Youth Development Insight

For local educators and county support staff Stevens County 4-H is super excited to host the third annual Stevens County 4-H archery invitational, a statewide event, on  April 11 ! Youth will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and learn from peers, coaches, and volunteers in a positive environment! They will also have an opportunity to test their knowledge with a wildlife skillathon. Funds raised through this event will go towards helping the Stevens County 4-H shooting sports club update their equipment. This event can count for archery and wildlife hours for those interested in competing at the state shoot this fall! When :  April 11  - Registration begins at 9 a.m. and competition begins at 10 a.m. Youth are able to select what time works best for them to compete (there are time slot options). Where : Morris Area Elementary School Who : Youth in grades 4+ Cost : $20 ($25 for walk-ins/late payment) Registration deadline: April 1 . Learn more and register . Fo...

For local educators We'd like to remind you to fill out the ambassador request form for all of your ambassador needs. Are you using a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador or Agriculture Ambassador in your county or regional programming? Do you want to use one? We encourage you to think about using ambassadors to assist with your programming needs. We've created  this form that allows you to request an ambassador  for any of your events or activities -- bookmark the form in your browser for easy access when you need it. Even if you are using an ambassador from your local county, we ask that you put in a request to let us know that you are already working with them. We're trying to track how ambassadors are being used throughout the state. The form will let you select either a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador or a Minnesota 4-H Agriculture Ambassador. Please make sure to submit your request at least two weeks prior to your event to allow us time to communicate with the appropriate am...

By Nicole Kudrle Supporting youth in pursuing their passion projects is a highlight of my youth development career. Recently, I had the privilege of guiding a young person as they brought their vision to life: creating a calming corner for the county fair. This project was designed to provide a space where youth and adults could find a moment of peace amid the fair’s lively activity. I wanted to ensure the project was not only successful, but also a meaningful growth opportunity for the youth. Here are the steps that I took to guide and mentor the youth with their project:  Start with their vision - When this youth shared their desire to create a calming corner, I listened carefully, asking open-ended questions to help clarify their vision. "What would this space look like? Who would it serve? What materials might you need? How can we fund this opportunity?" Asking open-ended questions helps the youth set their goals and begin making their idea a reality. Encourage ownership...

By Darcy Cole Youth treasurer roles are important because they provide an opportunity for young people to play an essential role in managing an organization's funds and provide a chance for youth to gain priceless skills that can help them their entire life. However, in some youth development organizations, the youth treasurer role isn’t always used to its full potential. For these youth, it can mean a year of practicing their signature without much learning. It may feel easy to leave youth out of the nitty-gritty of finances and financial decision-making, but doing so also deprives youth of the learning we promised them when they accepted their treasurer position. As a youth development professional, I challenge you to be intentional about creating meaningful experiences for youth that result in financial knowledge and skill acquisition. Serving in a youth treasurer role can help fill the financial literacy gap . Additionally, by fulfilling the role of treasurer, youth also pract...

By Jacob Halper Fall is a time of reflection and transition. In my work as a 4-H educator, the county fair is over, many youth went on to state-level showcases, and we begin planning for the new year. As we reflect on the past year, many focus on the county fair and how to improve it. The article The County Fair as Celebration and Cultural Text  captures the beauty of the chaos so simply as, "Periods of intense excitement alternate with periods of intense calm." Intensity is something I believe resonates with all youth development professionals. For many the hard part is the calm, but it is important to stop and intentionally explore the story that was told amidst that intensity. The county fair is a time of connection, reconnection, and public display. In Minnesota 4-H we often use the language of “showcase”. These youth showcases represent another concept I am familiar with: youth storytelling. Stories and storytelling come in as much variety in their definition as their ac...

By Cassie Girling Did you enter the field of youth development to make a difference, were you inspired by a mentor, or simply because you enjoy connecting with young people? Many youth workers share these motivations. But like other caretaking professions, youth development can be exhausting. The commitment to mentoring and supporting youth often means leading groups, navigating challenges, and balancing the needs of others. We pour so much into helping the young people in our programs thrive—but what about you? As Savannah Aanerud asks in her article : Are you thriving? To continue pursuing our "why," we need to take care of ourselves too. In today's fast-paced world, prioritizing self-care can be a significant challenge for many individuals. In her insightful book, Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators , Elena Aguilar shares why she believes taking care of ourselves can be a challenge: We often lack the information we need for effective self-care. While ...