From my desk to yours: 4-H Project Medals

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1 Aurora, Buffalo, Jerauld & Sanborn Counties Aurora County Extension Office PO Box 397 Plankinton, SD (605) Jerauld County Extension Office PO Box 366 Wessington Springs, SD (605) Sanborn County Extension Office PO Box 397 Woonsocket, SD (605) From my desk to yours: 4-H Project Medals Audra Scheel 4-H Youth Program Advisor February 2015 Inside this issue: 4-H Camp teens and adults wanted Winter Calf Shows Ordering Chickens Essay Contest Aurora County Jerauld-Buffalo County Sanborn County Calendar What are project medals? Project medals can be earned by 4-H members after three years in 4-H with 2 of those years in a specific 4-H Project area. Project medals are designed to reward youth for learning within a topic and promote mastery. Other requirements include giving 1 county or 2 club demonstrations/talks pertaining to the project area. This is usually where I see youth struggle. Although with a little planning, meeting this requirement can be done. Instead of picking a random speech topic, choose a topic that relates to your favorite project area. If you have more experience share that with your audience. Just starting a new project area, do some research. Remember your audience is the same age you are so keep it simple and interesting. As you are preparing your presentation, a great way to gain more experience as a speaker is to give a county talk. Usually we pick a date in June or July and have a judge come in to critique the talks/demonstrations. Don t let the word judge scare you! The judges are very nice and give great recommendations which will ultimately make you a better speaker. And that s the goal, for you to feel more comfortable in front of an audience! But back to the requirements for project medals.. You also need to show a project in the said area the year you apply for your medal and participate in judging as some level if available. For example: youth who are applying for a beef project medal need to have judged livestock at some point. However if you are applying for a medal in rabbits; there isn t a rabbit judging contest offered at this time. Consumer Decision Making counts as judging for any project areas dealing with clothing & textiles, nutrition, entertainment & leisure, personal finance, and personal care. You will need to turn in a record book the year you apply along with a project medal application by Oct.1. Application sheets can be obtained in the Extension office. Again medals promote mastery. Mastery is defined as full command of a subject or study. As club leaders and parents I challenge you to promote project achievement and the value in learning new things! Now is the time to plan your 4-H year:) South Dakota State University, South Dakota counties, and USDA cooperating. South Dakota State University adheres to AA/EEO guidelines in offering educational programs and services.

2 P a ge 2 Want to be a 4-H Camp Counselor? So You Want To Be A 4-H Camp Counselor? Are you ready for the mission? It s a big responsibility and the success of the camp depends a great deal on each counselor. If you choose to accept this mission you will agree to the following: Assist campers to learn. Make new friends. Work together as a team. Have FUN! Commit yourself to fun filled weeks at camp June 3-5 & 8-12, 2015 I am at least 16 years old. Contact the extension off ice for an application. audra.scheel@sdstate.edu Mission Impossible Training for 4-H Teen Counselors will be held in Brookings TBD. Camp Counselors have a Mission to choose the yearly camp theme, bring fresh ideas for youth attending, participate in songs, crafts, recreation & swimming, campfires and FUN! This Mission IS Possible with the help of YOU! 4-H Camp Chaperones Wanted 4-H Camp will be June 3-5 this year. Typically we have youth from the 4 county area attend. If you are interested in being an adult chaperone please contact the Extension office. thanks Enroll in 4-H for the year It s that time again! The new 4-H year begins on October 1 and it is important to remember that anyone who plans to be in 4-H must enroll every year. We will be utilizing the same program we used last year for the registration process 4hOnline. The website is If you do not remember your password, just click on I forgot my password and enter your address. A new password will be sent to your . Please be sure to check all of the information listed such as birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, etc. 4-H members must be 8 years old on or before January 1, They may not be 19 or older on or before January 1, Now is a great time to recruit new members! Fall Prospect Calf Shows Brookings AGR & Jackrabbit Classic, Brookings, SD Feb 28, 2015 More info listed at as shows sanction

3 P a ge 3 Pre-Order Your Chickens It s that time of year to start thinking about your poultry projects. The earlier you order your birds the more mature they will be at achievement days next summer. More mature means better feathers! Not sure where to get started? Consult 4-H members who have shown poultry in the past. Ask questions? I ve included a couple websites for you to look at, but local farm stores can also pre-order chicks. Just remember the key is to get them early! H Beekeeping Essay Contest The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, Inc. announces its annual 4-H essay contest. The topic for this year s competition is: Planting for Bees from Backyards and Up. Beekeeping has become difficult due to a lack of native plants for forage. In this essay, students are required to discuss ways that habitats can be modified to become "bee friendly". For example, does the community allow roadsides and open land to grow wildflowers and encourage native planting of bee friendly plants? Students are encouraged to survey their community and state to see what is being done to help honeybees. Examples might be wildflower planting programs or any other program that could aid the honey bee. The scope of the research is an essential judging criterion, accounting for 40% of the final score. The number of sources consulted, the authority of the sources, and the variety of the sources are all evaluated. Personal interviews with beekeepers and others familiar with the subject are valued sources of information and should be documented. Sources, which are not cited in the endnotes, should be listed in a "Resources" or "Bibliography" list. 4-H State Outreach Ronald McDonald Charity 4-H members throughout the state will be asked to collect can tabs for the next 12 months to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. We are asking counties to collect, weigh, and keep track of their tabs. With your help, we are looking forward to improving the lives of children and families in our state. County Extension offices will be provided with the cardboard houses to give to each club. To participate, 4-H members and clubs need to start collecting. Contact Audra Scheel for a reporting form; these will need to be turned in by August 1, We will be donating not only pop tabs, but also monetary donations and volunteer hours. A competition will be held among the counties and a prize will be awarded to the county that donates the most in each of these categories. With your help we look forward to improving the lives of families with sick children.

4 P a ge 4 Aurora 4-H Auction, Saturday, February 14 Auction starts at 10 am Club Schedule for Lunch Stand: 8:30-10:30 Storla Stockers 10:30-12:30 Aurora Country Siders/ Bits & Bridles Market Beef Weigh In Saturday, March 7 12:30 pm at the 4-H Barn Ext. office if you are coming! 12:30-2:30 Country Kids 2:30-4:30 Prairie Pups 4:30-6:30 Stickney Eagles Each family is to bring 2 pies or bars/cookies. (More pies are requested.) Aurora County 4-H Achievement 2015 Dates (order subject to change) Wednesday, August 5 Static Judging The Aurora County Conservation District will be teaming up with the Aurora County Extension Office to offer an edible landscape workshop at the ag building located on the fairgrounds on Monday, February 9 th, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. Speakers will be discussing the use of edible plants in a landscape and the health benefits of these plants; how to grow, harvest and market various fruits on a small scale to commercial basis and how to grow hops, grapes and soft fruits for homemade beer and wine making. For more information, contact Wendy at the Aurora County Conservation District, Ag Service Building. auroracd@goldenwest.net or Friday, August 7 Saturday, August 8 Livestock Weigh In Sheep Goats Round Robin Community BBQ Ag Olympics Breakfast Beef & Dairy Rabbit Poultry Aromatherapy Workshop Tuesday, March 17, 6:30 pm Essential Oils have been used for thousands of years in various cultures for medicinal and health purposes. Essential oil uses range from aromatherapy, household cleaning products, personal beauty care and being used as natural medicine. Learn how essential oils are extracted from plants by distilling or extracting directly from the bark, flower, fruit, leaf, seed or root of a plant or tree. Cat 4-H Leader/Parent Meeting March 30, 2015 at the Ag Building 7 pm Remember to turn in your Raffle Tickets and Money by Saturday, February 14 at the 4-H Auction. The drawing for the Framed Print will be held during the Auction. The dates for the Textile (Sewing) and Food Science Special Interest Groups will be announced soon.

5 P a ge 5 Jerauld Buffalo Butter Braid Fundraiser We will begin our annual county-wide 4-H Butter Braid Fundraiser at the Wessington Springs Farm Show on February 16th. This year all the proceeds will be going towards the new Nordby Exhibit Hall at the State Fair grounds. All Jerauld/Buffalo County 4-H families are expected to sell Butter Braids for this fundraiser. Order forms will be coming to you in the mail. All order forms and money MUST be turned into the Extension Office by 5:00pm on March 4th. Silent Auction at Farm & Home Show 4-H Families may donate baskets or solicit donations that can be put in the silent auction. All proceeds will go to the new Nordby Exhibit Hall on the state fair grounds. Julie Bruckner is coordinating and you may give her your donation/baskets at the school. We need to know what you are donating by Feb 6th so we can get a list put in the paper; please Mrs. Buckner or Audra Scheel. Julie.r.bruckner@k12.sd.us Audra.scheel@sdstate.edu There will be a Jerauld/Buffalo County 4-H Leaders Association Meeting on March 24th at 7:00pm at the WS Courthouse Community Room. ALL parents are welcome to attend. 4-H Parents there will be a informational presentation held at the farm show at for the proposed addition to the Jerauld Co. Ag Building. The contractor and engineer for the project will be present to answer questions and your feedback is important. We hope to see you there as we look to improve our community 4-H AG Building! Jerauld/Buffalo Co. 4-H Market Beef Weigh-In Feb 21st, 1:00pm at Springs Animal Health Clinic The Western Riders 4-H Horse Club will be meeting at 6:30pm on Friday, February the Ag Building in Wessington Springs Buffalo Hills 4-H Club Meeting Feb. 5:30 Contact Dulcy Sinkie for more Prairie Hills 4-H Club Meeting Feb. 3:30 in Jerauld Co. courthouse community room Are you interested in robotics? Yep that s a 4-H project area! Hope to see you at the meeting! See attachment for meeting minutes

6 P a ge 6 SANBORN Dates have been set for our Textile Science and Photography Special Interest Groups! Please RSVP to the Extension Office at Textile Science Workshop Monday, February 16th, 11 am-1 pm 4-H Building in Forestburg What to bring: Sack lunch Sewing machine 1/2 yard of fabric 1/3 yard of coordinating fabric 2 large buttons 2 binder with front pouch Sewing kit items: thread, scissors, pins, etc. One helper per child is encouraged! We will be making a table runner and learning about color! 4-H Fruit It s that time again! We will be selling 4-H fruit the month of February. Order forms are being handed out to the leaders. Listed below are several things you should know: It is important that you collect the money when a customer places an order. All checks should be made payable to Sanborn County 4-H Leaders and placed in the white envelope in your packets. Please bring in all order forms and money collected to the Extension Office by Thursday, February 26th. Do not turn them into your leaders. No orders will be accepted after February 26th! The fruit will be delivered Saturday, March 21st. Plan to come help unload the truck and to pick up your fruit for delivery. Please take time to read the information in the packet about the fruit. Photography Special Interest Group Tuesday, February 17 ~ 7-8 pm 4-H Building in Forestburg We will be discussing photography basics. You are encouraged to bring your camera and a laptop if you have one. If you cannot attend, we still encourage participation, please us and we will send out support materials and the assignment challenge. Market Beef Rate of Gain Weigh-In Saturday, March 8:00 AM at the Artesian Vet Clinic. Please the Extension Office if you will be bringing a market beef so that we know who is coming. Sanborn County Leader s Meeting Thursday, February 7:00 PM 4-H Building in Forestburg

7 4-H Calendar 2015 P a ge 7 February Feb. 6 Jerauld/Buffalo ~ Western Riders 6:30 at Ag Building, WS Feb. 6 Jerauld/Buffalo ~ Buffalo Hills C. 5:30 Feb. 8 Jerauld/Buffalo ~ Prairie Hills 3:30 Feb. 9 Edible Landscapes Seminar Aurora Co. Ag Building, 5:30 pm Feb. 12 Sanborn ~ Leader s 7:00 pm, 4-H Bldg. in Forestburg Feb. 14 Aurora ~ Annual 4-H Auction, Ag Building, 10 am Feb. 16 Sanborn ~ Textile Science Workshop, 4-H Building in Forestburg, 11 am-1 pm Feb. 16 Springs Farm & Home Show in WS from 10 AM 3PM Feb. 17 Sanborn ~ Photography Special Interest Group, 4-H Building in Forestburg, 7-8 pm Feb. 21 Jerauld/Buffalo ~ Mkt. Beef Weigh Springs Animal 1pm Feb. 26 Sanborn ~ Fruit sale orders are due to the Extension Office! March March 7 March 16 March 17 March 21 March 24 March 30 Sanborn ~ Market Beef Weigh In 8:00 AM Artesian Vet Clinic Aurora ~ Market Beef Weigh in 12:30 PM Plankinton 4-H Grounds Jerauld/Buffalo ~ Butter Braids Delivered (pick up at AG Building 3PM) Aurora ~ Aroma Therapy 4-H Workshop in 6:30 PM Sanborn ~ Fruit delivered to 4-H Building in Forestburg Jerauld/Buffalo ~ Leader 7pm at Courthouse Community Room Aurora ~ Leader s Meeting, Ag Bldg., 7 pm April April SD 4-H Leaders Assoc. Meeting, Mitchell SD 2015 Affidavits can be found at the link below Species ID Method for State Fair Exhibition Deadline for Ownership Breeding Beef Ear tattoo & Registration Paper for registered cattle June 1 Commercial heifers must have ear tattoo or EID tag or Bangs Tag or 4-H Green Tag & birthdate listed on OVA form Breeding Meat Goat USDA Official Scrapie ID June 1 Breeding Sheep USDA Official Scrapie ID June 1 Dairy Cattle Ear tattoo & Registration Paper for registered cattle June 1 Grade and crossbred cattle must have ear tattoo or EID tag or Bangs Tag or 4-H Green Tag & birthdate listed on OVA form Dairy Goat USDA Official Scrapie ID June 1 Weigh-in Date Range Tattoo & Registration Paper for registered goats Unrecorded Grade goats must have tattoo or herd tag and birthdate listed on OVA form Market Beef Official 4-H Green Tag 1/1-4/1 DNA SAMPLE Weight & Weigh-in Date listed on OVA form Market Goat & Lamb USDA Official Scrapie ID June 1 4/4-6/1 DNA SAMPLE Weight & Weigh-in Date listed on OVA form Market Swine Official 4-H Green Tag June 1 4/1-6/1 DNA SAMPLE Weight & Weigh-in Date listed on OVA form Poultry Plastic Leg Band June 1 Rabbit Ear tattoo in LEFT ear June 1

8 Sanborn Co. Extension PO Box W. 6 th St. Woonsocket, SD Phone: audra.scheel@sdstate.edu sanborn.county@sdstate.edu Youth Development through the power of 4-H! Making the Best Better! GEMS Workshop A Girls Engineering Math & Science Workshop is planned for Sat. March 28 on the SDSU Campus in Brookings. The workshop will be held from 9 am 5pm. The workshop is for 8th grade girls and provides an opportunity to explore science and technology through hands on learning. Activities include forensics, robots and bridge building. Camp fee is $25 if registered by March 20. For more info go to Scholarships Opportunities for youth 12 & up! Must be in attendance of the AGR/B&B Cattle Show to receive award. In memory of Logan Rau, Brent Beitelspacher, DJ Fisher, Nick Reimann & Lisa Johnson. See details at Deadline is Feb. 16 South Dakota State University, South Dakota counties, and USDA cooperating. South Dakota State University adheres to AA/EEO guidelines in offering educational programs and services.