This past weekend, 4-H members from across the state attended Home Ec School in Belen. This event features a variety of skill building tracts, leadership opportunities, and team building for New Mexico 4-H members. Roosevelt County had three members in attendance.
The 2018 class tracts included, traditional weaving, outdoor and Dutch oven cooking, rocketry, jewelry making, sewing and favorite foods.
The two Roosevelt County 4-H members that attended the Outdoor and Dutch Oven cooking tract not only learned an essential skill, but also, how to put it into practice. These members, and the rest of their outdoor team, cooked and served lunch and dinner for all event participants. Foods prepared included smoked pork, fry bread, Dutch oven cobblers, and a variety of side dishes.
Local member Cody Webster was able to pass on his newly gained knowledge by leading a demonstration at a recent 4-H club meeting. At Monday’s Rodeo and Show 4-H Club meeting, he taught fellow club members how to make fry bread. Club leader Paula Grady, exclaimed, “It was so exciting that the Webster brothers did demonstrations about things they learned at Home Ec School for our Rodeo and Show club meeting!”
Novice member Brandon Webster also led an educational demonstration at his 4-H club meeting. Brandon, who took part in the Rocketry tract of the camp, taught members of his club how to make straw rockets. Club members were able to test their handmade rockets and launch them!
The variety of available educational tracts provided in this one camp demonstrates the various opportunities that 4-H provides for youth. While discussing the wide range of knowledge her club members gained from Home Ec School, Grady continued, “New Mexico 4-H literally has a project for everybody!”
Despite all of the educational opportunities, the camp offered no shortage of fun events for the attendees, from a pool party to team building games. Roosevelt County 4-H member Jacob Griffee stated, “I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet and work with new people from across the state. I learned a lot, but also made new friends.”
Additionally, camp members participated in community service projects. Through these projects, 4-H members were able to make items to donate to the Forest Service wildfire response teams, homeless shelters and more.
The next leadership event that Roosevelt 4-H members will be attending is Youth Get-Away in Glorieta this April.
If your child is interested in becoming involved with Roosevelt County 4-H, or if you would like to volunteer, please call the Roosevelt County Extension Office at (575) 356-4417
