Summer Programming Status

​Dear 4-H Families, Volunteers, and Supporters,

I know that many of you have lots of questions following last night’s email from our State Leader, Kirk Bloir. We spoke with Camp Counselors last night to break the news and it was the most heartbreaking conversation I’ve had in my 11 years here with Van Wert County 4-H. I am so proud of the counselors for the way they handled the news. If you have a (human) 4-H camper at home, please look at the link in the 4-H Camp section below about doing a Camper Pen Pal! It isn’t a replacement, but I hope it helps keep our 4-H Camp Bonds.

4-H Meetings

Face-to-Face 4-H meetings can resume on July 6, 2020. I am encouraging advisors to try Remind, Facebook, and maybe even a few Zooms to communicate! Those of you who are familiar with these (even if you aren’t a volunteer) if you could offer help that would be beneficial. If you add me to your Facebook groups, then I can snag cool videos and share them with others!

Still Project Judging

We will do judging with 4-H Projects and Project Judging for all projects.I fully plan to do judging (hopefully face-to-face, but possible virtually), give away trophies (not virtual ones, I promise!), select winners, etc. Still projects will stay the same. Use this time to get them worked on and make them amazing!

Black Inc. Projects

I am moving forward with Black Inc. Judging! Please keep an eye out for the applications so you can get an early start.

Ohio State Fair

I do not know about any changes to Ohio State Fair as of now. As soon as a decision is made, I will be sure to communicate with you.

4-H Camp

As you read last night, we will not be doing 4-H Camp this year. We are still shocked from this decision and I have no real updates at this point to share. If you would like to participate in a pen pal exchange with a fellow Van Wert Camper, please fill out the following survey: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bxWVAantVuz56rX

Van Wert County Fair

There have been no changes communicated as of right now for the Van Wert County Fair. All Van Wert County Fair decisions will be made by their Board in collaboration with the health department. There is quite a bit of time between now and then and we are committed to assisting the Fair Board in making this fair great! Please know that I cannot give you guidance on whether or not to purchase your animal for fair. I would encourage you to have a family conversation about the project, projected costs, and ability to care for the project this summer. We will have judging for those who choose to move forward with their livestock projects, awards for skillathons, and I am fully committed to doing everything I can to support those youth who continue their Livestock Projects. In short terms, Livestock projects please proceed knowing there are unknowns, as of right now the shows are not canceled.

Turkey Order

We are taking turkey orders through this coming Monday, April 13, 2020 (Extended from this Friday). Please use the following link to tell me what you would like to order. https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6usx3yfrMMtGAXb

If you have already emailed me or texted your order – please check your email (later) today for a confirmation email with your order. Let me know if it is wrong or needs updated at Gottke.4@osu.edu

Livestock Quality Assurance

We will not be conducting the face-to-face session #2 for Livestock Quality Assurance in June. I have an update tonight on Zoom for 4-H Professionals. At this time, online QA is open to ALL ages at the cost of $12.00 a person. If you wish to complete this you can, I will know more tonight.

Information for Online Certification in 2020

The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) OSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Program, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Youth for the Quality Care for Animals (YQCA) has endorsed the following option for youth who are officially enrolled in a 4-H and/or FFA livestock/food animal project.

Youth who intend to show their project animal(s) for exhibition (e.g., county or state fair) have the option to complete an on-line YQCA session. For the training to meet the Ohio Youth Food Animal QA requirement for the project year:

  1. Youth MUST be 12 years of older as of January 1, of the current year (4-H Age). NOTE THIS RULE HAS BEEN LIFTED FOR 2020! Any age can complete.
  2. The on-line module completed MUST be the correct 4-H age for the youth.
  3. The on-line session must be completed at least 45 days prior to the start of exhibition.
  4. Youth must complete the on-line session within the QA calendar year (October 1-September 31)

Other Notes:

  • The other online courses do NOT meet the Ohio Youth Food Animal QA Certification (ie. BQA, PQA, BEST, etc.)
  • You can go to the following website to take the age-appropriate online module for $12.00 (for each child).
  • http://yqca.learngrow.io/Account/Login
  • Youth will need their 4-H Online login and password or they can create their own login and poassword (Please use 4-H Online if you are a 4-H Member). Youth must register using 4-H Online for their results to automatically show up.
  • YQCA test-outs are NOT an option at this time.

Events Coming Up

I will have more guidance on events and what I am permitted to do and how to move forward with them for the future. I will be sure to communicate with you all at least once a week with updates, and as soon as possible with updates about any of the unknowns above.

·Shaved Ice: The trailer will not be able to participate in any activities until after July 6, 2020

·Chicken BBQ: Will most likely need postponed, getting further clarification from the State.

In Closing

I know we have changed directions a lot in the last 4 (four) weeks. I know it is frustrating, sad, and downright stressful. Please know that I am doing everything I can to answer all your questions, keep clear communications, and make this as easy as possible. If you have questions, you can always ask me via email, text, or Facebook. I have developed a survey you can put your questions in to help me keep track of questions and ensure that I have answered them all. I ask that while we are working through all of this for what feels like the 100th time, please keep us in your thoughts. This summer will look and feel different than the last 10 summers of 4-H. The situation is a moving target and we are trying very hard to serve all of you as best as we can.

Questions??

Do you have questions? Feel free to use this survey and I will get back with you (as long as you leave contact information). I will be going through email and text messages today to make sure I haven’t missed any questions, but you can ask questions again by going to the following link.

https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5orrJQDIrmDwuNv

I will be posting FAQ as we get them to Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/vanwert4h and on our site at http://vanwert.osu.edu

If you haven’t already, please sign up for the Remind service to get text messages information when we send or post relevant information.

Please text @vanwert4h to the number 81010

They’ll receive a welcome text from Remind.
If anyone has trouble with 81010, they can try texting @vanwert4h to (419) 482-1735.

A Guide to 4-H Written by Someone Who is Still Figuring it All Out

By Rachel Hoverman, Program Coordinator, 4-H Youth Development

Perhaps your child brought home 4-H promotional items from school or has befriended someone whose family has been in 4-H for generations and now they want to get involved. The information that came home is confusing to you and your child’s friends’ parents aren’t helping. Now what? Are you hoping the papers get buried and your kid forgets about it? Let me try and sort some things out for you.

What the heck is 4-H?

4-H is the largest positive youth development organization in the country. 4-H welcomes ALL young people, empowering them to create positive change in their communities. In 4‑H, kids complete  hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement where they receive guidance from adults and are encouraged to take on leadership roles.

To break it down, 4-H members join a club, attend meetings, choose a project, attend an interview and show off their project at the county fair.

  1. Joining a club: Ask you county professional for a list of 4-H clubs. Read it over. Find a club that meets near your home, in your child’s school or church or one that has an adviser that you like. Your child can join any club you want within the county. If you want them to join a club in a different county, there’s some paperwork that you’ll have to do.
  2. Attend meetings: Most clubs hold meetings once or twice a month. Meetings have four parts: project work, business, recreation and social activities and special interest programs (a guest speaker or field trip).
  3. Choosing a project: Someone might ask your child what project she wants to “take”. This is what they will work on, on their own, for that 4-H year. They can literally do anything they are interested in. Your adviser will order a coordinating project book that will be your child’s manual. Over 200 projects are listed in the Family Guide publication.
  4. Attending an interview: For your child to complete their project, they will have to attend an interview session. We call it “judging”. Your child will make a poster-board display explaining their project or bring something they made. Your child will talk with an adult about their project and the adult will ask a few questions. Interviews last 10-15 minutes. Your child may win a ribbon or be selected to take their project to the state fair.
  5. County Fair: 4-H members will display their completed project at the county fair and receive a small cash prize for doing so. The county fair is the end of the 4-H year for most members.

So that’s the basics, here’s the answers to a few more questions you may have:

  • When should I sign my child up? The deadline to get signed up for 4-H is April 1st (You might start to receive promotional materials in February and March). By April 1st, your child should be signed up with a club and have picked a project.
  • How much is this going to cost me? Project books usually cost around $6.00, the club may have dues (usually around $10.00) and you may need to buy supplies for your poster-board display for the interview. If you’re not sure you can manage these costs, I can help you get them covered.
  • What ages can participate? Basically children 8-19 can be 4-H members. (Officially, they need to be 8 and in the third grade or 9 and in any grade, when it’s time to get signed up). Your 4-H membership ends December 31st of the year you turn 19.
  • Can younger children get involved? Children 5-8 (and at least in Kindergarten) can participate as “Cloverbuds”. This just means that they don’t do the competitive side of 4-H, like the judging or taking an animal to the fair. They still attend meetings but are given some different things to do.

This is a pretty basic guide to an organization that has many facets. As your child gets older, they might want to attend 4-H camp or join a specialty club. You get to choose the level of involvement you’re comfortable with. Whatever you decide, 4-H is a great way for your child to learn more about something they are interested in, in a low-cost, hands-on, social way.

Are you wanting a little more information? Please fell free to call your county 4-H professionals. We love to talk about 4-H and what we think it does for kids! You can also pick up a state and county Family Guide and visit the state and county 4-H websites. http://vanwert.osu.edu  or www.ohio4H.org. We also have an app and a Facebook page!

 

 

 

#GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday is today, December 3, 2019, and kicks off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back.

On #GivingTuesday (TODAY ONLY) individuals and businesses have the opportunity to donate to one or multiple Foundation held Charitable Organization Endowment Funds – essentially doubling the gift with a match from The Foundation. A Charitable Organization Endowment Fund is established by a charitable organization to provide support for the agency’s exempt purposes. The original gifted amount (principal) is permanently preserved. Income generated from gifts will benefit the named charitable organizations forever.

To give to The Van Wert County Foundation #GivingTuesday initiative, you can donate online via GoFund Me by going to https://www.gofundme.com/f/friends-of-4h-fund-vwcf-givingtuesday-2019?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet 

You can deliver a check or cash donation to The Van Wert County Foundation office located at 138 E. Main St., Van Wert, OH 45891 today only from 8 am – 5 pm and enjoy coffee, hot cocoa, and donuts. (Post adapted from email from the Van Wert County Foundation.

2020 Show Steer, Performance Steer & Dairy Steer Weigh-In

The Junior Fair Board has set the date/time for the 2019 show steer, performance steer and dairy steer weigh-in. Please mark your calendars for Saturday January 11, from 9:00am-11:00am at the Junior Fair Beef Barn on the Fairgrounds. Animals not in line to be weighed at the end of the time may be disqualified from participation in the 2020 Van Wert County Jr. Fair. Exhibitors may allow someone else to weigh in their animals for them if they are unable to be present for the weigh in.

Please note: If you are planning to exhibit your steers at the Ohio State Fair you are responsible for information required to be submitted by January 15th, 2020, the Extension office has a few packets available for pickup.

Exhibitors should plan to come in the gate next to the Extension office and leave through gate 4 (livestock gate during fair) to help with the flow of traffic.  Be prepared to wait as the process takes a bit longer than the other weigh ins, but feel free to come in and help with other exhibitors and the Jr. Fair Board to help us ensure the process goes as quickly as possible!

Please help us to inform others that may be taking show, dairy, or performance steers this coming year. It is especially important for those who are exhibiting these animals for the first time.  We will try our best to have lists of previous participants, but we have no way to knowing who might be exhibiting for 2020. Please contact the Extension office at (419) 238-1214 or by emailing me at the address below.