Page 8 - Quarterly Newsletter - December 2016

4-H Youth Development — Michelle Beran
4-H Grows Curiosity
Growing up in 4-H provided Ross Janssen with many
opportunities to try projects and develop his leadership
skills. The Chief Meteorologist for KWCH, Janssen was
a member of the Trying Tommies for “as many years as I
was eligible”.
Janssen said that among his favorite 4-H projects were
gardening and several kinds of livestock. He was always
interested in the weather and spending time outside for
these projects encouraged his fascination with storm and
weather patterns. According to the KWCH profile page,
Janssen attended a storm spotting class with his dad
while in middle school to learn more about
thunderstorms. While in high school, he was able to
apply for, and receive, a local foundation grant which
provided funds to establish a weather station at the high
school to share his interest in the weather.
In addition to spurring an interest in weather, Janssen  en9g7a%gedreinposrctheodoal. strong desire to help others
credits 4-H as very helpful in his career.
“It was instilled in us, even at club meetings as the
song-leader or any other office you held, that we were
responsible for completing our chores”, Janssen stated.
Learning to look at people when addressing them can
be difficult but doing as part of participation in Club
Days helped him to overcome his fear of addressing
groups. As a member of a very active club, Janssen said
that he was provided many opportunities to serve in
leadership roles and practice responsibility.
4-H Grows Curiosity and many people across the state
of Kansas are certainly glad that Ross Janssen has a
continuing curiosity for weather and the leadership skills  48630-3%1574;-nHunpruahr@tickispua.netdsu in their 3rd year (or more)
to share it with others.
Watch for the next installment of 4-H Grows Here!
Survey Says…..
In May/June of 2016, surveys were completed across
Kansas by 4-H youth at a variety of activities. Over 2600
surveys were completed by 4-Hers between 8 and 18.
Highlights include:
Making responsible decisions – strong decision-making
skills enable a young person to effectively navigate life. leaders, we need to
Creating goals, showing progress and working with
mentors are an important aspect of 4-H.
 95% reported being comfortable
 making their own decisions
 91% have a plan for reaching their goals
 89% don’t succumb to peer pressure
Developing connections – the overall well-being of a
child is largely determined by their perceived satisfaction
inWraelnattitoonmshaipkse wa idthiffeortehnercse?and a sense of belonging
mBoteivcaotmeseyaou4n-Hg pVeoolpulnetteoesrh! ow respect and concern.
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formal “mentor-like”
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their goals.
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It is good to see survey data which supports what we
have always known about 4-H. We’ll be sharing more
information and, potentially, a local survey in the near
future. One of my favorite books “Iditarod Leadership”
by Chris Fuller, makes the note that “the first trip out or
project led should be a tandem run to ease the young
leaders into their positions on the ‘sled’” – this is much
the same in 4-H. As
model good behavior,
provide good examples
and get out of their way!