Page 25 - CFAN_Mar2014

Amanda Squitieri,
Polk Certified and Licensed Special
Pest Control Firm
Discounts
County 4-H agent with UF/IFAS & Bundle
Extension, says leadership and Our Services Include:
Pricing
citizenship qualities ◆ Pest Control
Call Now & Save!
Save
BIG
are two $ 00 55
4-H tries 900 ◆ Termite Protection
up to $ 00 25 Off
on Our
to develop in its ◆ Lawn Care
Custom Lawn, Shrub &
on One on Our Bundled Services!
members ◆ Tree & Shrub Care
Pest Control Plan!
Main Service
aged five through 18.
◆ Irrigation: New & Maintenance Pay for 1 Year in Advance...
Sub-Termite Treatments
$ 00 50
◆ Landscaping
10% as low as
Off
◆ Bush Hogging
$ 00 225
on Two Get up to Off
Main Services
of Total!
◆ Property Management for
Lutheran 4-H Club in Lakeland, who are Associations & Individuals
Visit Our Sister Company!
$10000
on Three or Off
Certified Horticultural More learning through a hydroponic garden.
Professional (FCHP)
Main Services
“They have to feel safe,” explains 4-H

Licensed Irrigation leader Debra Wagner, who teaches fourth P.O. Box 510 Licensed Phone 863-439-6550 Receive additional discounts with all
Contractor
and fifth graders science and reading. Dundee, FL 33838
Bonded Insured
Fax 863-292-0846
services bundled at the
www.garrisonland.com
time of purchase.
“They do well and they love it out there.
That’s a good place for them to shine.”
CENTRAL FLORIDA ARMS SHOW
Wagner teaches 4-H members the
The Original Lakeland Gun Show! Florida’s Largest Show — Over 500 Tables
“extra things” she can’t teach in the

April 12-13
classroom through the 4-H club. The

class has a hydroponics garden; the 4-Hers
says leadership and citizenship are two Saturday 9am-5pm
learn to can. The class raises tomatoes; the

qualities 4-H tries to develop in its 900 Sunday 9am-4pm
4-Hers make salsa.
members aged five through 18. Through Not only does it teach teamwork and

local club meetings, to mentoring, to 4-H LAKELAND CENTER • Lakeland, Florida
leadership, but it teaches the children to
leadership positions, the group fosters eat vegetables. “They’re eating them raw

leadership. It also promotes giving back to just like they should,” Wagner says.
Sponsored by: &
4-H also teaches basic skills they will LAKELAND RIFLE PISTOL CLUB, INC Tickets at Ticketmaster
&
the community through service projects, 2000 LASSO LANE, LAKELAND, FL 33801
at the door
and includes a mock legislature where need in life, like sewing, cooking, and
863-665-0092 • www.lakelandgunshow.com for more information
students learn about government.
handling money, she explains.
“The agricultural community does a At Our Children’s Academy in Lake

good job of embracing youth and wanting Wales, Meg Jessee also is working with
to encourage them and be aware of disabled children, teaching them to

agriculture,” she says. “Everyone is really make ketchup, recycle crayons, create
committed and dedicated to their jobs, to centerpieces, and other crafts. A senior

the community, and to the youth.”
at Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School,
Jessee will be training a successor, Erin
Erica Curtis, a 17-year-old junior who
is homeschooled, is mentoring as a 4-H O’Halloran, a junior. “They’re always

project leader on rabbits for Clovers on happy to see me and ready to work,”
the Ridge Club in Lake Wales. On Friday Jessee says of the students. “I’ve learned

nights, 11 girls—most between eight and so much from them. They’re so nice to
10 years old—meet with Curtis to learn each other. I’ve learned you should really

how to take care of rabbits, prepare for be nice to everyone.” She’s also learned to
show, and play interactive games.
be optimistic and not “let the little things

It began when she was walking through get you down.” Of her experience as a 4-H
the Youth Fair. “I saw the cute rabbits and group leader, she adds, “They’ve taught me

I thought, ‘They’re really adorable. I really to look at life from a new perspective.”ag

want to do the rabbit project,’” recalls
Curtis, president of her 4-H Club. “I kind NOW A POLK COUNTY
4-H agent with the UF/IFAS
of taught myself. After a few years of doing
the project, I decided to become a rabbit Extension, Amanda Squi-

project leader.” Curtis also coordinated tieri found her passion for
rabbit showmanship at the Youth Fair, an agriculture at a young age

event that drew 38 competitors.
in her own 4-H group.
Other qualities 4-H fosters are a

sense of belonging, mastery, generosity

and independence, Walker observes.
Belonging is especially important to

autistic children served through St. Paul’s

FloridaAgNews.com
CFAN | 25