All About Texas 4-H

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4-H and Youth Development

Meeting Needs, Changing Lives

June 5, 2014

All About Texas 4-H 4-H is a national organization that helps to develop young people in life-long knowledge and skills to become engaged citizens. Through 4-H, youth are also taught how to meet the diversities and challenges of today’s society by bringing together youth and adults to design programs that will teach skills for living. 4-H is truly a model of the “learning-by- doing� teaching concept. It reaches people in their own communities with delivery methods suitable to their needs. 4-H also helps to provide opportunities for families and communities to develop stronger bonds.

The 4-H program is a voluntary, non-formal, educational program offered to all youth regardless of race, color, national origin, residence, or handicap. Texas 4-H is conducted jointly with the Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program and Texas AgriLife Extension. County and district 4-H programs are directed by Extension staff.

Staff members provide training and support to volunteers who work with 4-H members.

Our Cooperative Extension Program provides program outreach targeting youth who have limited access to resources in thirty-four (34) rural and urban Texas counties based on county identified issues.

The 4-H program is designed to meet youth where they are to create programs and projects relevant to their interests. Project involvement may include: theatre and performing arts, youth entrepreneurship or robotics. We help transition youth from participating in fun and engaging learning activities into more structured 4-H clubs. Our 4-H program focuses on leadership and vocational development in three content areas: science, healthy living, and citizenship.

Membership in 4-H clubs allows youth to compete for awards and scholarships. 4-H club members compete at local, district, state and national level competitions. Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program provides two (2) San Antonio Livestock Exposition (S.A.L.E.) Scholarships to deserving students who excel in their 4H clubs and participate in community events throughout their middle and high school years.

4-H programming provides safe environments supported by caring adult leaders who assist in nurturing youth interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEAM).

Young people in 4-H learn about citizenship, leadership, food and nutrition, healthy lifestyles, veterinary science, robotics, community gardens, agriculture, and other subjects. The 4-H program uses the learn-by-doing method of instruction to teach young people about these subjects. 4-H projects are selected according to interests and abilities of each individual. Many projects involve setting goals and evaluating the 4Hers progress. The skills and knowledge learned in 4-H project work help members become more engaged individuals and citizens.

What is the meaning of the 4-Hs? 4-H is a national organization and is over 100 years old. It is part of the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Head, Heart, Hands, and Health are the four Hs in 4-H, and they are the four values members work on through fun and engaging programs. ◦Head - Managing, Thinking ◦Heart - Relating, Caring ◦Hands - Giving, Working ◦Health - Being, Living How do you join 4-H? Call the Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program or your Extension agents housed in the Texas AgriLife Extension county offices. A listing of Cooperative Extension Program 4-H agents is provided for your convenience. Our agents can inform you on how to get started and join through 4-H Connect.

What is the 4-H Pledge?

I pledge my head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

What is the 4-H Mission?

4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.

What is the 4-H Vision?

A world in which youth and adults learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change.

What kind of projects would 4-H members participate in?

You can engage in almost any type of activity which addresses issues in your community and the world-at-large. Hands-on learning in science, leadership and healthy living are the cornerstone of 4-H programming initiatives. 4-H members become the voice of youth in their community. As a 4-H member, you can participate in these and other fun-filled activities: Entrepreneurship, Healthy living, Gardening, Workforce development, Livestock projects, Community development, Life skills training, Science, Family and Consumer Sciences, Technology, Agriculture, Youth leadership and development, among other projects your club identifies.

Will there be opportunities for me to visit the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences at Prairie View A&M University?

The 4-H Unit is part of The Cooperative Extension Program within the College. Dr. Rukeia Draw-Hood, Program Leader for 4-H and Youth Development, works with Specialists, 4-H Agents and stakeholders to develop engaging and fun-filled programs in sustainable agriculture initiatives. 4-H members participate in the annual Youth Leadership Lab, a summer camp held each year at the University. The Agriculture Field Day, the State Goat Judging contest, among others are events that 4-H members can attend. The Unit also partner with school districts to develop science and agriculture based youth programs. There are over 600,000 4-H members in Texas. You can join today by contacting the local agent in your community. We look forward to having you

join 4-H today!

Does age matter?

4-H is for kids of almost any age. If you’re in kindergarten, first grade, or second grade, you can join Clover Kids. Children in grades third through their high school senior year can join 4-H. What about your parents or guardians?

Your parents don’t have to become 4-H leaders when you join 4-H, but there are lots of ways they can help. They can lead special projects, drive 4-Hers to activities, make refreshments for meetings, and much more! In fact, your whole family can be part of many 4-H activities!

Who are 4-H Volunteers?

4-H volunteers are people who care about the kids and who supervise activities.

They are carefully screened and trained to make sure that 4-Hers are safe.

Volunteers can also serve on club advisory committees and lend their expertise and networking skills to support the success of 4-H clubs.

Adapted from: “Learn About Texas 4-H.” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/learn “About 4-H: Preparing Young People to Make a positive impact in their communities and the world.” 4-H National Headquarters. http://www.4-h.org/about/

I Pledge:

My Head to Clearer Thinking

My Health to Better Living

My Heart to Greater Loyalty

My Hands to Larger Service

For my Club, my Community, my Country, and my World.

Extension Agents 4-H and Youth Development Cass County Extension Agent John Ferguson P.O. Box 471 Linden, TX 75563 Phone: 903-756-5391 Fax: 903-756-8923 John.Ferguson@ag.tamu.edu Dallas County Extension Agent Cynthia Peirfax 10056 Marsh Ln., Ste B-100 Dallas, TX 75229 Phone: 214-904-3050 Fax: 214-904-3080 cmpierfax@pvamu.edu Tarrant County Extension Agents Cassius McAlister 200 Taylor S.t, Ste. 500 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Phone: 817-884-1940 Fax: 817-884-1941 cmmcalister@ag.tamu.edu Shannon Johnson-Lackey 200 Taylor St., Ste. 500 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Phone: 817-884-1940 Fax: 817-884-1941 sjohnson@tamu.edu El Paso County Extension Agent Vacant Ysleta Annex, Box 2 9521 Socorro Rd, Ste. A-2 El Paso, TX 79927 Phone: 915-860-2515 Fax: 915-860-2537 Fort Bend County Extension Agent Timothy Sandles 1402 Band Rd., Ste 100 Rosenberg, TX 77471 Phone: 281-342-3034 Fax: 281-633-7000 tksandles@ag.tamu.edu Brazos County Extension Agent Arvitta Scott 2619 Highway 21 W. Bryan, TX 77803-1232 Phone: 979-823-0129 Fax: 979-775-5168 Arvitta.Scott@ag.tamu.edu

Waller County Extension Agent Vacant

846 6th St. Hempstead, TX 77445 Phone: 979-826-7651 Fax: 979-826-2310

Travis County Extension Agent Nathan Tucker 1600-B Smith Rd. Austin, TX 78721 Phone: 512-854-9600 Fax: 512-854-9611 Nathan.Tucker@agnet.tamu.edu Harris County Extension Agents Ricky Mahaley 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Houston, TX 77084 Phone: 281-855-5600 Fax: 281-855-5663 rlmahaley@ag.tamu.edu Marcus Glenn 3033 Bear Creek Dr. Houston, TX 77084 Phone: 281-855-5600 Fax: 281-855-5663 mglenn@ag.tamu.edu Washington County Extension Agent Kenneth McCullough 1305 Blue Bell Rd. Brenham, TX 77833 Phone: 979-277-6212 Fax: 979-277-6223 kwmccullough@ag.tamu.edu Bexar County Extension Agent Desiree Rucker 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., #212 San Antonio, TX 78230-4818 Phone: 210-467-6575/6578 Fax: 210-930-1753 Desiree.Rucker@ag.tamu.edu Cameron County Extension Agent Roxanna Salinas 1390 W. Expressway 83 San Benito, TX 78586 Phone: 956-361-8236 Fax: 956-361-8289 rmsalinas@ag.tamu.edu

Notes

Samuel G. Roberson, Sr., Ph.D. sgroberson@pvamu.edu P. 936.261.5131 F. 936.261.5143

Dr. Rukeia Draw-Hood, Program Leader 4-H and Youth Development Prairie View A&M University College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Cooperative Extension Program P.O. Box 519 Mail Stop 2001 Prairie View, TX 77446

Joice A. Jeffries, Ph.D. jojeffries@pvamu.edu P. 936.261.5102 F. 936.261.5143

The Cooperative Extension Program serves people of all ages regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, political beliefs, and marital or family status (Not all classes are protected by legal statutes). Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Act of September 29, 1977 in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Texas AgriLife Extension. Dr. Alton B. Johnson, Dean and Director of Land-Grant Programs, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Prairie View A&M University.