Author: Bruce Zimmer

4-H Year End Celebration Pictures and Results

Wow! The Year-end 4-H Celebration held November 21 is now a wrap! It was a cold and snowy evening but we still had a great turnout. Here are the results of the evening (see program results) and lots of pictures:

Click here for a list with all of the results: Program – 2024 Winners list

Special Congratulations to our Special Community Award Winners:

  • Friend of 4-H Award                             2024 Winner- Judge Timothy Williams
  • 4-H Alumni Award                               2024 Winner- Alexis Lane
  • Business Friend of 4-H Award        2024 Winner- Tractor Supply Company – Marietta
  • Friend of Hervida Award                  2024 Winner- Janice Kindelberger

Purchase a Paper Clover and support 4-H today!

Since 2010, Tractor Supply Co. has partnered with 4-H to create opportunities for all youth to thrive. Every year tens of thousands of dollars are raised through the TSC Paper Clover fundraiser to support 4-H programming in Ohio that inspires curiosity, fuels adventure, and builds lifelong skills to grow tomorrow’s leaders today.

This fall you can show your support for Ohio 4-H by purchasing a paper clover at your local TSC store between Nov. 29 and Dec. 15. Donations can also be added at checkout for all online orders made at tractorsupply.com.

All proceeds from this fundraiser go to 4-H, with 90% of donations directly supporting 4-H youth in Ohio and the remaining 10% supporting the overall mission and growth of 4-H nationally.

Locally, Washington County 4-H uses these funds for program expenses and camper scholarships.

Community Service Project – You can be involved too!

The Churchtown Busy Bunch 4-H Club will be sponsoring a 4-H family from Western North Carolina that was directly affected by Hurricane Helene for Christmas. The club has helped a local quilting club knot quilts they will be delivering this soon.  In return, the Friendly Circle Quilt Club is having a OSU quilt fundraiser and will be donating their profit to the 4-H family.  Contact Melinda Treadway @ 740-629-1452, Alberta Wesel @ 740-525-4429, Ellie Tullius @ 740-434-3064 , Tisa Medlin @ 740- 525-1949, or Tracie Roush @ 740-350-7916 if you are interested in helping out.

The 4-H club is also selling homemade noodles, $7 for a gallon bag.

This is a great opportunity to join us in  “HELPING HANDS HEALING HEARTS.”

4-H Exchange Club Fundraisers

WASHINGTON COUNTY EXCHANGE 4-H CLUB is selling buckeyes, $8/doz. and pine cemetery pillows $25 each, to be ready for delivery Dec. 8th.

Contact a club member or you can call or text your order to advisor Ellie Tullius at 740-434-3064 by Dec. 1st.

Profits will be used to host a 4-H group from Colorado June 2025.

Farm Credit Mid-America Scholarships

This information is for 4-H and FFA member about exciting scholarship opportunities from Farm Credit Mid-America.

Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars Program
We are thrilled to announce the FARM CREDIT MID-AMERICA SCHOLARS program for 2025 (our 9th year!). This program provides $5,000 in scholarship support over a two-year period and includes leadership development workshops and experiential travel. We are seeking the next generation of leaders who are passionate about making a difference in agriculture. Ideal candidates are current freshmen or sophomores in college, pursuing a degree in agriculture from universities in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee or Arkansas, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. For more details, please visit our website featuring last year’s Scholars: Meet the FCMA Scholars.

Customer Scholarship Program
We also offer $1,500 scholarships to students attending accredited two- or four-year colleges, universities or vocational/trade schools. Recipients of the CUSTOMER SCHOLARSHIP must be children or grandchildren of Farm Credit Mid-America customers pursuing a career in the agricultural industry. Current high school seniors, as well as college freshmen, sophomores and juniors, are welcome to apply.

If you know someone majoring in agriculture who would be a good candidate for either of these scholarships, please feel free to share this information with them. Applications can be found on our website. The deadline to apply for the Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars program is December 15, 2024, and the deadline for the Customer Scholarship program is January 15, 2025.

Over the past decade, Farm Credit Mid-America has awarded more than $2 million in financial and educational support to deserving students pursuing careers in agriculture. We greatly appreciate your support in helping us expand the impact of these scholarships on the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Any questions about the scholarship programs can be directed to: randy.barbee@fcma.com or 502-494-5713.

Cloverbud Corner

Surviving the “Fall Back” Time Change

         Sara Lewis, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Fulton County

Just like that, the end of daylight saving time is upon us again…

Some look at it as an extra hour to sleep, but when those clocks turn back, many are up even earlier thanks to daylight saving time wreaking havoc on sleep schedules.

Children are naturally early risers, so until a child has adjusted to a new schedule, this time change means that they may wake up an hour earlier than normal each morning, a nightmare for some parents, but perhaps a blessing for others whose children sleep too long and struggle to get up for school.

While we have months of darker, longer nights ahead of us, the end of daylight saving time does not mean the end of fun for children. Sure, by the time children get home from school, have a snack, and finish their homework, it is already dark outside, but this is where a little planning and creativity can turn the time change slump into exciting opportunities for indoor and outdoor activity.

Want to get your Cloverbuds outside? Try these low-to-no cost games to get everyone outside and moving.

Firefly

All it takes to play this game is a pocket flashlight that can easily be switched on and off. PRO TIP: It is best to use a small, pocket flashlight with a light beam that is not too bright or easy to spot. You will select one person to be “it” and have them run and hide in the dark. This person is the “firefly” and can move from hiding place to hiding place flashing their light every minute or so. The other players race around to find the firefly. When they catch them, the game is over. The first person to spot the firefly is “it” for the next round.

Do you prefer to have indoor options because of the dark or less than ideal weather? Fear not, get those creative juices flowing and get started. Let’s bring the glow indoors.

Glow-In-The-Dark Dough

Supplies needed

  • 3 cups flour
  • ¾ salt
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 3 cups boiling water
  • fluorescent/neon paint
  • glitter (optional)
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine  flour,  salt,  vegetable oil, and cream of tartar.
  2. Gradually add in  water and stir until the dough is sticky.
  3. Once cooled, divide the dough into multiple portions adding 1 tablespoon of paint (and glitter, if desired) to each portion.
  4. You may add more flour and/or paint and knead the dough until it is no longer sticky.
  5. To make the dough glow, let it sit in direct sunlight or artificial light for a few hours.

Looking for other options? Here are a few more suggestions for those indoor activities…

  • Put on a Play
  • Have a Paper Airplane Competition
  • Bake and Decorate Cupcakes
  • Break out the Board Games

In the event the time change has gotten the best of you or your Cloverbuds, remember that longer days are ahead as time will spring forward on March 9, 2025!

 

Image from stock.adobe.com

Youth Loan Program

USDA, Farm Service Agency has loan programs available for individuals’ ages 10 to 21, beginner farmers and socially disadvantage applicants. This is a great opportunity for 4-H & FFA members to expand or build a project base. Loan funds can be used to buy livestock, seed, equipment and supplies; buy, rent, repair needed tools and equipment; and pay operating expenses for the project.

Contact Tina Mellinger, Farm Loan Manager at tine.mellinger@usda.gov. Her office is located in Zanesville, OH

Youth Loans Flier: FSA Youth Loans factsheet

Washington County and Barlow Junior Fair Boards Looking for Teens

All youth interested in serving on the 2025 Washington County and/or Barlow Junior Fair Boards need to apply now. Applications now available through the OSU Extension Office, and https://go.osu.edu/wcforms and attached to this email.

Youth must be at least 13 years old and have an interest in helping to plan and conduct Jr Fair shows and events at local fairs. Youth will receive training to build their leadership skills and learn about board expectations.

The deadline for applications is December 2 to the OSU Extension. First and second year applicants must be interviewed to serve on a Junior Fair Board. Interviews are December 9 the OSU Extension Office. Contact OSU Extension at 740-376-7431 for details.

The application is also attached – 2025 Junior Fair Board Application

National 4-H Conference Teen Delegates – December 1 Deadline

National 4-H Conference Delegates – December 1 Deadline

  • National 4-H Conference is specifically focused on civic engagement, civic education, and personal development. Delegates arrive ready to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, their nation, and their world.
  • Date of Conference: April 10-16, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Ohio delegates arrive a day early on April 10. Conference begins April 11).
  • Application Deadline: December 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (applicants must be 15-18 as of 1/1/25 and currently enrolled as an Ohio 4-H member). See the attached document for the example application, and then be sure to apply via Qualtrics: https://go.osu.edu/N4HCapp
  • For more information, visit https://go.osu.edu/N4HC