GROWING THROUGH 4-H

1. GROWING THROUGH 4-H By: Kali Fields I pledge… My Head to Clearer Thinking My Heart to Greater Loyalty My Hands to Larger Service, and My Health to Better Living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

2. GOALS… To use the four H’s of 4-H to examine how the program has shaped my life and how I have applied these values in the past year!

3. HEAD

4. KNOWLEDGE • In 4-H: • Cattle, swine, and sheep projects • Many different craft projects – woodworking, sewing, etc. • Meetings – How to run a meeting correctly • Workshops • State Awards • Basically everything in 4-H builds knowledge in some way

5. APPLYING KNOWLEDGE TODAY: • Having prior knowledge in my classes such as ANS 110 • Common knowledge to do necessary tasks such as cooking, sewing, building things, etc. • Common sense with everyday tasks: following directions appropriately, communicating effectively, etc.

6. DECISION MAKING In 4-H: • Deciding how much an animal needs to be fed for proper gain • Deciding the best way to run a workshop to help younger kids learn • Deciding what projects to take to the fair each year

7. APPLYING DECISION MAKING TODAY: • Deciding how to best present material in class projects • Deciding what homework is most important to finish first • Deciding the best and safest ways to spend my free time

8. TIME MANAGEMENT In 4-H: • Making time for meetings, events, chores, etc. • Organizing meetings so they last for an appropriate amount of time • Being able to juggle school activities such as sports & still staying active in 4-H

9. APPLYING TIME MANAGEMENT TODAY: • I try to get my homework done before having fun • I am able to juggle work, classes, and studying while still allowing myself to relax sometimes • I still have room for improvement here though – I am a procrastinator!

10. MANAGING MONEY In 4-H: • Livestock projects – buying an animal and it’s food and supplies • Looking for best deals to still make money on projects • Saving enough money from the previous year to purchase next year’s livestock • Club treasurer

11. APPLYING MONEY MANAGEMENT TODAY: • I save at least part of each pay check to pay for future college expenses • I buy my own food and household items now, and have learned to bargain shop • I budget my money, allowing myself to only spend so much each month on food, clothes, etc. • I DEFINITELY STILL NEED WORK ON THIS THOUGH!!!!!

12. HEART

13. PASSION In 4-H: • Learning to love new and different activities: showing livestock and a wide variety of craft projects • Dedicating much of my life to these projects that I have grown to love

14. APPLYING PASSION TODAY: • I realize that there are many things out there I have never tried, so I try to always try new things! • I am pursuing a career in agriculture after learning that this is the area I am most passionate about

15. FRIENDSHIP In 4-H: • Introduced me to new people outside of my normal circle of friends • Met people with different backgrounds • I was introduced to a little more diversity at the fair than I was in my small town

16. APPLYING FRIENDSHIP TODAY: • I have been able to meet a lot of amazing people at MSU • Most of them people I have met have very different backgrounds than I have had – I may not relate to city kids as well as those from my area but I have been able to easily make connections • I have kept all my old friends but made many new ones at MSU too

17. TEAMWORK In 4-H: • Working together to reach a goal – fundraisers, community service projects, etc. • Sitting on committees that make important decisions as a group • Working with other teen leaders to put on workshops, clinics, give presentations, etc.

18. APPLYING TEAMWORK TODAY: • Being successful at group projects in several classes so far at MSU • Making compromises to get along with my roommates • I have learned to let myself rely on others and to let others depend on me • I AM DEFINITELY STILL IMPROVING IN THIS AREA!!!!

19. FAMILY In 4-H: • There is something in 4-H for every child in a family allowing a time for bonding • Parents are encouraged to be very involved in the 4-H program, unlike in extracurricular activities in school • Families share common interests in 4-H, giving them a connection and something to talk about

20. APPLYING FAMILY TODAY: • Staying involved in 4-H has pushed me to go home more often and stay closer to my family • I may be at MSU but I still feel the need to keep a close connection with each of my family members • We will always share our love of 4-H and look forward to spending time together at the fair each year

21. HANDS

22. BUILDING SKILLS BY DOING In 4-H: • Constantly building new handyman skills by crafting • Building communication skills through public speaking at events like banquets, auctions, presentations, etc. • Hands on projects allow me to learn more than just reading about it: carcass judging, showing livestock, etc.

23. Applying my hands on skills today: • I still use many basic skills from 4-H such as cooking, sewing, scrapbooking, writing, etc. • I have gained creativity that is helpful in presentations and projects in many of my classes • Using my communications skills I have gained in 4-H has been crucial in every college class

24. HARD WORK In 4-H: • Doing chores every day and finishing projects has given me a good work ethic • Knowing that my hard work is necessary to finish projects and be rewarded has also been a valuable lesson • I have often times worked so hard only to fail, but this has taught me to never give up!

25. APPLYING MY HARDWORK ETHICS TODAY: • I know that hard work is necessary for success and am willing to put forth the extra effort • Masonry worker at the MSU physical plant : definitely not afraid of physical labor • It seems this first year of college is full of making mistakes because everything is so new, but I am constantly doing better and I have realized that hard work always pays off no matter how hopeless things may seem!

26. HEALTH

27. PHYSICAL HEALTH In 4-H: • Cooking nutritious projects for the fair has taught me what is good for me and what is not • Staying physically active outside doing chores, training my animals, etc. • Keeps me busy enough so I have little time for sitting in front of the TV or computer all the time

28. APPLYING PHYSICAL HEALTH TODAY: • I try to eat balanced meals, and eat fast food one time a week or less • I try to work out at least a couple times a week • I value being healthy very much, but I definitely need to work on this area some!

29. Emotional Well-Being In 4-H: • Surrounded me with positive people and activities • Kept me busy and therefore happy • Consumed my time keeping me from participating in less beneficial activities

30. APPLYING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING TODAY: • I have learned that staying busy keeps me happy so I try to do so • I have learned how to have fun in positive ways • I have learned what people in my life are good for my emotional well-being and which ones bring me down

31. IN CONCLUSION • All of the values found in the 4-H pledge have molded my life in a very positive way, and have allowed this year to be successful for me! My 4-H career will be over after this year, but it has been very successful. I hope to use the values I have learned to make my life just as successful! • Someday I hope to have a career in the 4-H program to give back to the program that has impacted my life so much. • However, no matter where I end up someday I will always live by the 4-H motto: “TO MAKE THE BEST BETTER”