Spring is finally here! Along with spring comes new growth, new birth and a new beginning. The same holds true of our 4-H program. Spring is the time when we reorganize our clubs, enroll new and returning members, and plan many exciting activities for the year.

Thank you for your dedication to the development of the youth of Huron County. Your work helps us as we try to achieve the Ohio 4-H Mission: "To create positive environments for culturally diverse youth and adults to reach their fullest potential as capable, competent, caring, and contributing citizens".

Best wishes for an outstanding year in 4-H!

Bonnie Malone    Kris Simpson
4-H Agent        4-H Program Assistant


 

The final enrollment deadline is Thursday, May 1. Members are expected to complete all projects in which they are enrolled on May 1. Projects and members may be changed until the deadline. Members may join after May 1, but they will not be eligible to exhibit at the fair. All changes after May 1 will count against the club.

May Calendar of Activities

1 FINAL ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

1 Senior Fair Bd Meeting, fairgrounds, 7:30 p.m.

3 Camp Work Day, Camp Conger, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

3 Photography Clinic, Edison Woods, 8:00 a.m.

5 Officer’s Conference, Norwalk Middle School, 7:00-8:15 p.m.

7 Frozen Food Delivery, 3:00-5:00 p.m

7 Rabbit Clinic, Admin. Bldg., 6:30 p.m.

7 Rabbit Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

8 New Cloverbud Advisor Training, 6:30 p.m.

8 Self-Determined Plan Clinic, 6:30 p.m.

10 Easter Seals Balloon Day

10 Creative Arts Clinic, 10:00a.m.-12:00 noon

12 Creative Arts Clinic, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

12 Goat Quality Assurance, 7:00-8:00 p.m.

14 Camp Counselor Training, Camp Conger, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

15 Self-Determined Plan Forms Due

15 State Camp Delegates Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

15 Junior Fair Board Meeting, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

15 Sr. Fair Bd Meeting, fairgrounds, 7:30 p.m.

17 Feeder Calf Tagging, fairgrounds, 8-11:00 a.m.

17 Food & Nutrition Clinic, 10 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

17 Genealogy Clinic, Laning Young Resource Center, 9 Case Ave., Norwalk, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

18 Horse Clinic, fairgrounds, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

19 CLOVERBUD CAMP FORMS DUE

19 Christie Lane Day Camp, Camp Conger

19 Food & Nutrition Clinic, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

19 Sale Committee, fairgrounds, 8:00 p.m.

20 Poultry Pullorum Tester Training, fairgrounds

20 CARTEENS, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

21 New 4-H Advisor Training, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

26 Memorial Day, Extension Office Closed

28 Horse Council, 7:30 p.m.

29 4-H Committee Organizational, 7:30 p.m.

30 Feeder Calf First Dose of Vaccine Deadline

30 New Advisor Application Deadline

30 INT. & JR. CAMP ENROLLMENTS DUE

30 Camp Counselor Camp Out, Camp Conger

31 Clothing Clinic, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

2 Clothing Clinic, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

4 Rabbit Clinic, fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m. - Bring Rabbits

5 Sr. Fair Bd Meeting, fairgrounds, 7:30 p.m.

7-8 Ohio Sheep Youth Extravaganza, Columbus

9 CLOVERBUD DAY CAMP, Camp Conger

9 CARTEENS, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

9 Goat Clinic, fairgrounds, 7:00 p.m.

9 Chicken Clinic, fairgrounds, 7:00 p.m.

9 Turkey Clinic, fairgrounds, 7:00 p.m.

10-13 INTERMEDIATE CAMP, Camp Conger

16-19 JUNIOR CAMP, Camp Conger

18-20 Ohio 4-H Youth Expo, OSU, Columbus

19 Sr. Fair Bd Meeting, fairgrounds, 7:30 p.m.

20 State Fair Livestock Entry Deadline

20 Health & Safety Speaking Registrations Due

20 Youth Livestock Judging Contest, Columbus

21 Horse PAS Show, Erie County, 9:00 a.m.

23 Team Building Training, 7:00 p.m.

24 Health & Safety Speaking Contest, 7:00 p.m.

24-29 Ohio 4-H Leadership Camp, Camp Ohio

25 Rabbit Clinic, fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m. - Bring Rabbits

27 4-H Day at Cedar Point

30 Feeder Calf Second Dose Vaccine Deadline

30 Horse King & Queen Interviews & Test

7 Fair Packets Ready

10 Final Quality Assurance, 7:00-8:00 p.m.

17 Jr. Fair King & Queen Applications Due

19 4-H Fun Dance, fairgrounds, 7:00-10:00 p.m.

21 JUNIOR FAIR ENTRY CARD DEADLINE

22 Absentee Judging, by appointment

28 State Fair Selections, 9:00 a.m.

28 Jr. Fair King & Queen Interviews

Projects to be Judged in July

21 Dog Judging, fairgrounds, 6:00 p.m.

24 Clothing Judging/Fashion Review, Christian Alliance Church, Willard

29 Art as Expression Judging, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Norwalk

31 Foods Review, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Norwalk

Important Material Distributed at Advisor’s Conference

Every club should have been represented at the Advisor’s Conference on April 22 by at least one advisor. If your club was not represented, please have someone stop in the Extension Office to pick up these very important materials. Camp enrollment forms must be given to every 4-H member.

Officer’s Conference on May 5

All officers should be encouraged to attend the Officer’s Conference on Monday, May 5. It will be held at Norwalk Middle School on Christie Avenue from 7:00-8:15 p.m. Participants will attend a ½ hour session to learn how to better carry out the duties of their office. They will also choose a session of interest to attend for ½ hour.

NEW FOR 2003: Advisors attending the Officer’s Conference will participate in a Fair Update session. Fair Updates have been eliminated from the Advisor’s Conference.

Officers who attend Officer’s Conference earn Honor Club points. Officers who do not attend Officer’s Conference may still earn Honor Club Points by completing work in their Officer Handbooks. Summary sheets were handed out at Advisor’s Conference.

Kiwanis 4-H "A" Grade Banquet a Huge Success

The 68^th Annual Kiwanis 4-H "A" Grade Banquet was held on April 9. It was attended by around 500 people. Our "A" Grade Banquet is unique in the state of Ohio. The wonderful tradition of the Norwalk Kiwanis Club should not be taken for granted. Clubs, advisors and individuals are encouraged to write thank-you notes. Thank-you’s should be sent to Norwalk Kiwanis Club, c/o John Fries, 1660 Jacob Road, Norwalk, OH 44857.

The following 4-H clubs contributed to the "A" Grade Banquet: Richmond Mother’s Helpers, Lyme Producers, Ridgefield Country Kids, Wakeman Wizards, Ripley Nifty Needlers & Cookers, Norwich Fun Bunch, Northside Country Kids & Peru Pioneers.

Please patronize the many sponsors, donors and supporters of the "A" Grade Banquet. Mention your appreciation of their support. A complete list is in the "A" Grade Banquet program.

Top Honor Clubs for 2002 were named at the Kiwanis "A" Grade Banquet. A clerical error resulted in one club being recognized as a second place honor club, when they actually tied with the first place clubs. Apologies to Ridgefield Country Kids.

The three clubs that tied for top honor club all celebrated historic years as an honor club last year. Congratulations to:

Tied for second place honor clubs were Busy Needles and Hartland Progressive Farmers.

Honorable Mention went to Flashes, Huron Valley Go-Getters, Lyme Producers and Town & Country.

All Honor Clubs should have received a check from the 4-H Committee in recognition of your accomplishment. Honor Club checks need to be cashed. The money is to be used for an educational outing.

The 4-H Committee gratefully thanks all of the 4-H clubs who participated in the Spring Bulb Sale. There was an overwhelming response. The 4-H Committee will clear $4000.00 when the sale is complete!

The bulbs are scheduled to be shipped from Pennsylvania on May 9. Organizational advisors will be contacted when the bulbs arrive. The orders for each club will be packaged separately. Advisors will pick up the orders, sort them with the member’s order forms, and give the bulbs and order forms to the member’s.

Thank you again for supporting the Huron County 4-H program.

Camp Conger needs a spring cleaning! The ravages of winter need to be swept out and cleaned up. 4-H clubs, parents, etc. are welcome to participate. Bring buckets, rakes, brooms, weed eaters and other cleaning supplies. This is a community service opportunity.

We will begin at 10:00 a.m. and finish up at 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided by the Camp Conger Board of Directors. Donations from clubs for the lunch would be greatly appreciated. Call the Extension Office with luncheon donations.

Easter Seals Balloon Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 10. Clubs may participate in Balloon Day as a community service project.

Easter Seals provides services to children and adults with disabilities and special needs and their families. Donations given on Balloon Day stay in Huron and Lorain County.

Here is how Balloon Day works: Each club contacts a business and makes arrangements to collect donations. Call Amy and give her the location for the master list. Pick up canisters, balloons & sticks. Collect donations and turn in to the Extension Office by May 16th. Collections may be done on an alternative day.

New Volunteer Approval Process in Effect

The new 4-H Volunteer Approval Process went into effect on November 1, 2002. All new 4-H advisors and other volunteers must now be approved through the new policy.

We currently have 10 new advisors going through the process. The process includes:

• Filling out an application, including complete information on three references.
• Having fingerprints taken at the Sheriff’s Department.
• Turning in the fingerprint card with a $15.00 money order to the Treasurer, State of Ohio.

Amy then sends out reference forms and forwards the fingerprints to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

• After receiving a report from fingerprint check, potential volunteers are contacted for an interview.
• Bonnie & Kris conduct the interview and provide the candidate with a job description.
• The potential volunteer attends New Advisor Training (April 28 or May 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the basement of the County Administration Building).
• At least two reference forms must be returned.

Clubs which accept Cloverbud members (grades kindergarten, first and second) must have at least one advisor who has attended Cloverbud training. The final new Cloverbud Advisor training will be held on Thursday, May 8 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the basement of the County Administration Building. Beginning advisors who will be working with Cloverbuds must complete the new volunteer approval process listed above and attend Cloverbud training.

Congratulations to our 2003 state camp delegates:

1. Photography Clinic: Saturday, May 3 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. at Edison Woods, State Route 61, N. in Berlin Heights. Photographer Eric Schmidt will be answering questions about photographing nature. Participants will have the opportunity to take pictures of wild flowers. The clinic is sponsored by the Erie County Park District. There is no fee for the clinic, but pre-registration is required. Call 419-625-7783 before April 27 or register at the south woods office after the 27^th .

2. Self-Determined Plan Clinic: Thursday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. in upstairs Meeting Room D at the County Administration Building. Kris Simpson, 4-H Program Assistant, will work with members enrolled in Self-Determined projects to prepare their project plans. All self-determined plans are due in the Extension Office by May 15. Plans must be approved before the project is official.

3. Art as Expression Clinic: Saturday, May 10 from 10:00 a.m. -12:00 noon and repeated on Monday, May 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in upstairs Meeting Room D of the County Administration Building. This clinic is required for all members taking Art as Expression for the first time. All other members are welcome to attend. There will be activities for both Junior and Senior members.

4. Genealogy Clinic: Saturday, May 17 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon at the Laning Young Resource Center, 9 Case Avenue, Norwalk. This clinic is required for all members taking Family History Treasure Hunt for the first time.

5. Foods & Nutrition Clinic: Saturday, May 17 from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon and repeated on Monday, May, 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the basement meeting room of the County Administration Building. This clinic is required for beginning food and nutrition members. Others are welcome.

6. Clothing Clinic: Saturday, May 31 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and repeated on Monday, June 2 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the basement meeting room of the County Administration Building. This clinic is required for all beginning clothing members. Others are welcome.

1. Cloverbud Day Camp: June 9 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.. Please note the new date, Cloverbud Day Camp has been held in July in the past. The theme is "Little Camp on the Prairie".

Registration forms should have been picked up for every Cloverbud at Advisor’s Conference. The cost is $20.00. Registration materials and other forms are due by May 19. Parents and advisors are welcome and encouraged to come assist at Cloverbud Camp. Contact Kris Simpson if you can help.

2. Intermediate Camp: June 10-13 for members currently in grades 6, 7 & 8. The theme is "Congercabana". The cost is $50.00.

Registration forms should have been picked up at Advisor’s Conference. Registration and at least a $25.00 deposit is due by May 31.

3. Junior Camp: June 16-19 for members currently in grades 3, 4 & 5. The theme is "Up, Up and Away". The cost is $50.00.

Registration forms should have been picked up at Advisor’s Conference. Registration and at least a $25.00 deposit is due by May 31.

Camp counselors have been training and preparing for camp since December. We are very excited about our camping programs! Please make sure every 4-H member receives a registration form. Encourage your members to attend. If you would like a camp counselor to come to a 4-H meeting to talk about camp, please call the Extension Office.

An action-packed session of activities to help your club members feel like a team is planned for Monday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the basement meeting room of the County Administration Building.

Team-building helps members connect and reduces the negative aspects of competition at the fair. Come join us for a fun and productive evening!

The Health & Safety Speaking Contest will be held on Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity to help members develop public speaking skills, while earning Honor Club points for your club.

There are three categories:

Topics for all categories are any health or safety topic that affects family living, whether it is in the home, on the farm, on the highway, or in public places.

Winners will receive cash awards. First place winners advance to district competition on July 11 in Wooster. Registration deadline for the county contest is Friday, June 20. Complete rules and scoring details were distributed at the Advisor’s Conference.

The Junior Fair King & Queen Contest is open to all 16-18 year old Junior Fair exhibitors. Entry forms were distributed at the Advisor’s Conference. Entry forms are due by 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, when all contestants meet and have publicity photos taken in the basement meeting room of the County Administration Building.

Preliminary interviews will be held on Monday, July 28. The final portion of the contest will be held on Tuesday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Judging Pavilion during the fair.

Members enrolled in selected still projects, who are interested in competing at the state fair, must bring their completed project book and exhibit with them to State Fair Selection on Monday, July 28 at 9:00 a.m.

Projects include: FCS projects (except Foods & Nutrition, Clothing, Creative Arts and Creative Writing) and Miscellaneous projects (except rockets, airplanes and veterinary science). Photography selections will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Patrick Nolan, Wakeman Hi-Rollers, was named the 2003 Christopher T. Norman Memorial Scholarship award winner by the Norman Family at the "A" Grade Banquet. Patrick will receive $500.00 to help with his expenses at The Ohio State University in the fall. Patrick was also named 2^nd alternate for three different Ohio 4-H scholarships.

The Village of North Fairfield, along with the North Fairfield Historical Association, is sponsoring a Bicentennial parade on Saturday, August 2 at 9:00 a.m. Huron County 4-H clubs are invited to participate. A registration card is available from the Extension Office.

Applications for 2003 Ohio State Fair Scholarships are available from the Extension Office. Applications are due by July 1. Applicants must be a 4-H member and either in college or ready to start college in the fall. Applicants must be active participants in the county fair and at the Ohio State Fair.

The annual forum for 4-H volunteers is educational as well as fun! Think about joining the 2003 Ohio delegation. The Forum will be held November 13-16 in Peoria, Illinois. Registration cost is $200.00. There will be a charter bus available for under $100.00 Bonnie Malone, Kris Simpson, Amy Palm, Rita Daniels, and Deb Angell are planning to attend. Contact Kris Simpson at the Extension Office if you would like more information.

"Splash into 4-H" is the 2003 Huron County Junior Fair theme. Clothing project booths will carry on the theme in many imaginative ways. Each clothing project number is displayed in a separate booth at the fair. For the past several years, clubs with clothing projects have been assigned to put together a booth every other year. This year, we are first going to take volunteers to prepare booths, and then assign other clubs to booths for which there are no volunteers. If your club would like to prepare a clothing booth, contact the Extension Office.

The Senior Fair Board will not reserve camping spots or put names on the waiting list until the Secretaries Office opens in the summer. They request that individuals stop calling the Fair Manager with requests.

Darryl Worley, who sings the number one country song, "Have You Forgotten", will perform on Friday, August 15 at the Huron County Fair. Pre-sale tickets for Darryl Worley, other grandstand attractions and season tickets will be sold on Saturday, May 3 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Secretary’s Office.

Darryl Worley tickets will be $10.00 general admission, $12.00 box seats and $14.00 track seats. Season tickets are still $16.00.

Other grandstand attractions include: harness racing on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday; OSTPA Tractor Pull on Wednesday (note change of date & improved classes); Thursday features Celebrity Donkey Races; and the Demolition Derby on Saturday.

Go to www.huroncountyfair.com for information.

Stephanie Dauch, Hartland Scramblers, has been selected as a member of the Ohio 4-H Delegation to Japan in 2003. Six Ohio 4-H’ers and a chaperone will visit Japan from July 14 - August 13. Congratulations!

The mission of the Ohio 4_H Tech Team is to broaden our understanding and use of technology while teaching, promoting, sharing, and enhancing technology in our clubs, our communities, our State and our National 4_H programs. Their website is at www.ohio4h.org/techteam/. Their website has helps for a club to start its own web page.

They have developed an e-mail newsletter about technology in Ohio 4-H. Members may subscribe by e-mailing 4htechteam@ag.ohio-state.edu.

The Ohio 4-H Center Campaign continues. To date, $9.1 million of the $12 million needed has been raised. Huron County is a long way from our goal of $100.00 per club. Please consider a fund raising program with proceeds to go to the Ohio 4-H Center.

The following clubs have already met or exceeded the county-wide club goal: Lyme Producers, Classy Clovers, Busy Needles, Clover Patch Kids, Ridgefield Country Kids, Flashes, Huron County Junior Dairy Club, Northside, Norwich Fun Bunch, Richmond Mother’s Helpers, Richmond Workers, Ripley Nifty Needlers & Cookers and Wakeman Wizards.

Other clubs which have also donated include: Huron Valley Go-Getters ($100 pledge over three years), Northside Country Kids, Peru Patriots, Sherman Shamrocks, Townsend Bonus Cibus and Townsend Top Notchers.

Barbara Wurzel, retired FCS Agent, is our county chairperson. Donation forms are available from the Extension Office.

"Live Smart", a series of health and safety activities for clubs is available for $4.50 at the Extension Office. The topics cover a variety of health and safety issues. The lessons are in easy to use lesson plans.

Sea Camp will be held July 6-10 on Kelleys Island. Cost of the camp is $330.00. Camp experiences focus on aquatic activities. Registration forms are due by May 15 and may be picked up at the Extension Office.

4-H Teen Camp will be held on Kelleys Island from Friday, June 27 - Monday, June 30. The camp is open to 4-H members ages 13-16 only. The cost of the camp is $120.00. Registration is due June 15.

Campers choose challenge activities for Saturday and Sunday. Challenge activities include canoeing, scuba, snorkeling, charter boat fishing, power boating, island bike tour, sailing, rock climbing, etc. Contact the Extension Office for registration materials.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will offer training in Huron County for Poultry Pullorum Testers on Tuesday, May 20 from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. All new testers must bring a mature chicken to the class for demonstration. Any tester needing to be recertified in 2003 must also bring the plates being used in testing, antigen currently being used and any other equipment used in testing.

RSVP to ODA at 1-800-282-1955. Respond to the Division of Animal Industry and schedule with Cindy. Reservations are due by May 16.

All feeder calves (beef steers, beef heifers and dairy steers) must be tagged at the fairgrounds on Saturday, May 17 between 8:00-11:00 a.m. Tagging will be on a first come, first served basis. All trailers will enter and exit through the West Lot gate.

All feeder calves must be vaccinated for respiratory illness. Two doses of vaccine are required. The first dose must be given by May 30. The second dose must be given by June 30. Certification of vaccination is due in the Extension Office by July 10. Certification forms are stapled in the feeder calf record books. Exhibitors who fail to vaccinate their calves and turn in the certification, will be ineligible for fair exhibition.

Congratulations to Annette Benich, Nathan Benich and Alex Bauer for placing in the Ohio Beef Expo Judging Contest. Nathan and Alex place 30^th and 31^st , respectively, and Annette placed 74th, in the Junior Division. The team placed 10^th overall. The team is coached by Rich Benich.

Flyers are available at the Extension Office.

Flyers are available at the Extension Office.

1. Rabbits: All clinics are at 6:30 p.m.

2. Goats: All clinics are at the fairgrounds at 7:00 p.m..

3. Chicken:

4. Turkey: All clinics are at the fairgrounds at 7 p.m.

5. Large Livestock:

8. Horses:

All 4-H and FFA members exhibiting livestock at the fair, with the exception of breeding rabbits and horses, must attend a Livestock Quality Assurance Training session each year. Three sessions remain:

All Quality Assurance sessions are held from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the basement meeting room of the County Administration Building.

Although the Ohio State Fair Livestock books are not yet available, it is not too soon to begin planning. All large livestock entries are due by June 20, this includes market steers/heifers which were nose printed in January.

NEW FOR 2003: All state fair, junior division, livestock entries will be charged an entry fee for each animal entered. The fee schedule is as follows:

Also, parking fees will be charged for horse shows, even though held prior to official opening day.