shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com September, 13, 2016 • Page 23 South Dakota 4-H: Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders By Lura Roti, for SDSU Extension/iGrow.org Matthew Olson came home from the hospital wearing a 4-H onesie. So, when the SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Pennington County says he’s been involved in 4-H since he was born, he’s not exaggerating. “From the time I was out of diapers I was going to 4-H camp with my dad who is a 4-H agent in Mohave County, Arizona,” Olson, 27 says. He explains that by tagging along to 4-H activities, he and his brother got extra time with their dad. By the time Olson was old enough to become an official member, he jumped in with both feet. “My 4-H projects were diverse. I participated in dog, rabbit, entomology, rocketry, photography and shooting sports,” he explains. By the time he was in high school, Olson was active in the Arizona 4-H Youth Staff - a statewide teen-led team which planned, organized and led the 4-H state teen leadership camp. “I was always busy and definitely gained a lot of responsibility. It was clear from the beginning that my projects were my projects. I was responsible for taking care of my animals and if I didn’t, I’d be the kid showing the ratty-looking rabbit,” Olson explains. Today, Olson is one of 39 SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisors passionate about the organization which provides youth with hands-on opportunities to explore, experience, lead, create and give back to their community. Olson and his colleagues work to engage the more than 45,000 South Dakota youth and volunteers who participate in South Dakota 4-H programming throughout the state. “Our overall goal in 4-H is to produce successful adults,” Matthew Olson, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Pennington County helps a 4-H member measure ingredients during an event. Olson is one of 39 SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisors passionate about the organization which provides youth with hands-on opportunities to explore, experience, lead, create and give back to their community. Olson and his colleagues work to engage the more than 45,000 South Dakota youth and volunteers who participate in South Dakota 4-H programming throughout the state. 10 Tips for Freshening Up Your Family’s Routine (StatePoint) Running a household can be stressful, so finding a way to streamline your routine is a must. While you may have short-cuts and tricks already in place, stocking your home with the best supplies and most innovative products will help to make each day even easier. How can you find the best products for your family? “Product of the Year,” the world’s largest consumer-voted award for product innovation backed by the votes of 40,000 consumers, is a great source for learning about great products introduced each year. The list of winners can serve as a helpful guide when navigating store aisles, and here are some of this year’s highlights: • Keep your car looking great for the daily commute with a multitasking cleaner. The Turtle Wax Dash & Glass, the Car Care category winner, uses a proprietary formula for streakfree cleaning of both dashboards and windows. • Don’t cover laundry odors, neutralize and prevent them. The new Downy Fresh Protect helps you get more out of each load by infusing fabrics with motion-activated technology to keep clothes smelling fresh no matter how active you and your family are each day. • With the right tools, you can skip the prices and the lines of the salon. Buff away thick and stubborn skin, extending the life of pedicures with the Amopé Pedi Perfect Extra Coarse Electronic Foot File with Diamond Crystals, which exfoliates to reveal beautiful feet. • Pack a protein punch on the fly with a healthy grab-andgo snack. The Gold Emblem Abound Unsalted Pistachio & Almond Blend meets the American Heart Association’s criteria for heart-healthy food and tastes delicious. • Simplify family dinners on busy days with easy side dishes like Ore-Ida Bold & Crispy Fries. They are easy to prep and add great flavor to any meal. • Pack an extra dose of nutrition into your dog’s daily diet. The new Purina Beyond Purées are easy to serve with your dog’s everyday food. Different varieties target a healthy immune system, digestive system or skin and coat. • Maintain an active lifestyle each day. The Playtex Sport Collection, winner of the Feminine Care category, is designed to move with the body so women feel confident and protected while exercising and on-the-go. • Want to indulge without the guilt? The Skinny Cow Dipped Ice Cream Bars fulfill ice cream cravings for only 190 calories each. • Satisfy your family’s sweet tooth with a new twist on a classic. The SweeTARTS Soft and Chewy Ropes are bendable and chewy with a fruit-punch filling, combining sweet and tart flavors. • Stay well-rested with Emergen-Zzzz, an innovative dietary supplement that includes melatonin, vitamin C and key antioxidants and helps you fall asleep naturally. Take it approximately 30 minutes before bedtime to fall asleep and stay asleep. Visit productoftheyearusa.com for more information about this year’s winners. When the going gets tough, seek out the supplies you need to make life easier. explains Donna Bittiker, SDSU Extension 4-H Field Operations Associate. “The SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisors have a passion for helping youth succeed. They are professionals who understand how youth learn, so they are able to develop educational programming youth enjoy in a variety of areas offered to 4-H participants.” “That’s what I love about 4-H,” says Katherine Linnemanstons, the new SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Lincoln County. “I’m passionate about finding what makes youth excited about learning and 4-H offers such a wide range of opportunities for youth. I love that it’s a youth-led organization. If a member is excited about something, they can run with it.” Unlike Olson, Linnemanstons didn’t grow up in 4-H. The Science-Business and Spanish graduate of Notre Dame discovered the more than a century-old organization after college while working on the staff of extension camps in Alabama and Wisconsin. “I taught students about the environment, ecology, herpetology - basically the world around them - I decided I really liked this path,” Linnemanstons says. These experiences encouraged her to return to college. This time she enrolled at the University of Minnesota where she received a master’s in Natural Resource Science and Environmental Management. Every SDSU Extension 4-H youth program advisor’s background and story is unique - which Bittiker says works to enhance the overall mission of the organization. “The diversity found throughout the network helps us keep programming fresh, relevant and allows us to improve upon what has proven to be successful. Each team member brings new and different ideas as nearly half of our team brings youth development experiences from outside South Dakota.” she says. The South Dakota Association of Extension 4-H Professionals (SDAE4-HP), along with other organizations, helps connect SDSU Extension 4-H youth program advisors throughout the state and provides them with a forum where they can share their ideas. “Although we see each other at events throughout the year, like the South Dakota State Fair, this organization gives us an opportunity where we can focus on sharing what is working or ask for advice to overcome challenges we may be facing,” explains Sara Koepke, president elect of the SDAEP and SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Grant County. Koepke goes on to explain that in order to provide 4-H members and volunteers with the best experience possible, she and her colleagues continually work to keep their own leadership skills honed. “This association is one of many ways we do this. I returned from a national conference with a lot of tools to share, as well as some great tips on how to better achieve a work/life balance,” says Koepke, who is a busy working mom. Her son, Liam is 2. Koepke says that she has a great role model in her mom, Marla Thissen. “My mom was the 4-H program coordinator in my hometown. I saw how she engaged youth and the impact she had. That stuck with me. When it came time to decide what I wanted to do, I realized that 4-H and youth is where my passion lies. This is a career I love and one I want to stick with until retirement.” To learn more about how you can become involved in 4-H as a member of volunteer, visit iGrow 4-H & Youth or visit with your local SDSU Extension 4-H youth program advisor. A complete listing can be found on the Our Experts page. Katherine Linnemanstons,  SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Lincoln County, helps 4-H Clover Buds during the recent Achievement Days. Linnemanstons is one of 39 SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisors passionate about the organization which provides youth with hands-on opportunities to explore, experience, lead, create and give back to their community. Linnemanstons and her colleagues work to engage the more than 45,000 South Dakota youth and volunteers who participate in South Dakota 4-H programming throughout the state. Sara Koepke, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Grant County with 4-H members. Koepke is one of 39 SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisors passionate about the organization which provides youth with hands-on opportunities to explore, experience, lead, create and give back to their community. Koepke and her colleagues work to engage the more than 45,000 South Dakota youth and volunteers who participate in South Dakota 4-H programming throughout the state. Image courtesy of the Grant County Review. Want your business to be seen? Get your display ad here! Call 605-665-5884 Or Drop By At 319 Walnut St. showcase ou want to Do y d business home-base your e Women? at Celebrat ate Women Celebr en of Worth!! Wom an Play sC ay The Ladie Are Aw The Hunters While r details! ll today fo -665-7811 Ca 605