Project Books are due Monday, September 21, 2015 by 4:30pm! Here Ye! Here Ye! Calling All Knights, Lords and Ladies September 26-27, 2015

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1 Family Grapevine Information for 4-H families September/October 2015 Here Ye! Here Ye! From the Desk of the Agent Calling All Knights, Lords and Ladies September 26-27, 2015 The 4-H Teen Council s 6 th annual Renaissance Faire will be held Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, 2015 at the Warren County Farmers Fairgrounds. Step back in time when a cultural movement known as the Renaissance evolved; a time when da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Galileo transformed the world with their art and science! Join revelers, knights, nobles, greyhounds and more at the Renaissance Faire! There will be a Living Chess Match, Jousting, Live Falconry, and Much More! For more information, please contact the 4-H office at Project Books are due Monday, September 21, 2015 by 4:30pm! See last 3 pages of Grapevine for more details!

2 Attn: 4-H Leaders The Next 4-H Leaders Association Meeting September 2, 2015 at 7:30pm All registered Warren County 4-H leaders are welcome. If you prefer a hard copy mailed to your address, please call the office and confirm your updated contact information so we can send you a paper copy. We will only send paper copies to those families that contact us. We hope that 4-H families take advantage of the Grapevine online and help us save the environment. The Jr. Breeder loan program a great program for young adults already participating in 4-H to acquire livestock via a low-interest livestock loan. Contact the 4-H office for the forms and additional information. Going to Rutgers????? Going to miss 4-H???? No Need! You can join the Collegiate 4-H Club They do much to support 4-H in NJ Our Mission The Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development program uses a learn by doing approach to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring, and contributing citizens of the world. Family Grapevine Bi-Monthly Newsletter Rutgers Cooperative Extension 165 County Route 519 South Belvidere, NJ (908) This mission is accomplished by using the knowledge and resources of the land grant university system, along with the involvement of caring adults Alayne J. Torretta, County 4-H Agent Michelle Teitsma, 4-H Program Associate Alex Zolla, 4-H Secretary 2

3 Mark Your Calendars! National Read A Book Day Sunday, September 6 A day when bibliophiles* gather together to enjoy the simple pleasures of reading! *bibliophile: (noun) a person who collects or has a great love of books. 4-H Homecoming Saturday, September 12, H Alumni, Volunteers & Friends are invited to participate in the 4-H Homecoming event scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 11am to 4pm at the L.G. Cook 4-H Camp in Sussex County! There will be hiking, fishing, games, boating, camp tours, stories, photos and much more! Rain or Shine! The event is $20.00 per person and 5 years old and under are free! Please join us for a picnic and a day of 4-H friends, food and fun! Please visit nj4h.rutgers.edu/homecoming/ for more information, registration and area attractions. Shooting Sports Instructor Training September 25th-27th, 2015 New Jersey 4-H Shooting Sports Program is hosting a state workshop to certify or re-certify volunteer leaders as 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors at Lindley G. Cook 4-H Camp on September 25th-27th, This workshop will feature training in Archery, Shotgun, Muzzle Loader, Rifle, and Air Pistol. Instructor candidates must be 21 years or older, Assistant Instructors (18 + years of age) and Junior Instructors (16 to 18) are welcome. All equipment is supplied. The workshops will focus on youth development, risk management and the shooting disciplines. For more information visit National 4-H Conference Application deadline: October 1, Program: April 9-14, 2016 The 2016 National 4-H Conference will be held April 9-14 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. National 4-H Conference is the premier youth development opportunity to engage youth assisting in the development of recommendations to help guide 4- H Youth Development Programs nationally and in their communities. Approximately 300 youth, volunteer leaders, and state and county Extension staff members from across the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the Canadian Provinces are expected to attend. New Jersey will be sending a delegation of six teen 4-H members and two adult chaperones. Teens must be in the grades as of September 2015 in order to participate in the 2016 event. 4-H members interested in attending must work well in groups, have good communication skills and be leaders. They should also be interested in making a change in their community and be willing to work on a project upon their return. Interested 4-H members must complete an application form available from the county 4-H office or on-line at All applications are due to the county 4-H office by October 1, Group and individual interviews will be held on Saturday, November 14 at the School of Environmental & Biological Sciences, Cook-Douglas Campus, Rutgers University.

4 4-H Autumn Antique Show Sunday, October 18, 2015 The State 4-H Association is sponsoring an Autumn Antique Show on Sunday, October 18, 2015 from 10am to 4pm at the Somerset County 4-H Center located at 310 Milltown Road in Bridgewater. Admission is $7.00 per person. Proceeds from this event will be used to help cover the bus cost for the 2016 Citizenship Washington Focus delegates. SAVE THE DATE!!! Achievement Night Saturday, October 24, 2015 More Information to Follow! Leadership Washington Focus Application deadline: November 1, Program: July 18-22, 2016 The 3rd Annual Leadership Washington Focus (LWF) will be held July at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase Maryland. There will be 4-H members representing several states across the nation at Leadership Washington Focus. LWF is a 4-day event (Monday-Friday) for 4-H members in grades 6-8 at the time of application. The program will provide an opportunity for youth to listen to motivational speakers and participate in workshops that will develop communication skills, increase leadership capacity and build lifetime skills. The program utilizes Washington, D.C. as a working classroom to learn about leadership and provides hands-on opportunities for our younger teens to promote Learn to Lead Now - Better Leaders Tomorrow." Activities during the 4-day conference will help delegates to: Build confidence in their ability to motivate and direct others in meaningful action. Practice effective communication with others through group discussion and public speaking. Work with others to create and accomplish goals. Develop an understanding of leadership styles and identify personal style. Exchange ideas, practice respect and form friendships with other 4-H'ers from across the nation. Visit some of D.C.'s most spectacular sights and learn about the different types of leadership conveyed through the symbolism of our national monuments and memorials. The cost for the conference is $800 per person which includes all expenses registration, lodging, meals, transportation and activities. Applications are due to the county 4-H office by November 1. The application can be found at For more information, contact the 4-H office or Jeannette Rae-Keywood at ext Council of Presidents Saturday, November 14, 2015 If you are elected as an officer in your club for the H year and are in grades 4-13, this meeting is for YOU! The Council of Presidents meets 4 times per year. You will learn how to run a business meeting, what all those terms mean, have some fun and help plan the countywide community service project! The next Council of Presidents meeting/training is 10-1:00 on the following date: November 14, 2015 We will have a special speaker at the November meeting!

5 2016 Public Presentations March 2016 Did you know that public speaking is the #1 fear in the world? More people are afraid to speak in front of a group than are afraid of spiders, snakes, heights, and even death! It s never too early to start thinking about your public presentation for the new project year! Public speaking is a skill that you will use your entire life! For example: Book reports and oral reports in school, college interviews, job interviews etc. Being able to communicate your thoughts to a group of people in an organized fashion takes practice! Lots of practice! All 4-H members including Cloverbuds are encouraged to give a presentation! New for 2016: Updated Registration Form Presentation Time Limits County Level Presentation Requirements Public Presentation Workshops Offered The new updated presentation registration form will be available in the late fall when the dates and location(s) of county presentation events have been confirmed! Presentation Time Limits: o 3-5 minutes for Cloverbud members o 5-15 minutes for regular members (the more experienced you are at public speaking the longer you will be expected to talk for example 1 st year members or 1 st time presenters will only be expected to speak for 5-6 minutes where-as a 9 th year member will be expected to speak for minutes.) o minutes for team presentations (team presentations are given in pairs. No more than 2 presenters can make up a team.) County Level Requirements: If you plan to give a county level presentation to qualify for ANY State level 4-H event, the presentation MUST be given at the March presentation events! No other presentation dates will be accepted as county level for qualifying purposes. Michelle Teitsma will come to your club meeting and give an all-inclusive How To workshop o How to pick your topic o How to organize and polish your presentation o How to incorporate props and graphics o How to coordinate your attire with your topic o And finally how to not be AFRAID! If you receive an excellent on your 2016 county level presentation and are in 8 th through 13 th grade, you will receive an invitation to participate in the State Presentation Contest! This is a great opportunity to represent your county at a state event! Presentations will be given in classrooms throughout Hickman Hall. There are usually 6-8 presentations in each room. Presenters will also have an opportunity to see presentations given by 4-H members from throughout the state. NOTE: If you plan to give a state level presentation it needs to be 8-15 minutes in length! For more information, please contact the 4-H office at

6 Horse Leaders Meeting Wednesday, September 23, 2015 Reminder that the next Horse Leaders Meeting is on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at 7:30pm at the 4-H Office Equine Scholarship Available The NJ Equine Advisory Board is offering a $1,000 scholarship to help 4-H and FFA members pursue their equine activities. Applicants must be New Jersey residents between the ages of 15 and 19. The Sara Dubinin Scholarship, in memory of Sara Dubinin who loved horses, will be presented at the New Jersey Bred Equine Breeder Awards Luncheon on January 24, 2016 at O Conner s Restaurant (formerly Charleys Other Brother) in Eastampton. Those interested in receiving the scholarship must submit an application form including an essay on, How horses have affected my life and how horses figure into my future. The application can be found at Consideration of application will be weighted upon the candidate s financial need State 4-H HORSE SHOW August 21, 22, AND 23 at the Horse Park of NJ Thank you to the Warren County Horse Leaders for sponsoring the Warren County equestrians at the NJ State 4-H Horse Show this year! The show was held August 21-23, And Thank You to the Warren County 4-H parents who volunteered to supervise the lunge ring on Friday! Results will be in the next Grapevine issue! Trail Ride Saturday, September 19, 2015 Rain date September 26, 2015 Bright Futures Farm (equine charity) is organizing charity trail ride through the American Competitive Trail Horse Association on Saturday, September 19, 2015 on the Paulinskill Valley Trail in Newton, NJ (neighboring Sussex County). In addition to participants, they are looking for volunteers to help organize and run the event. If you are interested in volunteering or for more information, please contact Christine at Christine.Egidio@dbr.com or call The deadline to submit the essay is January 2, 2016 and can be submitted to Lynn Mathews at lynn.mathews@ag.state.nj.us. For more information, please call the Lynn Mathews at

7 4-H golead Youth Leadership Institute 29 4-H members representing 13 counties participated in the first New Jersey 4-H golead 4- H Youth Leadership Institute on July 1-2 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. News! 4-H Paper Clover Campaign Report The Paper Clover Campaign held earlier this year netted Warren County $736! golead stands for Generation On Leadership, Education and Development and is an innovative approach to equip middle and high school aged you with invaluable 21 st century skills that will allow them to change themselves and the world through service learning projects. The Warren County participant was Nicole VanBlarcom. This year marks the 6th year of collaboration between National 4-H Council and Tractor Supply. This fundraiser benefits state and local 4-H programming in each county where a TSC is located. Shoppers at any of the 13 TSC stores in NJ had the opportunity to support 4-H in that county by choosing to purchase paper clovers for a $1 at the checkout. Warren County TSC stores are located in Washington and Blairstown. Thank you to our 4-H members and families who helped support this fundraiser! 2 Silky Roosters in Need of Homes Danielle Harrold needs to find homes for 2 Silky Roosters. If you are interested in them, please contact her at Join the Warren County 4-H Teen Council! Teen Council is open to youth in the 8-13 th grades! Teen Council members have a strong interest in creating a positive impact in our community. During the year, members strengthen leadership and communication skills through community service work, assisting with local and state events, and serving as role models to younger 4 H members. The first meeting is Sunday, October 4, am-1pm at the 4-H Office

8 Fair Results Alpaca Show: 1st Place Novice/Beginner Showmanship Kimberly Kolibas 1st Place Intermediate Showmanship Megan Baker 1st Place Experienced Showmanship Sydney Spranger Champion Showman Sydney Spranger Animal/Vet Sciences: Best in Show Ivana Waldele Beef Show: 1 st Place Beginner Showman - Stacey Giordano 1 st Place Experienced Showman - Brittany Smith Champion Showman - Stacey Giordano 1 st Place Best Fitted - Brittany Smith 1 st Place Early Junior Yearling Heifer - Brittany Smith Junior Champion - Brittany Smith Grand Champion Female - Brittany Smith 1 st Place Beef Market Animal Light Weight Stacey Giordano 1 st Place Beef Market Animal Middle Weight Brittany Smith Grand Champion Market Animal Brittany Smith Reserve Champion Market Animal Stacey Giordano Bowmanship: Best Junior Bowmanship Christopher Wilson Best Senior Bowmanship Breille Duncan Creative Crafts: Best in Show Stacey Giordano Honorable Mention Eva Commisso Dairy Show: 1st place Novice Showman - Kimberly Kolibas 1 st Place Beginner Showman - Olivia Santini 1 st Place Experienced Showman - Brittany Smith Champion Showman - Brittany Smith Fine Arts: Best in Show Phillipa Shirley Honorable Mention Elizabeth Farley Goat Show: 1 st Place Novice Shomanship Eva Commisso 1 st Place Beginner Showmanship Stacey Giordano 1 st Place Intermediate Showmahip Benjamin Bishop 1 st Place Experienced Showmanship Brittany Smith Champion Showman Brittany Smith Meat Type: Champion Buck Brittany Smith Champion Wether Brittany Smith Jr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Sr. Champion Doe - Brittany Smith Reserve Sr. Champion Dow Brittany Smith Grand Champion Brittany Smith Reserve Grand Champion Brittany Smith Cross Breed Dairy: Champion Buck Brittany Smith Reserve Champion Buck Rhiannon Bernard Jr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Reserve Jr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Sr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Reserve Sr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Grand Champion Doe Brittany Smith Reserve Grand Champion Doe Brittany Smith 1 st Place Dam and Offspring Rhiannon Bernard Nigerian Dwarf: Champion Buck Benjamin Bishop Reserve Champion Buck Elizabeth Donnelly Jr. Champion Doe Benjamin Bishop Reserve Jr. Champion Doe Lucas Yanchok Sr. Champion Doe Kristine Zarovchak Reserve Sr. Champion Doe Kimberly Kolibas Grand Champion Kristine Zarovchak Reserve Champion Kimberly Kolibas 1 st Place Dam & Offspring Eva Commisso Grade Dairy Does (Divisions I): Jr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Reserve Jr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Sr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Reserve Sr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Grand Champion Brittany Smith Reserve Grand Champion Brittany Smith 1 st Place Dam & Offspring Brittany Smith Grade Dairy Does (Divisions II): Jr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Sr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Grand Champion Brittany Smith Reserve Grand Champion Brittany Smith Grade Dairy Does (Divisions III): Jr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith Sr. Champion Doe Brittany Smith

9 Grand Champion Brittany Smith Reserve Grand Champion Brittany Smith Fiber Type: Jr. Champion Doe Eva Commisso Reserve Jr. Champion Doe Eva Commisso Sr. Champion Doe Kristine Zarovchak Reserve Sr. Champion Doe Megan Baker Grand champion Kristine Zarovchak Reserve Grand Champion Eva Commisso Horticulture Show: Best of Show Lyndsee Westermann Honorable Mention Lyndsee, Tabitha, and Evangeline Westermann Best in Class Lucas Yanchok Livestock Trail Show: 1 st Place Livestock Trail Class Sydney Spranger 1 st Place Livestock Trail Choice Sydney Spranger 1 st Place Miniature Horse Trail Class Alyssa Stout Photography: Best in Show Elizabeth Farley Honorable Mention Lucas Yanchok Rabbit Show: Best in Show Melissa Cace Reserve Best in Show Kaitlyn Smith Champion Senior Showman Brittany Smith Champion Junior Showman Hannah Beck Best Fur Ivana Waldele Best Doe & Litter Brittany Smith Best of Breed Flemish Giant Lyndsee Westermann Best of Breed American Fuzzy Lop Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed Holland Lop Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed Himalayan Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed Netherland Dwarf Brittany Smith Best of Breed Miss Marked Dutch Brittany Smith Best of Breed Florida White Kimberly Kolibas Best of Breed English Spot Brittany Smith Best of Breed Mini Lop Melissa Cace Best of Breed Mixed Breed Rhiannon Bernard Best of Breed Rhinelander Karsen Smith Best of Breed Rex Ivana Waldele Best of Breed Dwarf Hotot Ashley Golden Best of Breed Velveteen Elizabeth Farley Best of Breed Dutch Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed Mini Satin Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed Palomino Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed Lionhead Kaitlyn Smith Sheep Show: 1st Place Novice Showmanship Rhiannon Bernard 1st Place Beginner Showmanship Stacey Giordano 1st Place Experienced Showmanship Brittany Smith Champion Showman Brittany Smith 1 st Place Best Fitted Meat Breed Brittany Smith Grand Champion Purebred Ram - Brittany Smith Grand Champion Purebred Ewe Brittany Smith Reserve Champion Purebred Ewe Brittany Smith Grand Champion Grade Ewe Brittany Smith Reserve Grand Champion Grade Ewe Rhiannon Bernard Champion Market Lamb Brittany Smith Reserve Champion Market Lamb Brittany Smith 1 st Place Pen of Three Lambs Brittany Smith 1 st Place Exhibitor Flock Brittany Smith 1 st Place Best Animal Bred, Owned and Shown Brittany Smith Small Animal Show: Best of Show Kaitlyn Smith Reserve Best of Show Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed Abyssinian Satin Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed Himalayan Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed American Tan Kaitlyn Smith Best of Breed Chinchilla Brittany Smith Swine Show: Champion Breeding Hog Brittany Smith Champion market Hog Brittany Smith Best Hog in Show Brittany Smith Woodworking: Best in Show - Stacey Giordano Honorable Mention Stacey Giordano

10 Fun at the Fair! Club News! We would LOVE to hear what your club has been up to! Please drop us a line or photograph! Got club news? Send it to 4-H@co.warren.nj.us

11 Record books To wrap up the H Year, your completed project record books are submitted to the 4-H office for review. In this newsletter, you will find the APPLICATION PAGE that must accompany your record book! Print it and put it with your record book. We will also need proof that you did your public presentation in March of 2015 or at the 2015 Fair. That would be your judging sheet. Project Record Books are due to the 4-H Office September 21 by 4:30 p.m. 4-H Alumni from around the country at Rutgers University will again review your record books. These former 4-H members will give you feedback we hope will help you to see strengths in your record keeping, project area(s), community service, and leadership abilities. Also, they can point out how you can improve in these areas as well! Record books are the only way that reviewers can see, in detail, what you have learned over the past 4-H year so the books are very important in getting to know you and acknowledging your accomplishments. We realize that many kids HATE to write (especially when it is not for school) and that record books are the farthest things from your mind in September. But, if you haven t waited until September to begin your record keeping, finishing them up in a month should be a SNAP! Ask mom or dad (or your leader!) to help you set a time to work on your book. If you need a project record book, you can download from and follow the link for RECORD BOOKS, however, keep in mind that filling one out in one month CAN be a burden! Clover bud record books available If your child is a clover bud member (grades k-3) of 4-H, or if you have one in your club, you can get them started right. Clover bud record books are a great way to introduce the record keeping skills youth need for an independent adulthood. We would love to display them at the Achievement Night this October.

12 County Recognition Remember, in order to be recognized at the county level we need to hear from YOU! Fill out the one page application. The page is included in this newsletter. (You can get it on line or the office) and submit it with your record book. Also you must have: Attended 70% of your club meetings Given a formally judged presentation at the county or state level (include the judging sheets with the book) Completed a project record book in the area you would like recognition by the deadline Participated in this year s fair Participated in a 4-H sponsored community service project Don t miss out because you forgot the application page! The office cannot fill one out for you!!!! If you have completed all of the above and have COMPLETED 4th grade or higher, county recognition is in the form of achievement medals, or pins, in your project area and are given out at the achievement dinner in the fall. Recognition for cloverbud members (grades k-3) is in the form of a certificate of participation. You and your family are invited to participate in Achievement night October 24, 2015 whether you ve completed a record book or not! 4-H will honor you with certificates of merit or participation, depending on how active you have been this year. Outstanding Project Member In addition to the achievement medals, one outstanding project member is chosen in the more popular project areas and will be announced at the dinner. A 4-H member can be awarded this recognition more than once. This is why your record books are turned in and sent down to the Rutgers 4-H Collegiate Group. Are YOU an Outstanding 4-Her?? Warren County 4-H will select two outstanding 4-H members for the year, but a 4-Her must apply for this recognition. Call the office for an application. It can only be awarded once in a 4-H career for a member who maintains a member in good standing status in the year they apply. Outstanding 4-Her applications are available in the 4-H office and are due September 21.

13 Warren County 4-H County Recognition Application Sheet Member s Name Year:20 - Years in 4-H In order to be eligible for county recognition you must turn in a completed record book and do ALL of the following. Please indicate and check all you have done. Attend 70% of your club meetings: Name of Club Meetings Held Meetings Attended Office Held Participate in the Warren County Farmers Fair: yes no Participation in the fair means: building watch, exhibiting a project, working a milk booth shift, giving a public presentation during fair, showing, etc. List what you did at fair: Participate in a 4-H sponsored Citizenship/Community Service project: yes No Give a Public Presentation: county level state level Topic Award: Be sure to submit your presentation judging sheets with this application! In addition to these requirements, you may have done the following. Check & describe what you have done. Leadership role: yes no

14 Instructions for turning in your record book for county recognition This application page should be filled out ONCE no matter how many books you turn in. If you participated in fair, community service, public presentations, or took on any leadership roles, describe what you did on the application for county recognition form All pictures should be added at the END of the record book to which they pertain Public presentation judging sheets should be attached to this application Project judging sheets must be included in each project record book. Completing record books Try to set at least 2 project specific goals and 2 general goals. Make sure to list the project specific goals in their project book. Events/activities for a specific project area should be listed on the OTHER 4-H ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS I PARTICIPATED IN page in their project book. Do not mix project areas! Keep rabbit events in your rabbit book and photography events in your photography book. General 4-H activities, such as presentations or road clean ups can go in each of the books. It may be a little extra writing, but it will help the reviewers know what you did in your project area and 4-H year. Things outside of 4-H should not be listed. If you do more than one record book My 4-H story should be written for each story based on that project area. Please don t photo copy one massive story for reviewers to sort through to get a picture of what your 4-H year in that project was like. It is acceptable to type a story. If you do more than one book, please do not write anywhere see my (other) book. Reviewers will be looking at your books one at a time and cannot cross reference for each youth. January 2012 Alayne Torretta, County 4-H Agent

15 Record Books Record books will be reviewed by the Rutgers Collegiate 4-H group. To simplify the process and explain to the collegiate youth what is looked for in a project area, this working tool has been devised. Please know that all youth who complete a project record book and turn it in on time and are members in good standing will receive a pin (or medal) in that project area no matter what their score. Project area: A complete and quality, age-appropriate record book in project area (neat, organized, easy to find pertinent information, etc.) comments: Project skills gained based on goals and appropriate to years in project comments: Evidence of ongoing, in-depth, engagement in project area (daily/weekly/monthly activities, and/or project related events, goals, etc.) comments: Participate in any county, state, national general 4-H sponsored events (presentations, fair, other shows) one two three five or more (NOTE: This total should be the same for each project area for this individual) Points comments: Project Area Total: We will try to have two reviewers per record book. The highest score a 4-H member could receive in their project area is 80 (40 for each reviewer). The highest score would then determine the outstanding 4-H member in a project area. In project areas where no one maintained evidence of in-depth mastery or involvement, the outstanding rank will not be awarded. This is determined to be a score of at least 60 or higher. Horse Members: The score does not reflect who will receive outstanding record book. This is determined by a Collegiate Group vote based on their opinion of the quality/neatness of the book, not the member s involvement in the project area or mastery of skills.

16 Record Book Tips for Parents and Leaders DO NOT insist that youth do a record book. Youth may still bake, do arts and crafts, take pictures, make clothes, bring Fluffy the cat to the fair, and all the other 4-H activities they have enjoyed in the past. They will still be recognized with awards for entries submitted at the events for their efforts. DO insist that youth complete a record book on their own if they decide to keep one and you feel they are capable! (Youth who are too busy to bother do qualify as being capable). In addition to skills taught in a project area, we are teaching youth responsibility. We already know that adults can fill out the pages a lot faster and easier than youth. Do not do your children a disservice and rob them of this learning experience by completing the book for them. Record keeping is an important part of the 4-H experience, just as showing and public presentations are. DO encourage youth who decide to keep a record book to fill it out regularly through out the 4-H year. Last minute record keeping is a bad habit with many adults. We can do our youth a favor and help them overcome this bad habit at a young age. If you are a leader, regularly set aside meeting time for youth to work on their record books. Parents can make the time easier in a variety of ways. Fill out the easier sections of the book right off ex. 4-Hers personal information, goals, general project animal info, etc. Fill out events or projects made right after they happen. Keep a calendar of 4-H happenings so nothing is forgotten. The office has some free nifty 4-H calendars just ask. Set aside time weekly or monthly time to fill out the books. Be available to youth if they have questions, etc. Use the 4-H office as often as needed to ask questions and get clarification. Asking leaders and other parents can be helpful, however, the books are new and rumors frequently become law. By calling the office, you hear it directly. Youth will not be disqualified for misspelled words, entering information in the wrong place or putting items out of order (unless the most of the book is made up of such items). Turn in your record books early so if information needs to be corrected, there is time to do so.

17 County Awards Requirements for county award: Youth must attend 70% of club meetings, give a public presentation, complete a record book, and participate in fair. Youth who attend the awards banquet and do not complete a record book, will receive a 4-H participation certificate. Youth who turn in a record book that is not complete, does not have their leader s signature, and/or does not complete one or more of the county requirements, will receive a 4-H project merit certificate. Youth who turn in a record book that is complete and have fulfilled the requirements for a county award will receive a 4-H project achievement certificate. Youth are also eligible for outstanding 4-Her in their project area as well as the following awards: Citizenship four awards are given to youth who have helped others succeed. They support their 4-H project area and 4-H. Citizenship is synonymous with 4-H. Leadership four awards are given to youth who have excelled in inspiring others to achieve or have shown the way to attain goals. Achievement four awards are selected from youth nominated by club leaders. Youth should be well-rounded individuals with usually more than one project or who have taken one project to the highest level. Public speaking awards are given to youth in recognition of their ability to teach and share ideas. Eligible youth have received an excellent rating on their county and state presentation. Agriculture four awards are given to youth who excel in more than one agricultural project. Best Demonstrator one award is given to a youth who excels in effectively communicating information to others. He or she shows outstanding public speaking and demonstration skills. Best Club Reporter one award is given to the outstanding club reporter. Outstanding 4-Her two awards are given to youth who have exhibited outstanding leadership skills and a positive attitude. They are quick to offer their help and can be counted on for their reliability and responsible nature. Youth MUST apply for this award.