September 14, 2015
2015 International Exchanges involved 45 Counties
We are pleased to announce that Kansas 4-H International Exchanges involved 45 counties in Inbound and Outbound Exchanges in the 2015 program year. When Yen-Yu Chen, Ieuan Thomas and Mathias Schmid, IFYE’s to Kansas, departed September 12-13, the only Inbounds remaining in the state are the new academic year students for 2016, Shota Wada, Finney County, and Yuriko Takeki, Clay County, who will be here until mid-June, 2016 and attending local high schools. Nanami Jikuya had completed her year in Clay County in June. Other IFYE’s, Katie Punler, Scotland, and Stefan Taschl, Austria, completed shorter IFYE exchanges in August. Amy Keas, Rooks County. completed a two-month IFYE exchange to Germany in August. With multiple families each, IFYE’s were hosted by 17 families during the summer period.
Through States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs (States’ 4-H.) one-month exchanges, Kansas families welcomed 34 Japanese teens and 2 chaperones who were hosted in 21 counties during July-August and 10 Norwegian 4-H members and 2 chaperones in June-July. The Norwegians were hosted by 13 families in as many counties. Michele Barb, Grant County, Heather Chaney, Neosho County; Hannah Horinek, Haskell County; and Dylan Smith, Leavenworth County, completed two months in Japan in August. Mikey Hughes , Barton County; returned from one month in Finland in August and Mardi Traskowsky, Dickinson County, returned in July from Costa Rica.
When added together, 51 families were involved in hosting for States’ 4-H, 17 hosted IFYE’s. Six 4-H’ers traveled abroad through States’ 4-H exchanges and 1 traveled through IFYE. With duplicates removed, 45 counties participated in exchanges, either inbound or outbound. Thank you to all staff, agents and volunteers who helped make these exchanges possible and enhanced the experience in Kansas or foreign countries for participants.