- Author: Claire B.
The California 4-H Mindfulness Retreat
by Claire B., Santa Rosa Valley 4-H
The California 4-H offers a Mindfulness Retreat each year in Cambria at Camp Ocean Pines. The goal of the retreat for members to develop their health and learn strategies to practice mindfulness.
This three-day retreat had us identify stressors with other 4-H youth in California. It is amazing to see how stressed we were and the commonalities among us all.
We participated in a variety of activities to reduce stress and learn mindfulness. We practiced mindful eating, creative outlets of using photographic paper with items from nature to make natural art, made bracelets and in the evening, and an astronomer helped us see another galaxy, which was one of my favorite activities.
My other favorite was doing yoga on the porch which overlooked a nature preserve and the sea. 
The Mindfulness Retreat allows for bonding and making a lot of 4-H friends throughout California. It helps our leadership so that we can be a better advocate of healthy living in our community. Some apps that are useful for Mindfulness are Headspace, Calm, and Dreambox.
This retreat motivated me to attend Mindful Minutes in Delaware via Zoom while we were under quarantine. Mindful minutes is based on the GEM Curriculum (Getting Experience in Mindfulness). Participants had the option to become a Trainer of Trainers and I attended this multi-day Zoom training to better my practice. During our Covid-19 quarantine and throughout the changes in our state, mindfulness can help you.
Mindfulness is important so that you reduce stress and anxiety and it can also help in your leadership and in the workplace. If you have an opportunity to participate in mindful practice, you will see the benefits which will lead to clearer thinking, greater loyalty, larger service and better living.
- Author: Rachel Lipscomb
- Author: Ashley Pyler
On Saturday, 01/25/2020, we attended Dr. Mike's Speech Event at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in the Clark Livestock Center. It was hosted by the Ventura County 4-H Animal Science. We were event staff, so we helped to run the event and set up as well as clean up. In addition to Ventura County 4-H'ers, other youth organizations had members present including: Future Farmers of America (FFA), Grange, Independents, and others. There were nearly 150 people who attended the event. There were 65 prizes given out.
After giving out a few prizes, Ventura County 4-H Ambassador Shelby Wright gave a speech about how to write letters and talk to potential buyers for market animals at fair. In her speech, she included her experience showing market animals. Shelby has been showing them for almost 6 years now.
Then, Dr. Mike talked about how he likes to help 4-H youth raise their market animals for fair and about the veterinary practice he owns in Somis, California. After his speech, more prizes were given away. Then his technician talked about vet check policies, livestock bio-security, routes of infection, disinfectants, physical exams, common medical abbreviations, medication withdrawal times, and a bit about fair requirements for the 2020 Ventura County Fair. Most of the fair requirements were given by Mrs. Virginia H. Reyes, Ventura County 4-H Animal Sciences Key Leader and Briggs 4-H Club Leader. After everyone's speeches, the last of the prizes were given away.
The event was super informational about how to care for your livestock properly. It taught you all of the important information about disease control. The information you learn at the event can potentially save your animal's life. You can also learn how to better compete at the fair. What we enjoyed about the event most was how you can see how passionate everyone is about 4-H and the fair. Everybody's speeches were great. All of the event participants learned a lot of new information and immensely enjoyed their experience. The event was amazing, and we advise everyone to go next year!
- Author: Ashley Pyler
On Wednesday, March 13th, Dr. Michael Giacopuzzi, DVM (nicknamed Dr. Mike), gave a speech from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. to Ventura County 4-H'ers. Dr. Mike was born in 1951 and has been serving Ventura County pet owners for over 25 years as the owner of Humphrey, Giacopuzzi & Associates Equine Hospital, and he has been the head veterinarian for the Ventura County Fair.
The Briggs, Loma Vista, Conejo/Simi Valley, Santa Rosa Valley (SRV), Somis, Mupu, Sespe, and Chief Peak 4-H Clubs all had club members and leaders present at the event. This event was hosted by the Large Livestock Program Development Committee (PDC).
Dr. Mike and three people from his veterinary clinic came to speak about how to ensure that your large animal is ready for the 2019 Ventura County Fair in August, the rules and procedures for their clinic, and how they have helped local 4-H, FFA (Future Farmers of America), and Grange Youth Clubs over the years.
The veterinary team spoke at the University of California Hansen Agricultural Resource and Extension Center (UC HAREC) at 287 S Briggs Road in Santa Paula. The team gave their presentation in the Large Barn. Many 4-H members and leaders were eager to see the presentation. There were approximately 115 4-H members and leaders present at the event to catch a glimpse of the iconic Dr. Mike. There were so many people in attendance, the room ran out of chairs, so there was only standing room available at the end of the evening.
Everyone who attended the event immensely appreciates that Dr. Mike and his staff took the time from their busy schedules to come out to educate the 4-H youth about large livestock care and veterinary medicine. The time and effort that the Large Livestock PDC put in to organize and host this event is also very much appreciated. Last but not least, the event would have not have been a success without Mrs. Virginia H. Reyes (the Briggs 4-H Club Co-Leader, and the PDC Chair for the Large Livestock Planning Development Committee). The event was an enjoyable and educational experience for all those who attended.
- Author: Ashley Pyler
On the morning of Saturday, March 23rd, 36 Ventura County 4-H members gathered at the University of California Hansen Agricultural Resource and Extension Center (UCHAREC). Nine of the 36 members were with the Loma Vista 4-H Club. Members were also represented from the Conejo/Simi Valley, Santa Rosa Valley (SRV), and Mupu 4-H Clubs.
These members were here to attend the Annual 2019 Ventura County 4-H Presentation Day Event. All of these members have spent many hours preparing for this event, and were very excited to now finally go through with their presentations and interviews. However, the members were also somewhat nervous to present themselves in front of their evaluators. All of the presenters were wondering if they had prepared themselves enough for this very morning.
The event began at 9:00 a.m. with an orientation briefing presenters as to what to expect throughout the day. Once orientation concluded, all of the presenters went their own separate ways to complete all of their presentations and interviews. It was up to each presenter to determine their individual schedules. Members presented presentations in the following categories: Illustrated Talk, Demonstration, Science/Engineering Presentation, Education Display Talk, Interpretive Reading, Share the 4-H Fun Skits, and Cultural Arts.
The most common category that members competed in was the Illustrated Talk category. Several members also competed in the Interview Contest. This contest provides job descriptions, and each member competing creates a resume and cover letter matching their chosen job description for their age. They then bring their resume and cover letter with them to the interview, and practice their interviewing skills.
Presenters that felt very confident with their presenting skills took part in the Impromptu Speech Category. Many presentation evaluators consider this to be the hardest 4-H presentation category. To start, members are given a topic to present about. They then have 3 minutes to prepare an entire presentation with an introduction, body, summary, and conclusion. The presenters must also site their sources. To help them gather their thoughts, members are given a pencil and 5" x 7" flashcard. Once the 3 minutes are up, the presenter must stop writing, and give their presentation (their presentation must be 2-5 minutes in length).
Once most of the presentations were over, everyone ate their lunch, and watched the final two presentations of the day. The first presentation was an enjoyable Share the 4-H Fun Skit. About a dozen members of the Mupu 4-H club dressed up in their costumes and delivered a fun and humorous skit. The final presentation for the day was the only Cultural Arts Presentation for all of Ventura County 4-H and was presented by Ashley Pyler of the Loma Vista 4-H Club. She talked about Yanni, who is one of her favorite piano composers, and then played an excerpt of "One Man's Dream".
After the Cultural Arts Presentation was over, it was then time to announce the awards. Everyone from the Loma Vista 4-H Club did very well that day, but three of the nine Loma Vista 4-H members had a different perspective of the entire event. Alexander Blomquist, Rachel Lipscomb, and Matthew Ziegler were all first time presenters.
Alexander participated in the Fashion Revue and also presented a Science/Engineering Presentation. Rachel Lipscomb submitted photos in the photo contest, participated in Fashion Revue, presented an Illustrated Talk (Digital Slides) about why beagles make great pets for families, and applied for the position of Smoothie Maker with "Smooth Fruit Shack" in the Interview Contest. Matthew Ziegler presented an Interpretive Reading Presentation, participated in the Plant Science Judging Competition, and applied for position of Movie Clerk with "Reel Theaters" in the Interview Contest. All three of the first-time Loma Vista 4-H presenters did a phenomenal job at their first 4-H Presentation Day, and all three of them will excel with 4-H presentations for several years into the future.
After the awards ceremony had concluded, a generous group of 4-H'ers stayed late to assist with the event's necessary cleanup. Everyone presenting at the event worked really hard to prepare their presentations and interviews, and were rewarded with receiving red seals, blue seals, and gold medals. Participating in 4-H presentations and interviews may seem quite daunting, but anyone can do it who puts their mind to it. Even though presenting a 4-H presentation or interview seems really scary, it is a lot of fun once you are doing it. If you did not participate in this year's Ventura County 4-H Presentation Day Event, I strongly encourage you to participate in next year's event in 2020. In summary, the members got to strengthen their presenting and interviewing skills, and everyone had a wonderful time.
- Author: Valerie Zeko
Ventura County 4-H Presentation Day took place on Saturday, March 23 at UC Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Presentations took place in the small and large barns as well as our new conference room, and the interviews took place in our 4-H offices. All of the judges were very impressed! Regular 4-H youth members (ages 9-19) awarded a gold medal for their presentation at our VC 4-H Presentation Day can present the same presentation at Southern Area Field Day at Mt. SAC on May 4, 2019. Sign up here: https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=20098
Illustrated Talk:
- Jake Robinson – GOLD
- Kaylee Tan – GOLD
- Samantha Robinson – GOLD
- Adeline Vertucci – GOLD
- Ashley Pyler - GOLD
- Nadja Klem - GOLD
- Livia Vertucci - GOLD
- Rachel Lipscomb - GOLD
Science / Engineering Presentation:
- Alexander Blomquist – GOLD
- Sammy Belik – GOLD
Educational Display Talk:
- Anna Linehan - RED
- Anna Sorensen - GOLD
Interpretive Reading:
- Kelly Quinn - GOLD
- Matthew Ziegler - RED
- Adler Striegel - GOLD
- Andrew Pyler - GOLD
Impromptu:
- Irelyn Kennedy - RED
- Ashley Pyler - GOLD
- Adler Striegel - RED
Cultural Arts:
- Ashley Pyler - GOLD
Interview Contest:
- Jake Robinson - GOLD
- Sammy Belik - GOLD
- Irelyn Kennedy - GOLD
- Rachel Lipscomb - BLUE
- Ashley Pyler - GOLD
- Shelby Wright - BLUE
- Anna Linehan - BLUE
- Kelly Quinn - GOLD
- Matthew Ziegler - BLUE
- Anna Sorenson - GOLD
- Andrew Pyler - GOLD
- Adler Striegel - GOLD
Share the Fun Skit ~ Thank you to the following Mupu 4-H youth for performing:
- Sofia Manzano
- Rocky Manzano
- Kelsey Hendren
- Saynt Manzano
- Mila Manzano
- Carson Bell
- Olivia Bell
- Katie Carr
- Jessica Davison
- Logan Davison
- Chris Mijares
- Bentley Thrasher
- Rook Johnson
- Luis Robles
- Sofia Arana
