Posted: 12/5/06
New regional 4-H director hired
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
4-H has a bright future with its approach of reaching out to youths and cooperating with schools.
Those were some of the thoughts that new U of M Regional Extension Educator Nicole Pokorney shared with The Argus on December 1.
Pokorney works as a 4-H supervisor with Houston, Fillmore, and Winona Counties. She began the job on October 16, and works out of Rochester. She also coordinates county-wide and regional events.
ìItís the largest youth organization in the nation and itís learned to adapt with societal norms,î Pokorney said from her office at the extension building at 603 North Sprague Street in Caledonia. She comes to Caledonia twice a month.
4-H still does traditional programs, but it is reaching out with things like after-school programs, she said. ìI think the biggest thing is weíre connecting with schools,î Pokorney said.
Working with community education programs is an example of that, she said.
Another change is that a child does not have to join a club to be a member of 4-H or take part in activities. For example, any youth can go to something like a 4-H youth camp.
4-H tries to build leadership, citizenship, and life skills, Pokorney added. ìThat doesnít ever change,î she said. ìI think thatís a great mission for us and [it] always will be.î
Pokorney has deep roots in 4-H. She was in non-livestock activities as a youth, and her husband, Patrick, was active in livestock events. They live in Spring Valley with their three children, Devin 12, Jordan, 10, and Treyton, 4. They are still very active in 4-H as a family.
Pokorney has a bachelor of science degree in animal and plant systems from the University of Minnesota. She has a masters degree in counseling from Winona State University.
She can be reached at 507-536-6304. Kelly Vortherms is the Houston County 4-H coordinator, and can be reached at 5007-725-5807.
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