What will You be doing 10 years from Now?

A planning process that will shape Extension programs in Florida for the next decade has begun.

This is a joint effort between the University of Florida (UF) and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) that will allow us to have a clear path of action as an educational organization. Our goal is to create a strategic plan that will support Florida's economy, environment, and people. We want it to be relevant today and flexible enough to meet the needs of Florida's communities as they change.
Listening is at the core of Extension's long range planning effort. One way we can hear your ideas is by having you take a survey.

So please spend your next 10 minutes completing this survey. When you are done, take a minute more and share this blog with others who may be interested in contributing ideas about the future of Extension.

Mary Campbell
County Extension Director
UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension

What Counts to You in Pinellas County's Budget?

Join the eTownHall tonight and let the Commissioners know.

eTownHall will be held on Wednesday April 6, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This on-line meeting will enable the public to send questions from their computers via a blog.


The blog opened at 9 a.m. Monday April 4, for citizens to send questions in advance of the meeting and will continue to be open until the end of the event, at 8 p.m. Today.

Tonight next to the blog, there will be a live broadcast of the eTownHall meeting showing the County Commissioners responding to the questions posed by citizens.

4-H County Events Are Here

In Pinellas County County Events are divided into two separate events. The first is Night of the Arts which can include Share the Fun (talent show), the poster and photo exhibits, and Fashion Review. The second event is Demonstration Day where 4-H members try out their public speaking skills with demonstrations, illustrated talks, and persuasive speeches. In both of these events, top scorers move on to District Events to compete with 4-H members from the five other counties in District 9.
On March 11, Night of the Arts took place with 15 4-H members competing in a variety of acts. Here are the top scorers who have the options to continue on to District Events in Manatee County May 7.

Junior:
Lana'e Hernandez with Grandma's House (Monologue)
Eleni Lambrianos with We Will Rock You (Tap)

Intermediate:
Allison Iacono with a Dance
Matthew Iacono with Hip Hop

Senior:
Evan & Adison Julian with an original song The Sun is Here to Stay
Sonali Wijesiriwardena with Jai Ho (Indian Cultural Dance)

Congratulations to all who competed and shared the fun!
See you all on Demonstration Day April 9 at the Pinellas County Extension Office.

4-H Results from the Florida State Fair

While most people know 4-H members can earn premiums and ribbons at the fair, many may not realize how much work goes into winning those ribbons.
Last month five of our 4-H members excelled in the State Fair and Champion Youth Program.

Savannah Kutz won Senior Champion Youth Dog and Katie Hendrix won Intermediate Champion Youth Dog.
Olivia Cook won second place in Senior Champion Youth Poultry.
Beverly Strautmann won Grand Champion with her goat "Southern Star" and Teressa Strautmann won Reserve Champion with her goat "Southern Gem.

These competitions involve not only preparing and showing the animal, but also keeping an accurate record book and possibly participating in a skill-a-thon, creating posters, answering questions at the Ask Me booth and speaking in front of a community group.

All this hard work and discipline results in not only blue ribbon animals, but also blue ribbon youth. Congratulations to all the 4-H'ers, parents, and volunteers who participated in and contributed to the successes at the Florida State Fair.

4-H Revolution of Responsibility

Most of you probably know that 4-H is about more than winning blue ribbons and showing animals at the State Fair. In addition, 4-H is more than the ever growing list of projects in science and technology. What remains the same in 4-H are the outcomes or the results: Youth who grow up in 4-H grow to become responsible, contributing adults.
One of the challenges in 4-H is showcasing or illustrating the successes in the program. How can we best show that the 4-H youth raising dairy goats and the 4-H youth developing a robot program are both learning the same life skills needed to be a successful adult?
One of the best ways may be through the new 4-H Revolution of Responsibility. Through the 4-H Revolution of Responsibility, 4-H members, volunteers, and staff are invited to write about the positive changes that have been brought about through 4-H.

4-H youth are a living, breathing, culture-changing revolution for doing the right thing, breaking through obstacles, and pushing our country forward by making a measurable difference right where they live.

You may have read about Lindsay, a 4-H member who was able to buy a house at age 18 with her hog earnings. She started raising hogs as a young 4-H'er and saved her winnings. In addition to her skills in hog rearing and showing, she also learned to be fiscally responsible and to persevere.
Other 4-H members are improving their communities through 4-H community service projects.
Are you part of the 4-H Revolution of Responsibility? There are many examples here in Pinellas County where 4-H members are making a positive change. Let everyone know how you started a Revolution of Responsibility. Check out the website at:
http://www.4-h.org/about/revolution/ and share your story.

4-H Showcase at the Florida State Fair February 12

On Saturday February 12th from 10 a.m. -4:00 p.m. Florida 4-H is having its annual 4-H Showcase at the Florida State Fair. This year there are many fun hands on exhibits planned, as we promote our many activities from across the state. The Showcase takes place in the Charles M. Davis Special Events Center.

At the Pinellas County 4-H exhibits youth will have the opportunity to complete four make-and-take experiential activities as they become the scientist. These activities promote 4-H Science and teach youth the skills to apply science in every day life. The four experiments are:

Power of Electricity: Making a Simple Switch

Aerospace Adventures: Building a Milk Straw Rocket

Entomology: Bee Comb an Engineer

4-H Forestry: Trees and Me


In addition to the 4-H Science activities, 4-H camp staff, Operation Military Kids, 4-H District Council, and others will be there with more fun 4-H activities for all to enjoy.

On each Saturday of the Fair, 4-H members and leaders are given free admittance with their 4-H card or 4-H shirt. 4-H families should enter through Gate 3.

New Youth Program at Brooker Creek Preserve Starts January 22

What better way to start the new year than to explore one of Pinellas county's best wild places? Starting January 22 at 1:00, Brooker Creek and Pinellas 4-H will introduce the Brooker Creek Explorers Program. This program is geared towards 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who are interested in the natural world around us. You do not have to be a 4-H member to register; this program is open to the public. There will be three meetings; each will focus on a different way of learning about and appreciating our natural resources and Brooker Creek in particular. All sessions will meet 1:00 - 3:00.
January 22: Paper Pieces - Make your own paper and journal after learning about the ways paper is made and recycled. A digital or disposable camera will be helpful.
February 5: What Can You Find? - Increase your powers of observations through all your senses in a forestry scavenger hunt. Add to your journal.
February 19: Trees as Habitats - How big is an ecosystem? Explore the various habitats at Brooker Creek and decide for yourself.
All activities used are from Florida 4-H Forestry and Project Learning Tree. The Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center is located at 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs.
To register, go to https://pinellas.obsres.com/botanical/Info.aspx?EventID=4002
and scroll down to Brooker Creek Explorers. Registration is required, but it is free!
For more information on this program, please contact 4-H at jrogalsk@pinellascounty.org.