The YEAH Program

We'll start off this post with explaining what YEAH stands for. I think that, as most of you probably don't know what it means, telling you what YEAH means would be a good starting point for this post. After all, if we go ahead and tell you what YEAH does, you might be able to deduce what it stands for. But, if you know what YEAH stands for, it will just help when I'm explaining what YEAH does.

The YEAH Program is a food bank that...what? I didn't tell you what YEAH stands for? Goodness gracious! I better get onto it, then. YEAH stands for Youth Efforts Against Hunger. As I was starting to say, the YEAH Program is a food bank "midway" point, so to speak. As the acronym says, it's the youth's (generally 4H/FFA youth) way of opposing hunger in Clark County (I'm sure if one lives in another county, he could substitute his county for "Clark"). The YEAH Program distributes the food to different food banks throughout Clark County. The food that they distribute can come to them in a couple different ways: first, straightforward, honest donation. This can be in money, food, and even animals. For example, in 2012, a total of $20,530 was donated in cash/check form¹. 43 animals were also donated, worth about $2,884. The Clark County Food Bank said that this is enough meat for 3,500 meals for families in Clark County.

Another way that the YEAH Program can get food is purchasing/processing it. A big place that they get the animals that they purchase/process is the JLA at the Clark County Fair. JLA stands for Junior Livestock Auction, and it is where we, in 4H, sell our animals. (Quick rabbit trail: if you’re a buyer, you can do several things at the Auction. You can buy the animal for your freezer (recommended), or you can give the 4H or FFA member who’s selling an animal a donation (called an “add-on;” recommended), or you can buy the animal, and donate it to the YEAH Program (also recommended). That’s one way that YEAH gets food from the Auction (through the generous donations of the buyer…potentially you)). Funds from the YEAH Program are used to process the animals donated. If, after that, there are still funds available, YEAH will purchase animals. In 2012, the YEAH Program purchased and processed a total of 56 animals, costing $16,500.

So, the YEAH Program: what do you now know about it? Hopefully more than when you started. Here’s some basics – food donated to the Clark County Food Bank from the YEAH Program stays exclusively in Clark County. The YEAH Program is well-known at the JLA, and several buyers donate their animals to the YEAH Program. If you followed this entire post, then yeah! If not, or if something was confusing, please leave a comment or email.

Josh: editor of the Coderlambian

¹all statistics are from this site.

YEAH Program Food Drive

From April 12th to April 21st, Burgerville is doing a food drive for the YEAH Program. On those days, 10% of purchases made between 5 and 8 pm go to the Food Bank, as well as all donated foods. In appreciation, 4H members volunteered at the different Burgerville locations. There, we helped cater tables, as well as inform customers about the food drive.

Our 4H club, Elite Livestock, volunteered at the Burgerville at Fisher's Landing. We volunteered on Tuesday, with the East County D.I.Y. Club. We divided into two shifts, 5 to 6.30, and 6.30 to 8 with the Coderlambian editors in the later shift. As there were many 4H members there, some of us took out signs to wave at cars...a new experience for James and I.

 

Rachel and Zachary stayed inside catering tables (or so we thought)...

  and Gracie helped man the doors, where she handed out flyers about what Burgerville was doing.

Remember, this special deal for the YEAH Program ends Sunday, April 21st! If you want to help, purchase something from Burgerville before the deadline (their milkshakes are amazing...but you knew that, right?). Also, if you make a $5 or more donation, you get 10% off your purchase then and one time you come in May.

And if you're not completely sure what the YEAH Program is...stay tuned on Monday!

Josh: editor of The Coderlambian

Workshop of the Year

Today, James and I went to a workshop on sheep show-manship and management.  
Our judge from last year came volunteered to come up and teach us these things. It was a great opportunity to learn - and we did learn a lot!

The first half of the workshop was in a classroom setting. Here, Mr. Baroni spoke with us about how and what to feed them, which feeds are best for different circumstances, cleaning techniques and supplies, and showmanship skills. I hope I took good notes!
  







For the second half, we all went outside and watched how our judge wanted the lambs to be sheared for the show. You probably wouldn't know that there was 1 correct way to shear a lamb and about 20 million wrong ways to do it. :)

 

James and I are very excited. Since Mr. Baroni will be our judge again this year, we will have an opportunity to be tested on how well we learned the information he presented. We have 4 months to practice. Can't wait!

Rachel: editor of The Coderlambian

Our 4-H Day

Hello and good-day to you!

On the second Thursday of every month, we meet with both our 4-H Spinning club, and our 4-H Market Lamb club. 

In our spinning club, we learned how to card wool on a drum carder.

We got to do some fun colors. What do you think?

After you've washed and carded the wool, you can spin it as roving.

   
 
Our 4-H leader took a picture as we posed worked. Yes, we have a small spinning club, but we all love and enjoy it!

After our spinning class is over, everyone stays for dinner and then we all leave for our next meeting (4-H market lambs). A lot of reminders were given at this meeting, one of which we will post on soon. 



 
 Have a fantastic Friday!

Rachel: editor of The Coderlambian