fund that raised$1 billion to invest in global agribusiness. Whichhas also made him of considerable interest to the LGU Foundation head. Real Dirt is located in Marin County, California…on the coast.
The Chair has little interest in youth issues anddecreasing time to spend on anything within the LGU.
Three years ago, 4-H commissioned a survey to try to understand its members, past andcurrent, as well as to understandhow youth saw their future. The survey was limited to the state, but covered all parts, urban as well as rural and small town. The numbers were surprising. • Two thirds of youth surveyedhad no interest in agriculture. That was true for all ages. • Of those in 5 th grade, 80% say they intended to go to college. But, statewide, less than50%of high school graduates goon to 4-year colleges or graduate from them. Boys aremuch less likely than girls to go on to 4-year colleges. • Those who do not go on to college largely go to technical training programs at community colleges. In fact, the community college system just received a $10 million grant from the Buddy and Linda Bates Foundation to expand its communications and recruitment efforts statewide. 4-H combined the survey with a study within the LGUof programcontent. The study found that four other academic departments in the LGUhave youth outreachprograms, Education, Sociology, Math, and Communications. Most are tied into middle and high schools. All offer academic activities, andmost offer summer “camp” type experiences.
Finding a Home
Becky Smallwood, state 4-H ProgramDirector, takes the results to the Extension Director, Dr. Catharine Cadeaux. In light of the current controversy, she pitches , 4-H could be a solution, we would be a funnel of students into the LGU. But to do that some things have to change. We need to be seen as broad, as really responding to youth interests. That is the only way we are going to reach into older ages, the kids that matter to this university’s enrollment.
To do that, Becky says, we need to be somewhere else. Such as? Dr. Cadeaux asks.
Awkward pause.
Such as in the new O’Keefe Center for Community Concerns. We need to be seennot as part of the College of Agriculture, but as a larger resource that is officially part of something that can reachacross all parts of the university. We are an asset. All the research says our kids go on to be model citizens, are able to work in teams, understand their responsibilities in life. We can be a key asset to the university. And, to be frank and if I might add, Extensionneeds to think of itself that way, too. Besides, Becky adds, we went back through our records and ten of the legislators whoare meeting are 4-H alumni. The forehead frown lines upon which Dr. Cadeaux balances her glasses are nowdeep troughs. That is not going to happen, she says. First of all, 4-H is part of Extension. By law. Second, the budget that flows to 4-H flows through the College of Agriculture. And the Department takes a cut of that money. Moving 4-H out hurts the Department. Whether or not the Chairmancares about 4-H – and he does not, mon amie, he does not – any resource reduction will be noticed. And, I assure you, it will not be greetedwith hugs and fond adieus.
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