ENHANCEMENT GRANTS VOLUNTEERS The Oklahoma 4-H organization relies on enthusiastic and prepared volunteers, and it is vital for them to receive training and support to implement high quality programs for 4-H members. Many premiere volunteer development opportunities can come at a high price. Jessica Nickels, Garfield County 4-H educator, took advantage of enhancement grant opportunities through the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation to send one of her volunteers to the largest 4-H volunteer conference in the country. Nickels and Earla Haggard, 4-H volunteer, attended the 4-H Volunteer Conference of Southern States to participate in educational workshops for enhanced club programming. Conference workshops focused on introducing new activities into 4-H club work, including STEM, food science and leadership. “Learning new ideas for workshops, building club membership and retaining volunteers was very helpful,” Nickels said. Nickels and Haggard both agreed a highlight of the conference was networking with volunteers from other states. These new connections has created a support system lasting well beyond the end of the conference. “Attending this conference made me realize how diversified 4-H is and the volunteers who make this great program even better,” Haggard said. “Visiting with volunteers from other areas of the country and hearing the things they are focused on to improve the lives of youth was a valuable experience for me.”
Jessica Nickels (left) and Earla Haggard were two of the Oklahoma 4-H representatives at the conference. Photo courtesy of Jessica Nickels.
DOG AGILITY Dog agility is a favorite activity for many members of the Ottawa County 4-H Dog Club. For 15 years, 4-H members and their furry friends have enjoyed practicing techniques and learning how to conquer different agility course equipment. In 2005, the club received an enhancement grant to purchase the initial agility equipment the club still uses today. In need of some TLC, the club’s equipment was brought back to life thanks to a 2019 grant from the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation. Kathy Enyart, Ottawa County 4-H educator, said funds were used to repair and add a fresh coat of paint to existing equipment, and the 4-H members played an active role in making the necessary updates. Additionally, Enyart said the club used the grant to purchase supplies to build a new agility obstacle — a sway bridge. “This new equipment requires some advanced training for both the 4-H member and the dog to learn,” she said. “The 4-H members were so excited to get to try it out and learn how to properly train their dogs to use it.” The 4-H members have benefited from the updated equipment as they prepared for the dog show during the 2019 Ottawa County Fair. The 4-H members met weekly for three months to practice running the agility course, commands and showmanship. Enyart said not only has the improved agility course helped the club members learn new skills, but it also has piqued the interest of other 4-H members to get involved in the dog project. “This funding allowed us to make our equipment safe and more appealing to use,” she said. “We were able to gain new 4-H members to the project area.”
Juliana Pal, Ottawa County 4-H member, runs the agility course with her dog. Photo courtesy of Kathy Enyart.
