Amanda Miller of Calmar, Alta., already has a full resume when she starts her marketing course at the University of Lethbridge this fall.
She was part of a team of eight 4-H members who dedicated six days in April and June to developing an advertising campaign to draw new members to 4-H.
The ads they created should be running by the end of summer.
Miller, who graduated from Grade 12 last month, had been thinking of studying marketing when she noticed an ad in the 4-H magazine earlier this year that was looking for young people who wanted to help promote 4-H.
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She sent in a video that she made and was selected as one of the team. Other western Canadian members include Katie MacMillan of Asquith, Sask., Allena Cave of Qualicum Beach, B.C., and Jerrid Driedger of Calgary.
“It was so neat,” said Miller. “They matched us on personalities with the videos so we worked well as a team.”
The young people pitched ideas at the experts from two ad agencies: Youthography of Toronto and AdFarm of Calgary.
The team came up with three themes: 4-H can take young people places, such as winning trips; putting 4-H on a resume can result in a job; and 4-H offers something for everyone.
“We want to stop the stereotype of 4-H where you think of cows and pigs.”
Miller is a member of the Telford multi club and has been involved in judging, crafts, canine, sewing and welding projects.
Achievement day could bring a big smile for Carla Schmitt.
The 4-H member from Arborfield, Sask., has been feeding her steer a ration that includes peas. She started out feeding only crushed barley, but in January added the high protein content feed using peas that are grown on their farm.
Two of her siblings followed suit and the three steers were to be judged and sold July 9-10 at events in Saskatoon and Melfort, Sask.
Schmitt said the cattle took to the peas and are looking good.
She said most of her fellow steer project members doubted the value of peas as a feed until they were studying rations in the spring.
“After achievement day it’ll tell how well peas worked and there may be a few more trying it next year.”
Residents in the Paradise Hill, Sask., area supported four local 4-H clubs and their 75 members in a concert fundraiser held June 27.
About $1,400 was raised, said Bonnie Mills Midgley, general leader of the Paradise Hill 4-H multi club, which will put its share of the money toward a trip the members take every other year to an agricultural destination.
The fundraiser idea started with an offer by local New Holland dealer Doug Novlan to pay to bring in U.S. country musician Michael Peterson for a concert. It grew into the club members selling Peterson’s CDs for half the profit and Novlan donating a NH TZ25 boomer compact tractor for sale in a raffle.
Joan Larre, who has three children in the St. Walburg club, said while there has been no decision as to how to spend its money, some will likely go to the club’s next big project hosting the Saskatchewan 4-H curling championships Jan. 26-28.
Larre said she appreciated the inspirational words from Peterson, who told the audience they need three things in life: someone to love; something to do and something to look forward to.
Mills Midgley said it was the first time the clubs had done a fundraiser like this.
“I think it went well. It got families and members working together. We’ll probably do it again.”
This past month 10 girls from Sherbrooke, Que., were billeted with 10 4-H members from the Prince Albert, Sask., district.
The group toured museums to learn pioneer and aboriginal history, visited a bison ranch and park and watched a rodeo and a demonstration of horsemanship.
From July 17-24, the Saskatchewan group will return the visit to Quebec. The group includes eight members of the Silver Spurs light horse club and two from the Western Trailmates light horse club.
