Attention teens and employers: Mackinac, Luce, and Schoolcraft 4-H staff have planned a Tri-County Meet the Future Skill Building and Job Fair for 14-19 years olds to be held at The Erickson Center for the Arts in Curtis.

The Skill Building Fair is scheduled for 1 – 5 p.m. on March 9 and the Job Fair will be held from 1 – 4 p.m. on April 13.

The Skill Building Fair is designed to help teens market themselves to apply and become gainfully employed over the summer months. The 4-H staff will be providing lessons on:

—Building a resume transferring non-work experiences and school learning and activities into resume language.
—Increasing communication skills and gain confidence in interacting with community leaders and employers.
—Completing applications that will get noticed.
—How to conduct a job fair interview and practice interviewing.
—How to dress for the job fair and where to locate clothing if needed.
—Increasing knowledge about employee and volunteer opportunities.
—Meet employers interested in hiring and helping teens prepare for the job fair.
—Obtain help from 4-H staff via scheduled Zoom meeting to practice or get additional help with resume prior to Job Fair.

The Meet the Future Job Fair is scheduled for April 13, 2024 from 1-4 pm at the Erickson Center for the Arts in Curtis. The goal is to have businesses from Manistique, Blaney, Germfask, Curtis, Engadine, Naubinway, McMillan and Newberry wanting to employ teens and to let youth know that they are needed and wanted in the workforce.

Each employer who commits to attending will be emailed a form that will auto-populate your answers that will then be printed off to give to the youth who come to your station at the job fair. The form has general questions about your business and the jobs that would be available to teens to apply for.

To date, 4-H staff is collaborating with the Curtis Chamber of Commerce who has been promoting the job fair to its members. 4-H staff is communicating with other Chambers and employers to seek commitment in helping promote and attend the Job Fair to show our youth they are needed in the work force. If have any questions or are interested in attending the Job Fair, contact your County 4-H Program Coordinators. Their contact information is at the end of this article.

Attention adults, seniors and teachers: Another date to save is the Project: FISH two day workshop that will be held Friday, April 26 from 5 – 8:30 p.m. and Saturday April 27 from 9-4 p.m. The Upper Peninsula 4-H staff has invited state Project:FISH instructor Mark Stevens to the Upper Peninsula to provide this exciting workshop. F.I.S.H stands for Friends Involved in Sportfishing Heritage.

The workshop aims to help adults teach youth the sport of fishing. Participants will leave the workshop with enthusiasm and confidence on how to use the curriculum and a tackle box full of tackle and supplies to use with youth.

This is a hands-on workshop; you will complete some lessons from the curriculum, like how to teach kids how to tie knots, make lures, and cast. There’s also a fun food chain lesson and aquatic stewardship component.

A minimum of 10 participants is required. Adults interested in becoming a 4-H Volunteer to teach at this workshop are encouraged to contact your county 4-H Program Coordinator to learn about the 4-H Volunteer application process and possible workshop scholarship funding.

Teachers are welcome and are encouraged to attend. You do not have to be a 4-H volunteer to attend. The fee to participate is $75. A registration flyer will be available by February.

Contact your county 4-H Program Coordinator to receive more information or to receive registration.

Mackinac County: Tracie Abram; abram@msu.edu 906-235-2985
Schoolcraft County: Jill Connin; conninji@msu.edu 906-286-3327
Luce County: Ashley Freed, freedash@msu.edu 906-322-6803