Showing a Market Beef project at the 2017 Ohio State Fair? If so, read on!

This is a reminder:
To be eligible to show market beef at the Ohio State Fair, junior exhibitors must have filed a DNA sample and USDA Official Electronic ID tag number by January 15, 2017 with the Livestock Office at the Ohio State Fair for each market animal to be exhibited. This does not constitute an official entry;  you still must fill out and submit the Ohio State Fair official entry form by the June deadline. Don’t forget, your 4-H Educator or FFA Advisor have to sign off on the sample.

2017 4-H Project Updates

NEW projects for 2017 include the following

  • #200  All About Dogs – similar to Horseless Horse, All About Dogs is a beginning level project for those that may or many not have a dog in their life.
  • #383 Club Leadership 2 – an advanced level project for those members that are current club officers or committee chairs wanting to improve their leadership skills.
  • #550  Young Engineers in Solar Energy – This intermediate level project is a hands on introduction to the sun as an energy source.
  • #715  My 4-H Cloverbud Year – this new book is a great way for Cloverbuds to learn the basics of 4-H and keep track of their activities and events.

Revised projects for 2017 include:

  • #201  Dog Project and Record Book – All members MUST use the new book for 2017
  • #409 Sew Fun – All members MUST use the new book for 2017

Discontinued projects for 2017 include:

  • #431 Clothing Master: Design and Construction
  • #511 4-H Carteens

We do not have copies of the new or revised project books at this time.  Once we do, an additional post will be added to the blog.

Ohio 4-H Conference March 10, 2017

The Ohio 4-H Conference is the largest gathering of 4-H volunteers in the United States! We welcome nearly 1,500 teen and adult volunteers to participate each year. The Ohio 4-H Conference is designed to equip participants with resources, information, and skills to meet the ever-changing needs of youth. Attendees have the opportunity to receive training in more than 125 different topics such as career exploration, risk management, camping, leadership, cake decorating, dancing, animal sciences, and much more.

In addition to the educational sessions, the day features the Bob Evans Farms 4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon for the adults highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of volunteers. The teens (age 13 and older) have a luncheon that recognizes their peers and often features a keynote speaker.

Need some 4-H bling? We have that too! Our MarketPlace features a variety of 4-H items, including apparel, to purchase. Representatives are available to speak to you about fundraising opportunities for 4-H clubs, project books, and more.

To view the sessions offered, please visit https://go.osu.edu/174HConfBook.  The registration form can be found here https://go.osu.edu/174HConfReg.  Completed registration forms, along with the $35 payment (checks made to 4-H Advisory Committee)  are due to the Fairfield County Extension Office by 4 pm on Friday February 3rd.

2016 4-H Alumni Award Winners

Two outstanding 4-H Alumni were presented with plaques honoring them at the 2016 4-H Advisors Banquet, sponsored by the Junior Leadership Club.  Congratulations to Toni Miller, Advisor from the Amanda Work and Win 4-H Club, and Jeff Tilley, Amanda Clearcreek FFA Advisor/Agriscience Teacher on being selected as the 2016 4-H Alumni Award Winners. Jeff and Toni received an engraved plaque and recognition from their peers at the banquet.  They also have their names listed on the plaque kept in the Fairfield County Extension office lobby.  Please be sure to congratulations to these individuals.  

Camp Counselors – Save the Date! MXC Counselor State Workshop is February 18-19, 2017!

The 2017 Making eXtreme Counselors (MXC) workshop will be held February 18-19th in Columbus at the 4-H Center. All registrations will be submitted via the Fairfield County OSU Extension Office for this event.

In 2017, MXC participants can attend Life Skill sessions about the following topics:

  • Camp Planning (Flags, Songs, Campfire, Dances)
  • Cultual Awareness
  • Personal Commitment
  • Professionalism
  • Supportive Relationships

2017 Keynote Presenter- Neva Baltzell – Florida 4-H Camping Specialist

More Information about MXC:

Older youth age 14 to 18 who plan to serve as camp counselors are invited to participate in Making eXtreme Counselors (MXC)–an interactive and quick-paced training that offers innovative camp ideas to new and veteran camp counselors. MXC participants will leave with skills that will enable them to assist in their county’s camp program planning and delivery, and prepare them to deliver a great camp program to their campers.

MXC is a national award-winning workshop that will be useful for all potential camp counselors. Don’t miss your chance to participate—the event will be offered once in 2017, during the weekend of February 18-19. MXC will be held at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on the campus of The Ohio State University. Counselors will earn camp counselor training hours while attending this event (number of hours is determined by county). All participants will receive a take-home kit of supplies. They also will be able to share and gain ideas with teens from other counties all across the state.

For more information – please contact 4-H Extension Educator, Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu or 740-652-7272. Registrations will be due to the Fairfield County OSU Extension Office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2017.

Newest Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Connections Newsletter – Now Available!

The newest edition of the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Connections Newsletter is now posted to the website: www.go.osu.edu/cbc

In this January – March 2017 Issue we highlight several topics about developing Happy Kids:

  • What Makes Kids Happy? by Joyce Shriner
  • Activities that Make Your Heart Happy by Demetria Woods
  • Campus Connections by Scott Scheer
  • Click it, Print it, Do it! – Valentine Bookmarks for Seniors … by Beth Miller

A continued feature in this issue includes a video clip with Beth Miller the author of Valentine Bookmarks for Seniors. https://youtu.be/URfjpRlR7g0

Don’t forget about our Click it, Print it, Do it! webpage where you can find over 40 different activities that are ready to go for your next Cloverbud meeting: www.go.osu.edu/click

Thanks for reading and sharing this resource with others! Our April – June 2017 issue will focus on “Cloverbud Meetings: Methods & Planning”.

Fairfield County Livestock Judging Team Celebrates a Great Year and Welcomes New Members for 2017!

The Fairfield County Livestock Judging Team has concluded their 2016 season and anxiously anticipate another successful campaign in 2017. We look forward to seeing new and existing team members at our January 4th Informational Meeting/Club Sign-ups from 6-8pm at the OSU Extension Office!judgingteam16

Year in Review:

  • 1st place Overall – ATI Livestock Judging Contest in Wooster, Ohio
    • James Smith – 2nd high individual, 1st placings
    • Allie Poston 3rd high individual, 1st oral reasons
  • 2nd High Junior Team – Ohio State Fair
    • Notable finishes include Allie Poston, High Jr. Individual (2nd Cattle, 3rd Oral Reasons, 3rd Swine, 5th Goats); Josh Starner, 6th High Jr. Individual (7th Swine, 8th Cattle, 10th Sheep) and Jeff King (9th Swine)
    • James Smith represented the Senior Team well as 8th High Sr. Individual (7th Sheep, 9th Swine)
  • 3rd place Junior Team – Ohio Beef Expo
    • Teammates Jeff King, Josh Starner, Austin Hunker (Huron)
  • 5th place Junior Team – Ohio Beef Expo
    • Teammates Allie Poston, Lexi Smith (6th High Jr. Overall), Emma Preston
    • Abigail Thornton (11th High Sr. Overall)

No formal training is needed – just a desire to learn and an interest in livestock industry knowledge – open to 4-H and FFA members of all ages as their time allows. Participation in every practice or contest is not required, but is encouraged.

Anyone with questions about participating in the Fairfield County Livestock Judging Club may contact the coaches, Trey Miller (740-505-0514) or Justin Bachman (740-974-3369). You can also email fairfieldlivestockjudging@hotmail.com

Ohio 4-H Achievement Forms – Don’t Miss Out!

Although the Ohio 4-H Achievement Form seems like a daunting task, it will pay off with great reward for the time teens spend organizing their 4-H accomplishments. What rewards? Awards, Trips, Scholarships, and perhaps even more! The Ohio 4-H Achievement Form is due to the Extension Office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 6, 2017 and should be completed by 4-H members who are age 14 as of 1/1/2017. If you have no clue to where to begin, Please contact Leslie as soon as possible to schedule a time to review this process and allow time for yourself to complete the form. She would love to help you!

Ohio 4-H Cloverbot Challenge

This year’s theme is Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! The 4-H Cloverbot Challenge is set for June 3, 2017. Please share this information with your clubs that have Cloverbud members. It’s a great way to introduce project learning in a group setting and who doesn’t love LEGO’s! More information about this year’s challenge can be found here: http://www.ohio4h.org/events/4-h-cloverbot-challenge; including theme information, registration website, deadlines, and the order form for a reduced price on a LEGO kit (thanks to the 4-H Foundation).

The Ohio 4-H Cloverbot Challenge gives 4-H Cloverbuds the opportunity to work cooperatively in teams to problem-solve using STEM skills. A new theme is selected each year and teams  research a topic, build a working model of their solution to the Challenge issue, and create a poster to illustrate their findings. Cloverbuds, team advisors, and families come to the Nationwide  Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in the spring, for the Challenge event.  Teams present their models and findings to a team of reviewers, learn about other Cloverbuds’ projects, participate in age-appropriate STEM activities, and are recognized at a closing celebration.