FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To be archived (4-H) after Sept. 1 , 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va – This year, State 4-H Days’ learning programs are expanding from two to four days at West Virginia University, providing 4-H members with additional opportunities to develop their leadership, communication and science skills.
Wednesday (July 29) 4-H’ers from around the state will begin arriving at WVU for educational and fun-filled competitions, demonstrations, exhibits and tours related to 4-H curriculum. Competitions begin Thursday (July 30), when county-award winners begin vying for state titles in judging horticulture, land and livestock.
Friday (July 31) and Saturday (Aug. 1) competitions for state titles continue when county title-holders step before judges to exhibit their visual presentation, public speaking and communication technology skills.
The 30 visual presentation categories include computers, electric energy, community and economic development, foods and nutrition, health, horses, conservation, photography and veterinary science.
Contestants will be judged on a variety of skills, including their originality, subject matter knowledge and material organization. Each presenter must use visual aids, such as posters, tools and related materials.
New learning adventures this year include hands-on instruction that culminate with contests or demonstrations. Dog Skill-a-thon, Bicycle Rodeo, Hazard Hunt and 4-H Fashion Runway are among the learn-by-doing activities being offered to all youths.
Other choices include entertaining experiences with WVU Jackson’s Mill 19th Century History Hitting the Road, art show, talent show and 4-H Style Revue.
The central site for 4-H Day competitions and contests will be the National Resource Center for Coal and Energy building on WVU’s Evansdale Campus. Activities also will be held at the Core Arboretum, Animal Science Farm, Evansdale Residential Complex and other sites.
One of the benefits of State 4-H Days is 4-H members’ focused exposure to the WVU campus and college life.
“Members who live far away from Morgantown may never get a tour of WVU. If they come up for 4-H Days, however, that will simply be a bonus experience to an all ready valuable learning process,” said Dr. Chad Higgins, WVU Extension specialist, who coordinates the annual event.
“After the kids take part in their Lego Robotics Demonstrations,” he said, “they can tour WVU’s engineering and forensic buildings and see firsthand what they could be accomplishing in college with the skills they are developing in 4-H.”
Another change in this year’s 4-H Days schedule is its place on the calendar. In recent years, the event has been held in June. This year, the two-day event expands to four days and opens in July.
4-H is sponsored by the WVU Extension Service in each of West Virginia’s 55 counties. One of the largest youth development programs in the United States, 4-H is the only program with direct access to technological advances from university research.
Information about local 4-H opportunities and county WVU Extension Service offices is available at www.ext.wvu.edu.
One of the 4-H ideals is “learning by doing.” The educational activities of State 4-H Days implement that ideal to its fullest potential, Higgins said.
—WVU-ES—
CONTACT: Ann Bailey Berry, WVU
Extension Communications
Phone: (304) 293-5691; e-mail: Ann.Berry@mail.wvu.edu
jh/fsm—07/22/09
Last modified
August 6, 2009
Comments to: Extension Service Web
