Congratulations to the Suncook Valley Sports Swap (SVSS), Peppermint Ponies, Beads for Needs, and the Night Riders Renovation Team. These teams are the first to launch as a result of the NH 4-H Youth Venture partnership. A special thank you goes out to the 4-H Foundation of New Hampshire and Youth Venture for providing the start-up funds needed to launch these community-benefiting Ventures.

The Suncook Valley Sports Swap plans to create a sportship fund - a scholarship for underprivileged youth to help offset the costs of playing sports in Pittsfield. To raise money for the sportship fund, the team plans to host two sportswaps a year - the first scheduled for April 14.

The Peppermint Ponies of Fremont is devoting its time to helping abused animals in their community. Members hope to sell personalized horseshoes and horseshoe picture frames - donating a percentage of the money raised to the NHSPCA.

Beads for Needs will host a five-series workshop to teach jewelry-making to underprivileged girls and young women at Girls, Inc., New Generations, and the Lee Library. The photo shows, left to right, Beads for Needs participants Talya Auger and Rachel Ameduri.

The Night Riders Renovation Team plans to do an "Extreme Makeover: Nursery Edition" to the children's nursery of the Pilgrim Church in Brentwood. The team wants to renovate and improve the nursery by replacing the carpet, repainting the walls, and buying new furnishings.

If you are interested in becoming a 4-H Youth Venture team, have questions about the program, or would like to host an informational Dream It. Do It. workshop, contact Alice Ballenger, 4-H Youth Venture Partner Specialist at aballenger@youthventure.org or (603)-223-9864.