November Newsletter

 Hello Ford County 4-H!

You may be wondering why this month's newsletter looks as if it was copied from a blog? Well...that's because it is! After a short survey at Officers Training last week, we discovered several people do not read the newsletter. However, most are active users on our Facebook page! We decided, as an office, to transition our monthly 4-H Newsletter into a blog ( fordcounty4h.blogspot.com ) 

On our blog, you'll be able to see up to date information, pictures and stories about recent events, and helpful tid bits with direct links to forms and registrations! Please let us know what you think! 

November is the time of year be thankful for little things in life. This month also happens to mark the beginning of my 6th month as the 4-H Agent here in Ford County. I am thankful for my job and all of the wonderful 4-H'ers and 4-H Families I am able to work with. I couldn't have asked for a better county to be in! THANK YOU to all of you who have made me feel so welcomed! Please do not hesitate to call me at the Office if you have any questions or suggestions about anything. :) 

In 4-H Spirit, 

Molly Trausch

Ford County 4-H Youth Development Agent

4-H COMMUNITY LEADER & COUNCIL MEETING

Community Club Leaders will meet at 6:30 pm prior to 4-H Council at 7:00 pm in the fair building, on Monday, November 19. 

4-H AMBASSADOR/EXCHANGE MEETING

The next Ambassador meeting is scheduled for Sunday, December 16^th at the fair building at 6:30pm.

 Please bring

• $5 unisex gift for the gift exchange(per person)
•  A finger food/snack (Exchange will provide drinks)
•   Your Ambassador/Exchange Enrollment Form (blue sheet)
• Wear your favorite ugly sweater/shirt/xmas tie for the Ugly Christmas Contest
• prizes will be awarded!
• Minute to Win-it Games will be played and fun for all will be had! 

Family members are invited to attend

PARADE OF LIGHTS

The Annual Parade of Lights & Chili Cook-off will be held Monday, November 26.  We will need help preparing and serving chili at the fair building to people who have entered the parade.  We will start serving at 4:30 pm and should be done by 7:00 pm.  We will discuss further details at our November 4-H Council Meeting. If your club is interested in preparing or serving chili, please call the Extension Office. 

            We need 3 Roasters of Chili

1.      Valley Boosters

2.       

3.       

           

THANK YOU!

On November 3^rd, we held our Annual Achievement Banquet. Thank you to all of the Community Leaders, 4-H Clubs, Office Staff, 4-H’ers and community members for making this year’s banquet a success! Congratulations to our following winners: 

• 4-H Family of the Year – Neal and Tammy Draper Family
• 4-H Alumni – Greg Lix
• Meritorious – Bill Heinz
• I Dare You Award – Dakota Derstein, Heather Trent, James Eaton
• Key Award – Chance Draper & Todd Durler
• KC Global – Brian Downey & Charmayne Austin
• Denver Trip – Monica Blanco, Lilly Hornung, Holly Trent, Camryn Williamson
• Consumer Science Judging Award – Lucky Clovers
• Window Display – Lucky Clovers
• Record Book Incentive – Rachel Durler
• Top Club Record Book Percentage – Wright Wonder Workers
• ALL of our Project KAP Winners!

FORD COUNTY 4-H DEADLINES

Please do your part to take responsibility for your own actions and project work.  This means calling in to register for events, turning forms in on time, and calling ahead with questions.  While we understand emergencies come up and mistakes are inevitable, please help us run an efficient and courteous program for all members, leaders, and volunteers.  Responsilbity is one of the many life skills to learn!

4-H MEMBER ENROLLMENT CARDS

Enrollment cards for the 2012/2013 4-H year for all returning 4-H members were due November 1^st.  If you have not turned yours in yet, please do so ASAP!  Many of our program logistics are based off of the information on those forms, and we are at a standstill until we have yours.  Remember, you must get the forms from your Community Club Leaders.    

            If you are new to 4-H, take the time to sit down with your club leader and fill out the enrollment form.  As soon as you have it completely filled out, return it to the Extension Office.

CLOVERBUD ENROLLMENT FORMS

Remember that Cloverbuds do not fill out the same enrollment card as 4-H members.  Make sure you use the correct Cloverbud enrollment form!

PARTICIPATION FORMS

Each 4-H’er and Cloverbud member MUST turn in a participation form each year.  Kansas 4-H prohibits the participation of any youth in a 4-H event without this form on file, so do your part to get it in on time.  They were due with your enrollment card on Nov. 1. 

PROJECT SELECTION

It is very important to sit down as a family to select 4-H projects for the upcoming year.  4-H is a family affair, so time required, costs involved, parental help, etc. should all be carefully considered when selecting projects.  To help you in the project selection process, the 4-H Journal publishes a project selection guide in their August issue.  If you do not receive the Kansas 4-H Journal, and would like a copy of the project selection guide, please contact your club leader or the Extension Office.

4-H VIP (Volunteer Information Profile)

A registered 4-H Volunteer is a volunteer, adult or teen who has completed the full VIP process including: application, screening and orientation and has been appointed by the Ford County Extension Executive Board.  For the safety of both 4-H members and adults, this system is in place.  Each year, NEW 4-H volunteers must apply for VIP certification, or in the case of a returning volunteer, renew their status via a renewal form.  Both forms are available from the Extension Office and online at www.ford.ksu.edu and were due November 1st. If you have not turned in your VIP Form, here is what you should do: 

• NEW 4-H Volunteer:
• Fill out a Volunteer Information Profile Application and turn into the Extension Office
• Watch & take the VIP Online Orientation
• Returning 4-H Volunteer:
• Fill out VIP Annual Renewal Form (must fill out a NEW one EVERY YEAR!) and turn into the Extension Office

Who  needs to be VIP certified?

• Community Leaders
• Cloverbud Leaders
• Project Leaders (Teen, Adult, County Wide, etc.)
• Camp Counselors
• Any person who will be in contact with 4-H youth for more than 6 hours.

FORD COUNTY FAIRBOARD ELECTIONS

The annual Ford County Fair Association Election Meeting - soup supper - will be held on Tuesday, November 13 at 6:00 pm. This is a public meeting and any Ford County resident may vote or run for a position.  If you are interested in serving on this board, contact a current Fair Board member.  Current board members include:  Jake Ring, Steve Simon, Regina Lix, Kevin Durler, Alan Eaton, Delbert Downey, Doug Brauer, Ruth Morton, Eric Martin, Chad Kerr, Shari Thomas and Glenn Helfrich.


CONGRATS!
On Tuesday, October 23rd, the Ford County Extension Council held it's Annual Election Meeting and Soup Supper. Jeannie Durler, Cherie Kerr and Laura Shenk were elected to the 4-H Program Development Committee. They will be joining Veronica Blanco, Julie Pinkerton and Naomi Harrold.  

KANSAS 4-H JOURNAL

The 4-H Journal is a great resource published by the Kansas 4-H Foundation.  4-H Council and local banks sponsor a portion of the cost so your cost is only $3.00 per subscription.  We are updating the mailing list, so your club needs to decide who will receive the journal, and how it is being paid for (by club or by individual family).  Please let the Extension Office know what your club decides by January 1^st

PREMIUM CHECKS

We still have several premium checks in the Extension Office that need to be picked up. Please contact us if you have any questions on who you need to write thank you’s to. 

LIVESTOCK SALES

Now is the time that several fliers concerning upcoming calf sales will be sent to the office.  All of these flyers, along with show bills come spring time, will be compiled into a binder at the office.  Please feel free to come in and check it out!

JUNIOR PRODUCER DAYS

 Kansas Junior Swine Producer Day is scheduled to be held Saturday, February 16, 2013. The Kansas Junior Meat Goat Producer Day is scheduled to be held on Saturday, March 30, 2013 both at Kansas State University's Weber Arena. K-State faculty and speakers will provide hands-on education over topics such as selecting your youth project, nutrition, show ring skills, and individual topics tailored to age. . For more information and registration forms, please visit www.YouthLivestock.KSU.edu in the near future, as a tentative schedule is still being set.

Citizenship Washington Focus

Mark your calendars now!  The dates for the 2013 Citizenship Washington Focus trip are June 13-June 24. The cost for this year will be $1575 with a $250 deposit that is due January 15, 2013. Registration can be found at http://www.kansas4-h.org/p.aspx?tabid=317.

  

4-H Newsletter Information

If you have information about a county-wide project meeting or special event your club is hosting that you would like in the newsletter, please email Molly at mtrausch@ksu.edu  by the 20^th of each month so we can include it in the next newsletter.

EXTENSION OFFICE CLOSED

The Extension Office will be closed Thursday, November 22^nd and Friday, November 23^rd for the Thanksgiving Holiday.