Recap from the Sept. 18, 2023 Meeting.
Meeting Run by: President- Megan Francis
Invocation: Shane Orr
Welcome to our guests: Scott Naumann from the Rotary Club of Bettendorf
Welcome to our members participating in our meeting through Zoom: Carol Webb, Jessica Pfab, Kim Warren
New Member: Second Reading for potential membership for Lisa Heckman from Real Estate Resource Associates, First reading for Monica Koekhle from ServiceMaster.
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News funds go towards our scholarship awards.
Marc Hines: Marc enjoyed a weekend in Sioux City celebrating his mother’s seventieth and sister’s fiftieth birthday. Crossroads First Annual FestivALL is this Saturday on Second Street between Chestnut and Pine from 1-6:30 pm. We hope you will join us for live music, carnival games, a silent auction, and a 50/50 raffle. Taylor Thorpe: Taylor has a fun car, a 1985 Camaro. This weekend, she took it to the drag strip and gave it a run for the first time. She looks forward to working on it over the winter and then racing it more next year.
Club News:
- Follow the Rotary Club of Muscatine’s Facebook page, @MuscatineRotaryClub.
- ACH forms are available for easy payment of dues.
- Reminder that the next Mobile Food Pantry distribution is Tuesday, October 3rd.
- Rotary will have a food tent at the last Almost Friday Event this summer on September 28th.
Presentation-
Iowa State Extension Office- Muscatine County 4H students
Muscatine County 4-H is a youth development program for K-12 graders. 4-H teaches youth leadership, citizenship, and life skills to make good decisions for their and their communities’ futures. 4-H focuses on healthy living, leadership and civic engagement, science and technology, communication, and the arts through afterschool programs, camps, events, and clubs.
Sophia Cerveny is a member of the Wilton Hustlers 4-H club in Wilton. She is the daughter of Darren & Kristy Cerveny and is in 6th grade at the Wilton Community School District. Sophia has been in 4-H for two years.
Gage Maurer is also a Wilton Hustlers 4-H club member in Wilton. He is the son of Adam & Lizabeth Maurer and is in 7th grade at the Wilton Community School District. Gage has been in 4-H for three years and currently serves as his club's secretary.
The 4H club has a full youth board and follows traditional meeting procedures. 4H clubs have volunteer leaders, but ultimately, youth make the decisions. 4H members are encouraged to explore projects/exhibits that interest them. Projects can be static exhibits, which include food and nutrition, photography, art, etc. Entry of static exhibits requires students to complete a write-up describing the goal of their project, process, and what they learned. Exhibits are then judged. Dynamic exhibitions include showing livestock and crops.
Sophia and Gage had projects qualify for the State fair.
Gage: During his first year in 4H, I built a fence as a project to keep my pigs in and showed a steer. The steer started at 700 lbs. in December and weighed in at 1600 lbs. in July. He also showed two pigs. During his 2nd year, Gage entered the photography category and showed two pigs. The pigs started at 40 lbs. and ended at 240 lbs. at the county fair. This year, Gage entered the photography category with a photo of the sunset on the beach, entered a barn quilt, and showed a steer, a heifer, and two pigs. 4H has taught him about leadership, club relationships, and service projects.
Sophia: Entered the bucket of junk contest. Contestants received a bucket of random items to turn into art. She chose a flower display. Her brother, Ryan, taught her about welding, sandblasting, and cutting to make the project. The display contains a hummingbird, a dragonfly, and a flower. Sophia included movement in some elements because the junk bucket included hinges. Her second project was cake decorating. Sophia said her Grandma, Jan, helped her learn to do some of it. Sophia used a display board to describe her goal and process. At the state fair, she received a blue ribbon. Her final project was a backpack. Sophia wanted a bag to carry her art supplies. Sophia shared her shopping list and process. Sophia got a state fair ribbon and a special Outstanding Sewing Award.
Questions:
What do you feed your steer? Hay and a mixed ration of cotton seed, corn, and other things.
What do you find most rewarding about being in 4H? Gage-showing cattle, Sophia- getting her ribbons to see what she has accomplished.
What did you place? Gage- Heifer 1st, Steer- 2nd, and a few other placements for sheep and pig.
What is your favorite thing about 4H? Gage- All of the things we get to do at the fair. Sophia- new experiences.
When do you pick your projects for next year? Gage- comes up with his projects as he goes along. Sophia- knows she will do something in fabrics and baking next year.
Gage, what is your role as secretary? I keep the minutes, read them at the next meeting, and take roll call.
What encouraged you to do 4H? Gage- my mom and dad were both in it. Sophia- I have followed my brother and sister around through the years.
Where does your funding come from? 4H is part of the Iowa State Extension Office, funded through the county. The board manages other grants and fundraisers.
How many kids participate? 200 in 4H and 30 in Clover Kids.
Upcoming Meetings- September 25th – Friends of Musser Library, October 2nd- Rotary DEI Task Force Speaker, October 23rd- Offsite MCC facility tour