On behalf of the 4-H Youth Development faculty and staff, we would like to express our sincere thanks to each of you for all you did in support of the Kansas State Fair. Such a major event with the 1000's of exhibits, show entries, and contest participants involve the dedication and support from countless volunteers, office professionals, agents, and specialists. We know you don't have to be at the fair to make those important contributions, and we want all of you to take credit for all you did in preparation and support.

Sure, you might recall some things that did not go well. But, from our vantage point you all made very positive impressions on behalf of the Kansas 4-H Youth Development Program for everyone coming to the fair, youth and adults! Our sincere compliments to ALL of you for the contributions you made.

To all of those individuals who helped out in some way, we'd encourage you to give them a gracious word of thanks and spread the kindness.

Kansas State Fair Lost and Found - The following items were left at the fair with no identification; please contact State 4-H Office.

Decorated basket--Blue dog bowl; stuffed dog, purple collar, dog treats and stickers; paw print pals. Child's KC Chiefs jacket

The Tie Dye Gang - We had an excellent response on Tie Dye Animals, Ornaments and Denim Goods at the State Fair. Please watch the 4-H Youth Development website for information about ordering denim jackets, aprons and tote bags.  Some of the animals and ornaments are in short supply so you may want to call prior to ordering. The Youth Council thanks everyone for their continued support of these sales. Hinshaw

As you know the 4-H year-end statistics must be completed at the county level before the information can be compiled at the state level. Receiving your report and data information before the October 1^st deadline will facilitate timely completion of the state reports that must be sent to Washington, DC. This report is the principal way the 4-H program gets credit for what it is doing. Practically all reports of the land-grant university system, and those of Cooperative Extension, include some of the youth outreach data provided by this report. Continued funding of all programs in 4-H Youth Development are likely to be contingent on proof of the impact this report can demonstrate.

State 4-H Dog Conference - will be held at Rock Springs on November 8-9, 2003. A registration letter was sent to each county office September 8th.   Please share the letter with your 4-H Dog Care and Training project families. Adams

State 4-H Volunteer Forum - "Life's a Zoo....What's a 4-H Volunteer to Do?" takes place October 18-19 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. Special features of the forum include the key note presenter, Ron Willis, mental health consultant from Beloit and the annual business meeting of the Kansas Association of 4-H Volunteers. 

The schedule offers something for every 4-H volunteer -- hands-on learning by doing, club management tips, 4-H marketing and recruitment resources, 4-H project leadership skills, plus time for personal rejuvenation. We certainly appreciate your support by encouraging your volunteers to attend the State Volunteer Forum, which provides a unique opportunity for them to share information and learn from others as well as build a network of informed and enthusiastic volunteers for the 4-H program. Giving leadership to the 2004 Forum is Brenda Hoobler, Atchison Co., NE Area Vice- President and Diane Nielson, AT County Family Consumer Science Agent. For the first time, participants will be staying in Leadership Lodge. Registration brochures were sent to Extension Offices in late August. If you need another copy, please contact the State 4-H Office. A reminder that early bird registrations are due September 19th; no registrations will be accepted after October 3rd.

State 4-H Venturers - Registrations for the 2004 Venturers Program are due in the State 4-H Office by October 10th. Registration materials were mailed in late August to Extension Offices. Check out the 4-H Venturers website for more details and lots of photos from past adventures: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_4hyp/Venturers/

This is a great program to connect with the local Boy Scout troops --- every year since its inception, BSA members have participated in the 4-H Venturers Program. This program is a project of the Venturers Action Team, comprised of teens and adults including: Teens: Michelle Higgins and Lisa Stork, Riley; Kallie Pennel, Jefferson; Austin Clarkson, Pratt. Adults: Deb and Gary Pryor, Riley; Gerry Snyder, Riley; John Payne, Shawnee; Julia Pennel, Jefferson; Cherie Riffey, Pratt; Mary Radnor, Scott; Steve and Tammie Graham, Douglas; Jo Ellen Arnold, Franklin.

*"Ready, Set, Hang On." (4H839) Five panel, colorful, self-mailer, brochure. Cost is 40 cents.

*"You have the Power" Invitation - Encourage club members to invite new families to their November club meeting with this invitation. This invitation is easy to photocopy and distribute to clubs.

*"Join the Leading Edge" Poster - This poster focuses on 4-H being an extraordinary place to learn, where kids can do the things they like and where members can take time for family and friends. This poster is easy to photocopy and distribute to club members.

*Newsletter Article - Need an article for your September or October newsletter? This article asks your club members to join in the effort to recruit new families to their club.

*Newspaper Article - Need an article to send to your local newspaper about 4-H? Just add your local information.

*Proclamation - Proclamation for National 4-H week. Add county specific information.

Discovery Days 2004 - We are looking forward to the 2004 Discovery Days, which will take place June 2-4, 2004, on the K-State campus. The first meeting of the expanded Discovery Days Action Team will take place October 12th in McPherson. Members serving on the team include:

Teens: Jessica Coen, Franklin; Jared Smidt, Dickinson; Amanda Guenther, Franklin; Bernadette Trieb, Riley; Angela Humphrey, Rush; Aaron Kadavy, Republic; Kandace Gustason, Morris.

Volunteers: Pam Kvas, Lyon; Heather Baumgarten, Saline, Lucas Shivers, Clay; Mary Wallace, Marshall; David McCandles, Shawnee; and Kyla Scott, Chase.

Agents: Robyn Swonger, Walnut Creek District; Tandy Rundus, Republic; Carl Garten, Saline; Robin Eubank, Seward; Mary Sullivan, Grant; Leroy Russell Shawnee; Al Davis, Johnson; Christine McPheter, Meade; Lisa Long, Kingman and Pam Van Horn, Saline.

4-H Master Volunteer Program - If you are interested in becoming more effective in your work as a youth development educator, then you'll want to consider recruiting a volunteer or three to participate in the new program titled, "4-H Master Volunteer". This exciting program will be implemented during the next 12 months across the state with area level training as well as a state level training in fall of 2004. The 4-H Master Volunteer Program is a project of the Kansas Association of 4-H Volunteers, working in cooperation with the Department of 4-H Youth Development. Linda Henningsen, Saline County, will be serving as the Coordinator for the program.

The 4-H Master Volunteer Program offers many benefits for not only the volunteer, but also the 4-H program. For the volunteer, becoming a Master Volunteer will strengthen and enhance their educational background so they can be more effective in giving strong leadership to the 4-H program. Plus, Master Volunteers are viewed as knowledgeable and resourceful individuals who have a strong commitment to the program (as proven by the Master Gardener, Master Food Volunteer, and Junior Master Gardeners programs).

In order to become a 4-H Master Volunteer, the individual must be a current or past Organizational Leader, Project Leader or County Leader/Advisor. They must have organizational and communication skills, the ability to work with youth and adults and have an understanding of ages and stages of youth development.

They must attend 16 hours of in-depth training at area (4 hours) and state (12 hours) workshops. Then in order to complete the requirements to become a Master Volunteer, they must give 40 hours back to the 4-H program beyond their current responsibilities.

National 4-H Camping Institute Trails and Tales - Kansas will be hosting the 2004 National 4-H Camping Institute at Rock Springs 4-H Center, February 7-11. The keynote presenter is Kirk Weisler, a widely acclaimed motivational trainer, from Salt Lake City. For more information about Kirk and his incredible work as "the" chief morale officer for the front-line support industry, check out his website at: www.kirkweisler.com

Now's the time to respond to the "Call for Workshop Proposals", which are due November 1st. It is also the time to help the Kansas 4-H Camp Action Team contact potential donors and exhibitors for the Institute, which will draw 200-300 camping enthusiasts from across the country to our very own 4-H Center (folks from California to New Jersey are planning to attend!).

And, now's the time to mark these dates on your calendar and get your board's approval to attend a premier national conference that will take place almost in your backyard (considering the geographical map of the United States)! The Institute isn't limited to Extension professionals -- it's a perfect fit for other youth and human service agencies and organizations that providing camping, after school and year-round programs for their clientele.  Check out the National Camping Institute (NCI) website for more details.....it is best viewed in Internet Explorer: www.oznet.ksu.edu/4h/NCI/NCIhomepage.htm

All of the information is in Adobe Acrobat, including registration brochure and form, Call for Workshop Proposals, Donor and Exhibitor Information, Offsite Excursions, Special Programs, Special Events as well as other forms and information.  You will note that we will also be hosting a post-conference workshop, a two-day Wilderness First Aid Training, to take place February 12-13.  If you would like to be involved in helping plan and produce the National Camping Institute, please contact the following individuals who are giving leadership to these respective components of the Institute:

Co-Coordinators: Pat McNally and Jo Ellen Arnold
Treasurer/Secretary: Karla Hightowers, Cowley
Registration: Shawna Mitchell, McPherson
Publicity: Amanda Davis
Exhibitors & Donors: John Beckman, Scott
Workshops: Amy Gerdes, Ford
Programs: Beth Hecht, Leavenworth
Special Events: Robyn Swonger, Walnut Creek District
Tours: Cathy Musick, Gove
Transporation: Al Davis, Johnson
Ambiance: Andrea Schmidt, Riley
Printing: Nadine Sigle, Osborne
Evaluations: Diane Mack, NE Area 4-H YD Specialist
Wilderness First Aid Training: Jo Ellen Arnold, Franklin

Attachments Key to Improving Kid's Lives - The following article appeared in the "Nationline" column of USA TODAY in early September 2003. I hope it will be of interest in your youth development program. Of course, the first level of connection for young people should be in the home with their family. As we have all experienced, this is not always the case. 4-H youth development can be a support piece to strengthen families in their work of youth development but can be called upon to provide a sense of connectedness to young people who do not receive this attribute in their near environments.

Attachments Key to Improving Kid's Lives
There is a deep hunger within America's children for something they don't know they are missing: close attachments. That means a connectedness to people and to a sense of moral and spiritual meaning hard to find in today's fast-paced society, says a report by the Commission on Children at Risk. It cites brain research that can influence their well-being. The commission calls for increased "authoritative communities," or "groups of people who are committed to one another over time and who model and pass on at least part of what it means to be a good person and live a good life." The Commission on Children is sponsored by the YMCA of the USA, Dartmouth Medical School and the Institute for American Values.

There are three opportunities:
IFYE Ambassador
IFYE Representative
Upper Midwest Exchange to Australia

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact our state volunteer IFYE Coordinator:

Horizon Academy JMG is National Junior Master Gardener Group for September.

The Horizon Suns Junior Master Gardener Group based at the Horizon Academy in Johnson County has been selected the September National Junior Master Gardener Group of the Month. This JMG group is lead by fourteen Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners. The youth all attend a charter school for children with learning disabilities.