4-H State Fair – Educational Fun at Every Turn

Written by: Stephanie Freeman, Communications Director at MCCOY, Inc.

It’s summertime. Summer reminds me of county and state fairs. I’m reminded of delicious treats, fun rides, amazing animals, and amusing games. I’m also reminded of all the family-fun and educational opportunities for kids and adults of all ages. 

The Marion County and Indiana State Fairs pack in so many enjoyable learning opportunities specifically by and for youth through 4-H entries. The 4-H Youth Development Program exists to promote the positive, healthy development of young people. Their mission is to provide the challenges, experiences, support, and the help that young people need to develop to their fullest potential. One of those experiences that youth can receive from 4-H is by participating in county and state fair projects. Many of us thinking of 4-H as a bunch of “farmers and county folks” showing off their cool livestock. How can a cosmopolitan kid get involved with 4-H?

There are so many opportunities for youth to get involved in the 4-H State Fair program. Besides the obvious animal exhibits, youth can also enter projects in more than 20 other categories; including:

·        

 Agriculture/Horticulture

o   Beekeeping

o   Floriculture

o   Gardening

·         Exhibit Hall

o   Interactive demonstration

o   Aerospace

o   Cake decorating

o   Cat and dog educational posters

o   Child development

o   Computer technology

o   Clothes

o   Crafts

o   Electric systems

o   Entomology

o   Foods

o   Genealogy

o   Geology

o   Health

o   Staying Healthy

o   Home Improvement

These categories off youth to explore almost any subject matter of their interest. Youth can have fun researching, collecting, building and teaching about these subject matters. Each category is divided amongst three divisions from youth 3^rd – 12^th grade. This is an excellent way for youth to get involved with their community, volunteer, learn, teach others, and feel accomplished because of their accomplishments.

It’s too late to enter into a project into the 2013 4-H Fairs. However, please visit the fairs and admire and learn from the youth projects. If you’re interested in volunteer to help youth with projects and other development opportunities, visit: http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/volunteer/index.cfm. To join your local 4-H chapter and to learn  about other education opportunities, please visit: http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/counties/marion/pages/default.aspx.

Farewell MCCOY!

By Danielle Guerin and Anne West

Anne and Danielle at the Statehouse with Youth Advocacy Council Members

        

Hey everyone this is Danielle, one of MCCOY’s AmeriCorps VISTAs. I just wanted to drop in and say goodbye. It has been a crazy year with amazing experiences! When I started at MCCOY last year, I did not expect to do all the things I have done. I’ve gained so much knowledge from working on the Co-location of Services Project to planning a youth conference! I’m so glad that I was able to spend this year of my life working with an amazing organization and doing such awesome work.

Once I leave MCCOY, I will spend the summer as a Summer VISTA at a day camp. After that, I will be heading south to Bloomington to start my Masters Degree in Public Affairs at Indiana University’s School of Public Affairs. I’m already getting more opportunities for amazing experiences with IU, I will be leaving for the Peace Corps in the Summer of 2014.

Hello all, this is Anne, the other Americorps VISTA at MCCOY. I’m leaving my year at MCCOY grateful for the opportunities to work with an incredible staff and learn from some incredible youth workers and students. Working with the Youth Advocacy Council made me a strong believer in the potential of our youth and  helped me grow as a facilitator and mentor. I loved working on research projects at MCCOY like the Blueprint for Action and the What’s Possible focus groups with youth.

My time at MCCOY was a fundamental part of my decision to pursue a Masters of Social Work after my VISTA year. I will start my program at the School of Social Services Administration at the University of Chicago this fall. I hope to go on to concentrate in the positive development of youth through research, organizing, and advocacy.

Thank you to all the MCCOY staff, board members, community volunteers, youth workers and youth who made our time at MCCOY so meaningful!

Legislative Interim Study Committee Update

The legislative session is over and soon we will turn our attention to those topics that warranted further discussion and will be considered for the 2014 session.  Stay tuned as MCCOY will be watching the following committees:

• School Safety Interim Study Committee (new) - This committee will study how to improve the safety of schools in Indiana and develop best practices for a school resource officer to employ in order to successfully carry out the officer's responsibilities.  Proposed members of this committee are:
• An adolescent development expert or pediatrician
• A mental health professional
• A law enforcement official
• A school principal or superintendent
• Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana (new) – this committee will study the topics assigned by SEA125 as well as the topic assigned to the Committee on Child Care by SEA305 that deals with due process for child care providers.  The committee is also assigned the following topics:
• Whether Indiana should require a photograph of a SNAP recipient on the recipient's electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card
• Whether Indiana should require a SNAP recipient to show the recipient's photo identification issued by a federal, state, or local unit when the recipient uses the recipient's electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card.
• Whether Indiana should seek approval to allow the distribution of SNAP benefits to a recipient on a bimonthly basis.
• Proposed members of the commission are:
• One (1) legislative member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
• One (1) legislative member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
• One (1) legislative member appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate.
• One (1) legislative member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
• The superintendent of public instruction.
• The director of the department of child services.
• One (1) judge or justice with experience in juvenile law appointed by the chief justice of Indiana to serve on the commission for a period of four (4) years.
• The executive director of the prosecuting attorneys council of Indiana.
• The executive director of the public defender council of Indiana.
• The secretary of family and social services.
• The state health commissioner.
• The director of the department of correction division of youth services.
• One (1) representative of the juvenile probation system, appointed by the chief justice of Indiana for a period of four (4) years.
• The director of the office of management and budget, or the director of the state budget agency, as selected by the governor.
• A member of the governor's staff, to be appointed by the governor.
• The executive director of the division of state court administration.
• The director of the division of mental health and addiction.
• The attorney general, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
• Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee (existing) – this committee will prepare legislation for introduction in the 2014 regular session of the general assembly that corrects statutes affected by HEA 1006.
• Commission on Education (existing) – the commission will study the following topics:
• Nonpublic school scholarships (HEA1003)
• Absenteeism, school improvement plans and adding school attendance requirements to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility standards (SEA338)
• Teacher preparation programs (SEA409)
• Length of school year and expansion of performance qualified school program (SEA189)
• Topics originally assigned to the Coaching Education Issues Study Committee (SEA372)
• Feasibility of requiring all athletic activities, in addition to football, to meet coaching education standards concerning athlete concussions
• Issues relating to the sudden cardiac arrest of student athletes
• Administration of ISTEP testing