on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic veteran. Direct inquiries to Ross Wilburn, ,

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1 MAHASKA COUNTY ISU EXTENSION AND OUTREACH JANUARY 2018 Mahaska County 212 North I Street Oskaloosa, Iowa Helping make 4-H possible in Mahaska County. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or status as a U.S. veteran. Direct inquiries to Ross Wilburn, , wilburn@iastate.edu. The fees for service will be used to offset direct expenses and to support the 4-H Youth Development County Extension Program. Youth Staff Amy Brainard County Youth Coordinator Codi Voss Educational Programs Coordinator Kim Kuester Youth Program Specialist Lea DeCook Office Assistant Iowa 4-H Mission 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential through youth-adult partnerships and researchbased experiences. Iowa 4-H Vision Preparing Iowa s youth to be successful, contributing members of society. Verifying Beef Identification If you weighed in cattle, please check your 4hOnline Animals account. You have until February 1, 2018 to log into 4hOnline and verify your livestock. All cattle (county, state, and Ak-Sar-Ben) have been entered into 4hOnline. If you attended another county s weigh-in, there may be a delay with entry. It is very important that you log in to verify the information that has been entered to make sure we have the correct information on file for you. Double-check weights, ear tag digits, classes, and the sex of the animal. This is especially important for state fair and Ak-Sar-Ben animals, but needs to be done for all (county, state, and Ak-Sar-Ben). We will utilize this information to create the show order in July. If you plan to exhibit market beef at the Iowa State Fair or Ak-Sar-Ben, please make sure that the registration numbers are in 4hOnline by February 1, absolutely NO exceptions. Please call with any changes that need to be made. DO NOT click the verify button if you see a mistake.

2 Livestock Identification You may start entering your livestock and small animal information into the Animals tab in 4hOnline. Animals that have or will attend a weigh-in will be entered into 4hOnline by our staff, so you will not need to enter that information on your own. Animals that will need to attend a weigh-in include, Market Beef, County Fair Swine, Market Lambs, Meat Goats, Bottle Lambs, and Bottle Goats. All other animals, including Breeding Heifers, must be entered in 4hOnline on your own. Myotonic (Fainting) Goats must be registered as Meat Goats (not weighed in) and in the scrapie tag line, please enter MYOTONIC. A Help Sheet for the animal identification process can be found at the Extension office and at edu/mahaska/news/iowa-4honline-help-sheets. All livestock must be entered into 4hOnline by 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2018, but please do not wait until the last minute. If you have any questions about this process that are not answered by the Help Sheets, please contact the Extension office at FIRST LEGO League Jr. We will be forming our FIRST LEGO League Jr. teams for Kindergarten-3rd graders soon. We are in the process of recruiting coaches for the teams. Each team will be limited to 6 members and must have at least 2 adult volunteer coaches. The season will begin in late February and last approximately 6 weeks and will end with a FLL Jr. Expo in April. If you are interested in being a coach, please contact Amy at vermeera@iastate.edu or If you would like your Kdg-3rd grader added to our list, please let Amy know. As soon as teams details are organized, families will be notified and registration will become available. Cost to join FLL Jr. is $ Clover Kids SAVE THE DATE: Laser Tag February 17! Mahaska County 4-H Teen Council is hosting Laser Tag by Lazer Alley on Saturday, February 17 from Noon-6:00 PM in the Auditorium of the Extension office...for FREE! Teen Council members will also provide some fun, free, and handson STEM activities to check out while at the Extension office. This event is open to current 4-H Club Members and they are encouraged to bring friends. 4-H Volunteers may also participate. Teen Council members have raised funds to cover the cost of this event; however, if your club would like to donate $20 to offset the cost, they would love your support! Checks can be sent to the Extension office. SAVE THE DATE: Officer Training Feb 25 We are partnering with Poweshiek County 4-H and U of Iowa Collegiate 4-H to offer a 4-H Club Officer Training on Sunday, February 25 from 3:00-5:00 PM in the McVay Center in New Sharon. Snacks will be provided by Poweshiek County 4-H. This training is open to any 4-H club officer, anyone interested in various club officer positions, and club leaders. Registration is due by Monday, February 19. Register at or call Project Notifications As workshops and clinics are scheduled for particular 4-H project areas, we use 4hOnline to send s to families. If you would like to receive information about particular project areas, please log into your 4hOnline account and update your project participation page. Clover Kids registration is closed for this year. The t-shirts have been ordered and will be handed out in February. United Way Campaign Attendance at the February meeting will be very important as the participants will be tie-dying their Clover Kids shirts. Did you know that Mahaska County 4-H is a United Way Those who miss the February meeting will receive a white funded agency? We receive funds to assist with various 4-H & t-shirt with the Clover Kids logo on the front at their next Clover Kids programming, as well as volunteer background meeting. If you would like more information about Clover screenings, day camps, in-school programming, workshops, Kids, please contact Codi Voss at cvoss@iastate.edu or call 2 and more. Please support their campaign this year ext

3 Maker Monday Workshops Do you like to be creative? Want to learn new skills? Want to make things & take them home? Join us for Maker Mondays! Monday, January 22 5:00-6:00 PM MAKING using Technology & Recyclables MaKey MaKey, Cardboard Construction, & Fusing Plastics Monday, February 12 5:00-6:00 PM MAKING Cookies in a Jar Measure ingredients to make and bring home a jar of Oatmeal Cookie Mix Monday, March 12 5:00-6:00 PM MAKING using Technology II 3D Printing, Virtual Reality, more with Cubelets & 3D Pens More dates and topics TBA in future newsletters. RSVP is required so we can have the appropriate amount of supplies available. RSVP by the Friday before each workshop by calling or ing vermeera@iastate.edu. These FREE workshops are open to anyone in 4th-12th grade. We must have at least 5 RSVPs in to hold the workshops. New Volunteer Training (NVT) Any new 4-H volunteer (3 years or less) that has not already completed the required New Volunteer Training must complete it for This training is required for 4-H club leaders, as well as Clover Kids group leaders. The process for the NVT is two-part. One piece is completed online using 4hOnline and the other is a face-to-face training. The closest upcoming training will be held in Sigourney at the ISU Extension and Outreach office on Saturday, January 20 from 9:00 AM-Noon. You can register for this training at fourhvolunteer/sigourney. 10 Club Recruitment Contest We are tallying the results and will notify the winning club(s) very soon. Winning club(s) will be recognized in the February 4-H Newsletter. Junior Gardeners Workshop The Junior Gardeners special interest 4-H group is for youth interested in horticulture (if you are registered for any other 4-H club in Mahaska County there is no additional fee). We will meet monthly (normally 3 rd Thursday at 6:30 p.m.) for announced activities. Some of activities will require attendees to bring something needed for the activity. Registration will be three days prior and be required to attend. If fewer than 5 register for an activity, the activity will be canceled. The January workshop is Plant Detectives and will be held on Thursday, January 18 at 6:30 PM. Using plant features to determine species: Dichotomous Key. Registration is due by Monday, January 15 with Suzette at ext. 29 or striegel@iastate.edu. Bag o Clay Contest We will once again hold the 4-H Bag o Clay Contest. This contest is open to any current Mahaska County 4-H Member in 4th-12th grade. We have 12 total slots available. Participants will be given 2 pounds of clay to make their own creation. Finished pieces will either be donated to the 4-H & FFA Gala Silent Auction in March or purchased for $ Visit or the Extension office to learn more. 4-H Discount at JOANN Stores Customers can get a free 4-H Reward Card that will allow them to receive a 15% discount on their total in-store and online purchases every day! A minimum of 2.5% goes back to 4-H as a donation. 30% of the donation goes to the National 4-H Council and 70% goes to the State 4-H Program. Visit to learn more! 3

4 Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) Trip HURRY, REGISTER NOW! Any 4-H er in 9th through 12th grade is eligible to attend the CWF Trip to Washington D.C. on June 15-23, This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip to meet new people, explore D.C. and surrounding areas, learn about legislature, and so, so much more! Cost of the trip is $1700 this year. The Extension Council will cover the final payment of $550 for the first TWO 4-H ers to register. If we have enough interest in the trip, they may offer final payments for additional youth. Deadline to register is Wednesday, January 10, Learn more about this trip, see a tentative agenda, and access the online registration link at: Intermediate Trip to South Dakota The Intermediate 4-H Trip to South Dakota is being planned for June 11-13, This trip will be open to 4-H members who will complete 7th-9th grade in the spring. The South Dakota trip features a trip to Mt. Rushmore, buffalo sightings at Custer Park, Wall Drug, group dinners, fun activities, the Corn Palace, and more. Cost to attend is $ thanks to financial assistance from the Mahaska County Extension Council. Registration forms will be available soon. 4-H Clothing Event Judging The 4-H Clothing Event Judging will take place on Thursday, May 10 between 4:00-6:30 PM in the Auditorium of the Extension office. We will not have a set schedule again in Participants will arrive and sign in, then wait for their name to be called. Registration forms will be available at the end of this month. Registrations are due by Tuesday, May 1. This newsletter was prepared and written by Amy Brainard, Mahaska County Youth Coordinator. Amy can be reached by calling ext. 28 or by ing vermeera@iastate.edu. YQCA for Livestock Exhibitors We will be switching to YQCA (Youth for the Quality Care of Animals) in We will not offer an in-person FSQA training. Those who are certified for the FSQA Test are good until they reach the next level (Intermediates are good until they reach the Senior-level and Seniors are good until they graduate). YQCA is an online training that can be completed at home or at the Extension office (by appointment). Cost to take the online training is $12.00 each year. We are currently looking for local sponsors to help offset this cost and will post more details as they are available. If your club, FFA chapter, or business is interested in sponsoring YQCA, we d love to receive your support. YQCA must be completed by JULY 1 for members to be eligible to exhibit livestock at the county and/or state fair. The YQCA online program includes three components for each topic (food safety, animal well-being, and character development): 1) knowledge builder, 2) skills lab, 3) quiz for each content topic, and are designed specifically for each age group. The online program is very interactive, bright, colorful, relatable, and fun! More information can be found at curriculum/. A test-out option will be available for and year old 4-H & FFA members. YQCA is a requirement for 4-H & FFA members who plan to exhibit Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Beef, Swine, Meat Goat, Dairy Cattle, and Dairy Goats at the county and/or state fair. We are in the process of gathering more information about this new program, so as we know more details they will be shared in future newsletters and on our Facebook page. 4 9

5 Tentative Fair Schedule Monday, July 16 7:00-9:30 AM - Swine Weigh-in at scale 8:00 AM-2:30 PM - 4-H Static Exhibit Judging in Exhibit Hall & 4-H Bldg. 9:00-11:00 AM - Poultry Check-in in Poultry barn 9:30-11:00 AM - Sheep Weigh-in at scale 10:00 AM-Noon - Rabbit Check-in at cages by 6:00 PM - Dairy Check-in at Dairy stalls w/superintendents 6:00-8:00 PM - Beef Weigh-in/Check-in at scale, Breeding Beef in Pavilion Tuesday, July 17 9:00 AM - 4-H & FFA Poultry Show Sale Ring 9:00-11:00 AM & 12:00-2:00 PM - Communications: Educ. Pres., STF, Extemp. Spkg. Judging at Free Stage 4:00-6:00 PM - 4-H & FFA Horse Check-in at barns 6:00 PM - Mandatory 4-H & FFA Horse Exhibitor Meeting at check-in area 6:00 PM - 4-H & FFA Swine Show in Pavilion Wednesday, July 18 8:00 AM - 4-H & FFA Sheep Show in Pavilion 9:00 AM-Noon - Communications: Working Exhibit Judging at Free Stage 12:30-1:45 PM - 4-H & FFA Dairy Show in Pavilion 6:00 PM - 4-H & FFA Rabbit Show in Sale Ring Thursday, July 19 8:00 AM-Noon approx. - 4-H & FFA Beef Show in Pavilion 3:00-4:00 PM - 4-H & Clover Kids Pet Show at Free Stage 5:45 PM - 4-H & FFA Bucket o Junk Auction in Pavilion 6:30 PM - Ag Olympics in Pavilion Friday, July 20 8:00 AM - 4-H & FFA Horse Show at Outdoor Arena Auction Animal Verification in Fair Board Office by 10:00 AM, NO EXCEPTIONS! Must have affidavit (Market Beef, Meat Goats, Market Lambs, Rabbits, & Poultry) on file at Fair Board Office for animal to be eligible for the auction. 1:30-2:00 PM - Livestock Judging Contest Registration in Pavilion 2:00 PM - Livestock Judging Contest in Pavilion 5:00 PM - Livestock Champion Signs due back to 4-H Office 8:00 PM - Non-Auction Livestock Released Saturday, July 21 4-H Office will be CLOSED 8:00 AM - Livestock Auction (following Buyer s Breakfast) in Sale Ring 10:00 AM-Noon - Horses Released 7:00 PM - Non-Livestock Exhibits Released from Exhibit Hall & 4-H Bldg. Sunday, July 22 Animals Must Be Gone by 5:00 PM Exhibits Must Be Gone between 1-3 PM in the Exhibit Hall & 4-H Building This schedule is subject to change due to conflicts and weather. Some events are missing at this time due to not having met with 4-H Superintendents yet, as details are approved, they will be released on Facebook and our monthly newsletter. State 4-H Scholarships All 4-H ers who will graduate this school year and currently enrolled in 4hOnline should have received an from Iowa 4-H about the current 4-H Scholarship opportunities. Deadline to apply for 4-H Scholarships is February 1, To learn more and to apply, visit: funding_for_4hers/scholarships/. Please note that you will complete your application online and must have letters of recommendation submitted online as well. Please be sure to ask your letter writers soon and do not wait until the last minute. State 4-H Recognition Opportunities Recognition in 4-H is an acknowledgement and affirmation of the personal growth of an individual. State 4-H Recognition opportunities are open to 9th-12th graders and include: National 4-H Conference, National 4-H Congress, State 4-H Council, and State 4-H Project Awards. Deadline to apply for these opportunities is February 1, Participants will attend a formal interview at Iowa State University on Saturday, March 24. Learn more about these opportunities and apply at: Pioneer Seed Grants for Clubs The objective of these grants is to stimulate local 4-H clubs in Iowa to plan and carry out community improvement activities by providing seed money needed to make the projects successful. Funding has been secured to offer DuPont Pioneer Seed Grants for the H year. Applications are due to County Extension and Outreach Offices by January 16, 2018, then forward to State 4-H Office no later than January 30, Decision letters should be sent by mid- April. If awarded, checks from the Iowa 4-H Foundation will be enclosed with the letter. Full details can be found at

6 4-H Livestock Rules (4H 202) If you plan to exhibit livestock at the county or state fair in 2018, please read the 4H 202 document very thoroughly. The 4H 202 can be found at Product/194. It includes important information for each species, including identification requirements. It is the responsibility of the 4-H family to read these requirements and abide by the rules set by the county and state 4-H program. Bucket/Bottle Animal Birthdates Bucket/Bottle Calves must be born between: February 1 and April 30, 2018 Bottle Lambs & Goats must be born between: January 1 and April 30, 2018 Packets for Bucket/Bottle Animals will be available by the end of December. Contact the Extension office to have one mailed to you. All bucket/bottle animals must be in the youth exhibitor s possession within two weeks of the animal s birth and must be bottle/bucket fed. If you get an animal before receiving a packet, please start keeping a journal of feedings, care, housing, cleaning, etc. All bucket/bottle animals must be identified in 4hOnline by 11:59 p.m. on May 15, You may identify more than one bucket/bottle animal, but only one may be exhibited at the fair. Beekeeping Classes Interested in becoming a bee.keeper? Classes will be held at the Extension office (not an Extensionled program) on Friday nights from 6:00-8:00 p.m., January 19-March 16. The cost to attend is $ Classes cover equipment needs, colony management, honeybee health, & first year expectations. Price includes book, handouts, class instruction with power point, and plenty of Q&A time. Families are encouraged to participate (fee covers entire family). Pre-registration is preferred. Contact Jim & Tina Marshall at or marshalltmf@gmail.com. Classes are appropriate for those with an interest or those in their first-year. Horse Clinics & Ride Night Requirements Any 4-H or FFA member planning to exhibit horses, ponies, or mules at the 2018 Southern Iowa Fair must complete at least 2 Mahaska County Ride Nights at the fairgrounds and 1 Mahaska County 4-H offered or approved clinic Mahaska County 4-H & FFA Ride Nights: May 3, 7, 15, 21, 31 June 7, 12, 21, 27 July 6 CLINIC OPPORTUNITY! Building Confidence and Communication Between You and Your Horse with Cody Keller will be held on April 28th, starting at 10:00 AM and should last approximately 4-5 hours with a break for lunch. Currently, the cost to attend will be $30 each but the Mahaska County Saddle Club is in the process of obtaining donations to pay for the clinic. To register, please contact a Superintendent listed below soon. If you have any questions about the Horse Project area, please call one of the Horse Superintendents listed below: Jennifer Fynaardt Tia Campbell Livestock Workshops & Clinics Is there a particular species or livestock topic that you d like to learn more about? Please contact the Extension office so we can work to organize a workshop or clinic to provide you with more information. A livestock workshop typically consists of conversations, Q&A, and receiving copies of forms, tips, and other educational resources. A livestock clinic typically consists of interaction, hands-on activities, and having animals present to work with and see. If you have a recommendation or know of a great presenter, please let Amy know by ing vermeera@iastate.edu or calling ext