By Sarah de Crescenzo
February 26th, 2011
Daily Republic
FAIRFIELD — More than 50 presentations at the annual 4-H Presentation Day for Solano County on Saturday showcased the organization's interest in ramping up science, engineering and technological knowledge among its students.
As part of a food and nutrition project, Vacaville High School sophomore Nicole Smith gave a presentation on the science of how bread rises, comparing dry yeast to its quick-rise equivalent.
“Baking is what I really like to do when I cook,” she said as an introduction to her presentation. “It's my passion.”
Encouraging students to focus on the aspects of science and math that are involved in their 4-H activities is a new, nationwide push for the organization, said Valerie Williams, Solano County's youth development programs representative.
Even business concepts -- and math needed to support them -- are becoming part of the projects that local 4-H students are completing.
A project raising chickens has transformed into a small egg-selling business for Suisun Valley 4-H Club member Jacob Hall, he said.
“When you think about 4-H, a lot of people think about the old-fashioned club, with livestock and canning, which we still do,” Presentation Day co-chair and adult representative Danea Gemmell said.
Now, however, students are being encouraged to include math and science concepts in their projects, Williams said.
“They found that kids aren't getting enough science in the classroom because there isn't enough time, so we're trying to meet that need outside of the classroom,” she said.
On Presentation Day, students participated in events ranging from individual instructional presentations, such as Smith's, to group presentations that took an entertaining take on a number of informational topics.
Students that achieve top marks for their presentation skills at the county competition are invited to move on to upcoming regional and state competitions, said Colleen Bohannan, co-chair of the event and a member of the Westwind 4-H Club in Fairfield.
For more information about local 4-H activities, call Solano County representative Valerie William at 784-1319.
Reach Sarah de Crescenzo at 427-6935 or sarahdc@dailyrepublic.net.