Fall Activity
Boredom
the
YAC Chat: An Inside Look at the
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Won’t
the World to British
Science
Meet STEM Star
Q&A:
Neleah Lavoie
to Miss
greater
HANDS to larger service,
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community,
country, and my world.
Helping
4-Minutes
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Fall is here! While this season is absolutely beautiful with the leaves changing colours, the weather can be a bit wonky. But whether you’re stuck inside on a cold and rainy day, or outside enjoying perfect, sunny fall weather
– never fear, 4-H is here! Stay busy this fall with these five fun boredom busters.
Try out this delicious activity from 4-H
Up! Activity Book.
This is your chance to cook up a treat using only the power of the sun!
• Cardboard box (pizza boxes work well)
• Tin foil
• Glue or tape
• Newspaper
• Black paper
• Plastic wrap
• S’mores ingredients (graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate bar)
• Oven-safe pan, or pie tin
• Wooden skewer
• Thermometer (optional)
• Oven mitts
1. Draw a square on the lid of the cardboard box, about 10cm in from the edges. Carefully cut three sides of the square. This will be the flap you use to reflect light into the oven.
2. Tightly roll up tubes of newspaper and tape them shut. Place them along the edges of the inside of the box, one per side. This will act as insulation, keeping heat in the oven.
3. Cover the inside of the box (including the sides), and the inside of the flap you created on the lid, with tin foil and tape or glue it down. The tin foil will reflect the sun’s rays and trap heat in the box.
4. Place black paper inside the box, directly below the flap opening. Black paper absorbs heat, helping to cook the food. Lift the flap, then cover the flap opening with plastic wrap. This will allow the sun’s rays to reflect into the box, and the plastic wrap will keep the oven closed to trap heat.
5. Place your solar oven outside in full sun to pre-heat. Meanwhile, assemble your s’mores by placing a square of chocolate and a marshmallow between two graham crackers (like a sandwich). Place the s’mores on an oven-safe pan or pie tin (be sure to choose a pan or tin that will fit inside the solar oven).
6. Place the pan or pie tin inside the solar oven, centred on top of the black paper, and close the lid. Lift the flap. Take a wooden skewer and either poke it through the flap, or tape it in place so that it acts as a ‘kick-stand’ to keep the flap open.
7. Place the solar oven at the best angle and direction to reflect as much sunlight as possible into the oven. You’ll see the light reflect off the tin foil. Try different angles and positions until you see the brightest amount of light being reflected into the oven.
8. (Optional) Carefully poke the end of a thermometer through the plastic wrap (but not into the food). You can use it to watch the temperature rise in your oven.
9. Check on your snack about every 10 minutes by looking through the plastic wrap. It will typically take about 30 minutes to cook and melt the chocolate, but the time varies depending on how sunny it is outside.
10. When you can see that the chocolate is melted, your s’mores are done! Put on oven mitts and carefully open the oven and remove the pan or pie tin. Enjoy your snack!
Learn all about clean energy and enjoy more activities by downloading the Powered Up! Activity Book at 4-h-canada.ca/ powered-up!
• Plastic cup or jar
• Trowel
• Plastic funnel (or flexible material you can shape into a funnel)
• Bait (dog or cat food, sugar, or honey)
• Field notebook
1. Check the weather forecast to make sure there’s no rainfall expected within the next three days. (This will make sure the insects are safe from drowning in the trap).
2. Find an area outside that you can access easily (and with permission), where your trap won’t be disturbed (your own backyard is usually best). A quiet and shady area tends to work best.
3. Use a trowel to dig a hole in the ground about the same shape and depth of your plastic cup or jar.
4. Place your plastic cup or jar into the hole, and pat the soil down around it so the top of the container is level with the ground. It’s very important that the lip of the cup or jar doesn’t stick up higher than the land.
5. Place your bait inside the cup or jar. Only a little bit is necessary (4 or 5 pieces of cat or dog food, or half a teaspoon of sugar or honey).
6. Place the funnel on top of the trap, and make sure it is also level with the ground. Now your trap is set! The bait will attract insects, and when they come to investigate, they will slide down the funnel and into your cup or jar.
7. Now that your trap is set, wait for 24 hours before you check it. (Use your field notebook to make a note or map showing the location of your trap to help you remember where it is.) Don’t wait longer than 24 hours to check your trap, or your tiny friends will run out of food and be hungry.
8. Carefully remove your cup or jar from the hole, keeping the funnel on top to prevent any insect escapes. Check if you’ve trapped any ground-dwelling insects. If so, have fun identifying, studying, and drawing them in your field notebook. Just be sure to set the insects free after an hour, so they can find food and get on with their lives.
9. Nothing in your trap? That’s ok. Just remove the old bait, add in new bait, and check again in 24 hours.
10. Reflect on your insect adventures. Ask yourself the following questions:
a. Did your trap work after the first 24 hours? If so, why do you think it was successful?
b. What conditions do you think impact the effectiveness of pitfall traps? Temperature? Time of year? Weather? Other factors?
c. Why do you think it’s important to release insects back into the wild where you found them once you have finished observing them?
With fall being harvest time, this is the perfect chance to celebrate Canada’s crops! Create a masterpiece with this Seed Art activity from 4-H Ontario!
• A variety of seeds, beans, legumes, or rice of your choice!
• Glue
• Masonite, thick paper, or wood
• Consider what textures and colours will work best with your vision. You can also use acrylic paint to turn the seeds any colour you’d like after they are glued down.
• Remember that all green seeds eventually turn brown.
• Heavier seeds will need stronger glue.
1. Using a pencil, draw a picture on the Masonite, paper, or wood. Draw anything you’d like – from a person to an animal to a sunset... get creative!
2. Apply glue, working on one small part of your picture at a time so the glue doesn’t dry before you have a chance to add your seeds. Add your seeds to the glue, either by dumping them on top of the glue, then pouring the extras off (works best for small seeds like millet or poppy seeds), or placing larger seeds one-by-one, and using a toothpick to move them into place. Continue this process until your entire drawing is filled in.
3. Leave your art, laying flat, until it has completely dried.
4. Proudly display your art by framing it, hanging it, or sticking it on the fridge!
Try
INGREDIENTS
• 3 very ripe medium bananas (1 cup)
• Can substitute bananas for 1 cup of cooked and mashed sweet potatoes or squash, or canned pumpkin.
• 2 ¼ cups quick oats
• 2 tbsp ground flax
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp oil
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
• Mixing bowl & spoon
• Rubber spatula
• Fork & spoon
• Measuring spoons & cups
• Baking sheet
• Oven mitts
• Cooling rack
1. Preheat oven to 350°C. Lightly grease or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, squish bananas with the back of a fork until they reach a smooth consistency.
3. Mix oats, flax, brown sugar, cinnamon, and oil into the bananas.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Scoop out batter using a spoon and drop onto the baking sheet, pressing and shaping into rounds about 1cm thick. Leave space between cookies to allow edges to brown.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until set and beginning to turn golden brown. Place on cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
7. Enjoy your cookies! They can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 weeks.
One of the best ways to understand how to protect our waterways is to learn more about them. This is your chance to learn something new about the water ecosystems in your community and get creative with how you share what makes them special!
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Gather your favourite drawing supplies and a large piece of paper.
1. Get a large piece of paper and all your favourite drawing supplies together.
One of the best ways to help protect our waterways is to learn about them! Dive in from the comfort of home and learn about the water ecosystems in your community with this activity from 4-H Canada’s Making a Splash Activity Book.
2. Using Google Maps, find a waterway close to your house – maybe it’s a stream, pond, lake, or even the ocean!
2. Using Google Maps, find a waterway close to your house – maybe it is a stream, pond, lake, or even the ocean!
3. Draw an outline of your chosen waterway, or a section of it (like part of the coast, or a section of riverbanks.)
3. Draw an outline of that waterway, or a section of it (e.g., part of the coast, the river banks on either side, etc.)
4. Research the types of animals and plants you can find at your waterway by typing the name of your waterway, plus the words “animals,” “wildlife,” or “plants” into a search engine. There might be types of fish or insects you’ve never even heard of before! Choose a few, and draw them in their habitat. Have fun, use lots of colour, and you could even bring them to life with beads, string, or other craft materials.
4. Now look up the kinds of animals and plants you could find there. They might be really small, or they might be types of fish or insects you’ve never heard of! Type the name of your local waterway, plus “animals”, “wildlife”, or “plants” into a search engine to help you get started. Discover at least five animals and plants that live in that area and draw them in their habitat. Have fun with it, use lots of colour, and even stick on other things like cut out paper, beads, or string.
The
4-H Canada Leadership
of Distinction (L.E.A.D.) recipients
named. Keep reading to get
year’s well-deserving
4-H Club: Avon 4-H Club
Field of Study: Bachelor’s Degree in History with a Minor in Environment and Sustainability Studies
Institution: Acadia University Career Goal: Defence Lawyer
specializing in agriculture and environmental law
“My greatest passions are positive change, being a leader, the health of the agriculture industry, and the environment.”
4-H Club: Cloverdale Albert County 4-H Club
Field of Study: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Institution: Carleton University Career Goal: Cybersecurity Expert
“My goal is to become a cybersecurity expert and help protect communities against online threats. The internet is rapidly transforming our work and home environments, and while this makes the industry exciting and dynamic, it also provides opportunities for others to do harm and threaten our communities.”
BRITISH COLUMBIA
4-H Club: 4-H Snapshots Photography Club
Field of Study: Bachelor of Science Institution: McGill University Career Goal: Environmentalist
“With my passion for the environment and STEM, I hope to use the power of science and the communication skills I’ve learned through 4-H to continue to be a leader, and protect the environment that I love.”
4-H Club: Radville 4-H Field Crops Club
Field of Study: International Food Business
Institution: Dalhousie University
Career Goal: Leader in the Agri-Food Sector
“Nothing excites me more than the possibilities of regenerative farming and food. Sustainable agriculture and food security are my life’s purpose.”
Learn more about each recipient at 4-h-canada.ca/lead YOU COULD BE THE NEXT L.E.A.D. RECIPIENT!
Don’t miss the chance to apply for this incredible $20,000 scholarship and mentorship opportunity. Keep your eye on 4-h-canada.ca/lead for applications to open in the new year!
And for a full list of all scholarship opportunities, visit 4-h-canada.ca/scholarships
The L.E.A.D. scholarships are made possible thanks to the generous support of CN.
By Kayla Emmerton 4-H Canada Youth Advisory Committee Representative - Ontario
The 4-H program is known for growing leaders, and leaders are exactly what you’ll find on 4-H Canada’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)!
YAC is made up of 10 4-H members from across the country - one from each province.
As a committee, we work together to connect our provinces with 4-H Canada, providing a youth voice on both a provincial and national level.
Though we live provinces apart, we are incredibly fortunate to meet virtually throughout the year, and occasionally in person at 4-H events.
For the past year and a half, I have been incredibly fortunate to sit on YAC as the representative from Ontario. This year, I am also serving as the Vice Chair of the Committee! My time on YAC has been filled with so many opportunities, experiences, lessons, and friendships that I will take into the next chapters of my life. I had no idea signing up for this experience would be as rewarding and full of growth as it has been so far.
Every YAC member has a different experience. On the 4-H Canada side, each member chooses a working group to be involved with for each year of their term on YAC. These committees have spanned a large range, including topics like Marketing & Communications, Conferences & National Opportunities, and Youth Representatives to the 4-H Canada Board of Directors.
This year, I have been honoured to sit on the 4-H Canada Board of Directors with the YAC
Chair, Matt Boutilier (NS). At the Board of Directors meetings, Matt and I give updates on what YAC has been up to in the last few months and provide youth input regarding governance decisions.
My favourite thing about sitting on the 4-H Canada Board of Directors has been meeting professionals from across the country. Each board member has been an incredible mentor to me, as I learn to navigate the professional world. They are all extraordinarily successful in their fields as executives in national corporations, and are great connections to have both within and outside of 4-H.
The provincial side of YAC looks different for every member. Many provinces have their YAC representatives sit on provincial boards to provide updates from a national level and add a youth voice. It is also common for YAC members to take on an ambassador role, representing their province and position at conferences and events. Personally, attending these events, both provincially and nationally, is my favourite part about being on YAC. This is where I have been fortunate to meet 4-H’ers from across the country. I love meeting like-minded people who share one of my biggest interests: 4-H!!
Conferences and national events are also where the YAC reps have the opportunity to meet. After working together online for months, it’s so exciting to be able to see each other in person! The last in-person event YAC was able to attend was the 2022 4-H Canada Leadership Summit in Halifax, NS, held in April 2022. YAC was able to help with the summit by emceeing workshops, facilitating discussions, and interacting with delegates. We were also able to take part in all the fun
YAC reps not only took on a leading role in 4-H Canada’s 2022 Leadership Summit in Halifax, NS, emceeing sessions and networking with delegates - but also had opportunities to get to know each other face-to-face, and take part in fun teambuilding activities.
events the conference organizers planned, and we loved seeing the beautiful spots in Halifax! These are just a couple of the amazing opportunities YAC has been provided with. Each month is a new adventure with new faces, goals, and fun to be had. YAC has been the most inspiring, life-changing 4-H experience I have ever had, and I am so excited to see where it will take me next!
If you’re looking for an opportunity to push yourself outside your comfort zone, lead you to new places, grow your professional skills, and make friends from across the country, I highly recommend you apply for YAC through your home province. It is truly an experience you will never forget.
Visit 4-h-canada.ca/citizenshipcongress for more info on Citizenship Congress 2023, and contact your provincial 4-H office for registration details!
Since 1972, Citizenship Congress has been 4-H Canada’s flagship program, providing 4-H’ers from across the country with the opportunity to visit Canada’s capital city while gaining on-the-ground, real-life learning experiences in governance, parliamentary procedures, civic engagement, and much more.
In February 2023, Citizenship Congress will be returning to an in-person event in a huge way to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Here are five reasons you won’t want to miss it!
Citizenship Congress provides 4-H’ers with the unique opportunity to walk the hallowed halls and gorgeous grounds of Canada’s iconic Parliament Hill. These historic grounds and buildings are famous not only for the beautiful gothic architecture and placement on the scenic banks of the Ottawa River, but for the 160+ years of history, milestones, and events they’ve witnessed.
Citizenship Delegates get the rare opportunity to meet and interact with current Members of Parliament! It’s not every day you get to rub shoulders with real-life MPs and hear first-hand what it’s like to be a central part of Canada’s political landscape!
Imagine getting a frontrow seat to a real-life Citizenship Ceremony. Delegates often have the opportunity to be part of this incredible and meaningful celebration, witnessing the Oath of Citizenship that officially welcomes new Canadians as permanent citizens. *Subject to availability of Citizenship Ceremonies during the conference window. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, ceremonies may be held virtually.
With Citizenship Congress held in February, it overlaps with Winterlude – the National Capital Region’s epic annual festival that embraces and celebrates the best parts of wintertime in the Great White North. You can marvel at the beautiful ice sculptures, snack on Canada’s favourite treat, the Beavertail, and of course, strap on skates and hit the ice of the renowned Rideau Canal Skateway –the world’s largest outdoor skating rink!
And the number one reason you won’t want to miss Citizenship Congress 2023 is… the great debate! Always the highlight of the conference, delegates get the chance to participate in training workshops and prep sessions on a specific debate topic, before putting their powers of persuasion to the test during a Mock Debate held in the actual Senate of Canada!
DELEGATE DISCUSSION: Here’s what past delegates have to say about their experience at Citizenship Congress!
“It was really cool to be able to actually go inside the Senate. Definitely an experience I’ll never forget.”
“The Citizenship Ceremony was an honour to be able to watch. I was happy to share that experience with other youth around my age, and to see the glowing expressions on the new citizens’ faces.”
By Salma Said
On the August long weekend, 4-H British Columbia hosted senior 4-H members from around the province for a conference featuring daily Head, Hands, Heart, and Health-themed activities.
The activities were designed to help participants grow, and show their 4-H spirit through a go green fashion show, a Show Your 4-H Colours video challenge, and more. But the highlight of the event was two global 4-H panel sessions that allowed delegates to hear from 4-H’ers around the world!
Chair, Global 4-H Youth Committee
Logan talked about the many opportunities to explore abroad through 4-H, sharing his personal motto of ‘Never Say No to an Opportunity’. Logan currently serves as the Chair of the inaugural Global 4-H Youth Committee, which aims to connect 4-H members around the world.
4-H Taiwan
Angela shared her experience with 4-H in Taiwan, including the opportunity for leadership and club projects, such as making red bean paste, and rice paddy irrigation.
4-H Kosovo
Korab shared how his experience in 4-H has allowed him to pursue a career in digital marketing and discussed the unique nature of a young organization like 4-H Kosovo, which was founded in 2012.
Following the presentations by panellists, delegates had the opportunity to ask questions and reflect on similarities and differences in 4-H programs around the world. Panellists had questions for the members as well, and the whole group was able to share their favourite 4-H projects and experiences and discuss what is unique about 4-H in Canada.
4-H Ghana
Victory and Dela shared the connection between school and 4-H in their country, where many agricultural projects take place right on campus.
National 4-H Council (USA)
Katie, who serves on the Global Youth Committee alongside Logan, shared the diversity of projects around the United States and pitched a global sustainability-oriented project that she is hoping to kickstart.
The Global 4-H Panel delegates enjoyed the chance to meet and interact with 4-H’ers from around the world.
4-H BC is very grateful to all the panellists for “Zooming in” with us from around the world to help our members learn more about the global 4-H community and their important role as 4-H global citizens.
The 4-H Canada Science Fair is an incredible opportunity for 4-H’ers, from grades 7 to 12 or CÉGEP, to take a deep dive into their passions, get creative, and develop science projects that could greatly influence the world around them!
With the next edition of the 4-H Canada Science Fair just around the corner, let’s take a look back at last year’s lineup for inspiration!
The 2022 4-H Canada Science Fair was hosted virtually by the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences. As a member of the U of M Future Leaders 4-H Club and the 4-H Canada Youth Advisory Committee Representative for Manitoba, I got a front-row seat to this exciting event, mentoring finalists and preparing them for judging through presentation practice.
From my own first-hand experience, I can say that young talent from Canada’s prairie provinces was certainly on display at the 2022 4-H Canada Science Fair. So, to help give you a glimpse of what participation looked like, I chatted with 2022 finalists, Lexie, Josh, and Mark. Keep reading to get an inside look at their science fair experiences, insight, and advice.
By Emily Robb University of Manitoba Future Leaders 4-H Club Member. 4-H Canada Youth Advisory Committee Representative – Manitoba
Having participated in science fairs for 12 years, including attending the national level for five, I can say first-hand how science fairs can positively influence your aspirations in academics and industry.
My science fair participation aided in building friendships and career connections that I’ll hold for a lifetime. I was able to foster my passion for sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, and STEM in an inclusive and encouraging environment, while developing my ability to communicate, take initiative, problem solve, manage projects, and much more.
My science fair involvement has since opened many doors for conferences, summits, scholarships, postsecondary studies, and work opportunities – which I’ve taken full advantage of.
Events like the 4-H Canada Science Fair allow youth to build useful skills for any future career path, as well as the chance to explore, experiment, and discover based on personal interest. This opportunity undoubtedly sets up 4-H members for great future success, regardless of the end goal.
First up, meet Alexandra “Lexie” O’Connor, a budding 16-year-old scientist from Saskatchewan who is exploring the relationship between cattle presence and grassland ecosystem health.
Lexie is a member of the Candiac 4-H Beef Club. She has been involved in 4-H for 10 years, and participated in her first 4-H Canada Science Fair this year.
“I was doing a science fair project for school at the same time that I saw 4-H Canada was doing a science fair, so I took the opportunity to take part,” said Lexie. “I am planning to take part in 4-H Canada Science Fair again!”
Lexie grew up on a cattle farm and knew that grazing was beneficial to grasses. She grew more curious about how cattle help the pastures they graze, which led to the development of her 2022 science fair project.
She explained, “My project this year was, ‘Do Cattle Impact the Canadian Grasslands?’ Through research and soil testing, I concluded that cattle are very beneficial to the lands they graze. By storing (sequestering) carbon in the soil and increasing the organic matter in the soil, cattle are helping the grasslands survive by assisting in nutrient cycling within the soil, which in turn improves the ability for grasses to grow the following season.”
Lexie credits her participation in the 4-H Canada Science Fair with greatly influencing her personal life and academic endeavours
for the better, stating, “I was able to learn how to improve my herd management, as well as expand my understanding of soil science. Academically, this has changed what I want to do as a career and what I want to go to school for.”
After high school, Lexie is planning to obtain a diploma in the trades and then head to university to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree, majoring in soil science or rangeland ecology.
You can learn more about Lexie’s project at projectboard.world/ysc/project/ do-cattle-impact-the-canadian-grasslands
“This opportunity is life-changing and can benefit you in many ways.”
- Lexie O’Connor, 2022 4-H Canada Science Fair Participant
Next, let’s get to know Josh Kolesar of Manitoba, who is testing the viability of hydroponic horticulture for producing fresh crops in a Martian environment!
Josh is a three-time participant in the 4-H Canada Science Fair. When asked what made him want to take part again, he replied, “Every year I love taking part in the science fair because I get to work on a project that I'm passionate about, and I get to meet new people and interact scientifically with old
friends. I definitely plan on participating in the 2023 4-H Canada Science Fair.”
Josh got hooked on the idea of hydroponic agriculture thanks to his science teacher.
“For my project this year, I decided to do an experiment on whether hydroponic planting could be the solution to fresh plants and food on Mars,” he explained. “To answer my question, I made a mixture of Mars soil, and I bought a hydroponic planter and tested which one grew things faster and healthier. I used all the same variables and tested them to ensure that they were consistent. I also measured the plant heights throughout the growth process to record my results. I discovered that
hydroponic planting is much more effective than soil planting on Mars. This was shown through growth speed, plant heights, and even the overall mass of the plants.”
Josh reported that participating in the science fair improved his scientific thinking and skills. “The skills I’ve learned throughout science fair help me in school because I learn so much about my own project, and other people’s projects, and that gives me a lot of scientific knowledge.”
As an aspiring large animal veterinarian, Josh is planning to attend the University of Saskatchewan following high school. To learn more about Josh’s project, visit 4-h-canada.ca/sciencefair/2022
Our next Science Fair star is Mark Norregaard of Alberta. Mark is a 16-year-old member of the Balzac Beef 4-H Club and has been a 4-H’er for seven years.
Already having two 4-H Canada Science Fairs under his belt, and looking to participate in 2023 as well, Mark said that he added another because his previous experiences with the Science Fair were great and he wanted to do it again! Mark was inspired by his earlier projects, which focused on creating corrosion, to develop his most recent project on preventing corrosion.
“My project was a comparison of three different types of natural corrosion inhibitors that could be growing in Canada,” explained Mark. “This included dandelion, ginger, and
sweet potato extracts tested in two different corrosive solutions (salt water and vinegar) on two different types of metals (galvanized steel and mild steel). In my test comparing these natural corrosion inhibitors, I found that the sweet potato extract was the most effective corrosion inhibitor on the two different types of metals that I tested in both my short-term study, which lasted 14 days, and my long-term study, which lasted 46 days.”
explore questions that I’ve had, and it’s opened up more doors academically to get in touch with people and potentially get into a science-based industry.”
With a strong interest in science and math, Mark is hoping to pursue a career in animal sciences, with influence from the beef industry, following his post-secondary education.
Check out Mark’s work at projectboard. world/ysc/project/a-comparison-ofnatural-corrosion-inhibitors-on-metals.
“The 4-H Canada Science Fair is a wonderful program, and you learn so much from the judges, other contestants, and coordinators.”
- Mark NorregaardMark’s time at the 4-H Canada Science Fair has shaped his approach to science, both in academics and industry. “It’s helped me
“I love taking part in the science fair because I get to work on a project that I'm passionate about.”
- Josh Kolesar
EMILY: What was the highlight of the 2022 4-H Canada Science Fair for you?
LEXIE: I enjoyed getting to learn and improve my knowledge along the way, but during the weekend of the 4-H Canada Science Fair, it was meeting new people and having fun!
JOSH: I always love seeing other people's projects to see what the other creative minds have come up with. I would have to say that interacting with other science fair participants would be my favourite part of the science fair.
MARK: I most enjoyed hearing about the other contestants’ projects and learning from their research.
EMILY: That’s amazing! How would you encourage someone who has never participated in the 4-H Canada Science Fair to get involved?
LEXIE: I would say, if you have a growing curiosity or a question that you want to investigate/learn about, go for it! This opportunity is life-changing and can benefit you in many ways.
JOSH: Start talking to scientists, family friends, science teachers, and anyone who can help be a mentor, and someone that you can bounce ideas off of. Make sure you check 4-h-canada.ca/sciencefair for information on how to join the next science fair!
MARK: I would say that it is a wonderful program, and you learn so much from the judges, other contestants, and coordinators. If you ever have the opportunity, or were even slightly interested, I would definitely recommend signing up for it.
Registration is open until Jan. 13, 2023. New
easy. Simply fill out
questions, and you’ll be
registered and ready to go. Then stay tuned
from 4-H Canada
to a
further
how to get
start!
project
Visit 4-h-canada.ca/sciencefair today to
As 4-H Canada’s 2021 Leadership Excellence Awards of Distinction (L.E.A.D.) scholar in Science & Technology, Neleah Lavoie from Prince Edward Island wanted to share her passion for science and problem solving with other young 4-H’ers.
She reached out to Jennifer Clement, a leader within the Frontenac 4-H Association, in December of 2021 and began developing Frontenac's first Discover Science Club for members of all ages. Neleah wanted to expose youth to the science and technology side of 4-H, while staying involved with 4-H during her time away from her home club in Prince Edward Island.
Based out of Kingston, ON, the Frontenac Discover Science 4-H Club was brought to life in January 2022. Led by Jennifer and Darlene Clement during its first year, the club cultivated curiosity for seven members, aged 9 to 15.
I recently caught up with Neleah to get the scoop on this innovative new club.
EMILY: What is the Frontenac Discover Science 4-H Club doing to integrate science and technology into its projects and activities?
NELEAH: Our meetings all focus on a science-related interest of the club members, and each meeting is designated to a different science topic with an accompanying experiment. From agriculture with homemade ice cream to geology with crystal growing to engineering and problem solving with popsicle stick bridges and paper towers, topics of interest vary greatly. I want to foster a passion for science among the younger members, therefore I let them choose what we talk about and learn. I believe the best way to learn science is to simply question the world around you. I want the members to find answers to questions regarding topics that interest them.
We have featured a few guest speakers, including individuals specializing in veterinary and agricultural science, when topics of interest were beyond my zone of expertise. On achievement day, members presented a full science fair project that was judged based on creativity, project effectiveness, public speaking during the presentation, and overall knowledge of the project.
EMILY: How has fostering a welcoming environment for 4-H activities involving science and technology impacted club members?
NELEAH: I believe that this club gives members a new side of 4-H to explore. It’s not a traditional 4-H project, but that does not mean it’s any less important to explore as 4-H continues to find its place in the 21st century.
EMILY: If you had one piece of advice for another club wanting to incorporate science and technology into their own ventures, what would it be?
NELEAH: I believe there is no wrong part of science to integrate into activities. The word science can seem overwhelming, but the best part about science is you don’t need to know the answers. You need to be willing to take risks, learn something new, and search for answers to questions about the world around you.
To find out more about the Frontenac Discover Science 4-H Club, visit 4-hontario. ca/association/frontenac-4-h-association/ discover-science-club
“I want to inspire the love of discovery in children the same way it was fostered in me when I was younger.”
- Neleah LavoieAt BASF, we value the health and safety of people above all else.
We’re striving to help make Canada’s agriculture industry a safer one by helping farming’s next generation better recognize the risks and hazards through our BASF Safety Scouts Program. The BASF Safety Scouts program aims to help engage young children in a fun and interactive way by inviting them to take on the important role of Safety Scout and act as safety ambassadors on their family’s farm.
By engaging children in farm safety today,we can help shape a brighter tomorrow for Canadian agriculture.
Learn more about BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions at agsolutions.ca
Scan the QR code to learn more.
First launched in 2020, the 4-Minutes with 4-H video series is the result of a collaboration between 4-H Canada and BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions to host important conversations around critical topics like career development, leadership, and mental health.
The first two seasons saw 10 episodes published, each one hosted by a 4-H Canada Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) representative, and centred around a conversation with leading industry experts.
Now in its third year, a brand-new season of episodes is rolling out this fall at www.youtube.com/4HCanada. In the meantime, let’s take a look back at one of the highlights from the 2022 season.
Keep reading to get insight into youth recruitment in the workplace from 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador YAC Rep, McAuley Bellows, and Courtney White, Head of Human Resources for BASF Agricultural Solutions North America.
MCAULEY: What advice would you give to youth who are entering the workforce?
COURTNEY: What a great question. I would say, make an investment in determining your personal and professional brand as soon, and as quickly, as you possibly can. Forbes did a study and found that 70% of people say they know their brand and that they understand it. But what they found out is that only 15% of people were correct. The difference was that most people think their brand is how they perceive themselves. But, your brand is truly how others perceive you. What this means is that you need to try to figure out who you are, what you want to be known for, what you are already known for, and then construct what your reputation is. To do that, I would say it’s truly about understanding what we feel our purpose is, our values, and ultimately how we turn this into a visible and audible expression of our
voices. Retaining your authenticity of voice is clearly the thing that is going to make sure you’re able to present your best self no matter where you are in the world and the workforce.
COURTNEY: McAuley, a question I love to ask youth is what should companies like BASF think about to successfully recruit youth and recent grads into the talent pool?
MCAULEY: I think being inclusive is really big, and being open-minded to different people and backgrounds, and where they come from. You can find the best of people in the lowest spaces. My dad came from a very low-income family. He didn’t have much for himself, and he had 17 brothers and sisters. He started from there with nothing and barely got out of high school, and now he manages a big mall in our town. I’ve always looked up to him for that. So, I think being inclusive and looking out for the little guy is a big deal for youth today.
I also think being flexible with people coming into the workforce is important. A lot of us are trying to start young families, and if we have kids, it’s really important that we’re able to tend to those needs as well as being able to work. And for someone like myself, I
hope to start work after I finish my degree, but I do want to continue my education and get my master’s and go into other programs. I constantly want to learn and educate myself, so I think being flexible and allowing employees to work their way up, find themselves, and gain more education and skills is really important. Offering advancements to those seeking education is also important. You may not start off being in management, but if you have someone who is going to work their butt off to get that extra education and apply it to the organization, I think it’s important that they be rewarded for that.
COURTNEY: What an inspiring point of view. I mean this sincerely – it sounds like from the example you gave of your father, the community, and others, that he has instilled in you something that you represent - and that is how to be the best at getting better. And I think that’s what you’ve also described as what you’d be looking for from an organization like BASF.
MCAULEY: Thank you for joining me today Courtney, and answering these questions. I know I got a lot of insight from this and I know others will too.
The future of work may be changing, but we know you have the potential, the ambition and the power to impact the world around you. That’s why we created RBC® Future Launch, a program that increases your access to skill development, networking, work experience and mental well-being supports and services.
Empowering you for the jobs of tomorrow. rbc.com/futurelaunch
2022 4-H Canada Careers on the Grow Interns
This summer, 4-H Canada’s Careers on the Grow Internship program allowed senior 4-H members and recent alumni from across Canada to take advantage of career-building internships with organizations within a variety of sectors - all the way from the agriculture industry to nonprofit organizations.
These internships provided hands-on opportunities for 4-H’ers to network with professionals and immerse themselves in the workforce. A combination of virtual, in-person, and hybrid internships were offered to ensure the program was accessible to 4-H’ers across the country.
This year, internships were offered with a wide range of organizations, including BASF Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, Cooperation Canada, Food Banks Canada, Second Harvest, Cargill Canada, and 4-H Canada. This diverse list of offerings provided a variety of options for 4-H’ers looking to explore different areas of the workforce.
The Careers on the Grow Internship program is special, as it goes beyond having a positive impact on the 4-H’ers involved. It also gives youth the opportunity to make a positive mark on the organization they are involved with.
Emily Masse of the Canadian Red Cross told us that working through the Careers on the Grow program gives their organization enough flexibility to explore internship placements in different parts of the organization that don’t usually take on
students or volunteers. She also emphasized the high calibre of leadership and initiative that 4-H’ers bring to the table, and that they are comfortable with taking on unknown and unfamiliar situations.
Nicole McAuley of BASF Canada echoed this sentiment, telling us that the youth she has engaged with throughout this process are all very talented students who are keen to engage, learn, and make meaningful contributions. She also highlighted the value that youth voices bring to the organization, contributing fresh perspectives and new ideas that help their organization provide the best solutions to their customers.
The Careers on the Grow Internship program has been very successful at helping youth develop their careerreadiness skills across a variety of sectors. Take it first-hand from some of this year’s interns, who shared some of the valuable skills and experiences they have gained or hope to gain from the program:
"I have learned a lot about the different environmental, weed, and insect pressures on crops. I also learned about different products to help with those pressures and how to determine the right time to spray or treat these problems, or prevent them in the future. I have been able to network with people in the agriculture field and learn about another province in Canada. I enjoyed learning about all these different things and it has allowed me to take a bigger step into the agriculture field.”
- Halee Piasta – Crop Inputs Intern, Cargill Canada
“I gained many valuable skills by working with the Marketing and Communications department at 4-H Canada, such as learning various ways to use social media, and scheduling and writing content. I also found this internship to be a great opportunity to
network with professionals who are already in my desired field of work!”
- Caitlin Reimer - Marketing and Communications Intern, 4-H Canada
“I have gained valuable experience and transferable skills that I will carry with me into my future career. Through working virtually alongside 4-H Canada staff, I have learned more about the upper-level workings of the organization. I have had the opportunity to contribute my own ideas and receive constructive feedback from their knowledgeable and experienced staff members, which has helped me to grow my communication and teamwork skills. Observing and participating in various projects has also helped me to grow my organizational skills and taught me about project management within an organization.”
- Alison Krenz - Program and Risk Management Intern, 4-H Canada
“I have not worked for a not-for-profit and I think that I would really like that as a career, so I think this is a good, safe environment to do an internship. This is a perfect environment to try out something new.”
- Marika Dewar-Norosky - Program and Risk Management Intern, 4-H Canada
What’s next for the Careers on the Grow Internship program?
If you are a senior 4-H member or recent alum looking to gain valuable work experience and expand your professional network, stay tuned for the release of our 2023 Careers on the Grow Internship offerings at 4-h-canada.ca/growingcareers/ internships.
In December 2019, I boarded a plane and headed to Calgary, AB for the 4-H Canada Members Forum. Little did I know that this would be the last one held in-person for the next two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Having never been to a national conference, I had no idea what I was in store for. Upon arrival, I was surrounded by passionate future leaders from all Canadian provinces. This conference was one of the moments where I realized that 4-H is so much more than my club. I cannot describe the feeling of meeting new members of your 4-H family, but I can ensure you that connections and friendships are formed almost immediately.
the professionals at this conference. This allowed members to practice conversation in interview-like settings. It was a remarkable career development opportunity.
As a 16-year-old, I left Members Forum feeling empowered and capable of creating positive change. 4-H does an outstanding job of combining learning and laughter. It is important to understand that these conferences are not all learning. With everything from team-building activities to a delegate talent show, I was able to make lifelong friends and memories at Members Forum.
Members Forum delegates get to know each other with a group exercise.
4-H never fails to jam-pack the itinerary, so not a single moment goes wasted. One event from Members Forum that I will never forget was the opportunity to attend the Grow Canada Conference. At this conference, I heard some of the most inspirational and relatable speakers. I left the conference center inspired to adapt and meet the requirements of the changing world. 4-H also organized networking sessions with
Learning To Do By Doing during a visit to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Beyond this, our Members Forum delegation began the first draft of a youth career development resource for 4-H Canada. At first, this project sounded impossible. How was a group of 16 to 21-year-old members supposed to write a resource?! Well, there is no better way than to “Learn To Do By Doing” - so that is what we did. As a group, we brainstormed and decided what we thought was important to highlight in the resource. By the end of Members Forum, we were ready to present the resource to a panel, and they used it to develop the career resources that 4-H now has. It’s pretty amazing to know that youth can have hands-on opportunities to directly contribute to national 4-H programs in Canada.
Neleah (right) and a fellow delegate make a pledge to healthy living during a workshop.
In November 2022, Members Forum is not only celebrating its return to an in-person format, but it’s also the 90th anniversary, making it one of 4-H Canada’s longestrunning programs. To get an inside look at what this amazing event looks like today, head over to 4-H Canada’s social channels to see what the delegates get up to.
And, don’t miss out on your chance to participate in 2023. Keep an eye on 4-h-canada.ca/members-forum for details!
I promise you will not regret applying to ANY 4-H opportunity. I am beyond excited to resume in-person conferences this year. It’s through opportunities like this that we will build a future with 4-H!
All Photo Credit: © 4-H Canada
As the 46th Annual Provincial Quebec Rally came to a close this summer, we were filled with so much gratitude. This year we chose the theme, “Time Machine”. Taking a trip through time from the prehistoric time of dinosaurs and cavemen to the wild west to ‘80s retro. We also reflected on our own time in 4-H and the generations on our family farms.
This theme was seen throughout the weekend as we judged the ID class of farm equipment, both old and new, heard speeches about how farming has evolved over the years, and dove into creative writing through a journal entry from 100 years ago.
4-H’ers of all ages had the opportunity to enjoy hands-on events and activities throughout the rally.
I was so inspired hearing the stories told at the banquet by 4-H alumni who went on to become 4-H parents and grandparents.
The rally truly is a wonderful event that allows us to make so many friendships throughout the province and share in the wonderful thing that connects each of us: agriculture.
The farm generational scrapbook page meant a lot to me as it’s a reflection of what I take so much pride in - our family farm. It’s pretty special to be able to look back on photo albums from past years and know I am carrying on what my great-grandparents started.
This year was the first rally for a lot of our members, and I hope it was a memorable one!
As a senior member, I’ve enjoyed watching the young kids participate in their first rally, and seeing members young and old working together. There’s a lot to be learned no matter your age, and it’s great to see members step outside their comfort zones and try something new.
We are thankful for our members and parents who always come out to help pull it all together!
So much time and dedication go into the planning of these events to make everything run smoothly. We truly appreciate all the hard work from each and every one of our leaders.
And, of course, thank you to all the participants who showed up and made the
weekend what it was! We look forward to the next one, and to the day we once again host you all in Shawville.
All types of agriculture shine during the Quebec Provincial Rally. The Shawville 4-H Club excelled as hosts of the 46th Annual Provincial Quebec Rally in July 2022.
Proud to Bee a 4-H’er is 4-H Canada’s longest-running outreach initiative, and has one major goal in mind: introducing 4-H members to the vital role pollinators play in creating a healthy ecosystem and a sustainable food supply.
To date, 4-H Canada has provided over 165,000 pollinator seed packets to members and clubs across Canada. That means not only are today’s youth getting a hands-on experience that builds a relationship with their ecosystem’s pollinators – it’s making a difference for the planet.
Proud to Bee a 4-H’er was developed by 4-H Canada and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security Leadership Development Pillar lead partner, Syngenta Canada, and contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land.
The goal of SDG 15 is to “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.”
And that’s exactly what 4-H members are tackling through Proud to Bee a 4-H’er. Equipped with a free activity book that breaks down the different types of pollinators, members are encouraged to
foster pollinator growth by planting and tending to a pollinator garden using the accompanying seed packet.
Always a hit with clubs and leaders, Proud to Bee a 4-H’er has been especially meaningful to two clubs in Manitoba.
Margaret Walker grew up with 4-H as a member of the Gypsumville North Stars Club in Manitoba, then later became the club’s leader for nine years before moving to a different area of the province.
“After I moved, it took me a while to find a club again,” Margaret said. She found her answer with Anola Northern Lights – a 32-year-old club that Margaret has now been involved with as an active leader for 11 years and counting.
“I'm always looking for ways to keep our members engaged,” she continued. “It's great to do things together as a group, but also with Proud to Bee a 4-H'er, we get to engage with the public.”
Margaret noted that Anola Northern Lights has been participating in the initiative for many years. She annually follows the campaign by keeping engaged through social media.
Manitoba 4-H Clubs are passionate about participating in the Proud to Bee a 4-H’er outreach initiative, and proud to help protect the health of Canada’s pollinators.
“This initiative is great because it gives our youth an opportunity to learn, participate, and teach. Some are not aware of the importance of pollinators in our lives,” she explained. “Hands-on activities are great to keep everyone active. While our youth engage with the public, they are often teaching the importance of having pollinatorfriendly habitats.”
"I'm always looking for ways to keep our members engaged. It's great to do things together as a group, but with Proud to Bee a 4-H'er, we get to engage with the public."
- Margaret Walker
Margaret noted that Proud to Bee a 4-H’er is a very simple way to get involved with educating members and the public on the importance of pollinators – encouraging everyone to get involved.
“Earlier this year we sold our seed packs at local events and helped to educate the public on the importance of having pollinatorfriendly plants,” she said. “Members plant their seeds at home too.”
If
The Proud to Bee a 4-H’er seed packs allow 4-H Clubs to generate revenue through fundraising sales, plus benefit from hands-on learning by planting and tending their own pollinator gardens.
Cheryl Antonio, a leader with The Pas Helping Hands 4-H Club for over 15 years, is also passionate about the Proud to Bee a 4-H’er initiative.
“We are a small, rural club,” she explained. “We have a close relationship with Round the Bend Farm, a holistic family-run farm in the area. They have bees and a large garden, and are extremely good educators. Our members have become very interested in bees, so when we saw the Proud to Bee a 4-H’er initiative, we knew we had to be involved.”
Cheryl continued, “Our club initially began by selling the seeds as a fundraiser, and providing education to go along with the seeds. Then we were invited to participate in our local
Community Sustainability Fair, with Proud to Bee a 4-H’er as the headliner for our booth.”
The Pas Helping Hands 4-H Club has also been busy planting the pollinator garden seeds, and even recently joined the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Project, which has allowed them to join a volunteerled initiative growing habitats for pollinators across Canada - while also promoting their club, their commitment to pollinator health, and the 4-H movement in Canada as a whole.
“Proud to Bee a 4-H’er is such a great, hands-on experience,” concluded Cheryl. “It helps the bees, and members can really see the results of their hard work. Bee education is so important to the future of mankind.”
As a safe and fun activity to do from home, Proud to Bee a 4-H’er also helped to keep 4-H’ers members active and engaged over the past few years, when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many in-person club activities from happening across the country. The initiative continues to be a go-to activity for families within 4-H and the broader public to enjoy.
The Proud to Bee a 4-H’er Activity Kit is available not only to 4-H members and clubs, but for all youth, families, and educational organizations across Canada as a way to enjoy hands-on learning while helping to protect pollinator health.
4-H Canada’s Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security Pillar programming is all about seeking ways to lend a hand, take action, and make a positive difference in the world by learning about and appreciating the food we eat and grow.
That’s why the 4-H community in Canada is passionate about supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a set of 17 global goals created to end poverty, protect the planet, and help people around the world enjoy peace and prosperity.
SDG 2: Zero Hunger states “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.” Now that’s a goal that speaks to the heart of 4-H Canada’s Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security Pillar! So, let’s dive in and learn more about SDG 2, and how 4-H’ers as global citizens can help support this important goal!
A pioneer is someone who sees potential, or an innovator who wants to try new things or pave the way for something new. Generation Z is the term used to describe the current generation of kids and teens. When you put these terms together and apply them to SDG 2: Zero Hunger, what do you get? Why, Plate PioneerZ, of course!
Created by the United Nations, Plate PioneerZ is a fun way for youth to learn about and connect to SDG 2: Zero Hunger. The first step in becoming a Plate PioneerZ is to read the Rise of the Plate PioneerZ comic book. Not only is this a fun and entertaining read, but it will teach you all about sustainable agriculture, food security, and the Zero Hunger goal. Click here to get reading today!
Once you’ve enjoyed the comic book, it’s time to put your knowledge into action! Your first adventure as a Plate PioneerZ is to design the ultimate Plate PioneerZ Meal! So, what exactly is a Plate PioneerZ Meal? We’re glad you asked! It’s a meal that, when eaten, leaves you feeling full, healthy, and satisfied!
Let’s go! Break out your drawing supplies and draw your Ultimate Plate PioneerZ Meal! Need inspiration? Think back to the Rise of the Plate PioneerZ comic book. What foods were suggested as healthy and nutritious? What foods were flagged to avoid?
4-H’ers are renowned for constantly developing and refining their knowledge and skills in everything from communications to STEM to sustainable agriculture. But, let’s not forget that 4-H leaders are lifelong learners too!
To support a passion for learning and continuous evolution of skills and knowledge to mentor and empower today’s youth, 4-H Canada offers a series of convenient and free Leaders Learn Webinars. These valuable learning sessions are led by engaging experts and cover a wide range of topics.
Some of the topics covered to date – and available for viewing any time at 4-h-canada. ca/leaderslearn – have included:
Created by farmers, for farmers, the Talk, Ask, Listen Webinar focused on helping yourself and others break down barriers and dispel the mental health stigma through three actions – talking, asking, and listening.
“This session was excellent. Recognizing the very unique stresses those who work in agriculture face is long overdue. Children cannot help but be impacted by the stresses their farming parents deal with. Thank you for bringing this topic to the table.”
- 4-H Leader
Led by Leah Coss of Build a Biz Kids, this webinar helps leaders navigate how to increase confidence and feel more connected when interacting online. In today’s virtual world, it’s critical to build trust quickly and authentically when interacting with youth through online mediums like Zoom.
happy development. That’s why Ary Maharaj and Emily Huynh of the National Eating Disorder Information Centre are passionate about teaching how to best support body image in youth while breaking down myths about health, weight, and physical development.
Annemarie Shrouder, who has spent more than 20 years in the field of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, led leaders through an impactful webinar based on her warm approach that creates opportunities to lower defences and open lines of authentic communication.
“The bias tests gave me insight into how the brain establishes bias without conscious thought. The presenter was great and very well-informed. It felt very comfortable even though the topic was sensitive.”
- 4-H LeaderVisit 4-h-canada.ca/leaderslearn to access the full series of Leaders Learn Webinars and watch for new sessions coming this fall and winter!
At a time when youth are increasingly anxious about appearances and fitting in, it’s more important than ever to have open conversations to support their healthy and
Despite the challenges of COVID19, the Brant 4-H Community Involvement – Bell Homestead Club didn’t let the pandemic stop them from contributing to their community.
In 2021, with help and guidance from Co-Leaders, Elaine and Lesleigh Elgie, the club pivoted from its traditional club activities, which led to an exciting new adventure that allowed the members to become published authors!
The Bell Homestead Historic Site preserves the home and history of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. The historic site is where Bell developed the idea for the telephone and made the first longdistance phone call. Before the pandemic, the club gave tours twice a year at the Bell Homestead Historic Site. Through this experience, youth learned about the history of the Bell Homestead and practiced their public speaking skills by teaching guests about various parts of the Bell family home. While unable to do their traditional tours due to pandemic restrictions, the 4-H’ers were challenged to find ways to promote the museum collections in a virtual format for their achievement day.
The club decided that the historical site could use a mascot. The mascot would not only contribute to education of the museum through enhanced youth engagement, but act as a future promotional tool for the historical site. While the obvious choice for a mascot would be a telephone, the 4-H club chose a platypus for the mascot, since a taxidermied platypus is displayed in the library; a gift brought from Australia by a relative of the Bell family.
“The members all seemed to gravitate towards this platypus so it seemed fitting it would then become the mascot for the historical site,” said Lesleigh.
The mascot was approved and named “Melly” (Melville Tutelo Boondaburra in full) after Alexander Graham Bell’s father, and another relative who brought the platypus to Canada from Australia.
Following the success of the mascot, Lesleigh guided the club through their next project, which was to explore ways to bring Melly to life. The club decided to create a book that the Bell Homestead could sell in their gift shop as a souvenir and educational tool. To the ‘drawing board’ the 4-H'ers went! The group identified that the book would be catered to youth between the ages of five to nine, and following much brainstorming, the story of Melly was created.
a featured product in the Bell Homestead gift store. The club is now working on the next installment in the Melly book series, which will hit the gift shop shelves soon.
Melly and the Missing Coral follows the platypus Melly, who lives in the Bell Homestead with his friend Coral. When Coral goes missing, Melly ventures through each room in the house to find Coral –learning about different artifacts in the house along the way.
After several working drafts, the book went to the publisher and was put into production. Melly and the Missing Coral has since become
“Seeing the youth and their talents shine, their bond with one another, and the work coming together is amazing,” said Lesleigh. “Starting with the mascot and now with more books to come, the youth are leaving a legacy of themselves and 4-H within the Bell Homestead that they may not even realize.”
To learn more about the Brant 4-H Community Involvement - Bell Homestead Club and their published books, visit 4-hontario.ca/association/ brant-4-h-association
4-H Saskatchewan recently launched an initiative aimed at giving leaders, volunteers, alumni, and members some love and recognition through their social media channels.
The “Featured 4-H’er Shout Out” invites the community to nominate individuals who deserve a shout out for their volunteerism, positive attitude, and willingness to help.
Here are some of the recent leaders who have earned a shout out:
Tannis is a hard-working 4-H leader with a will of steel and a heart of gold! She is a driving force in her 4-H club, with a focus on giving 4-H'ers a positive and memorable 4-H experience.
Tannis' 4-H history begins in 4-H Alberta, but she crossed over to 4-H Saskatchewan and has been an integral beat in the 4-H drum within her club. She believes in doing things “by the book”, but will toss that book on the shelf and step outside the library if it means providing an amazing 4-H opportunity or a fun 4-H experience for members!
She is a huge help behind-the-scenes within the Moosomin Multi 4-H Club, as she has been a leader for just shy of a decade, with some of those years as General Leader. Her proficient approach to volunteering means the research and organizing have been done in advance, so members can sit back and enjoy the experience. Recently, Tannis was a SE 4-H Ambassador, where she contributed her expertise beyond the club level.
Thank you, Tannis, for your professional, hard-working, and fun approach to providing amazing opportunities for your members.
You are appreciated!
Put
2021
Combined 4-H Club,
Boreal Rangers Outdoor Adventure 4-H Club – Saskatchewan
Caitlin MacDougall
Ormstown 4-H Club – Quebec
Carol Pollock
Wellington County 4-H Club – Ontario
Ross Stafford Spring House 4-H Club –British Columbia
Huge thanks to everyone who submitted a nomination this year.
Stay tuned for the 2022 National and Provincial Leader of the Year recipients to be announced this fall!
For more information and a list of past recipients, visit 4-h-canada.ca/
Having grown up on a farm and marrying a farmer, Mandie stayed local. When her sons became old enough, they joined the same 4-H club that she grew up in. She took over being General Leader a few years ago and has not looked back since.
Mandie has gone above and beyond expectations for the Springside 4-H Beef Club, as well as the Yorkton Regional Show and Sale for the past year. She has taken on many, many duties and has contributed to many committees. And when asked "why," she will softly say it is never a job, it is a passion. Her spirit and drive come from her love of 4-H shows, and she wants the members to always be the best they can be.
Thank you for all you do to lead the next generation of 4-H'ers, Mandie!
Sandra Duchak – Gainsborough
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Thanks to the generosity of FCC, $100,000 is distributed to 4-H clubs, districts, and regions across the country each year! Through the FCC 4-H Club Fund, you can receive up to $500 to put toward events, activities, materials, and more. Check out some of the ways clubs have used the funds:
What could your club do with $500? Get ready to amp up your club year by heading to 4-h-canada.ca/clubfunds. Applications are open from August – October annually. Stay tuned for the official recipients for 2022-2023.
Despite dealing with a personal tragedy following a barn fire, Linden 4-H Club leaders Mark and Theresa Wood continued to put 4-H’ers first. Read this touching tribute written by one of the club’s senior members.
I’ve been with the Linden 4-H Club in Cumberland County, NS for nearly eight years. My General Leaders, Mark and Theresa Wood, have always been the type of people who will cheer for you from the stands, and will be so proud of you for anything that you do - inside or outside of 4-H.
Mark, Theresa, and their daughters Natalie, Samantha, and Catherine had a barn fire on July 25, 2022. They lost most of their livestock, which consisted of 30+ goats, 4-H show goats, quail, chickens, and pheasants. The only animals that survived were the cattle and three male goats.
Mark suffered second-degree burns while trying to save his livestock, but the barn was
engulfed in flames and destroyed. Livestock was lost along with our club's exhibition equipment. However, instead of taking time to grieve over the loss of the barn and the animals, Mark and Theresa continued to prepare for Achievement Day and Exhibition by helping members with their projects, making sure that the goat members had a way to achieve, and figuring out ways to borrow exhibition gear from other clubs.
They put their club members in front of this tragedy that they’ve suffered, and I think that they deserve some recognition for that. To me, that is true leadership.
- Maggie - Linden 4-H Club Senior Member
Can you spot the five differences between these two drawings?
Find them all, then bring the drawings to life by colouring them in!