By:
Ami Neiberger

Source(s):
Lane Jimison, , (352)8 46-0996

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — It’s not just cows, sows and plows anymore.

Today’s 4-H youth Development Program is teaching youth how to be active in their communities on issues they care about, holding a pledge card campaign against youth violence for both youth and adults, and educating youth about the environment, seatbelt safety, technology, community service, public speaking, food and nutrition, animal sciences and other topics.

“In a world that can be cynical about young people, 4-H celebrates the power of young people to explore and grow,” said Damon Miller, assistant dean for 4-H at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “The event theme is 4-H: The Power of Youth.”

Highlights include:

• Governor Bush and Cabinet declare “4-H Youth Development Day” in Florida, 9:00 a.m. In a resolution sponsored by State Comptroller Bob Milligan, Florida 4-H will be recognized and April 10th will be declared “Florida 4-H Youth Development Day” in Florida. (Resolution text follows)
• Exhibits on the third floor of the capitol rotunda. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Acclaimed artist Robert Butler will create a painting to be auctioned. Hundreds of green, yellow and blue pledge cards from the “Take a Stand Against Violence” campaign will be on display.
• Legislative visits by 4-H Youth. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. State 4-H Council officers, state 4-H ambassadors will visit legislators to discuss youth issues, thank them for supporting 4-H and invite them to the auction that evening.
• Reception featuring silent and live auction at DoubleTree Hotel, 101 South Adams Street, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Auction items include trips, shipwrecked treasure, sports memorabilia and more.
• “Bud” Irlo Bronson to receive “4-H Lifetime Achievement Award” during reception. (Florida Comptroller Bob Milligan received it last year and Lieutenant Governor Frank Brogan and his late wife, Mary Brogan, were presented with it in 1999.)

MEDIA INVITED TO ATTEND

Date: Tuesday April 10, 2001
Event: 4-H Day at the State Capitol
Location: State capitol, 3rd floor rotunda, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00p.m.
DoubleTree Hotel, 101 S. Adams Street, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Morning/noon show opportunities: State 4-H Council President Mamie Wise (Pasco County) can give interviews about the 4-H Take A Stand Against Violence Pledge Card Campaign and 4-H. State 4-H Leader Damon Miller (Miller is a Tallahassee resident) will be able to talk about how 4-H is more than cows, sows and plows. 4-H Ambassadors Sara Brake (Santa Rosa County) and Rebecca Sellars (Escambia County) can discuss how 4-H helps youth be active in issues they care about. All have given interviews before and are guaranteed to be animated, even at 5:00 a.m.

Interesting auction items: boxing gloves owned by Mohammad Ali, Easter baskets, fishing trips, shipwrecked treasure.

Contact: Ami Neiberger, office (352) 846-0996 ext. 237, cellular (352) 213-5654, evening (352) 367-1267, Monday night DoubleTree Hotel, (850) 224-5000, aneiberger@mail.ifas.ufl.edu

PROPOSED TEXT FOR THE RESOLUTION BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE CABINET OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, TO BE INTRODUCED APRIL 10, 2001

WHEREAS, the Florida 4-H Youth Development Program at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences exists to develop young people ages five through eighteen; and

WHEREAS, the 4-H youth development program has served young people in our state since 1909 and will celebrate its national centennial in 2002 with the theme “4-H: The Power of Youth;” and

WHEREAS, the Florida 4-H mission is to create supportive environments for diverse youth and adults to reach their fullest potential; and

WHEREAS, the 4-H program has molded itself to meet the needs of our citizens by focusing on developing rural, suburban and urban youth; and

WHEREAS, the 4-H program through the Florida Cooperative Extension Service teaches youth utilizing the research and knowledge base of our state’s land grant institutions, the University of Florida and Florida A&M University, and has broadened its program areas to encompass not only agriculture and animal science, but also public speaking, computers, wildlife, forestry and many other topics of interest to today’s youth; and

WHEREAS, through “learning by doing” experiences, young people in the 4-H program learn through hands-on instruction about the world around them with the guidance of caring adult volunteer mentors and cooperative extension service faculty and staff; and

WHEREAS, through the call to excellence epitomized in its motto “to make the best better,” 4-H inspires today’s young people to strive for their dreams and not settle for anything less than their best effort; and

WHEREAS, the 4-H program enables young people to grow up and become participating citizens and defenders of democracy through outstanding and exemplary programs such as Florida 4-H Legislature and the citizenship project; and

WHEREAS, the Florida 4-H program served 241,628 youth in the Sunshine State last year through 4-H clubs, special interest groups, camping and school enrichment educational programs; and

WHEREAS, 4-H young people across Florida devote thousands of hours in service to their communities annually through the “4-H’ers Helping the Hungry” project and other service activities which benefit the people of our state; and

WHEREAS, positive youth development is violence prevention and the 4-H program teaches conflict resolution skills to elementary schoolers through the Talking with T. J. program and is conducting a “Take a Stand Against Violence” Pledge Card Campaign.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida commend the Florida 4-H Youth Development Program for its efforts on behalf of young people and hereby declare April 10, 2001 as

FLORIDA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT DAY in Florida.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida have hereunto subscribed their names and have caused the Official Seal of the State of Florida to be hereunto affixed in the City of Tallahassee on this 10th day of April, 2001.

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