leadership - 4-H Ontario

More documents

Recommendations

Info

FEATURES IIt is Bennett Howell’s first year in 4-H and this vibrant and enthusiastic 10 year old is loving every minute of it. Bennett dove right into the 4-H program taking on the challenge of balancing involvement in Hamilton- Wentworth Rabbit Showing, Rabbit Hopping and Drama Clubs, all the while helping his family to build a barn on their dairy farm and care for their cows, rabbits and cats. Because Bennett’s favourite animals are rabbits, he was thrilled to be able to join 4-H rabbit Clubs. Bennett wanted to learn everything there is to know about rabbits and he’s definitely had a great start. MEET BENNETT HOWELL He’s Making Leaps and Bounds in the 4-H Program By Nikki Kross You have to help them [the rabbits] over the jumps and then pet and love them to show them they did a good job. Showing love is like a treat for bunnies.” - Bennett Bennett and his Red New Zealand cross White Satin rabbit, Cinnamon, have learned how to work together for rabbit showing and rabbit agility competitions. With the help of his Leader, Joanne Alblas, and fellow showing and hopping 4-H Club Members, Bennett has learned numerous tips and tricks to help him and Cinnamon bring their “A” game to competitions. “I’ve learned how to handle rabbits properly, I’ve learned not to be scared of rabbits, and I’ve learned how to stay calm with the rabbit and calm the rabbit down,” says Bennett. In addition to showing and agility, the Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Rabbit Clubs also focus on teaching Members rabbit knowledge including rabbit breeds, rabbit anatomy and how to properly care for rabbits. To test Members on this knowledge the Club keeps it interesting by utilizing games like hangman to accompany their quizzes. Bennett and other 4-H’rs across the province had the opportunity to showcase their rabbit handling and training skills, as well as rabbit knowledge, at the Haldimand Rabbit Day on October 22. This annual affair is the biggest rabbit event held Leadership In Action • Winter 2011
in Region 4 and features numerous opportunities to demonstrate 4-H skills including: rabbit jeopardy, rabbit quizzes, rabbit showing, rabbit hopping, judging and project board competitions. Fifty-five Members from various Clubs across the province came together to participate in this exciting daylong event. To prepare for Haldimand Rabbit Day, Bennett and his Showing and Hopping Club practiced every week for over three months and competed at the Rockton, Caledonia and Ancaster fairs. The Rockton Fair was Bennett’s very first time showing and it was here that he really fell in love with the sport. “At first I was really nervous but once I got through I realized that it wasn’t that hard and it was really fun!” Bennett says excitedly. Bennett notes that the hardest part about rabbit showing is to remember all the steps. When showing, Members progress through a series of steps to showcase their rabbit’s health. Members first show the top of the rabbit, and then flip it onto its backside to show the underside of the rabbit. There are over 17 steps in the entire showing process, which leaves a lot of room for error. For a young 4-H’r who is under pressure, this can be a tricky feat and can leave them feeling discouraged if they slip up. Luckily Bennett has a great mentality around showing because his Club Leader and fellow Members have taught him it’s the learning process that’s the most important part, not the end result. “You shouldn’t be scared because if you make a mistake it doesn’t matter, you just try your best,” says Bennett knowingly. Bennett is loving his 4-H experience so far. “In 4-H I learn a lot of new skills, I have lots of fun, and I learn responsibility and how to take care of animals,” Bennett explains. This young 4-H’r is excited to continue with Rabbit Showing, Rabbit Hopping, and Drama Clubs again next year, and if he can squeeze it into his busy schedule, Dairy Club and homemaking clubs will also be in his future. Sounds like Bennett has a very bright, and busy, 4-H future ahead. Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Rabbit Hopping Club Submitted by Aleta Alblas “You want me to jump what I don’t know if I can do that! I don’t think I could jump that high, however, my trainer thinks that I can, and is urging me to try. Maybe, I will start out low and work my way up. Wow! I’ve jumped one pole, two poles, three poles, hey, this is fun!” This is likely what my rabbit, Rio, was thinking when I was training him to navigate the agility course that we made in our Rabbit Hopping Club. This year in Rabbit Hopping Club we first learned how to make rabbit jumps and then how to train our rabbits to use these jumps. Some of us spent more time making extra jumps and other pieces of equipment. When we put them all together on a track, they made a great Rabbit Hopping course. We started training our rabbits in July and by the third week in September we had our first show at the Ancaster Fair. We also did a show at the Rockton Fair, Caledonia Fair, and had a demo at the Haldimand Intercounty Rabbit Show. Rio had a great time! Here’s what the experience was like from his point of view. “The trainers set the track up consisting of jumps, a hoop, tunnels, an A-frame, walkover, and a finish line. We are given a chance to warm up by going around the track with the jumps nice and low before the show begins. The music starts and we are off running as quickly as we can! I like to start out slow and gain speed going around. I cleared five poles, sailed through the hoop, and dove through the tunnel. And then there’s the final jump. Oh no, my trainer has made it 18 inches high! Okay I’ll give it a try, here it goes….up, up, up, and over I go. Wow I made it! And I didn’t knock any poles over. Yay, my trainer is thrilled with me!” The Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H Rabbit Hopping Club from left to right; back row, Susan Dwyer, Joanne Alblas, Chelsea Dwyer with Q-tip, Mary-Lynne Howell with Chester, Aleta Alblas with Rio, Cindy Coverdale with Flower, Front row, Bennett Howell with Cinnamon , Bradley Howell with Pepper, and Mikayla Ringelberg with Reese. Not present: Calista Loten with Mittens. Leadership In Action • Winter 2011 By helping our rabbits navigate the agility course, we learned that rabbits are not always ready to hop when we are, and, they are not always ready to stop when we want them to. We also learned how to be gentle and patient with our rabbits as we coax them over the jumps. Our rabbits have learned how to cheat along the way when they know we are not close by! We had a great time this year and look forward to next year. 15
Page 1 and 2: WINTER 2011 LEADERSHIP In Action vo
Page 3 and 4: LEADERSHIP In Action official publi
Page 5 and 6: IN BRIEF local stories Rebuilding t
Page 7 and 8: IN BRIEF provincial stories Believi
Page 9 and 10: GROWMARK Ontario Summer Intern Prog
Page 11 and 12: NEED A VET This keen 4-H’r might
Page 13: SERVING ONTARIO AGRICULTURE A 4-H A
Page 17 and 18: 4-H FIELD CROPS COMPETITION Wheat,
Page 19 and 20: NATIONAL JUNIOR BEEF HEIFER SHOW Ca
Page 21 and 22: IN ACTION sock snowman Thanks to Mi
Page 23 and 24: Ontario 4-H Foundation 4-H has alwa

leadership - 4-H Ontario

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?