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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • OCTOBER 2017
Fair experience 4-H club members make memories
by TESSA ELLIOTT On September 9, 10 and 11,
the Okanagan Shuswap 4-H Lamb Club participated in the 2017 Salmon Arm Fall Fair, “something to crow about.” On Friday, some club members participated in a trim and fit class for the first time. This event involves trimming the animal’s hooves, hand-shearing their wool and preparing the animal for show. First place was won by Esther and Jalen Thurgood, followed by Tab and Brock Webster. Natani Queiros and Cheyenne Webster were fourth. On Saturday, the 4-H shows
were held and our club did very well. Congratulations to champion junior showman Tessa Elliott, who went on to become the overall reserve champion showman, and to Esther Thurgood whose project was awarded champion ewe.
The club placed second in
Okanagan Shuswap 4-H Lamb Club members showed well at the Salmon Arm Fair, September 9-10, where Vancouver Island's Richard Herlinveaux judged the 4-H classes. SUBMITTED PHOTO
TIM ARMSTRONG SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Congratulations to Jacqlyn Marvin, who was awarded the annual Tim Armstrong Scholarship Award.
Miss Marvin is a remarkable young lady, who enrolled in the Agriculture Technology Program at the University of the Fraser Valley. She was not your average out of high school university student, but rather a more mature student who had previously chosen a career as an Airline Flight Attendant. Miss Marvin indicated that her back ground of growing up on a beef cattle farm in Chilliwack and her participation in the 4-H program as a youth greatly influenced her career
choice. In addition to winning the Scholarship of $1,000, she also made the Dean’s Honor Roll and she also won the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal. Once again, the Farm Writers of BC congratulate Miss Marvin.
The Scholarship is offered annually by the BC Farm Writers Association in the memory of Tim Armstrong, a former owner and editor of Country Life in BC.
Applications for the 2018 award can be sent to Robert Mitchell, #15 – 10500 Delsom Crescent, Delta, BC V4C0C3 or by e-mail to
Robert_mitchell@telus.net
Please check the website for the information required. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2017.
www.bcfwa.ca
the inter-club group of three ewes and third in the inter- club group of three market
lambs. Lincoln Thurgood earned first place in the Cloverbud division. Thank you to Richard
Herlinveaux who kindly came from Vancouver Island to judge the 4-H classes. On Sunday, there were additional open category events with competitors coming from as far as Vancouver Island. Sunday also saw the exciting costume event at which spectators witnessed handlers and lambs disguised as Greek goddesses, football players, pirates and more.
Our leader, Mrs. Finlay, summed up the fair by saying, “Members are all to be commended on their showing in both 4-H and open.” The Salmon Arm Fall Fair is a great learning experience for everybody! For more information about
the Okanagan Shuswap 4-H Lamb Club, please contact Dena Finlay at 250-546-6223. Tessa Elliott is the press
reporter for the Okanagan Shuswap 4-H Lamb Club.
4-H explusion raises questions by TAMARA LEIGH
COMOX – A Vancouver Island parent is questioning the decision of BC 4-H to expel her son and two daughters from the program. In October 2016, Mary-Jane Douglas received a letter from the Parksville Qualicum 4-H Club saying that her son could not return to the district because he had allegedly sent an inappropriate text to other 4-H members. District leadership refused to provide more information, and then told Douglas that her daughters were being expelled from the district as well.
“My children were given no
notice by BC 4-H of an impending expulsion, no reasons, and no opportunity to respond to any complaints or allegations regarding their conduct,” says Douglas. “No kid deserves to be treated that way.” BC 4-H promotes a four- step conflict resolution process: meeting face-to-face, third-party involvement, mediation, and ultimately arbitration. If that process has been observed, it has not been with the input or participation of Douglas’ children. “We received a letter from
the provincial council that said they have done a thorough
investigation and
consultation, but they didn't contact our children at all. How did they do a thorough investigation and consultation without talking to the people involved?” asks Douglas. BC’s Societies Act states that expulsion of a member is through a special resolution at a general meeting. The resolution requires support of at least two-thirds of members. Youth are the only official members of BC 4-H, and the bylaws do not suggest members can be arbitrarily expelled by a leader or director of the organization. “We have thousands of members across the province and odds are there are going to be one or two families that are going to have a grievance,” says BC 4-H manager Aleda Welch. “At the beginning of each year, members sign a code of conduct that outlines acceptable behavior with BC 4-H and that clearly states that if they break it, there’s a case for dismissal.” Douglas is aware of the code of conduct but says the way the situation has been handled lacks transparency and accountability on the part of BC 4-H. “I would expect my children to be held accountable for whatever they've done wrong, but we’ve never been given any specifics. In this case, BC 4-H have not followed their bylaws or observed their own conflict management process.”
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