Volunteer Update
Tennessee 4-H Volunteers / May 2024
Since 1924, Tennessee 4-H’ers have gathered annually on a campus of the University of Tennessee for 4-H Roundup. The event serves to recognize 4-H members for their outstanding project work and leadership accomplishments. State All Star Conference is a part of the Roundup program. All Stars conduct service-learning projects and recognize outstanding service projects.
Make sure your 4-Hers are aware of this major 4-H event! They will never forget their experience, and will make friends that may last a lifetime. Contact your County Extension Office for more information.
If you are a 4-H volunteer going to camp, congratulations! You are about to embark upon a life-changing experience - for the camper, and for YOU! 4-H Camp depends upon trained and caring adults to help guide our campers' positive experience. If you have questions, make sure to ask your County Extension Office. You can also take a sneak peak at the 4-H Camping Centers by clicking here.
Mike Glasgow Recognized With Southern Region (U.S.) Salute to Excellence Award
Mike Glasgow, Cheatham County 4-H Volunteer, has been recognized by National 4-H Council as the 2024 U.S. Southern Region Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year. Mike is one of four 4-H volunteers in the nation to receive this high honor. He received the State Volunteer of the Year Award at Tennessee 4-H Congress.
Mike is a dedicated 4-H volunteer in Cheatham County. Mike is a lead 4-H Rifle Instructor for the county and also serves on the State 4-H Shooting Sports Committee as a Level 2 instructor. Mike has the ability to work, not only with youth, but he is also very good at helping plan and conduct a variety of events. He continues to serve as a camp volunteer, and works with the county “On My Own” program. Simply put, he is a huge part of the county and state 4-H program.
Read more about the 4-H Salute to Excellence program at https://4h.tennessee.edu/volunteers/.
There are many 4-H Animal Science events upcoming in the near future. Make sure to have your 4-H members aware of these wonderful experiences.
The Tennessee 4-H Animal Science program provides real-life educational opportunities that allow youth to develop animal skills and learn about animal-related careers. More importantly, they learn what it means to be responsible for something other than themselves. This is one part of a larger youth development program that aims to develop young people who will have a positive impact in their communities and the world.
These opportunities are accomplished through animal exhibitions and educational contests where youth are able to showcase the skills and knowledge learned through their animal project work, as well as through educational workshops and experiences where they are exposed to animal science professionals who are leaders in their given field and their cutting-edge research, Extension, and teaching programs.
Applications for the 2024-2025 Healthy Living Ambassador Program are now open. The program year for 2024-2025 is August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025. Interested youth need to apply through their county office. Youth are welcome to reapply for this program is they are a current Healthy Living Ambassador. The state deadline is June 14, but the county deadline may be sooner.
The Tennessee 4-H Healthy Living Ambassador program is designed for teens who have a passion for healthy living. Each county can appoint up to five ambassadors to represent their county. Healthy Living Ambassadors are committed to serving their county with healthy living programs and advocating for health living practices. The benefits of serving as a Healthy Living Ambassador include enhancing and promoting 4-H Healthy Living educational experiences; enhancing your understanding of 4-H Healthy Living Programs; networking with peers and healthy living leaders and gaining leadership and public speaking experience. Potential opportunities available to Healthy Living Ambassadors include attending healthy living events, assisting with 4-H cooking competitions, helping implement the 4-H Health Rocks grant, and networking with allied health professionals.
The Tennessee 4-H Shooting Sports Program has a couple of important dates upcoming:
- May 4 - State Shotgun Jamboree - Nashville
- May 27-31, 2024 – Target SMART Camp, York 4-H Center in Crossville
Contact your County Extension Office for all the opportunities!
Congratulations to the winners of the Tennessee 4-H State Beekeeping Essay Contest. The winners are:
1st Place - Gabrielle Lewis - Shelby County
2nd Place - Zoe Gil - Knox County
3rd Place - Autumn Gwinn - Blount County
Because of her win, Gabrielle Lewis’ essay has been entered into the national competition.
The Beekeeping Essay Contest allows 4-H’ers to use their writing and research skills in developing an essay on a beekeeping-related topic. Cash awards are available to winners on the national and state level. The 2024 topic was “Varietal Honeys.”
A big thanks goes to Dr. Jennifer Tsuruda, our Tennessee State Apiculturist and Assistant Professor here at the University of Tennessee, and her team for conducting the contest.
For more information about 4-H Beekeeping, visit https://4h.tennessee.edu/beekeeping-and-entomology/.
The State 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest (also called the Wildlife Habitat Education Program) is scheduled for June 6 at a location TBD. The program teaches youth the basic principles of wildlife ecology and management. 4-H Wildlife Judging involves contests where youth evaluate habitat for a variety of wildlife species. For information on how to get your youth involved, contact your County Extension Office.
The Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) began in 1978 under the direction of Dr. James L. Byford, Extension Wildlife Specialist, and Dr. Thomas K. Hill, Extension Fisheries Specialist, at the University of Tennessee. They realized the passion many youth have for wildlife and initiated the Tennessee 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest, which was modeled after the popular 4-H livestock judging contests. The program was immediately accepted throughout Tennessee. A conference was held in 1985 to explore the possibility of a Southern Region Program. The first Southern Region Invitational was held in 1987. In 1988, the second Southern Region Invitational was supported by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and a conference was held concurrently to discuss the possibility of a National Invitational. In 1989, the program was expanded nationally and the first National Invitational was held with the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
A Message of Thanks to 4-H Volunteers, Donors, and Supporters!
Dates of Interest
- Tennessee 4-H College Scholarships Applications Due - May 1 - State 4-H Office
- State 4-H Shotgun Jamboree - May 4 - Nashville Gun Club
- Target Smart Camp - May 27-31 - York 4-H Center, Crossville
- State All Star Camp - May 31-June 2 - York 4-H Center, Crossville
- Charline Hamilton Powell Outstanding Volunteer Applications Due - June 1 - State 4-H Office
- Hale Master 4-H Family Applications Due - June 1 - State 4-H Office
- State 4-H Livestock/Meats Judging Contests - June 4 - UT Knoxville
- State 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest - June 6 - TBD
- 4-H Academic Conference - June 11-14 - UT Knoxville
- Photo Search Entries Due - June 12 - State 4-H Office
- Healthy Living Ambassador applications due - June 14 - State 4-H Office
- State 4-H Horse Show - June 17-21 - Shelbyville
- National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships - June 23-28 - Grand Island, NE
- 4-H Electric Camp - June 25-28 - UT Knoxville
- Beef Expo - June 27-29 - Lebanon
- Daisy National BB Gun Championship - June 30-July 3 - Rogers, AR
- Tennessee 4-H Roundup - July 15-19 - UT Martin
- State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships - July 24-27 - Crossville
About us
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