Vilsack, Biden Speak At National 4-H Conference

After a rainy, gloomy weekend here in DC, I heard some exciting news: Secretary of Ag, Tom Vilsack, and Joe Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, were going to be kicking off the starting session for the 2012 National 4-H Youth Conference, which just happens to be held where I am currently working!

Tuesday morning, acting Director of the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young spoke first, encouraging youth to think creatively and strategically to solve community issues and recognize the youth in the audience as America’s future community leaders.

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Spring Break at Home

Over Spring Break I got to go home to my hometown of Central City which was a fantastic break from Lincoln. I was at home wondering what there was to do on a Thursday night at home when all of a sudden it hit me that my county's annual pancake feed was going on that night! Of course I couldn't miss that because that pancake feed had helped fund scholarships for so many graduating 4-H members like myself, so I told my friend that was visiting that we were going to go the pancake feed and that I hope that she likes pancakes.

As we were walking in I was approached by someone that worked in the extension office asking if I was staying for a while. At first I didn't know why she was asking me this but then I realized that the Country Kids 4-H club had received 4-H club of the Month and that it was March. Since I was there that they wanted me to present the award to the club, which I was more than happy to do so. :) The picture below is myself presenting the award to the one of the members while the other members are to the left of him.

After presenting the award my friend, Melissa, and I helped my younger siblings with the cake walk while we waited for the rest of my family to arrive to eat some delicious pancakes! Once everyone arrived we all had a fantastic breakfast for supper. Everyone in my family as well as my friend Melissa had a great time supporting our local 4-H program. Here is my older brother and my younger sister enjoying the pancakes.

Since this is my first year out of 4-H it was very strange just being there and not working the pancake feed. This is something that I will eventually get use to as the years go on.

Well this is just one of the fun things that occurred during Spring break and I hope that everyone has a fantastic year filled with lots of fun 4-H projects or events.

Anastasia

Nebraska 4-H Alumni Ice Cream Social

Hello Everyone!

February is Nebraska 4-H Month. So, the 4-H Ambassadors decided to have a 4-H Alumni Ice Cream Social where 4-H Alumni's and others came out to celebrate. It was a fun filled event that was located in the East Campus Union at UNL.

We had a football signed by Ndomukong Suh, which we had a drawing for. The winner of the football was Kelly McCarty who was a 4-H Alumni from St. Paul, Nebraska. She told us her own story while being in 4-H:

"My favorite memory was when I just began taking goats to fair. My very first year taking goats, I won third place in showmanship. What's more amazing, is I won Grand Champion Market with a goat that only had half an ear! I've been showing goats ever since."

 We also had 4-H Alumni stickers for them to wear around campus. The Ambassadors decided to have a large map of Nebraska to show where everyone was from by putting a star sticker in its place. The delicous Dairy Store Ice Cream was the best! It was 4-H Clover Mint Ice Cream! YUM! The perfect way to celebrate!

Greetings from Washington, D.C.!

Hi all!
Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of opportunity to fill you in on the happenings of the ambassadors in Nebraska, because I have been interning at the National 4-H Conference Center in Washington, D.C.!

I applied for the position in October, received word that I had gotten it in November, and I moved out here in February! Since then have actually gotten accustomed to living in the big city rather than the farm where I grew up, or even Lincoln, which has a small-town feel to it. I also had to get used to not being a student for the semester- that was a VERY easy adjustment.

My position is known as a Program Assistant, there are two programs to work for, WOW (Wonders of Washington) and CWF (Citizenship Washington Focus). Both applications are available in the Fall.
I work with 3 other young women, from New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Washington! You can learn more about them here!

We have had lots of different groups so far, the National Ag Day group is hosted here, as well as the upcoming National 4-H Conference for youth! I am very excited to meet the visiting Cornhuskers!!
My job, when I'm not working on projects at the Center, is to lead groups as their visit the sights and museums in Washington, D.C. I had to take a huge test before I could be certified, but now I can tell you all sorts of interesting facts about the city!
If anyone is visiting this Summer for CWF, et excited! We have lots of fun events and topics in store for you! :)

Here are a couple pictures from my exploring so far: the first is Jefferson Memorial at night, and the second is the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center and Washington Monument!