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
December 2005
Dear 4-H Families and Friends,
As I read your reports for this newsletter, and talk to individual club leaders and members, I am so impressed with your generosity and compassion for others less fortunate. Clubs have collected items for hurricane victims in Mississippi and Louisiana, and collected toys for Toys for Tots. One club participated in the Bradford County "Walk for Hunger" and gathered pledges of approximately $300.00. Another club is in conversation with 4-H Agents in Mississippi to help 4-H members with their small and large animal 4-H projects. And, as a countywide and district project we are making items to send to the military overseas. This is the true meaning of giving.
This issue is covering more information on the new 4-H recognition model that becomes effective September 1, 2006. The purpose is to have a statewide recognition model for members, but yet, each county can still maintain its own autonomy and do what they feel is important for their 4-H members. This model also helps stress the importance of balancing cooperation and competition. Each newsletter for the next few issues will target a different area of this model. Each club leader will receive a copy of the recognition model – if you have not gotten yours yet please see Kim.
Finally, I wish each of you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Yours in 4-H,
Judy Butterfield, CED
4-H Youth Development Agent III
District V Jr. Congress
January 27-28, 2006
If you are between the ages of 8 and12 or 13 and never been to State 4-H Congress, you may want to check out Jr. Congress. This year’s event is being held at Middle Florida Bible Assembly in Branford. The cost is $25.00/person, but if you bring in an item for our "Military Care Package", the cost is $20.00. Through the generosity of our 4-H Foundation, you will be provided with a 50% scholarship so your cost (with the donated item) is $10.00. This includes all meals, craft supplies, snacks, and a t-shirt. Every Junior 4-H member will be receiving a registration packet in the mail. In order to qualify for the discount, you must turn in your item at the time you pay your registration. You will need to provide your own transportation – try to carpool as much as possible.
Congratulations to……
The junior and senior livestock judging teams for taking 2nd Place (Junior) and 1st Place (Senior) at the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair Livestock Judging Contest. Congratulations also go to Kali Hendon and Clay Whitehead for 1st Place Individuals in the Junior and Senior division. Other members of the teams were: Taylor Whitehead, Storm Hamilton, Makala Webb, Dakota Reddish, Ryan Crawford and Lloyd Webb. Great job, keep up the good work!
More congratulations to Abigail Crawford for receiving a $1000.00 scholarship from the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair.
New Age Changes
Beginning September 1, 2006, the new statewide ages for 4-H will be as follows: Cloverbuds 5-7, Juniors 8-10, Intermediates 11-13, and Seniors 14-18. This will effect County and District Events for 2007, not 2006. This also means that some youth that turn 8, 11 or 14 after September 1 will have to remain in their previous age division one more year.
Leadership Adventure Weekend (LAW)
January 20-22, 2006
Camp Ocala
This leadership event is for any 4-H member 13 and older that would like to improve his or her leadership skills by participating in workshops and hands-on leadership activities. More information will be coming later. If you are interested in attending, please let me know as soon as possible so that I might get you the necessary information.
Cloverbud Congress
January 14, 2006
10:00am-noon
If you are between the ages of 5 and 7 then this activity is for you. Sponsored by County Council, this event gives our youngest members a chance to see what 4-H is all about. See the registration form in this newsletter.
4-H Pet Show
February 25, 2006
8:30am
Back by popular demand is the 4-H Pet Show scheduled for Saturday, February 25th. This is sponsored by County Council and is a way for 4-H members to show off their favorite pet. More information and registration forms will be in the February newsletter. This is for ages 5-18.
2006 Fair Activities
The Bradford County Fair is scheduled for March 17-25, 2006. Below are some important dates to remember:
All livestock project books (goat, swine and cattle) are due into the 4-H office no later than 5:00pm on March 6. ( I will not be checking books early).
Judging of 4-H Exhibits – Saturday, March 11 (tentative)
Strawberry Pie Contest, Fashions at the Fair Fashion Show, and Tablesetting Contest will be Saturday, March 18 in the barn area.
Strawberry Scholarship Auction and Reception – 5:30pm, March 18.
Goats, rabbits, and poultry are checked in on Saturday, March 18.
Swine and cattle arrive on Monday, March 20.
Please be watching this newsletter for more information. Also, read the fair premium books when they are distributed for the latest information.
County Events
March 4, 2006
We have scheduled County Events for March 4, 2006 beginning with an 8:30am registration. Location will be announced in the next newsletter. Remember one of the minimum standards is to participate in County Events with a demonstration, speech, talent act, or Fashion Show. As set by the Advisory Committee last year, a 4-H member can only enter a photograph and/or poster 2 years in a row before they must participate in something else. 4-H is an organization that wants to see youth grow, and one way is by helping them become comfortable performing or speaking in front of a group.
Registration packets will be mailed out the end of January or first part of February.
Lucky Charms - To date, we have had two club meetings. Our first meeting on September 19th we introduced ourselves and elected officers. For community service we made gifts to distribute to individuals and businesses for National 4-H Week. We discussed upcoming events and enjoyed snacks.
At our October 17th meeting, our co-leader, Mrs. Michelle Duncan gave a presentation on "How to Select a Pig". It was very informative. Member Stefanie Jones volunteered to be our representative to County Council We made candy ghosts to give out at a local day care. Mrs. Lorna Reddish provided chili and other parents brought in other goodies for us to enjoy. Our next meeting is November 21st.
Green Acres - At our November club meeting we made Tanksgiving cards for our adopted grandparents at Bradford Terrace Nursing home. We also made cards for the soldiers in Iraq to be sent with the pillows that are being made. As a part of our Community Service we participated in the Walk for Hunger on November 20th and raised approx. $300.00 for the Food Pantry. After the walk we went to Bradford Terrace and delivered the cards to our adopted grandparents and also delivered cards to some of the other residents. Our club is going to have a float in the Christmas Parade which is December 10th.
GRITS – Our club put together over 30 shoe boxes for the 4-H members effected by Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi. We included such items as books, personal hygeine items, school supplies, socks, and pictures of our group. A personal letter was included in each box.
We also had Psycho Moms scrapbook come in and show us some of the techniques used in scrapbooking. We plan on entering our scrapbooks in the fair.
We have also adopted five grandparents at Whispering Pines nursing home. They have no family so we will be making cards and taking gifts when we visit them.
Clover Blossoms – Kaitlin Griffis At our October meeteing we talked about our community service projects. Thanks to Elizabeth Whitaker and her mom, Ms. Shannon, we enjoyed making and eating apple turnovers, cut-out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and sparkling apple juice. At our November meeting Kail Hendon and Ms. Alice helped us make pillows for our troops overseas for the Operation Comfort Project. We also put up a new bulletin board in the kitchen at the Extension Office. We are having our Christmas party on December 13th.
Cowboy Up – Arrielle Wilson –We met on Oct. 11th and Mr. Jimmy Clemons spoke to us on how to prepare for a trail ride. He also taught us the art of tying knots. We also had our first trail ride on Oct. 15th at Oleno State Park. We are discussing ways to help 4-H members in Mississippi effected by Hurricane Katrina.
Shooting Sports – Arrielle Wilson –We prepared cookie and candy baskets for National 4-H Week. Or educational program was on shotgun and bow stance.
Cloverscraps – Arrielle Wilson – We met on Oct. 18th at Psycho Moms Scrapbook store. We brought our donated scrapbook supplies in for the scrapbooker who lost all of her supplies in Hurricane Katrina. At our meeting on Nov. 15th we learned new Christmas card techinques.
Lawtey Spice of Life Explorers –
Alex Wilson – At our Oct meeting we played an icebreaker we learned at the County Officer’s training. Our cloverbuds will participate in the Christmas parade this year. For our educational program we discussed how to prepare our record books.
County Council Report – Chelsey Dreer
Our county participated in Operation Military Kids at Camp Blanding. Shooting Sports, and Lawtey Spice of Life Explorers had pony rides, bean bag toss and other fun games for the children. Pillows are being made to be sent overseas as part of Operation Comfort. We also prepared and served a spaghetti dinner for our local Veterans on Veteran’s Day. On December 5th, the County Council is sponsoring a Christmas party. We are asking everyone to bring a gift for exchange - $5.00 maximum. Do not put your name on it.
Got Goat Special Interest Club – The November meeting had a great turn out with 45 youth attending. Basic information was discussed and the Goat Project and Record books were passed out. Door prizes consisting of items to help the youth out with their goat projects were awarded to some of the youth. Door prizes will again be awarded at the January, February and March meetings. Future meeting dates are: January 19, February 16, and March 13. (Location will be announced). These meetings are important if you want to show a goat in the Youth Goat Show and Little Kid’s Exhibition scheduled for March 18, 2006 (tentative). Contact Ricky and Stephanie Griffis or Lisa Tatum for additional information.
Florida 4-H Recognition for Excellence
This is the name of the new model that goes into effect September 1, 2006. The goal is to have a standardized model awarding excellence statewide, with the understanding that each county will still do what best fits their needs and county programming.
This model recognizes that some children and youth will never do anything outside of the club – and that is perfectly ok. But there should be some
form of recognition for those individuals either with certificates, ribbons, fast food coupons, etc. Then for those who want to excel at the higher level there are standards in place to award those youth. This model also reinforces that each youth can and should be awarded on his or her own achievements and keep competition in perspective.
I will be working with the Advisory Committee throughout the year to look at how this model fits into what we already have in place with Honor Roll and Outstanding Jr. and Sr. applications.
You will find at the end of this newsletter Achievement Standards for Cloverbuds and Juniors. In the next newsletter I will highlight the standards for Intermediates (11-13).
We already have a great recognition system in place, but if you are not rewarding and recognizing your youth at the club level, please give me a call and I will help you with some ideas or talk to other leaders.
Cloverbud Congress
Come Join the Fun!
Saturday, January 14, 2006
10:00am – Noon
Bradford County Extension Office
**Bring a Cloverbud Friend**
Ages 5-7
4-H Cloverbud Congress
Registration Deadline: January 9, 2006
Name_____________________________ Age (as of 9/1/05)_____
Name of Friend____________________________________
Name of Club______________________________________
Your Phone Number_________________________________
Do you want to do Share the Fun? ____Yes ____No
What is your act?___________________________________
What special equipment do you need____________________
**Parents, we ask that you stay during this activity.