Colorado State Fair 2004 Media Tipsheet
Note to Editors: Following is a media tip sheet that includes information about State Fair-related story ideas from Colorado State University. The contact information is intended to provide resources to reporters and editors and is not intended as contact information for the public. To arrange interviews, please contact the person listed with each topic.
12-year-old reaps reward after two-year labor of love to restore family’s antique tractor
A 12-year-old 4-H’er from Yoder captured the tractor contest this year after spending two years restoring his family’s 1948 and 1949 Minneapolis Molines. Perhaps his strong interest in tractors started when he was three, when he fell from a moving tractor and was run over – but he suffered only a broken arm. Jade Meinzer started the project on his grandfather’s 1949 Moline, but couldn’t get the tractor into operating status after it had sat out in the weather since the 1960s. His great-uncle had a 1948 model, which also had been outside for 30 or 40 years. He was able to get the 1948 model running and fully restored, using parts from the 1949 model. He has both original owner’s manuals, and his grandfather and great-uncle provided guidance throughout the project, which he started when he was 10. To interview Jade, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or at dellrae.moellenberg@colostate.edu.
4-H strives to teach ethics to youth
The Colorado State Fair is a time for youth from around the state to show off a year’s worth of hard work, but 4-H officials stress that fairs are about more than blue ribbons. One important focus of the youth club is to teach youngsters ethics and sportsmanship. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, the organization that oversees 4-H in Colorado, incorporates ethics training into 4-H curriculum and sets standards and protocol for county and state fair events to ensure that awards are won ethically. To interview 4-H administrators about ethics, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or dellrae.moellenberg@colostate.edu..
Long-term research about child development backs up traditional 4-H projects
Many people may think that 4-H is just a summer club that provides projects to help kids keep busy between school years, but 4-H and the curriculum it develops for projects actually is grounded in years of academic research about how youth learn to be responsible, ethical, productive citizens. 4-H is open to all children in Colorado, and has a large number of youth enrolled from urban areas. To interview Colorado State University employees involved in 4-H implementing research into 4-H activities, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009 or dellrae.moellenberg@colostate.edu.
4-H and Colorado State University photo opportunities
– The Junior Livestock sale, held at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at the Events Center, is an annual crowd-pleaser. This sale is the culmination of a year-long effort by many 4-H youth.
– 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 4-H Complex. 4-H’ers from eight to 18 years old will compete for the best host or hostess role in this fun contest. The contest is designed to help 4-H’ers learn about nutrition and prepare meals that are healthy, increase poise and self- confidence and increase their use of Colorado specialty foods. Competitors create a menu booklet, table setting and meal.
– Cake decorating contest, 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, 4-H Complex. This contest begins with the youngest 4-H members, working up to older youth, who must decorate a cake or cake form within a designated time.
– 4-H Performing Arts show, 8 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 4, and Sunday, Sept. 5, 4-H complex. Colorado’s youngsters sing and dance their way through this contest, which challenges participants in categories that include various dance disciplines, gymnastics and singing. Participants as young as eight years old compete.