Indiana 4-H Clover Call

In this episode of the 4-H Clover Call, we learn how youth can be provided with additional experiences in their livestock program. Moderator Christie Jacob (Parke County 4-H Educator) and panelists Jenna Bushong (Montgomery County 4-H member and Junior Livestock Board Member), Abby Morgan (Montgomery County 4-H Educator), and Alicia Criswell (Wayne County 4-H Educator), talk about methods that enable youth who are interested in livestock to have additional leadership skills and serve as positive role models for others in the program.

The discussion includes methods that each county has utilized to provide these leadership opportunities, including a Montgomery County 4-H Junior Livestock Board and Wayne County 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program. Overviews of the Livestock Career Development Events and Livestock Skill-a-Thons are also provided.

Purdue Extension Educators Adam Tyler (Fountain County) and Bill Decker (Madison County) have a conversation about the use of Drones in the Indiana 4-H Youth Development Program. Drones have multiple applications for use with youth that can benefit them throughout their lives, including new and emerging, high-paying professions. Bill shares a number of examples and resources that relate to drones throughout the podcast. He also provides a vision for how drones can be incorporated into 4-H (and beyond) in the future!

Episode 31: 4-H Camps

4-H Camps are great experiences for youth in grades 3-6. Camps are located in various facilities across the State of Indiana. Older 4-H members will serve as Camp Counselors. 4-H Educators and other approved 4-H Volunteers serve as adult chaperones and ensure the programming goes smoothly. In this podcast,

4-H Educators Christie Jacob (Parke County), Liz Beiersdorfer (Dearborn County), and Caren Crum (Clinton County) lead the discussion about their camp experiences.

4-H Academy @ Purdue is the topic of this month’s 4-H Clover Call. 4-H Academy will be held June 7-9 at Purdue University. Students in grades 9-12 are invited to attend!

Dena Held, Martin County 4-H Educator, moderates this discussion. Also included on the podcast is Angie Frost, 4-H Healthy Living Specialist; Heather Caldwell, Fayette County 4-H Educator; Carly Holland, Rush County 4-H Educator; 4-H members Jorga Ellis (Rush County) and Clay Smith (Randolph County). During the podcast, we’ll learn about the parts of 4-H Academy that are highlights for the panelists and describe the opportunities that are available through 4-H Academy in 2023, including 14 different workshop tracks that are scheduled to be offered.

4-H Inclusion is an important concept for all youth programs, including 4-H Youth Development. We strive to include young people from all backgrounds, interests, and ability levels in programming that we offer. This Clover Call Podcast shares tips and suggestions to help volunteers and staff reach out to all children in the program to help them have a positive, educational opportunity. 4-H Educators Liz Beiersdorfer (Dearborn County), Kati Sweet (Hendricks County), and Adam Tyler (Fountain County) relate experiences they have had with including youth from all backgrounds and providing them with exceptional experiences.

Chapters:

1. 0:00-2:00      – Introduction
2. 2:00-4:34      – What is inclusion and why do we need it?
3. 4:34-8:37      – Hendricks County 4-H efforts to work with youth with disabilities
4. 8:37-12:05      – Fountain County 4-H efforts to work with youth with disabilities
5. 12:05-15:44      – Assistance available to help make accommodations for youth, including      Inclusive 4-H resources on 4-H Website
6. 15:54-21:00      – Hendricks County Disability and Inclusion Day at the Fair
7. 21:00-25:00      – Fountain County accommodations for youth with cognitive limitations      showing swine
8. 25:00-27:43      – Liz’s experiences with students with a variety of limitations and      conclusion

In this episode of the 4-H Clover Call, three recipients of the 2022 Indiana 4-H Volunteer Awards of Excellence share their experiences of receiving their recognition at the Indiana 4-H Leadership Summit and the work that went into each of their awards. Jennifer Abrell, 4-H Educator in Owen County interviews each of these individuals:

• Rhonda      Sanders, Martin County, Excellence in Youth and Adult Partnerships, Team
• Sawyer      Scheid, Monroe County, Excellence in 4-H Science Programming, Youth
• Brandi      Staggs, Owen County, Excellence in 4-H Club Programming, Adult

Elaine Brovont, Clinton County 4-H Lama Club Leader, shares the experiences she has had over the years working with the youth in the 4-H Lama project. She talks with Caren Crum, 4-H Extension Educator in Clinton County, to help us all learn more about Lamas in 4-H!

Amanda Deutsch and Kylie Bedel, are each Indiana 4-H Alumnae from the Vanderburgh County 4-H Program in Indiana. Amanda and Kylie talk about their participation in Indiana 4-H, 4-H Scholarships they have earned, 4-H Ambassadors, State 4-H Junior Leader Conference and Council, and Collegiate 4-H. They conclude the conversation by sharing the impact that 4-H has had on their lives to date and how it will help them in the future.

Kathleen Bohde, Hamilton County 4-H Extension Educator, and Steve McKinley, 4-H Extension Specialist, talk about their participation at the recently completed National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) Conference. Kathleen and Steve reflect on the benefits of the professional association, networking and professional development opportunities, awards, and benefits to the Indiana 4-H program.

4-H Educator, Adam Tyler, returns for this episode to talk with Area Extension Director, Julie Gray. Julie serves the counties including and surrounding Indianapolis. Julie shares with Adam her background in Extension, her favorite aspects of her current position, and exciting 4-H programs that are happening in Central Indiana. Julie talks about the future of 4-H and how it can continue to provide life skill experiences to prepare youth to be successful leaders in their community.

4-H Fairs are typically recognized as the culminating event of the 4-H program year. Lots of excitement is generated during the 4-H Fairs as the youth display the products that they have worked so hard on during the year. Exhibits are one part of the 4-H Program and help to complete the learning cycle within 4-H. Dr. Casey Mull, State 4-H Program Leader, talks with 4-H Educators Dena Held and JP Pietrowski in this podcast to discuss the uniqueness of the 4-H Program and the role that fairs and exhibitions play in helping the youth participants to learn valuable life lessons.

Purdue Extension Area Directors provide assistance to Purdue Extension Educators in all program areas. They support the hiring process for County Extension Teams. Adam Tyler, Extension Educator from Fountain County, interviews 3 of the Area Directors, Denise, Kelly, and Molly, about their roles as Area Directors and also about the 4-H programs now and in the future in their geographic areas.

Purdue University 4-H Extension Educators have a variety of roles and responsibilities in their respective counties. During this episode of the Indiana 4-H Clover Call, 4-H Educators located in central Indiana join us to talk about their experiences. Kathleen and Ashley host a conversation also including Heather, Amber, Kati, and Rachael. A wide variety of experiences and backgrounds are represented by these Educators. They share their passion for implementing programs that have a positive impact on youth across their counties and around the state!

The 91st annual State 4-H Junior Leader Conference will be held June 14-17, 2022, at DePauw University in Greencastle. Three members of the State 4-H Junior Leader Council – Hadassah, Maddie, and McKinley - join us on this episode of the Indiana 4-H Clover Call to talk about their experiences and preview the conference for those high school students who are interested in attending.

On the April 2022 4-H Clover Call, Kathleen Bohde, Hamilton County 4-H Youth Development Educator, talks with two recipients of the 2021 Youth Engaged in Service (YES!) grants awarded by the Indiana 4-H Foundation. Funds of up to $10,000 are available. 16 grants were awarded in 2021! Kathleen also talks with Shelly Bingle, 4-H Foundation Executive Director about the 4-H Foundation and the YES grants.

Mackensi’s project is providing sustainable agility equipment to enhance the Dog Park in Morgan County that is open to all families, allowing the youth and their families to bond with each other and their dogs.

Alice’s project through the Lost Arts 4-H Club is providing resources to support veterans and their families (through the Helping Veterans And Families Association), including tie blankets and homemade crocheted scarves.

During the podcast, Mackensi and Alice describe each of their projects, developing their vision for the service learning project, building support for the projects, and overcoming challenges realized along the way. They also share the impact that their projects have had to date and their future plans to continue to build this impact. Shelly provides an overview of the Indiana 4-H Foundation and the YES grant opportunities that are available.

For more information, visit:

In the March 2022 4-H Clover Call Podcast, Rebecca Wilkins, 4-H Educator from Harrison County, talks with a panel of experts for the health and well being of animals. Panelists include:

• Dr. Melissa Justice, Field Veterinarian for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health
• Denise Derrer Spears, Public Information Director for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health
• Courtney Stierwalt, 4-H Animal Science Extension Specialist, Purdue University

The panelists discuss the relationship between BOAH and the Indiana 4-H Youth Development Program; the Premises ID system; traceability and the 4-H Animal ID system; steps taken during a disease outbreak; effects of an outbreak on the exhibition of animals; the role that 4-H members have to take biosecurity precautions; Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease; methods to keep updated with BOAH; and tips on careers in the field of animal science.

Owen County 4-H Educator, Jennifer Abrell, talks with Vigo County 4-H Educator, Sara Haag, and 4-H Camp Counselors Cody, Carson, and Norah. The Counselors talk about their experiences of serving in this role and identify important characteristics of a counselor. The counselors discuss the valuable knowledge they gained during the counselor training, and include some highly memorable moments of serving in a counselor role. Why should you consider serving as a counselor? This group has some great reasons! While the responsibilities of a 4-H Camp Counselor are many, so are the rewards of serving!

In this episode of the Indiana 4-H Clover Call, we hear from members of the Clinton County 4-H Teens as Teachers team. 4-H Educator, Caren interviews Team members Katie, Emmeline, and Bailey and Advisor Stacy who share with us their experiences in the Teen Leadership and Animal Biosecurity tracks. The team tells us about their experiences during the training as well as how they have used the training to present information to different audiences in their community.

Amy Nierman and Josh Winrotte, Purdue Extension Area Directors for Areas 2 and 8, respectively, talk with Fountain County 4-H Extension Educator Adam Tyler about their roles and backgrounds in 4-H and Purdue Extension. Amy and Josh share their ideas for the future of Purdue Extension and Indiana 4-H and a bit of their philosophy of serving as an Area Director. Thank you for joining us!

During this issue of the Indiana 4-H Clover Call, Martin County 4-H Extension Educator, Dena Held, talks with 4-H Alum Dan Gregory. Mr. Gregory shares his experiences of participating in the Indiana 4-H Youth Development Program, including the value that 4-H has had on his life and on the lives of his family members.

Indiana 4-H…what is it? Who’s involved? What does a young person or adult do in 4-H? In this episode of the Indiana 4-H Clover Call, Purdue University 4-H Educators Heather Caldwell and Carly Holland give us a brief overview of what is available through the Indiana 4-H Youth Development Program. It’s more than you might think!

Summer Internships with Purdue Extension provide a wealth of life experiences for the interns and valuable programming assistance for the Purdue Extension Educators. In this episode of the Indiana 4-H Clover Call podcast, Ariel and Emma talk with Harrison County 4-H Educator Rebecca Wilkins about their summer internship experiences in Harrison and Floyd Counties, respectively. You’ll hear about some of the innovative programming that Ariel and Emma worked on during the Summer of 2021.

Cindy Hoye, Executive Director of the Indiana State Fair, joins us for the July 2021 Indiana 4-H Clover Call. Cindy is a longtime supporter of the Indiana 4-H Youth Development program and has extensive experience working with the Indiana State Fair. Cindy shares information about the year-round operation of the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center and highlights some of the exciting opportunities that will be available at the 2021 Indiana State Fair!

To learn more about the Indiana State Fairgrounds and the Indiana State Fair, please visit:

“The most critical part of a child’s day begins after the final bell rings. Soccer for Success is an after-school program, offered free to participants, that is proven to help kids establish healthy habits and develop critical life skills through trained coach-mentors and community engagement.”

- U.S. Soccer Foundation.org

In this edition of the Indiana 4-H Clover Call, Xiomara Diaz-Vargas, 4-H Extension Specialist, and Adam Tyler, 4-H Extension Educator in Fountain County, talk about the exciting opportunities available to youth in Indiana through the 4-H Soccer for Success program! The multi-week program includes 60 minutes of physical activity each week, coupled with nutrition, living a healthy lifestyle, along with a coach-mentor. This program is a nationwide partnership between 4-H and the U.S. Soccer Foundation.

To learn more about Soccer for Success as a youth participant or a coach-mentor, please visit:

In this episode of the Indiana 4-H Clover Call, we hear from the 2020 Indiana 4-H Volunteer Awards of Excellence recipients in the Science Category: Josiah George and Joe Riffle of Franklin County, and Patty Breslin and Rahul Sarkar of Hendricks County. You’ll hear how they became involved in 4-H, and some of the science-based aspects of the 4-H program in which youth can participate.