Huron Expositor, 2006-05-31, Page 9The Huron Expositor • May 31, 2006 Page 9
News
Erica Murray selected as Ontario 4-H ambassador
Jeff H e u c h e r t
Erica Murray, of St.
Columban, has been
involved with the 4-H Club
since she was 10 years old.
Now, at age 20, Murray
has been select-
ed as one of
Ontario's 4-H
ambassadors.
Murray
applied for the
position along
with around 20
other 4-H mem-
bers from
across the
province.
From those
20, eight were
selected for an
interview and
to make a presentation at
the 4-H annual meetingand
conference this past
February.
Then the selections were
made.
"I was just so excited,"
says Murray.
"When they announced my
name I was laughing and
crying. I was just over-
whelmed."
Becoming a_ 4-H ambas-
sador was a goal of Murray's
ever since she learned about
the position last year, when
they were first created.
"I didn't apply because it
was my first year of univer-
sity and I thought I should
focus on that," she says.
"But I knew I was going to
apply this year," she adds.
Murray recently finished
her second year at Nipissing
University, where she is a
history major.
Murray has a list of
accomplishments with 4-H
that made her a suitable
candidate for the ambas-
sador position.
She has completed 34
clubs throughout her 10
years, in several different
regions.
"I'm what they call a bor-
der hopper," says Murray.
"I've taken clubs in
Monkton, Staffa, Mitchell
and Huron."
But, Murray says she was
never too interested in tak-
ing clubs that have to do
with livestock.
"I'm much more into the
lifestyle clubs, but I have
taken a few in machinery
and ploughing," she says.
This year, Murray hopes to
complete clubs 35 through
39, with plan`sto finish with
around 42 by the end of next
year.
"You never stop learning.
You can always get better,"
says Murray.
Having always been an
active member, this is not
the first time
Murray has been
selected by 4-H
to participate
in special
events.
She has
participated
in the
National 4-11
Citizenship
Seminar,
Future
Leaders in
Action,
urray Future Talk,
Youth
Exchanges Canada,
Leadership Camp, and
Careermania.
Locally, she has partic-
ipated in Go for the
Gold, judging competi-
tions, Leap into
Leadership, Ag -Vision's
Generation Next seg-
ment and a regional
baseball tou ament.
As a 4-11 ambassador
Murray will attend 4-11
events and talk to young
people about the positive
impact of 4-11 programs.
"We get to show kids
how much fun it is and
encourage them to stay
in the program," she
says, adding, "We also
help to raise interest
and attract new mem-
bers."
As an ambassador,
Murray might also
attend the GrowMark's -
a 4-H sponsor - annual
meeting in Chicago.
Murray says being an
ambassador will provide
her the opportunity to
not just raise interest
and awareness of 4-H,
but improve the existing
clubs here.
"We'll be finding out
what 4-H is like in dif-
ferent parts of the
province and then bring
back what we've learned
and try some of those
things here," she says.
"The way they do their
meetings may be differ-
ent. They might do little
things we didn't think of
before," she says.
To prepare herself for
what is ahead in the
next year, Murray and
Erica M
the other new ambassadors
attended a training week-
end in April, where they
practised public speaking,
met with 4 -H's sponsors and
—.basically, "Learned the nitty
gritty of 4-H," says Murray.
Based on the 4-H clubs'
age limit, this will be
Murray's second last year
where she can participate in
clubs.
"It's sad because 4-H is my
emotional high - that's what
it gives me," she says.
"I don't know how I'll get
my 4-H fix."
But, Murray says she still
plans to be involved, and
hopes to become a club
leader in the future.
As for what's next, Murray
says she will be attending
the Clinton Fair this week-
end, and an upcoming fun
day in Waterloo.
"I want to do as much as
ambassador as possible this
year," she says.
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