4-H projects changing with times, state project winners announced

Kansas

This year, Kansas' state 4-H project award winners' projects range from staging a tech camp for kids that organizers say is "taking off" to a restored 1944 John Deere B tractor.

"We have a waiting list for our robotics track," said Beth Hecht, Kansas State University Research and Extension 4-H youth development agent in Leavenworth County, who is working with Jacob Reynolds, state 4-H space tech project winner, to organize the technology camp for kids.

The high-tech offering will include robotics, rocketry and GPS and GIS technologies, said Reynolds, a high school junior who will teach 4th through 6th graders about rocketry and the principles of flight.

The camp concept was introduced by Reynolds' older brother Ben, a former state 4-H project winner who is now a Marine.

While Reynolds' project focused on Space Age technologies, Shane Blaes' project would seem a step back in time.

Blaes, from Montgomery County, restored a 1944 John Deere B tractor and for his efforts, is the state's self-determined 4-H project winner.

Choosing such a project allowed him to match learning opportunities to his interests. His project involved investing 350 hours restoring the tractor and about 600 hours restoring a 1956 720, which also was made by John Deere.

Both tractors originally belonged to his grandfather, Donald Blaes, and will stay in the family, Blaes said. He is studying agronomy and agriculture education at Kansas State University, and noted that farm mechanics work well with his career path.

The young men's projects offer a glimpse of the variety apparent among the 34 state project award winners honored at the Emerald Circle Banquet in Manhattan June 5, said Gary Gerhard, professor of 4-H youth development at Kansas State University.

The 2008 project awards are given in recognition of accomplishments during the 2007 4-H year, said Gerhard, who also serves as the chairperson for the 4-H state awards program.

The annual banquet and awards program is sponsored by the Kansas 4-H Foundation.

State 4-H project award winners earn the opportunity to attend National 4-H Congress in Atlanta Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 and a $400 travel award from the Kansas 4-H Foundation.

Kansas 4-H'ers often identify attending National 4-H Congress as a highlight in their 4-H career, said Gordon Hibbard, president of the Kansas 4-H Foundation.

"The Kansas 4-H Foundation's Patron Sponsors Program provides significant support to 4-H through trips, awards and medals," he said. "Our foundation's leaders and donors know the opportunity to attend the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta is a pinnacle for Kansas 4-H project winners, providing them with a national 4-H leadership experience and a lifetime of memories."

Kansas 4-H'ers earning 2008 state project awards are listed alphabetically by project:

Beef: Kyla Clawson, Finney County;

Citizenship: Ann Clawson, Meade County;

Clothing & Textiles: Lori Patton, Shawnee County;

Communications: Meriah Forbes, Reno County;

Dairy: Todd Coen, Franklin County;

Dog Care & Training: Erin Johnson, McPherson County;

Electric Energy: Jacob Mueller, Dickinson County;

Energy Management: Brad Bohnenblust, Labette County;

Entomology: Benjamin Johnson, Butler County;

Family Studies: Genna Stambaugh, Miami County;

Fiber Arts: Amanda Allen, Johnson County;

Foods & nutrition: Laura Flory, Atchison County;

Forestry: Andrew Thomas, Shawnee County;

Geology: Jonathan Gregory, Johnson County;

Health & Wellness: Garrett Miller, Miami County;

Home Environment: Hannah Swank, Shawnee County;

Horse: Samantha Belsan, Shawnee County;

Leadership: Molly Allison-Gallimore, Johnson County;

Meat Goat: Andrew Strasburg, Wilson County;

Performing Arts: Elizabeth Harner, Pottawatomie County;

Pets: Misty Lethcho, Miami County;

Photography: Rachel Webb, Shawnee County;

Plant Science: Troy Krehbiel, Finney County;

Poultry: William Trieb, Riley County;

Rabbits: Stephanie Waln, Miami County;

Reading: Morgan Strnad, River Valley District #4;

Self-Determined (tractor restoration): Shane Blaes, Montgomery County;

Sheep: Reagan Kays, Crawford County;

Shooting Sports: Jacob Stroda, Riley County;

Space Tech: Jacob Reynolds, Leavenworth County;

Swine: Blake Jones, Coffey County;

Visual Arts: Michelle Kretzmeier, Allen County;

Wildlife: Jeremy Elsworth, Labette County; and

Wood Science: Joshua Brend, Miami County.

More information on the Kansas 4-H awards program is available from Gary Gerhard at 785-532-5800. Information on educational 4-H programs available to Kansas youth is available by contacting any county or district K-State Research and Extension office or by checking the Kansas 4-H Web site: www.kansas4h.org.

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How are state 4-H project winners selected?

"4-H projects typically introduce a topic, and then provide the next steps in developing an interest and building skills that often serve as the basis for a career interest or lifelong hobby, said Gary Gerhard, professor of 4-H youth development at K-State and chair person for the annual 4-H state awards program.

To qualify for a state 4-H project award, a Kansas 4-H member must first earn the top award in his or her county, he said.

County award recipients are asked to complete a state 4-H award application before advancing to the Extension area level, where two to three of the area projects are selected for judging at the state level.

One state winner is selected for each project. A youth may be named a winner in a project subject matter only once; however, they can apply in other project areas for competition. Since a member is eligible to attend National 4-H Congress only once, if a state winner has previously earned the top award in another project category, a project award runner up - or alternate - is eligible to attend, Gerhard said.

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Date: 7/10/08

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