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The Citizen, 2017-06-08, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2017. PAGE 11. Countdown to IF • Oudshoorn, Cardiff Award winner, leads IPM group Big winner Jolande Oudshoorn, right, was the winner of the Murray Cardiff Award at last year's Huron 4- H awards as the year's overall top member. Matt Cardiff, president of the Brussels Agricultural Society and grandson of Murray, presented the award. (File photo) Continued from page 10 more about the task at hand. Members of the club split into groups and tested themselves on best practices regarding planning an event — specifically a tent the size of the one with which they're charged for the IPM. They also brainstormed a number of things they'd like to see in their tent come September. There were a number of suggestions that may or may not make appearances in September — everything from free popcorn to a trivia game to the showing of 4-H livestock. Walton - area member Johnny Ryan suggested deconstructing a plow as a display in order to further educate urbanites on what a plow is and exactly how it works. Ben Speer, a member of the club from the Brussels area, says that he's excited to be part of the project, but has his own project at the IPM. Speer will be plowing in the IPM this year for the first time. He says he can't wait for the whole week, especially since the match is being held so close to his hometown. Alycia Coultes is another member who will have her hands full that week. Not only does she plan to be part of the 4-H tent, but she will also be showing livestock at two different 4-H shows at the IPM, one of which is tied to the annual Brussels Fall Fair, which will be held at the Walton IPM this year. President Brooklyn Hendriks said that she has learned a lot from the club, even in just the first two meetings. Hendriks said that with members from all over the county, she's learned a lot about the different clubs throughout the county and met many new people through the club. Hendriks, who's 15 year old, is one of the club's youth leaders. Most of the club's members are not newcomers and have been involved in Huron County 4-H for a number of years, completing several projects along the way. Hendriks, for example, has participated in over 30 projects. In order to help the club reach its goal, it has been the recipient of a number of grants which will help the club reach its full potential. Those grants include the 4-H Connecting Canadians Fund sponsored by Canada 150, the Government of Canada, TransCanada and McDonald's Canada, as well as the Journey 2050 grant sponsored by Agrium. This has also been part of the Book Your Ad Now for the 2017 IPM Issue Distributed to all homes in Huron County and western Perth County (through Canada Post) plus all campers staying at the Match RV site, with copies available for match goers to pick up - 35,000 copies in total Call The Citizen 519-523-4792 or contact sales representatives Brenda Nyveld & Heather Fraser e-mail: ads@northhuron.on.ca project, as it aims to teach the agricultural professionals, farmers and business owners of tomorrow how to apply for grants, promote their club, fundraise and properly hold a meeting — all skills they'll need down the road in some capacity or another. As for the design of their tent exhibition, they will be learning the basics of design and how to best utilize the space they have. Another of the projects is a Huron 4-H quilt that will be auctioned off at the IPM. Each individual club, including the special IPM club, will contribute a square to the quilt and hopefully the sale will make some money for the local organization. While the specifics of the tent and the club's exhibit at one of the most important events in Huron's recent history will be the focus on a meeting -to -meeting basis, many members, as well as leaders, think the goal of the exhibit drives to the very heart of 4-H and what it means to communities like Huron County. Jolande says she has learned so much through 4-H and it provides an alternative social experience to things like music and sports. It is a place, she said, where she has truly been able to be herself. Both Marita and Jolande were born in Holland and Marita says that 4-H very quickly became a way for a new immigrant to Canada to meet people and learn about the community's way of life. The family now lives near Auburn and Jolande has recently graduated from the University of Guelph. She hopes to become a chartered accountant in the years to come. She is a veteran of well over 60 Huron County 4-H projects and has chosen to continue to work with the organization — not only as a leader, but also at the Huron County 4-H executive level. Members of the club, young as they are, see themselves as advocates for the program and they make no bones about seeing the IPM as an opportunity to extol the virtues of 4-H in Huron County. They hope to use the tent to sell not only 4-H to people, but Huron County and its way of life as well. For more information on the club or on Huron County 4-H as a whole, find the organization and its clubs on Facebook. To meet members of the special IPM 4-H project, find their tent at the IPM this September. Celebrating East Wawanosh Township's 150th Anniversary The Citizen will publish a special commemorative issue for this celebration which is taking place Make sure you're part of this memorable issue to be published June 29. Call today to reserve advertising to tell the story of your business or your family. The Citizen 541 T519-887t9114se1s