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ADULTS
PAGE LINKS:
USING 4-H CONNECT
Getting Started Using 4-H CONNECT
4-H CONNECT Instructional Manual for New Families
VOLUNTEERING WITH THE 4-H PROGRAM
Volunteering in 4-H
What Types of 4-H Volunteers are There?
Youth Protection Standards
MANGEMENT RESOURCES AND TOOLS
Texas 4-H Program Management Guide
Club Ed Toolbox for Club Managers
Character Education Programs
VOLUNTEER RESOURCES
4-H Learning On-Line
Volunteer Voice (4-H Blog)
Recognition and Certifications
Volunteer Extension Cord Newsletter
4-H Volunteer Leaders' Association of Texas
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
4-H Livestock Mentor Program
Project Teams
Enrichment Curriculum for Teachers and Schools
Trainings
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT ITEMS
Texas 4-H License Plate Fund Raiser
Texas State Rifle Association License Plate Fund Raiser
VOLUNTEERING IN 4-H
Last year, the Texas 4-H Youth Development program involved more than 39,000 adults in providing fun, hands-on learning opportunities to more than 1 million Texas youth. To learn more about becoming a 4-H volunteer, contact the Extension office in your county.
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Decide what you have the time and interest to help youth explore and chart positive futures.
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Consider volunteering to lead a 4-H group in your community, your local school, or any other location where there are youth who need positive, committed adult role models in their lives.
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Contact your county Texas AgriLife Extension Service office to find out about local opportunities for 4-H involvement.
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Complete the Texas 4-H Volunteer Application Form & Youth Protection Standards Program. Because the Texas 4-H Youth Development program is committed to helping create safe environments for young people to learn, have fun and develop socially, we work to ensure that the adults we entrust to work with young people only have the best interests of youth at heart.
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Share your skills, knowledge and talents while having fun with kids and you're sure to make a difference in their lives.
4-H offers a variety of programs, activities and events designed specifically to support and enhance volunteer participation and involvement in kids' lives. The work volunteers do with youth is also supported by university-developed educational materials and resources available through your county Texas AgriLife Extension Service office.
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WHAT TYPES OF 4-H VOLUNTEERS ARE THERE?
Volunteers are essential to the successful implementation of the 4-H program. All registered adult 4-H volunteers working directly with 4-H youth in Texas complete a Youth Protection Standards Program (criminal background check) and receive training. Teens may also serve in volunteer roles through the 4-H Leadership project.
Volunteers can serve in a variety of roles, including the following:
- 4-H Club Managers
- 4-H Project Leaders
- 4-H Master Volunteers
- Teachers
- Event Judges
- Community Resource Persons
- Camp Counselors / Chaperones
- Parent Helpers
- Committee Members
- Advisory Council Members
- Host Families for exchange students
- Foundation Members/Fund-Raisers
- Mentors
Please contact your county Texas AgriLife Extension Service Office for more information on these rewarding opportunities!
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YOUTH PROTECTION STANDARDS
The purpose of the Youth Protection Standards Program is to provide a safe and secure environment for youth and adults involved in Extension programs, implement best practices related to management of volunteer service risk, and protect the image and integrity of Texas AgriLife Extension Service and its associated groups. In order to serve as a volunteer, all potential volunteers who have direct, face-to-face contact with youth, must be screened through the Youth Protection Standards Program. The criminal background check conducted is a national search of 48 jurisdictions, in addition to state and national sex offender lists.
If you intend to serve as a direct volunteer with youth and have not been screened, please contact your county Extension office immediately.
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TEXAS 4-H PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Texas 4-H Management System allows exploration of many different topics ranging from explanations of the eight different delivery methods of the 4-H program to the ways to properly use the 4-H name and emblem.
The management system has twelve different experiences that both county Extension agents and volunteers should be knowledgable on for the proper management of a 4-H program. All of these experiences are important for managing a quality 4-H program. There are a few key documents that everyone should be familiar with regardless of whether you are an agent, volunteer, 4-H member or any other individual interested in the Texas 4-H Program.
Click here to visit the 4-H Program Management Site
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CLUB ED TOOLBOX FOR CLUB MANAGERS
CLUB ED was developed as a resource for club officers and club managers to gather ideas, management information, ceremonies, inspirations, program ideas, and other great club resources.
CLUB ED is organized month by month in order to make it easier for information gathering. In each month you will find the following pieces of information:
- Club Activities
- Club Managers Checklist
- Community Service Activities
- Flag Ceremonies
- Ice Breakers
- Parent Opportunities
- Program Ideas
- Officer Installation Ceremonies
Click Here to access the Club Ed Resources.
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CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR 4-H MEMBERS
Character Education is an important part of any 4-H program. Regardless if a youth is participating in a food show or in the show ring, it is their duty to know the value and importance of making good decisions.
The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program offers two character education programs, Texans Building Character and Quality Counts. Texans Building Character is a general program designed to teach youth the six pillars of character based on the Josephson's Institute research. Quality Counts takes the six pillars of character into the show ring, by demonstrating and teaching the role of 4-H members in the livestock industry.
For more information on either of these programs, visit the website
Texans Building Character
Quality Counts
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4-H LEARNING ON-LINE
The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program is in the process of developing in and innovative learning modules to assist leaders, volunteers and parents working with 4-H to better understand and lead their youth groups. Below are modules currently developed and available for review.
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VOLUNTEER VOICE
Let your voice be heard! The Texas 4-H Program is pleased to present “Volunteer Voice” - a blog set up to foster and improve communication between the Texas 4-H Program and the numerous volunteers that are essential to the successful implementation of the 4-H Program. It also provides volunteers the chance to provide feedback to the program and let their voice be heard!
The Volunteer Voice blog can be found at: http://texas4hvolunteervoice.blogspot.com
Questions related to volunteerism are posted on the blog, and volunteers are invited to post comments and answers to the questions online. All 4-H volunteers are invited to participate in Volunteer Voice. To post a comment, go to the website and click on "post a comment." You will be prompted to create an account, but it only requires an e-mail address, passowrd, and accepting the terms and conditions.
The current question (posted August 2007) is: "How can the Texas 4-H Program better support YOU as a volunteer (i.e. training, resources, communication, etc.)?
Check it out, and let us hear you!
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VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AND CERTIFICATION
The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program strives to recognize those that dedicate themselves and their time to the youth of Texas. Currently, volunteers and alumni are recognized through the following awards:
- 2008 Volunteer Awards Program Handbook
- Texas 4-H Salute to Excellence Award
- Texas 4-H Leader Legacy Award
- Texas 4-H Alumni Award (Sponsored by Texas 4-H Friends and Alumni Association)
- Texas 4-H Citation for Outstanding Service to 4-H
- Meritorious Service Award (Sponsored by Volunteer Leaders Association of Texas)
Click here for the complete award descriptions, the Awards Handbook and Award Applications.
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VOLUNTEER EXTENSION CORD NEWSLETTER
Volunteer Extension Cord (VEC) is a way to advise 4-H volunteers about Texas 4-H Volunteer Development. This newsletter is e-mailed to County Extension Agents, Texas 4-H Faculty, District Extension Administrators, and Regional Program Directors. In addition 4-H volunteers who are active in VLAT or their District Adult Leaders Association (and we have your e-mail address) will receive VEC. To add an e-mail address to our list, send a message to texasvolunteer@tamu.edu and type subscribe followed by your e-mail address.
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4-H VOLUNTEER LEADERS' ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS
The Volunteer Leaders' Association of Texas (VLAT) was organized to give 4-H volunteers an opportunity to network. The focus of the 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association of Texas is on training and communication for and among 4-H Adult Leaders. The over-all purpose is to involve 4-H leaders in 4-H Leadership Development.
4-H Volunteer Leaders' Association of Texas website
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4-H LIVESTOCK MENTOR PROGRAM
The purpose of the Texas 4-H Livestock Mentor Program is to provide training for 4-H livestock project leaders, equipping them with a valuable set of resources and tools from which to build and support families enrolled in a specific livestock project. The overall goal of the training program is for volunteers to return to their home county and work cooperatively with the County Extension Agent to provide support and leadership to the 4-H project, members and leaders, thereby enhancing the project experience for youth. Livestock Mentors must be willing to commit service time back to the project area in their home county.
The 4-H Livestock Mentor program provides project leaders with two central themes of training.
• The species-specific subject matter provides volunteers an overview of the animal industry and current practices related to health, feeding, nutrition, selection, daily care and animal evaluation.
• The youth and volunteer development portion of the training provides volunteers with information about serving in a coaching/mentoring role when working with youth and adults. The topics include ages and stages of youth development, goal setting, developing people of character, additional 4-H project opportunities, positive reinforcement, teamwork and useful resources and tools that the volunteer can use with families and County Extension Agents.
Livestock Mentor trainings are offered for horse, beef, swine, sheep & goat, and now small animal (poultry and rabbit) livestock projects. Every year, each region will be responsible for hosting one Livestock Mentor training with training on two species offered at each one. Training on beef and swine species will be conducted together in two regions each year, while the other two regions will host training on sheep & goats and small animals. Regions will then rotate the species subject matter training offered the following year. The horse mentor training will also rotate throughout the four regions, being offered on an annual basis.
For more information on the 4-H livestock mentor program, contact your county Extension agent!
Potential Livestock Mentors should be adults who are registered 4-H volunteers and have a clear interest in helping youth and families with their livestock projects. The training is not targeted for new volunteers; instead, it is targeted toward 4-H project leaders who are willing to commit the time to return to their home county and work with 4-H members that are in their first and/or second year of their livestock project.
One of the items that will be more heavily emphasized in Livestock Mentor trainings is the role of the adult volunteer as a “mentor” or “coach” to youth. Becoming a successful coach takes practice and patience from adult leaders. Adults who are successful coaches:
- have a defined coaching philosophy and objectives,
- understand the importance of effective communication,
- provide positive reinforcement, and
- motivate youth.
National 4-H Council Supports 4-H Volunteers with $500,000 From Monsanto Company
National 4-H Council has received a two-year $500,000 award from Monsanto Company to create hands-on training experiences for 4-H’s 540,000 volunteers, who provide 4-H youth across America with opportunities to learn leadership, citizenship and life skills.
“As a company 100 percent focused on agriculture, Monsanto is committed to investing in ag youth you represent the future of farming,” said Ernesto Fajardo, vice president of Monsanto’s U.S. crop production business. “We appreciate and are proud to support the dedication of 4-H volunteers across the country as they help youth become active citizens and community leaders.”
Through regional and state 4-H volunteer forums funded by Monsanto, 4-H volunteers will network with each other and learn about innovative programs that will help them bring fresh perspectives and activities to their local 4-H programs. Texas 4-H is a recipient of some Monsanto Funds, and the funds have been allocated to support the 4-H Livestock Mentor Training Programs conducted in 2008. Monsanto also provided early funding to help make the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Awards - recognizing top 4-H volunteer leaders across the nation - possible.
“4-H is supported nationwide by a dedicated network of volunteers who know the value of strong, positive youth development. Partners like Monsanto make it possible for 4-H to continue to build and sustain our volunteer base and ensure that even more youth enjoy fulfilling 4-H experiences,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and chief executive officer, National 4-H Council.
“Monsanto has a long-standing tradition of providing support for 4-H,” noted Jim Tobin, director, biotech business development, Monsanto, who presented the $500,000 training award to 4-H. “Many company employees were 4-H members, and tell us that they credit 4-H for many of the skills they use today to do their jobs - a real credit to the 4-H volunteer leaders who assisted them in their learning process.”
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For additional information, please visit www.monsanto.com.
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PROJECT TEAMS
The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program offers several different ways for volunteer leaders to be involved in project development and direction. This opportunity is provided through project teams, focus groups, and/or advisory committees. Through a youth-adult partnership, each of these leadership opportunities provides 4-H members and adults to discuss goals and directions of a project and then implement those goals.
Currently, Texas 4-H has three active project groups, Food and Nutrition, Clothing and Textiles, and Horse. For more information about each of these groups, click on the corresponding link below.
Clothing and Textiles Project Advisory Board
Food and Nutrition Project Development Team
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ENRICHMENT CURRICULUM FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS
The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program reaches more than 500,000 youth annually through enrichment programs conducted through schools and other after-school programs. These resources provide a great source of current research and materials for school teachers in the area of agriculture/natural resources, family and development resources, and general life skills.
All enrichment curriculum can be viewed on the publication page of the Texas 4-H and Youth Development website.
 Texas 4-H Curriculum Resources for Teacher
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TRAININGS
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TEXAS 4-H LICENSE PLATE
Show your pride everywhere you drive. For only $30.00 a year you can have a Texas 4-H License Plate on your vehicle. Out of the $30.00 plate fee, $22.00 will be returned to the Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program for county enhancement grants.
For more information and an application, visit the Texas Department of Transportation website.
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TEXAS STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION LICENSE PLATE
From the $30 specialty plate fee, $22 goes to the Texas A&M University System to supplement existing and future scholarship programs supported by the Texas State Rifle Association and to provide grants to 4-H Club shooting sports programs to promote safety education.
For more information and an application, visit the Texas Department of Transportation website.
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Page last updated:
April 7, 2009
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