Volunteer Update

The Tennessee 4-H Volunteer Jam has been scheduled for Feb 28 - March 1, 2025 in Lebanon, at the Wilson County Fairgrounds.

You can make a proposal to share your ideas! This event is open to any 4-H volunteer, teen, or professional. You can download a copy of the RFP for planning purposes. Priority deadline for RFP’s is December 13.

The tradition of 4-H includes "service to others." During this season of giving, please consider how your 4-H club can honor the tradition of serving.

For ideas, you can visit the "Volunteer Tennessee" website. At this website, you can view the many opportunities for your 4-H club to serve. In particular, please visit "Tennessee Serves," which is an initiative started by Tennessee First Lady, Maria Lee. At this site, there is even a list titled, "Everyday Ways to Serve," which may give you some quick ideas.

The 2025 State 4-H Swine Show is scheduled for January 8-11, 2025 at Hyder-Burks Ag Pavillion in Cookeville. All interested persons should consult the show schedule for all dates and times. There is also a handbook of guidelines and procedures. All information on the show can be found on the UT Animal Science Department website.

It is not too early to start thinking about Summer 4-H Camp. Make plans now for 4-H members in your club to participate in this awesome summer adventure. 4-H alumni cite their 4-H camp experience as one of the most rewarding of their 4-H career.

Plans should include fundraising. Many 4-H clubs assist their members in participating in summer 4-H camp by raising funds to offset some of the costs. Even if the funds raised only account for a small offset, every little bit helps.

Also, don't forget that many 4-H camps ask for teen leaders to help conduct the camp. Your older 4-H members may be eligible to apply to be a 4-H camp teen leader.

Contact your County 4-H Office for all the information about summer 4-H camp.

Tennessee 4-H was recently recognized at the States’ 4-H Annual Coordinators Conference and 50th Anniversary Celebration in Tucson, Arizona, for its exemplary international exchange program. Steve Sutton, Assistant Director, Tennessee 4-H Foundation, and former Tennessee State 4-H Program Leader, accepted an Extraordinary Program Award and an Over and Beyond Award for programming efforts conducted in 2024. Twenty Tennessee 4-H families hosted 18 inbound delegates from Japan last summer, and seven Tennessee 4-H members traveled to Japan for a summer homestay. Tennessee has been a member of States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs since 1982 and is currently accepting host family applications for summer 2025.

This is the time of year to get persons in your county certified as County 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors (Level 1). Please be aware of:

• Level 1 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Training - December 7 - Lone Oaks Farm
• Level 1 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Training - January 25 - Ridley 4-H Center, Columbia

Contact your County Extension Agent for more information on certifications. All Extension youth shooting activities must be done by a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports instructor.

This information from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, as well as other organizations across the state and country, are provided to assist individuals, families, and producers who have been impacted by the flood event.

For all deadline dates, County Offices may establish earlier deadlines:

• National 4-H Congress - November 29 - December 3 - Atlanta
• Level 1 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Training - December 7 - Lone Oaks Farm
  
• 4-H Livestock All-Star Banquet - December 21 - Knoxville
• State 4-H Swine Show - January 8-11 - Cookeville
• Senior Citizenship and Leadership Project Portfolios Due - January 20 - State Office
  
• Level 1 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Training - January 25 - Ridley 4-H Center, Columbia
• State 4-H Congress Registration Due - February 3 - Your County Office
• State 4-H High Council Meeting - February 7-8 - Lebanon
• State 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl Contest - February 10 - Franklin
• National Wild Turkey Federation Conference - February 12-15 - Nashville
  
• State 4-H Horse Educational Contests - February 16-17 - Knoxville
  
• 4-H Volunteer Jam! - Feb 28 - March 1 - Lebanon
• Tennessee 4-H Alumni and Friends Meeting - March 1 - Lebanon
• Tennessee 4-H Foundation Annual Meeting - March 1 - Lebanon
  
• Tennessee 4-H Congress - March 9-12 - Murfreesboro and Nashville
• 4-H Beekeeping Essays Due - March 15 - State Office
• State 4-H BB and Air Rifle Jamboree - March 21-22 - Murfreesboro
• Senior 4-H Project Portfolios Due - April 1 - State Office
  

Email: dsarver@utk.edu
Website: https://4h.tennessee.edu/volunteers/
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
Phone: 865-974-2128
Facebook: facebook.com/Tennessee4H

Volunteer Update is a publication of Tennessee 4-H for 4-H Volunteers. Managing editor is Daniel Sarver, Extension Specialist, University of Tennessee. If you are receiving this newsletter via direct email (not forwarded to you), you have a subscription. Subscriptions are free! To subscribe, go to the web version of the newsletter and click on the "Subscribe" button.