Secretary Book Contest – Books Due January 31st

Officer Book Contest

All books are due to the Extension Office by: January 31stCompleted books can be dropped off during office hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm. Additional information can be found in the Member Handbook (p. 44).

For a copy of the rubric utilized to score the books, please visit: https://fairfield.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/member-resources-and-information and scroll to Officer Resources.

 

4-H Club Secretary Book Contest- The Contest is proudly sponsored and funded each year by the family of Robert L. Hillman who was a 4-H advisor for many years in Pickaway County. Mr. Hillman believed strongly in teaching and practicing quality record keeping within the structure of the 4-H program. He continued to support his grandchildren, Adam, Milea, and Sarah Maxwell, in their 4-H endeavors in Fairfield County until his death in 2003.  To continue his long-standing commitment to the tradition of record keeping and the 4-H program, his family is proud to sponsor this competition in his memory. When the Secretary’s Book is complete, it should document the activities by its members for one year.  It becomes a historical document to be enjoyed for years to come as individuals review it with fondness and memories. Please submit a stamped thank you note to the sponsor of this award with your entry for The Maxwell Family, 7495 Eversole Rd NW, Carroll, OH 43112.

 

4-H Secretary Book Award Schedule:

Three-star book ratings:  First place $100 Second place $75 Third place $50

Two-star book ratings: First place  $50 Second place $35 Third place $20

One-star book ratings: No cash prize

Only 3 cash awards will be distributed in a given year.

New 4-H Club Advisors Needed – Apply Today!

The Fairfield County 4-H Program continues to see the interest in community club participation grow and we need volunteers to make that happen. If you have been thinking of getting more involved with 4-H, now is the time to apply to be a club volunteer. Current clubs need help which means you don’t have to start a new club!! Have questions? Contact our office at 740-653-5419!

Read on to learn about the Fairfield County Volunteer Requirements – Due by February 1, 2024:

  1. Application
    1. An online application can be found here: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5bE4eio2so65LZX
    2. Please complete an application and submit it to the Extension office. From this application, references will be collected by Extension professionals
  2. Fingerprint Record Check
    1. The simplest method of complying with the fingerprint requirement is to utilize the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department internet check system. To do this: Call the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office to schedule an appointment at 740-652-7320. Take your current, valid driver’s license and social security card. You must have your actual social security card (no copies).
    2. Request a BCI Check. You will need the following code: 2151.86 ORC to put on the request form. The cost to you will be $35.00 and checks should be made payable to: Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office. Cash is also accepted.
    3. PLEASE SEND ALL RESULTS TO: Background Checks – Fairfield County 4-H OSU Office of Human Resources 1590 N. High St., Suite 300 Columbus, OH 43201
    4. Keep your receipt as all volunteers are reimbursed after their 1st year of service.
  3. After your application, references, and background check have been received, the Extension office will be in touch to set up an interview and send reminders about the new volunteer orientation and Youth Activities & Programs policy training that all new volunteers must be completed.

Tractor Maintenance 1st Meeting – January 8th

TRACTOR MAINTENANCE & SMALL ENGINES 4-H CLUB

The Tractor Maintenance & Small Engines 4-H Club is looking for new members! 4-H is a non-formal, educational youth development program for individuals age 8 and in 3rd grade or 9 years old through age 18, as of January 1, 2024.

This 4-H club is unique in that they focus on one specific topic – Small Engines and Big Tractors. This club meets on Monday nights from Jan – March. They also teach individuals how to work on small engines and tractors while visiting different businesses and agriculture shops throughout the county. No experience is necessary – This is a great opportunity to learn something new!

The club is also using a new curriculum that focuses on tractor safety and how to properly perform tractor maintenance. The Tractor Maintenance courses are available to members who have taken the small engine project books or have had previous experience working on machinery.

The club meets every Monday in January through Mid-March. The first meeting will be Monday, January 8, 2024 at 7:00p.m. at the Fairfield County Ag Center, 831 College Ave, Lancaster. Joining 4-H is relatively inexpensive – Members can participate in Tractor Maintenance for $18! All interested members are welcome to attend this first meeting to learn more and get registered! For more information, contact the Fairfield County Extension Office at 740-653-5419.

Save the Date: Skyline Chili – Dine to Donate – Dec 5

Stop out and plan to eat dinner at Skyline Chili (1530 Cross Creeks Blvd, Pickerington) on December 5, 2023, 2023 from 5:00-8:00pm. 20% of sales that bring the flyer will be donated to the Fairfield County 4-H Junior Leaders Club. A whole sheet of flyers can be found here: SkylineChiliCoupons 12.05.2023
The Junior Leaders are a countywide teen leadership group that focuses on 4-H community service, leadership, and more! Their big events include planning the Fairfield County 4-H Advisor’s Drive Thru Recognition, donating a county 4-H Scholarship, and the Bottle Cap Bench Project!
Thank you for the support!

Apply Now to be a Camp Counselor in 2024!

2024 Camp Counselor Application is now posted as an online application for youth interested in serving as a new or returning Camp Counselor (must be 14 & older to be a counselor by June 1st). Please review the Training Schedule 2024 before applying as there are important changes to be aware of this year!

 

As you complete the online application, you will be asked to upload the following completed forms:

1. Standards of Behavior form

2. Ohio 4-H Camp Cell Phone Policy and Tar Hollow Electronics Policy/Camp Counselor Code of Conduct form

3. Counselor Permission to Participate

4. Ohio 4-H Health Statement with picture (Online application this year)

Please also have at least 2 references including name and email ready when you are working on your online application. The extension office will contact your references for you.

 

Remember that 2024 camp dates are as follows:

Day Camp (Grades 3-9) – June 4-6 at Alley Park
Cloverbud (Grades K-2) – June 8 at Alley Park
Junior (Grades 3-5) – June 30-July 3 at Tar Hollow, Staff Move In June 29
Senior (Grades 6-9) – July 7-10 at Tar Hollow, Staff Move In July 6

 

If you have any questions, please contact Aubry (Fowler.443@osu.edu)!

Outstanding 4-H Alumni Award – Nominations Open!

The Fairfield County Junior Leaders are honored to recognize two former 4-H’ers who have been selected as outstanding 4-H Alumni. This award annually recognizes one male and one female former 4-H member (any county or state) for their outstanding contribution(s) to the 4-H program as adult volunteers. In addition to their own individual plaques, the outstanding 4-H Alumni will also have their names added to our 4-H Alumni Award Plaque which is on display in the lobby of the Fairfield County Extension Office.

Please submit this form: 2024 Outstanding Alumni Nomination Form by Dec. 15th to nominate a former 4-H member for this award along with a short reason why he or she should be recognized.

Anyone is welcome to nominate Outstanding 4-H Alumni! Please nominate one man and one woman who are 4-H Alumni. They can be from any state or county 4-H program. This award is not limited to just current advisors! This award annually recognizes one male and one female former 4-H member (any county or state) for their outstanding contribution(s) to the 4-H program as adult volunteers. Please submit a nomination form for a former 4-H member for this award and include a short description on why they should be recognized.

Advisors: Check Your Emails for Advisor Recognition Invitation

Fairfield County 4-H Advisors,

You should have received the following email with your Drive Thru invitation on Wednesday, November 8th. Be sure to RSVP even if you can’t attend. If you haven’t seen it in your inbox, please check your spam or junk folder! If you still can’t find it, you can call in your RSVP too.

The Fairfield County 4-H Junior Leaders would like to invite you to attend the Advisor Recognition Event on Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m., as a “Thank You” for your service as a 4-H volunteer and to celebrate the 2023 4-H club year. This will be an open house event, so please stop by to pick up your complimentary breakfast sandwich. Door prizes and Milestone gifts (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 years) will be distributed. End of the Year Packets will be available. Sale Committee members will be on-site to distribute sale checks as well.

What:        Advisor Recognition Event

Hot breakfast sandwich and Coffee/Hot Chocolate
(Breakfast provided by Falcon’s Nest)

When:       Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Who:         ALL Fairfield County 4-H Advisors

Where:      OSU Extension Office, 831 College Ave, Lancaster

Cost:         No charge

Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 22nd by completing your RSVP survey (URL: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5aoGTcpGMVGyaYC).

If you have questions or would like to RSVP by phone, please call 740-653-5419.

We look forward to seeing you on December 2nd.

Thank you for all that you do to make the best better!

Aubry Fowler & The Fairfield County Junior Leaders

4-H Advisors – Join the 4-H Advisory Committee

Applications for the 4-H Advisory Committee are available NOW – This group of 4-H Advisors work to advise OSU Extension Staff regarding direction for the county 4-H program. They also provide organization of countywide 4-H events such as 4-H Day, Officer Trainings, Countywide Fundraisers and more. 4-H Advisors must submit an application to be reviewed by the Nomination Committee. New members are slated and elected by their peers to serve a 3-year term. All current Advisors, regardless of experience, are eligible to apply provided they are not already on the committee or completing a current term. New terms begin in January, and members will be notified via email if they are selected.

Applications are due December 15th, and can be found here: Fairfield County 4-H Advisory Committee Application. This opportunity is open to all current Fairfield County 4-H Advisors. If you have questions, please contact our office (740-653-5419) or e-mail Aubry Fowler at Fowler.443@osu.edu

Pop Tab Contest – FINAL RESULTS

Congratulations to the top 3 clubs in the Pop Tab Club Contest:

1st Place: Champions

2nd Place: Thurston Future Farmers

3rd Place: Sewing Shefs

As a reminder the top 3 clubs will receive a ‘cash’ prize for winning. Aubry emailed advisors on 11/6/2023 on how they would like to receive their prize.

Thank you to those clubs who have been collecting metal pop tabs for the Fairfield County Junior Leaders Pop Tab Contest! We were able to collect 111.8 pounds of metal pop tabs that were donated to the statewide community service project organized by Barns & Buttons 4-H Club from Ashtabula County. All pop tabs are donated to Ronald McDonald house in Columbus to help pay the electric bill.

Curious how how much your club collected? Check out how many pounds your club turned in below:

Pop Tab Weigh In
Club Name TOTAL
Amanda Work & Win 23.1
Awesome Animals 21.1
Sewing Shefs 15.9
Fairfield County JFS Office 10.5
Clearcreek Showmen 9.3
Extension Office 7.5
Fairfield Cavy & Rabbit 6.2
Rough Riders 4.8
4.8
Champions 3
Carroll Country 1.7
Camelids Unlimited 1.3
Just Kiddin’ 1.2
Baltimore Blue Ribbons 0.7
Pickerington Clovers 0.7

4-H’ers Helping Neighbors Food Drive – Contest Update

4-H’ers Helping Neighbors Results for 2023 Food Drive in September 

Congratulations to the following groups for being the top in the food drive sponsored by Farm Credit-Mid America. These clubs will receive a cash prize for winning!

  • $100 – Top Club with the most items by weight
    • Camelids Unlimited – 217 lbs
  • $100 – Top Club with the most items by count
    • 4-Legged Friends – 132 Items
  • $50 – Clubs with the most items by weight OR count
    • Amanda Work & Win (96 lbs, 108 items)
    • Fairfield County Master Gardener Volunteers (55 lbs, 76 items)
    • Lithopolis Livestock (28 lbs, 29 items)
    • KKEZ (16 lbs, 20 items)

With September being National Hunger Awareness Month, Fairfield County 4-H Junior Leaders organized and encouraged local 4-H Clubs and the Fairfield County Master Gardeners to give back to community through a food drive. Ten 4-H Clubs donated 518 pounds of non-perishable food items and the Master Gardener donated 76 items too!! The Fairfield County Junior Leaders were able to split their 567 donated items between Maywood Mission, Columbus Blessing Boxes Project, and the Vineyard Church to help our neighbors in need. Special thanks to Farm Credit Mid-America for their generous support of this community giving project by donating cash prizes for those clubs donating the most total pounds of food.