K-State Research and Extension

Military Partners have been very supportive of National Youth Science Day, especially with the focus on Drone Discovery this year. Janet Psikogios, University of Florida, has been working with their bases and found that drones with cameras are not allowed to fly outdoors on some installations. (Navy has been very clear with them.) They have been able to locate a gym for indoor flying with some sites. Janet is also pulling together activities from other curriculum for sites to use if they need to adapt.

We want to make sure youth and staff get excited but don’t want them to find out they can’t participate in the highlight piece of the project. Be sure to visit with your sites early.

If you are not the person responsible for the 4-H Military Partnership report, please check to make sure your reporter received the final report through Qualtrics on September 13 or 14. The report was sent through Qualtrics with about 30% of the emails bouncing back, several times. It was my great fortune to click send when someone else was sending thousands of emails. If you ended up with two emails, be sure to delete one.

Please call or email Carol with any questions or suggestions on how to improve the report, 785-532-1943 or cfink@ksu.edu.

Kansas State University submitted a proposal for the 4-H Military Partnerships grants. It will likely be the end of September before USDA will send award announcements.

It is a pleasure to announce the recipient of the 2016 NAE4-HA 4-H Military Partnership Award, Brent Broaddus, Regional Specialized 4-H Youth Development Faculty, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.

The National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) 4-H Military Partnership Award is a collaboration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 4-H National Headquarters and Army Child, Youth and School Services, Air Force Child and Youth Programs, and Navy Child and Youth Programs. These USDA and Military Partnerships have a long history of successful programs for military connected children and youth who live on and off installations. The 4-H Military Partnership honors an individual or team each year with the NAE4-HA 4-H Military Partnership Award. The 2016 recipient is Brent Broaddus, Regional Specialized 4-H Youth Development Faculty at the University of Florida. Brent will receive the NAE4-HA Military Partnership Award at the NAE4-HA Conference on October 13, 2016, for his support of military connected youth and their families in Florida and Europe. Brent has been instrumental in establishing 4-H clubs at MacDill Air Force Base and connecting geographically dispersed military youth with 4-H in Hillsborough County. Brent’s professional development trainings in Europe span five countries and eleven Air Force bases, providing unique professional development experiences and resources for Air Force Youth Programs staff. Brent’s enthusiasm for science and communication was captured in a statement from a MacDill parent: “4-H has made my daughter question a lot more and always ask the question ‘Why?’ and ‘How does that work?’. I have a more inquisitive and science aware daughter because of 4-H!” Brent’s dedication to military youth and families, commitment to excellence, and attention to detail is exemplary. Congratulations Brent!

Several Extension 4-H Military Liaisons mentioned an appreciation for Dr. Mary Arnold’s research following her webinar, which was posted on the 4-H Military Partnerships website, Positive Youth Development Programs: Supporting the Development of Thriving Youth. She completed another phase of her research this summer and has agreed to present her latest findings this fall. She has set aside, Tuesday, October 4, 2016, at 1:00 ET (12:00 CT). More details will be coming. She is spending much of September presenting her latest work. Mark your calendar!

(NOTE: The webinar link for Dr. Mary Arnold’s webinar may disappear at some point in the near future. If you were not able to be on the webinar in June, this is a great opportunity to catch-up and be ready for next phase of her research in her upcoming webinar on October 4.)