4-H MEANS HELPING OUT
Students thrive under Jones' wing
By SHARON KERR

"MISS BILLIE" JONES says her students " blow her away" when they stand up and give a presentation at one of the 4-H shows. Left is Carrion Grant, who re c e n tly won first place, and right is TaLove Grant, both Jasper Junior High Students.

Head, hands, heart and health are what 4-H stands for, even though most people associate this youth gro u p with raising animals for show.

As part of the "health" in 4-H, Billie Jones has taught nutrition, cooking and food safety for four years, with the help of the Texas Cooperative Extension office. Her students are thriving.

"When they started, they couldn't look you in the eye or talk to you without covering their mouth with their hands. Now they can get up and give a presentation in front of an audience," Jones said proudly.

One of her students, Carrion Grant, recently took first place in the main dish category at the 4-H district show in Nacogdoches Feb. 3.

It was at a church program that Jones first heard about the need for adult volunteers to help 4-H groups with different programs. Not all child ren have the room or resources to raise an animal.

She started with a small g roup of students re c o mmended by the Rowe principal. She was told, "These are good kids who need something positive in their lives."

She has three girls and three boys.

Jones' children learn the food pyramid, serving sizes, and substitutes that make recipes healthier, like choosing the right oil and cutting down on sugar and salt.

The children learn to cook nutritious meals and they participate in food shows where they are judged on a number of factors besides taste and appearance.

"It's amazing how they've progressed. When they stand up and do a presentation of their recipe, it blows me away," Jones said.

They have to be able to explain to judges how the dish was prepared and what nutritional needs it meets. They might have to give the calories in a cheese dish, explain the importance of calcium and what that nutrient does for their bodies. They a re also judged on voice, poise and pre s e n t a t i o n , according to Jones.

They study food safety and the importance hygiene for health. "We talk about washing hands for 20 seconds. They don't have watches, so we teach them that's the time it takes to sing 'happy birthday' twice. They like that," Jones said.

Besides cooking, Jones' kids also participate in a textile show and a pro g r a m called "Share the Fun."

"It's offered through the extension office and 4-H in Nacogdoches in May. Some groups recite poetry or entertain with stories and songs. My group does praise dancing, and you should see them," Jones beamed.

Jones said before her home flooded last year, she used to bring the kids to her house to cook and learn things like table setting.

Cindy VanDevender, the family and consumer sciences extension agent in Jasper, said the kids also have access to the kitchen in the courthouse annex building.

"I help club managers come up with ideas for different ways to teach nutrition and health," VanDevender said. Although she's only been in Jasper a few months, she has been with the Texas A&M extension programs for a number of years and can call on many resources.

"The kids have to complete six lessons before a show like the one we just had in Nacogdoches. We cover things like how does your dish fit the food guide pyramid. People think 4-H is just 'sows, cows, and plows' but we do so much more than that," Van Devender said.

"Roundup is a public speaking exercise that helps these kids learn to speak in front of people, demonstrating good show and tell skills. We have a 'better living for Texans' that teaches those with low-incomes how to budget at the grocery store and make their dollars count for better nutrition instead of empty calories. Our afterschool programs emphasize things like our capacity to care. Mentors like Jones help kids get on the right track," Van Devender said. "We could use a few more like Miss Billie Jones."

"I'm going to keep doing this as long as I can, all the way through high school," Jones said. "They're too precious to let them down. Before my husband died, he told me to keep doing this, it's the best thing, and I'm going to keep on going."