OCR Text |
Show Economist Completes Forum Debbie Proctor, Garfield County Extension Home Economist, Utah State University, returned recently from a one-week trip to Colorado Springs where she attended the Western Regional 4-H Leaders Forum. The annual event is sponsored by the J.C. Penney Company and celebrated its 17th year. More than 500 4-H volunteer leaders and professionals took part in the series of workshops designed to teach new skills. Thirteen western states comprise the western region of 4-H: Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and Colorado. Also included is Alberta, Canada. Participants gathered on the first morning of the convention for orientation and to hear Dr. Dorothy Martin speak on "Strengthening Families Through 4-H" which was this year's theme for the week-long forum. Workshops attended by Mrs. Proctor were "Innovative 4-H Teaching Techniques", "Alcohol and Drugs", "Wheat Weaving", "4-H Helping Elderly and Vice Versa", "Microwave Cookery," and "Making Nutrition Fun." She said there were so many unusual and interesting workshops to select from that she had a very difficult time making a choice. Convention-goers were treated to an ice skating show on Wednesday evening at the Broadmore ice rink where the forum was being held. The ice rink is used by many young people training to participate in the Olympics and skaters from three and four years of age on up to 18 or 19 skated in the production. They also toured a pottery factory, and enjoyed a real chuck-wagon dinner followed by square dancing. Principal speaker on th final evening was Dr. James Kern, Wyoming, whose topic "Joy Realizing Your Potential" received an unusually emotional response from the audience of leaders who work with young people. Twenty-two 4-H leaders from Utah attended the forum. Next year's forum will be held in Phoenix in February and Mrs. Proctor urges local leaders to start planning now to attend. |