Ohio 4-H Alumni Award Recipient Joy Bauman

We are so excited to announce Joy Bauman has been selected as a 2022 Ohio 4-H Alumni Award recipient! Joy is an advisor with the Buckeye Barn Busters 4-H Club, head advisor of the Adams County 4-H Junior Leaders, and recent past president of the Adams County 4-H Advisory Committee. She is an alumna of the Coshocton County 4-H program and has often attributed her success in leadership and communication to her start in 4-H.

Joy will be recognized at the Ohio 4-H Conference volunteer luncheon on Saturday, March 12 in Columbus. Please join us in congratulating Joy on this well deserved recognition of all she does to benefit the youth of Adams County and beyond.

Revolution of Rabbits Provides the Tools for Success!

The Revolution of Rabbits program is a terrific opportunity for low income or at-risk youth to raise and exhibit market rabbits at the Adams County Fair. The goal of the program is to teach youth responsibility as they learn to care for animals, keep records, and successfully complete a project while also making friends, having fun, and giving back to their community. 

Through this program, qualifying youth join a 4-H club, learn about rabbits, and rabbit care, and receive three young rabbits. The program loans members all the supplies necessary for the project, including a rabbit hutch, feed, feeders, waterers, and 4-H record and resource books. The program also provides rabbits and training/mentorship about how to best care for the animals, finish the record book, and successfully complete the project. After completing the requirements and selling their pen of market rabbits at the fair sale, each participant returns $50 of sale proceeds to the 4-H Small Animal Committee to cover program costs, which assures program sustainability. Participants receive the balance of the sale proceeds. 

Any youth who is at least 8 years old and in the third grade and who either has not previously been in 4-H or has not previously participated in a 4-H market animal project, is eligible to apply for this program. The youth should enroll in an Adams County 4-H Club, sign up for the Market Rabbit project, and complete and return the application and commitment form by the February 15 enrollment deadline.  

For more information about Revolution of Rabbits program visit https://go.osu.edu/Revolution. Applications are due February 15 and award winners will be notified before the end of February. If you have questions about the program, need a paper application, or for help enrolling, visit the Extension Office or call us at 937-544-2339. 

4-H Enrollment Deadline February 15

Have you enrolled for 2022? Members and volunteers must reenroll each year using 4-H Online. Log on at https://oh.4honline.com to complete your enrollment including adding 4-H projects before the February 15 deadline!

Need help finding a club, a project, or navigating 4-H Online? Resources available at go.osu.edu/JoinAdams4H or by calling the Extension Office at 937-544-2339.

Explore the Outdoors SPIN Club

Adams County 4-H would like to invite you to come Explore the Outdoors in our new SPIN Club (Special Interest Club). This SPIN Club is open to all youth, ages 8 years old and in the 3rd grade through 18 years of age as of January 1st. You do not have to be a current 4-H member to participate!

We will meet weekly for 8 weeks exploring our Great Outdoors through hiking our local nature preserves. Guest speakers and specialists in their fields will add to the educational experience for our youth. The SPIN will include hands on learning about Birds, Insects, Wildlife, Plants, Trees, Streams, Conservation and Preservation.

 

Schedule for Explore the Outdoors SPIN Club:

Friday, April 22, Earth Day at Adams Lake State Park

4:30 PM to 7:30 – introductions/Orientation and short hike around the lake.

Saturday, April 30, Highlands Nature Sanctuary – Appalachian Forest Museum

10 AM to Noon – Educational program by the Arc at the Museum, lunch, then afternoon guided hikes.

Saturday, May 7, Ohio River Bluffs, Manchester, Ohio

1:00 PM to 5 PM – Spring Flower hike assisted by Naturalist John Howard

Sunday, May 15, Quiverheart Preserve @ Steam Furnace

Stream biology featuring Kelly Capuzzi from Ohio EPA

Saturday, May 21, Chalet Nivale Preserve near Peebles

Focus on Nature Photography outdoors with instruction by Sam James

Tuesday, May 24, Quiverheart Preserve @ Steam Furnace

5 PM till Dusk, Birds & Bats with Andrea Jaeger, Arc of Appalachia

Saturday, June 4, Kamama Prairie near Fawcett

Trees and Insects with Naturalist John Howard

Saturday, June 25, Chaparral Prairie near West Union

An evening of Moths and nocturnal insects led by Katie King of the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves with John Howard

Visit https://go.osu.edu/EXPLOREAdams to register. For more information contact Dave at quiverheart@yahoo.com. Space is limited so don’t wait, sign up today!

Youth planning to take the Explore the Outdoors project to pre-fair judging must have enrolled in that project by the February 15 enrollment deadline. They are welcome and invited to participate in the SPIN Club as an additional opportunity.

Beekeeper Scholarship Available!

A new year means new BEEginnings!
The Adams County Farm Bureau and Adams County Beekeepers Association, is starting off the new year by offering the The Youth Beginner Beekeeping Scholarship!
This Scholarship is not a monetary scholarship for future education. This Scholarship is an investment in our youth to further educate them in the importance of beekeeping and to provide an opportunity for them to experience responsibility!

The award for this Scholarship is:
-A one year membership in the Adams County Beekeepers Association
-A beginning beekeeper guidebook
-A set of woodenware for a beehive
-A nuc (aka nucleus) or package of bees for the hive
-Beekeeping gear: hat, veil, gloves, hive tool, and bee smoker
-Mentoring by an Adams County Beekeepers Association member
In order to be eligible for the Scholarship:
-Must be NEW to beekeeping and a resident of Adams County
-Currently be enrolled in public, private, or home school and be in grades 7 through 12
-Have permission and agreement from parent or guardian
The application which you can find at www.adamssoilandwater.org under the tab ‘Beekeeper Info’ must be submitted by no later than 4:00 pm on MONDAY, FEBUARY 28, 2022 at the Adams SWCD office in West Union. The application can also be emailed to wickerham.adams.swcd@live.com. All of this information is included on the application!
So get your application in and start the year with learning how to BEE a part of the movement to conserve the environment and save the BEE’s!

4-H Scholarship Opportunities

The Adams County 4-H Scholarship and Chad Downing Memorial Scholarship application is now available!

Applicants must be high school seniors with a minimum 2.5 gpa that have been enrolled in 4-H for at least four years, including the current and immediate past year. A completed application, current high school transcript including gpa, and a letter of reference from an Adams County 4-H volunteer that is not a relative are required to apply.

The number of 4-H scholarships vary each year depending on the success of the annual fundraiser and range from $500 – $1,000. Five Chad Downing Memorial Scholarships in the amount of $500 and two $1,000 Burley Growers scholarships will be awarded. Scholarships are paid upon proof of completion of the first semester or quarter of post-secondary education or training following high school graduation. Adams County 4-H Scholarship deadline is Friday, February 25 by 4 p.m.

Ohio 4-H scholarships are due February 15. You can apply online at https://ohio4h.org/families/just-teens/awards-scholarships/ohio-4-h-scholarships.

 

Ohio 4-H Teen of the Year Matthew Swearingen

Congratulations to Adams County 4-Her Matthew Swearingen on being named Ohio 4-H Teen of the Year!
Each year Ohio 4-H honors one teen that has had outstanding accomplishments in performance, dedication, and passion in the 4-H program. Matthew is a member of the Bentonville Buckeyes 4-H Club, Adams County Junior Leaders, Adams County 4-H Advisory Committee, and Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council. He is a 4-H Camp Counselor, the Adams County Junior Fair King, member of the Ohio State Junior Fair Board and serves in many 4-H leadership roles at the state and national level. We are so proud to have Matthew representing Adams County as the Ohio 4-H Teen of the Year!

Virtual Livestock Judging Opportunity

How would you like to participate in a judging contest from your phone? Introducing the first-ever Ohio 4-H Animal Sciences Virtual Judging Contest!
The rules are simple:
  • -It is 100% FREE
  • -Participate each week before results are posted
  • -The contest is open to all ages
  • -Check back at the end of the week for results
  • -The contest will run through early July
Division champions will be selected and are divided as follows:
  • -Novice (0-7)
  • -Junior (8-11)
  • -Intermediate (12-14)
  • -Senior (15-18)
  • -Advanced (19+)
Participate every week for a chance to be named the Ohio 4-H Animal Sciences Virtual Judging Champion!
This is a practice week (results will not be recorded)
Click the link below to participate:

Avian Influenza Update

Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza from Dr. Timothy McDermott, DVM

  • Highly Pathogenic Eurasian H5 avian influenza was recently found in wild birds in South & North Carolina.
  • The species it was discovered in are migratory waterfowl.
  • Because migratory waterfowl in South and North Carolina or birds they encounter migrate through Ohio, precautions should be taken to prevent the potential exposure of both the commercial poultry industry and backyard poultry community birds to high path avian influenza.
  • Biosecurity for backyard poultry includes preventing wild birds from mingling with the flock. Preventative measures include ensuring your domestic birds cannot access areas migrating birds may visit, such as ponds, puddles, other open water sources, pastures, fields, etc. Prevent interaction with other wild birds in your flock using fencing or bird netting. The aim is to keep your domestic birds from encountering migratory waterfowl.
  • The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) will test for high path avian influenza in birds suspected of being infected. They would like necropsy specimens submitted via a vet.
  • If you get a call from clients regarding sick birds, CLICK HERE for a list of vets who see poultry in Ohio.
  • Source new birds from reputable sources such as an NPIP approved hatchery.
  • Hunters play an important role in biosecurity. CLICK HERE for biosecurity tips for hunters.
  • USDA APHIS issued the following update on this topic on 1/18/2022:

WASHINGTON, January 18, 2022 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed two additional findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds – one in Colleton County, South Carolina and one in Hyde County, North Carolina.  These finds follow confirmation on January 14, 2022 of HPAI in a wild bird in Colleton County, South Carolina. All three findings are H5N1 HPAI.

These findings are not unexpected, as wild birds can be infected with HPAI and show no signs of illness. They can carry the disease to new areas when migrating. APHIS anticipates additional wild bird findings as our robust wild bird sampling program continues into the spring.

APHIS will post these and all future wild bird findings on its website on a weekly basis. Stakeholders should check the website on a routine basis, as no future stakeholder announcements are planned for wild bird findings.

Since wild birds can be infected with these viruses without appearing sick, people should minimize direct contact with wild birds by using gloves. If contact occurs, wash your hands with soap and water, and change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds. Hunters should dress game birds in the field whenever possible and practice good biosecurity to prevent any potential disease spread. Biosecurity information is available at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/2015/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf.

Given these additional findings, anyone involved with poultry – commercial or backyard flocks alike – should review their biosecurity plan and enhance their biosecurity practices to assure the health of their birds. APHIS has materials about biosecurity, including videos, checklists, and a toolkit available for producers on our website.

In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.

 

2022 4-H KICK OFF Open House

Check out what 4-H has for you at the 2022 KICK OFF open house on Saturday, January 15, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Adams County Fairgrounds Administration Building. Project displays, clubs, youth members, and volunteers will be present to help you find your SPARK in Adams County 4-H. New and returning 4-H families invited to attend!