Young People Explore Alternative Energy with Help from 4-H

Partner Report

Bringing Knowledge to Life! Sanilac County

37 Austin Street E-mail: [email protected] Sandusky, Michigan 48471-1244 Fax: 810-648-3087 Phone: 810-648-2515 Web: msue.msu.edu/sanilac Director: Martin Nagelkirk

November 2009 Young people explore alternative Consequently, Sanilac County will be receiving a energy with help from 4-H $400.00 award to use towards the county’s science, engineering, and technology Twenty-two Sanilac County 4-H youth programming. leaders taught 360 of their peers and family Best of all, following the 4-H National Youth members about alternative energy at two Science Day Biofuel Blast, Marlette 4-Her’s and separate events this past fall: “Biofuel Blast” and students indicated: “Science Is a Blast,” a statewide event held on the MSU campus. The activities are part of the Sanilac County 4-H Go Green! Initiative. Go Green! is designed to help youngsters learn about “green living” through science and technology (SET). Biofuel Blast took place at CC’s Cyber Café in Marlette on National Youth Science Day, October 7, 2009. At the event, youth leaders made presentations on wind power, solar power, fuel cell cars, and conducted an experiment on biofuels – Biofuel Blast! Biofuel Blast allowed local youth to join young people – nationwide - via the internet to join leading scientists in experimenting with biofuels to discover which ones will lead us to a sustainable future. Marlette students were among thousands of youth who reported their results nationwide after completing Biofuel Blast. The average balloon circumference after ten minutes was 8 inches which then increased to 10 inches after an hour! The largest balloon reported came in at 21.5 inches. Thanks to support from John Deere, teachers/students at Marlette Middle School, local volunteers, and CC’s Cyber Café, Sanilac County was recognized as the top county with the highest participation levels in youth reporting their experiment results nationally.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. A sweet deal for Thumb area youths . They like science (86%). . More than half of the students (56%) The Sweet Heifer Project started in spring indicated that they plan to continue watching the 2008, when Lee and Bonnie Sweet of Deckerville, news, visiting web sites, and/or reading information made plans to sell a registered Angus heifer and on biofuels. donate half of the proceeds to the Paul DeLong . Ninety-one percent of students agreed that Memorial Scholarship (an initiative of the Thumb it is important to learn more about alternative Jackpot Beef Educational Program) and half to the energies so that the United States can decrease Michigan Angus Auxiliary Junior Scholarship dependence on fossil fuels. Program. . Eighty-eight percent of students indicated Members of the jackpot program purchased that they believe it is important to understand the heifer to with the intention of using her to global climate changes for future generations. start an educational program. Their idea was to Learn more about National Youth Science give young people the chance to take part in an Day, and the Biofuel Blast! at: https://www.4- application and interview project and win the h.org/NYSD/ . heifer to use as the foundation of a breeding At “Science Is a Blast” (a statewide event program. held on the MSU campus), members of the Sanilac Darcy Lipskey, a Minden City 4-H member County 4-H “Green Squad” taught more than 300 was the recipient of that first heifer, and since youth and families more about wind power. then, 11 additional heifers have been awarded to youth from across the Thumb. Once the youngsters win the heifers they take part in a number of educational activities, including “Beef Blasts,” educational programs that cover the entire life cycle of a calf. There are also hands-on activities and tours of beef industry businesses--eye-opening experiences for many of the participants. The information the youngsters receive from top-notch presenters and business people in the industry is invaluable, whether they choose to continue with careers as cattle breeders, agribusiness representatives or in any professional pursuits. The 4-H & FFA Thumb Jackpot Beef Education programs include the Thumb Jackpot Beef Show, “Beef Blasts” and the Paul Delong Memorial Scholarship Program. All programs are MSU Extension sponsored events that are available to 4-H & FFA beef Karie Haag, Sanilac County 4-H Youth Leader, teaches youth project members from Sanilac, Huron, Lapeer, at the Science Is A Blast Day on MSU’s Campus more about Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair and Tuscola counties. measuring wind power. Support for all education programs is provided by businesses and individuals interested in furthering education in the beef industry. Numerous volunteers help to organize the Thumb Jackpot Beef Show each spring. This show typically has nearly 100 exhibitors and is a great prospect show that gives youth the opportunity to gain Sanilac County MSU Extension MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability,Council political Members beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension,Faye East Adam Lansing, MI 48824. ThisReggie information VanSickle is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not implyPatricia endorsement McLaren by MSU ExtensionJohn O’Hair or bias against those not mentioned. Cathy Knoerr Deanna Stamp Steve Good James Beyer Patti Shinn experience in the show ring prior to the county efforts by inviting growers to a webinar originating fair. Scholarships from the Paul DeLong Memorial at MSU. Scholarship are also awarded each year to They also used the media to remind farmers graduating seniors who have participated in the of the alternative approach and the pending sign- Thumb Jackpot Beef Show. up deadline. On request, Extension educators also “I would really encourage other youth with used a computer program to analyze growers’ any interest in a heifer project to apply [to the specific situations and possible benefits from ACRE Sweet Heifer Project],” Lipskey said. “The enrollment. Twenty four growers took part in interview process is a really good experience. If individual counseling sessions. you are lucky enough to receive a heifer, it will be USDA Farm Services Agency records show a life-changing experience.” 90 area farms elected the ACRE option. Half of these were due to Extension efforts, translating Since the Sweet Heifer Project began, Lee into an additional $500,000 of local farm income. Sweet has passed away, but the legacy he left as a leader for the beef industry and its future will live on for years to come. Sweet sparked something that has had immediate impact on the youth who have received a heifer and the long-term impacts are almost endless. From starting cattle herds to exposing youth to new careers in the livestock industry, there will definitely be many more positive stories to share.

Farming by the ACRE

An MSU Extension educational effort aimed at helping farmers understand the potential benefits of a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program called Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) is paying off for some area growers. Since the Farm Bill was signed earlier this year, MSU Extension recognized that some Michigan growers could benefit from ACRE, which allows participants to manage risks in field crop operations. It is more responsive to plunging market prices than other programs, making it a better risk management tool than other options. MSU Extension staff members explained ACRE and its potential for growers during a crop update meeting in December and a Farm Bill educational event in January. In Sanilac County, a total of 70 growers learned about during one of these educational events. As spring approached, market signals pointed to even stronger advantages to participating in ACRE. Consequently, MSU Extension educators amplified their educational

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.