National 4-H Week: October 4-10

Morgan County Youth to Celebrate National 4-H Week – October 4th – 10th

Every year, National 4-H Week sees millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni come together to celebrate the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4-H. The theme for this year’s National 4-H Week, Opportunity4All, is a campaign that was created by National 4-H Council to rally support for Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and identify solutions to eliminate the opportunity gap that affects 55 million kids across America.

With so many children struggling to reach their full potential, 4-H believes that young people, in partnership with adults, can play a key role in creating a more promising and equitable future for youth, families and communities across the country. In 4-H, we believe every child should have an equal opportunity to succeed. We believe every child should have the skills they need to make a difference in the world.

Morgan County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by highlighting some of the inspirational 4-H youth in our community who are working tirelessly to support each other and their communities.

“We believe youth perspectives are so important and a solution to eliminating the opportunity gap, because young people come with new ideas and new ways of seeing the world,” explains Jennifer Sirangelo, President and CEO of National 4-H Council. By encouraging diverse voices and innovative actions, 4-H believes that solutions can be found to address the educational, economic and health issues that have created the opportunity gap.

Morgan County 4-H will be challenged to give thanks to a local business, wear green throughout the week, and discover a new skill. Any 4-H member is welcome to capture their accomplishment in a photo or video and share it with the 4-H Extension Educators to showcase on the blog and Facebook page!

One of the most anticipated events of National 4-H Week every year is the 4-H STEM Challenge, formerly known as National Youth Science Day. The theme of this year’s event, which is expected to see hundreds of thousands of youth across the nation taking part throughout October, is Mars Base Camp. Developed by Google and Virginia Cooperative Extension, Mars Base Camp is a collection of activities that teaches kids ages 8-14 STEM skills, including mechanical engineering, physics, computer science and agriculture.

To learn more about how you can get involved, visit http://www.4-h.org/. #Opportunity4All #4HGrowsHere

Virtual Award Presentation

Since the 2020 Ohio 4-H Conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio 4-H was not able to present our teen and adult award winners and tenured volunteers with their awards.  Instead of waiting for the 2021 Conference to make the presentations, Ohio 4-H has chosen to host a virtual award presentation on December 1. Be sure to check it out!

2020 Morgan County Junior Fair Horse Award

Due to COVID-19 and the changes that had to be made to the Junior Fair Schedule our awards ceremony could not be held at the fair.  Here are the award winners for 2020.

  • High Point Grand Champion Senior — Cynthia (CJ) Crim
  • High Point Reserve Champion Senior — Kristina Mathers
  • High Point Grand Champion Junior — Wyatt Erb
  • High Point Reserve Champion Junior — Clinton Erb
  • Versatility Winner — Wyatt Erb
  • Showmanship Winner — Jaden Dille who received her showmanship chair and plague at the during the show.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the show and to each of the winners.  Belt buckles are ordered for the high point grand and reserve champions and the versatility winner and should arrive in 6 weeks.  All others who participated in the Junior Fair Horse show will receive a consolation prize. Awards will be in the 4-H Club Volunteers end of the year packet or individuals will be called to pick up their items at the 4-H Office depending on when items arrive.

 

All About Beef

Market Beef Tag In

Saturday, December 19 from 8-10am at the fairgrounds

State Achievement Award Preparation

This fall, Teen Leadership Council will again be hosting two different Achievement Form Workshops for 4-H members statewide!

  • October 7, 2020 (7:00-9:00 p.m. on Zoom): An informational session will be held, providing a basic overview of the Achievement Form, giving introductory tips for completion, and sharing about potential opportunities available to members who complete and submit their forms.
  • November 14, 2020 (5:30-7:30 p.m. on Zoom): A more in-depth session will be offered for those who have completed or made significant progress on their form; small group coaching will be available for members to receive personalized feedback.

More information can also be found at go.osu.edu/TLC.

 

4-H STEM during Farm Science Review

We’re excited to offer virtual STEM-focused programming during this year’s online Farm Science Review. Plan to join us on September 22, 23, and 24 to take virtual tours and field trips, learn about watershed and stream health, explore careers in agriculture, and more. The schedule for our virtual 4-H STEM Tent is below. More information, including how to register to participate in these free sessions, will be coming soon.

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020

9 AM-10 AM – Virtual Video Tour of Myers Hatchery and Dialog

10:15 AM – Explore Agriculture in Hawaii Using Google Expedition

11 AM-Noon – Egg Catcher STEM Challenge

12:15 PM – Virtual Video Tours of Young’s Jersey Dairy and/or Guiggsberg Cheese

1:15 PM-2:15 PM – From Moo to You Dairy Science Lab at GISA

2:30 PM – Career Explorer

 

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020

9 AM-10 AM – Soil Health Challenge

10:15 AM – Soil Broken Down

11:00 AM – Clean Water STEM Pathways Challenge

Noon – 1 PM – Water Quality Challenge

1:15 PM-2:15 PM – Watershed and Stream Health

2:30 PM – Finding the Right Career Path, Assessing Your Employable Skills

 

Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020

9 AM-10 AM – Virtual Video Tour of Robotics Dairy Systems

10:15 AM – Cookie Prospecting STEM Pathways Challenge

11:00 AM – A Boost Against Arthritis STEM Pathways Challenge

Noon to 1 PM – Agriculture Mechanization STEM Challenge

1:15 PM-2:15 PM – From Pasture to Plate Virtual Video Tour and Meat Science Lab

2:30 PM – Virtual Video Tour of John Deere Tractor Simulator and Ag STEM Career Discussion

Many Thanks to You

Thank you to all of our 4-H volunteers, members, and families for making fair week a success! Your dedication, flexibility, and kindness were the keys to making last week a success each day! As we wrap up this year, we reflect back on the positive moments that demonstrated growth in our 4-H members, and we prepare for the upcoming year with the new guidelines during this time.

Here is the latest information from the Ohio 4-H state office:

As we head into fall, we want to take a moment to thank you for remaining flexible as we work together to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. By following recommended guidance, we’re helping to keep our families and friends safer, our kids learning, and our economy going. We also want to take a moment to share updated in-person 4-H meeting requirements and a reminder to continue to follow our 4-H guidelines.

Updated information effective as of September 1, 2020 includes:

  • Hosting virtual meetings and events is preferred.
  • If activities are critical/essential and are in-person, they must be education-focused.
  • Group cannot be larger than 50 people, including adults, youth, presenters, etc.
    • This directive is dependent on local health department guidelines.
    • The group size may need to be reduced to 10 (or other amount), based on the directives of your local health department.
  • Face masks are required.
    • This includes inside AND outside at all times.
    • Program participants and parent/guardians ages five and older must wear a mask.
    • The exception is shooting sports where safety is a concern when on the line.
    • Medical conditions or disability exceptions are also permitted.
    • Potlucks and buffets are not permitted

Statement on 4-H Membership Eligibility

Ohio 4-H membership begins with Cloverbuds when a child is five and ends on December 31 of the year they turn 19. Due to cancellation of activities in 2020, there have been requests to extend a year of eligibility for 4-H members. This was given strong consideration at the national and regional levels. The decision was made that national 4-H programs will follow existing age requirements and another year of eligibility will not be granted. Following conversation with our 4-H professionals, Ohio will follow that policy.

Changing the policy would set an unsustainable precedent for youth participation for years to come. It would create increased unfairness when considering competitive events with the cascading impact on those who would have aged out taking spots of current youth down the line. COVID-19 has created a loss of experiences for everyone however, I am confident in the resiliency of our youth. Over the past few months, their ability to adapt and willingness to persevere has been evidenced by their participation in virtual camps, meetings and other 4-H activities. Ohio 4-H is proud of how our volunteers and young people have adapted in this unprecedented time.

Poster and Cloverbud Clover Pick-up

The items displayed in the multipurpose building during the Morgan County Junior Fair, non-livestock posters, livestock posters, and Cloverbud clovers, will be collected by OSU Extension Staff after the fair.  4-H and FFA members can pick up their posters or clovers outside the Extension Office on a table in the hallway September 15-October 2, 2020.  Remember there are usually more than one table and the Riecker Building is only open Monday-Friday 8 am – 4 pm.  Items not picked up by the deadline will be put with end of the year club packets.

Poster Reminder

Poster set-up Monday, September 7, 2929 8 am – 5 pm  in the multipurpose building on the fairgrounds.  Remember there are two types of posters.

The first type of poster is for 4-H non-livestock or projects judged in July and not shown at the fair.  You are encouraged to put up a poster to display your work and knowledge gained.

The second type of poster is for livestock projects for Junior Fair Exhibitors who decided not to show their animals during the fair.  An educational poster is required to receive your premium or sell your project on Saturday as long as you have completed QA and skillathon.

Posters needs to be educational.  It could include terms learned while completing the project, tools needed and what they are used for, pictures of activities completed from the project book explaining the pictures and activities.  A picture only of the 4-H member or Junior Fair Exhibitor with the completed project whether that is a garment for a clothing project, a toolbox for woodworking, or a picture of breeding or market animal is not an educational poster.

 

REMINDER: Posters & Photos

Livestock Sale Photos

Every exhibitor must provide printed photos for the livestock sale. Only one printed photo per project. The name of the exhibitor and project must be on the back of the photo. Tag numbers do not matter for sale this year. The Riecker Building is open from 8am – 4pm, and we have a drop box outside the office OR mail printed photos to OSU Extension office, PO Box 179, McConnelsville, OH 43756 prior to fair week. All photos must be turned in the OSU Extension office by Friday, September 4th. 

We have some recommendations to follow for taking and printing your own photos:

  • The size to be 4′ x 6′ and landscape orientation (i.e. horizontal or left/right)
  • Exhibitor is dressed appropriately (preferably show ring attire)
  • Exhibitor has a positive facial expression (smile big for the buyer)
  • Animal(s) look presentable (clean and/or groomed)
  • Photos can be taken at home with a neutral or natural background and sunlight facing the youth

Livestock Posters

The poster needs to be educational.  It could include terms learned while completing the project, tools needed and what they are used for, pictures of activities completed from the project book explaining the pictures and activities.  NOTE: A picture only of the 4-H member with the completed project whether that is a garment for a clothing project, a toolbox for woodworking, or a picture of breeding or market animal if not shown at the fair is NOT an educational poster.

Posters must be made and set up prior to fair on Monday, September 7 from 8am – 5pm in the Multipurpose Building.