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Livestock Registration Information

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

 

Hands to Larger Service Opportunity

Have a youth at home who can sew? Family is bored in quarantine at home. Consider sewing a fabric medical mask for local healthcare workers and others working with the public!

Great for beginning level sewers!

 
As many hospitals nationwide face the potential for critical shortages in the coming weeks, one way to help with the shortage is by sewing fabric masks for us to use for both outpatients and inpatients. This allows us to preserve surgical masks for our physicians and staff members. These cloth masks are a great tool to prevent others from catching viruses via droplets from coughing or sneezing.
 
Use the link below for instructions and a video tutorial. See flyer below for drop off point. If you have questions, let us know and we can put you in contact with someone. Please, share with anybody interested in helping with this cause!
 

Please, note that these masks are not used for those health care workers working directly with COVID-19 patients.

Many agencies are using them over top of the medical grade masks in efforts to lengthen the supply of n-95 masks. They will be used to service various healthcare agencies and workers in need due to short supply of n-95 masks. 
Visit the following sites for some patterns you can use and for any questions, please contact us to get in touch with someone.
 
https://www.deaconess.com/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask
 
Sweetredpoppy.com
 

OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP!!!

Why are you in 4-H?

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

Make a 4-H Tissue Pouch!

Perfect sewing activity for beginners!

Who doesn’t need a tissue pouch during the COVID-19 Epidemic!

DESCRIPTION

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
14″x 7″ print cotton flannel
14″x 7″ solid cotton flannel
Fabric marker
Sewing supplies
Scissors
Ruler/measuring tape

DIRECTIONS:
Use a 1/4″ seam allowance
Cut two 4 1/2″x 6″ pieces of each flannel for front.
Cut two 4″x 6″ of each flannel for back.
Back:
Fold print down 2″ from the top.
Place folded print RS up onto RS of back flannel piece.
Sew edges together.
Front:
Fold each print piece down 2″ from top; then fold in half lengthwise and finger press.
Fold each solid piece in half lengthwise and finger press.
Place the print piece around the solid piece as shown in the photo.
Sew edges together.
With RS together, lay the front on top of the back. Match the sides and top & overlap center front pieces.
Sew edges together. Turn RS out.

Courteous of JOANN Fabrics, a proud 4-H supporter!
Find more fun projects and crafting ideas at their website!

https://www.joann.com/how-to-make-a-4-h-tissue-pouch/432060603P307.html#_a5y_p=6646175&epik=dj0yJnU9X1NDbG9EekVxUFJaSWQtT2NKSndFQzJObGtMOS1HT2wmbj1TeDNROGlTbWI5UXpxMUQtTjhSdGNnJnQ9QUFBQUFGNThlODg&pp=0&start=1

4-H Updates – More Cancellations & Postponing

Dear 4-H Families & Volunteers,

We have received word as of, March 25, 2020 from Ohio State University Extension Administration and Ohio 4-H that the prohibition of in-person programming has been extended from April 20 to May 15. This includes all 4-H programs, activities, and events. Please be aware this timeline may be extended beyond May 15.  So as an update, the following is either canceled, postponed or will be offered virtually.

March 26 – Junior Fair Board Cancelled

March 27 – Jane’s Retirement Party – Cancelled

March 28 – Horse Committee Spaghetti Dinner and Square Dance – Cancelled

April 1 – Enrollment Deadline; If you have challenges with this deadline please contact Crystal for accommodations.  She is entering enrollments at home and will be glad to take them electronically or at a drop off.

April 2 – 4-H Council – Postponed to May 7 (which will now be held virtually – Crystal will be in touch)

April 9 – Horse Committee – cancelled

April 10 – 4-H Scholarship Deadline; if you have challenges with this deadline please contact Crystal or Jennie for accommodations.

April 18 – Shooting Sports – Cancelled

April 21 – Carteens – Cancelled

April 23 – Junior Fair Board – Virtual

April 25 – Horse Committee Tack Swap and Square Dance – Cancelled

May 1 -3  – Horse Camp – Cancelled

May 1 – Rabbit Registration Deadline – extended to June 1

May 9 – Shooting Sports Shoot – Cancelled

May 12 – Carteens – Cancelled

May 14 – Horse Committee and Ride Night Postponed Until May 21

May 15 – Horse Registration Materials Due – extended to June 1

 

All camp counselor training including Piedmont U on April 10 as well as sessions on April 15, April 29, May 6, and May 20 are cancelled at this time.  It is not likely that we will be able to have camp during the 1st week of June and are looking at alternatives at this time.

 

We realize that much of this is very disappointing for all of our 4-H family.  But we are in this together and will come out stronger in the end.  Hang in there, better days are coming!

 

Contact information for Crystal and Jennie are as follows:

Crystal Antill – 740-695-1455; antill.19@osu.edu

Jennie Ellis – 740-695-1455; ellis.705@osu.edu

ON BEHALF OF OSU STATE 4-H OFFICE & BELMONT COUNTY 4-H PROFESSIONALS

To our 4-H Families:

It has been a quite a couple of weeks with changes coming quickly. Thank you for your patience with your county 4-H staff, the state 4-H office and OSU Extension. I know you have many questions:

  • When can we have club meetings?
  • Will there be summer camp?
  • Should we invest in projects?
  • What about fair?

 

The answer is at this point, we just don’t know. It is all changing rapidly. But what we do know for sure is that we’re committed to doing our part to help prevent the spread of the corona virus. We also know that when we choose to act together, we can have incredible positive impacts.

The actions we’ve taken so far are in alignment with necessary precautions recommended by the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Ohio Department of Health. These are in place to help keep us all from getting, or unintentionally spreading, this virus. This includes the temporary closing to the public of our county Extension office. We’ll continue to be available via email and phone.

Phone: 740-695-1455

Email: Keyser.1@osu.edu  or Antill.19@osu.edu

To help clarify, ALL 4-H events, programs, and activities scheduled between now and April 20 be held virtually, postponed, or cancelled.

 

4-H Project Book Distribution

We are also suspending 4-H project book distribution, effective as of 3/18/2020 through 3/31/2020. This means there will be no project book distribution at the local or state level until after March 31. We will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation and will re-evaluate project book distribution as we get closer to March 31 and share more information with you at that time.

 

Enrollment & Deadlines

Due to Belmont County still having paper copy enrollments, forms shall be mailed via USPS and will be retrieved and processed when OSU Extension staff are able to return from their temporary, mandatory teleworking arrangements or when OSU Extension staff are able to retrieve postal mail. Deadlines will be adjusted accordingly. Volunteers and families also have the option to scan documents or send pictures of documents to antill.19@osu.edu for processing. Hard copies can then be mailed to the Extension Office or dropped off once OSU Extension staff return from teleworking. Again, deadlines will be adjusted due to circumstances.

OSU Extension Belmont County

101 North Market Street, Suite A

St. Clairsville, OH 43950

 

For our livestock project members and families, Ohio 4-H and the Ohio Department of Agriculture discussed some changes for this year that will help mitigate the effects the corona virus is having on holding in-person programming. For livestock quality assurance (QA) for the 2020 year only:

  • QA must still be completed before the opening day of exhibition, however the 45-day prior to the opening of the exhibition requirement will not be enforced.
  • Youth livestock exhibitors (8-18) may take the online YQCA certification.

 

In the coming days, we’ll post updates on our social media pages (Facebook and Instagram), 4-H Blog and OSU Extension website. We’ll also include links to resources that you and your children can use. And we’ll do what we can to keep you updated as we learn new information.

Please continue to take care of yourselves and know that we do not expect everything to continue as it normally would have. This is a huge period of adjustment for all of us. We appreciate your continued patience – we’ll get through this together. Don’t fret over deadlines for enrollments or how you are going to get that Livestock Quality Assurance training complete or getting your volunteer 1.50 training done. We are going to all work together make sure we get everything accomplished with some adjustments and accommodations!

 

Thank you,

Belmont County 4-H Professionals and State 4-H Office

OSU Extension Offices Closed, But Still Teleworking!

Please, see the attached images of the current press release from

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
Ohio State University Extension
Office of the Interim Director
Jacqueline K. Wilkins

OSU Extension offices throughout Ohio will implement teleworking options for staff amid current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak concerns.