Congress Experience

My workshop that occurred all day Thursday was shooting sports which was exhilarating. We shot rifles, shot guns, and bows and arrows. Most people would completely enjoy this class, especially if your an outdoorsman. The teachers were fun and taught us everything we needed to know about guns. You go to an official range and wear earplugs and safety glasses and are accompanied by an adult at all times. At the end of this workshop you will be a shooting pro.

My experience at Congress was great. I made plenty of new friends, experienced college in dormitories, and learned all about congress. I met most of the executive board and became closer with my district and had a fun time doing it. I only wish the week would of lasted longer. I can’t wait for next year’s adventures and friends that await me in Congress.

Camp Timpoochee

Here are a few pics from camp counselor night at camp timpoochee.

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2009 4H State Congress

Hey guys! Congress was great this year! Everyone who went had a great time. For those of you who don’t know, State Congress is where 4Her’s from all over the state of Florida meet in Gainesville every year and stay in the dorms on UF’s campus. We come together to elect new state council officers, present demonstrations, interview for 4H scholarships and for the chance to attend National Congress, and attend educational workshops that help with career exploration.

My Congress Experience

On Thursday, July 31, I attended the Congress workshop entitled Science and Technology. This workshop was taught by the engineers at the University of Florida in the department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. In the morning, we were taken on a tour of their labs and got to see first-hand some of the projects the engineers were working on, along with the facility used to make biodiesel. Later in the afternoon, we tested the fatty acid content of vegetable oil and learned about its effects on biodiesel, and explored the biogas production process. Before we left, the engineers shared with us their newest project: an integrated building where biodiesel, biogas, and solar energy would be made.

My Time at Congress

My Thursday workshop was Individual & Family Resources. We learned cake decorating the first hour. In our groups we made icing first, then you had to ice the cake. Then we decorated it & ate it. The second part was about fast food & how to choose healthy foods. We did an activity on that. Then there was the part learning about working in retail. That was interesting. I can’t wait to see what’s next year.

My First Congress Adventure

The workshop I attended on Thursday was Landing Judging. In this workshop we got “Down and Dirty.” We learned ways to tell where the water table was in the ground. During the examination of one of the soil pits we learned about the ages of the earth and the different names of the types of soil. My workshop also got to feel the soil to tell the clay and sand content. It did start to rain a little but that didn’t stop us from going to the creek to see how much sand and organic matter that lied around it.  This was a really fun workshop because I have never done anything like it before.