Monday was the official start to the competition with registration starting before 8am. We pulled into the Biltmore to be welcomed by their sign. After registration, we took off for the official practice site. There we found 4 field sites and buckets of soil textures. We were a bit rusty when we started at site #4, but things got much smoother as we continued. There were lots of other teams at the sites and we couldn’t help but chuckle a bit at them. Some of them were dressed like they were going to the mall, not to a dirt hole. One team looked more like a basketball team than land judgers. One of them got upset when her new Pumas got a little mud on them. Other teams hadn’t ever been in a pit before. The scientists on site had to show them what to do. One group was using a butter knife to determine top soil depth. While some of the groups were a bit comically, others looked like they would be serious competition. Their coaches were much tougher on them than Nat has been on us. We stopped for lunch and then headed to the second practice site to look at two more holes. Finishing up about 3pm, we headed back towards Oklahoma City and stopped in Stockyard City. Since it was Monday, we got to see the auction taking place. Cattle everywhere, they used horses to get them into the auction room. We had dinner at the Cattleman’s Café. There were tons of other teams there as well. We looked around Stockyard City before heading to Shepler’s to purchase a little western wear. After a long day, we arrived at the hotel to find out that we had to practice some more. A little book work was done and we called it a day.

A late night promised an early morning. Before daybreak the team started to stir, and by 8 o’clock we were back on our western excursion. Stepping outside it was evident a storm was brewing, the wind was blowing and skies were dark, but we trudged on. Almost to Little Rock the radio broadcast issued tornado warnings about 30 miles north of us. Luckily we were traveling in a south western direction. We experienced pea sized hail, minor to others who were hit by tennis ball sized hail, the rain made it difficult to drive, and the wind was fierce. Although these conditions were not great for traveling the duration was minor, and soon we were back in warm, sunny weather before to long. We finally entered Oklahoma around noon. We stretched our legs at a rest area, and then piled back into the Tahoe continuing our quest to Oklahoma City. Periodically Jenny and I were caught napping, which made the ride rather peaceful for the navigators. We arrived in Yukon, just west of Oklahoma City, where our hotel is and unloaded our luggage. While in our rooms we located several farms which we will be practicing at tomorrow. Despite the flat land, it is beautiful here. The landscaping makes up for the rolling hills we are missing from home.

We ventured out this morning, destination Oklahoma. The first line of business was loading the SUV which should have been simple, but we all packed like we would be gone for a month, needless to say we crammed and jammed in every crevice until all bags were loaded. After this minor delay we headed south on I-79, then west via I-64. Where we went from there I am not totally sure, but when I woke up there were no beautiful rolling hills. In Kentucky you could see miles and miles, it was rather flat, a perfect place for farming. There were crop lands stretching out to the roadway, huge tractors and machinery were plentiful. We merged on to I-51 which dropped us into Memphis, Tennessee. A little FYI for anyone wishes to make our voyage in the future; it is really flat and really straight, be prepared to suffer from fatigue. Our navigators bravely guided us across the mighty Mississippi River into Arkansas. We arrived at our hotel around 10 o’clock WV time, 9 o’clock central time; here we are refreshing and preparing to continue our Westward adventure. ~Allyson

OMK is a collaborative effort with the U.S. Army in supporting children of National Guard and Army Reserve families impacted by the Global War on Terrorism.

WV is one of the new OMK states and has one of the 29 mobile technology labs (MTL)that have been provided to OMK State Teams for use with a variety of programs in support of military youth impacted by deployment. These labs contain laptops, printers, scanners, laminators, DVD burners, digital cameras and video cameras as well as a variety of software packages to help kids stay connected to deployed parents. An excellent use of the labs is a means for youth to stay connected to their parents during a deployment. A child would be able to video tape a message, burn it to DVD, create a card and package the entire production for mailing.

The very existence of youth is due in part to the necessity of play; the animal does not play because he is young, he has a period of youth because he must play. – Karl Groos

*Snowless Snowball Fight *
This is a fun game to play if you like having snowball fights, but do not have any snow. You’ll need white pantyhose and flour to make the snowballs and how many depends on your group size (about 1 to 1.5 per person). You take the pantyhose and cut the two legs apart from each other. You take an 8oz paper cup, fill it with flour and put it into the bottom of the pantyhose leg. Then you tie off the pantyhose with two square knots on top off each other, cut the pantyhose in between the knots and you have a snowless snowball. Repeat the process where the knot is still in the leg until you have used it all. You should get about 8 per leg from “queen size” hose. Now you have snowballs that do not hurt too bad when they hit you and you can use throw them over and over again. With these snowballs you can play any number of games. One is to have the group break up into two teams with a brave youth leader as the leader, or should I say target for each team. Split the area of play in half and have the leaders positioned a good ways away from each other in a designated place with only a little room to move around (a circle 4ft across is good). Then have the teams try and hit the other team’s leader. If a person is hit with a snowball while on the enemy’s side, they have to drop their snowball and return to their territory. The team that ends up with the leader that has less flour on them is the winner.

From “The Game’s the thing…” Compiled by Cathann A. Kress, Extension Youth Development Specialist 8/99 (This was when our National 4-H Leader worked for Iowa State University Extension!

As some of you know, I will be attending National 4-H Conference this spring. National 4-H Conference is a chance for state delegates to present the key programs, topics or issues that are significant to our state and local 4-H programs. So if you have any key programs you like or dislike or issues that are significant please let me know about them.

We will be presenting a platform statement for the national Youth Development Program. We will be meeting in roundtable discussions which will give us the chance to discuss and formulate recommendations.

Again please take time to tell me what you like about 4-H, what you feel is important to keep in 4-H, and what you would like to see change.

One more thing, the theme for the conference is “Green Aid”, so if you or your 4-H club have done some 4-H environmental programing let me know so that I can share that also.

Hello, I’m Rich Fleisher and I’m writing to share with you some news about or trip to the University of Aguascalientes and the University of Guanajuato in Mexico with the hopes of spreading the 4-H program to out southern neighbors.

Doug Hovatter, Tina Cowger, Timmy Jopling and Megan Morris traveled with me.

When we arrived we found that the community perceived the 4-H was in competition with their educational program so they weren’t allowed to let 4-H use the schools or have after school programs. With the TV cameras rolling I explained that 4-H can work in conjunction with the schools and that it did not try to compete but work to enhance one’s education. Before the visit ended, 4-H was granted money and land to have its own building. The announcement appears in the photo of the paper.
Doug Hovatter said, “I came here thinking that I would teach, but I have learned so much.” To learn more about this program you can contact me at Rich.Fleisher@mail.wvu.edu The photos show some of the people and students that we met and some of their artwork.

Attention any 4-H’ers who are attending WVU as a freshman in the fall: If you meet the qualifications below, apply for the Miller Presidential Scholarship! The deadline for applying is March 1 and the scholarship provides a minimum of $3,000 per year over four years as long as the student remains a full-time student the entire year.

Applicants must demonstrate financial need and high academic promise, including a 3.8 gpa or higher and an ACT of 30 or higher or an SAT math/verbal score of 1340 out of 1600.

Contact Vicki Ginn at vicki.ginn@mail.wvu.edu or 293-5691, ext. 3392 for an application.

First preference is for youth from Hancock County, but if nobody applies or meets the qualifications from that county, it’s open to the entire state of 4-H’ers.

So, eligible 4-H’ers APPLY! What a wonderful opportunity!

Just because the snow is flying doesn’t mean 4-H isn’t in action! Check out this list of winter 4-H activities. Leave an echo (comment) to tell everyone what fun your county gets into during the chilly months.

1. Winter field day! Growing up in Lewis County 4-H, we always braved a Saturday’s blowing flurries to compete in a multitude of indoor relay races. http://4h.blogs.wvu.edu/blog/2007/9/6/call-for-games

2. Skiing field trip! Though I never really mastered flying down a hill on skinny planks, holding sticks (I still don’t understand what those sticks are for), we would all pile on a bus before the crack of dawn to make our way to Canaan Valley for a day on the slopes. http://www.wvtourism.com/spec.aspx?pgID=51

3. Ornament exchange. Ah! I still employ the knowledge of a Yankee gift exchange at least once each December. http://www.ehow.com/how_12843_have-holiday-gift.html

4. YAC, Young Adult Conference is certainly one of the highlights of the late season for 4-Hers and 4-H Alumni 18 and older. A preview post from Tiffany Hall, Co-Chair of the YAC Planning Committee is soon to come! http://www.yac.wvu.edu/

5. Basketball Day, when else do you get to come to a WVU Basketball game at the famed Coliseum with a TON of really awesome 4-H friends? http://4h.blogs.wvu.edu/blog/2007/12/10/wv-4-h-basketball-day

6. Teen Leader Weekend books up completely! Best of luck signing up for this amazing 3 day camp. Held in Jackson’s Mill, teens from all over the state bundle up in coats instead of usual summer wear of flip-flops and sun block. http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/infores/pubs/fyres/evcal01.htm

7. National 4-H Congress wrapped up a couple of weeks ago. Held in Atlanta, Georgia thousands of 4-Hers from around the country (and Puerto Rico) gathered in a week long conference. Maybe we can have one of this year’s delegates write a post on the experience! http://www.national4-hcongress.com/

8. Volunteer Leaders Weekend has been a crafting-paloza and shooting sports training ground for many years now. This weekend is a great opportunity for our beloved adults, not just to learn new skills as county volunteers, but also a chance to rejuvenate away from the real-world. The new name of this weekend is Youth/Adult Partnership Training Weekend.

9. Always a Classic, Caroling at local Nursing Homes. Whether singing 4-H or Holiday songs, visiting the elderly is always greatly appreciated. Last week I went singing with my church group, we took extra carol books so residents could sing along!

10. WVU Legislature Day is a great opportunity for Extension Service to showcase it’s work in all 55 counties of our great state. Many do not make the connection between land-grant universities and 4-H, but it’s an important bond! Demonstrating the benefits of 4-H at the capitol insures legislatures understand the importance of WVU Extension and 4-H in West Virginia.

11. Though your county camp planning committee maybe taking a break, the good people of Extension are still honing their skills as dedicated and experienced camping experts. Camping In-service is a meeting agents, program assistants, and specialist use to share best practices and proficiency! West Virginia 4-H has a top-rung camping program, and keeping it that way takes work!

12. Two words, DANCE WEEKEND! In the past Dance Weekend and Camp Planning has coincided, beckoning committee members to the contra and square dances being held just yards away. Dance Weekend was always one of my favorite winter activities, sustaining me until the summers that would return me to Jackson’s Mill.

Friends,

A comment added to “some thoughts” (Tad’s latest article) at 11:57 am today was accidentally deleted in clearing the account of spam. If this was your comment, please re-submit your echo.

Many thanks and apologies!