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Kansas 4-H Tip Sheet

October 17, 2016

Kansas 4-H Horse Volunteer of the Year

Submitted by Pam Van Horn

All across Kansas there are 4-H Horse Volunteers that are making a difference in the lives of 4-H members. Now, is the chance to honor those volunteers for their dedication and commitment to youth by nominating them for the Kansas 4-H Horse Volunteer! Below are the criteria for submitting. Don’t delay!

The selection criteria includes:

  • Positive impact the nominee has had on 4-H and the 4-H members.

  • Nominee’s ability to work with young people within the horse project that assist with promoting life skills of fostering a positive self-concept, creating a concern for the community, learning decision-making skills, acquiring interpersonal abilities and developing an inquiring mind.

  • Innovative approaches for engaging youth into learning and increasing diversity among the participants.

  • Adult/youth “mentor-learner” relationships built with volunteer and 4-H member.

  • Dedication to creating a safe and inclusive environment for 4-H members, parents.

  • Encouragement of positive, cooperative working relationship with Extension Agents; promoting K-State Research and Extension; and following 4-H Policies.

  • Enthusiasm for initiating new approaches for reaching youth.

  • Recruitment of new members.

  • Expansion of project through increased funding and resources.

  • Role-modeling positive volunteerism and sportsmanship.

  • Personal development through serving as a 4-H volunteer.

The application in a word document:

  1. A two-page resume which includes the volunteer’s passion for planning, organizing and facilitating project meetings and hands-on trainings; how they serve as a positive role model for youth and adults; and contribute back to the 4-H program.

  2. Three letters of recommendation from: a 4-H member, 4-H volunteer and an Extension Agent.

**Any part of the resume and letter of recommendation is missing the application will be disqualified.**

Submission process:

  • Application materials must be submitted by a nominator to the nominee’s local Extension Office. Each local county/district office my select one nominee per number of counties represented in the district to continue towards state competition.

  • Each completed application (two-paged resume and three letters of recommendation) must be submitted to the State 4-H Office by 11:59 p.m., November 30.

  • Letters should be no longer than two pages in length, in 12-point font single-spaced with 1-inch margins. Letters of recommendation must be written by a 4-H member, a volunteer/parent and an Extension Agent. Nominations must be received electronically in a word document to the Kansas State Research and Extension’s Department of 4-H Youth Development directly to Pamela Van Horn at pvanhorn@ksu.edu.

  • Electronically submitted application must be received by 11:59 p.m., November 30.

  • Two-paged resume and the three letters of recommendation must be in Word document. If applications are sent in PDF file, faxed or mailed nomination will be disqualified.

  • Application must be in 12-point font.

  • No late nominations accepted.

Announcement:

  • State Winner will be informed of results by January 1.

  • Formal announcement of Kansas 4-H Horse Volunteer will be at the Kansas 4-H Horse Panorama the last weekend in January.

  • The winner will receive a personalized plaque and $50 cash award to be donated to a local 4-H club, event or activity of winner’s choice.

  • The application information can be found on the Kansas 4-H web site on the Horse page at: http://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/animals/horse.html