Rocky Mountain 4-H Swine Club holds Communications Evening

Rocky Mountain 4-H Swine Club
Back row:  Tyson Goodreau, Levi Anderson, Chaz Vance, Alyssa Barbero
Front row:  Lewis Anderson, Nelz Vance   Missing: Blair Goodreau

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

The Rocky Mountain 4-H Swine Club held their annual Communications Meeting on the evening of February 24 in the meeting room at the Horse-Shoe Pavilion.

The Rocky Mountain Swine Club is a small, tight-knit group.   At this event, talks, demonstrations, and speeches were performed by Chaz Vance,  Levi Anderson, Tyson Goodreau, Lewis Anderson, and Nelz Vance.


Club member Blair Goodreau was unable to attend.  On a side note, Goodreau is a member of the Midget Huskies Hockey team, and they are currently contending in the Spud League Playoffs after having a brilliant season.

Alyssa Barbero was the MC, introducing the judges (Linda McKinnon, Ron Mensaghi, Joyce Reners) and the participants.

After the singing of 'O Canada' and a recitation of the 4-H pledge, the event proper was underway.

These folks didn't want to give away their secrets, so they are preserved for another day, dear reader.

Leonard McGlynn, who was acting as a timer for the event with Eileen McGlynn, told me afterward that 4-H didn't have a Communications element back in his day.  He expressed a firm belief in the value of the Communications component to 4-H, which he said was not part of it in his youth.  SInce then he's seen a lot of kids come through the program with stronger speaking skills, more confidence, and better organizational skills.

To do these things you have to stand up straight, look them in the eye, get it done, and get it done on time.

It's daunting for any adult that hasn't learned the trick.  And the trick is confidence.  To be learning it at a young age, while living the farming life with a much smaller number of social reactions than a city kid would have, that's a rare combination and to my mind one the most valuable things I've observed of the 4-H way.

Who won? Everyone.  I even learned stuff.   Best game in town.

And these kids make great bacon.  They'll also be participating in the following:

Upcoming 4-H Communications Events

District Demonstrations/Illustrated talks
March 7, 2013 @ 6 pm
@ Foothills Community Church
Pincher Creek, host Timber Trails Beef

District Public Speaking
March 8, 2013 @ 6:00 pm
@ Foothills Community Church
Pincher Creek, host Foothills Beef

Regional Communications
March 25, 2013 @ 1:00 pm
 @ Lethbridge College