LEADERSHIP. In Action. Through The Lens. p.18. RESULTS FROM THE 90th ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR

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1 winter 2012 LEADERSHIP In Action volume 12 / issue 04 official publication of 4-H ontario Through The Lens feature photos from the 2012 Cover photo Contest & a profile of our winning photographer pages p.18 RESULTS FROM THE 90th ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR

2 If my daughter was interested in farming, I couldn t imagine abetterlifeforher. I mean, what could be better than farming? Lisa Jenereaux, Nova Scotia POWERED BY FARM CREDIT CANADA Share the love Sure, agriculture is challenging. It s hard work. It s stressful. There s so much to do and a lot to learn. But could you imagine yourself doing anything else? Canadian agriculture is full of hard-working, business-savvy people like you who love what they do, challenges and all; people who see a future in ag and can t wait to be a part of it. But for Canadian agriculture to reach its full potential, this has to be better understood by the public and our own industry. The story of Canadian agriculture is one of success, promise, challenge and determination. And the greatest storytellers are the 2.2 million Canadians who live it every day. Be proud. Champion our industry. Share your story, hear others and learn more at AgricultureMoreThanEver.ca

3 LEADERSHIP In Action leadership in action is the official publication of 4-H ontario, and is distributed four times a year in January (special edition), may (spring), august (fall) and December (Winter). copy deadlines: December 10, april 10, July 10, november 10. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without the written permission of 4-H Ontario. Editor & Graphic Designer: Marshal McLernon Writer & Copy-Editor: Nikki Kross Cover Photo: Jordanna Kalis Winter 2012 / volume 12 / issue 04 contents FEAtuRES 5 4-h Youth exchange South Simcoe members meet their peers from Alberta 8-9 volunteer profiles Up close and in depth with two amazing 4-H volunteers 9. for editorial correspondence & subscription information: LeaderSHip in action c/o 4-H OntariO 5653 Hwy 6 north rr5, Guelph, on n1h 6J2 p: f: e: communications@4-hontario.ca W: 4-Hontario.ca publication mail agreement # H OntariO Staff LeaderSHip executive director Wraychel Horne 10 sisters salute 4-h Alumni sisters talk about the value of their 4-H fundamentals 13 go for the gold The 2012 provincial champions share their winning strategies 16 royal round-up Four pages of results from the 90th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 14. COmmuniCatiOnS Sr. manager, Communications marshal mclernon Coordinator, Communications nikki Kross Coordinator, alumni Services lois James COmmunity engagement & development Sr. manager, volunteer & Community engagement Debra brown Coordinators, volunteer Support region 1 & first nations Outreach matt Hill region 2 cam crogie region 3 megan burnside region 4 faith Kirk regions 5 & 6 Diane peckitt Coordinator, database charlotte palmer finance Sr. manager, advancement & development andrew moore Sr. manager, Human resources & finance Doris curran Coordinator, finance trisha lefler administrative assistant becky robinson programming Sr. manager, programming marianne fallis Coordinator, programming & events Hanica van looyen Coordinator, programming & resources elizabeth Johnston Coordinator, Sen$e programs andrew campbell SuppOrt executive assistant patricia Hass Office assistant cindy byers We gratefully acknowledge the support of toward the leadership in action magazine annual communication series. In EvERy ISSuE 4 Ask A Volunteer 4 Ask A 4-H Ontario Ambassador 5 In Brief Local Stories 7 In Brief Provincial Stories 20 Scrapbook 21 In Action Activity: Gingerbread! 22 President s Message 23 Chair s Message EDItoRIAL note 20. as one of the newer additions to the 4-H ontario team, i am admittedly on a steep learning curve. each step of the way, i find myself impressed anew by the scope of work, the dedication and the enthusiasm of 4-H members, volunteers, alumni and staff. it is an honour to join an organization that has so storied a history and so strong a membership. this was further underlined by the interactions i had and witnessed at the royal agricultural Winter fair, where potential members, alumni, volunteers, members and 4-H parents alike approached our booths and events. seeing our team s equally enthusiastic responses to these interactions drove home to me that 4-H ontario is driven as much by passion as it is anything else a passion to learn, to teach, to lead, and to engage. there could be no better an affirmation that this is an organization to which a person can be completely and undeniably connected for life. Marshal McLernon 3

4 ASK A volunteer by Paulette Macdonald How do you start a club in an urban area? this has been a hot topic among volunteers over the last six months. What a great question! i m glad you are starting a city club because urban members love this program! my husband and i started an urban club in 2002 and we engage approximately 25 youth annually. to get started, contact 4-H ontario. You will need a minimum of two screened, trained volunteers and six active 4-H members. once you have applied, begin planning the following: where will you meet, and how often? Which project will you start with? first, find a location. We use our local community centre. parents might feel more comfortable using a public facility because unlike some rural communities, they may not know you well enough to bring their son and/or daughter to your home. a centre can also offer a larger space and there is the opportunity to build mututally beneficial relationships. for example, in our case the centre s volunteer board understood that 4-H would enhance the community. not only did they agree to provide free space but they also donated start-up money! consider church halls, community kitchens at grocery stores and meeting rooms at businesses. think of a win-win scenario before asking for space. for instance, your club might commit to buying some food and supplies at their store if the room is free. second, how often will you meet? a project consists of 12 hours, with no less than four meetings. We meet weekly for six weeks. We break between projects and complete at least one every season. for example, you could meet on weekends for 3 hours x 4 meetings. it s up to you! third, i highly recommend that you start off with the project explore 4-H. it is a 4-H sampler that you can adapt to meet the members abilities. We also like to book community guests and take urban field trips. finally, consider these additional ideas: Your club can partner with another youth group to share space and field trips. city councillors like to engage youth and may support basic costs. think win-win ; how can you support them? ask friends to share their knowledge. even if you cannot bake, a neighbour probably can. Have different guests teach at each meeting! call local groups like the Hiking club, the Walking club, the master Gardeners, the Weavers Guild, etc and get them involved in your club. overall, the possibilities are endless. once the club is green-lighted by 4-H ontario and you have a meeting place, the sky s the limit! leadership in action Winter fall i ve been thinking i might apply to become a 4-h ontario ambassador, but i m not sure. what did you get out of the program? Anonymous the 4-H ambassador program is one of the best 4-H opportunities out there! the 4-H ambassador program is very flexible and you get a lot more out of it than you could ever imagine. some of the greatest gifts for being a 4-H ontario ambassador are those that are not tangible, such as the development of public speaking skills, confidence and networking. these skills and qualities may sound a little scary, and not as exciting as touring across the province, but they enhance you as a person. of course there is much fun had while meeting new people and travelling to new places as an ambassador! some highlights for me were meeting and getting emerson Drive s autograph at the upi rendezvous, receiving 4-H ambassador swag, meeting some amazing people, and learning more about our program sponsors. the 4-H ambassador program is an opportunity you do not want to miss! Read more about Samantha s Ambassador experience on 4-H Folklore, the official blog of 4-H Ontario blog.4-hontario.ca. The 4-H Ontario Ambassador program is proudly sponsored by GROWMARK, Inc. and UPI Energy LP.

5 In BRIEF local stories a Once-in-a-Lifetime experience for South Simcoe 4-H members by Kaleigh Kneeshaw, Simcoe South ten members in several different 4-H groups from south simcoe recently embarked on an eight day exchange to red Deer alberta. the 4-H Youth exchanges canada program gives groups of 4-H rs the opportunity to travel to other areas of canada, experience different cultures, histories, and geographies. but most of all, this experience allows 4-H rs to make lasting friendships with one another. the ontarians were chaperoned by south simcoe 4-H volunteer Juanita borland. members boarded their flight to alberta on July 4, everyone was all smiles heading into this once in a life time experience. the delegates had been in touch weeks before the trip was due to take place through , texting etc. the group expressed their excitement rather than their nerves for the most part. While in alberta, everyone was kept very busy, with group activities planned almost every day. the group took many different day trips, some of these locations included: royal tyrrell museum, the Hoodoos, the benalto rodeo, banff, ice fields, lake louise and the rcmp police Dog service training centre. the delegates also participated in the provincial beef Heifer show in olds. Here they took part in judging, marketing and team grooming. one of the most enjoyed experiences of their time in alberta was said to be South Simcoe 4-H Members and their counterparts from Red Deer, Alberta participated in the 4-H Alberta Provincial Beef Heifer show, thanks to the 4-H Youth Exchanges Canada program. the day of white water rafting down red Deer river. Delegates were sad to leave beautiful alberta and their new found friends, but counting down the days until they would see each other again. July 23, 2012 came very fast and the group was re-united again. the ontario group worked hard and planned plenty of fun activities for the group to do upon their arrival. their time here was well spent participating in different farm tours; Dingo farms and sheldon creek Dairy etc, as well as visiting niagara falls, canada s Wonderland, the cn tower and much more. the ontario group worked hard to fundraise enough money to partake in these fun activities. they held a trivia night where they sold refreshments, 50/50 tickets, and they received donations. a few members also sold raffle tickets around school to help raise enough money to do all the fun outings while the delegates were here. they also helped in the grand opening of sheldon creek Dairy, at which the owners, the den Haan s then donated money toward the exchange. all of the 4-H rs hard work had them excited for these upcoming planned events. their time together went by very fast, and before everyone knew it, it was time for the final goodbye. although this was a hard one we must remember together forever, never apart. maybe in distance, but never at heart. More information on the 4-H Youth Exchanges Canada Program is available on the 4-H Canada website at: 5

6 4-H What it means to me by mattison innis, peel 4-H Did you know 4-H is in about 80 countries? or that it has been around for almost 100 years? no, well neither did i, until one day when my mom asked me if i wanted to join. i signed up for a club and i was scared to go to my first club meeting, because i didn t know anyone. then that day came for me to go to my first club meeting. i met my club leader; she was nice, welcoming and answered all my questions about 4-H. after i got used to 4-H i enjoyed it a lot more because i wasn t so nervous, and i was wanting to join all the clubs possible because i was making new friends and learning life skills and other things. best of all, membership is for a whole year and you can join as many clubs as you want during that year. at the end of the year, there is an achievement program or awards night. During that, you get awards and Showing 4-H Pride plaques to show the clubs you have joined and what you have learned. some things you do in 4-H can be entered in fairs and you can win ribbons. 4-H teaches life skills, like cooking. it taught me how to make a meal from scratch. How about the Quilting club? sounds funny, but trust me it s awesome. there is also a tractor pulling club which you can build your own pulling tractor with help from the leaders. i learned how to harvest sap from a maple tree and how to make maple syrup, i even learned how to decorate a cupcake with different designs. i made a stuffed teddy bear, grew a giant pumpkin, and learned how to square Dance. Well i could go on and on, but i think you all get the hint. i should take some time to mention a little something about the leaders. they volunteer their free time to teach us about the club topics, and some volunteers have been leaders for over 20 years! a lot of volunteers were 4-H members like me. the leaders are one of the most important things about 4-H. Without them we wouldn t have any clubs. my grandpa, uncle and dad were all 4-H members. my uncle was a leader for 8 to 10 years, and my grandpa was a leader for almost 25 years. most people think that you have to live on a farm to be in 4-H, but that s not true, it s open to both rural and urban communities. i don t plan on leaving 4-H until i am 21, when i am considered too old. i think that is when i will try to become a leader and give back to the organization that has, and is teaching me, all the life skills i can learn. i think back to my first club and how scared i was, funny because now i couldn t imagine life without it. manitoulin 4-H Has fun While Learning about farm Safety by Christian young, manitoulin 4-H We started a spring bay 4-H club in June. We had a group of six boys. our first session was on farm safety. We followed the 4-H motto of learn to Do by Doing. for example, we walked around the farm yard and read warning signs and labels on equipment. We talked about what all the symbols meant and how they keep us safe. one week, we went to steve orford s to learn about hay baling machines and hay gathering. We actually helped put square hay bales in the barn. photo: Kim HooeY November 7 was Show Your 4-H Colours Day and some students at the University of Guelph did just that. The Branion Plaza cannon at the university is frequently painted by students to promote events and causes and in this case, served as a canvas for 4-H green. one of the important safety features we talked about was to never work alone, or at least have someone know where you are and to check on you every couple of hours. that person checking on you can bring you water because it is important to stay hydrated. in conclusion, we had fun while learning about safety. We look forward to our next session on the harvest season. leadership in action Winter 2012

7 In BRIEF provincial stories Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H member Wins the growmark 4-H Ontario essay Contest 4-H member Deanna ringelberg has been named the provincial winner of the first GroWmarK essay contest for ontario high school students who are 4-H ontario members. the theme of this year s essay contest was co-operatives in a Global environment, in honour of the united nations declaring 2012 the international Year of co-operatives. Deanna is a student at Hamilton District christian High school, and a member of the Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H association. Deanna has been a 4-H member for six years, completing over 30 projects including sew What, pizza, farm safety and Dairy. as the contest winner, Deanna will receive a $500 scholarship from GroWmarK. the Hamilton-Wentworth 4-H association will also receive a $300 award in honour of her accomplishment, to help future students. four provincial runnersup were also selected. these 4-H members each received a $125 scholarship. the runners-up and their 4-H associations are: vicki brisson, russell 4-H; matthew Gerrits, middlesex 4-H; Kate Johnson, Durham West 4-H; and sabrina van schyndel, lanark 4-H. Beef Sen$e Continues to impress; two new Sen$e Conferences are ready to pilot this year marks the second year of piloting for beef sen$e. this innovative program, developed to fill a much needed gap in business management education for young farmers, has gained a substantial amount of momentum over the past two years. a benefit for many of the conference delegates was the creation of valuable connections. Delegates were able to network with one another, as well as presenters and facilitators, to develop relationships that will be advantageous for their futures as agriculture business professionals. the beef sen$e conference helped delegate ryan Garner fill a demand for livestock on his family farm. one Leadership In Action Correction: of my main draws to beef sen$e was the networking opportunities. after the conference, i bought livestock off of other people that were in the group. industry tours continue to be a huge draw for delegates. this year s beef sen$e tour roster included pallister farms, mike swidersky farms and cargill meat. it s really nice to be able to talk to people who are in the industry. it s great to be able to go out somewhere, see their operation, and interact with them while you are there. it provides a different perspective, shares beef sen$e delegate Jessie Hubbs. this year s sen$e suite was wrapped our fall 2012 feature on the north perth Digital photography and scrapbooking club omitted mention of leader leasa skinner. in the text of the same article, member Jordyn steckly was mis-identified. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and confusion these errors may have caused! up with a focus group evaluation session led by 4-H ontario s external researcher, Dr. cameron norman, with Youth voices research Group. With the success the sen$e conferences have had so far, there is significant excitement building for the future of these innovative programs. in 2013, two new sen$e programs will be piloting. both equine sen$e and sheep & Goat sen$e will offer exciting new opportunities for delegates. This project is funded in part through the Agricultural Management Institute (AMI). The AMI is part of the Best Practices Suite of programs for Growing Forward, a federalprovincial-territorial initiative. Beef Sen$e is also sponsored and supported by the following: The Ontario Cattleman s Association; Beef Improvement Ontario; Dufferin Vet Services; Farm Credit Canada; Gilbrea Farm; JSE Farms; Ontario Farm Animal Council; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs; Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association; Milt Carr & Associates; Parrish & Heimbecker; Pletch Farms; Sharpe Farms; TD Canada Trust; Van Mar Farms Ltd/Buis Beef. 7

8 FEAtuRES Lynda McCuaig rewarding profound DeDiCation By Nikki Kross Shonna Ward (right) makes a presentation to Lynda McCuaig in 2011 in honour of her 40 years of volunteerism with 4-H Ontario. I i just do it. i really don t know what it is. i just volunteer. that s just my make-up, demurs lynda mccuaig when asked what drives her to dedicate her time to volunteering. mccuaig, a long-time 4-H volunteer, was recently awarded the Queen elizabeth ii Diamond Jubilee medal in honour of the contributions and achievements she has made to her community. i didn t know that i was even being nominated, but i had seen others get the award and was familiar with it, shares lynda. When Debra [brown] called [from 4-H ontario] and told me i received it, i was very honoured and pleased to see that i was being recognized with these other people who i had held in honour and esteem. like many 4-H rs, lynda eagerly began the 4-H program as soon as she turned 12. at that time there wasn t much to do and 4-H was your social aspect and the way you learned life skills. for me, it was the family thing to do. You just joined 4-H when you were eligible. after completing 26 life skills and eight livestock clubs, she joined the ranks of 4-H volunteers by leading a livestock club that was otherwise going to be short one volunteer. 4-H gave a lot to lynda, and she wanted to instill the skills and core values of the program in others. i did have a lot of opportunities through 4-H that i did not have otherwise. i believe in the program and it has the core things that make a person contribute to their community and country, she says. since her first livestock club, lynda has been heavily involved in the carleton 4-H association, taking on numerous roles at the association level. i did all the executive positions, including being president at one point for six years. i ve always been with 4-H in some aspect, whether it be leading or at the association level. lynda s work in her association is invaluable. she is the cornerstone for our association and actually the whole region from the years of experience she has with 4-H and running the original shows, shares Kelly barclay, carleton 4-H president. not only is she a major asset for carleton, she is a major asset for the entirety of region 2. 4-H is not the only organization lynda contributes to. she maintains a full schedule volunteering for her church, local fair boards, the canadian 4-H council and the metcalfe agricultural society. these are only a few of the organizations lynda has impacted over her lifetime. i don t think you meet many more people who are as giving as she is, says Kelly. the time commitment is phenomenal. she s very humble about what it is that she does. i don t know anyone who is more deserving of this honour than lynda. in addition to receiving the Queen elizabeth ii Diamond Jubilee medal this year, lynda has also been honoured with the syngenta 4-H ontario arbor award, canadian association of fairs and exhibitions Distinguished service award, and the canada 125 commemorative medal, just to name a few. 4-H is fortunate to benefit from the talents of this caring and ever-giving volunteer. thank you, lynda for all you do for 4-H and congratulations on receiving this honour. more about the Queen elizabeth ii Diamond Jubilee medal leadership in action Winter 2012

9 FEAtuRES Giles Hume a lifetime of Devotion to agriculture & CommunitY By Nikki Kross GGiles Hume has been a volunteer with 4-H ontario for an astonishing 57 years. His dedication to youth, agriculture and the elgin county community is evidenced by the many organizations he assists. With his extensive volunteer resume, it is little wonder Giles was nominated by 4-H ontario for this year s Queen elizabeth ii Diamond Jubilee medal. Giles is really looked up to. a lot of people look up to him for the many things he s done. shares 4-H volunteer Henry Helder. He s given his time to many organizations and has made a great impact on our community, continues Helder, who has volunteered alongside Giles for decades. in elgin county, Giles is well known for his volunteer work with the board of education, meals on Wheels, the library board, Historical society, scouts, the aylmer fair, springfield lions club and 4-H ontario. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal is administered by the office of the Governor General, recognizing the contributions and achievements made by Canadians in their province, territory or region. About 60,000 Canadians will receive this award, commemorating their positive impact on their community and their distinguishing leadership. every place i saw that could use a helping hand, i just did it, states Giles. i don t even really think about what it does for me. it s just something i do. being involved is all part of my life and i don t give it a second thought. Giles worked as an insurance agent, but farming and agriculture have always been very close to his heart. as a 4-H volunteer, Giles spent many years leading the east elgin 4-H Dairy calf club. He served as a positive role model for hundreds of young 4-H rs while teaching them showmanship and judging skills. there is something about working with calves that i love. it becomes a part of you. it s two beings working together and there is a certain feeling in that. the feeling it gives you is hard to describe, Giles explains. of course, it is not only the calves that bring Giles back to the east elgin 4-H Dairy calf club each year. Giles is a natural born leader and his love of teaching and seeing the positive impact the 4-H clubs have on members are also driving forces behind his volunteer work. i think there is a certain satisfaction out of watching these young people train their calves and bring them to achievement Day, he explains. You see these 4-H kids do their thing, get their calves trained, bring them to the fair with the calves looking the best they can be, and then they show them in the ring. it s a really great experience for them. Giles taught some of today s best showmen. every member of the east elgin Dairy calf club always had good showmanship, shares Henry. He really gave good training to the kids...they have always been a very competitive club. many members of the east elgin 4-H Dairy calf club had been decorated as top showman while competing at the royal agricultural Winter fair. 4-H ontario is not the only entity on which Giles has left his mark. He has had an impact on each entity to which he has devoted his time. Giles was formally recognized by many of these organizations, receiving the syngenta 4-H ontario arbor award, catfish creek conservation award, aylmer senior citizen of the Year, and induction into the elgin county agricultural Hall of fame. 4-H ontario is grateful to have Giles as a volunteer. congratulations to Giles on receiving the Queen elizabeth ii Diamond Jubilee medal a most deserved honour. 9

10 FEAtuRES Marion & Doris Swackhamer the things You need to know By Nikki Kross Marion (left) and Doris Swackhamer place a premium on the skills and experience 4-H membership provided. like many 4-H rs, Doris and marion swackhamer joined 4-H as soon as they were eligible. in fact, one of them might have jumped in a bit early. i was 11, and you had to be 12 to join, says marion with a wink. but the leader of the club lived across the road and she said it was okay. When the swackhamer sisters were growing up in rural Wellington county, 4-H provided them with opportunities to connect with the youth in their community and acquire valuable life skills by following the learn to Do by Doing philosophy. an important part of 4-H was establishing friendships, shares marion. because we were out in the country we were not close enough to anyone. attending 4-H clubs gave the sisters time with their community, as well as time away from their brothers. boys and girls were completely separate back then, states Doris. the sisters were active members in many of the homemaking and life skills clubs. [4-H] didn t have nearly the variety they have right now. it was mostly sewing, cooking and gardening, says marion. the swackhamer family included Doris and marion s four brothers, who were also 4-H members. marion and Doris each completed 12 clubs during their 4-H tenure, which included sewing, baking, cooking, etiquette and gardening. our mother was the leader of the sewing club, relates marion. the sisters suspect that because of this maternal link, they were held to a very high standard in their sewing projects. it had to be absolutely perfect, laughs Doris. the judging process of 4-H projects had a lingering effect for both sisters. i remember doing the Gardening club and you had to have someone come out and inspect the garden. it was so nerve-wracking! i was thinking oh my gosh, what if something dies before they get here! Doris says with a laugh. they weren t our leaders, they were official inspectors that you didn t even know, she adds. 4-H taught Doris and marion many of the fundamentals that are the basis for the home making and life skills they use today skills they think they might not otherwise have acquired to quite the same degree. there was no Home ec class in school, so 4-H taught us all the basics of cooking and sewing, notes Doris. these two sisters continue to pass on the 4-H techniques they learned, shares marion. even my grandkids now, when they come over to bake, i always teach them the 4-H way, says marion. for Doris and marion, their learning in 4-H went above and beyond tangible skills. 4-H taught me to be disciplined, shares marion. You had to complete your project and it had to meet certain standards. it taught you leadership skills because someone was always chosen to present something at achievement Day and we didn t always get that experience in school. the sisters maintain that learning to have a critical eye in peerjudging on club projects contributed heavily to their growth. in addition to providing her a strong foundation of life skills, a 4-H initiative led to Doris career. upon completing high school, Doris applied for a 4-H scholarship to mothercraft. Doris was accepted in to the program, where she learned how to educate mothers about taking care of their newborn babies. this was the start of a long and fulfilling career for Doris. the sisters are no longer active in 4-H, but they recognize that 4-H is still very much a part of their lives. some of the swackhamer kids became 4-H members themselves. and, Doris and marion say, both the experiences and the skills they learned in their years in 4-H have played a role in shaping them into the people they are today. these skills provided them with the building blocks for day to day activities, work ethic, and leadership. it taught you the things you need to know, concludes Doris. leadership in action Winter 2012

11 FEAtuRES more than Just a Competition Behind the scenes with the 2012 provincial go for the gold champs By Nikki Kross in stories about Go for the Gold (GftG), the provincial championship and the end result are often the focus. in all of this excitement, people can neglect to think about the hours of hard work and dedication that go into this final day of competition. GftG is a trivia competition that focuses on content covered in 4-H projects, and current 4-H trivia. teams comprised of four players, an alternate, and one coach compete against one another at the local, regional, and provincial level. Durham east 4-H, this year s GftG champs, provided some insight into what it takes to bring home this title. the provincial competition happens every year at the royal agricultural Winter fair, where the six regions compete against one another to crown one GftG champion. for Durham east, GftG is more than just a competition. Durham east has quite the history for Go for the Gold, shares brad found, Durham east s GftG coach. our county is very strong in GftG. it s practically a right of passage in Durham east. GftG teams train for months to prepare for the local, regional and provincial competitions. Durham east team members andrew louws, Kate louws, Katie mcrae, carol morton, and Doug skinner each studied the 80 project manuals that are available in 4-H. reviewing the project material is an important factor in GftG success, and Durham east came up with a creative way to benefit junior 4-H members while studying material. We wrote and designed a junior Go for the Gold game for 9 to 12 year olds, shares carol. the end result was a junior GftG competition. the team members agreed that writing out the questions and teaching the material to someone else makes you think about the subject matter in a different way. this approach gave the material more staying power in their minds. While studying the manuals and creating the junior GftG game were effective tactics, what Durham east found to be most helpful for the competition was their 4-H background. We ve all been in 4-H for a number of years and have been in a lot of 4-H clubs 50 or more so we already knew a lot of the information, Doug notes. because each team member brought a different 4-H background, Durham east also spent time developing a strategy to incorporate these varied backgrounds. When i coach a team i know what their strengths are and i look for that and work with it, says brad. the strategy they developed was to play up each other s strengths and always put the team before the individual. You have to work as a team and don t try to compete to hit the buzzer first, shares andrew. You know what areas people have strengths in and will leave those questions to others, Doug adds. it was this combination of varied study tactics and team strategy that was the winning formula for this year s GftG champs. the final provincial game is definitely a culmination of hours of hard work, dedication, and of course, fun along the way. in fact, the best word of advice this year s GftG champions would like to leave with GftG hopefuls is to have fun with it and enjoy the entire process from local to provincial competitions. congratulations to each and every team who participated in GftG at every level. The Go For The Gold competition is sponsored by Ontario Mutuals. 11

12 FEAtuRES 2012 Cover Photo Contest the 2012 Cover photo Contest generated some strong results as 4-H Ontario members sent in their best shots for consideration. Here are the top submissions, as determined by the 4-H Ontario Communications team. thank you to all entrants! On the Cover: Winning photo by Jordanna Kalis first runner-up: Bruce Sargent, durham east stunning composition and dramatic light made this a clear choice. the agricultural theme is subtle but undeniable providing further incentive for the choice of this image as our winner. See page 14 for a profile of our contest winner along with some more examples of her photography. leadership in action Winter 2012 Jordanna Kalis, Brant

13 Second Runner Up: Sarah Mount, York Megan Thompson, Elgin Kimberly Bickell, Oxford 13

14 FEAtuRES WWhat is most striking in speaking to Jordanna Kalis, the winner of the H ontario cover photo contest, is her modesty. i can t believe there is going to be an article written about me, she states, still in disbelief that she has won the contest. looking at the photographs she submitted, however, it s evident that Jordanna has a lot of talent. Her winning shot is one of ten that she submitted, and her skill with the camera is evident in all of them. photography has long been an interest of Jordanna s and her advice to young photography enthusiasts is simple: don t over-think it. snap anything that catches your eye a few times from a couple angles and you re bound to come out with some great shots. a Waterford native, Jordanna graduated in 2010 from the environmental management program at the ridgetown campus of the university of Guelph. afterwards, she worked seasonally as a crop scout while studying to become a personal support Worker. she now works at a nursing home in simcoe, does photography recreationally, and is involved in a 4-H Dairy club. Through The Lens a focus on Jordanna kalis, winner of the 2012 Cover photo Contest By Robyn Cox at 22, this is Jordanna s first and last year as a 4-H member. this fact surprises even her as she s been in the 4-H folds for a long time and always felt like she was part of 4-H. my brother is a member so i ve been going to dairy shows all my life. this year Jordanna s schedule opened up enough that she could join a Dairy club of her own. in addition to having fun and meeting new people, Jordanna is excited about the skills she honed in 4-H. time management, organization, presentation preparation, and interpersonal skills are just some of the abilities she s perfected while also learning about the ins and outs of the dairy industry. she hopes to stay involved with the 4-H community by being available to her fellow club members to help out with their future projects. the most important advice she can give to people who are considering getting involved with a 4-H club is, it s never too late. nothing bad will come of it. Don t let age or anything deter you because it gives you the opportunity to learn, meet new people, and become a more well-rounded person, in general. leadership in action Winter 2012

15 GROWMARK Ontario Summer Intern Program Choose your career path to reach your full potential... Earn while you learn (12 week program). Develop valuable agri-business knowledge. Gain practical experience. Agronomy Energy Grain Marketing Accounting Retail Feed Lawn and Garden If you are a third year student in a four-year college or university program with a solid academic standing, you can contact our Human Resources department at to learn more about the GROWMARK Internship Program. To apply on-line, visit us at GROWMARK, Inc. M54140

16 2012 RoyAL AGRIcuLtuRAL WIntER FAIR RESuLtS 4-H members and volunteers put in their best efforts at the 90th royal agricultural Winter fair in toronto. Here are summary results from youth events at the 2012 royal. Congratulations to all! national JuniOr Beef Heifer SHOW GranD champion showperson: aubrey mowat, carleton county reserve GranD champion showperson: Jack oattes, renfrew county champion Junior showperson: Jamie lea-wade, Kawartha lakes- Haliburton reserve champion Junior showperson: morgan macintyre, carleton county champion intermediate showperson: Jack oattes, renfrew county reserve champion intermediate showperson: Jordan cavanagh, peterborough county champion senior showperson: aubrey mowat, carleton county reserve champion senior showperson: erin briggs, north simcoe county GranD champion Heifer: tmf lilly 11Y, melissa macintyre, Huron county reserve champion Heifer: Hpf cream soda Y010, Jack oattes, renfrew county champion maine anjou Heifer: mel-mat miss Zahvana 4Z, brittany Weber, brice county reserve champion maine anjou Heifer: bnwz miss 58Y, alicia fugard, lambton county champion shorthorn Heifer: lilacview Yesterday Girl 1Y reserve champion shorthorn Heifer: Hill Haven breathtaker 35Y, sam buschbeck, Grey county champion simmental Heifer: Hpf cream soda Y010, Jack oattes, renfrew county reserve champion simmental Heifer: Jf ebony s Joy 1217Y, Kaylea Donovan, carleton county champion any other purebred Heifer: crystal s Zoey 297Z, ashley mcnevan, peterborough county reserve any other purebred Heifer: Jes Y-puddy 11W, carol morton, Durham east county champion angus Heifer: Drm miss morgan, brad macintyre, Huron county reserve champion angus Heifer: champion Hill Georgina, lauren enright, renfrew county champion charolais Heifer: aga Yummy Girl 67Y, Jamie lea Wade, Kawartha lakes- Haliburton reserve champion charolais Heifer: baker farms Zagucci, ashley baker, Hastings county champion commercial Heifer: lazy-b sure thing, michael stubbs, brant county reserve champion commercial Heifer: Kohler s country Girl, sarah Height, Wellington county champion HereforD Heifer: thunderbrook shenanigans 4Y, meghan black, nova scotia reserve champion HereforD Heifer: Gro-JDl temptation, Josh lasby, Dufferin county champion limousin Heifer: tmf lilly 11Y, melissa macintyre, Huron county reserve champion limousin Heifer: Dra Yes i Will 813Y, melanie Gollinger, Grey county charles J. Watson memorial award: Harprey barbara mchenry, Jarret Hargrave, Grey county JoHn slaght award best exhibit: bruce county leadership in action Winter 2012

17 OntariO JuniOr BarrOW GranD champion showperson: Katie vander Deen, elgin county reserve GranD champion showperson: David van Dyk, oxford county champion senior showperson: David van Dyk, oxford county reserve senior showperson: sarah seroski, chatham-kent champion Junior showperson: Katie vander Deen, elgin county reserve Junior showperson: brandon schertzer, essex county ontario Junior barrow barn competition: 1. leanne Dieleman 2. laura Dieleman 3. courtney Krakar 4. Kaitlyn Krakar 5. emma Krakar best DresseD pig picture: 1. laura Dieleman, chatham-kent county 2. leanne Dieleman, chatham-kent county 3. Grace robinson, Huron county stockmanship award J. HarolD craig trophy: benjamin vander Deen, elgin county GranD champion market pig: benjamin vander Deen, elgin county intermediate showmanship: 1. randy bloetjes, middlesex 2. nathan aitken, middlesex 3. stuart may, middlesex Junior showmanship: 1. bryce shaw, Grey 2. Kyla ness, renfrew 3. Kade earley, middlesex novice showmanship: 1. nicholas rombouts, middlesex 2. sarah Weatherhead, Grey 3. Jaden nesbitt, elgin any other breed shortwool 1. Holly taylor, Dundas 2. olivia schlosser, Grey 3. matthew noxon, carleton champion novice showperson: benjamin vander Deen, elgin county reserve novice showperson: marcus Dieleman, middlesex inter-county Group of three: 1. elgin county: benjamin vander Deen, emily vander Deen, randy vander Deen 2. essex county: Kaitlyn schertzer, rebecca schertzer, mallory Gasparovic 3. oxford county: catherine Ypma, brandon Ypma, andrea Ypma 4. middlesex county: marcus Dieleman, emma Dieleman, alia Dieleman 5. norfolk county: Kaitlyn Krakar, courtney Krakar, emma Krakar pfizer QuiZ awards senior: 1. randy vander Deen, elgin county 2. sara boersma, chatham-kent county 3. Kaitlyn schertzer, essex county Junior: 1. courtney Krakar, norfolk county 2. matthew Gerrits, lambton county 3. Kaitlyn Krakar, norfolk county novice: 1. benjamin vander Deen, elgin county 2. emma Krakar, norfolk county 3. marcus Dieleman, middlesex county reserve champion market pig: rebecca schertzer, essex county champion market Gilt: benjamin vander Deen, elgin county champion Group of three: elgin county: benjamin vander Deen, emily vander Deen, and randy vander Deen top landrace market HoG: David van Dyk, oxford county td JuniOr SHeep SHOW GranD champion showperson: matthew noxon, carleton county reserve GranD champion showperson: randy bloetjes, middlesex county GranD champion lamb: randy bloetjes, middlesex county reserve GranD champion lamb: Kyla ness, renfrew county senior showmanship: 1. matthew noxon, carleton 2. Zachary bennett, Grenville 3. shea o neill, Grey any other breed longwool: 1. John Hambly, south simcoe 2. lesleigh elgie, brant 3. nicole shelley, Grey commercial: 1. leslie unruh, Grey 2. Kade earley, middlesex 3. nicholas rombouts, middlesex Dorset: 1. randy blotjes, middlesex 2. emily lemon, Grey 3. adrienne robson, peterborough oxford: 1. emily may, middlesex 2. Jocelyn stewart, lambton 3. shawn feenstra, middlesex southdown: 1. Kyla ness, renfrew 2. bryce shaw, Grey 3. rebecca aitken, middlesex suffolk: 1. Jamie callaghan, lambton 2. abram randeraad, Dufferin 3. Zachary bennett, Grenville 17

18 2012 RoyAL AGRIcuLtuRAL WIntER FAIR RESuLtS continued... td dairy goat youth SHOW GranD champion showperson: adrian franken, Huron county reserve GranD champion showperson: Karen cavanagh, leeds county GranD champion Doe: Kassidy cavanagh, leeds county reserve GranD champion Doe: tyler Hansford, middlesex county YoutH pee-wee showmanship: 1. taylor penny, Kawartha lakes- Haliburton county 2. caroline brady, Durham county 3. brooke Hansford, middlesex county Junior showmanship: 1. Kassidy cavanagh, leeds county 2. tyler Hansford, middlesex county 3. Devon vaneyk, Kawartha lakes- Haliburton county intermediate showmanship: 1. Karen cavanagh, leeds county 2. faith Kozak, niagara county 3. olivier marquis, Quebec senior showmanship: 1. adrian franken, Huron county 2. emma tenbrinke, nova scotia 3. alexandra labraque, Quebec alpine: 1. tyler Hansford, middlesex county 2. Karen cavanagh, leeds county 3. brooke Hansford, middlesex county la mancha: 1. adrian franken, Huron county 2. Jordan Hansford, middlesex county 3. connor Hansford, middlesex county nigerian DWarf: 1. aalia Gade, Wellington county nubian: 1. Jonathan Dugdale, niagara county 2. alexandra labraque, Quebec 3. olivier marquis, Quebec oberhasli: 1. taylor penny, Kawartha lakes- Haliburton county saanen: 1. Kassidy cavanagh, leeds county 2. alyssa Johnston, norfolk county 3. Kayla bishop, norfolk county toggenburg: 1. alex Hubinger, norfolk county 2. caitlyn van Zoom, norfolk county 3. bridget sackrider, norfolk county ladies lead and Wool: 1. Heidi Kristufek, north simcoe 2. nadine smith, chatham-kent 3. Karen lemon, Grey county Queen S guineas GranD champion showperson: tyler macpherson, Huron county reserve champion showperson: brad regts, chatham-kent GranD champion animal: exhibited by Johnathon mcneil, middlesex county reserve champion animal: exhibited by sylvia megens, York county Heifers, all colours: champion & 15th overall: ashton colvin, bruce county reserve champion &16th overall: mark mcewan, lambton county 3rd: Jackie Wismer, essex county steers all colours, Hip HeiGHt 47 to 53 : champion & 4th overall: andrew barfett, elgin county reserve champion &12th overall: ryan scott, brant county 3rd: Josephine verhallen, chatham-kent county steers all colours, Hip HeiGHt 53½ to 58½ : champion & 7th overall: Jackson rose, elgin county reserve champion & 14th overall: Kelly verstraete, chatham-kent county 3rd: Holly cavanaugh, middlesex county steers black & WHite, Hip HeiGHt 48½ to 50 : champion & 9th overall: ashley mcconnell, bruce county reserve champion &13th overall: Kole Keating, lambton county 3rd: brad regts, chatham-kent county steers black & WHite, Hip HeiGHt 50½ to 53 : champion & 5th overall: lana shapton, Huron county reserve champion &11th overall: Jackie Henderson, Huron county 3rd: Kenzie regts, chatham-kent county steers black, Hip HeiGHt 48½ to 50 : champion & 8th overall: Kyler Keating, lambton county reserve champion & 10th overall: cole macpherson, Huron county 3rd: Jarrett scott, brant county steers black, Hip HeiGHt 51 : champion & Grand champion overall: Johnathan mcneil, middlesex county reserve champion & 6th overall: tyler mctavish, elgin county 3rd: amber mclachlan, lambton county steers black, Hip HeiGHt 51½ to 59 : champion & reserve Grand champion overall: sylvia megens, York county reserve champion & 3rd overall: samantha mcneil, middlesex county 3rd: Krista mcewen, lambton county td dairy CLaSSiC results GranD champion showperson: Dan Werry, Durham West reserve GranD champion showperson: natasha tripp, niagra north Junior showmanship: 1. connor mann, pei 2. matt lange, south simcoe 3. cally finley, Durham West intermediate showmanship: 1. peter leach, Kawartha lakes 2. alana mckinven, Quebec south east 3. travis canning, Wellington senior showmanship: 1. Dan Werry, Durham West 2. natasha tripp, niagara north 3. patrick baird, Durham West GranD champion calf: alana mckinven, Quebec south east m-signature verbatim tia marie reserve GranD champion calf: ronald Werry, Durham West, sharp acres st Jessy Holstein Junior calf: 1. iris Wolfensberger, stormont Guyview lauthority lizanne 2. caitlin Jampen, Dundas cherry crest lavanguard roz 3. mauranne Hébert, Quebec east rotaly Windbrook Hilda Holstein intermediate Heifer: 1. natasha tripp, niagara north sunspark Windbrook extra leadership in action Winter 2012

19 2. Darcie Wilson, nova scotia Wilsonburg sanchez marley 3. matthew forestall, northumberland Kingsway lauthority all in Holstein senior Heifer calf: 1. emma farlinger, Dundas signature fevered pitch 2. fabienne Kagi, stormont redlodge Dempsey avatar 3. marie-pier G. vincent, Quebec south D-ray Dempsey summit ayrshire, GuernseY & brown swiss: 1. ashleigh benedict, nova scotia musqie calimero chikeela 2. marshall ellis, nova scotia eloc Wonderment rebeldoodle 3. carrie simpson, Quebec sw lashburn Kellybuck britney JerseY Heifer calves: 1. martha mackinnon, Quebec south east Gladale sweet baby G 2. brooke mckinven, Quebec south east Homeridge b.honey 3. David leach, Kawartha lakes leachland Kit Kat K JerseY YearlinG Heifers: 1. alana mckinven,quebec south east m-signature verbatim tia marie 2. alisha burgess, middlesex Golden Grandprix miracle 3. colton oughtred, brant bridgeview money impala Holstein summer YearlinG Heifers: 1. véronique brisson, Quebec south West brismer Damion Jasmine 2. alex chabot, russell belfast Goldwyn lasenza 3. Kyle bouma, pei red oak sanchez odyssey Holstein Junior YearlinG Heifers: 1. ronald Werry, Durham West sharp acres st Jessy 2. Daniel martin, bruce morsan atwood burka 3. ava Doner, Durham east Donelea alex ballerina HerDsman exhibit: 1. brant 2. Durham West 3. russel premier county: 1. Durham West 2. northumberland 3. Wellington Group of three: 1. Quebec southeast 2. Durham West 3. pei 4-H field CrOpS WHeat, any variety: 1. michael cousens, carleton 2. brent cranston, Hamilton-Wentworth 3. Joshua Jansen, Haldimand oats, any variety: 1. matt smith, Hamilton-Wentworth 2. brendan murphy, Haldimand 3. emma long, Haldimand barley, 6 rowed: 1. matt smith, Hamilton-Wentworth 2 nicole Young, Hamilton-Wentworth 3. brooke Young, Hamilton-Wentworth barley, 2 rowed: 1. andrea smith, Hamilton-Wentworth 2. matt smith, Hamilton- Wentworth 3. brent cranston, Hamilton- Wentworth corn, ear, Dent: 1. aiden long, Haldimand 2. emma long, Haldimand 3. sarah long, Haldimand corn, shelled, Dent: 1. Joshua Jansen, Haldimand 2. sarah long, Haldimand 3. brent cranston, Hamilton-Wentworth soybeans, any variety: 1. amanda craven, chatham-kent 2. eric prelaz, chatham-kent 3. rena lugtigheid, chatham-kent beans, WHite or coloured: 1. amanda craven, chatham-kent 2. shawn sullivan, chatham-kent HaY, first cut: 1. nicole Young, Hamilton-Wentworth 2. brooke Young, Hamilton-Wentworth 3. Keturah breckon, Hamillton-Wentworth HaY, second cut: 1. Jennifer charlton, brant 2. sarah long, Haldimand 3. brendan murphy, Haldimand oat sheaf: 1. Duncan mcmillan, Haldimand 2. morgan barnes Haldimand 3. andrea smith, Hamilton-Wentworth WHeat sheaf: 1. sarah ellis, Haldimand 2. morgan barnes, Haldimand 3. christine armstrong, Haldimand barley sheaf: 1. Duncan mcmillan, Haldimand 2. christine armstrong, Haldimand artistic DisplaY: 1. morgan barnes, Haldimand 2. andrea smith, Hamilton-Wentworth 3. christine armstrong, Haldimand Canadian young SpeaKerS in agriculture senior Division: 1. lydia Harrison, Durham, ontario 2. elizabeth schouten, Kanata, ontario 3. victoria blakely, riverview, new brunswick Junior Division: 1. Dasha metropolitansky, oakville, ontario 2. maxwell archer, mount pleasant, ontario 3. Zachary Walker, thomasburg, ontario 19

20 ScRAPBooK leadership in action fall West Carleton 4-H dairy Club member mary Ziebarth catches a rest at the almonte fair H members take a moment to catch up at the Campbellford fair. pictured are Carissa Chrysler, taylor vandermeulen, megan mackinnon, ryan godden and madison Hay. 3. the erin 4-H Cloverbuds Club pose with their entry in the sign contest at the 2012 erin fair. 4. Ben Linder from perth 4-H association enjoys a complimentary coffee from 4-H Ontario while touring the 2012 Outdoor farm Show. 5. nature s splendor, captured on a hike by the South Simcoe 4-H Hiking Club.

21 In ActIon Make a Gingerbread House the holiday season is here and with that comes a wide array of festive activities. recently, the Haldimand 4-H christmas club tackled the challenge of making and decorating gingerbread houses and sugar cookies. over the course of two meetings members learned different techniques for baking and participated in some creative decorating. this group had a great time creating their very own holiday baked goods and you can too. below are the recipes the Haldimand 4-H christmas club used during their meetings. Don t forget to find some templates for the shapes of your gingerbread house before you start! gingerbread HOuSe recipe: 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs ¾ cup fancy molasses ½ cup blackstrap molasses 6 cups all purpose flour 2 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp cinnamon in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat shortening with sugar until light; beat in eggs, fancy molasses and blackstrap molasses. stir together flour, ginger, baking soda, salt, cloves and cinnamon; using a wooden spoon, gradually stir into molasses mixture. mix well, using hands if necessary. Divide dough into four discs; wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm. Dough can be refrigerated for up to one week. between sheets of waxed paper, roll out one disc at a time to ¼ inch (5mm) thickness. remove top sheet of paper; arrange pattern pieces of dough. using the tip of a knife, trace and cut out shapes. freeze waxed paper-lined baking sheet for 20 minutes, or until hard. at this time, preheat oven to 325ºf (160ºc). place cutouts on parchment paper-lined or lightly greased baking sheets, reserving dough scraps for re-rolling. bake in oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. transfer gingerbread to cooling racks and let cool completely. royal icing recipe: 3 tbsp meringue powder 4 cups sifted confectioners sugar 6 tbsp water beat all ingredients at low speed for 7 to 10 minutes, or until icing forms peaks. tip: Keep icing covered with a wet kitchen towel at all times, as the icing can dry out quickly. assembly and decoration: Join one side wall to one peaked wall. pipe icing along the bottom of the side wall and along the bottom and inside of the peaked wall. Join the panels so that the side wall is positioned on the inside edge of the peaked wall. press the sides together and attach to the base. Hold in place for several minutes until the icing begins to set. attach the other side wall and peaked wall in the same way. press together, and let dry before taking the next step. pipe the icing along the roof angle of both peaked wall panels and along the top side walls. pipe icing along one long side of one roof panel. (this will be the peak of the roof.) position one roof section, so it meets the peaked wall and side wall edges. Hold this half in place while you add the other roof section. adjust so that each side is evenly pitched and the center seam meets. press and hold in place several minutes to allow the icing to set. let your house dry before decorating. use royal icing as glue for all candy decorations. cover roof with icing and decorate with shreddies, mini Wheats or candy of your choice. pipe on doors and windows as desired. be creative! 21

22 MESSAGES ontario 4-h Council i d like to extend thanks to all the volunteers, parents, members, sponsors and staff for the part that you play in the 4-h program. it is through your commitment that 4-h is able to deliver the programs that we offer. marking key accomplishments of the Year by John den Haan, ontario 4-H council president november was national 4-H month. in light of this, i d like to extend thanks to all the volunteers, parents, members, sponsors, and staff for the part that you play in the 4-H program. it is through your commitment that 4-H is able to deliver the programs we offer. as 2013 approaches, i d like to share some of this year s updates so far. as a governance board, protecting the 4-H organization is one of the priorities of your 4-H council, including the safety of all those involved with 4-H. this past January the accessibility for ontarians with Disabilities act (aoda) came into play. one of the requirements is that 4-H needs to be physically accessible. council is developing a plan to meet these requirements, which includes the training for volunteers that is required in order to be compliant. 4-H has also worked together with industry partners over the past two years to develop a protocol for healthy calves and all livestock. this protocol started being implemented this past year. in the spirit of 4-H, it is important to display a positive image at all times. this includes showing healthy animals and knowing what to do when an issue arises. this past year has seen the beginning of the ontario 4-H council and ontario 4-H foundation working together for the betterment of 4-H. this has included representation of the foundation on the past president & vice president teleconferences and at face-to-face meetings with each other. Working together, we will build a stronger 4-H. fiscal accountability is also a priority of council. as of the close of the third quarter, our income is at 80% of projected revenue, and we are at 73% of projected expenses. thanks to 4-H ontario staff for your due diligence. Directing is another duty of a governance board. in march 2013, a revised policy manual will be released at the volunteer conference and annual meeting (cam). after several years of updating our current manual, the policies of 4-H ontario, as well as the information required by volunteers, has been reorganized to make the policy manual more user friendly. the council is always open to any questions about governance that you may have. as the 4-H year winds down, i wish everyone all the best during the holiday season. Ontario 4-H Council directors beverly agar cassandra chornoboy, Director-Youth anne conrad John den Haan, president Kim mccaw marie mcnabb Dave mcnichols brian o neill, vice president tammy oswick-kearney valerie stone, ontario Youth representative, canadian 4-H council shirley tomlinson anne verhallen, Director at large shonna Ward, past president leadership in action Winter 2012

23 ontario 4-h foundation it is important to remember that your local association has a fund within the ontario 4-h foundation. these funds are for use by your local association for 4-h activities foundation successes of note for 2012 by Peter Brown, ontario 4-H foundation chair the ontario 4-H foundation has had a successful year to date in moving its objectives forward. one of these objectives was to put in place a rigorous new set of guidelines for gift agreements. this allows both the foundation and the donor to clearly understand each party s objectives and commitments. many of the existing donors of named funds within 4-H ontario s endowment will be contacted over the next few months to make sure such an agreement is in place. this will ensure donor interests are met. taking the agreement concept one step further, let s examine 4-H ontario associations. since each local 4-H association has a named fund with the ontario 4-H endowment, it is also valuable to have an agreement in place for proper administration of those funds. We are receiving an increased number of questions from local associations about their fund and how it can be used. that s great! We are also getting many what if questions about making contributions and getting the funds back. many of these questions can be answered, or clarified, through an agreement for each association s fund. this is something we plan to put in place soon. for now, it is important to remember that your local association has a fund within the ontario 4-H foundation. these funds are for use by your local association for 4-H activities. it is beneficial to contribute to your association fund for several reasons: it keeps those dollars safe during succession of local executive; it provides a good return over the medium- to long-term; it is managed professionally at a very reasonable cost; it meets canada revenue agency requirements for investing charitable funds; it s yours when you want it. contact the ontario 4-H foundation or the 4-H ontario office if you have questions about your local association s fund, or about any of the activities of the ontario 4-H foundation. Ontario 4-H foundation trustees ron bolton bryan boyle peter brown, chair nancy brown andison peter cameron Joanne currie ralph Dietrich steve Dolson paul Henderson susan Humphries robert larmer Dr. rob mclaughlin, vice chair edward Y. morwick David rose tim ross bert stewart rod stork, past chair Hon. lyle vanclief, ambassador 23