Jefferson County 4-H is selected for Ag Innovators Challenge
PARTICIPANTS — Clockwise, from left, Madison Zeroski and Corissa Griffith of Windy Ridge 4-H Club, Blair Allison of Wildwood Critters 4-H Club and Addie Erwin of Windy Ridge 4-H Club were among Jefferson County 4-H program representatives who attended a training in Columbus as part of the 2023 National Ag Innovators Aeriel Ag Challenge sponsored by the National 4-H Council and Bayer. -- Contributed
Among other local participants were Chandler Hoffman and Luke DiNovo of Steubenville City Seedlings 4-H Club. -- Contributed
PARTICIPANTS — Clockwise, from left, Madison Zeroski and Corissa Griffith of Windy Ridge 4-H Club, Blair Allison of Wildwood Critters 4-H Club and Addie Erwin of Windy Ridge 4-H Club were among Jefferson County 4-H program representatives who attended a training in Columbus as part of the 2023 National Ag Innovators Aeriel Ag Challenge sponsored by the National 4-H Council and Bayer. -- Contributed
Among other local participants were Chandler Hoffman and Luke DiNovo of Steubenville City Seedlings 4-H Club. -- Contributed
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STEUBENVILLE -- Jefferson County 4-H has been selected as one of 10 counties in Ohio to participate in the 2023 National Ag Innovators Aerial Ag Challenge sponsored by the National 4-H Council and Bayer.
A training session was held Feb. 25 in Columbus on the campus of Ohio State University at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.
The STEM program helps develop critical workforce skill in young people and shows agriculture can be relevant but also fun. The interactive activity challenges youth to apply critical thinking and STEM skills to a real-world agricultural challenge. Youth learn about licensing to fly drones, the applications in which drones can be used in agriculture, the software used related to operating drones, career opportunities in the field and more.
Jefferson County 4-H Camp counselors will not only implement the Aerial Ag Challenge at 4-H Camp in 2023, but also have on site a mobile unit providing additional opportunities for camp youth, explained Angie Allison, 4-H educator, OSU Extension.
As one of the 2023 selected Ohio Counties Jefferson County 4-H Camp counselors attended the Ohio Aerial Ag Challenge Training to learn how to deliver the Aerial Ag Challenge and must deliver the challenge to a minimum of 100 youth between March and July 15 through overnight camp, day camp, after-school sites or in-school programming with the assistance of their trained teens.
Other requirements include having youth participants complete the end-of-program surveys, share their experiences as Aerial Ag Challenge teen facilitators and take photos, make social media posts and share testimonials from youth participants and teens to share with the program sponsor National 4-H Council and Bayer.
As part of participation, Jefferson County 4-H receives a $450 stipend and travel stipend, an Aerial Ag Challenge floor mat to use with Speros and iPads as a supplemental activity to the challenge and all the Aerial Ag Challenge Supplies, including line-following bots, table-top challenge mats and curriculum to deliver the program to youth participants.