Author: uhlenbrock.9

2021 Clermont County Royalty Contest

If you are interested in participating in the Royalty Program for the 2021 Clermont County Fair, submit this interest form.

After submitting the Interest Form, you will receive a link via email for the online royalty application. Please make sure the email address you provide is current and spelled correctly.

 

INTEREST FORMS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59PM FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021. 
Individuals may only be nominated for one industry representative position.
King and Queen candidates may also be nominated for one industry representative position. Email clermontcountyroyalty@gmail.com to request a printable copy of the form.

 

Royalty Positions:

  • King (age 16-18)
  • Queen (age 16-18)
  • Prince (age 11-13)
  • Princess (age 11-13)

Industry Positions:

 

Ohio Birds for 4-H

The Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge will be presenting Ohio Birds for 4-H virtually on Saturday, May 22, from 10-11am.

This program will help 4-H members who are completing project 621 Ohio Birds or be a beginning for any youth wanting to learn about the birds they may see in their back yard. It will cover attracting and feeding birds, ways to view birds and record sightings along spots to see new birds along the Lake Erie Birding Trail.

This presentation will assist with a plan your own learning activity or the Leadership/Citizenship activity of inviting a speaker to your 4-H club.

Register Now

 

Food Preservation Basics Webinar Series

Are you interested in learning about food preservation?  Join us for these free webinars hosted by Ohio State University Extension. The first half hour will consist of a lesson on the below topics, followed by 30 minutes of open question and answer time. You are welcome to register for just one or all of them.

 

Tuesdays from 4PM – 5PM

  • May 4, Jars and Lids
  • May 18, Water Bath Canning
  • June 1, Pressure Canning
  • June 15, Freezing
  • June 29, Drying

Register for these programs.

Flyer 

4-H Club Meeting Update

We are pleased to announce the size limitations of our groups can now be larger than 50 people. Group sizes may be up to 300, as long as physical distancing can be maintained, and other items outlined in the Ohio 4-H Planning Guide for In-Person Meetings & Events are followed. We continue to follow local health department guidelines and group size may need to be reduced, based on their directives.

What’s for Dinner?

Overwhelming words for many at the end of the day!  We are busier than ever, and outsourcing grocery shopping and meal preparation is quite appealing.  Home delivered meal services are popular and offer quick, tasty, and convenient meals.  Are these meals nutritious and worth the extra money?

These meal kits are a lifesaver for many busy families or those who have limited cooking experience.  The meals are delivered ready to cook, saving time at the recipe planning stage, the grocery store, chopping food items and prepping the meal.  Many meal kits are ready in 30 minutes or less and save time to spend on more fun things!

Consider meal prepping on your own.  The advantages are healthier options, cost and time saving strategies.  Getting organized is the first step in meal preparation.  Choose favorite recipes for the week.  There are three stages of meal preparing.

  1. Batch cooking.  Make large recipes on one selected day (weekend) and freeze to use later in the week.
  2. Individually portioned meals.  Prepare meals in individual portions ahead of time for a gran and go meal.
  3. Prepped ingredients.  Chop, peel. Slice or roast beforehand and use these prepare ingredients in recipes.

Meal prepping saves time and money with buying and preparing home cooked food ahead of time.  Most people shop and cook on the weekends.

Here are guidelines to start meal prepping at home:

  • Take inventory of your storage containers.  Use reusable airtight containers.
  • Select meals you want to prep for: breakfast, lunch or dinner.
  • Choose a shopping day.  Sunday and Wednesday are two popular days.
  • Determine how many meals  you want to prep.  Experiment with prepping for two to three days before attempting five or more.
  • Consider using a meal prep cookbook.  There are several available and check with your local library.
  • Meal preparation Apps are available to use on your smartphone.
  • Prep afternoon snacks of cut up vegetables with a yogurt dip.
  • Prep your recipes and put together in containers.  Refrigerate or freeze.  Prepared foods can remain refrigerated for 2-5 days or frozen 3-4 months depending on the ingredients.

Meal prepping does not need to be complex.  Basic steps help cut back on cooking time and increasing time for activities that matter most!

Happy Earth Day!

This video, Our Favorite Sustainable Products, is part of the SAVE (Sustainable Action through Video Engagement) video series. This video series focuses on helping people live more sustainably within their homes and communities and promote simple everyday actions people can take to conserve energy, reduce waste, and save money.

The YouTube link is here: https://youtu.be/fXHcv6ERJCA

Southern Ohio Farm Show

In this week’s episode of the Southern Ohio Farm Show, we visit Sim’s Family Golf Center to learn tips for putting, April gardening update from Dr. Tim McDermott, and a weather outlook with Dr. Aaron Wilson.
Be sure to tune in next week for the 1st anniversary of the Southern Ohio Farm Show!

In-Person 4-H Meetings and Events

As discussed during volunteer training, in-person 4-H meetings and events can take place as long as guidelines and protocol are followed.

The Ohio 4-H Planning Guide for In-Person Meetings & Events has been updated to reflect current guidance from Ohio State University and health officials. Beginning April 13, 2021, the following is in effect:

  • In-person 4-H meetings and events must be focused on education.
  • Group cannot be larger than 50 people, including adults, youth, presenters, etc.
    • This directive is dependent on local health department guidelines.
    • The group size may need to be reduced to 10 (or other amount), based on directives from your local health department.
  • Face masks are required.
  • This includes inside AND outside at all times.
    • Program participants ages five and older, and parent/guardians must wear a mask.
    • Two exceptions to the face mask requirement relate to shooting sports and equine activities. Refer to the sections in the Ohio 4-H Planning Guide for In-Person Meetings & Events for additional guidance for horse activities and shooting.
    • Medical conditions or disability exceptions are also permitted.
  • Potlucks and buffets are not permitted.

In addition to the guidance from the Ohio Department of Health, county and city health departments may release local health advisories limiting activities or encouraging additional caution. When a local health advisory is in effect, 4-H club meetings and activities must follow that guidance when it is more restrictive than these guidelines.

Find details and updated guidelines at Ohio 4-H Planning Guide for In-Person Meetings & Events.

It’s time for the 2021 4-H Cloverbot Challenge!

In honor of the Mars Rover, this year Cloverbuds will be going to space with the challenge happening on Mars. Cloverbuds will design a place to live on the Red Planet and create a model featuring their method of transportation. The Challenge will take place virtually on Monday, July 12 or Thursday, July 22 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. We will be utilizing breakout rooms in ZOOM so that teams will have the opportunity to share their projects. With help from the Ohio 4-H Foundation, teams can order a kit to get them started.

Find all the details here and blast-off for your Cloverbot Challenge!

April is the perfect time to get the spring garden started!

April is a busy month in the garden with planning, planting, bed prep and fertilization. learn the tips and tricks to do right now in your April garden to get the 2021 growing season started off right with a quick video update and April Gardening webinar from our colleagues at OSU Extension – Growing Franklin.

Fast social media version with a quick 3 minute review of the highlights.

 

The full class webinar recording with more detail plus chat Q & A.

Do not forget to register for the upcoming May Update in the Community Garden on Tuesday, May 4, at 6:30pm held in partnership with the Charles Madison Nabrit Memorial Garden.  The class is free but registration is required:

Hi there,

You are invited to a CarmenZoom webinar.
When: May 4, 2021 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: May 2021 Update in the Community Garden

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZwhmzTlvSGK4Y4ZD2w5QIA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.