CLOVER CONNECTION DECEMBER 2019 The Clover Connection newsletter connects the ISU Extension and Outreach – Howard County office with 4-H families. Please read carefully. The newsletter is always available on your 4-H online family account as well as on the Howard County Extension website at: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/howard/page/clover-connection-newsletters HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Holidays are associated with family, giving thanks and sharing. The 4-H County Council is putting a challenge to all 4-H members in all Howard County clubs. They would like to have everyone donate to the Food Bank this holiday season. Non-perishable items can be dropped off at the Extension. We will make room for each club to have a separate space for their items. Let’s see if we can get enough non-perishable items to fill a vehicle. The Extension staff will deliver to the Food Bank after Christmas. County Council members have also adopted a family for Christmas – this is a great way to give back.

REQUIRED YEARLY 4-H LEADER TRAINING This training is required each year of all leaders. Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to put this on your calendars.

Dan Evans with Times Plain Dealer accepting Meritorious

Friend of 4-H Award. Thank You for all you do for the 4-H program.

2019 4-H AWARDS PROGRAM

The annual 4-H Awards Program was held on November 10, 2019 at the Cresco Theater. The Universe of Possibilities was the theme and celebrated success in 4-H by Howard County youth. Following the ceremony families and friends enjoyed the movie Abominable. 4-H County council members – Erin Ryan, Nora Ryan, Haylee Holten, Ashley Ferrie, Ashley Reicks, Audrey Ferrie, Ethan Govern. did a skit about 4-H with the audience. State Council members Peyton Pangburn and Kelsey Kinne spoke to the audience about state opportunities. Top Junior Record book trophy winners were: Aaron Malven, Taylor Reis, Avery Church, Olivia Johnson, Kelsey Adams, Will Ludwig, Grant Ludwig, Madi Fritcher-Larson, Clara Keller, and Ellan Dennler. Those winners in addition to Aidan Brannon and Gracelynn Zahasky also received 4-H guard pins.Top Intermediate Record Book trophy winners were Elise Church, Kaleb Adams, Brady Burke, Ava Ferrie, Ella Keller, Kayla Malven, and Quinna Ollendieck.Top Senior Record Book trophy winners were: Emily Church, Hope Dohlman, Audrey Ferrie and Ethan Govern. Meritorious Friend of 4-H Award is given to a business or individual that has given of their time and talents to the 4-H program and supporting Howard County and receiving the award was Dan Evans representing the Times Plain Dealer. Honorary 4-H Award is given to an individual or business who has dedicated numerous hours to the 4-H program and supporting youth. This year the award went to David Merritt 4H Alumni Award is given to a person that has given of their time and talent for the benefit of the 4-H program and has been a 4-H member. The 2019 award winner was Bart Wilson. Top Project award winners were: Agriculture Award to Emily Church. State Conference Award Trip went to Emily Church, Audrey Ferrie, and Ethan Govern. Lamp of Knowledge award went to Audrey Ferrie and Ethan Govern. Achievement in 4-H Experience went to Ethan Govern. 4-H Achievement in Leadership award went to Audrey Ferrie. Club Leader Jason Ryan from the Space Age Farmers Club received his 5 year of service pin.

SPECIAL THANKS

The record books were evaluated by Jim and Pat Zajicek, Mary Steen and Cheryl Brannon. There were

31 books evaluated. Let’s see in 2020 if we can expand that number. Saratoga 4-H Club had the most

record books submitted. Great Job!

BEEF WEIGH IN 4H and FFA members mark December 28 from 9-11 a.m. on your calendars for Market Beef weigh in at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Letters will be going out to those signed up for the Beef project. The process is the same as last year. Beef project members signed up in 4-H online will get a letter about weigh in. A postcard is included to return to the Extension Office stating how many beef and how many are for state fair. If you get a letter and are not weighing in beef, please return the postcard and tell us you are not weighing. Be sure to put your name on the postcard. You would be surprised at all the cards we got back last year without a name. The fee is $2 per ear tag, additional $7 if it is a state fair animal. You will need to have the correct change – you can figure how much you owe and come prepared. We do not have access to large amounts of cash to make change for large bills. All animals will be nose printed and state fair will be retinal scanned. This does take time, so you will need to be patient. State fair animals we would like to arrive around 10:30. Registered animals, bring a copy for us to keep of your registration paper. During the weigh in, people running the scale, chute and doing paperwork need to concentrate, so pay attention to what is going on so animals do not get loose or information is missed due to interruptions.

LIVESTOCK PROJECTS:

As you enrollment in 4-H, you most likely went to the project tab on your record and picked out projects you want or may be interested in learning about. If you have any interest in livestock projects, these need to be listed in your account now. The mailing lists for livestock weigh ins and other livestock project notices are built from who is signed up in that project thru 4-H online. Example – if you are intending on a beef project – market weigh in information will be pulled from 4-H online the first week of December, so if you are enrolled you will received information. If you are not signed up for Beef, you will not get the weigh in information. If you need to make changes in your record, be sure to go into 4H online now and add livestock projects now.

4H Enrollment Fees

We are very happy to announce again this year your 4-H enrollment fees will be subsidized by some very generous donors. The Alumni Committee will be contributing $5 per member, the silent auction will be contributing $10 per member and the Howard County Extension Council will be contributing $10. This makes up $25 of the $30 annual enrollment fee for members in Howard County. This means that members will only be responsible for $5 of the enrollment fee which can be paid to your 4H club. 4-H Club Treasurer’s note that when you are collecting this fee – you will need to document who gives you cash and who gives you a check on the deposit form that comes to the Extension Office. When we get the enrollment billing from ISU, we will be deducting the $5 from your account based on membership. This bill won’t be coming until Spring 2020. So, plan to keep at least that amount of money available in your account to pay this billing.

SEEKING FULL TIME COUNTY YOUTH COORDINATOR This position is a 36 hour per week position. Some local travel is expected, but overnight and out-of-state travel is infrequent. There are some work hours during evenings and weekends. CYC position provides assistance to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Howard County and to the Howard County Extension Council for organization and delivery of positive youth development programming. Working with youth in 4-H clubs, volunteers and professionals to plan, implement and evaluate a progressive series of educational programs and experiences that work toward multiple life skill outcomes (productive citizens, outstanding communicators, effective leaders, and successful learners). This position requires knowledge and adherence to the structure, policies, and guidelines of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Howard County.

Job description and application can be found at: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/howard/news/seeking-full-time-county-youth-coordinator To apply for this position, submit a cover letter, resume and job application form

to Sue Barnes, Office Manager, Howard County, 132 1st Avenue West, Cresco, IA 52136. skbarnes@iastate.edu Ph 563-547-3001. Position will remain open until filled and applications will be reviewed as they are received

Recordkeeping Terms and Definitions During this enrollment time of year, it is time to set goals in your project areas. There are three main parts of a goal: A – Action – what you want to accomplish in your project area or with your exhibit. Ex: Learn how to work with modeling clay. Or, create a sculpture out of modeling clay. R - Result – what are you going to do to achieve your goal? Ex: Read publications from our local library. Or, attend a workshop. Or, Practice working with clay T – Time Table – When are you going to work towards and complete your goal? Ex: During this year and at fair.

PROJECT VERSUS EXHIBIT

One of the most confusing things in 4-H is the difference between a 4-H project and a 4-H exhibit. When you enroll in 4-H each year, you enroll in a PROJECT area that interests you. When you bring things to the fair, these are called EXHIBITS. Here is a little quiz for you: Mark “P” next to the things listed below that are project areas. Mark “E” next to the things listed below that are exhibits you would take to the fair. 1._____A wooden shelf that you made 2._____Photograph 3._____Poultry 4._____Chocolate chips Cookies 5._____Clothing 6._____Beef 7._____Redecorated Bedroom 8._____Woodworking 9._____Breeding Ewe #35 10._____Portrait you painted 11._____Beans you grew 12._____Photo of the river 13._____Market Heifer 14._____Individual Meat Rabbit 15._____Food & Nutrition Projects – a 4-H project is an area of emphasis in which a 4-H’er enrolls, studies, learns and

keeps records. The list of projects can be found at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/projects-list Exhibits – a 4-H exhibit is an item resulting from project work that the 4-H’er has chosen to bring to the fair and have evaluated by a judge. For example: a 4-H’er may enroll in the Woodworking Project Area and choose to bring a birdhouse to the fair that he/she has constructed. You may have several exhibits all in the same project area: Food and Nutrition Project may have chocolate chip cookies, yeast bread and preserved tomatoes. When it is time to complete your 4-H records, all three of these exhibits would all be a part of the Food & Nutrition Project write up. Examples: Swine – the 4-H’er identifies three pigs for the fair, but they grow too fast or slow to be market weight for the fair. The 4-H’er would still keep records on their expenses and enter those into the 4-H records. Visual Arts – The 4-H’er draws several pictures that he/she gives to friends or family. The 4-H’er would still be able to write about these pictures for their 4-H records.

CODE OF ETHICS: Every 4-H and FFA member must sign a paper copy of the Code of Ethics. The leaders will be asking you to do this at an upcoming meeting. These must be on file in the Extension Office in order for you to show at the Howard County Fair. You can find a copy of this document at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/howard/sites/www.extension.iastate.edu/files/howard/CodeofEthics.pdf LEADERS – WE WILL BE PUTTING COPIES IN YOUR CLUB MAILBOX.

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Citizenship Washington Focus Registration has just opened for the 2020 Citizenship Washington Focus Trip. Go to the Citizenship Washington Focus webpage for more details.

GLOBAL 4-H – NORWAY

This month featuring 4-H in Norway. View document at https://my.extension.iastate.edu/files/page/files/global_clover-_norway.pdf A copy of this document will also be put in the Leader Club Box at the Extension Office.

CALENDAR DATES TO LOOK FORWARD TO:

Monthly Club Meetings – consult your 4-H program booklet provided to you by your Cub Leader – Reminder to leaders – turn in your program booklet to the Extension Office as we have to document meeting dates on our Extension calendars. Office Closed for Thanksgiving November 28 and 29. Enrollment Deadline – November 30 at midnight. County Council meeting December 16, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. – Potluck meeting. 4H and FFA Beef Weigh in – Saturday, December 28, 9 a.m. at Fairgrounds. Letters will be sent to those signed up for Beef Project and RSVP is required. January 16, 2020 Required Leader Training 6:30 p.m. Equine Extravaganza in Iowa Falls March 20-22 Spring Fair Saturday, April 4, 2020 at NICC Cresco Center Howard County Fair June 24-28, 2020 State Youth Conference June 30-July 2, 2020 Animal Science RoundUp June 30-July 2, 2020 Iowa State Fair August 13 –23

4-H FUNDS

Some Clubs may be in need of additional deposit and voucher sheets: Please see these links: CS.7.13.18 4-H Club Account Voucher Request.xlsx (July 13, 2018) CS.7.13.18 4-H Club Account Deposit Slip.xlsx (July 13, 2018) Remember if you are going to have a club fundraisier – there is a Fundraising form 4HP 3020 that must be approved.

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, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or status as a U.S. veteran, or other protected classes. Direct inquiries to the Diversity Advisor, 515-294-1482, extdiversity@iastate.edu