Month: May 2016

Out in the Cold – Consider Helping a local 4-Her with his Community Service Project!

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Please consider helping, Jon Stepp, 4-H member from Carroll Country 4-H’ers. He was a state grant recipient for a My Hands to Larger Service Project. His project plans are detailed below. Additionally, be sure to see the attached flyer!

As my community service project for My Hands to Larger Service, I have decided to collect camping tents for the homeless.  In 2013, there were 397 homeless families in Franklin County alone. I know that a tent will not solve the problem of homelessness, but I am hoping that at least a tent will keep a few people warmer this winter.  I will accept new or gently used tents.  If someone is cleaning out their garage and wishes to donate a camping tent, I will accept it as long as it is in good condition. 

If 4-H clubs or individuals would like to donate money, the Coleman Company has offered me a discount if I order from their website. The tents I am looking to purchase are two person dome tents. They retail for $69.99. My goal is to collect 100 tents. I will accept tents of all sizes though.

Since tents are expensive, I have also decided to collect non-perishable food for the local food pantries. I hope to collect 500 items of food. Obviously, I’d like to collect more!

I have fliers printed if anyone wishes to help post them to help with this project. Tractor Supply Co. has graciously offered the use of their parking lot for my collection. It will be June 11, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. We will collect new or gently used tents, money to buy tents and non-perishable food on this day at TSC. I will also take toiletries for the homeless too if someone wishes to donate those. The Carroll Country 4-H Club is planning on sewing tote bags to donate as a club project. Here is a copy of the flyer: OUT OF THE COLD.

The more publicity this project gets the better.  If anyone has any questions, they can e-mail Jon at jon.stepp98@gmail.com or the club at carrollcountry4h@gmail.com

Thanks for your help!  

Jon Stepp

State Fair Skillathon Facilitators WANTED!

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Please contact Leslie Cooksey for more information…

But, the Ohio State Fair is looking for 4-H volunteers and enthusiasts to facilitate the 2016 Ohio State Fair Skillathon events. No prior knowledge is necessary to volunteer for this event. Commitment forms need to be completed and returned to the State 4-H Office by Saturday, June 18th.

The species Skillathons include: beef, sheep, swine, dairy, horse, goat, poultry, dog, and rabbit. Volunteers for the Skillathons are responsible for facilitating one of the stations for a species Skillathon. A station requires youth to perform a series of tasks to test their knowledge about a subject relations to the species. Any and all help is greatly appreciated and benefits the youth of Ohio.

Please email cooksey.25@osu.edu receive a packet of information if you are interested!

Sign-up Now for Barrow MQP

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Once again this year we will be limited to only 30 barrows for the Fairfield County Junior Fair MQP Barrow program, thus causing us to sign-up interested youth on a first come first served basis. Please remind your members IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO they need to call the Extension office (740-652-7260) and ask to have their name placed on the MQP Barrow list. This is necessary because of the limited space for harvest available at the OSU Meat Lab. FYI, as of today the first 30 slots in Barrow MQP have been taken.  At this time, we DSCF7684are filling the wait list.

As the Fair approaches youth who have reserved a spot on the Barrow MQP list will be contacted to ensure they do still plan to participate in the program. If not others can be moved up on the list. Last year we had over 40 youth on the list by mid-summer, yet only 22 completed the project.

Also, please note that in the past some advisors have listed MQP participation on their enrollment forms in April/May. This is not necessary and also does not guarantee these youth will be listed on the MQP participation list on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. For enrollment form purposes, MQP is simply a ‘market’ project. The time to list your youth on an entry form for MQP is on your entry forms for the Fair in September.

If your youth need a refresher regarding the Barrow MQP program, this link will take them to a post regarding last year’s program. This year will be run essentially the same: https://go.osu.edu/MQPbarrow

Seasonal Cooks Wanted for Tar Hollow 4-H Camp!

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The Ross-Hocking Camp Association, an equal opportunity employer, is hiring 4-H camp cooks for the 2016 4-H camping season which runs from June 5 through July 12. We camp at Tar Hollow State Park near Laurelville, Ohio. The application is available by phoning 740-385-3222 or 740-652-7272. Applications are due immediately – disregard the due date on the application. For more information, or to submit a completed application, contact Joyce Shriner, Camp Food Service Director at 740-385-3222 or shriner.3@osu.edu.

Beef Quality Assurance ONLINE Test is Not Accepted for QA

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It has been brought to the attention of the State 4-H Office, that youth and adults are under the impression that the Beef Quality Assurance online test offered by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association counts as the Department of Agriculture’s mandated Quality Assurance. We do NOT accept the online test offered by the Cattlemen’s Association. We will accept QA trainings offered by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, however only IN PERSON trainings such as those offered during Beef Expo. For questions, contact Leslie at 740-652-7260 or by email at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Ohio Youth High Point Award for Llamas and Alpacas

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News from the Ohio 4-H Animal Science Team: This year will also be the start of the Ohio Youth High Point Award for Llamas and Alpacas. Ohio 4-H and FFA youth who are registered in a Llama or Alpaca project may indicate they wish to participate in the high point award upon registration. Points will be accrued for classes in which the individual participates.  Official rules are located in the Llama/Alpaca show section of the Ohio State Fair rules posted on the website (http://www.ohiostatefair.com/osf/downloadbooks/livestock/2016/llama.pdf).

State Fair Skillathon Excellence Awards

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State 4-H Animal Science News: We are quickly approaching fair season and with that comes Skillathons! We have some exciting news. This year will be the debut of the first ever Skillathon Excellence awards.

Youth must compete in ALL 9 SKILLATHONS and receive a MINIMUM score of 65% in order to be eligible for this award. The top 10 highest scoring individuals regardless of age division will receive belt buckles. Top 3 individuals will be recognized at the sale of champions and will divide $1000 from the Youth Reserve Program. We recognize this is quite an undertaking for youth and can be very expensive and time consuming. Youth who feel cost may be prohibited can contact Keegan Gay (gay.130@osu.edu) and arrange for passes to get into the fair. To be eligible for a pass youth must have competed in all Skillathons up to that point and have achieved the minimum score. Passes will be left at the gate for participation on each Skillathon date.

It is our hope that these awards will encourage youth to learn more about animal science and branch out from their particular species. Official rules will be located in the Skillathon rules posted on the Ohio State Fair website (http://ohiostatefair.com/livestock/).

Legacy Dinner to feature “Locally Sourced” Dinner Options

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Don’t miss the 2016 Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Legacy Dinner slated for Thursday, June 9 at the home of Doug and Cheryl Majors, 750 Ginder Road, Lancaster.

You will experience some of the finest dinner selection in Fairfield County.  We will begin the evening with a wheel of Swiss Cheese made from milk locally sourced from Marodore Farms near Baltimore.  Our dinner our will begin with a tossed salad, topped with microgreens grown just for the Legacy Dinner by the Green Machine as well as  Caramelized Roast Beef and  Baked Potatoes prepared by Bowers and Sons Markets in Millersport. The pork entrée will be seasoned and smoked by the Leith family.  Our lamb Entrée will be expertly prepared by Kris Doyle and the lamb was specially processed at Bay Food Market for our dinner. In fact, in 2015 4-Her Mason Love donated the meat from his Muscle, Performance Quality Lamb project to the 2016 Legacy Dinner.

And just in case you love homemade pie, we will have that to..topped with Schaffner’s Ice Cream!!

The Legacy Dinner is the only major fundraiser of the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Board.  Ticket information is available at the OSU Extension Office in Fairfield County (740-652-7260). Reservation deadline is May 29, 2016.

Please consider spending an evening of food and fellowship at the 2016 4-H Legacy Dinner.

Countywide 4-H Fundraiser: Lancaster Greenhouse & Nursery Inc. **THIS WEEKEND** 5/14/2016 and 5/15/2016

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Help support the Fairfield County 4-H Program! There will be a countywide fundraiser of the 4-H Advisory Committee in cooperation with the Lancaster Greenhouse and Nursery Inc. on Saturday, May 14th and Sunday May 15th. Present this coupon (also located on our Facebook events) for 15% of your purchases to go directly to the Fairfield County 4-H Program! **Some exclusions do apply. See coupon for details!

Coupon is required (in print or electronic format) and must be presented at the cash register when you purchase your items in order for your purchase to go toward our fundraiser! Happy spring, and thanks for your support!

Lancaster Greenhouse Fundraiser-Single