Montana 4-H Clover
is produced by
Montana State University Agriculture and Extension Communications

and funded by
Montana 4-H Foundation.

Agriculture and Extension Communications is part of MSU Communications Services
416 Culbertson Hall Bozeman, MT 59717
publications@montana.edu
(406) 994-2721

Edited by: Karen Johnson, Marla Goodman, Suzi Taylor

Contributors: Rae Lynn Benson, Wendy Gerky, Chery Ann Weatherell, Jennifer Wells, The Livingston Enterprise, The Great Falls Tribune

What is MSU Extension?

MSU:
The Extension program is a fundamental part of Montana State University's land grant mission, developed to ensure that all Montanans benefit from the University.

Public access:
The program extends university knowledge to the people who need it, even if they never set foot on a campus. It gives every Montanan access to useful information and expert help via workshops, demonstrations, community meetings, publications, videos, the internet and other sources. Montana 4-H is MSU Extension's youth development program.

Educational outreach:
Extension links a network of MSU facultytopic specialists on the MSU-Bozeman campus and agents in 53 counties and seven reservationsto the people. Its role is to extend practical knowledge to the public about agriculture, natural resources, youth development, community development and family and consumer sciences.

Free information:
MSU Extension provides resources on topics that range from raising livestock, growing crops and protecting the environment to raising a family, managing finances, starting a business and protecting your family's health and well-being.

For everyone:
You can use Extension by calling your local agent (listed in the county section of the phone book), by taking advantage of workshops and demonstrations in your area, or by clicking on "Extension and Outreach" at www.montana.edu.

For a catalog of free and low-cost publications, call (406)994-3273 or browse the Extension catalog online.

Soaring creativity

Father and daughter build their own airplane

Rebecca Smith and her dad show off a section of the airplane they are building together.

"Can normal people build real airplanes?" That' s the question Rebecca Smith asked her father one day while working on a model airplane. To prove that it could be done, they embarked on an ambitious father-daughter project to build one.

" It' s a Pietenpol Aircamper," said Rebecca, 14. " It' s like an open cockpit biplane without the lower wing. It seats two, including the pilot."

Flying and tinkering with airplanes is an interest that runs deep in Rebecca' s family. Her father, Pete Smith, has a degree in Aerospace Engineering and spent three years as a flight test engineer for the Navy. He rebuilt his first plane when he was fresh out of high school.

Rebecca' s maternal grandfather was a private pilot who rebuilt a 1947 Taylorcraft plane. And her uncle was an airplane mechanic in the Navy and currently rebuilds airplanes for the Smithsonian' s Air and Space Museum.

Rebecca is a 5-year member of the Creative Critters 4-H Club in Lewistown. Her leader, Becky Jackson, also happens to be her aunt and namesake.

Rebecca has done projects in sewing, cooking and horseless horse, but her main focus is the aerospace project. " The aerospace project involves rocketry, as well as fixed wing aircraft, models, kites -- basically anything that flies or looks like it might!" says Becky.

" Rebecca has been flying with me and working with me around airplanes since she was a toddler," said her father. " 4-H has really helped Rebecca keep her interests and hobbies organized and well-documented -- a very good introduction to being an engineer."

Rebecca' s interest in 4-H was especially encouraged by her mother, Margaret Smith, who was in 4-H while growing up in Maryland. " I can see that Rebecca is much more comfortable speaking in public, participating in meetings of all kinds and taking on responsibilities and leadership roles. She has helped her father, a 4-H leader for aerospace projects, plan and present clinics for other kids in the aerospace projects," said Mrs. Smith.

Rebecca' s club leader says she loves learning and sharing her knowledge with younger 4-H' ers. " She always wants to know how and why something does what it does," says Becky. " She really enjoys working with kids and helping them learn something that she has an avid interest in."

Rebecca plans to solo at age 16 and get her pilot' s license at age 17. When can we expect to see her soaring in the sky in her new plane? " Hopefully by the time I get my license, but it' s hard to tell," said Rebecca.

Montana 4-H Clover 2003
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The programs of the MSU Extension Service are available to all people regardless of race, creed, color, sex, disability or national origin. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, LeRoy Luft, Interim Vice Provost and Director, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.