Reality in a Virtual World - One Year in 4-H through the eyes of 4-Hers and Parents

Young people today are inundated with a virtual world that has taken the art of communication out of their repertoire. Many speak and write in single letter format,(LOL) abbreviations, and slang. Incomplete thoughts and responses are inhibiting our youths' ability to engage with other generations and gain respect with effective communication. Adults also fall into the trap of ineffective communication relying on someone else to interpret for them. Both groups are needing basic strategies and skills to effectively communicate the positive difference Extension and 4-H has made in their lives and the lives of their families.
   So we are going to conduct learning sessions throughout 2013 to help Rockwall County 4-Hers learn how to interpret their skills and knowledge effectively. We will also be working with adult volunteers to refine their communication skills to effectively share their story about the positive role 4-H has played in the lives of their child(ren) and the family's life as a unit.
   As part of the training,  we will be recording youth and adults along the way as they grow in their interpretation skills.  Basic skills of genuineness and authenticity cannot be faked.  So the first key is the sharing process is being real.  Here are a couple of videos made on the fly to begin the process.

Here I was interviewing Anna Schieberle during the Fort Worth Stock Show to get her first impressions of what she does in 4-H.  It's very candid, but demonstrates that she has fun!

I then interviewed Anna's Dad, Mr. Shieberle.  I asked him one question and he began to fill in the holes.  Though they were short answers to one question,  you can see that he has thought the process through and understands the potential from 4-H and what it has to offer.

Remembering that this was in a barn setting at the Fort Worth Stock Show,  about thirty minutes prior to Anna showing her Dorper sheep, there are many times that friends extended family members or even potential 4-H families ask questions to see if they may be interested.  How we answer can make a huge difference in their next step in the 4-H process.

I am excited to watch our group grow this year and to see visual and recordable changes through our Reality in a Virtual World.

Many Activities at the Fort Worth Stock Show with Rockwall County 4-Hers

 Several Rockwall County 4-Hers have been busy with activities at the Fort Worth Stock Show the last couple of weeks.  I will attempt to highlight the activities and provide some insight to the goings on.  First I wanted to start with a very cool pic taken by one of our moms.  The picture is showing a representative from Chevy Hometown Kids on FOX Southwest filming Carson Glasscock and Daniel York bracing their goats in preparation for the show.    We don't know the date it will be aired, but we do know the show comes on at 10 a.m. on Saturdays.  Tune in and watch for them.
 


The Junior Breeding Beef Heifer Competition and the Breeding Sheep Competition started off the festivities for Rockwall County 4-Hers.  We had 8 head of cattle and 2 sheep during the second weekend of the show.  Heifer participants included Tanner Howey, Ethan Spearman, Olivia Born, Josh Born, McKenzie Laughery, Jordan Huff, Emma Bishop, and Jakob Bishop.  Congratulations to everyone.  I don't have a set of complete pictures, but here is what I have.

Ethan Spearman 3rd place in class

McKenzie Laughery 5th place in class

Olivia and Dad drying her heifer - 5th place in class

Josh Born and family after winning 2nd in class.

Other Highlights in the heifer division include:
Emma Bishop - third in class
Jakob Bishop - third in class
Tanner Howey - first in class and Division winner

Tanner during division with judge Lee Pritchard taking a close look.

Mr. Todd and Tanner working on one of the heifers' legs in preparation for show.

 Anna Schieberle also had 2 sheep at Fort Worth during the same time.  She competed in 3 shows at the event.  High lights include:  4 first places,  two Grand Champion Dorper Female Honors and one Supreme Champion Female Honor over all breeds of Sheep.

Anna Schieberle in the Champion Dorper female drive.  (She won)

One of Anna sheep - Macie I think- wanting some attention.

The next week we had 4 market goats and one market lamb in competition.  4-Hers representing Rockwall County included:  Anna Schieberle, Haley Crumpley, Carson Glasscock, and Ashlyn Stembridge.  Ashlyn had a goat and a lamb in competition.  All had fun in the tough game of market competition.  Ashlyn won 2nd place in Junior Showmanship.

This week we have Kirsten Miller showing Huck her crossbred steer.
Best Wishes to her.

I'll try to keep the blog updated as we move through the shows.  We have representatives going to San Angelo, San Antonio, Houston, and Star of Texas as well as the Rockwall Youth Fair.

If you have other pictures that you would like for me to get on the blog, please send them to the county email box.