General 4-H

New Project Handbook!

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Just a few updates for you all this Friday.

Project Handbook is Available!!!

This is the handbook with all project requirements and livestock charts with requirements, what to expect with judging, etc. For those of you who do not know, this is taking place of the white handbooks families have got in the past. Please, check it out at the link below!

This handbook can be found online at the following link:

https://belmont.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/4-h-handbooks-guides

 

LQA Training

We have another Livestock Quality Assurance Training coming up next week!

When: Jun 23, 2020 10:00 AM

Where: ZOOM!

Reminder, any 4-H & FFA members taking a market or lactating dairy animal, must attend one training session yearly, unless they have tested out!

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://osu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUlcuCvqD8iGtQFS9NPWhwCSpyxyz1Yf07i

After registering, members will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

 

Return to Office

Starting this week, 4-H Program Assistant, Crystal Antill will returned to working in the Extension office on THURSDAYS ONLY. Please, be advised that we are NOT open to walk-ins. If you need to pick up or drop off something, this must be made by appointment with me on Thursdays only. We are offering curbside pick up and drop off of forms, project books, etc. This does not include livestock tags at this time either.

       *Click for larger preview of press release

Due to COVID-19 and all the craziness, we are planning on having a small awards presentation before our next 4-H Council meeting. We will be recognizing various year end award winners for last year’s Blue Ribbon Officers, Achievement Award winners and scholarship winners. This will take place on Tuesday, July 28th at the Wise Building at 5:30 PM. Cake and punch will be provided.

 

Thank you all for your continued efforts to make the best better! Have a wonderful weekend!

 

Congrats to the 2020 Grads!!!!

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Congratulations to our 2020 graduates who have put many years into being a dedicated 4-H member!

You are amazing, now go be awesome!

                      *Click on Picture to view in larger window.

If you are a 2020 Senior who was in 4-H (including last year members who may not be in     4-H this year), and would like to be spotlighted. Please, email Crystal Antill at Antill.19@osu.edu.

Livestock Registration Information

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Hello 4-H Community!

We are at the end of another week of quarantine and still busy as ever!

I would like to keep the updates coming, so I am including some information below for our 4-H families.

Just some FYI’s:

Senior Fair Board met Thursday night via Zoom and wanted to let everyone know that they are still moving forward with planning fair. Fair might look different but it is really still too early to tell what is going to happen. Much of the decision in in the hands of the governor’s office. The Senior Fair Board is making a point to be proactive and start thinking about Plan B options, if we cannot have our fair as normal. They are trying to do whatever they can and keeping our youth and community’s safety in mind. They will be organizing more meetings via Zoom and I will try to keep the lines of communication between us all open as best as I can.

As for livestock registrations, please keep an eye out on email, Facebook, Instagram and this blog for the link to be posted next week. Registrations will be posted early next week for market hogs, rabbits, market lambs, market goats, horses and beef  & dairy feeders. At this point in time, I can tell you there will be no lamb and goat tag-in and that all market ID tags will have to be picked up at the office after July 13th when we HOPEFULLY return to the Extension office. To which all market lambs, goats, hogs, and feeders will be self-tagged at home. There will also be required picture identification for animals. We will be asking for a head shot and side view of your animals you are registering. For lambs and goats, we also need an up close picture of the scrapie ID in the animal’s ear! 

 

The poultry letter is posted on the link below and has the information we typically send youth to order from hatcheries.

https://belmont.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/2020-4-h-year-revised-forms-and-resouces

*Note- this will be the same link you will go to for registrations when they are posted next week!

 

Registrations will be collected via mail to the Extension office or scanned and emailed to antill.19@osu.edu. Original copies can be supplied once the Extension office staff returns to working in the office.

If there are families that absolutely cannot access the forms due to internet or printing issues, please let us know. We can work with those who need accommodations.

 

Registration Due Dates are as follows:

Hogs, Horses, & Rabbits – June 1st

Lambs & Goats – June 6th (the previously scheduled tag-in day)

Beef & Dairy Feeders – June 15th

 

 

Committees that will be meeting via Zoom in the coming weeks:

4-H Council Scholarship Interviews – 5/5/2020

4-H Council Meeting – 5/7/2020

Jr Fair Board – 5/28/2020

Senior Fair Board – 5/28/2020

4-H Teen Ambassadors – TBD

4-H Horse Committee – TBD

 

I just wanted to let you know how appreciative I am of all the support and understanding you have shown during this difficult time. It has been a learning experience for us all and navigating a virtual 4-H program is not easy for all of us. We are in this together and I hope that if you have questions, please reach out. Just remember, when reaching out, keep mindful of how you come across when presenting concerns to those around you. Other’s are very much in the same boat and are trying to come up with solutions to the problems. Please, know that if you call in on an angry rant, it will not get you anymore help than what we can provide. We are doing what we can to accommodate the needs of our youth and community with the means that we have available.

 

To our new families that are joining us in this adventure of a year! This is not a typical 4-H year for any of us and if you feel the need to reach out; my office door may not be open right now, but I am still just a phone call away!

 

Stay safe & stay healthy!

Sincerely, 😊

Crystal Antill

4-H Program Assistant

 

Why are you in 4-H?

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What do you hope to gain?

Words of a fellow 4-H Professional. She stated this very well and we thought she hit the nail on the head! So we are sharing…

 

“As 4-H educators, we have been receiving a lot of questions related to whether families should move forward with purchasing market livestock for fair. What if we don’t have a fair? What will I do with my animal? Or, the one that hurts the worst, what if I lose all my money?

My response to all these questions is a question itself. What are you in this for? What do you hope to gain?

If you are in 4-H so that your child can learn about the effort that goes into raising livestock and producing food animal products, get the animal.

If you are in 4-H so that your child can become a better citizen or learn about goal setting or gain effective leadership skills, get the animal.

If you are in 4-H so that your child can be a step above their peers, so that they can develop a sense of belonging, mastery, independence and generosity, get the animal.

If you are in 4-H so that your child can learn about resilience, determination and never giving up hope (even in the middle of a pandemic), get the animal.

But, if you are in 4-H so that your child can sell their animal for twice what you invested in it, don’t get the animal.

If you are in 4-H so that your child can bring home a big banner or a shiny trophy, don’t get the animal.

If you are in 4-H so that you can boast to co-workers and friends about how your child beat out 15 other people’s children to be the coveted “Grand Champion,” don’t get the animal.

Ultimately, if you do this thing called 4-H so that you can clean up at the county fair and earn awards, money and bragging rights, don’t get the animal. Because I can’t guarantee you those things this year.

I can only guarantee you this:

The agricultural community is powerful. The loyalty and camaraderie among us is bigger than words can describe. Even if we are unable to have fair in the traditional sense, we will do everything humanely possible to ensure youth have the opportunity to display their work. Whether it’s posters or videos or, fancier yet, virtual judgings, we will go to the ends of the Earth to save the 4-H experience for your children. We will work cooperatively with the Junior and Senior Fair Boards and Sale Committee to help with arrangements for animals. We will not strand you with a project; instead, we will work right alongside you to figure out where that animal can go. Whether it’s taking it to a packer five minutes up the road or loading it on a trailer headed halfway across the U.S., we will do the best job that we can to help you navigate the “end-game.” And lastly, we can guarantee you that your child will learn. That, despite limited club meetings or seven days at the county fair, your child will learn the important things. The things that matter. They will fill the days of this pandemic with hope as opposed to grief. Your child will develop a relationship with their animal(s) like they never have before, because, quite frankly, it’s one of the few things they have left.

Is there a chance their experience will be different this year? Yes.

Is there a chance they will lose money? Yes.

As a result, is their 4-H year a lost cause? Should they just give up?

I’ll leave that up to you.”

 

Shared from:

Cassaundra Dietrich

Extension Educator Shelby County,

4-H Youth Development

COVID-19 Urgent Information

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Attention Belmont County 4-H Community! Urgent information regarding cancellations and postpone dates for meetings, events, etc. due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

 

Please use the link below to view attached letter from Ohio State University Extension.

Coronavirus Letter of cancellations and postpone (002)

 

An email has been sent to all 4-H families, advisors and supporters regarding 4-H programs in BELMONT COUNTRY over the next few weeks. Please be sure to review the information. The safety of our community is our top priority. We realize that our COVID-19 policy guidelines will cause disruption, but the risk of not acting outweighs the inconvenience of these temporary measures. We will share updates as more information becomes available.

Newsletter

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The 1st issue of the 2020 Clover Chronicle is posted to the belmont.osu.edu website. Please go to the following link to access this newsletter.

https://belmont.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/4-h-newsletter

We will be mailing copies to those families who wished to receive it via mail, as elected on their 2019 4-H enrollment. Therefore, if you know someone who is new to 4-H, please pass this along to them. Thank you!

 

OHIO 4-H Week – March 8th – 14th

Please join us as we celebrate Ohio 4-H Week in Belmont County. During this week, our very own 4-H Teen Ambassadors will be visiting some of our county schools to talk about 4-H and how to get involved. They will also be presenting to the Belmont County Commissioners on Wednesday, March 11th to share what 4-H is all about!

Look for social media challenges during the week on our Facebook Page: Belmont County 4-H Program.

Help us celebrate Ohio 4-H Week in your community, school or at your business!   4-H Council will pay $25 to each 4-H club for completing at least one display that promotes 4-H during the week of March 8-14.  Send a photo of your display, include location of the display on the back of the photo or in the email, to the Extension office by March 14, 2020 to guarantee payment for your efforts.  4-H Week is the perfect time to recruit new members for 2020!  Invite your friends to a club meeting, send a photo and story to the newspapers about your club or create a 4-H display in your school, in a business window, on a business sign or in a community center.  Spread the word, “4-H makes the Best Better!”

4-H Shirt Day

4-H Shirt Day is Friday, March 13, 2020!  Wear your favorite  4-H apparel to school and/or work.  Let everyone know you are a proud supporter of 4-H and encourage them to become involved!

 

What can you do for 4-H Week?

  • Write 4-H messages on your car windows or friend’s car windows (With Permission) using window markers
  • Have people form a 4-H Clover and take an aerial photo
  • Ask local churches to acknowledge 4-H Sunday (October 1st) and 4-H members who are present
  • Use 4-H promotional/educational exhibits at businesses, fairs, schools, banks and supermarkets (i.e. Window Displays)
  • Ask local businesses to put 4-H is Great! Are You Into It! on their signs during the week
  • Provide refreshments in the faculty lounge and include a card or sign stating that it is Ohio 4-H Week
  • Put up a 4-H display in school foyer or library showing the various 4-H project books
  • Contact businesses that have a marquee, lighted sign, or computer programmed sign. Ask them to display a message about Ohio 4-H Week
  • Take a potted plant to key supporters. Stick a paper 4-H clover on a florist stem in the pot
  • Sing a 4-H Song

 

 

 

Save the Dates!

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The 2020 4-H Year is off to a rolling start!

Make sure you have some important dates saved on your calendar for the coming year.

See list below

Saturday, February 29th will be a jammed packed day of activities going on at the Belmont County Fairgrounds in the Wise Building.

4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Teen Ambassadors (partnering with Relay for Life Coordinator) will have a Relay for Life Open House event for any clubs or individuals interested in coming to learn more about getting involved in this year’s Relay for Life of Belmont County event; hosted by our very own 4-H Teen Ambassadors. This is a great opportunity to sign up for a team, ask questions and get ideas for fundraising to help our fight against cancer.

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. will be the 1st opportunity for exhibitors taking market or lactating dairy animals to fulfill their Livestock Quality Assurance (LQA) Program Requirement for 2020. There will be a test out opportunity following the LQA Program for youth 12 and up (4-H age). Youth that have been tested out for the 12-14 age level, who turned 15 on or before January 1st, must take the test again for the 15-18 test out age level. Contact Crystal Antill at the Extension office for details or if you have questions.

7:00 p.m. is the time to come to the Wise Building if you ever wanted to learn how to square dance! Everybody is welcome to the square dance training. We can always use some people to teach other groups and help with the sets!

Following the training will be a square dance sponsored by the Belmont County 4-H Horse Committee from 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. with Deep Down Country.

 

March Dates & Information

March 4th – The Belmont County Cloverbud Committee will hold its first meeting of the year to begin planning yearly activities for our cloverbud program. This includes cloverbud camp and fair activities. Any volunteers wishing to help with this committee are welcome to attend our meetings at the Extension office at 6:00 p.m.

Ohio 4-H Week will be held from March 8th- 14th. Any clubs planning on activities to celebrate, let the Extension office know and we can feature your club on our social media pages!

March 21st at 9:00 a.m. will be the last chance for volunteers to get the mandatory training to continue their volunteer service. Training will be held at the Wise Building on the fairgrounds. This Policy 1.50 training is the annual training that all advisors & volunteers must attend every year to work with minors.  New Volunteers, who are going through the process of becoming a new volunteer with the 4-H Program are to attend a New Volunteer Orientation, which will be held at this time as well. Trainings will be followed by a round table discussion as a group and continental breakfast will be provided.

March 24th will be a second opportunity for exhibitors to attend Livestock Quality Assurance. This program will also have a test out time following the program. Program starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Wise Building.

Horse Committee is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner and Square Dance, Saturday, March 28th at the Wise Building. Tickets are $10 a person and proceeds benefit the Belmont County Horse Program. Dinners available from 4-7 p.m. followed by square dance with Deep Down Country at 8-11 p.m.

4-H Enrollment Deadline is April 1st!!!

Other Important Dates for the Year!

  • April 1st                       4-H Enrollment Deadline
  • April 10th                    4-H Council Scholarship Applications Due to EO
  • May 1-3rd                    4-H Horse Camp at the Belmont County Fairgrounds
  • June 1st                        Hog Registrations Due to EO
  • June 1st                        Jr Camp Counselors Report to Camp Piedmont
  • June 2-5th                   4-H Jr Camp
  • June 5-7th                   4-H Shooting Sports Camp @ Camp Piedmont
  • June 6th                       Lamb/Goat Tag-In
  • June 15th                     Feeder Registrations Due to EO
  • June 22nd                   Jr Fair Royalty Applications Due to EO
  • July 7th                        4-H Still Project Judging, Times TBD
  • July 24th                     Relay for Life Hosted by 4-H Teen Ambassadors
  • July 29-Aug 9th         Ohio State Fair
  • Aug 13-17th                 Livestock Skillathon & Interview Judging, Times TBD
  • August 28th                Club Fair Packets Ready for Advisor Pick Up @ EO
  • Sept 8 – 13th               Belmont County Fair Week
  • Oct 1st                          Jr Fair Board Applications Due
  • Oct 1st                         4-H Teen Ambassador Applications Due
EO–Extension Office
**Dates may be subject to change. Clientele will be notified accordingly.