by Suzi Taylor
From the 1998-99 4-H Clover Project Selection Guide

4-H Webmasters Tackle the World (Wide Web, That Is!)

In the remote northeastern corner of Montana, just a stone's throw from Canada, Dawn Honrud attends a 39-person high school in Opheim and uses e-mail to keep in contact with friends.

Some 300 miles away, Audrey and Jimmy Peterson of Whitefish keep busy with soccer, skiing and shooting sports. Their sister, away at college in Indiana, receives updates from them via e-mail.

In Geyser, Pat Evans uses a digital camera to capture images of wildlife and landscapes. He also created a Web page with pictures of his family, and plays multi-person games over the Internet.

And in Culbertson, 16-year-old Dee Ann Siggaard maintains her own Web site, complete with original poetry, and teaches computer skills to young 4-H Cloverbuds.

They're all different ages, and come from diverse backgrounds and families. Their interests range from movies to video games to sports to art. They may never meet each other in person.

But when their computer screens blink on and their modems squawk to life, these Montana 4-H'ers are joined by a unique common bond: they are all pioneer members of a state-wide project, the 4-H Webmasters.

Started this fall, the project is a "virtual" club, a way for 4-H'ers from all around the state to share an interest in computers, technology and the World Wide Web. Members create their own Web pages, learn about careers involving computers, write to Internet pen pals, and learn about nationwide 4-H opportunities. Since members are separated by hundreds of miles and never join for person-to-person meetings, they share "virtual treats"--their favorite Web sites.

This year, 70 members from all across the state are Webmasters; another 15 or so adults and leaders are working alongside the youth.

The Webmasters range in age from 9 to 17. Some have barely used a computer; others are engaged in sophisticated networking and Web page design. Most use e-mail to keep in touch with friends and family; many 4-H Webmasters are eager to create Web pages for their clubs.

Visit the Montana 4-H Webmasters at: www.montana.edu/4hweb and check out Montana 4-H at www.montana.edu/www4h

Join the Webmasters e-mail list by sending your e-mail address to taylor@montana.campus.mci.net

4-H Webmaster Pat Evans (pictured above at his computer) uses a digital camera to snap photos of wildlife near his home in Geyser.

If you read this, we need to know who you are! Send questions or comments along with your city/state/country and subject of the item you read to Suzi Taylor . Or you can send letters to Suzi Taylor, MSU Communications Services, 416 Culbertson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717.

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