Greetings 4-H Families!
In this issue:
- 2021 Calendar of Events
- 4-H Gratitude Challenge
- Camp Counselor Applications due November 2
- 4-H Banquet Information and RSVP link
- 4-H Trip Scholarship Information
- Extension Office Hours Reminder
- Ohio 4-H Guidelines Reminder
- Volunteer Reminders and Training dates
- County Fair Update – Help Wanted for Livestock Committee!
- Ohio 4-H Foundation Fundraising Event
- Ohio 4-H Virtual Awards Banquet
COUNTY 4-H UPDATES
2021 4-H Calendar Available
Mark your calendar and save the dates now for important county events and deadlines! Updates will be added to the website and this calendar as we receive them, as well as emailed to all 4-H families.
Please note: dates, times, and locations, and format are subject to change based on OSU and county health and safety guidelines. We will keep you informed as time progresses.
A printable calendar can be found here.
4-H Gratitude Challenge-November2020
4-H wants you you take our 2020 Gratitude Challenge! 2020 has not been an easy year, but we still have plenty of reasons to give thanks. Print this calendar: Gratitude Challenge Printable Calendar and complete each daily task to help shwo your gratitude to your club, community, country, and world!
Use #4HGratitudeChallenge to spread an attitude of gratitude to all of your social media friends and followers!
2021 Camp Counselor Applications Due November 2
We want to make sure individuals interested in applying for Madison County 4-H Camp Counselor have plenty of time to work on and submit their applications! We’re trying to be optimistic and eager for 2021!
Help us plan to 2021 Madison County 4-H Camp! Applications are due November 2.
To apply online, visit go.osu.edu/madco4hcampcounselor
Save the Date for the 4-H Recognition Drive Through Banquet -December 6!
When: Sunday, December 6, 11am-2pm
Where: Madison County Fairgrounds, Eby Arena
Who: Any Madison County 4-H Volunteer or family of a 4-H Member, award winners, and special guests
RSVP by November 29 at go.osu.edu/mc4hbanquet
This year, to recognize our outstanding youth and volunteers, in lieu of our typical banquet, we are hosting a Winter Wonderland Drive Through Recognition programs! All 4-H volunteers and members, and their immediate family members are invited to RSVP.
All stations will be accessed through the drive through. Attendees will be asked to stay in their cars the entire time (with the exception of the photobooth station for award winners) and masks will be mandatory. Stations will include programs, award receipt, photo booth, raffles, take home activities, and a boxed lunch to take home!
Silent Auction: We will also be hosting a virtual silent auction the week before the event, November 29-December 5. More information about how to participate will come later this month. If your family or organization you work for would like to donate an item for the silent auction, please contact Frances Foos at foos.61@osu.edu or call the extension office by November 20 with a photo of the item. Items can be dropped off at the extension office by December 4th.
Please Note: We have special approval from OSU and the Madison County Health Department to conduct this event and must follow all current state and county health mandates. It is required that all attendees and volunteers wear a mask at all times, even while in the cars as windows will be rolled down. Please do not come if you are not feeling well and practice proper hand hygeine.
4-H Trip Scholarships
There are many opportunities available to youth outside of our county programs! The Madison County 4-H Committee sponsors trips for our youth to help them gain leadership skills and represent our county! Trips include: State Leadership Camp, Shooting Sports camps, Citizenship Washington Focus (trip to D.C.), and many more!
Applications are due December 1st for early registrations (CWF, Buckeye Leadership Workshop, etc.) or 6 weeks in advance of registration for event.
Download the application here! Opportunities are available for 4-H youth of all ages!
2021 Family Guide Available NOW!
The 2021 Family Guide is now available for download at ohio4h.org/familyguide!
You can view sample pages of project books, see comments from families that have enrolled in the project, etc. at projectcentral.ohio4h.org!
Now is the PERFECT time to browse the 4-H projects available for next year! Contact our office with any questions about projects, purchasing books, etc.!
OSU Extension Office Hours
Office Hour Update: As a reminder, our office is open on Monday-Wednesday, 7:30am-4:00pm for open hours and Thursday and Friday by appointment only. Please continue to call ahead before coming into the office, wear your mask when inside, and stay home if you are sick.
In-Person 4-H Meetings and Events
As we head into winter months and flu season, in addition to COVID-19, remember to follow our meeting guidelines for any in-person 4-H meetings and events that you may be attending: That information, along with any new updates, is at https://ohio4h.org/families/stay-connected.
By following recommended guidance, we’re helping to keep our families and friends safer, our kids learning, and our economy going.
As a reminder:
- Hosting virtual meetings and events is preferred.
- If activities are critical/essential and are in-person, they must be education-focused.
- 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 the directives of your local health department.
- Face masks are required.
- This includes inside AND outside at all times.
- Program participants and parent/guardians ages five and older must wear a mask.
- The exception is shooting sports where safety is a concern when on the line. Refer to the full guidance document online for additional shooting sports guidance (link below).
- Medical conditions or disability exceptions are also permitted.
- Potlucks and buffets are not permitted
Any time our county is designated a Level 4 Public Health Emergency (color-coded purple) by the Ohio Department of Health, all in-person 4-H club meetings and events must be held virtually or postponed until the designation changes to Level 3 or below.
Ohio’s Public Health Advisory System updates are at https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/publichealth-advisory-system/
Upcoming Events
November 2 – Camp Counselor Applications due
November 2 – 4-H Committee Meeting @ 6pm
November 11 – Veteran’s Day – Extension Office Closed
November 26-27 – Thanksgiving – Extension Office Closed
December 1 – 4-H Trip Scholarship Applications Due
December 6 – Drive Through 4-H Banquet, 11am-2pm (RSVP REQUIRED)
December 17 – 4-H Volunteer Training – 7pm-8:30pm – VIRTUAL, Registration required, see email for more information
December 24-25 – Christmas Break – Extension Office Closed
COUNTY JR. FAIR UPDATES
NEW: Livestock Committee Members Needed!
2021 is bringing some fresh changes to our Jr. Fair structure! In lieu of Livestock Key Leaders, the Jr. Fair Livestock program is moving to a committee structure to help encourage sustainability and limit the amount of work for the one person, creating a team effort!
We want YOU to consider joining the Small Animal or Large animal committees! There is an informational meeting on November 11 at 6pm in the Della Selsor Building on the fairgrounds for any adults (over 18)interested. This is a great opportunity to hear more about the duties of the committee and get involved to help make the Jr. Fair programs great!
If you do not feel comfortable attending in person, but still want to be involved, contact the Jr. Fair Coordinator at madisoncountyjfb@gmail.com to receive a link to join virtually or for contact information for the committees.
The 3 Committees will now consist of:
- Equine Committee (has been in place for several years, If interested, contact Colleen Martin at stephighatlfs@aol.com for information on meetings times, dates, etc.)
- Small Animal/Specialty: includes rabbit, poultry, dog, alpaca, and small animal
- Large Animal Committee: Includes beef, dairy, swine, goat, and sheep!
Responsibilities of these committees will include:
- Species specific rule recommendations to JFB (timely and accurate oversight and revisions)
- Judge recommendations
- Develop and maintain volunteers
- Fundraising/Budget
- Fair format/show bill/arena and facility set up, recs
- Assist extension office with skillathons
CLUB/VOLUNTEER UPDATES 
Volunteer Trainings: All club volunteers need to complete 2 trainings for 2021 4-H year. Attend 2 mandatory 4-H Volunteer training or opportunity at the county, district, or state level or a non-4-H training that relates to your work as a volunteer. This is a new requirement from the state level. To help meet this, Frances will be hosting several volunteer training dates from December-February (mostly virtual) with a variety of topics. Watch your emails for more information on topics, registration, etc.
*Policy 1.50 will be offered online on a “do at your own pace” course
Dates to hold (TOPICS ARE TBD – watch email for more information)
- December 17, 7-8:30
- January 11, 10-11:30am and 7-8:30pm
- CLUB UPDATE: January 20 at 10am AND 7pm
- February 16 10-11:30am, 7-8:30pm
- March 4 , 10-11:30am, 7-8:30pm
- New Volunteers Specific (1.50 + other):
- February 8, 7:00-8:30pm
- February 24: 7:00-8:30pm
4-H Club Update Event: NEW for 2021, we will be having a 4-H Club Update on January 20th. There will be a 10:00-11:30am time and a 7:oo-8:30pm timeslot. This will cover any updates for 4-H for the year (calendars, policies, new events, fair updates, etc.) so that the volunteer trainings can focus on more educational and applicable topics that will help you as volunteers. We will require at least 2 representatives from each club to attend – either 2 adult volunteers or 1 adult volunteer and 1 teen leader representative. This will count as a training opportunity for volunteers as well. This will most likely be held virtually. More information will be shared soon!
Club Achievement Packets: Make sure you are picking up your club achievement packets at the extension office! If you plan to meet with your club, be sure to follow the Ohio 4-H Guidelines. Contact Frances with any questions. This goes for any meetings, fundraisers, community service, and other get-togethers!
Background Checks: If you are up for a background check this year, you will receive notice in the next month or so via mail and/or email. Please get that done sooner rather than later!
4-H Online Update: This fall, we will be switching to a new version of 4-H Online, which is the system we use for enrollment. Don’t fret – it is much more user friendly! We will be offering some trainings this winter as well and plenty of tip sheets and videos to help families with the enrollment process in the Spring.
New Volunteers: If you are adding someone to your club as a volunteer, make sure they fill out a new volunteer application ASAP to get the process started! Contact Frances for more information
STATE 4-H OPPORTUNITIES
Be sure to check Ohio4H.org for the most recent state 4-H information and follow the “Ohio State – 4-H Youth Development” Facebook page!
Ohio 4-H Foundation Celebration of Youth
Join the Ohio 4-H Foundation for this year’s Celebration of Youth event on Thursday, November 5 at 7:00. This year, for the first time, the virtual event is open to everyone free of charge. Participants will enjoy a program featuring many Ohio 4-H members and an online auction. Funds raised from Celebration of Youth support Ohio 4-H programming and operations to help engage youth across Ohio’s 88 counties. Please visit go.osu.edu/COY for event details, sponsorship information, and registration for the event.
Ohio 4-H Awards Recognition Event
Join Ohio 4-H to honor the 2020 Volunteer Awards, Hall of Fame inductees, Tenure Milestones, and Teen of the Year and Teen Hall of Fame inductees we were unable to recognize at the Ohio 4-H Conference in March 2020!
Register by November 28 at go.osu.edu/Ohio4-HAwards!