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OSU Extension in the Midst of COVID-19

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The following statement is being shared by Ohio State University Extension of Belmont County to our stakeholders and community clientele.

Information is rolling out very quickly and we will try to keep our clientele and community updates as best as possible.

OSU Extension is deeply committed to the health and well-being of its staff and doing our part to help stem the spread of coronavirus disease COVID-19. Governor DeWine recently issued a state of emergency and implemented a variety of strategies to reduce the spread of the disease. In order to do our part in reducing risk to our employees or clientele, we have implemented a teleworking plan.     

While we will be working with a dramatically decreased physical presence in our office, we are committed to continuing to conduct our work as fully as possible.  In recent years, we’ve invested in the technology needed to facilitate effective teleworking.  We will utilize all our teleworking capabilities in order to continue serving our clientele and community. You should continue to feel free to call, email, etc. with any OSU Extension staff member as you normally would. We do, however, ask you to limit your face-to-face interaction at the office for the foreseeable future for ONLY those things needing direct service in order to maintain the safety of our employees and of you and your loved ones. We will be encouraging everyone to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet within our office and ask that you refrain from coming into the office if you are not feeling well. We will notify our stakeholders if additional changes in our approach to work becomes necessary.

We recognize this is a difficult time for everyone at OSU Extension, at our community partner institutions, and with our communities and families with the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the concern we have for the well-being of everyone.  Please do not hesitate to let us know if we can be helpful in any way. 

 

We wish all of you good health.

OHIO 4-H WEEK 2020

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With Belmont County 4-H TEEN AMBASSADORS & TEEN LEADERS!

It has been a busy Ohio 4-H week for our Belmont County 4-H Teen Ambassadors and some of their fellow 4-H friends! They started the week with promotional team work, presenting to Bridgeport 3rd grade students and Martin’s Ferry middle school students. Both schools should be very proud of their students, as they were so welcoming and engaged as our Teen Leaders promoted our county 4-H program and all it has to offer. Then our Teen Ambassadors presented in front of the Belmont County Commissioners and guests at their meeting on Wednesday, March 11th. The county commissioners commended our ambassadors for having such passion and awesome public speaking skills, which they contributed to their years in 4-H. Round out our 4-H week with one of our very own ambassadors organizing fist-bumps for 4-H. Some of our Teen Leaders doing Fist Bumps for 4-H with some Union Local Elementary School students on their way into school and passing out “I Love 4-H” stickers. Some of our younger 4-H members were so excited to see their older 4-H club members and favorite camp counselors on their way into school! Some of our teens even went to the gym and participated in the morning walk with the elementary school students before classes. So proud of our Belmont County 4-H youth and their passion for the program. They truly make the BEST program BETTER!
#4hgrowshere #growingtrueleaders #educateouryouth #ohio4hweek #4hteenambassadors #4hteenleaders #leadersoftomorrow #belmontco4h

 

During our Ohio 4-H Week, our county also had some clubs participate in doing displays to promote 4-H out in the community. Some pictures are listed below of displays from our community clubs spreading the word on 4-H!

 

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. 

Welcome!!!

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Welcome to the Belmont County 4-H Blog!!!

We are excited to bring yet another communication outlet to our 4-H clientele, in an effort to keep you informed about what is going on in the 4-H world. This blog will be utilized to post updates and information about what is going on in 4-H in our county and beyond! Please subscribe and share with others.

As many of our county’s 4-H clubs are re-organizing for another year of the traditional 4-H program, we here at the Extension Office are also preparing for the 2020 4-H year! The 4-H program staff have been working diligently, preparing club re-organization packets and re-enrollments for club members and volunteers. Please note, club organizational advisors will be able to pick up their forms Monday, December 2nd at the Extension Office.

Also, make sure you are checking the 4-H Newsletter for deadlines and up coming dates. If you did not receive a newsletter via postal mail or email, please go to the belmont.osu.edu website to view the most current newsletter. 

 

New Volunteers & Volunteer Annual Training Dates

If you are interested in becoming a 4-H volunteer or are a club advisor that has someone who wants to volunteer, please make sure they fill out a new volunteer application before January 31st. The sooner the better, as we can get the process for approval started now!  The next wave of volunteers needing re-fingerprinted should have received a letter in the mail earlier this fall. Please, make sure you are getting this done before the end of the year. If planning to go to the school to get fingerprinted, be aware that they have Christmas break coming up. Also, returning volunteers may submit their receipt to the Extension Office for reimbursement from Ohio State University.

Again this year, all returning volunteers must attend a policy 1.50 training on working with minors. Please see the dates of these training’s below and plan accordingly. This is a mandatory training that all returning volunteers must complete to continue as an approved volunteer! New volunteers do NOT need to attend, as they will complete a separate training orientation.

Returning Volunteer Training Dates:

  • Tuesday, February 18, 2020 – 10:00 A.M. @ the Extension Office
  • Tuesday, February 18, 2020 – 6:00 P.M. @ the Extension Office
  • Saturday, March 21, 2020 – 10:00 A.M. @ the Wise Building on the Belmont County Fairgrounds – Following Volunteer Breakfast

 

New Volunteer Orientation Dates:

  • Wednesday, February 12, 2020 – 10:00 A.M. @ the Extension Office
  • Wednesday, February 12, 2020 – 6:00 P.M. @ the Extension Office
  • Saturday, March 21, 2020 – 10:00 A.M. @ the Wise Building on the Belmont County Fairgrounds – Following Volunteer Breakfast

 

For more information on volunteering and becoming a new volunteer, please visit the link below and complete an application!

Learn About Volunteering

Any questions, please contact us at (740) 695-1455!

We look forward to getting another 4-H year underway!