Reflections Through 4-H

The content below started as a part of my 3rd weekly reflective blog. I decided that, since the content took it's own direction, that it would have the best impact in it's own post. All week I went back and forth with it, sometimes thinking about not publishing it. In the end I decided to, because it is a good record of my personal history and what shaped my teaching philosophy. While most posts are written for reflective purposes of those who are in my professional life, this post adds some depth and personal history to the blog. Enjoy!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the Early Years...

I ended the week by taking it back to where it all began: 4-H. I went back to State College for the State Leadership Conference. (Think ACES, all in one weekend) That conference has a special palace in my heart. As a member, state 4-H events were where I felt accepted, and at home.

...To State Council...

And to be honest, I got along so well with members from across the state that I felt popular, like one of the cool kids. It was just about the only time I felt that way in my high school years. It was my niche. Exactly the same way FFA is for  some students in my classroom and beyond.
I continued my journey in 4-H, and it led me to becoming State President for 2013/2014, where I got to help run the conference.

...To Alum Status...

The league of state 4-H officers is like a family. I often call it my state council family. Each year a few of us get to return to serve on the state staff for the conference. I have been given this opportunity each year since I retired from office, and this year was no different. Last year the conference was re-scheduled due to weather, and they asked me to fill in and teach the "How to lead an effective meeting" workshop. I got such positive reviews that they asked me to teach the same workshop this year.

...To Now!

I took everything I learned in ag ed an applied it to my workshop. A few of the teaching strategies I used were a Picasso E-Moment, gallery walk, KWL charts, and a think-pair-share. I purposefully shared these strategies with the members as ways to frame discussion and add variability to meetings. I also used them myself to assess their learning. Sneaky, right??

So why am I talking about all this 4-H stuff in a weekly refection of student teaching?

I want the record of my blog to show my history and experiences in the 4-H program. 4-H is undeniably what molded me in to the person I am today. 4-H was my niche growing up. It is where I first recognized the concept of youth development, and where I fell in love with it. It is where I first recognized my own growth, and what caused me to dedicate my life to facilitating this growth in others.

So why didn't Nate become a 4-H educator? After all I never had Ag in high school, but I was in 4-H. It comes down to two reasons. First, we can't deny that there is a night/day difference with job opportunities between ag ed and extension. Second and most importantly, teaching gives me the opportunity to work with youth 7 plus hours a day, 5 days a week. I prefer to be in the trenches with the students, seeing growth every day, as opposed to running a program based around volunteers. 4-H also gives me the opportunity to give back, using my ag ed knowledge/experience, as a volunteer, so it is basically the best of both worlds.

I am honored to have the opportunity to give back to the 4-H program, because not everyone has the opportunity or means to give back to past experiences, even true in the case of other 4-Hers. It means the world to me. My tagline is: I am obsessed with the process. What does that mean? That is how I describe seeing growth and development in students. I am so incredibly aware of how much 4-H State Council made me grow as a professional and human being, and I love being a part of that same growth in the new teams. As long as I am able, I will do everything I can to be a part of the process that is being a 4-H state officer, and 4-H member in general.

This week was one of old and new beginnings. I got to teach all week, take kids to CDEs for the first time, and I spent the weekend re-living and giving back to what led me to teaching in the first part. It may not seem like much, bur for me it's living the dream.

I can only think of one, beautiful way to sum up this blog: Just another week in the life of an Agricultural Educator.