As many of you know, the Muskingum County 4-H program requires ALL volunteers to participate in one Mandatory Volunteer Training annually to remain an approved 4-H volunteer.  This includes committee and camp volunteers. We will be offering three opportunities for you to complete this requirement. All trainings will take place at Rolling Plains United Methodist Church (note new location). Dates of the 2019 Mandatory Volunteer Trainings are:

1. Wednesday, January 9, 2019; 6pm – 8pm
2. Saturday, January 12, 2019; 10am – 12pm
3. Wednesday, January 16, 2019; 6pm – 8pm

Volunteers will participate in a program update and breakout sessions. Topics of breakout sessions will be made available closer to the January training.

Please RSVP at least two days in advance so we can plan for the appropriate number of participants. Click here to RSVP.

2019 Market Steer Weigh-In Information is now available.

The following is information for registering 2019 market steer projects. All market steers to be exhibited at the 2019 Muskingum County Fair must come to steer registration day to be tagged and weighed, NO EXCEPTIONS.

1. Steer registration and weigh-in will be held Monday, December 10, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Muskingum Livestock Sale Barn, located on Malinda Street in Zanesville. All steers must be tagged and weighed-in at this time to be eligible to exhibit at the 2019 Muskingum County Fair.
   • Youth may bring up to two steers to be registered in their name.
   • Steers must be on a halter at registration and should be halter broke.
2. Steers must be owned, being cared for and in continuous possession of the member by weigh-in date (December 2018).
3. All steers must have been born after January 1, 2018 and must be dehorned and castrated. Calves will be checked for proper dehorning and castration by a licensed veterinarian at the December weigh-in.  There will be no on-site castration. Steers must be castrated prior to arrival at December weigh-in.

Please refer to the 2019 Market Steer Weigh-In Information Letter and Registration Form for complete details.

The 2019 Muskingum County Junior Fair Board applications are now available!  Applications are available in the Extension Office or online.

First-year applicants MUST schedule an interview when turning in an application. Failure to schedule an interview will result in an incomplete application. Interviews will take place on Monday, November 26, 2017: 4:00pm – 7:50pm. Interviews will last 10 minutes and take place at OSU Extension Muskingum County.

Please return completed applications by 4:30 p.m. November 15, 2018 by one of the following ways:
Mail: OSU Extension – Muskingum County, 225 Underwood Street, Zanesville, OH 43701
E-mail: prevatt.2@osu.edu (must confirm receipt of email)
Interviews:   740-454-0144

ABOUT 4-H HEALTH HEROES

The Ohio 4-H Healthy Living program provides youth with the opportunity to represent 4-H and promote healthy living in their communities. 4-H Health Heroes promote healthy eating, encourage people to engage in physical activities, and promote positive community change. Additionally, 4-H Health Heroes help Ohio 4-H accomplish the goals of the National 4-H Healthy Living Mission Mandate, which encourages youth and families to gain optimal physical, social, and emotional well-being.

BENEFITS OF BEING A 4-H HEALTH HERO

• Gain valuable leadership and communication skills
• Meet other 4-H youth from across Ohio who are invested in healthy living
• Leave a positive impact on your family, friends, and community
• Promote the 4th H!
• Be recognized at the 2019 Ohio 4-H Conference in March

EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS TO SERVE AS A 4-H HEALTH HERO

• Be currently enrolled in 4-H and in grades 7-12 at the beginning of the 2018-2019 academic school year.
• Be available to serve as a 4-H Health Hero from September 2018 through August 2019 (option to renew membership).
• Attend and actively participate in an all-day training session and periodic meetings in your local area (see training dates and locations below).
• Be interested in learning about healthy eating, leading an active lifestyle, and other health-related topics.
• Be excited to teach others about nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and drug prevention.
• Be responsible and trustworthy.
• Be passionate about making a difference in your community.
• Keep up-to-date on 4-H Health Hero activities by consistently checking and responding to communication from Extension staff in a timely manner.
• Record activities conducted as a 4-H Health Hero and report to Extension staff.
• Actively share the message of Healthy Living within your local 4-H clubs and/or school clubs.
• Model healthy eating and physical activity to family, friends, and 4-H members.

2018-2019 Local Training Dates (choose one to attend)*

• Central OH – September 29, 2018 at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus
• Northwest OH – November 3, 2018 PENDING
• Southern OH – February 2, 2019 at Canter’s Cave near Jackson
• Northeast OH – We are currently trying to recruit an educator to serve as the regional contact in this area. Please still feel free to apply, however we may not have a training scheduled in this area for this year. 

*We recommend attending a training located near you. You will be working with a local Extension Educator.

Apply here: http://go.osu.edu/2018healthheroapp

Applications for the 2018-2019 year are due September 15, 2018.

 STATE-LEVEL 4-H HEALTH HERO OPPORTUNITY

In addition to the requirements above, youth in grades 9-12 will have the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities to serve as a state-level Health Hero. More information will be given at the local trainings.

Additional responsibilities of a state-level 4-H Health Hero include:

• Participate in face-to-face (in Columbus) and virtual meetings.
• Complete teaching and/or advocacy activities promoting healthy living at the state level and/or in your community.
• Participate in state events, such as the Ohio 4-H Conference, The Ohio State Fair, HealthU, new Health Hero trainings, and/or any other events identified by Extension staff.

For more information, please contact Katie Riemenschneider at the State 4-H Office (riemenschneider.13@osu.edu) or 614-688-2801.

As previously announced, the Muskingum County Junior Fair swine schedule has changed for 2018.

The 2018 Muskingum County Junior Fair Swine schedule is:

Please pay close attention to the following details to make your arrival and participation in the swine activities during the Muskingum County Junior Fair a smooth and rewarding experience for your 4-H member.

• All tack must be in place by Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 8:00AM
• Swine Barn Meeting will be held on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 7:00PM (NOTE: new time)
• Arrival time: Monday, August 13, 2018, 9:00PM through Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 8:00AM (NOTE: only 11 hours)
  • Enter Fairgrounds at Gate 4 – Pershing Road.
  • Exit Fairgrounds at Gate 5 – Eppley Ave.
  • Refer to map below for traffic flow directions.
• Wash rack will be closed beginning at 8:00am on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 and will reopen after weigh-in.

Please refer to the map below for entrance and exit locations. As a reminder, there will be NO charge for parking when trucks with trailers bring in livestock, but trailers must LEAVE after livestock is unloaded.

Click photo to enlarge.

Click photo to enlarge.

4-H Cloverbuds at the Fair!

• Cloverbud Show and Tell: Sunday, August 12, 2018; 1:00PM under the Entertainment Tent
  • To register for Cloverbud Show and Tell, please call the Muskingum County 4-H Office at 740-454-0144. There is no registration form for this event. Pre-registration is highly recommended to make sure we have enough good bags for all our participants.
• Clover Coloring Contest: Tuesday, August 14, 2018; 2:00PM in the Junior Fair Building, Cloverbud Booth
• Meet a Firefighter: Wednesday, August 15, 2018; 2:00PM in the Junior Fair Building, Cloverbud Booth
• Muskingum County Sheriff K-9 Demonstration: Thursday, August 16, 2018; 10:00AM in the Junior Fair Building, Cloverbud Booth

The 2019 Muskingum County Junior Fair Livestock Committee Application is now available.

To be eligible for Livestock Committee Adult Membership:

1. Potential applicant must submit a completed Junior Fair Livestock Committee Application by 4:30 p.m. on September 15, 2018 to prevatt.2@osu.edu or drop off at OSU Extension Muskingum County, 225 Underwood Street, Zanesville, OH 43701.
2. If elected as a 2019 Junior Fair Livestock Committee member and the applicant is not a current 4-H adult Volunteer, the applicant must be willing and able to complete the 4-H Volunteer Approval process to become an approved volunteer by March 2019.

To remain a member of the committee, members must complete the following list of requirements: 

1. Member will call the President or Extension Office for an excused absence; three unexcused absences will serve as a member’s resignation from the committee.
2. Member must assist with Livestock Quality Assurance or Livestock Skillathon.
3. Member must help with pre-fair weigh-in, fair weigh-in, shows and barn meetings.

Application Due: By 4:30 p.m. on September 15, 2018.

Theme:  “Stand Out with Dairy”

Size: 11”x14” (1/4 of a full sheet of Poster board)

Age Groups:   8-10; 11-13; 14-18 (as of Jan 1, 2018) and Cloverbuds

Cash Prizes:   1^st– $20; 2^nd – $15; 3^rd – $10

Theme must be included on the front of the poster.

All entries are eligible for a coupon for a free bowl of ice cream.

Cloverbuds are eligible for a coupon for a free bowl of ice cream, but no prize money issued.

Prize money must be picked up at the Ice Cream barn after the Bossy’s Jug Auction on Tuesday, August 14^th and before the end of the fair.

Posters should be dropped off by end of day on Sunday, August 12^th in the Coliseum.

Correction to the misprint on the booth request form:

Junior Fair Booths can be set up and projects dropped off for the 4-H Miscellaneous Booth on Thursday, August 9 from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, August 11 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Booths and projects must be in place by 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 11. Projects turned in after that time will not receive a premium.

These are the same dates and times as in the past.