How to Celebrate National 4-H Week as Alumni

Spending every day in a tractor seat gives me a lot of "thinking time" (think of driving your car for 10 hours a day every day).  So today since it is Sunday, I thought it'd be fun to share a little "Sunday Funday" post about some things going on in my life besides driving a tractor.

The initial reason why I joined 4-H...

4-H is a youth organization that I was involved in that I feel truly helped shape me to the person I am today.  When I joined the Clear Lake Sailors 4-H Club in Hamilton County, Iowa as a 4th grader (so I could show at the County Fair) I had no idea the amount of leadership, citizenship and communication skills it'd give me by the time I finished my 9-year career, or how it'd help shape my core values and teach me responsibility.  I had no idea that I'd make life-long friends while being on the State 4-H Council, or that I'd be the national secretary of Collegiate 4-H someday and meet amazing professional from across the United States.  And the greatest thing I gained through 4-H was My Farmer.  When I was a freshman in college the first people I made contact with when I got to Ames were people I had gotten to know through 4-H.  I spent a lot of time on 5th floor Maple dormitory with   4-H friends and was lucky to meet the guy down at the end of the hallway and fall in love.  The connections and networking that are made through 4-H are amazing and unimaginable as a 4th grader.

Today is the first day of National 4-H Week, an annual celebration that showcases the great things 4-H offers today's youth and highlights the amazing 4-H youth in the community.  I loved driving to church this morning to see that one of the local 4-H clubs had decorated main-street windows, and hearing on the radio about a recruitment event happening this weekend.  When I was in 4-H I loved promoting 4-H all year long, and always made a special effort during National 4-H Week.  So as an alumni of 4-H, what can I do now?  I've came up with a list of ideas for all 4-H alumni to do during National 4-H Week, as a way of giving back:

• Volunteer - This is the obvious one, get involved an volunteer with your local 4-H club or your local county program.  I am personally my local county's Communications project leader and have chaperoned 4-H trips as a way of volunteering locally.
• Become a Judge - There is always a need for more judges.  Contact your state 4-H office and find out the procedure and trainings available so you can judge at area county events and fairs and even at the State Fair.  I have been judging for 10 years! And I am always so impressed with the presentations and projects I see every year.
• Share your 4-H Story through Social Media - I just shared a little bit about my 4-H story here on my blog, but it can be as easy as sharing a photo on Facebook or tweeting about 4-H.  If you are an Iowa 4-H supporter, the Iowa 4-H Foundation has created a great graphic that you can share (located below this list of ideas) and save as your Facebook profile for the week.  Also, be sure to follow your local 4-H organization through their various social media outlets - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc.
• Modify your Email Signature - To include a National 4-H Week message to the bottom of all your emails.  It can be as simple as "Celebrate National 4-H Week October 5-11" and include a link to your local county or state 4-H program.
• Write a Letter to the Editor - And share your 4-H story and why 4-H is such a great youth organization.  As an alumni, you can give a complementing view of 4-H to those youth members also contacting their local newspapers.
• Share your 4-H Story through your Workplace - Wear green this week, or ask to put up a 4-H flier or poster in your workplace's break-room to increase awareness about 4-H.  If your workplace has a marquee or lighted sign, display a National 4-H Week message.
• and of course Donate!

And one easy way for you to donate is by commenting to this post.  All month long, for every comment on my blog, I'll be donating $0.50 through my Comments for a Cause program to the Iowa 4-H Foundation.  So share what   4-H club you were a member of, or how you are going to celebrate National   4-H Week, and make a donation through me!

(This post is a part of a 31 Days from a Tractor Seat series.  The best way to keep up with this series is to follow via email on the right sidebar of this post and by liking the Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids Facebook page.)

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!

Tuesday Tasty Pork Recipe

Me during the Pride of Iowa contest demonstrating
Fiesta Pork Soup (age 16)

It's Tuesday and time to share another Tuesday Tasty Pork Recipe in honor of National Pork Month.  Now this week's recipe I decided to also honor National 4-H Week, an organization I am a very proud alumni of, as well as volunteer for today.  When I was in 4-H as a member of the Clear Lake Sailors in Hamilton County, Iowa, I always participated in the Pride of Iowa contest every year at the county fair.  The gist of the Pride of Iowa contest is that 4-Hers give a live cooking demonstration and the food they make must include an Iowa product in it.  One year for the contest, I made the recipe I'm going to share today.  I got the recipe from the National Pork Checkoff and fell in love with the recipe's simplicity and flavor.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Fiesta Pork Soup 

My kitchen helper

(This is a great recipe for kids to help with or for a teen to take the lead on.)

Ingredients:
1 pound ground pork
8 oz picante sauce
1/8 tsp. ground pepper
2 cups (or 1 - 14 1/2 oz can) chicken stock/broth
1/8 tsp. ground cumin
1 - 11oz can condensed fiesta natcho cheese soup

Ingredient line-up

In medium saucepan, cook and stir pork until browned.  Drain.

Add chicken broth, picante sauce, cumin and pepper; bring to boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in cheese soup; simmer until heated through.  Do not boil.

Pour into serving bowls; garnish with sour cream and tortilla chips.  Serves 5.

(I like to dip with my chips while
My Farmer likes to crunch up the chips as if they were crackers!)

Now it is time to announce last week's pig silicon pot holder winner - congratulations Dee W!  Please send me your mailing address and I'll get your new pot holder out to you!

Now for this week I'll be giving away another pig silicon pot holder.  To be entered into the randomized drawing, share your favorite soup to warm up with in the fall and winter in the comment section.  Thank you once again to the Iowa Soybean Association and the Soybean Checkoff for the pot holders!  The winner will be announced next week!