Welcome to our monthly Newsletter! We have lots of important information to share:

Lawrence 4-H Enrollment Deadline: We are a little over a month away from the Lawrence County 4-H enrollment deadline for Junior Fair participation! Enrollments are coming in quickly & we are so thankful members are not waiting until the last minute! Join them in getting your enrollment in before the March 15th deadline by visiting oh.4honline.com – remember all 4-H members and volunteers must enroll every year. Need help finding a project, visit ohio4h.org/familyguide. We also have copies available at our office! 4-H Volunteers – your enrollment will not be accepted until you have completed your yearly 4-H training!

Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp Counselor Applications: Last call! Youth interested in counseling at our 4-H Camp this summer, June 5th – 8th, must complete their application by tomorrow, February 1st. Applications can be found at go.osu.edu/alpcounselorapp

Lawrence County 4-H Senior Scholarship Applications: We are excited to announce the Lawrence County 4-H Senior Scholarship Application is now available! Please note, the deadline for applications has changed to March 20th! With this deadline change, comes opportunity: by completing this one application – Lawrence County 4-H Seniors will be eligible for 1 of our Lawrence County 4-H Committee Scholarships, as well as be considered for the Ohio Valley Bank Scholarship! For more information and the application, please click: Lawrence County 4-H Scholarship

2023 Lawrence County Livestock Show Schedule: The 2023 Lawrence County Junior Fair Livestock Schedule has been released! Please look it over carefully, as there have been a few changes! For example, the Market Chicken show has been moved to Tuesday morning and the Market Lamb Show has been moved to Monday evening. Please visit to view the Livestock Schedule: 2023 Lawrence County Fair Schedule of Events (osu.edu)

2023 Quality Assurance: All youth exhibiting a Livestock project must complete Quality Assurance.

• A few county-wide Zoom trainings are still available: 
  • February 23, 5:00pm, ZOOM click QA registration to register for your space.
  • March 23, 5:00pm, ZOOM click QA registration to register for your space.
• Lawrence County 4-H Club Based Quality Assurance Training – 4-H Club advisors interested in providing quality assurance within their club must become a Quality Assurance Assistant Instructor. Lawrence County QA Assistant Instructor Training date is February 28th at the Volunteer Training.
  • **Youth – if you are planning on this option – please be sure to check with your club advisor to make sure it will be offered in your club! Clubs are not required to provide this option.
• YQCA Online Training – on your own pace, in your own space by registering through YQCA.org. Cost is $12.00 and youth must register for their Quality Assurance Age Option. Exhibitors must be enrolled in the oh.4honline.com system prior to yearly completion & complete between November 1, 2022 and May 1, 2023; certificates of completion must be sent to fraley.171@osu.edu. For more information on registration, visit YQCA Online Training
• Quality Assurance Test-Out Option (12 years and older): Lawrence County 4-H Members who would like to take the Quality Assurance Test to test-out of QA training must set up an appointment by calling 740-533-4322 or emailing fraley.171@osu.edu; test out scheduling begins in January of 4-H year. If you have taken the 12-14 year old test and are now 4-H age – 15, you must re-test or complete the yearly training! Please contact our office to check on your test-out status if you are unsure!

Ohio 4-H Conference: The Ohio 4-H Conference takes place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on March 11th.

The Ohio 4-H Conference is the largest gathering of 4-H volunteers in the United States! Nearly 1,200 teen and adult volunteers 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 Ohio 4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of volunteers. The teens (age 13 and older) have a luncheon where they recognize their peers and often features a keynote speaker.

Click here for additional Conference information and registration materials.

Ohio 4-H Animal Science Learning Opportunity: All About Sheep & Goats – Zoom Webinars beginning this Thursday, February 2nd, 6:00pm. This weeks session will be on Small Ruminant Nutrition, click this connection link to attend: Launch Meeting – Zoom, password: 945126 – Each week, a few days prior to the webinar – connection information will be shared on the Ohio State – 4-H Animal Sciences facebook!

4-H Club and Volunteer Update: Organizational club leaders, don’t forget – today, January 31st is the deadline to submit your financial documents for 2022! Forms can be found: Lawrence County 4-H Club Advisor Resources | Lawrence (osu.edu)

Also continue to hold the date, February 28th, 6:00pm at Collins Career Center for our annual in-person Volunteer Training! Volunteers will receive more information via email closer to date! We will release a recorded training option March 1st to be completed by March 15th!

Check out our website at lawrence.osu.edu or our facebook @lawrence4h or more information! Live now on facebook is a vote for our 2023 Theme – please feel free to comment on this blog for your choice:

• 4-H & Me in 2023
• Find Your Path in 4-H
• 4-H: Check Us Out!

Questions? Please feel free to contact our office at 740-533-4322 or email Rachael at fraley.171@osu.edu

Happy 2023!

When January rolls around, I truly begin to feel the excitement for the 4-H Community Club and Fair Season. In December, 23 Market Steers were tagged for the 2023 Market Beef Show, which is up 10 from last year’s show! We’ve completed our first round of volunteer training with 7 returning volunteers and we already have 28 memberships pending in 4-H online for the new 4-H Year!

4-H Online Enrollment is open!

All 4-H Volunteers and Members must enroll each year by March 15th, to enroll visit: oh.4honline.com

Lawrence 4-H Volunteer Updates

Next Tuesday, January 10th, we will be hosting a Pop-Up Volunteer Training at 5:30pm in person at the Extension Office. This volunteer training is open to 20 volunteers. To reserve your spot, click: RSVP for Volunteer Training If you attended the ZOOM volunteer training on December 1st, you do not need to attend.

Other Lawrence County 4-H Volunteer Training opportunities include:

• January 24th, 5:30pm, Virtual Zoom, to register for link visit: RSVP for Virtual Volunteer Training
• February 28th, 6:00pm, at Collins Career Center
• Make-Up, Online, Self-Paced Training will be available, March 1-15.

Don’t forget, all returning and new volunteers must complete annual 4-H volunteer training to be an approved volunteer! Training must be complete by March 15th. Special Note: 4-H & Livestock Committee members will receive yearly training at the January/February Committee Meetings.

Also, coming up, is the Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference, March 11th, Columbus, OH. More information and registration form can be found here: https://ohio4h.org/events/ohio-4-h-conference

End of Year Club Paperwork Due January 31st! The yearly financial summary and club charter checklist was mailed in October to each organizational club leader, but copies can be found here: Lawrence County 4-H Club Advisor Resources If your club was selected for a club audit, your audit forms are also due January 31st. Forms can be emailed to lawrence4H@osu.edu or dropped off to our office.

Club/Volunteer/Member Recruitment Survey Request Around this time of year we get many requests from potential new members looking for information on clubs located near them. We are requesting a volunteer from each club, complete the following survey by January 10th. Please click to complete: 4-H Club Information Survey 

Lawrence 4-H Member Updates

Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp Counselor Applications are due February 1st. Counselors must be 14 as of January 1, 2023. The application can be found online at 4-H Camp | Lawrence (osu.edu)

Quality Assurance Training: All members planning to exhibit a livestock project at the county fair, must complete Quality Assurance. For a full list of training dates and opportunities, please visit: Lawrence County Fair | Lawrence (osu.edu)

We have recently added a date for a ZOOM Quality Assurance: January 19th, 4:30pm, Click Quality Assurance Registration to register for connection link. For more dates and options, visit the Lawrence County Fair link above.

FAFSA Is For You: Ohio 4-H is partnering with the Ohio Department of High Education to help answer frequently asked questions about the FAFSA! If you are interested in post-secondary education opportunities, join Ohio Department of Higher Education and Ohio 4-H on January 12th, 6-7pm, virtually by registering at https://go.oedu.edu/fafsa4u

Looking for more information? 

Email Rachael at fraley.171@osu.edu, give us a call at 740-533-4322 or check out website at lawrence.osu.edu

Other Helpful Resources include: 

• 2022 – 2023 Lawrence County 4-H Volunteer and Member Guidebook: plan ahead calendar, project and club requirements, and much more!
• 2022 – 2023 Lawrence County Junior Fair Rules

Are you planning to take a Livestock Project, including market, breeding and specialty projects, requiring Quality Assurance? 

If yes, keep reading 🙂 

Lawrence County 4-H will be hosting a virtual option on Thursday, December 22nd at 2:30pm. We know the Spring can get especially busy to fit in all the 4-H requirements for your project, so we encourage you to go ahead and mark this complete.

The training will last approximately 1 hour.

To register and receive virtual connection information, please complete the registration form found at:

https://go.osu.edu/dec22qareg

Also, our office will be open Thursday, December 22nd, 9am – 12pm, for those wishing to stop by & test out of quality assurance.

 Please send Rachael an email at fraley.171@osu.edu or call our office 740-533-4322 to let us know if you are planning to come by to test out of Quality Assurance.

Test Out option is available for those 12 and older. Those who have tested out between the ages of 12-14, must test out again at 15. 4-H age 15 and older, can test out for the remaining duration of their 4-H career.

Join us after the Ironton Christmas Parade in the Courthouse, November 28th at 7:30pm! 

Annual Volunteer Training, December 1st, 6:00pm

ZOOM, register for connection information: https://go.osu.edu/dec2022volunteertrainingregistration

Market Beef Tag In Location Change 

December 17, 10:00 – 11:00am, Pratt’s Farm

3988 County Road 17
South Point, OH 45680

As 2022 comes to an end, please consider including Lawrence County 4-H youth development in your giving plans. 

You are part of a special 4-H community. As volunteers, alumni, and supporters, you have the power to change the lives of youth across Ohio by providing them with opportunities to inspire curiosity, fuel adventure, develop lifelong skills, and grow into true leaders. People like you, who believe in 4-H, equip young Ohioans with the tools they need to be successful long after they age out of the program. During this giving season, reflect on what 4-H has done for you and others you know. Would you consider donating to help ensure this program continues to grow and thrive for future generations? 

Gifts to Lawrence County 4-H will qualify for a tax deduction in this calendar year, meaning that any donation made before Dec. 31 is deductible for 2022. 

A gift to Ohio 4-H is an investment in our youth and in our community’s future. Please consider giving to our county’s 4-H fund at ohio4h.org/countydonation.  

Thank you for helping to make the best better! 

It’s the start of a new 4-H year!

Enrollment is now open for the 2022 – 2023 4-H Year: Enroll by visiting oh.4honline.com

• All new and returning members and volunteers must enroll every year.
• Returning families/members must use the same username/profile. If they need help remembering – please have them contact our office. New members may also enroll by creating a profile. All volunteers and members must be enrolled by March 15, 2023. Changes may be made by contacting our office prior to March 31, 2023.

The 2022 – 2023 Lawrence County 4-H Volunteer & Member Guidebook and the Lawrence County Junior Fair Rules are also available to help you start planning your year, become aware of our county’s 4-H  and Junior Fair expectations.

• To view click:
  • 2022-2023 Lawrence County 4-H Volunteer & Member Guidebook 
  • 2023 Lawrence County Junior Fair Rules

2022 – 2023 Lawrence County 4-H Volunteer Training Opportunities

Ohio 4-H Volunteers have an outstanding reputation for their commitment to the development of our youth. In order to maintain this outstanding reputation, Ohio 4-H volunteers shall continue enhancing their skills to ensure all 4-H participants have a positive and educational experience by annually attending additional youth development training opportunities.All 4-H volunteers must complete the Youth Activities & Programs Policy Training (formerly known as Policy 1.50 Protecting Our Minors) and the county hot topic and updates training yearly.

For the 2022-2023 4-H Year, Volunteers have the following options to complete the training:

• December 1^st, 6:00pm, Virtual Live ZOOM Option: Register to attend and receive connection information – https://go.osu.edu/dec2022volunteertrainingregistration
• February 28, 6:00pm, In-Person Option: Registration and location to be announced.
• Make-Up Option will be provided March 1 – 15^th.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a new volunteer, please reach out to me for more information: fraley.171@osu.edu

Supplemental Volunteer Training Opportunities

• Quality Assurance Assistant Instructor Training: Volunteers wishing to offer Quality Assurance in their 4-H Club must attend QA Assistant Instructor Training immediately following the county volunteer trainings listed above on December 1 and February 28. Make Up Trainings available upon request after December 1.
• Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference, March 11^th, Columbus, OH. Information can be found at https://ohio4h.org/about/ohio-4-h-conference.

2023 Market Beef Tag-In, December 17th, 10:00 – 11:00am, Lawrence County Fairgrounds, Pratts Farm 

4-H and FFA exhibitors planning to exhibit a market steer or market heifer born on or after January 1, 2022 at the 2023 Lawrence County Fair must bring their project animal to tag in during the designated time. All calves must be broken to lead and led thru the chute on a halter to be tagged.

REGISTER RIGHT AWAY – ALUMNI & FRIENDS WEEKEND 2022

NOVEMBER 11th – 13th, 2022!

An Alumni Get-Together is back again by popular demand! Come join generations of former campers, counselors, staff members, and volunteers as we reminisce about memories, friends, and days gone by. We will have camp pictures, dancing, games, and campfire. Bring your crew and stay the night for more great times at Canter’s Cave!!

Pre-Registration: https://paypal.me/CantersCaveAlumni?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

PACKAGES

• Friday thru Sunday Full Experience $75, Arrive at 7:00pm on Friday the 11th, stay through Sunday the 13th at 10:00am, 2 nights in Leadership Center, all activities and 4 meals included
• Saturday into Sunday Immersion $50, Arrive at noon on Saturday the 12th, stay through Sunday the 13th at 10:00am, 1 night in Leadership Center, all activities and 3 meals included
• Saturday Only $25, Arrive at noon on Saturday the 12th and depart around midnight, All activities and 2 meals included

Lawrence County 4-H Shooting Sports Fun Shoot, November 13th, for more information view flyer here:  Lawrence County 4-H Shooting Sports Fun Shoot | Lawrence County 4-H (osu.edu)

Hello!

I can’t believe it is October already! The start of the new 4-H year is right around the corner – kicking off on November 1st! Right around the beginning of November, your current 4-H profile will go inactive and you will be alerted to enroll for the 2022-2023 4-H Year! All 4-H members and volunteers must re-enroll each year.

But in the meantime, we are not done celebrating the 2022 4-H Year. This week is National 4-H Week – Spirit Week…

It is also our 4-H Fall Campout & Fun Day at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds.
Want to come camping with your 4-H friends? Let us know you are coming by visiting go.osu.edu/lawco4hfallcampout

Want to hang out for the day and enjoy a cornhole tournament, pumpkin carving, trick or treat, and a barn dance? Join us Saturday! Follow us on facebook @ https://fb.me/e/2a98w0c0z

“Ring on the River” will wrap up our weekend of fun! Lawrence County Farm Bureau will be hosting a market feeder and prospect heifer show on Sunday, October 9th.

Hello

Summer has flown by and with many schools back in session today, we felt it was time to update you on some Fall 4-H Events & Updates.

• Back by popular demand, 4-H Fall Campout, October 7th – 9th, at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds. Details & registration can be found at go.osu.edu/lawco4hfallcampout. Saturday’s campout events are open to all 4-H’ers, even if you’re not planning to camp.
• Lawrence County Farm Bureau present’s “Ring on the River”, Market Feeder & Prospect Heifer Show, Sunday, October 9th. Details can be found by clicking “Ring on the River” 

Also, volunteers & parents – Thursday, September 15th, is our Reorganizational Meeting for our 4-H & Livestock Committees. Anyone interested in running to be elected to the board must submit a letter of interest by the 15th to be on the ballot. Letters need to be submitted to fraley.171@osu.edu or mailed/dropped off to our office at 111 South 4th Street, Ironton. All committee members must be a certified 4-H volunteer.

September/October committee meetings are focused on 2023 rule changes and program updates – please share anything you feel should be considered as a rule change or a program update with me prior to September 15th. I will be glad to share with the committees. Your voice matters & we love continuing to make the best better. For example, the Livestock Committee already made a few changes to rules in their August meeting based on input and feedback from our 4-H families.

The following rule changes will be in effect for the 2023 Junior Fair Season: 

• Market Beef Show: The Market Steer Show will become a Market Beef Show; meaning market steers or market heifers may be shown. Members may show one or the other, but not both; only 1 Market Beef animal per exhibitor will be permitted. All other 2022 Market Steer rules and weights will apply. Market Beef Tag-in is scheduled for Saturday, December 17th from 10:00 – 11:00am at the county fairgrounds. Reminder all beef tagged in must be halter broke and lead to the scales for tagging.
• Market Rabbit Exhibition: The Market Rabbit show will still require two tattooed rabbits to be weighed in to be eligible to exhibit in the quality, market rabbit show. However, changing for 2023, if you only have one tattooed rabbit at time of weigh in, you will be permitted to check in 1 rabbit during Fair weigh-in to exhibit in the Rabbit Showmanship Show. A pair of two tattooed fair rabbits is still required at Fair weigh-in to be eligible to sale.
• More updates and rule changes are being discussed and will be shared as they are finalized and voted on.

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions please reach out to our office at 740-533-4322 or email me at fraley.171@osu.edu

Thank you all for an amazing 4-H Fair Season! We look forward to working with many of our youth during our afterschool and in-school programming coming to many schools this Fall!

Rachael

2022 Barn Meeting

Hello!

1^st – Lawrence County Junior Fairboard has a few tips for success to share:

1. Check on your animals, especially during the hottest parts of the day.
2. Keep pens clean and tidy.
3. Be a decent human.
4. Wash your hands after working with your animals and after cleaning pens.
5. Always be willing to jump in and help others when you see they need help.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
7. If you can’t be there to make sure your animal is being take care of, ask a friend and create a buddy system.
8. Exercise your animals during practice time.
9. Always clean up after yourself – don’t leave a mess.
10. Keep cornhole and other games outside of the barn.
11. Have fun and enjoy your week!

2^nd – DUNF Forms are electronic. QR code and link will be available day of tag in.

3^rd – Please remember, you may only go thru the Livestock Sale once. All other animals exhibited must be drop slipped. Forms may be dropped off at the 4-H Office under the grandstand or in designated Drop Boxes in the Barns. Forms must be completed and submitted by specie deadline.

 Per Livestock Rules:

“Any market project except for grand or reserve, can be removed from the sale order, so long as a Market Sale Drop Slip is completed and turned in by the identified specie deadline (see fair schedule). If the exhibitor does not turn in a Market Sale Drop Slip and the market project is not in the sale, the animal will be consigned to market and the exhibitor will receive market price, no exceptions. Market Sale Drop Slips must be turned in by designated specie deadlines. Rabbits and chickens continue to sell as a pen, not as individual stock, and unless withdrawn from the sale will be sent to harvest.  Failure to complete a Market Sale Drop Slip will result in the exhibitors highest placing animal going through the sale and all others going to market for market price.”

4^th – It is your responsibility to keep your pen clean. One bag of shavings will be provided to lambs, goats, and hogs. Saw dust will also be available for all species.

5^th – Thank You & Welcome Buyer Sign/Poster– Please be sure to place your Thank You or Welcome Sign/Poster above your stall by Monday at noon. Exhibitor made posters will be judged.

6^th – Be sure to follow the Ohio 4-H Code of Conduct, as well as dress appropriately when in the show ring.

Per Livestock Rules:

“Lawrence County Fair dress code during show and sale consists of a clean dress. Anyone in the show/sale arena must wear closed toed shoes, boots or leather shoes preferred. Long pants/jeans with no holes are required when in the show/sale arena. No advertisements on clothing with the exception of 4-H or FFA Logos; but no identification of club or chapter permitted. Also shirts must NOT have any sayings that are inappropriate for ANY age of participants and spectators. Shirts must have shoulders, appropriate necklines, no cut-out arms, cover all undergarments and the shirt MUST meet the waist band of pants. Some examples of shirts not permitted are: midriff baring, spaghetti straps, arms cut out shirts and tube tops. No hats will be permitted in the show ring. All tattoos must be covered during show and sale. The use of cell phones, iPads, etc. are prohibited during show and sale. Failure to comply, may result in show/sale dismissal.”

7^th  – Don’t forget, you must complete Skillathon (new this year), as well as the livestock show and showmanship to be eligible to sale. 

8^th – Junior & Senior Showman of Showmen – Winners from the each of the Market Showmanship shows within each of the Senior (14 and older) and Junior (13 and younger) divisions are eligible for the showman of showmen. Seniors will exhibit a market steer, market lamb, market goat, market hog, market rabbit, and market chicken. Juniors will exhibit feeder calves, market lambs, goats, hogs, rabbits and chickens. The committee will provide a rabbit and chicken for all exhibitors. Pending availability, juniors may also share other species. This is an optional event. Youth may also scratch species they wish not to show, but will take the points deduction.

9th – HAVE FUN!!!  Take it all in and Enjoy the Moment!  Gaga Ball, Corn Hole, and Sidewalk Chalk will be available at the 4-H Breezeway (Old Rabbit/Chicken Barn).

10^th – Kindness & Smiles are contagious! Spread happiness, joy and friendship!

All 2022 Lawrence County Junior Fair Rules can be found at

https://go.osu.edu/lawcojrfairrules