2266 N. Temple Ave., Starke , FL 32091, (904) 966-6224, FAX (904) 964-9283, e-mail: Bradford@ifas.ufl.edu
Bradford County 4-H Clover Corner
April - May 2005
Dear 4-H Families and Friends,
Was that the fair that just happened? Wow! What an incredibly busy and rewarding week for so many of our 4-Hers and their families. Congratulations to each of you for your accomplishments – no matter how great or small. Not everyone can have the grand champion or receive a blue ribbon or Best in Show in every exhibit one enters. Life does not work that way. It is the learning and the experiences that take place through the project or activity that is important. Yes, we would all like to win that blue ribbon or the recognition that goes with have the grand champion animal, but it is so much more important sometimes to just step back and think "wow, I did a good job". Sometimes just knowing you did the best job possible is more important than all the blue ribbons.
Thank you to all of the parents, volunteers and 4-H members who helped make the 2nd Annual Youth Day at the Fair a huge success! It was a very tiring but fun-filled day. I hope that all of you have had a chance to see the Telegraph article. It really captures what the day was all about.
Now that the fair is behind us, it is time to think about summer events. In this newsletter you will find information about Camp Cherry Lake, the Awards Banquet and Outstanding Jr. and Sr. Applications. Please read everything carefully, and call us if you have any questions.
Yours in 4-H
Judy Butterfield
Acting CED
4-H Youth Development Agent III
Camp Cherry Lake
May 31-June 3, 2005
If you are between the ages of 8-12, now is the time to begin planning to attend
4-H Camp Cherry Lake for 4 days of fun and learning. If you like to swim, canoe, snorkel and learn about nature and make new friends then this is the perfect week for you!
Cost of camp is $140.00 but through the generosity of the 4-H Foundation, camper’s cost is $70.00. If you qualify for free and reduced lunches, the cost is even further reduced. Counselors will pay $35.00. The registration packet is included with this newsletter. Everyone must complete the Summer Food Program Eligibility Form. Please complete all forms and return to us no later than May 9. I have to know who all is going so I can try to reserve a bus, if necessary. If I only have a few going we will carpool like last year – so will need parents who might be able to help transport campers.
Counselors will be expected to attend a counselor training on May 21, 2005 from 10am-3pm at O’leno State Park. If you are interested in being a counselor, please let me know as soon as possible. You must be 13 and have attended camp previously.
Awards and Recognition Banquet
July 9, 2005
6:00pm
Mark your calendar now to attend the Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet July 9th at 6:00pm in Building I of the fairgrounds. This is always a highlight of the 4-H year as we recognize the accomplishments and successes of our 4-H members and leaders. To save on time, we will not be doing club awards – I encourage each club to have some form of recognition program or party at your last meeting to recognize your members.
Western Steer is once again catering the banquet, and each family will receive tickets for each member enrolled plus two parents. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and other family members are welcome to attend but the cost will be $10.00, and children will be $5.00. We will offer a child’s plate again. Be watching your mail for the invitation and tickets for your family.
Annual 4-H Auction
August 6, 2005
6:00pm
The Annual Foundation Auction is scheduled for Saturday, August 6 at 6pm. We will begin with a Chicken and Rice Dinner for $5.00 followed by both the live and silent auction. Terry Vaughan has once again agreed to serve as our auctioneer for the evening. If you or your business would like to donate to the auction, please give us a call. Some one from the foundation will be glad to pick the item up – we will also be calling businesses to solicit donations closer to auction time. Please go ahead and mark this date on your calendar.
Record Books and Award Applications Due
If you want to be considered for a ribbon and/or medal for your project book at the Awards Banquet, please turn them in by Friday, June 10th by 5pm. They will then be judged, and 4-H members will be recognized at the banquet. You must include a Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 Summary to qualify for an award. These can be picked up from our office.
Judges Needed
I am looking for a few interested parents/volunteers/leaders to help judge the 4-H project books June 14 at 6:00pm. It usually takes about 3 hours to judge the 50-60 record books. If you can help, please let me know.
Congratulations to…….
Dakota Reddish, Ryan Crawford, Abigail Crawford, and Clay Whitehead for having the First Place team at the Florida State Fair Livestock Judging Contest!!
Congrats also goes to the Senior Livestock Judging team of Dakota Reddish, Ryan Crawford, Lloyd Webb, and Abigail Crawford for placing 3rd in the Bradford County 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest. The Junior team of Kali Hendon, Taylor Whitehead, Clay Whitehead, and Storm Hamilton placed 1st. Storm was the 1st place Jr. Individual.
More congratulations to the Jr. team of Kali Hendon, Clay and Taylor Whitehead and Storm Hamilton. They placed 1st at the Clay County Fair Livestock Judging Contest, and the Sr. team of Ryan Crawford, Abigail Crawford, Dakota Reddish and Lloyd Webb placed 2nd. Dakota was 2nd Place Senior Individual, and Storm was 3rd Place Junior Individual.
Congratulations to each of the team members for all of their hard work. If you would like to be a member of the
4-H Livestock Judging Teams, please call either Brad Muse or Jamie Whitehead.
Congratulations continue for the Shooting Sports group that attended the State 4-H Shooting Sports Contest, April 2. Travis Atteberry placed 7th in the Air Rifle Competition, Scott LaFollette took first in the Senior Hunting Competition, Spenser Pearson placed 2nd in the Senior Hunting and Justin Martin took 1st place in the Intermediate Class.
Congratulations are extended to Abigail Crawford for receiving a $2500 Pepsi Cola/Bellamy Brothers College Scholarship through her involvement with the Florida State Fair.
Club Updates
GRITS – Hope Hunter – GRITS met on February 1 and March 1. Plans are being made for our tea party fund –raiser to benefit the Bradford Co. Foster Care Children. On Saturday, April 16 we are meeting to sew skirts for the Tea Party.
Clover Blossoms – Hope Hunter – We met for a sewing day January 27 and made 87 cozy caps for the cancer patients. At our February meeting we made special Valentines that looked like a heart shaped sucker. During our March meeting we started a project where we covered a box with broken egg shells. We will finish painting them in April.
Clover Blossoms also had the community service booth at the Youth Day events – all of the "cozy caps" mad are being donated to cancer patients at Shands.
Editor’s note: We need club articles. The next newsletter will be June-July. Articles are due May 27.
Youth Day a Success
Thanks to all the volunteers, 4-H members and parents that helped make our 2nd Annual Youth Day at the Fair a success. We had everything from sheep and goats to making "cozy caps" as a community service project. Just walking through all of the exhibits, everyone seemed to be having a good time. Even though we did not have as many people as last year, we still had over 200 kids and their families that participated. Thanks again for everyone’s hard work
Fair Results
4-H Exhibit Room:
Overall Jr. - Sean Jones
Overall Sr. – Amy LaFollette
Steer:
Grand Champion – Clay Whitehead
Record Books:
Sr: 1st – Dakota Reddish
Sr. 2nd – Ryan Crawford
Jr. 1st – Taylor Crawford
Jr. 2nd – Clay Whitehead
Breed:
Record Books
Sr. 1st – Abigail Crawford
Sr. 2nd – Julie Detlefson
Jr. 1st – Dalton Ransom
Jr. 2nd – Dyllan Bradley
Showmanship:
Sr. 3rd – Abigail Crawford
Int. 4th – Ryan Crawford
Int. 5th – Dakota Reddish
Jr. 1st – Rachel Rosier
Jr. 3rd – Erika Crawford
Jr. 4th – Clay Whitehead
Swine:
Grand Champion: Lizabeth Davis
Record Books
Jr. 1st – Leanne Eaves
Jr. 2nd – Corey Thornton
Int. 1st –Ashley Estes
Int. 2nd – Sarah Denmark
Goat:
Grand Champion: Abigail Jones
Reserve Grand Champion: Kristin Griffis
Showmanship:
1st – Kristin Griffis
2nd – Tymber Tatum
Record Books
1st – Kristin Griffis
Tie for 2nd Place:
Tymber Tatum
Jackie Charo
Rabbits:
Grand Champion: Lacey Dreer
Reserve Grand Champion: Nikki Schoner
Record Books
1st – Chelsey Dreer
Poultry:
Grand Champion: Taylor Crawford
Strawberry Pie Baking Contest
Overall – Sean Jones
Juniors: 1st – Sean Jones
2nd- Kristin Griffis
3rd – Kaylee Androlevich
Senior: 1st Amy LaFollette
Cloverbud –Participation: Kaitlin Girffis
Editor’s note: This is all of the information I have as this newsletter goes to press. Please send me any additional winners and I will put them in the next newsletter.
Day Camp Planning in Progress
Be watching the mail or contact your leader for updates on any day camps offered through this office. As of now I do not have any dates or themes, but should have some information shortly.
Attention Leaders………..
Please mark August 25, 6:00pm on your calendar as the tentative date for the 3rd Annual Family Enrollment Night. More information will be coming your way. I hope all clubs will see the importance of setting up club exhibits to show newcomers what 4-H is all about.
Volunteer Screening Process
We will be implementing a mandatory Volunteer Screening this coming 4-H Year. All Organizational Club leaders will be required to fill out an Application Form, and then submit to a background check. Only after the background check comes back will you be reappointed as a club leader. Being appointed as a club leader is a privilege, not a right. It means you have made the commitment to offer youth the opportunity to grow through positive support and encouragement. You, as a leader, have made the commitment to provide life skill development through a variety of projects.
After all club leaders have been screened, we will then move into the next phase of screening all volunteers that work with the same children and youth three or more times throughout the course of the 4-H year.
IF you have been background checked through your employer, you will not have to be screened again, but we will need documentation from you employer.
Plans are to have a volunteer/parent meeting either in June or July to go over this new process. In reality it may take two meetings. The 4-H Advisory Committee will be very instrumental in the implementation of this process. If you have any questions concerning the Volunteer Screening, please give me a call. We want all children enrolled in our program to feel safe and secure in their surroundings.
County Council Elections
The next County Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 2, 6:30pm.
We will be electing officers for the new year. This past year we had outstanding attendance at each of the meetings – and I am hoping it will continue this next year.
Anyone 12 and older can run for an elected office and anyone 9 years of age can serve as a council delegate. Each club can send 3 voting delegates to the county council meetings. If you are interested in running for an office, please either call me or Amy LaFollette, Council President. Anyone interested in running for an election will need to give a short speech as to why they want to serve on County Council.
District Council Officers
District V District Council elected officers for the 2005-2006 year at their March meeting. They will be installed at District Events, May 7th and take over after State 4-H Congress in July. The officers from Bradford Co. are:
President: Abigail Crawford
1st VP – Amy LaFollette
Delegates to State Exec:
Abigail Crawford
Amy LaFollette (Alternate)
Congratulations to these young ladies for all of their hard work at both the District and State level.
Strawberry Auction – Huge Success!
Thank you to everyone that donated and purchased the flats of strawberries during the fair. This year for the 4-H Strawberry Scholarship Auction we raised over $3600.00, giving us over $33,000 in our scholarship fund. This money is strictly used to provide a $1000,00 scholarship to an outstanding graduating senior that has been actively involved in 4-H. The applicants must complete the Florida Awards Portfolio and be interviewed by the scholarship committee.
Celebrity Goat Milking Contest
Congratulations to Amy LaFollette for beating out 3 other contenders for the honor of Celebrity Goat Milking Champion for 2005. Amy was able to milk 13 ounces of milk in one minute while the other contestants only milked 7 and 8 ounces each. The other contestants were reigning champ: Chub Johnson, 4-H Alumni Allison Durrance, and Strawberry Queen, Megan Geibieg. The goat was supplied by Elise Anderson of Bostwick.
Grits Club Host Tea Fund Raiser!
The GRITS club is hosting a 50’s tea party to raise money for the foster children in Bradford County. It will take place May 21@ 2:00pm at the Starke Women’s Club. The cost to attend is $5.00. We will be providing tea, tea sandwiches, desserts, entertainment & a fashion show. Please join us in helping to raise money for these children. We also are selling donation tickets toward a Logenberger basket that is valued at over $200.00. For more information contact Kim Paul at the Extension Office or Lisa Tatum @ 782-3028. We would love for you to come and we will gladly accept any help or donations. Also, congratulations to all the GRITS girls who participated in this years fair. Great Job!
The Final Word
"All things are possible until they are proved impossible – and even the impossible may only be so as of now." Pearl S. Buck, 1938, Nobel Prize for Literature.