Texas 4-H Livestock Mentor Program

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Objectives

• Purpose

• Training

• Target Audience

• Recruitment

• Coaching Role

• Testimonials

• Cost

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Purpose

• Provide training for 4-H livestock project leaders, equipping them with a valuable set of resources and tools from which to build and support families enrolled in a specific livestock project

• Overall goal of the training program is for volunteers to return to their home county and work cooperatively with the County Extension Agent to provide support and leadership to the 4-H project, members and leaders, thereby enhancing the project experience for youth.

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Purpose

• Species-specific subject matter - provides volunteers an overview of the animal industry and current practices related to health, feeding, nutrition, selection, daily care and animal evaluation.

• Youth and volunteer development - portion of training provides volunteers with information about serving in a coaching/mentoring role when working with youth and adults.

• Topics include:– ages and stages of youth development – goal setting – developing people of character– additional 4-H project opportunities– positive reinforcement – teamwork– useful resources and tools that the volunteer can use with

families and County Extension AgentsTexas 4-H and Youth Development

Training

• Offered for horse, beef, swine, sheep & goat, and now small animal (poultry and rabbit) livestock projects.

• Every year each region responsible for hosting one Livestock Mentor training with training on two species at each one

• Regions will rotate species • Horse mentor training will also rotate

throughout the four regions– Will be offered annually

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Target Audience

• Potential Livestock Mentors should be adults who are registered 4-H volunteers and have a clear interest in helping youth and families with their livestock projects.

• Targeted toward 4-H project leaders not new volunteers

• Want volunteers to commit time back in their county helping support youth

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Recruitment

• CEAs should work one-on-one with volunteers to recruit for the Mentor program

• Not intent to recruit through mass media

• Personal recruitment will help ensure the volunteer is qualified and committed to attend the training and fulfill the role and carry out the purpose of the Livestock Mentor program

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Coaching Role

• Being a good “coach” or “mentor” to youth will be heavily emphasized

• Becoming a successful coach takes practice and patience from adult leaders.

• Adults who are successful coaches: – have a defined coaching philosophy and

objectives– understand the importance of effective

communication– provide positive reinforcement– motivate youth

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Testimonials

• Volunteers have stated the following:

• “That the “kid” is the project. The show animal is their project.”

• “I was very happy to see that, with all the information and resources given, the focus of the program was on helping make our 4-H programs enrich the youth involved.”

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Cost

• Volunteer should make the commitment by personally contributing to the training

• However, counties are encouraged to explore various avenues of garnering support to assist volunteers with the costs associated with attending the training (i.e. registration, lodging, mileage).

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Overview

• Purpose

• Training

• Target Audience

• Recruitment

• Coaching Role

• Testimonials

• Cost

Texas 4-H and Youth Development