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Inside: Message from the President… .… .…… .…… .1Global Footprint… .…… .…… .…… .…… .…… . .2Annual Conference … .…… .…… .…… .…… .…3Exchange Program Highlights… .…… .… .… . .4-12Get Involved… .…… .…… .…… .…… .…… .…… .13

2020 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER

STATES' 4-H INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

800-407-3314www.states4hexchange.org

A MESSAGE FROM THE STATES' 4-H PRESIDENT

Dear States' 4-H Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones in goodhealth. As we near summer, it is strange to not be preoccupiedwith our usual preparations for our summer exchange programs.The decision to cancel our short-term summer programs wasmade with a heavy heart. While the safety and well-being of ourprogram participants is paramount, we also recognize that theabsence of these programs is a disappointment to those youthwho were eagerly making plans for their exchange brother orsister, or who had been hard at work saving for their summerabroad.

We look forward to being back in 2021 and to continuing to offer international exchangeopportunities to our community. In the meantime, we are happy to be able to still fosterconnections between international youth through the newly-created States' 4-H Summer Pen PalProgram.

We have always seen international exchange programming as the best way for young people togain critical skills in cross-cultural communication and cooperation. Going on exchange orhosting an overseas visitor challenges youth to unleash their potential as leaders who candemonstrate empathy and open-mindedness. These abilities are necessary for our participantsas they move through an increasingly interconnected world where most of the major challengeswe will face will be global ones which require global solutions.International exchange programs afford us the opportunity to better understand each other. Thisis something that has never been more valuable than it is in this difficult time of uncertainty andphysical separation.

As we look forward to a new decade, it is important to note that one constant, decade to decade,has been the tireless efforts of our community of coordinators, board members, volunteers, andhost families. It is their generosity, commitment and passion that fuels these programs andpropels them forward. The past ten years have provided us with thousands of examples of thekindness and giving spirit that underlines the ethos of 4-H and its members. As we turn the pageon the last decade, we want to once again express our gratitude and appreciation to all of ourhost families, coordinators, volunteers, advocates, and youth participants. We wish you all healthand happiness this summer and beyond.

Yoko KawaguchiPresident & CEOStates' 4-H International Exchange Programs

States’ 4-H 2020 - 2021 Board of Directors

Lisa DiazDirector, Illinois 4-H ProgramUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Yoko Kawaguchi President and CEO, States’ 4-H InternationalWashington

Nancy Deringer Program Leader, 4-H Youth Development,Washington State University

Rachel Noble Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development,University of Kentucky

Lauren MoonYoung Adult Representative,Kansas

Schuyler GermannYoung Adult Representative,Montana

Dr. Jeff Howard Assistant Director,University of Maryland ExtensionLearning and Organizational Systems Director

Jeremy JohnsonProgram Leader, 4-H Youth Development,Virginia Tech

Darlene Locke Assistant Professor and ExtensionSpecialist, Youth DevelopmentTexas A & M University 1

2019 STATES' 4-H YEAR IN REVIEW

GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

817Youth

34Countries

23States

States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs is anon-profit organization headquartered in Seattle, WA.We work with 4-H Youth Development Centers ofCooperative Extension in nearly 25 states, and anetwork of international partners around the world toconduct cultural immersion and exchange programs.Since 1972, our exchanges have impacted nearly63,000 youth and their families in 41 countries on 6continents!

Our Mission since 1972Enhancing world understanding andglobal citizenship through high-quality4-H international cultural immersionand exchange programs for 4-H agedyouth.

Lerious (Liberia) and Ibrahim (Pakistan) at a pumpkin patch in theirhost state of WI.

In 2019, States' 4-H worked with34 countries around the world.

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2019 STATES' 4-H ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The outcomes of these breakout

sessions combined with those of

the larger group sessions, will

shape the development of States’

4-H exchange programs for many

years to come.

Capacity Building

Conference participants sharing ideas in

an all-group session.

Student Presenters: Breanna Burkhead

(South Korea, KY) Abdul Pakaya

(Indonesia, WI) and Seoyoung Ju (South

Korea, KS).

Representatives from States' 4-H

international partner organizations in

Japan.

Coordinators presented workshops

on topics including: lowering

financial barriers for program

participation, on-program support

for high school exchange students

and families, the adolescent brain,

and expanding global citizenship

programming.

Sharing BestPractices

H I G H L I G H T S H I G H L I G H T S

Away from the ringing of the slotmachines, States’ 4-H coordinators,staff, youth participants, andinternational partners gathered for the2019 States’ 4-H Annual Conference inLas Vegas, Nevada. The hustle andbustle of the Strip did not distractconference attendees from comingtogether to make new connectionswith one another, share ideas andexperiences, and brainstorm for theupcoming program year. The 2019conference was defined by the directcontributions from our coordinators,who doubled as workshop presentersand facilitators.

For States’ 4-H, one of the highlights of the conference is the opportunity to honor and expressour gratitude to coordinators who have a long-term impact on our programs. The many years ofcontributions from these dedicated volunteer coordinators is reflective of our organization’sgreatest strength. This strength is the commitment and dedication of our network of volunteerswho year after year work tirelessly to ensure that young people around the world have a chanceat a life-changing experience.

States’ 4-H coordinators, volunteers, and international partners.

3

2019 IN-USA SUMMER HOSTING PROGRAMS

We were proud to welcome our group of Costa Ricanparticipants. They were excited to learn about 4-H inthe US and practice their English. MI, MT, NC, and WIfamilies were gracious enough to host thesewonderful youth and their adult chaperone.

Costa Rica

Another large group of delegates from our Japanesepartner organizations had memorable summers in theU.S. across 23 different states! The participants enjoyedmeeting their host families and learning more aboutAmerican culture.

Japan

Norwegian participants stayed with families in KS, MI,MT, and WI last summer. They loved the experience oftraveling independently and expanding their world view.They were happy to make new friends in the U.S..

Norway

The Korean program continues to grow year-to-year andwe were so happy to have these eager youth come andvisit ID, IL, KY, MI, and TX last summer. They enjoyedbonding over similar interests as their host siblingsand trying new foods and experiences.

South Korea

4

2019 IN-USA SUMMER HOSTING PROGRAM

Taiwan 4-H sent their first full delegation to the U.S.last summer. Taiwanese participants got toexperience one-month homestays in ID, MI, and WI.They made amazing connections with their hostfamilies and many became new family members. Wehope the host families and Taiwanese guestscontinue their relationships well into the future.

Taiwan

STATES' 4-H HOST SIBLINGS SHARED HOW THEY CHANGED AFTER HOSTING ANEXCHANGE STUDENT

After hosting an exchange student, I...(N=199)

% of students0

25

50

75

56%Want to volunteer more in mycommunity.

Feel I am someone whocan help others.

Want to travel andexperience another culture.

85%

86%

Discovered new talents I canoffer to others.

83%

IN THE SUMMER OF 2019, STATES' 4-H WELCOMED 632 YOUTH FROM OVERSEAS TO STAYWITH VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILIES FOR ONE MONTH.

Dear 2019 Host Families,

We are forever grateful for your kindness towelcome others into your homes, and yourservice as ambassadors of U.S. culture to theseinternational youth. The memories andrelationships that are formed can last alifetime and will shape the view of many ofthese youth, both our international youth andour host siblings, for the rest of their lives. Wesee time and time again the transformativeimpact that international exchange has onyoung people. Learning about new culturesbroadens their view of the world, whichmotivates them to travel more, which leads tothem seeking out more opportunities toparticipate in international activities. We thankyou for opening your heart and home to a youngperson and for promoting positive youthdevelopment through international exchange.

Thank you again for hosting withStates’ 4-H. Hosting will be backin summer of 2021! We hope tosee you again next year!

5

Having traveled across Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and NorthAmerica before having children of my own, I experienced achange in my world view that I felt necessary to expose to myown children. My girls were so excited as the school year ended,telling all their teachers and friends that their summer wouldbe spent in Japan with family friends. Little did we know our 4-Hplacement would also be from Japan. When I learned Mamikowas from Japan, I rearranged our itinerary so that we couldmeet her family before she came to stay with us that comingsummer. Luckily, they were thrilled to welcome us!

We were greeted at the train station by Mamiko’s mothercarrying a sign “Welcome Radfords”. Mamiko and her siblingsput aside their homework to entertain us with photo books,stories and games while her mother prepared a meal. Beforedeparting the next day, we woke early for breakfast with thechildren. Mamiko’s mother took us to the train station and itwas leaving before she walked away, waving goodbye.

Hosting Near and FarBy Casondra L. Radford, KY

The Radfords visiting Mamiko in Japan.

Program participants overwhelmingly report that by hosting an exchange studentthrough States' 4-H they gain critical skills in cross-cultural communication.

Youth participants increase their self-confidence and are empowered with the agencyto make an impact - both in their community and as a global citizen.

FINDINGS:

STATES' 4-H HOST PARENTS REPORTED ON THE IMPACT OF HOSTING ON THEIRFAMILY

After hosting an exchange student, our family...(N=307)

% of families0

25

50

75

100

96%Enjoyed learning about peoplewho are different from us.

Learned about a differentculture.

Learned to communicatewith someone from adifferent culture.

88%

90%

Developed skills in adaptingto differences in values andbehaviors.

92%

Two and a half weeks later, we were back in the US recuperatingfrom jet lag and heading out ourselves, this time, to pick upMamiko. We had no sign, just smiling faces and hugs to greet her. She was so excited.

Mamiko and I had a special bond. We rode horses together, sang together and even exercised together. By the timeshe left we even had inside jokes. The day we said goodbye was so difficult for all of us. I felt like I was losing my childand my kids were losing a sister. Thankfully, we are still connected. We video chat or text and she even sent mychildren Christmas gifts. This was the best experience and one I won’t soon forget!

2019 IN-USA SUMMER HOSTING PROGRAM

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2019 SUMMER ABROAD PROGRAMS

Costa Rica

Finland

Japan

"This is definitelysomething everyoneshould do. It isimportant to get outof your comfort zoneand experience newamazing things."

"Although I hadmore challengesthan I would haveliked, I truly believethat it was one ofthe biggest growingexperiences of mylife."

"We can all forgenew friendships andencourage others intheir lives. Japantaught me to thinkof others beforemyself."

South Korea "The new culture Iwas immersed inbrought a newperspective onfarming traditions ina vastly differentculture than myown."

GO ABROAD IN 2021!We will be back in 2021 with

travel opportunities to: Costa Rica, Japan, Norway,Romania, South Korea and

Taiwan.

The application windowopens in fall of 2020. Contact

your State Coordinator torequest an application!

KY to Korea and Back AgainBy Breanna Burkhead, KY

Breanna, wearing her hanbok, and her host sister.

By traveling overseas, participants reported increased knowledge of their host country's culture.

Cultural Learning

Cultural Knowledge Pre and Post Travel

2.67

3.21 3.24 3.21

2.4

4.224.57 4.48 4.45

4

Knowledge of Culture Before Travel

Knowledge of Culture After Travel

Costa Rica Finland Japan 8 Japan 4 Korea0

2

4

(out of 5)

Overall, participantsreported a 42% gain incultural knowledge.

96% of participantsagreed that theyimproved their cross-cultural competencies.

2019 SUMMER ABROAD PROGRAMS

8

I guess you might say international exchanges arein my DNA since my Dad hosted his first 4-H LaboExchange Student back in 1988. When I waspresented with the opportunity to be Kentucky’sfirst 4-H exchange student to South Korea in 2019,I couldn’t say yes fast enough.

After orientation at the National 4-H Clubhouse inSeoul, I met my host brother and flew to the islandof Jeju which is at the southern tip of South Korea.

My host family consisted of my mother (or Oma),father (or Appa), two older brothers and a host sisterwho was the youngest child. The youngest brotherlived in Seoul and worked as a model. The fatherworked with 4-H in his community as well as farmed.The family “farm” consisted of small plots that werescattered around the area where they grew tangerines,beets, and had greenhouses with plants for sale.Both parents worked on the farm. My parting giftfrom my host family was a beautiful hanbok, atraditional South Korean dress worn on specialoccasions.

Since returning home, I have had opportunities to share my cross-cultural experience in my home community,throughout Kentucky, and on a very special trip to Las Vegas for the States’ 4-H Annual Conference. I still speak to myhost family through online messages and know they are doing well.

As I prepare to graduate from high school and enter Western Kentucky University to major in agriculture education, Iknow that these special memories will long be a part of my future teaching career. As I work to help studentsdevelop a global vision of agriculture, I will draw on this experience to show how agriculture is the same yet differentthroughout the world.

2019-'20 ACADEMIC YEAR PROGRAMS

Many of our year-long high school exchange students join 4-H clubs. Below, threehigh school exchange students from WI share what they learned about 4-H duringtheir exchange year.

4-H INVOLVEMENT

FLAKA / KOSOVO4-H has taught me that you

should stand for what you

believe, that you should fight for

your dreams, and you should

take initiative to make a

change. 4-H is not just a club or

organization, it is a family. It is

a safe place where you feel

loved and accepted.

IBRAHIM / PAKISTAN4-H has unequivocally played a

vital part in my exchange

experience so far. For me, it is

not just an organization but an

absolutely diverse family that is

always prepared to make

something remarkable happen

to the community.

LERIOUS / LIBERIA4-H has given me the ability and

capability to cooperate within

the process of creating a new

idea and working together to

make things happen, how to

maintain a healthy relationship

in the community, and to

communicate with other people

from different cultures.

4,946

C O M M U N I T YS E RV I C E H O U R S

C O M P L E T E D

P R E S E N TAT I O N SG I V E N I N T H EC O M M U N I T Y

275

29C O U N T R I E S

R E P R E S E N T E D

6,079A U D I E N C EM E M B E R S

IN 2019, STATES' 4-HHIGH SCHOOLEXCHANGESTUDENTSMADE A BIGIMPACT INTHEIRCOMMUNITIES

9

2019-'20 ACADEMIC YEAR PROGRAMS

The YES Program was established by Congress in October of 2002 as aresponse to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The program isfunded by the U.S. Department of State and sponsored by the Bureau ofEducational and Cultural Affairs. YES is a competitive scholarshipprogram for high school youth from overseas. Specifically, the programworks to recruit young leaders from countries with significant Muslimpopulations to spend up to one year in the United States.

The objectives of the YES Program are to promote mutual understanding and fosterrelationships between people from participating countries and the United States by enablingstudents to learn about American culture while sharing their own cultures with their hostcommunities. Beyond sharing their culture, students learn about key elements of Americancivil society including concepts such as volunteering.

This year’s YES Program students arrived to the US from Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina,Bulgaria, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Liberia, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Senegal,and Turkey. States’ 4-H is looking forward to its next group of YES students who are scheduledto arrive this August!

To find out how you can host a YES student, please visit the States’ 4-H website.

Community service taught me

that your efforts for others can

gift you billions of smiles.

-Tushil, India

(2019-2020 States' 4-H YES

Program student in VA)

2019-'20 ACADEMIC YEAR PROGRAMS

Introducing the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) Program!

(L) Tushil doing volunteer yardwork. (R) Tushil participating in a river cleanup.

10

THANK YOU HOST FAMILIES!

Thirteen summer hosting experiences, and with plans tosend their third child to Japan next summer you could saythe Stowell family are committed to the States 4-Hexchange program. With five children, Dori and David haveseen the benefits of being part of the exchange programand it has made a big impact on the family.

Dori says the program has “given our kids big goals towork towards, we would never have been able to pack upour family of five and visit Japan. This program lets usbring Japan to our home and send our kids abroad.”Through the exchange program Dori says that her “kidscan welcome anyone. They have learned to be welcomingand accepting to everyone.” As a result of their exchangeexperiences the family sees that the world is bigger thantheir small town in Idaho.

13 and Counting:The Stowell Family

The kids look forward to having an exchange student stay with them every summer. “It’s the kids thatwant to sign up, they ask every year,” Dori responded. Over the years of hosting, the oldest child in theStowell home is chosen as the host sibling. The family is still in contact with their Japanese brothersand sisters over the years. The older Stowell children have earned their way to visit Japan throughStates' 4-H, "They have confidence in themselves and have learned the self-discipline needed to earntheir own funds to travel". Dori shared that when other parents ask how she can send her kids out onexchange, she tells them: “I know that they are going with the best organization, and I know how itworks and they will do the best for my kids.”

RECOGNIZING OUR VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILIESFOR 2019-2020 ACADEMIC YEAR STUDENTS

AK: Courtney FamilyAK: Gaudio FamilyAK: Gross FamilyAK: Parnell FamilyID: Eddy FamilyID: Hall FamilyID: Holcomb FamilyID: Horton FamilyIL: Burash FamilyIL: Holloway FamilyIL: Kaufman FamilyKS: Beesley FamilyKS: Clawson FamilyKS: Dehn FamilyKS: Hettenbach FamilyKY: Hosner FamilyKY: Sizemore Family

MD: Campbell FamilyMI: Blehm FamilyMI: Douglass FamilyMI: Duncan FamilyMI: Graber FamilyMI: Kamphouse FamilyMI: Kriz FamilyMI: Rizzo/Agnew FamilyMO: Vaughn FamilyMT: Doyle FamilyMT: Hagestad FamilyMT: MacNeil FamilyMT: Vergeront FamilyOR: Gammon FamilyOR: Maurer FamilyOR: Patterson FamilyOR: Smith Family

SD: Mendel FamilyVA: Baker FamilyVA: Eguiguren FamilyVA: Huffman FamilyVA: Montana FamilyVA: Moyer FamilyWI: Bennett FamilyWI: Byers-Krantz FamilyWI: Grittner FamilyWI: Hobler FamilyWI: Kempfer FamilyWI: Larson FamilyWI: Reetz FamilyWI: Rehberg FamilyWI: Vickerman FamilyWI: Welch FamilyWI: Yoshikane Family

Stowell Family. Left to Right: Dori, Dave, Ben, Abbey, Levi,Lydia, and Bethany.

By Natasha Tienhaara, ID

11Kristina (Bulgaria) was greeted by Libby, herhost sister, upon her arrival to Michigan.

LOOKING FORWARD

The States' 4-H Summer Pen Pal ProgramEach summer, we are so moved by our participants' stories of adventure,discovery, and new friendships. While States' 4-H will miss its 2020 in-personsummer exchange programs, there is still an opportunity for youth to havemeaningful cross-cultural exchanges during this time when travel is limited.

In lieu of in-person summer exchanges, we created the States' 4-H SummerPen Pal Program to connect international youth with one another andencourage them to share their culture and daily lives through writtencorrespondence. The program seeks to promote mutual understanding andto create lasting international friendships. Now more than ever, we see theneed for international cooperation and understanding.

THANK YOU TO OURSTATE COORDINATORS!

AK: Jason FloydAK: Michele FloydAZ: Nick MorrisCO: Melissa BartonFL: Georgene BenderFL: Jessica SprainFL: Shane MichaelID: Natasha TienhaaraIL: Elisha HughesIL: Miriam RosenbohmKS: Mary Kay MunsonKS: Rose ScottKY: Rachel NobleMD: Carrie WivellMI: D'Ann Rohrer

MO: Joyce TaylorMT: Stephanie DavisonNC: Daniel CollinsNJ: Matthew NewmanNY: Autumn LavineOK: Jim RutledgeOH: Mary Lynn ThalheimerOR: Carole SmithOR: Shana WitheeSD: Kristi HinkleTX: Darlene LockeVA: Eliza SeibertVA: Judy Ann FrayWA: Dianna UlleryWI: Amber Rehberg

12

Thailand 4-H members demonstrate crafting a krathong, atraditional Thai lantern used in Loi Krathongfestival celebrations.

In the fall of 2019, States' 4-H attended the 3rd Asia4-H Network Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Theconference brought together representatives from 4-Hassociations all across Asia. Participants learnedabout how 4-H programming is implemented inThailand and how activities are supported by localgovernments and farmer associations. During thevisits to Thailand 4-H clubs, youth membersdemonstrated aspects of their various projects. Theseincluded producing agricultural products includingtextiles, oils, food products, and soap.

States' 4-H looks forward to continuing to strengthenits relationships with its 4-H partners in the regionand to building a new partnership with Thailand 4-H.Our American 4-Hers have so much to share with theirThai counterparts, and vice versa. States' 4-H isexcited for the future cooperation and collaborationwith Thailand 4-H.

New Partnership:Thailand 4-H

States' 4-H President, Yoko Kawaguchi (center), with officials from theThailand Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' Department ofAgricultural Extension (DOAE).

GET INVOLVED

SHARE YOUR WORLD!

EXPLORE YOUR WORLD!

Address

600 Stewart Street

Suite 1503

Seattle, WA 98101

T 206.462.2200

F 206.462.2199

About States’ 4-H InternationalStates’ 4-H International is a not-for-profit educational and cultural organization, established underIRS code 501(c)3, in the State of Washington. States’ 4-H is governed by a board of directorscomprised of Extension professionals from across the USA. The 4-H National Headquarters at NIFAhas authorized States’ 4-H to use the 4-H name and emblem. Programs are coordinated through theState 4-H Office by 4-H Youth Development Centers of the Cooperative Extension System at LandGrant Colleges and Universities in each state.

Non-Discrimination StatementAs an organization comprised of 4-H member states,States’ 4-H prohibits discrimination in all its programs andactivities on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed,sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation,or marital or family status.

HOST GO ABROAD LEARN MORE

We are looking forvolunteer host families forour high school exchange

students arriving inAugust 2020 and for

Summer 2021 short-termhosting!

Contact your StateCoordinator to learn

more.

Summer 2021 programs willtake place in Costa Rica,Japan, Norway, Romania,South Korea and Taiwan.

The application window willopen in the fall. 

Contact your StateCoordinator to request an

application.

@states4hinternational

@states4hexchange

www.states4hexchange.org

exchange@states4h.org