4H’ers from 18 Counties Attend Lassen WHY Conference

Sunday, October 18th, 2015

A SusanvilleStuff Photofeature
By Jeremy Couso

Mountain Meadow Ranch, at the base of Diamond Mountain along Wingfield Road, played host to a truly outstanding group of kids earlier this month – 4H members from 18 counties across the north state who travelled to the summer camp to take part in the two-day WHY Conference. The WHY acronym stands for Why Help Youth, our region’s annual 4H junior and teen leadership conference.

This year’s WHY Conference, which organizers are calling a great success, brought more than 100 regional 4H members to the camp for learning opportunities and workshops designed to increase their leadership, citizenship and public speaking abilities. Along with enhancing their skills attendees also took part in fun recreational and social activities that helped forge a bond between members and clubs across northern California.

After breakfast on Sunday Bill Payer, Manager of the Tractor Supply Store in Susanville, spoke to the group about his company’s 4H Paper Clover campaign. The Paper Clover fundraiser works by giving customers a chance to buy a paper 4H clover for a dollar at checkout. According to Tractor Supply Company 70 percent of the funds raised benefit state and local 4-H youth development program activities, such as local camps and after-school programs, and grant scholarships for 4-H youth in the communities where Tractor Supply Stores are located.

Bill Payer, Manager of the Susanville Tractor Supply Store talked to 4H'ers about the company's Paper Clover fundraiser and presented Lassen 4H with a check for $1,195. — Bill Payer, Manager of the Susanville Tractor Supply Store talked to 4H’ers about the company’s Paper Clover fundraiser and presented Lassen 4H with a check for $1,925.

The remaining thirty percent of the total funds are donated to National 4-H Council to help connect more young people across America to high-quality 4-H youth development programs.

Payer, whose Susanville store made more money for the local 4H clubs than any other Tractor Supply Store in the region, presented a check for $1,925 and read off an impressive list of contributions made by stores in counties represented by the conference attendees.

After breakfast campers got their pick of interesting activities.

Medical Doctoral candidate Katie Anderson gave a hands on demonstration of suturing using pig’s feet. Why pigs feet? Anderson explains, “The kids used pigs feet because they are nearly identical to human skin and flesh. They were provided with sterile sutures and needle holders to perform their suturing techniques. The suturing clinic allowed the kids to learn proper surgical suturing techniques including simple interrupted, continuous and mattress sutures and a basic surgical knot.”

Katie Anderson teaches campers about suturing on pig's feet. Why pigs feet? Anderson explains: "The kids used pigs feet because they are nearly identical to human skin and flesh. They were provided with sterile sutures and needle holders to perform their suturing techniques. The suturing clinic allowed the kids to learn proper surgical suturing techniques including simple interrupted, continuous, and mattress sutures and a basic surgical knot." — Katie Anderson teaches campers about suturing on pig’s feet in her morning clinic.

The end result? Anderson says, “I hope the kids have a better understanding of how suturing is performed and perhaps I have even sparked a few of their interests towards the field of medicine.”

Melissa McCoy from Every Blooming Thing nursery taught 4H’ers how to make pumpkin floral centerpieces. Her students walked away with their own piece of fall art!

Melissa McCoy, owner of Every Bloomin' Thing nursery held a workshop where campers learned to decorate pumpkins with a fall bouquet. — Melissa McCoy, owner of Every Bloomin’ Thing nursery held a workshop where campers learned to decorate pumpkins with a fall bouquet.

I got a chance to meet some great kids and go on a photo walk around the ranch with some 4H students who thoroughly enjoyed taking pictures in the crisp fall air at the camp. Colors in the foliage were just beginning to turn and made the perfect backdrop for experimenting with nature photography.