Florida 4-H News Room: 4-H News from Around the State

The Erekson family works with Harvest Aviation to supply missionary families.   Denise Erekson loves to teach, and as a homeschooling mom of five girls, she gets plenty of practice. But Erekson isn't just devoted to her own girls. She also is the leader for the Green Acres 4-H club, Wauchula's local homeschooling club that bustles with 40 kids ages 5 to 18. "When we were new to the community, I wanted the girls to have an opportunity to have interaction with the community and to meet new friends outside of our church," said Erekson. The family moved to Hardee County six years ago from Ohio, but Erekson and her husband, Ronny, are originally Texas ranchers who worked cattle for 15 years. The family left the Lone Star state to take a job with Harvest Aviation, a not-for-profit flight service that delivers cargo to missionary families in Belize in Central America. Ronny is the aircraft mechanic for the local group, which flies out of the Wauchula ...

4H members beautify camp with inaugural event LAKE PLACID - It was a hot, busy morning for nearly 60 nature lovers at Camp Cloverleaf Saturday as the first 4-H Club National Planting Day event took place. Local 4-H members from several different groups came together at the camp to take part in a national campaign that was localized at the hands of several volunteers. The Keep Highlands County Beautiful campaign was the driving force behind the event and coordinator Christy Reed approached the 4-H about joining in on the effort. "Christy came to me about it in July," said Lauren Hrncirik, 4-H Youth Development Agent. The idea comes on the same day as other 4-Hers across America are making a more beautiful place to live in. "We started at 8:30, just like everyone else. I honestly thought we'd be out here well past lunch, but these kids work really fast," Hrncirik said. The first-time event was a huge success that Hrncirik and Reed contribute to all the...

Former Florida 4-H President and Council 6 year Trustee Natalie Cheng is volunteering on the 4-H Global team. She took two weeks off from her professional career in New York to serve with the 4-H Global Team in Tanzania and Kenya, Africa.

Project Runway  designers, it looks like you may have some competition! Last night, high school students from all over the country came and competed in an intense fashion and talent show hosted by 4-H. Held in the Grand Ballroom of the Reitz Union at the University of Florida, the show, “Share the Fun and Fashion Review” showcased the talented and creative work of  25 to 30 high school students who designed and created outfits from scratch and with a budget. There were two categories of the fashion show: shopping on a budget (students had only $100 or less to create an outfit head to toe and were encouraged to find pieces from thrift stores) and construction (students had to design and create their outfits from scratch). Before the talent show, students had to learn skills that would help them for the competition, says Shaumond Scott, Florida 4-H communications coordinator. “Students had to learn how to sew, how to use patterns and durability,” says Scott. ...

By Joey Flechas Sweat dripped from Quentin Carter's brow as he laid down chunks of pine straw over a piece of cardboard on the ground to stymie weeds. "I love to help people," Carter said. Almost 300 teens gathered at the University of Florida this week for the annual Florida 4-H Congress, which wrapped up Wednesday with a day of service. About 35 volunteers were at Wilmot Gardens, with some mulching and some hammering at slabs of granite to smooth out the surface of a soon-to-be park bench. Linda Luecking, project coordinator for the gardens, said the project marked the third year in a row that 4-H volunteers have worked at the gardens. "The great thing about getting 4-H students is that they are used to working," Luecking said. Another group worked at the Ronald McDonald House, organizing the food pantry, weeding and steam-cleaning the floors. Theresa Drew, house manager, said the volunteers were eager to work and attentive. "...

4-H youth joined the University of Florida/St. Johns County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and learned all about local agriculture last month. The Farm to Table camp was described as both a success and wonderful learning opportunity regarding the entire food production from St. Johns County farms to the community supermarket. With growing popularity of residents wanting to learn more about local agriculture, the youth experienced hands-on farm living by being a farmer for a day. Johns Sykes, Sykes and Cooper Farm, gave a tour of the farm including machinery used, the storage facility and actual harvest production. The youth also got the opportunity to shuck their own wide acre peas. While in Hastings, agriculture agent Steve Lands, gave a tour of the UF/IFAS Partnership for Water, Agriculture and Community Sustainability facility. Youth learned about edible landscaping, alternative agriculture and agricultural sustainability. Lands provided the youth with ...

Ten sewing camp participants from Manatee County recently presented residents of the Life Care Center of Sarasota with clothing protectors they had sewn earlier. The clothing protectors were a community service project completed during a 4-H sewing camp. At that time, 20 participants made 20 items in three hours in an assembly line-type production with the assistance of American Sewing Guild Sarasota Chapter members. “The clothing protectors are very welcomed and they will be used by residents during meal and craft times,” said Denise Tarutis, activity director of Life Care Center. Also during their visit to the center, 4-H sewing camp participant Maegan Betts shared a speech titled “The Lost Art of Sewing” with the group.  Afterwards, everyone joined in singing songs, “Grand Ole’ Flag,” “Yogi Bear,” and “Make New Friends.” “Wow! What a great community service project, allowing youth and adults to work together and to help others at the same time,” said Dr. Diana L. Smith...