WAE4-HYDP News & Views

Hello everyone. My name is Christian Malsatzki, and I’m the new Interim 4-H Youth Development Agent in Sauk County. I came to Wisconsin from Austin, Texas, where I attended The University of Texas and Texas State University. I earned a Bachelor’s in Geography and The Environment (a confusing title for Environmental Science) from UT, and a Master’s in Agricultural Education from TX State.  I am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and skills to a different region of the country, as well as being provided the chance to learn about Wisconsin (I’d also like to see some snow). I look forward to working with Wisconsin youth and 4-H in the hope that I can provide opportunities to discover new interests, and perhaps even career paths.

As a kid I grew up in Central Pennsylvania, was a member of the Central Pennsylvania 4-H, and attribute it with helping shape my interests and leading me towards my chosen educational pursuits. I have lived, learned, and interacted with people and cultures in a variety of places in the United States, including: Central, Eastern, and Western PA, NJ, New York City, Central TX, and now WI.  I have picked up some valuable information and insights over the years that I hope to share with others, I can speak a few really strange languages that can be entertaining to hear, and in the past I was a Chef for several restaurants on the East Coast–so you may be able to talk me in to cooking something for you (I’ll always be happy to share recipes).

I look forward to meeting and working with all of you!

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Our 4-H programs across the state are as unique as each one of us. The WAE4-HYDP Communications Committee thinks understanding what 4-H is like in various counties – urban, rural and suburban – would make for some interesting reading. We would like you to share your perspectives on 4-H in your county. What programs, traditions, issues and challenges do you have in your county?  We’d encourage you to keep your response to no more than 2-3 paragraphs.

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CHEVY CHASE, Md. – Tamara Koop, Waukesha, Wis. was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame on October 7 for her lifetime achievements and contributions to 4-H. Honored by the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA), she was one of 15 people inducted during the ceremony held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, MD.“NAE4-HA is proud to acknowledge the outstanding 2011 National 4-H Hall of Fame honorees for the passion, dedication, vision, and leadership they’ve shown toward our young people during their many years of service to 4-H,” said Lori Purcell-Bledsoe, President, NAE4-HA.

National 4-H Hall of Fame honorees are nominated by their home states, based upon their exceptional leadership at the local, state, national and international levels.

The honorees were presented with National 4-H Hall of Fame Medallion, plaque and memory book during the ceremony. The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as part of the Centennial Project of the NAE4-HA, and partners with National 4-H Council and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA. For more information about the National 4-H Hall of Fame event and past recipients, visit www.nae4ha.com/hof.

Attending the National 4-H Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Washington, D.C.  along with Tamie was: Jeanne Baum, Professor Emerita, Outagamie County; Kay Schroeder, Professor Emerita, Ouzakee County; Melanie Miller, retired 4-H Youth Development Specialist; Kathleen Vos, Professor Emerita, Department of Youth Development;  Kristine Seickert and Andy Manke, friends and colleagues from Waukesha County. If you would like to send a personal congratulations to Tamie, she can be reached at N4 W22714 Lexington Drive, Waukesha WI 53816, or e-mail at her at tkoop@wi.rr.com .

Tamie was also presented a Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame certificate of appreciation at the October 4, 2001 4-H Retiree’s Reunion in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that summarizes some of her many contributions.

Click below to see a copy of the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame certificate:
Koop certificate

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Please click on the link below to view the spring issue of Entre Nous. I hope you all have a chance to read it and get to know more about some colleagues who have family members in UWEX, professional development opportunities, and more.

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/4h/wae4hydp/newsletters.cfm

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Susan Marino, roving reporter for Entre Nous and lifetime member of WAE4-HYDP, conducted interviews with 6 UWEX educators who are related to other UWEX educators and asked them probing questions about what it means to have that kind of work/family connection. Here is the sixth of the 6 interviews she conducted:

Name:  Ellen Andrews      Title:  4-H Youth Development Educator

Ext. time:  Summer 2001 & 2002:  Dodge County 4-H Summer Intern; 2003:  Coordinator Youth & Family Program Education, Lafayette Co.; 2005:  Outagamie Co.; 2007 – present:  Calumet Co.

1.  Why/how did you choose Extension?  Other things you considered or did before Extension?  My mother, Becky Gutzman, was a huge influence in me getting into Extension.  She started in Extension as a 4-H Summer Intern and Interim Agent in Columbia County before I was born.  While I was in grade school, I often tagged along with my mother, who was then a part of UW-Extension’s “Kids in the Kitchen” grant program.  When I went to high school, my mother went full-time with Extension, as a WNEP Educator, and now is the WNEP coordinator for Dodge and Columbia Counties. 

Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher. I do have my teacher’s license for middle school and high school social studies.  My mother encouraged me to apply for a summer intern position while I was in college.  The intern position got me interested in working for UW-Extension, and eventually led to my decision after graduation to work in Lafayette County and get my Master’s degree at UW-Platteville. 

2.  What are 3 of your main Extension responsibilities?  Serving as advisor and educator to the 4-H club program, where I work to a) engage youth in leadership, and b) support adult leaders in strengthening the 4-H club experience.  I also work with school districts to enhance positive youth development through a character education program called “Boomerang!”

3.  How were you influenced by your mother to work for Extension?  I was aware of her positions with Extension and she was always very positive about her experiences. In fact the things of her job I admired most were that it involved education, it was flexible, and it reached out to various audiences.  It was such a good fit for my mother.  Then in high school I gave this speech with the title, “Help me!  I’m becoming my Mother!”  I had no idea how true that title would become, as not only did I go on to work for Extension, but I also met my husband as a direct result of my first UW-Extension job.

4.  Work together on the job?  When I was a summer intern, we actually had to share an office 1-2 days per week and could occasionally carpool.  The last question of my interview for the intern position was actually, “Do you think you could handle sharing an office with your mother?”

Since we’re in different program areas and districts, we don’t formally work together.  However, we do enjoy stealing ideas from each other.  She is also a 4-H certified judge, and I have been helping her work towards achieving her “bucket list” item of judging at every county fair in Wisconsin.

5.  Do you talk about it at times other than at work?  Yes, we do; we talk ‘shop’ all the time.  My mother is a 4-H Club Leader.  I used to see her at district meetings.  In fact, I remember when Southern District Director Dick Pederson introduced ‘the first Mother/Daughter pair in the district.’  I am my mother’s only daughter.

6.  Challenges?  I wouldn’t really call this a challenge, but my mother works in the same office (Columbia County) as my mentor, Karen Nelson.  I talk to both of them a lot and ask their guidance.  Sometimes I’ve wondered,  “do they talk to each other about me?”

7.  Joys?  We really get what each other does.  I love that we can really appreciate and understand each other’s challenges and successes.  My mother is a good problem solver and serves as a great sounding board for me.

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Susan Marino, roving reporter for Entre Nous and lifetime member of WAE4-HYDP, conducted interviews with 6 UWEX educators who are related to other UWEX educators and asked them probing questions about what it means to have that kind of work/family connection. Here is the fifth of the 6 interviews she conducted:

Name:  Becky Gutzman    Title:  WNEP Coordinator

Ext. time:  (Columbia) 1995 – present; (Dodge) 2000-present; full-time

1.  Why/how did you choose Extension?  Other things you considered or did before Extension?  I did consider being a 4-H agent.  For two summers 1972-73 I was a 4-H summer agent in Columbia County, and then served as interim 4-H & Youth Agent in1973-74.  But to begin at the beginning, I was a 4-H member.  It was very important to our family.  Dad started two clubs in Kenosha County.  He was President of the Leaders’ Council.  E. J. Lueder and Gerry Gast were the 4-H agents.  Phyllis Northway was the Home Agent in Kenosha County.  My Dad, a dairy farmer, was a very strong influence on my career choice.

2.  What are 3 of your main Extension responsibilities?  a)  I work in the classroom with low income audiences.  It’s an alternative high school and it’s a challenge to engage the students.  b)  I do parent programs at Family Resource Centers and Head Start.  I am often a child’s first teacher.  I teach them to be open to sharing and learning from each other.  c)  I put out a newsletter called “Food Sense”.  We distribute it chiefly to food pantry clients, and now it is shared statewide through the Family Living Resource Center.  It is very readable and usable by our audience.

3.  How did you influence your daughter (Ellen Andrews) to work for Extension?  I didn’t know I was influencing her.  She wanted to teach and I suggested the summer intern program.  She did it for two summers during college.  There was an opening in Lafayette County part-time.  I tried to have a very positive attitude at home about Extension. 

4.  Work together on the job?  How?  We don’t work together any more.  We were introduced as the first Mother/Daughter pair in the Southern District by District Director Dick Pederson.  Ellen gives me suggestions, “Mom, you need a hands-on activity for Foods Revue.  Try it for Clothing Revue, too.”  I share ideas with her on writing or about things I have tried in my teaching.

5.  Do you talk about it at times other than at work?  We talk about it at home all the time.  It probably drives the rest of the family crazy.  On the way to church we’d compare notes.  We talk a lot but then our relationship grew so much closer, too. 

6.  Challenges?  One of my officemates in Columbia County is Ellen’s 4-H mentor.  I have to remind myself of that and be careful not to intrude on their working relationship.  I do have 2 sons younger than Ellen and I am encouraging the younger son to think about being a summer agent.

7.  Joys?  It is a joy to me to see Ellen grow–taking on leadership tasks such as with the District Resource Management Committee; I served on that committee for the Southern District.  I am happy to see her grow career-wise and to see her keeping up her certification for teaching.  I’m just so proud of her.

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Susan Marino, roving reporter for Entre Nous and lifetime member of WAE4-HYDP, conducted interviews with 6 UWEX educators who are related to other UWEX educators and asked them probing questions about what it means to have that kind of work/family connection. Here is the fourth of the 6 interviews she conducted:

Name:  Sarah Tarjeson          Title:  4-H Youth Development Educator    

Ext. time:  2/1/2009 to present, Sheboygan County

1.       Why/how did you choose Extension?  Other things you considered or did before Extension? I did not originally choose Extension; instead my familiarity was with the 4-H Program. I chose 4-H because of the impact on me, my family, and my community.  I knew 4-H was education—not classroom education—my undergraduate degree is in Secondary Education, Communication Studies and I earned my Master’s in Youth Development. As I became an adult and further pursued a career with Extension it was clear that my vision of reaching people outside of the classroom clearly aligned with the vision of all programs within UW-Extension.

I am third generation 4-H.  My grandfather was part of the Jolly Joes 4-H Club.  He had acres of trees which he and the club planted and donated to the 4-H program during his 53 year tenure with the club.  I had been gone from Sheboygan County for ten years so my connections to the program were gone and I felt I could apply here.  I knew a lot about the program, but most of the 4-Hers were grown that I had worked with. In addition, I had gained considerable professional experience in other agencies and programs that were applicable to this position.

2.       What are 3 of your main Extension responsibilities?  My overall focus is to expand 4-H by 1) providing youth development opportunities to underserved communities through outreach programs such as After School, Youth in Governance, etc; 2)  providing overarching support to 4-H traditional community clubs; and 3) as Co-Department Head with duties related to the Sheboygan County administration and political environment.

3.       How were you influenced by your mother to work for Extension? My mother, Merry, went back to school later in life, “before returning to school as an adult was cool”.  She loved learning and valued it for herself as well as her children.  Together we began and grew a new 4-H club in Sheboygan County because we both believed in education, learning and values.

4.      Work together on the job?  How?  I supervise my mother (yes, I am her boss) in the AmeriCorps program.  She has always helped me think through all the options and choices before I make a decision.  Mother and daughter—we’re different but we know each other’s differences and similarities.  “In the end she is my Mom.” In the end it is important to both of us to preserve that relationship foremost.

5.      Do you talk about it at times other than at work?  Our Extension work would take away from this special relationship we have if we didn’t realize and appreciate time and place to talk.  We each genuinely understand what kind of day each other has had.  That understanding is a huge support.  My tendency though, because my mother understands me so well, is to share my job with my mother instead of my husband.  Even Dad says every once in awhile:  “Stop talking 4-H!”

6.      Challenges?  My brother Neil (who is known as Merry Klemme’s son) is working on his Master’s so he can start a career with UW-Extension.  He has worked with the Oconto County Teen Court and Mentoring Program.  In fact, our Extension family tree includes an uncle who worked for Extension in another state.  The tendency for those of us with personal connections in Extension is to not reach out to other colleagues.  I make it a priority to keep in touch with colleagues and seek their advice, not just my mother.  Before my mother started with AmeriCorps we talked about the importance of not excluding others in our programming. We have to be intentional about not doing program planning from home and being sure to include others in the plans.

7.      Joys?  Another element of our relationship is that we both value positive youth development.  It is so rewarding to share successes with “someone who gets it, who understands my programming.”  As probationary faculty, she also is one of my coaches in the tenure process.

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Susan Marino, roving reporter for Entre Nous and lifetime member of WAE4-HYDP, conducted interviews with 6 UWEX educators who are related to other UWEX educators and asked them probing questions about what it means to have that kind of work/family connection. Here is the third of the 6 interviews she conducted:

Name:_Merry Klemme                 Title:_4-H YD Agent  

Ext. time:_1998-2007 (Kewaunee: 3-1/2; Manitowoc-10-1/2 mos.; Calumet – 5 yrs.)

1.  What did you do before Extension?  Why/how did you choose Extension?  I was a 4-H member, then a 4-H leader with thoughts of being a 4-H agent some day.  Both of my parents were active 4-H general leaders, my mother a leader for 25 years.  Donna Menart was my mentor and my 4-H youth development agent in Sheboygan County.      Prior to Extension I was Lutheran Social Services Clinic Director for two years and director of “Project Youth” for seven years. This involved working with runaway and homeless youth.  I earned my Bachelor’s degree at age 38, my Master’s degree at age 50 and could finally apply for an agent job.  Today I work  20 hours a week for AmeriCorps in Sheboygan County in an after-school program.  I am also working on a mentoring program for new 4-H families.

2.    What were 3 of your main Extension responsibilities?  Of all that I am most proud, I’d like to mention these 3:   A) Youth Center Without Walls in Kewaunee and Calumet Counties;  B) our Northeast WI Camp Assn which included 7 counties.  It was a lot of work—very educational—and I added the female perspective .  C)  CHUMS:  trained both youth and adults to be mentors with Hispanic 5^th-8^th graders.  With collaboration the project grew to include Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Kewaunee Counties.

3.  How did you influence your daughter to work for Extension?  Sarah was a 4-H member.  She helped me start a new club when she was a sophomore in high school.  When she went to college she maintained that connection and served as a role model for the younger 4-H members.  My son Neil is currently finishing his masters and would like to work in Extension.

4.  Work together on the job?  Sarah and I never worked together.  She started on Feb. 1, 2009 in Sheboygan; I started on Feb. 1, 1998 in Kewaunee.

5.  Do you talk about it at times other than at work?  It drives my husband crazy.  We talk about AmeriCorps especially.  Sarah asks for ideas about after-school programs such as “Hooked on Books”.  I was President (after I retired) of the Sheboygan Leaders’ Association when Sarah started, but resigned to give her space and to connect with the 4-H volunteers. 

6.  Challenges?  If Sarah asks, I tell her the choices as I see them and then ask her, “What do you think?”  I have never told her what to do.  Sarah is my AmeriCorps supervisor. We are pretty open with each other.  I go to her when I have after-school issues and Sarah always talks to me in a professional manner.  She has a strong feeling for how she wants the program to be in Sheboygan County.  Together we consider “What are the consequences going to be?  How are the teachers going to react? “  We talk about how I am doing.   I am not the agent.  I take the consequences for the programs that I am responsible for.

7.  Joys?  I love to listen to Sarah and read what she writes.  Communication is her thing.  I watch the volunteers go to her and she is very professional.  She values them showing up and demonstrates to them how life affirming that is. 

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Susan Marino, roving reporter for Entre Nous and lifetime member of WAE4-HYDP, conducted interviews with 6 UWEX educators who are related to other UWEX educators and asked them probing questions about what it means to have that kind of work/family connection. Here is the second of the 6 interviews she conducted:

Name:  Annie Lisowski     Title:  4-H Youth Development Agent 

Ext. time:  2006-present Buffalo County

1.  Why/how did you choose Extension?  Other things you considered or did before Extension?  “Ever since I was at least in middle school, I wanted to be a teacher, getting my degree in secondary education.  However, after two years of student teaching in the Madison public schools, I had an epiphany.  The thing I discovered that I disliked about teaching was the parents who were negatively involved with their kids.  Why not try 4-H?”  In her final semester of college she applied for 2 county openings, and got the Buffalo County position.  Her mother, Pam Hobson, advised, “If you want to be in Extension, you can’t pass this up!” 

2.  What are 3 of your main Extension responsibilities? 

A)  “Technology”:  I enjoy teaching internet safety for young people.  After seeing the need, I like going into the schools to teach with special emphasis on cyber-bullying and sexting.  This is all about learning to make good decisions online so I work with youth and adults.  There also is a need for this kind of programming in the Western District, not just Buffalo County, so with other colleagues I’ve been able to offer this as Professional Development, reaching out to Extension professionals and other various audiences.

 B)  The second one has a longer title:  “Service learning/multicultural awareness/youth leadership”.  In cooperation with Pierce County, we developed a one-week summer experience to Utah which includes sightseeing, a high ropes course, and working at a homeless shelter in Salt Lake City.  At the shelter we learn about poverty, making and serving meals, and budgeting using many of the skills 4-Hers learn through project work.  The youth come away with more dedication to service, multi-cultural awareness, and stronger leadership skills.  We take 15 youth each year and this will be our fifth summer. 

C)  “Building Resiliency in Young People”:  This includes divorce education, Reality Checks financial education and out of school time programming, including an after-school program taught at the Mondovi Community Youth Center and the Cochrane-Fountain City 4-H Afterschool Program which includes 50 young people.

3.  What/how did you influence your daughter or were you influenced by your mother to work for Extension?  “My mother had occasionally told me as I was growing up ‘NOT’ to work for Extension because of the long hours, but I did it anyway.  My mother is very knowledgeable, having been with Extension for 23 years, so we have had many talks, especially about the stresses of the job.  I am very lucky, because it just takes a good listener and sometimes she has advice for me.”

4.  Work together on the job?  How? “We have coordinated Canoe Camp together during the summer and I see her at Professional Development opportunities.  We both are Department Heads and I address her as ‘Pam’ at Department Head meetings.  Our counties use the ‘shared leadership’ approach.  I’ve learned a lot from her as we both have responsibilities in the personnel area.”

5.  Do you talk about it at times other than at work?  “Every morning on the way to work we talk for 15-30 minutes.  More often than not our talks revolve around work.  After night meetings sometimes we talk also.  Who knows better than my mother exactly what my work is about?”

6.  Challenges?  “I get some looks from people when I call her Pam–especially those who have known me for a long time.  My mother also has confided in me so that I might know something before the rest of the other agents.  I have learned all about the urgency to keep my mouth shut.”

7.  Joys?  It is really exciting for me to work with my Mother.  She is proud of me and is a mentor and a valued colleague.  Only other 4-H agents truly understand our job and what we really do day to day.  What do I really think about this?  “Pam” answers to “Mother” and “Professor”.

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Susan Marino, roving reporter for Entre Nous and lifetime member of WAE4-HYDP, conducted interviews with 6 UWEX educators who are related to other UWEX educators and asked them probing questions about what it means to have that kind of work/family connection. Here is the first of the 6 interviews she conducted:

Name:  Pam Hobson         Title:  4-H Youth Development Agent

Ext. time:  1988-Program Advisor; 1989-present, Agent; Richland County

1.  Why/how did you choose Extension?  Other things you considered or did before Extension?  “In college I dreamt of being a veterinarian–large animals.  But doing it in freezing weather was not quite so appealing. I worked as a summer intern for the Dairy & Livestock Agent in Grant County while I was in college.  After marriage and two children, I started to work in Richland County as a Program Advisor because that was where I was living.  Originally I applied for the Ag position in Grant County.  Things worked out for me to be in 4-H instead.

2.  What are 3 of your main Extension responsibilities?

1) What I find my joy in is changing lives in youth through 4-H.  Previously the Richland County position had been like a revolving door or starter position for so many agents.  It is still exciting to me to see those 4-Hers who were part of the program in the late ’80′s active either in the 4-H program today or giving to the community in another significant way.  The values of head, heart, hands and health do stick with you from your youth to adulthood.

2)  One program we sometimes forget to mention is the training and leadership skills that we provide for adults.  There is nothing more exciting than the on-fire adult who is telling everyone about what great youth we have in 4-H and the exciting programs that we offer to them.  Even if you didn’t grow up in 4-H, we have ways for you to participate that will give you additional skills in the workplace and at home  (psst! particularly with teens).

3) Being Southern District liaison was a  special challenge for me.  To work with my colleagues in this way gave me an opportunity to draw on all the teachings, professional development opportunities and administrative meetings I’d been involved with.  It was a privilege for me to work with other professionals in this capacity.

3.  How did you influence your daughter to work for Extension?   (laughing)  a)  “Extension?  Really?  Think about this!  All the nights and weekends!!!”  b)  My advice to Annie for college:  “If you are interested in teaching, think about social studies or history with a background in education.  Get your master’s in Youth Development.”  c)  “You can start your position with a bachelor’s degree and work on your master’s.  The sooner you get started, the better.”

4.  Work on the job together?  How?  Richland, Monroe, Buffalo, La Crosse Counties and Operation Military Kids work together for Canoe Camp–different districts and different programming efforts coming together.  Annie helps me with writing projects and I offer help to her with programming.

5.  Do you talk about it at times other than an work?  “Unfortunately, a lot.  Not to the exclusion of others–particularly now that my grandson has arrived.  However, about 5 days out of 7  we talk either going to or coming home from work or a night meeting.”

6.  Challenges?  “Sometimes as a mother you want to say, ‘you might want to think about that.’  ‘Ask yourself,  Why am I doing it this way?’  And another one–a thought, really, “I know you have to make mistakes on your own.”

7.  Joys?  “It is so neat to be able to bounce ideas off each other.  It is different when you are doing that with another family member.  They get you in a way that no one else can.  And I love the fact that both of my children understand what I do.  Aaron worked in the State 4-H Office while in college and now works with a state 4-H specialist in Gainesville, FL as a state judge for speaking contests and giving seminars on sports.

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