. 4-H is great for connections and networking!

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  3. I only knew of 4-H growing up by walking through the livestock barns at the state fair. Since moving here, I'm learning a lot about all of the cool things 4-H does so of course I'm excited they are your Oct. recipient:)

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    1. 4-H is for everyone! The best "things" I got most from 4-H were actually leadership, citizenship and communication skills, not livestock showing skills.

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  4. 4-H is for everyone! I have seen first hand the positive impact it has on youth - communication skills, leadership skills.. the list goes on!

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  5. I saw some excellent projects at the state fair this year. These kids really show a lot of pride in what they are doing!

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    1. I judge at several area county fair and I never leave a county fair not impressed by today's youth.

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  6. 4H helped to prepare me for my work career in the food industry.

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    1. That is great to hear! I've always said that 4-H led me to the field that I went into too.

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  7. To Make the Best BetterOctober 3, 2014 at 9:29 AM

    4-H is such a wonderful experience. I am the proud mom to 5 4-Hers. 4-H has a tremendous impact on youth today teaching them responsibility and confidence. 4-H also offers so many wonderful opportunities to explore and grow in any field that interests you - photography, clothing, communications, rabbits, poultry, whatever you can imagine.

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    1. 4-H has something for everyone. I really like the new "specialty" clubs in our county like Lego League, Shooting Sports, Cooking Club, etc.

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  8. I remember you as a member of the State 4-H Council while I served as the Executive Director of the Iowa 4-H Foundation. It is a wonderful opportunity to grow in leadership and citizenship skills. One skill we don't often talk about is philanthropy. Many 4-H'ers go to work for non-profits and continue to give of volunteer service. The Exeuctive Director's of the Minnesota and Illinois 4-H Foundations were both Iowa 4-H'ers.

    I was a Benton County 4-H'er who met a Wright County 4-H'er at the Iowa State Fair. We have been married 50 years. Our three sons all ended up with careers as a result of their 4-H projects. Seven of our nine grandchildren have experienced 4-H in Wright and Marion counties.

    Hope we raise lots of dollars for Iowa 4-H!

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    1. I couldn't agree with you more about philanthropy Florine! I love your 4-H story!

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  9. 4-H has been great for my oldest daughter. She loved showing chickens this past summer at our county fair. Participation in 4-H has boosted her confidence and helped her become more responsible. My youngest daughter participates in Clover Kids, and can't wait to "graduate" into 4-H. It is a fabulous organization!

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    1. Both my husband and I enjoyed being in 4-H and we can't wait for our kids to be old enough to be in Clover Kids and then as you said it, "graduate" to 4-H.

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  10. I was in 4-H during Junior High and Senior High school. I have decided that everything I have learned that is useful in my life got a start in 4-H. A great experience!

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  11. Thank you Val for supporting the 4H Foundation!

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    1. I'm happy to do it Suzanne. When I started on this path at the beginning of the year my husband and I discussed what organizations we wanted to help and since we are already 4-H2000 members, supporting 4-H in October to go along with National 4-H Week was an easy decision.

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  12. 4-H is a great experience. The positive youth development lasts a lifetime.

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  13. You have inspired all of us here at the Iowa 4-H Foundation. THANK YOU! You are one of many reasons why we love what we do. Thank you so much for helping us to fulfill our mission: To Fund Opportunities For Iowa's 4-H Youth!

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  14. Val, I grew up in Latimer, went to Immanuel UCC with your husband's family and now am the Executive Director of the Illinois 4-H Foundation! This is great what you are doing for 4-H and to raise awareness! I just couldn't pass up this opportunity to make this connection! Nice work!

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  15. Just last night I was working on a Clover Buds poster for our meeting next week and had flash backs to the multitude of posters I created for my 4-H Educational Presentations. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in 4-H as it truly was the backbone for my career.

    Next week our DeWitt Clover Buds club will be learning the 4-H Pledge. What an incredible set of words that are not just said before each meeting, but have really become my way of life. I look forward to inspiring more children to live their life in this way.

    Val, thank you for spreading the word about the impact of 4-H and giving back both in deeds and in dollars!

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    1. Thanks Shelly! Have fun with your Clover Buds club.

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  16. Thanks Val for giving back to a great cause! 4-H played a large role in shaping who I am today, and it is so exciting to see my boys starting to get involved. I know they will learn so much from the experiences 4-H has to offer.

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    1. Your welcome. I love to hear about 4-H continuing onto another generation.

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  17. Greetings Val and thanks for giving back to Iowa 4-H. It's where I learned about giving a presentation, a skill I use (and continue to learn about) every week. It's where I learned from older members and in time taught younger members. That cross-age interaction and having older youth as mentors is one of the real unique things about 4-H compared with other youth organizations. Above all, 4-H is where we grow blue-ribbon youth who truly contribute to their communities.This is certainly evidenced by your choice of giving this month - and thanks for giving back of your time and talents to the community where I grew up!

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    1. Thanks Mitch. I know as a junior 4-Her I looked up to the senior members, and as a senior member I really enjoyed working with the junior members. One of my favorite activities as a senior 4-H member was being the Bottle Lamb project leader in my county.

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  18. Happy National 4- H Week, Val. Learned so much as a 4-H kid. Had great volunteer leaders!

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    1. Happy National 4-H Week to you too! 4-H volunteers are amazing people.

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  19. 4-H is amazing. All of the skills I learned from it. It has definitely been worth giving up other activities for! I started showing cattle (and still do), I then was President of my club, on County Council, State Council, went on CWF! What amazing opportunities there are... and great people you meet!

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    1. I couldn't agree more. I think going on CWF was one of my favorite 4-H trips!

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  20. 4-H provided me with many opportunities. Additionally my kids had the opportunity to excel in their chosen projects. I grew up in Iowa now live in Wisconsin and my kids have had 1st place Holsteins at the Wisconsin State Fair. Our son also used the poise and public speaking ability gained through 4-H to win the Wisconsin 4-H Dairy Judging Contest.

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    1. I love to hear about all the opportunities and skills that 4-H has given you and is now giving your children.

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  21. Hi Val, and thank you for supporting Iowa 4-H. I was an 8-year Iowa 4-H member in Winnebago and Humboldt Counties. Through 4-H, I learned valuable leadership and communication skills, and also made lifelong friends. Now, as a publishing manager for Oregon State University Extension, I get to work on projects that help today's 4-H'ers. For instance, we just published a new set of Oregon 4-H sewing project materials for members and leaders.

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    1. I love how many people that were in 4-H, stay involved in 4-H in some way. Glad to hear about the work you're doing in Oregon!

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  22. I always tell people my 4-H story is "White Ribbons". That's all I ever got, but that's not what I remember the most, I remember my very supportive, kind leader encouraging me, putting her arm around me and making me feel welcomed. I remember meeting other 4-Hers at camps, sports tournaments and feeling more confident in speaking. So I'll take white ribbons anytime if I can have all that other stuff as well :)

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    1. Great 4-H story! The ribbons aren't what people remember - it is the skills and connections that are lasting!

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  23. Hi Val, I love reading your blog! I thought I posted earlier, but now I can't find it. I will post again just to be safe. :) I love telling people I was in 4-H. Still to this day I reap the benefits of 4-H through networking. In every student organization I am apart of I see 4-Hers who were on State Council with me or that I know from State Conference. I was lucky to be able to look up to you while I was in 4-H, as you exemplified what this organization is all about. Thank you! Hope all is well with you and your family!

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    1. I thought you posted earlier too... Not sure what happened! Thanks for commenting again and for your kind words!

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  24. Val, What a neat way to support the Iowa 4-H program and giving us an opportunity to share as well. 4-H has been a part of my life since I was 10 years old and a member for 8 years... decades ago!!! I have special memories and friendships from my club, State Conservation Camp, State Fair presentation and Fashion Revue and National 4-H Conference. Equally as important in my 4-H memory bank are all the 4-H'ers, volunteers and co-workers I got to work with as an Extension staff member. for 35 years. We never got to old to claim, "Once a 4-H'er always a 4-H'er." Thanks Val

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    1. Thanks for commenting Shirley! I love your saying "Once a 4-Her, always a 4-Her" - how true!

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  25. Thank you for supporting 4-H! I was also on the State 4-H Council...in 1986-1987. My daughter served on the State Council also!

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    1. That is great and a lot of fun to have a second generation State Council member!

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  26. I just started my 8th year of 4-H in Van Buren County. I'm a current member of the Iowa State 4-H Council and will be going to National Conference next spring. I'm so glad I've been involved in 4-H, and this is a great idea to give back to the organization!

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    1. Have fun on the State 4-H Council. You really do make friends that will last a lifetime through it!

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  27. Val-What a great way to Celebrate 4-H! You're still very creative.
    I too was a 4-Her years ago. I gained much from being a member. My 4-H experience is what encouraged me to be a professional County Extension worker and have a chance to teach and work with 4-H members, leaders and families. Later I was a club leader also. I also had a opportunity to be a member of the Iowa 4-H Foundation as well as the Hamilton Co. 4-H Foundation.
    I was the County Communication project leader and you worked with me as the Junior leader. I enjoyed working with you. I always thought the Communication sproject was one of the most useful and best project of teaching life skills.
    Our 2 daughters were 4-Hers and our grandchildren are not old enough to join. I agree with Shirley, "Once a 4-Her, always a 4-Her. Thanks Val.

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  28. Val, our sincere THANKS for supporting the Iowa 4-H Foundation in such a unique, interesting and positive manner. We have enjoyed reading each and every comment. Our family like so many others have been truly blessed with 4-H experiences and opportunities. Whether it was giving a presentation, holding an office, exhibiting at fairs, attending camps and conferences, national trips, serving as leaders, trustee, etc. etc., 4-H has served as a learning experience and is the passion of our lives. And yes, it was the Clinton County 4-H Fair where we “cemented our relationship” which now extends through 55 years of marriage.
    -Glen & Mary Jo Mente

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    1. I love how you two met at the County Fair! What a great 4-H story for your entire family!

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  29. My favorite memories of growing up in Iowa are the experiences I had in 4-H. It was what we did and it defined who we were as a family. My mom was the leader of my girls club and my dad was the leader of my boys club. I learned life skills, met great friends from all over our county (and state), and it was 4-H that instilled in me the discipline of hard work. I am truly grateful for the opportunities that were available to me because of 4-H...and to you, Val, for giving us a forum to share. May we all follow your lead and give as an expression of our gratitude.
    -Brenda

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