4-H Gemini Jr. Club Leader/Cottonwood Extension Board Member Donna Maskus got to experience hosting a 2022 Japan Chaperone with the States’ 4-H International Exchange Program. Never would she had guessed to have been involved in having a Japanese Chaperone for eight marvelous days. She gained a new friend Naoko who
State 4-H International Exchange
was one of three Japan Chaperone’s for the twenty-four exchange 4-Hers in Kansas for a three-week period.
Naoko was kept busy in traveling western Kansas. She enjoyed attending 5 fairs in seeing judging going on with livestock, foods and other events. She really enjoyed making and eating German “spitzbuben” cookies. A visit to the Hays Cottonwood Extension Office in getting to visit with Stacy, Tamara and Theresa. Naoko shared her culture, paper crafts and Japan tasty food samples with a program at the Hays Public Library. She enjoyed visiting with the 4-Hers that attended the event. Some events during her visit included The Wizard of Oz Theater Production, a sunflower field, St. Fidelis Church, Ellis County Historical Society, government offices, stores and the campus of Fort Hays State University. A definite highlight for Naoko was in seeing stars in the sky.
For two years Kansas has not held the States’ 4-H International Exchange Event. If you have interest in hosting a 4-Her from the States’ 4-H International Exchange Program in the coming years contact Maskus.
She said it was exciting to see the participation
from 4-Hers and their families across the State
of Kansas with this experience