Author: Kelly Royalty

Donate to the Clermont County 4-H Food Drive

Clermont County 4-H is accepting donations of canned fruit, vegetables, and soup to help stock the shelves of the Clermont County Job and Family Services Food Pantry.  Donations can be dropped off at the Extension Office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m., and will be accepted through December 13.  Please make sure that your donations are not expired. The food drive is a great way for your club, business or organization to support families in our community.

Real Money. Real World.: Students at Bethel-Tate High School Link Education with Future Lifestyle Choices

With the help of many teachers who staffed 14 business booths, eighth graders from Bethel-Tate High School participated in a Real Money. Real World. simulation. Students were assigned a career, a monthly salary and a specific number of children. Each student visited the various booths making spending choices based on their family situation hoping they would have enough money to make ends meet at the end of the
month.

The program includes four classroom lessons to prepare students to assume the role of a 27-year-old adult who is the primary income provider for a family. They received an occupation, monthly salary, and the number of children they are raising. Students learned to subtract savings, taxes, and other deductions from their monthly income. The amount of money left over is what they spent during the simulation activity. Students spent their money at booths staffed by teachers on items typically found in a monthly budget including housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, child care, and transportation. Throughout the activity, students kept track of their finances and attempted to complete the simulation with a positive balance.

The program is a product of The Ohio State University and was organized for the school by OSU Extension, Clermont County in collaboration with Principal, George Sturgeon.

One of the biggest surprises to participants was the cost of child care. One youth, who came into the simulation with only an $1,800 monthly salary and two children, was discouraged to discover at the child care booth that day care for his two children would be over $880. Volunteers at the Financial Assistance booth assisted him in getting a second part-time job after he discovered that “giving his children back” was not an option.

“I had three kids, so I had to give up my sports car to have enough money,” noted one student of his experience in the simulation.

During the post-simulation lesson, students reflected on their experience and what they learned by completing a self-assessment. The students thoroughly enjoyed their experience but were shocked at how hard it was to meet a monthly budget. Many had newfound respect for their parents and what they deal with on a daily basis. At the end of the experience, student comments included, “Kids are expensive,” “I need to stay in school and graduate in order to get a better job later,” “Life is a whole lot harder than I thought,” and “I need to get the important stuff out of the way first.”

As reported in a Real Money. Real World. follow-up study, students reported significant changes in their financial behavior after the program. Over 80% of participants reported changes in the extent to which they now repay money owed on time, set aside money for the future, and compare prices. Over three-fourths of students indicated they now think more carefully about spending money.

Students participating in the Upward Bound program at UC Clermont will be participating in the program in early December.

If you would like more information about the Real Money. Real World. program, please contact Kelly Royalty, 4-H/FCS Educator, at the royalty.9@osu.edu.

Scudder Named Friend of Clermont County 4-H

The Friend of 4-H award is to recognize individuals, families, businesses or organizations for their leadership and support of the Clermont County 4-H program.  This year’s winner of the Clermont County Friend of 4-H award goes to Michael Scudder.

As Executive Chef of Taste of the Good Life catering, Michael consistently goes above and beyond in his service to Clermont County 4-H. Whether it is catering an event, or judging 4-H member cooking projects, Michael always approaches the opportunities with a smile on his face and joy in his heart.

The Taste of the Good Life has provided healthy and delicious meals for many 4-H events. From the annual volunteer banquet to the CARTEENS meetings, Michael shows his creativity in catering. He is always willing to work with a theme and develop a menu to compliment the activity.

In addition to his delicious meals, we are thankful for his willingness to provide encouragement and guidance to 4-H members during the Clermont County project judging for food and nutrition projects. He helps the youth understand their projects and encourages them to continue cooking, trying new projects, and has even been known to offer a job shadowing experience.

Thank you, Michael for your support of the Clermont County 4-H Program.

Miller Recognized as Clermont County Volunteer of the Year

Each year, the Clermont County 4-H Committee awards one deserving 4-H volunteer with the Clermont County 4-H Volunteer of the Year Award.  This special award is designed to recognize an individual whose contributions have made a difference in the overall Clermont County 4-H Program.

This year, Ranee Miller was recognized as the Clermont County 4-H Volunteer of the Year. Ranee has dedicated her time, energy, and passions to making the best better.

Ranee has been a volunteer with Prime Producers 4-H Club for 10 years, and serves as the Clermont County 4-H Committee President. Ranee consistently and constantly goes above and beyond for the 4-H members of Clermont County. In addition to helping run a great 4-H club, Ranee leads and organizes activities sponsored by the 4-H committee.

As President of the 4-H Committee, Ranee has vision for the county. Using her organizational skills and can-do attitude, she helps plan the fair week activities, volunteer banquet, and 4-H Outpost. She has taken exceptional steps to improve the Outpost to be very profitable in order to fund programs for the 4-H members. This year she went above and beyond in implementing new ideas for the Outpost as well as the enormous amount of time spent working the Outpost. She did it all with a smile on her face.

Through the funds raised at the 4-H Outpost, youth have attended local, state, and national camps. From Citizenship Washington Focus in Washington D.C., to camperships for Camp Graham, 4-H members are gaining leadership skills and memories to last a lifetime. She also plans and organizes community service events for her club.

Ranee truly personifies the 4-H pledge by using her head, heart, hands, and health, to improve the 4-H program.

Amber Averwater Receives Outstanding 4-H’er Award

During the 4-H Recognition Banquet, Amber Averwater received the Outstanding 4-H’er Award. The purpose of this award is to honor a 4-H member for their performance, dedication, and passion for the 4-H program.  This year’s winner of the Outstanding 4-H’er Award is Amber Averwater!

Amber is a member of Select 4-H’ers and has been involved in the Clermont County 4-H program for 11 years. Amber has taken a variety of projects over the years including beekeeping, beef projects, market hogs and market chickens, pygmy goats, dairy goats and fiber goats.

Amber has served in a variety of leadership roles within her 4-H club, is the Clermont County Junior Fair Board President, has held multiple officer positions in her FFA Chapter, and serves as this year’s Clermont County Junior Fair Queen.

According to Amber, 4-H is important because “4-H is a unifier, it brings people together. It shapes our community into one big family. This is a community that supports kids no matter their background with whatever project they choose to take. This opens a multitude of doors for 4-Hers to interact with members and role models from their community. 4-H truly brings people together and accepts all people no matter their history, involvement in agriculture, or skill level.”

Because of her time in 4-H, Amber aspires to become a livestock judge. Upon completion of the program, Amber plans to volunteer with her 4-H club and serve as a Junior Fair Consultant.

Please join us in congratulating Amber Averwater on her accomplishment!

Maple Rey Milk & More Awarded True Leaders in Service Award

This year’s Clermont County 4-H True Leaders in Service Award was awarded to Maple Rey Milk & More. The True Leaders in Service Award is a award recognizing 4-H clubs for the implementation of a community service project that positively impacts their community over the past year. Winners receive a monetary award sponsored by the Clermont County 4-H Committee to help support their next community service project.

Each year at one of our meetings, club members and parents bring forth suggestions for community service ideas. After some discussion the club members vote on which projects to select. The club members often choose to select community service opportunities that allow as many of our club members to participate as possible and that help serve our local community of Clermont County. This year the club members elected to do two community service projects.

The first project selected was collecting and packaging food for CNE Cares and Feed our Flock. Both of these organizations collect and distribute food to youth who may not have food to eat over the weekends when they do not have access to the food served at schools. All the food distributed to the youth is in single serving packages and if it needs to be cooked it can be microwaved in the package. This allows for children of all ages to feed themselves if parents or guardians are not around. CNE Cares serves children in the Clermont Northeastern School District and Feed Our Flock supplies food to children in the Milford School district. The club members spent a month purchasing or collecting donated food then gathered together at the Owensville Library to package the food. Over 30 youth members and parents came out to serve and help package 100 bags of food for the two charities. Each bag of food contained a can of ravioli, a mac-n-cheese cup, a package of ramen noodles, a fruit cup or apple sauce, a granola bar, a pack of fruit snacks, a package of peanut butter crackers, an individual cereal box, pop tarts, cookies and chips or pretzels. The total cost of food donated was over $650 and the food was distributed evenly between the two organizations.

The second project was to volunteer at Give Like A Mother, also known as GLAM. 22 members, parents and advisors volunteered 4 hours over two days with the organization. On the first day we were given a tour of the charity’s new facility located in Eastgate Mall and given an overview of what they do. The organization supplies slightly used or new clothing and shoes to children all over the county. The organization takes in donations from individuals as well as several businesses. All donations have to be sorted several times to assure that all clothing is free of stains, tears or other blemishes and that it is an article of clothing that is in-style and will promote positive self-esteem in the youth who will receive it.

Clothing is then sorted by gender and size before being placed into donation bags for those who request assistance. Our volunteers spent the first day sorting through over 250 pairs of shoes. It was a huge undertaking that would have taken the regular volunteers a few days, but with all the extra hands it was completed in a few hours. On our next day, volunteers sorted through several large bags and bins of newly donated clothing. While volunteering we met many of the regular volunteers, including a 4H Alumni and retired 4-H educator from Oregon who loved seeing 4-Her’s still serving their community.

Please congratulate the members of Maple Rey Milk & More for their service to our community!

Apply to be an Ohio Delegate at National 4-H Conference!

Applications are now open for Ohio 4-H Delegates to Attend the 2024 National 4-H Conference!

Any 4-H member in Ohio ages *14-18 is able to apply by completing the Qualtrics survey linked below in this email.

Basic Information:

  • National 4-H Conference is specifically focused on civic engagement, civic education, and personal development. Delegates arrive ready to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, their nation, and their world. In 2024, National 4-H Conference returns for youth delegates to attend in-person in Washington, D.C., April 18-24, 2024 (Ohio delegates arrive a day early on April 18. Conference begins April 19).
  • Interested Ohio 4-H members must complete an application via Qualtrics (linked at bottom) by December 1 at 11:59 p.m. *Applicants must be 15-18 as of January 1, 2024, and currently enrolled as an Ohio 4-H member in 2024.
  • After an application is received, the State 4-H Office will request a referral from county 4-H professional for the respective candidate.
  • A selection board of advisors, 4-H educators, and past attendees will review applications and conduct interviews, as needed.
  • Those selected will be expected to fully engage in all pre-conference and conference activities and adhere to all National 4-H guidelines, complete all required work as a result of conference participation, and share knowledge gained with Ohio 4-H upon their return.
  • More information about the opportunity can be found on the website: https://go.osu.edu/N4HC

To help ensure you have all of the information you will need to complete your application, here is the example application. Be sure to submit your official application via Qualtrics: https://go.osu.edu/N4HCapp

Register for Carving New Ideas!

Are you a teen or do you have a teen in 8th-12th grade? If so, consider attending Carving New Ideas (CNI). CNI is a camping opportunity for older youth, concentrating on the principles of critical thinking and program facilitation. It is hosted by Collegiate 4-H at The Ohio State University and the college students, who are also 4-H alumni, are preparing all of the fun activities for the weekend of November 17-19, 2023. This is a great option for our teens who are looking for a camping opportunity where they can just come and have fun!

The registration website is https://go.osu.edu/23CNI. The online registration allows credit cards or checks.

Deadline to register is October 25 or until cabins are full!

Purchase A Paper Clover

Tractor Supply Company (TSC) will once again partner with Ohio 4-H to feature the Paper Clover fundraiser. The campaign will run Oct. 4–15, and you can show your support by purchasing a paper clover at the Batavia and Milford stores or adding a donation at checkout for all orders made at tractorsupply.com.

Tractor Supply proudly began their partnership with 4-H in 2010 and have since helped raise over $14 million through their Paper Clover fundraisers. The success of these campaigns has impacted over 69,000 students by providing them with hands-on learning experiences through projects in STEM, agriculture, healthy living, and civic engagement.

100% of funds raised through the Paper Clover fundraisers directly benefit the kids and teens who participate in 4-H – 90% of donations directly support 4-H youth in the state it was raised, and the remaining 10% supports national 4-H programming.

If a club is interested in setting up at the Batavia store to promote Clermont County 4-H during the campaign, please contact Kelly Royalty at royalty.9@osu.edu to make arrangements.