Non-livestock

Don’t Miss Out!

by

Opportunities available NOW!

Adams County 4-H Kids College

Kids College classes are filling up! Choose from Archery, Art, Cake Decorating, Fishing with Phipps, Food Fun, or STEM and complete project work, learn more about pre-fair judging, and leave with supplies to help complete your project. Cost is just $10. Register before April 15 at http://go.OSU.edu/KidsCollege22. Youth must be a 4-H project member to attend but do not have to be enrolled in the project area they choose to explore. Kids College is sponsored by Southern State Community College.

Explore the Outdoors SPIN Club

Explore the Outdoors with our newest SPIN (SPecial INterest) Club! This club will hike and explore many of our local natural areas joined by a terrific line up of guest speakers. SPIN Club begins April 22. Open to youth in grades 3-12. You do not have to be a current 4-H member! Space is limited so register today at http://go.osu.edu/ExploreAdams.

Spring Fling at Canter’s Cave

There’s still time to register for Spring Fling at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp on April 29 & 30! Open to grades 3-6 and packed with all the things we love about summer camp. Don’t wait, register today at http://go.osu.edu/CantersSpringFling. Fee is $40 and registration closes April 22.

Kids College Registration is OPEN!

by

Kids College is back for 2022! This member favorite event will be held on Saturday, April 23, 9 a.m. – 12 noon at the Adams County fairgrounds. Choose from Archery, Art, Cake Decorating, Fishing with Phipps, Food Fun, or STEM. Members do not have to be enrolled in the project area they choose to explore.

Each session will be packed with hands on, experiential learning, tips for pre-fair judging success, and FUN! Youth will also leave with supplies to help them complete their projects. 4-Hers will attend one breakout session, have a snack, and work on our countywide community service project. The cost is $10 and registration is open through April 15. Open only to 4-H project members. Register at http://go.osu.edu/KidsCollege22. Class space is limited and filled on a first come, first served basis so don’t wait, sign up today!

Southern State Community College is a generous sponsor of our Kids College program!

“Earth is Our Home” Activities Available

by

May be an image of text that says '4-H Earth Is Our Home Activities CFAES CFAES CFAFS CFARS DONATIOL Start with Reduce and Reuse FAES Ice Cores ALayer Cake Snow Easy Bean Babies ieahyalm Choose to Reduce, and Recycle Reuse, Healthy Plants Are Our Beesness Do Soil-ology: You Dig It? மp'

Earth Day is Friday, April 22. To celebrate “Earth Is Our Home,” try these activities . . . on your own, in your club, or even at school. The activities below are tried and true, guaranteed to spark interest and create exciting learning opportunities. We’re glad to be home!

You don’t have to wait for Earth Day to celebrate with these activities– check them out today! https://ohio4h.org/earthday

Need supplies? Check with Kristy at the Extension Office to see what’s available.

Explore the Outdoors SPIN Club

by

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.

The Power of Thank You

by

Show boxes have been emptied, ribbons have been hung, project work has been put away for another year.  You spend days, weeks, and months preparing, practicing, checking and double checking that your books are complete, you’ve done your best work, and you’re ready to compete.  Fair week is the culmination of a year of hard work and dedication and whether your project is on display in the booth building or the show ring, it’s your chance to show off your accomplishments for the year.  Fair comes and goes in the blink of an eye and when the dust settles you’re left with a sense of pride in your achievements, lasting friendships, great memories, and recognition of a job well done.

The Adams County community once again showed up in force to support our youth during the 2021 Adams County Fair.  Sponsorships of awards, banners, giveaways, and the Junior Fair Sale are just a few ways businesses and individuals recognize and reward the hard work of our junior fair members.  In order to maintain this outstanding level of support, we need to show our appreciation to those sponsors.  Saying thank you is a small but meaningful way we can express to our community how much their support means.

If you received an award during fair, there was a label on the back with the name and address of the award sponsor.  If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes and write out a thank you note to those individuals.  If you sold a project in the Adams County Junior Fair Sale, please visit this link to find your buyers’ name(s) and address(es) and send them a thank you card as soon as possible.  Now is also a great time to thank your advisors, friends, neighbors, mentors, or others that helped you achieve your goals in 2021.

Not sure where to start with your thank you note?  Check out these simple steps and suggestions shared from Teresa Johnson, 4-H Educator in Defiance County.

Saying thank you seems simple but it is a big deal.  Please be sure to reach out to all of your sponsors and let them know how much you appreciate their support!

Talk the Talk

by

Communications Contest Participants, left to right: Kole Henderson, Madee Henderson, Vanessa Trotter, JR Liston, and Erin Simpkins

Public speaking is a fear of many, but a skill that is important to have. However, a few brave 4-H’ers stepped up to test their presentation skills in this year’s Communications Contest.

The Communications Contest is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and present on an issue you are passionate about. Often contestants’ demonstrations will be about their 4-H project. Each youth is asked to give an illustrated talk or demonstration 5-10 minutes long, using visual aids or a slide show. They present in front of a judge and an audience.

This year, five competed at our county level contest on June 24, and qualified for the state contest on August 5. We were very impressed at our county contest and know they will represent Adams County proud.

Good luck to all contestants!

Prefair Judging Schedule Posted

by

Adams County 4-H prefair judging will be held on Tuesday, June 22 at the West Union Elementary School.  This is a change of location from the previous announcement due to a scheduling conflict.  Please find the allotted time for your project on the attached schedule and be at the elementary school about 10 minutes prior to your scheduled time to check in.

2021 project completion and fair requirements can be found here.  Pay special attention to the County Requirements column in order to know what is required during prefair judging. Please be sure to bring all required items, including your completed project record book, to judging with you.  Members should dress appropriately and put forth their best effort.

Members enrolled in a cooking project will take the Food & Nutrition skillathon during project judging.  The skillathon will cover basic measurements, cooking tools, methods, and nutrition information.  Project books are an excellent study resource.

Clothing members will compete in the Style Review at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22 at West Union Elementary.  Members will be asked to complete a review card describing their outfit to be read while they model their project.

Non-livestock projects must also be displayed in the 4-H Booth Building during the fair in order to receive premiums or awards.  If your club does not have a booth, you are responsible to drop off the required items (poster, display, or other listed items) at the county booth area in the 4-H Booth Building on July 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or July 11 before 9 a.m. and pick them up between 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, July 17.

If you are unable to attend project judging on Tuesday, June 22 you have options to complete your non-livestock project.  We will offer an early judging on Friday, June 18 that will allow members to maintain eligibility for awards and State Fair attendance.  You must call the Extension Office at 937-544-2339 to schedule an appointment no later than Wednesday, June 16.  We will also offer makeup project judging on Tuesday, June 29 at the Extension Office.  Makeup judging allows members to complete their project but they will not be eligible for awards or State Fair competition.  Please call to schedule an appointment by Monday, June 28 if you need to attend makeup project judging.

If you have questions about prefair judging, project requirements, or makeup judging, feel free to reach out to the Extension Office at 937-544-2339 or email Kristy at watters.92@osu.edu.

June 1st Deadlines

by

June 1st is “Junior Fair Entry Day”, here is a list of all forms and project registrations due to the extension office 4 p.m.

Make sure if these projects apply to you or your club members that they get these items turned in. Again the deadline is June 1st, by 4 p.m.

Adams County 4-H Countywide Zoom Meeting Sunday, February 28, 3 p.m.

by

The Countywide 4-H Meeting will be this Sunday, February 28 at 3 p.m on Zoom. This month we will share tips and tricks to help you successfully complete your 4-H project(s).  We will also have pledges, county updates, a 4-H swag drawing for members present, and virtual recreation. Log on at https://go.osu.edu/Adams4HCareers.

Please have a piece of paper (copy, construction, cardstock, or colored) and crayons or markers to complete our community service project.

Clubs interested in a breakout room after the county meeting, please contact me prior to the meeting.  All 4-H members and their families are invited to attend!

Parents/guardians are responsible for maintaining care, custody, and control of their minor(s) and are responsible for monitoring the activities their child is participating in. If you have a disability and have questions about accessibility or wish to request accommodations, please contact Kristy Watters at watters.92@osu.edu.

4-H Enrollment is Open!

by

2021 Adams County 4-H enrollment is open!  Visit oh.4honline.com to enroll for the new project year.  4-H Online has a new look this year, but appears to be more user friendly.

To log in, use your email address that is on file with the Extension office and the password you created for 4-H Online.  If you don’t remember your password, you can choose “reset password” on the home page of 4-H Online.  If you are not sure which email address you use, please contact the office.  If you have been in 4-H before, please do NOT create a new profile.  Here is a short video to help you through the process.

New for this year, if you enroll in an equine or dog project, it will automatically include the permission forms for you to sign electronically.  If you are taking a livestock project, you will still need to sign and submit a hard copy of the Adams County Junior Fair Livestock Exhibitor Agreement.

If you questions, please contact the office at 937-544-2339.  You can also email Barbie or Kristy if you have questions.  Remember to log in before the February 15 enrollment deadline.