Guest Column by Megan Thorson

As part of the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 4-H is committed to providing our youth with skills needed for career development as well as programs revolving around science, technology, engineering and math. These STEM programs promote excitement and interest in science and improve science literacy by equipping youth with knowledge and skills through experiential, inquiry-based learning processes. Long-term outcomes include youth seeing themselves as scientists and exploring college and careers in science and engineering.

Freeborn County 4-H has projects dealing with engineering design, such as the Rube Goldberg machines and robotics. Of course, there are many other projects that could fall into STEM-based learning also, depending on which route 4-Hers want to go. This year we have two Science of Ag challenge teams that were formed and will represent Freeborn County. These two teams are working with coaches and a teacher whoare focusing on biodiesel and ethanol. Their goal has been to find a problem, collect data, find a solution or answer, and then put all their information together into a presentation. These teams will give presentations to local businesses as well as compete against almost 85 other teams across the state of Minnesota for the top prize of Science of Ag challenge winners. Thank you to those adult volunteers whohave been working with our special event teams.

In addition to providing STEM-based activities, 4-H is committed to developing a passion for lifelong learning and preparing youth for higher education. Minnesota 4-H has set a target goal that 70 percent of Minnesota 4-H youth will go into post-secondary learning after high school.  For over five years, Freeborn County 4-H has encourageded youth to explore different agriculture or livestock businesses. We work to be intentional when selecting places we attend to make sure we have a career and or STEM focus.

A few weeks ago, a group of 4-Hers were able to take a trip down to Grain Millers in St. Ansgar, Iowa, to explore the technology that is used to make one of their main products, oatmeal. They were able to explore different areas of the plant as well as learn about the different careers and education behind those careers. On the same trip, those 4-Hers also traveled to John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, to explore many of their robots and technology at their plant. They also had employees talk about careers at John Deere and things that students can do while in high school to help prepare them for a job in the future.

Over Easter break, another group of 4-Hers will travel to Iowa State University to explore the meats lab, as well as explore the university down there and get a chance to ask questions of current students. From there they will get to explore Nichols Cyro-Genetics and see how the science of embryo transfer in beef animals works.

There will be many more career exploration and STEM-based trips coming up this summer for our 4-H’ers, and again when students have mini breaks from school. We are committed to helping 4-H youth to build their skills or learn new skills, explore new things and broaden their perspectives, all while offering the different projects and tours.

If you would like more information on Freeborn County 4-H please contact the extension office at 377-5660.

 

Megan Thorson is a County 4-H program coordinator with the University of Minnesota Extension Service for Freeborn County.