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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-06-08, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2017. Countdown to IPM '1 • Huron County IPM 4-H Club plans tent for match The next generation The Huron International Plowing Match 4-H Club, dubbed the 4-H County Plowers, has been meeting since April to plan the Huron County 4-H tent at the IPM this fall. The members are planning everything, from what will be featured in the tent to how it will be laid out. Members of the group come from all corners of the county and from all 4-H disciplines. Back row, from left: Don Dodds, Monique Baan, Reg Vinnicombe, Jolande Oudshoorn, Emma Durnin, By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen A dedicated group of some of Huron County's youngest residents has some big plans for a tent at this year's International Plowing Match (IPM), which they plan to fill with their even bigger aspirations. Auburn's Jolande Oudshoorn is leading the Huron County 4-H IPM Club, which has been meeting since April. The club is comprised of nearly 30 members and youth leaders who come from all corners of Huron County and represent all types of 4-H clubs in Huron County. Following the rules of 4-H clubs across the province, members of the club must be under the age of 15 to take part. If they are between 15 and 21, they can serve the club as a youth leader. Oudshoorn, 23, is not far removed herself from being a youth leader. In fact, she was the most decorated Huron County 4-H member at the organization's 2016 year-end awards banquet that was held Nov. 20 in Seaforth. Oudshoorn won multiple awards that night, including the Murray Cardiff Award for top all-round member and the Ontario Plowmen's Association Award for outstanding agricultural member. She also placed first in the Huron County 4-H Leaders' Association's secretary book competition and third place in running for the The Citizen Award for the press reporter book competition. Assisting Oudshoorn in leading the group are long-time 4-H leaders Monique Baan, Reg Vinnicombe, Don Dodds, Ursina Studhalter and Jolande's mother Marita. The group's work over the next few months will be to craft what the Huron County 4-H tent at the IPM will look like. Members and leaders will be designing it from the ground up, deciding what will be featured and organizing those elements themselves. "You, as a member of the 4-H Match Making Club, will have a role in deciding on the Huron County 4- H program's involvement in the 2017 International Plowing Match to be held near Walton, Sept. 19-23," reads the club's introduction. "The IPM is an excellent opportunity for 4-H members to be involved in a major event and influence the success of the event. The 4-H Match Making Club is a chance for rural youth to plan an interactive display highlighting 4-H, meet 4-H members from other parts of the county, encourage community support of 4-H and having fun at the same time. This is a `pilot project' only available in Huron County. It was initiated as a result of the Huron County 4-H Leaders' Association deciding to have an exhibit in the county tent at the IPM" There will be a total of six meetings of the club and the club's achievement program will be participating in the club's activities in the IPM tent, either as part of the Auctioneer's Challenge, the 4-H Beautification project or the Brussels Fall Fair. The club's objectives are: to understand and practise the skills required to plan a major event; to plan a high-profile, active participa- tion in the 2017 IPM for the Huron County 4-H program; to meet 4-H members and leaders from other parts of Huron County; to participate in the 2017 IPM and to have fun participating in a unique 4-H project. IPM Chair Jacquie Bishop has been involved with Huron Megan Metske, Grace Hallahan and Marita Oudshoorn. Middle row, from left: Bernadette Terpstra, Mackenzie Terpstra and Brooklyn Hendriks. Front row, from left: Ashley Glaze, Browyn Garniss, Berlyn Garniss, Dugald McIntosh, Jessalyn Hendriks, Alycia Coultes, Emily Bieman, Sarah Durnin, Matthew Glaze, John Ryan, Ben Speer and Austin Bieman. Absent were: Drew Terpstra, Wes Terpstra, Kyle Stevenson and Larissa Stevenson. (Shawn Loughlin photo) County 4-H since she was a member in her youth. She was involved with homemaking clubs (which are now called life skills clubs) and livestock as a member of the Brussels 4-H Beef Club. Bishop remained involved as a member and then a leader for decades, only just recently stepping back in order to focus all of her attention on heading up the IPM. As for the IPM 4-H project, Bishop says she couldn't be happier that it's been brought together and what it will mean for the young members of the club. "The IPM 4-H Club is a terrific opportunity for members to learn and partake in the preparations for this event," Bishop said in an e-mail to The Citizen. "The 4-H members are the future of the IPM, as we need to develop the leaders of tomorrow to take this event into the next 100 years" She says that by getting involved with the IPM, the members of the club will have a deeper, richer understanding of what the event means to rural communities like Huron County and throughout all of Ontario. "By participating in this club, these members should develop memories for them to take forward. When you get involved, the experiences that you have are far more vivid for years to come versus being a passive attendee," Bishop said. "The intent of [the IPM 4-H Club] is to create the opportunity for 4-H members and young people to become engaged in this epic event. The enthusiasm of these young people is contagious and needs to be fostered to provide them with a great experience." While the first meeting of the club, which was held in April, focused largely on electing an executive, know one another, the second learning some Huron County IPM meeting brought about learning history and members getting to Continued on page 11 STILL RUNNING OUT TO FETCH THE PAPER? ise.c..- Having a subscription to The Citizen saves you money Newsstand price - $1.25/week Subscription price - 720/week Save up to $2650 a year off newsstand price Yes - I want to save money. Enclosed is $36.00 for a 1 -year subscription Name Address Town Postal Code On-line subscriptions available too at www.northhuron.on.ca Mail cheque & coupon to: P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, Blyth, ON NOM 1H0 Brussels, ON NOG 1H0