Month: December 2023

4-H Members Enjoy a Variety of Activities at Craft Event

The annual 4-H Holiday Crafting event was hosted on December 22nd at the OSU Extension Office in Washington County.  Attendees enjoyed making wreaths, ornaments, candles, coloring pages, no hook throws, and even Christmas cookies.  The participants also were surprised by a Santa Shop where they were able to choose a few items for gifts for friends and family.  Crafting supplies and Santa Shop items were provided by Joann Fabric and Crafts through the Kids in Need Program.  This event is always a favorite for those attending and the event is open to all youth in Washington County.  You can save the date for 2024 as the event will be held on December 23, 2024.

Real Money Program at WCCC

OSU Extension hosted a Real Money, Real World financial literacy program for students at the Washington County Career Center. Special thanks to our local volunteers and businesses that helped staff the financial tables. (and Peoples Bank for sponsoring lunch from Huck’s Farm Market!). Here is a list of everyone that helped out for the day. Sorry, I missed getting pictures of a couple of volunteers!

Is your high school interested in learning more about the Real Money, Real World program and teaching practical, hands-on financial literacy to your juniors or seniors? Contact OSU Extension about details!

  1. Chance – Evan Schaad
  2. Child Care – Melina Matics
  3. Clothing – Maggie Webster
  4. Communications – Sharon Dye & Ron Leisure
  5. Contributions – Bruce Zimmer
  6. Credit – Danielle Allphin
  7. Entertainment – Marcus McCartney
  8. Financial Advice – Sherri Nolan, Brenda Robinson, & Kathryn Hartline
  9. Food – Pam Montgomery
  10. Housing – Ken Schilling & Al Miller
  11. Insurance – Charlie Wentz & Erica Huddleston
  12. Student Loans – Gwen Morgenstern
  13. Transportation – Rhonda Knoch & Maricia Holschuh
  14. Health and Wellness – Sharon Gegner & Sandie Scott

   

2024 4-H Calendar

Here is the 2024 4-H Calendar of events, activities, and deadlines. Please review and put some on your family calendar!

2024 4-H Calendar as of 12/14/23

Also, our 2024 4-H theme will be “4-H – Clovers to Careers”

2024 Quality Assurance Training Dates

2024 Livestock Quality Assurance Training Dates Announced!

Monday, March 18 at 7:00 pm at Jr Fair Building

Saturday, April 6 at 9:00 am at Jr Fair Building

Monday, May 13 at 7:00 pm at Jr Fair Building

2024 Project Judging & Skillathon Dates

More important dates for your 2024 family calendar!

4-H Project Judging – Thursday, July 11 starting at 6:00 pm – Jr Fair Building

Livestock Skillathon – Saturday, July 20 starting at 8:30 am – Jr Fair Building

Make-up Judging & Skillathon – Monday, August 5 – Jr Fair Building

2024 Camp Dates Announced

Are you planning vacations and summer activities for summer 2024? Please add these 4-H camp dates to your family calendar.

Counselor Camp Applications Due: March 1 https://go.osu.edu/washcampcounselor

2024 Camping Dates:

  • Junior Camp                        June 24 – 28       Youth who have completed grades 3, 4, 5
  • Cloverbud Day Camp        July 1                      Youth ages 5 – 8 who have completed Kindergarten
  • Beginner Camp                   July 2-3                  Youth who have completed 2nd grade and through the age of 10
  • Senior Camp                         July 22-26             Youth who have completed grades 6, 7, 8, 9

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Webinar – Dec 19

The recent HPAI outbreak in multiple counties in Ohio has resulted in over 4 million birds being affected and prompted a lot of questions. You are invited to attend a Zoom webinar discussing the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
When: Dec 19, 2023 6:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Ohio Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Update
Also a response page is available at: https://u.osu.edu/poultry/hpai-information/

Here is the list of topics to be discussed on the zoom:

  • Biosecurity basics
  • Symptoms and signs of HPAI in poultry
  • Control Area – what is it and what does it mean for backyard farms?
  • Surveillance Zone – what is it and what does it mean for backyard farms?
  • How long does a quarantine last?
  • What is the status of the incident?
  • What can you do if you have questions?
  • Q&A
Please click the link below to join the webinar:

Toy & Food Drive Results

Thank you to everyone that participated in donating toys through the 4-H Toy Drive benefiting the Washington County Angel Tree Program. Nearly 300 items including toys and non-perishable were presented to Megan Barker, Community Resource Facilitator with Marietta Salvation Army. Thanks for making a difference in our community!!

Backyard Poultry Certification Course

Interest in keeping backyard poultry has been increasing steadily with a huge jump in growth around the COVID pandemic and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak due to egg price increases and egg shortages.  We have also see a big jump in the number of 4-H kiddos who want to keep chickens and turkeys for 4-H livestock projects.  Many cities and municipalities require a certification before they allow you to keep backyard poultry.  Lots of people just want to learn more about this for their own family and personal food security.  Maybe this is the perfect holiday gift for that hard to buy family member.  Whatever your reason, we have you covered.

The course costs $25 dollars. (Super cheep!)  Click on the QR code or head to go.osu.edu/chicken

This self-paced course is expected to take 2-3 hours to complete and includes the following 6 modules:

  • Getting Started
  • Brooding, Basic Husbandry & Nutrition
  • Housing
  • Egg Production
  • Maximizing Health
  • Biosecurity

After completing this course, learners will be able to:

  • Identify rules and regulations relevant to raising backyard poultry in their state, city, or municipality
  • Source healthy birds to raise in their backyard
  • Apply concepts of basic husbandry, nutrition, and housing to successfully raise backyard poultry.
  • Explain how eggs are produced
  • Practice safe handling of birds and eggs
  • Recognize health-related abnormalities of poultry through physical examination
  • Describe the roles of of veterinary care and biosecurity in maximizing poultry health

There are NO refunds issued for this course.
If you have questions about the course, contact Tim McDermott at mcdermott.15@osu.edu for assistance.

Interstate Exchange Club – Buckeye Orders

The Washington County Interstate Exchange Club is looking forward to traveling next summer and are raising funds to help with expenses. The club is hosting their annual fundraisers. They are taking orders for Candy Buckeyes. The cost is $8 a dozen and orders for these must be placed by December 10th. Interstate Exchange members and their families will be working diligently to prepare the orders. You may contact any Interstate Exchange member or their advisor Ellie Tullius at 740-434-3064 to place your orders.