Saturday August 17 will be the Crystal Clover Appreciation luncheon. The donors of an unrestricted $1000 or more will be recognized and there will be guest speakers who will be revealed at a later date.

Saturday November 16 will be the Indiana 4-H Congress. There will be more information to come on what will be at the congress this year. There will be the awards luncheon for the 4-H scholarship winners of the 2013 year.

If you have any questions please contact Liz Ellis via email at liz-ellis@purdue.edu or the office phone 317-494-8483.

McKinney was elected by a lifelong friend, Mark Townsend for the award. His response when he received the letter was, “Wow.”

The Certificate of Distinction is awarded to recognize those who have contributed to agriculture through professional accomplishments, activity in agriculturally associated organizations, community service, and other activities that make them a credit to their profession.

“It is important to note that you don’t do activities for recognition,” McKinney said. “You do them because there is a need and at some point in time another person ahead of you helped teach and train you to be a leader.

McKinney refers to his efforts and accomplishments as a team approach. He has served in the following: Director of three different bank boards, President of the Purdue Council on Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching, State Farm Services Agency committee, co-advisor of local FFA chapter, vice chair and building committee representative for construction of a community center, the school board and building board, and involvement for an addition to his church.

“Helping to serve Indiana agriculture was and is a good feeling,” said McKinney.

Some of the activities that 4-H provided for McKinney that impacted him greatly were: 4-H Roundup, Livestock Forum, State Fair Boys School Counselor and State 4-H Jr. Leader Conference.

I will be putting together bi-monthly newsletters so that everyone will be able to stay up to date with the 4-H foundation and what we have coming up and how events have gone.

A little bit about me, is that I am a student at Purdue studying agricultural communications. I was a 10-year 4-H member in LaGrange County, and a 2010 Master Achiever.

Some of my fondest memories are of the years spent at the fairgrounds. Undoubtedly, there would be water fights, games of euchre, and the occasional injury of being stepped on by my draft horses during the week of the fair. But, that isn’t anything that a good friend and a wheel barrow can’t fix.

To me, 4-H is a program where students develop into responsible and well-rounded young adults. 4-H provides them with the skills and opportunities to be able to serve others, cultivate responsibility, and work with many different types of people.

4-H taught me how to use the skills and abilities that I have to turn a project into something that I can be proud of and not just something to cross off of my check list.

I am thankful for not only the opportunities that 4-H provides, but also for the help that it provides for the students going off to school. The 4-H foundation and its donors are an awesome support for the members taking the next step into society after developing quality skills through being active in 4-H.

Through a generous donation of $50,000 in stock to the Indiana 4-H Foundation, June was able to establish the Richard Eugene Ladd 4-H Scholarship in the name of her father to benefit 4-H youth in Grant County, Indiana.

Richard Ladd grew up on a farm in Grant County, Indiana one of 11 kids.  Four of his brothers and one of his sisters are still alive and living in the area.  Ladd married Colleen Turner in 1947 and together they raised three children, June currently in Powell, Ohio, her brother Robert who lives near Peru, and her sister Diane (Whitlock) who lives in the Ft. Wayne area.

“I grew up on a farm near Swayzee, my brother, my sister and I were 10 year 4-H members.” June said then laughed, “I showed Dairy Cows — Shirley was the first dairy cow I showed!”

“4-H was such a big part of our lives and especially our summers.  The social connections we made in 4-H were so important because we lived on a farm.  We didn’t see a lot of other kids except during the club meeting s and during the fair.  The fair was the highlight of our summer.”

Ladd passed away in 1993.  June created the endowed scholarship through the Indiana 4-H Foundation because she said she wanted to honor him.  “I wanted there to be a legacy after I am gone so that others can know and remember my father for how good he was.”

August 11, 2012 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

500 School Children to Receive Backpacks Loaded With Nutritious Food

INDIANAPOLIS – August 11, 2012 – For thousands of Hoosier children the weekend can mean no food on the table.  But with aid of the Indiana 4-H Foundation and a $150,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation 500 children in six counties will have nutritious food on the weekends. The children will receive backpacks weekly filled with healthy food. In addition to contributing the backpacks Walmart will contribute $145,000 for the food that goes into the backpacks. The grant was made during ceremonies at the Indiana State Fair.

“This grant will help our 4-H members have a better understanding of what goes into a healthy diet,” said Christy Denault, Indiana 4-H Foundation board president. The program, “Feeding Tomorrow’s Future Today,” fills the weekend food gap for public school students enrolled in free and reduced lunch programs while educating 4-H teens about

• Food insecurity in their communities,
• The cost of food, and
• How to follow a budget.

The program will run in the upcoming academic year with 4-H Junior Leaders in Blackford, Elkhart, Newton, Vanderburgh, Vigo and Wells counties. “Working with social workers, counselors and teachers, 4-H teens will be part of a solution to real problems in their own backyards,” Denault said.

“Walmart’s community involvement is based on the philosophy of operating globally and giving back locally. In our experience, we can do the most good by supporting issues and causes that are important to our customers and associates in their own neighborhoods,” said David Reitnauer, Walmart vice president and regional general manager. Referring to the 4-H program Reitnauer said, “Though it isn’t an easy task, your good works seek to help youth set goals, develop self-confidence and citizenship, and make positive decisions that will affect their future. You, like Walmart, are trying to help people live better lives.”

“We know for many school children in the free and reduced lunch programs their school lunch may be the only meal they’ll have. On weekends, without a way to fill the weekend gap, these children would go hungry until the next school day,” Denault explained.

4-H members will pack the food every Friday and give them to the appropriate school children. For the children the cycle repeats for the next weekend.

The contribution to the Indiana 4-H Foundation was made possible through the Walmart Foundation’s Indiana State Giving program and is part of the Foundation’s historic pledge of $2 billion through year 2015 to help the hungry in America by:

• Donating more than 1.1 billion pounds of food from Walmart stores, distribution centers and Sam’s Club locations, valued at $1.75 billion;
• Grants totaling $250 million to support hunger relief organizations at national, state and local levels;
• Mobilizing Walmart associates and customers. For example, Walmart’s logistics team will lend their expertise to help food banks become more efficient in their operations; and collaborating with government, food manufacturers and other corporations that are fighting hunger to increase impact and reach a greater number of families in need.

Through this program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.

To be considered for support, prospective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application.  Eligible applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum funding criteria.  Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at Walmart Foundation State Giving Programs.

In 2011, in Indiana Walmart stores, Sam’s Club locations and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $26.8 million in cash and in-kind donations to local organizations in the communities they serve. Through additional funds donated by customers, and Walmart and Sam’s Club associates throughout the state, the retailer’s contributions in Indiana totaled more than $29.7 million.

Walmart collected on behalf of Indiana more than $336.3 million in sales taxes in FYE 2011. Walmart paid more than $66.4 million in state and local taxes in Indiana in FYE 2011.

In FYE 2012, Walmart spent $1,849,728,798.00 for merchandise and services with 1,342 suppliers in the state of Indiana.  As a result of Walmart’s relationship with these suppliers, Walmart supports 73,485 supplier jobs in the state of Indiana. *Supplier figures provided by Dun & Bradstreet.

About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit http://www.walmartfoundation.org/.

Learn more:

• Indiana 4-H Anti-Hunger Program Provides More than 4,000 Backpacks of Food to Children in Need
• More about Walmart State Giving Programs
• Follow WalmartGiving on Twitter

More from September 2012:

• Indiana 4-H: Pledge video
• Unforgettable Experience: Thank You Letter from 2012 Poland Exchange Trip

Dear Indiana 4-H Foundation,

Thank you so much for making the 2012 Indiana-Poland exchange possible. It was an unforgettable experience, and I am honored to have taken part in it. The exchange provided me with an opportunity to learn about Polish culture first ahnd through my host family. I have no complaints about the exchange except I wish it could have lasted longer! I have enclosed a picture of my host family and me eating lody (ice cream). I have also included a picture of the Polish 4-H Club from the region I visited putting on a show at the local Farm Show (similar to a county fair). We [The Americans] were very impressed with their performance. Once again thank you so much for making this unforgettable experience possible.

Sincerely,

Joseph D. Corbat

More from September 2012:

• The Indiana 4-H Foundation Receives $150,000 from Walmart Foundation
• Indiana 4-H Pledge video

Thank you to all the 4-H youth, educators and volunteers that helped put this video together!

Winner of Join the Revolution of Responsibility Video Contest hails from Marshall County

August 13, 2012 by Stefanie Mojonnier

Marrissa Baney and Allysen Rospopo have been 4-H members of the Marshall County 4-H Dog Club for the past several years. While they each have their own dogs at home, they have also both volunteered to raise guides dogs for an organization called Leader Dogs for the Blind as a part of their 4-H experience. Taylor and Bailey, Marrissa and Allysen’s “Leader Dogs” respectively, are almost finished with their training and will likely be placed with people in need of service dogs soon. Taylor will be at the State Fair on August 18 with Marrissa. Allysen had to return Bailey before the State Fair and was not able to show her.

Earlier this year, the National 4-H Council launched Join the Revolution of Responsibility Video Contest for a chance to win $5,000 for the winner’s 4-H county program. With a large pool of submissions from across the country, Marrissa Baney’s video about her earned the most votes by viewers for the effect her Leader Dog project has had on the community.

Leader Dogs for the Blind provides trained guide dogs to people who are blind and visually impaired. The guide dogs are more than pets; they work to enhance their person’s mobility, independence and quality of life. Before a guide dog can be placed in someone’s home, however, the dog must be trained. Marrissa and Allysen have volunteered to be “raisers” to train the puppies for a full year to be ready for work as soon as they are paired with a person who is visually impaired. Marrissa and Allysen are providing a life-changing service. Trained Leader Dogs open the door to independence, safety and self-worth for their new owners. Each year, over 270 clients attend the 26-day training program necessary to be paired with the guide dog, previously trained by dedicated volunteers like Marrissa and Allysen. Two of those clients will owe their newly gained independence to the Marshall County 4-H Dog Club.

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Volunteer raisers pick up their puppies when they are about 7 weeks old and keep them for about one year. Raisers are responsible for keeping the dogs safe and healthy by providing food and veterinary check-ups. Leader Dogs are typically golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers of any color and shepherds, but sometimes poodles are also trained as Leader Dogs.

Even in training, Leader Dogs are considered working animals and are given the same legal consideration as any other guide dog, which means they cannot be denied entrance to public establishments. Taylor and Bailey have been everywhere with Marrissa and Allysen, including school and work, over the past year. After their year of training, the trainees will be returned to Leader Dogs for the Blind to go through a series of tests to make sure they have the right skills and demeanor for work. If it turns out they cannot work as guide dogs, they might be eligible for a “career change” or the raiser would have the option of taking in their dog as a pet. A dog that is too hyper might be suitable for search and rescue. A dog that is too calm could work well as a therapy dog. When the dogs are too old to continue as service animals and the person with whom they are placed are not able to care for them as needed, Marrissa or Allysen would have the option of taking the dog back as a companion animal.

Allysen graduated from high school this year and will be attending the International Business College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She plans to be a Vet Technician. As an incoming high school junior, Marrissa has not yet chosen which school she will attend, but she does hope to be a junior high or high school history teacher. Both young women hope to continue training dogs.

Stacey Dickson is the dog club’s fearless leader. A 4-H alumnus from Starke County herself, Stacey came over to Marshall County eight years ago to build up the dog project. She claims she has tried to get out a couple of times, but has only been allowed to take a couple of temporary hiatuses. As a full-time groomer and owner of Country Canine’s Dog Grooming, she recognizes she’ll need to find her own replacement if Marshall County is ever going to let her go. Marrissa has been one of Stacey’s most dedicated members. Marrissa was a part of the dog club in Stacey’s first year, when it only had ten members. Eight years later the club has grown to 36 members. About a dozen will be at the State Fair.

Now the big question is what the club will do with the $5,000 prize? As they decide what is best for the club, one option is building a space for the dog club to train year-round and be able to permanently store equipment that currently gets moved around so much it must be repaired often.

Marrissa placed first in service dog and her 6A obedience class and took Grand Champion overall in obedience. She also placed first in beginner agility B, beginner gamblers agility and advanced rally obedience. To see her in action and hard work of her club, make sure to come out to the Indiana State Fair on August 18 around 9am.

To learn more about Leader Dogs, visit their website at www.leaderdog.org. To see if there is a 4-H dog club in your area, or would like information on how to start one, you can find your county extension office at www.four-h.purdue.edu.

Learn more:

• Leader Dogs for the Blind
• Leader Dogs for the Blind: Guide Dog Program

More from August 2012:

• Indiana 4-H Foundation Names New Executive Director
• “Mr. Recreation” becomes Indiana 4-H Hall of Fame 2012 Inductee
• Spotlight on 4-H: FIRST Robotics and Learning Lifelong Skills
• My Indiana: 4-H Shapes A Life

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a worldwide program whose mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders.  Huntington County 4-H Robotics Team 1501 is part of the high school level of FIRST called FRC, FIRST Robotics Competition.

This past June, I graduated from High School and, as I prepare for college, I realize that I am leaving behind something that was such a big part of my life. I have been on team 1501 for 4 years, and now all of the time with this team is coming to an end.  I decided to join the team when I went to my first robotics competition when I was in 7th grade.  It was my older brother’s first year on the team and we wanted to come see the summation of everything that he and the other students on the team were doing.  I enjoyed watching the competition, but my favorite part was walking through the pits and hearing different teams talk about their robots.  Here were these high schoolers talking about science and technology like they were professionals.  These students, who were not much older than myself, sounded like they were engineers.  That was the part of robotics that amazed me the most.

I joined the team in my freshman year of High School and I chose to be part of the marketing team.  The marketing team is in charge of everything not directly related to building the robot.  Marketing is in charge of all of the graphics for the team, all of the community outreach, and anything that needs to be written such as essays for awards and press releases; they are in charge of team safety, the team website, the team business plan, and so many other things.  In short: marketing has a lot of work on their plates.  There have never been many of us in marketing, so we are always busy.  We always joke that for us, the robotics season never ends, but it’s absolutely true.  The marketing department works year round for the team.  We plan demonstrations to get the team out in the community, we teach the public about what the robotics team is, and we try to recruit new members. Working with the marketing team is where I learned the most in all my years of high school.

One of the greatest things I learned on the team was how to be a leader.  In robotics, leadership isn’t given, it is earned.  I spent my freshman year learning the ropes and figuring out how everything worked on the team.  After that I helped organize projects and even lead some of my own.  This past year I felt like I had the most responsibility and leadership than of any of my other years.  I was the student head of the marketing department and I was the safety captain.  As safety captain, I was in charge of making sure the members of the team stayed safe.  I put together a safety committee, I built upon our previous safety plan, and I presented it all to the safety judges.  And I must’ve done something right, because the team was awarded the safety award at the Boilermaker Regional.  As head the student head of marketing, I had to make sure that everything that the department was doing was done on time, on budget, and met the robotics team standards.  I had an amazing mentor, Sondra Fowler, who was head of the marketing department and helped with everything, but it was still a lot of work.  Together we tried to make sure that everything got done, and got done correctly.  This wasn’t an easy feat since we were understaffed and under budgeted, but we always got the job done.  Over the years, the marketing team has put together amazing projects.  We have put together endless demonstrations for the public so we can get the message of FIRST Robotics out and recruit more students and mentors; We have created an Education Initiative to reach students at every age to teach them about science and technology; we have worked with Girl Scouts to strive towards ending the gender gap in science and technology; we have even put together competitions for the public to participate in. Being part of this has taught me that robotics isn’t about just building a robot, it’s about inspiring kids to think about their future; it’s what our main motto for this past season  was: “We Build Robots AND Careers”.

Presenting things to judges is a big part of robotics competitions.  Being part of team 1501 has taught me how to be a great public speaker.  Between presenting to judges and presenting to the general public, my public speaking skills blossomed on the team.  Before I joined 1501, I was very shy and kept away from speaking in front of large groups of people.  But after being on the robotics team, I love public speaking and I feel comfortable addressing groups of people.  Having to speak in front of people required me to gain something else: confidence.  I had to be confident in myself and in what I was saying.  After 4 years on the team, I have acquired confidence in whatever I do; whether that be speaking to judges, or speaking in front of a class, I have the confidence to do those things.

This past season has been the greatest season I have had.  We went to the Smoky Mountains Regional in Knoxville, TN and were awarded the Imagery Award.  We went to the Boilermaker Regional in West Lafayette, IN where we won the competition and were awarded the Industrial Design Award and the Safety Award.  At the Boilermaker Regional I was also chosen as one of two FIRST Dean’s List Finalists for the entire regional. This award is to recognize the leadership and dedication of FIRST’s most outstanding students.  We then went to the championship event in St Louis and had an amazing experience.  I’m glad I got to finish my senior year on the team with such an amazing season.

For the past 4 years, being on a robotics team has been who I am.  It’s strange to thing that my time with team 1501 is over.  But, luckily, my time with FIRST robotics isn’t.  I am heading to college at Purdue University next year where I plan on being a mentor for a new team. I also plan on joining the regional planning committee and help put together the Boilermaker Regional.  Although I will be wearing a different team shirt next year, I will always be a member of 1501 at heart.

Learn More:

• Huntington County 4-H Robotics
• 4-H Junk Drawer Robotics
• Official Website of FIRST Robotics

More from August 2012:

• Indiana 4-H Foundation Names New Executive Director
• “Mr. Recreation” becomes Indiana 4-H Hall of Fame 2012 Inductee
• My Dog Started a Revolution
• My Indiana: 4-H Shapes A Life

Gordon was instrumental in developing Share-the-Fun activities at every level. He also created a recreation program known as the “Seven S’s of Recreation,” a widely used resource in the U.S. and Canada that he created for Rural Youth Clubs of Indiana. As a nationally renowned recreation educator, Gordon was invited to administer his signature programs at universities across the country and he led recreational activities at the National 4-H Dairy Conference annually for more than twenty years.

Gordon was also heavily involved in the Rural Youth groups throughout Indiana, assisting them with social and recreational activities and sports contests. He coordinated a trip to Austria for 300 Rural Youth members in 1969. Among the youth visiting Europe was Marcia, one of his three children; his wife Jean also served as a chaperone.

Gordon was an exemplary teacher and leader. While an Extension Specialist, he often scheduled two or three years in advance due to the high demand for his services. His success as an educator was in his ability to communicate with the student. Gordon taught a recreation course in the Purdue Physical Education Department for many years. Indicative of his teaching ability, more students were denied enrollment than could be accommodated.

A few of Gordon’s assignments in the State 4-H Department and Indiana Extension Service were the Hoosier Recreation Workshop, the Wakanda 4-H Leadership Program, the 4-H Share-the-Fun Program, and the Annual 4-H Roundup.

In the West Lafayette community, Gordon was an active leader. He and his wife, Jean, raised their three children, Judy, Marcia and Gary in West Lafayette, Indiana. He was a president of the Harrison Kiwanis Club, chairman of the West Lafayette Park and Recreation Advisory Board, active member of the Tippecanoe Historical Association and annual served the West Lafayette Book Fair. He was also a Cub Scout Leader and Indian Guide in the YMCA youth programs.

Gordon served the Extension Service with great commitment, compassion and much care. In 1971, Gordon received the Indiana Park and Recreation Association’s “Outstanding Service Award.” Other memberships include the American Camping Association, the National Association of Extension Agents — 4-H, Epsilon Sigma Phi, the National Cultural Arts Committee and the Indiana Square Dance Callers Association. His achievements mark a productive and exemplary career that is well worth recognizing as the 2012 Indiana 4-H Hall of Fame Inductee.

Learn More:

• About the Indiana 4-H Hall of Fame

More from August 2012:

• Indiana 4-H Foundation Names New Executive Director
• Spotlight on 4-H: FIRST Robotics and Learning Lifelong Skills
• My Dog Started a Revolution
• My Indiana: 4-H Shapes A Life