Category Archives: Uncategorized

Welcome to The Virginia 4-H Blog

Posted on March 27, 2013 by cmsutph

Hello Everyone. Welcome to the Virginia 4-H blog “Virginia Clovers”. My hope is that our blog will provide a consistent means of communication and hopefully cut down on the email overload that you experience. Please plan to visit frequently.

It is truly an exciting time for Virginia 4-H. We recently brought our agents with less than two years of service together for training and sharing. It was wonderful to see 33 enthusiastic, passionate, new colleagues share, learn, and build lasting relationships. I want to thank everyone who is working hard to support and encourage this group of professionals as we work together to provide outstanding developmental opportunities for more than 195,000 youth across Virginia.

Plans for State 4-H Congress are well underway with many exciting opportunities for teen 4-H members. This year, we will be offering competition workshops for delegates who are not competing but would like to learn more about competition areas. The Great Summer Showcase workshops are better every year being taught by enthusiastic, highly qualified, faculty members. The State 4-H Office has set program quality goals and for increasing the number of delegates and units participating in Congress. Plan to join us!

A team of 4-H Agents and Specialists met to begin the 4-H strategic planning process. The group, facilitated by Dr. Barbara Board, spent a day discussing challenges, opportunities, and action plans as they relate to Focus Area III of the VCE Strategic Plan. Team members have the meeting notes as well as Proposed Impact Planning Teams related to 4-H. Team members will be soliciting additional input. In addition, the State VCE programming team will be proposing additional Impact Planning Teams that will need youth development input and participation.

Many thanks to the 4-H strategic planning team members: Jinx Baney, Mellissa Breen, Nicole Clem, Celeste Crisman, Kaci Daniel, Sam Fisher, Sonya Furgurson, Brian Hairston, Sherri Jackson, Kathleen Jamison, Amanda Lucas, Danielle Jones, Katie Lafon, Mike Martin, Sarah Morton, Lenah Nguyen, Crystal Peek, Tonya Price, Leslie Prillaman, Sandy Shortridge, and Glenda Snyder. The group had open, honest discussion and developed positive action items that I believe will enable us to implement the youth portion of the VCE Strategic plan in an effective manner. When called upon, please share additional ideas that you may have to improve upon the draft document.

Lastly, I want to thank each of you for taking the time to fill out the 4-H program unit summary sheet. If you have not yet hit the submit button to send it to the state office, please do so as soon as possible. Just as you have used the document to set local goals, we would like to use the data to set statewide goals and to assess areas where more training and resources may be needed.

Cathy

Cathy M. Sutphin, PhD

Associate Director, 4-H

Upcoming-New 4-H Agent Training

Posted on January 23, 2013 by msbreen

New 4-H Agent Training will take place March 5-7, 2013 at the W.E. Skelton 4-H Center in Wirtz, VA. Training will start at 10 a.m. on March 5 and will conclude by 11:30 a.m. on March 7.

Please contact me with any questions you may have.

Katie Lafon

Way to Go 4-H International Program Volunteers

Posted on January 3, 2013 by msbreen

We would like to share a letter that we received from the States 4-H International

Dear Cathy,

On behalf of States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs (States’ 4-H), we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation for your state’s participation in our 2012 global citizenship youth exchange programs. As our world becomes more interconnected, international youth education programs like those we facilitate are indispensable and serve a crucial role in fostering cultural competency and promoting world understanding. Given the current economic climate, your willingness to support global citizenship programs by opening your state to international youth is commendable and greatly appreciated. We sincerely hope the experience has been as gratifying and enriching for the 4-H community and families in your state as it has been for our international participants.

The success of States’ 4-H’s global citizenship programs would not be possible without the efforts and dedication form 4-H staff and volunteers in you state. We presented the Extraordinary Quality Program Award to Virginia 4-H at our annual Fall Coordinators’ Conference on November 9, 2012 in Wichita, KS.

Thank you your continued support and partnership. We are grateful for your state’s participation in our global citizenship programs and look forward to another successful year in 2013.

Sincerely,

Deryl Walren, States’ 4-H International Board Chair

Yoko Kawaguchi, States’ 4-H International President