Hello again:
#1—Thanks to the leaders who attended the training on Monday, April 28th.
#2—We have 6 delegates for the Intermediate Trip: Marshall Stevens, Joshua DeJong, Andrew Whitaker, Patricia Townsend, Wayne Mast, and Travis Duke. They will represent us well. Steve Duke is also registered as a chaperone.
#3---We have 3 delegates representing Van Buren County on the Washington D.C. trip. They are Shelby Gordy, Louis Stevens, and Eric Chaplin.
#4—Iowa 4-H Conference and Round-Up is June 24-26. Zachary Wenke and Scott Mast are attending. Zach will be attending as a 2007-2008 4-H Conference member, Scott will be attending as the ongoing 2008-2009 State 4-H Conference member. Our congratulatins to both of these boys.
#5— Livestock identification sheets have been distributed. The idenfication sheets were due back to the office by May 15. If they haven’t been returned to us yet, please ask your members to drop them in the mail to us.
#6—Uncashed premium checks will be voided in June.
#7---There is a new fair project this year—The $15 Challenge—
*All participants to qualify for participation should:
a. Purchase an outfit that represents the 4-Her’s goal or intended use for the selected
outfit.
b. Have had individual planned or county experience(s) in choosing shopping
alternatives, evaluating fit, quality and construction features, price and cost
comparison.
c. Outfits may be selected and/or purchased from a garage sale, consignment store,
or resale shop (i.e. Goodwill, Salvation Army).
d. Cost of outfit must be $15 or less, not including shoes, accessories, or
undergarments.
e. Receipt(s) MUST be turned in with Clothing Event Report Form.
#8—Will Whitaker is taking 4 Shooting Sports members to the State Shooting Match at Montezuma on June 7th. Those participating are Louis Stevens, Marshall Stevens, Eric Chaplin, and Andrew Whitaker.
#9---It has been brought to our attention that there will not be any State Fair books sent out this year. Everything is on line at www.iowastatefair.org.
#10—The Iowa State Fair is inviting 4-H member to participate in “Day of Volunteers” at the Little Hands on the Farm. There will be 3 shifts per day, so you pick your work time, and you will get a free fair ticket, parking pass and t-shirt. Call our office for more details. As I read the information, it appears that you can pick your day to work.
#11--- We had 21 members weigh in 126 pigs in the 4-H/FFA Market Swine Weigh-In held on April 5th. Those members are:
Joey Carr, Justin Carr, Brock Caves, Eric Chaplin, Dylan Coffman, Hunter Coffman, Joshua DeJong, Alison Dickinson, Seth Dickinson, Max Dirks, Ali Hamburg, Kyle Hamburg, Haley Moore, Tony Moore, Jacinta Wenke, Joshua Wenke, Zachary Wenke, Alena Whitaker, Andrew Whitaker, Dakota Zeitler, and Mackenzie Zeitler.
#12—We had 15 members participate in the 4-H/FFA Market Sheep/Meat Goat Weigh-In held on April 27th. Those members weighing in sheep were: Robert Barker, Jr., Garrett Boatman, Christopher Boley, Brett Boyd, Joey Carr, Justin Carr, Joshua DeJong, Wayne Mast, Scott Mast, Tony Moore, Alex Schalla, Louis Stevens, Hannah Wells, Randy Wells, and Sarah Wells.
Those members weighing in meat goats were: Joshua DeJong, Heather Hatton, Louis Stevens and Marshall Stevens.
#13—We should have the county fair books next week. Also, you can access the 4-H section of the fairbook on our website. /vanburen/news/20084hfairbook.htm
#14—Gina Otterberg, dog project leader, is inviting all 4-H dog project kids to the next dog training meeting on June 8th at 4:00 at the southeast edge of the fairgrounds. Please bring your dog on a leash and proof of his/her current rabies vaccine.
#15—Put on you calendars July 31 from 4-6 p.m. for the Safe and Healthy Kids Fair at the Robert’s Building. There will be many displays, lots of fun stuff, free t-shirts, free school supplies, etc. There is no charge.
#16—Would you please contact our office when you set the date for your club tour? Sandy enjoys coming out and visiting with the families and offering any assistance she can.
#17—Our thanks goes to Norma Whitaker and her request that we include a rabbit showmanship class at the county fair this year. Current plans are to have a rabbit workshop prior to the fair.
#18—Clubs are invited to adopt a barn for fair cleanup in the same manner as we have done in the past years. Please contact our office with the barn you would like to clean.
The fairboard is inviting all clubs and all kids to fair clean up on Saturday, July 12th. I encourage you to have your club to come the morning of July 12th and clean your specific area. If this does not work out, your second option would be to clean your barn/chosen area at a convenient time for your club.
#19—We are in the process of researching to do ultra sound for the market animals at the county fair this year. The fee would be $8 per lamb, $8 per hog, and $12 per steer. We are still working on details but we’ve been asked to help get the word out that this might be another offering to the 4-H kids and to their families.
#20—Mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 11 at 6:00 p.m. for the kids for an Energy Fun meeting. This will be held at the Robert’s Center. These are some of the topics: solar cooked marshmallows and hotdogs, build an electric car, ultra-violet bead bracelets, glow in the dark toys, electroscopes, and solar balloons . It will energize 4-H members as they learn about renewable energy, electricity, motion, and the calculation of speed. There is no cost for the kids to attend the meeting but if they want to purchase a car kit they will be available for sale at $10 each.
Thanks. Sandy