Author: Kristy Watters
4-H Officer Training and Dance
Quality Assurance Opportunities – UPDATED
Updated! Peebles High School test out date has changed to April 30.
All Junior Fair exhibitors of beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine projects must annually attend a qualifying Quality Assurance program or meet age-appropriate test out requirements on an Ohio Quality Assurance test at least 45 days before the start of the fair of the current year in order to exhibit their projects at the Adams County Fair.
The following opportunities are available in Adams County in 2024:
Members age 12 & up as of January 1 may test out of Quality Assurance. Tests will be administered at the dates and times listed and members must receive a 70% or higher to pass.
Quality assurance must be completed no later than May 22, 2024. If members choose to do the online YQCA training, they must provide a copy of the certifiate to the Extension office by emailing rowe.316@osu.edu.
Youth Beekeeper Scholarship Opportunity
Are you new to beekeeping and a resident of Adams County?
Are you enrolled in public, private, or home school and in grades 8 through 11?
Then…this scholarship may be for you!
Objectives are:
▪ To educate youth in the art of beekeeping and to promote a better understanding of the value of
honeybees to our environment and to the food chain.
▪ To provide an opportunity for youth to experience responsibility and enjoyment through beekeeping.
▪ To provide an avenue for youth to engage in a vocation and gain the potential to pursue beekeeping as a
sideline or fulltime vocation.
The award includes:
▪ 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: jacket, gloves, hive tool, and bee smoker
▪ Mentoring by an Adams County Beekeepers Association member
Eligibility requirements:
▪ The applicant must be new to beekeeping and a resident of Adams County.
▪ The applicant must currently be enrolled in public, private, or home school and be in grades 8 through 11.
▪ The applicant must have permission and agreement from parent or guardian.
▪ This application must be submitted to Adams SWCD no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024.
Teen Winter Retreat Registrations Due Jan 31
Teen Winter Retreat at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp will be held on Saturday, February 3 – Sunday, February 4. Teens ages 13-18 are invited to attend this fun-filled overnight adventure where they can relax and spend time wiht 4-H friends from across southeastern Ohio.
More information can be found at go.osu.edu/TWRInfo or register before January 31 at go.osu.edu/TeenWinterRetreat.
4-H Scholarhip Opportunity!
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 23 by 4 p.m.
Hands to Larger Service Day of Giving
Adams County 4-H members and volunteers are invited to attend our Hands to Larger Service Day of Giving on February 19, 2024 from 12:30 – 4 p.m. at the Extension Office. We will be making fleece tie blankets which will be distributed to elderly members of our community.
Members will have the option to make their own tie blanket, complete with a 4-H logo, for $5.
We are asking members to pre-register by visiting go.osu.edu/LargerService. Refreshments provided by the Adams County 4-H Advisory Committee.
Come join the fun and pledge your Hands to Larger Service!
4-H Volunteer Lunch & Learn Series
Revolution of Rabbits Provides Opportunity for Youth
The Revolution of Rabbits program is a terrific opportunity for youth with limited resources 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 $60 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.
Ohio 4-H State Horse Volunteer Training Opportunity
Registration is now open for the 2024 State Horse Volunteer(Advisor) Training! Registration is limited to the first 175 participants and closes on January 17th. If 175 participants registered before the deadline the registration will close when the limit is reached. Go to go.osu.edu/horsevol24 to register now. Registration is online only and must be paid via credit or debit card. If you have any questions please email seitner.2@osu.edu.