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4-H provides Warren County youth with real-world experiences and skills Loren Stinson, Warren County Extension Agent
ractical, real-world experiences and skills can be difficult to obtain for youth living in rural communities. However, since Extension Agent Loren Stinson has has joined the TSU Cooperative Extension staff, she has been working with youth in Warren County to provide these kind of skills and experiences which can make a big difference later on. Over the past summer, Warren County youth has been involved in several activities that will enable them to succeed in this fast paced world. Warren County 4-H members have had the opportunity to be involved in such programs as livestock judging, where they take day trips to farms and evaluate animals, the Chopping Block Fiesta, a cooking school for 4th—6th graders, and most recently, the Inaugural Beef Bonanza Clinical. The Beef Bonanza Clinical featured 10 youth, seven of whom were new to the Beef Project, who participated in a judging clinical, a feeds lesson that will prepare them for the Regional and State Beef Skilla-Thon in Murfreesboro, a fitting clinic, and a showing clinic. Over this two day event, youth gained confidence in their projects by working with their animals and enjoying their time in 4-H. While the Beef Bonzna Clinical focused on preparing 4-H participants to compete with their livestock in the field, another event,
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the 2013 Chopping Block Fiesta, taught skills that are more useful inside the home. Held twice in June and reaching a total of 50 youth who learned how to slice and dice their way through 15 different Mexican style recipes. These tasty recipes included Mexican Cornbread, Alambres, and Tostadas de Pollo. In the coming months, Warren County youth will participate in Consumer DecisionMaking, Like Skills, and Livestock contests where they will continue to develop confidence and useful skills. For more information on the Beef Bonanza Clinical, the Chopping Block Fiesta, or any other Warren County 4-H Program, please contact Loren Stinson at lstinso1@tnstate.edu or by phone at (931) 473-8484.