Hancock County 4-H Family · 2016-03-17 · FOOD SAFETY QUALITY ASSURANCE TRAINING ALL 4-H (4th -12th grade) exhibitors who plan to show beef (including bucket/bottle calf), sheep,

ISU EXTENSION—HANCOCK COUNTY, 327 W. 8th STREET, GARNER, IA | 641-923-2856 | M-F 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m. LEARN MORE AT WWW.EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/HANCOCK

March—April 2016

4-H Family Newsletter

Hancock County

Hancock County Extension and Outreach

327 West 8th Street

Garner, IA 50438

(641) 923-2856

Just a Note:

Dear 4-H friends and families,

The weather outside is warming up and we are already thinking summer and fair. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer months? Have you tried any of our exciting Summer Exploration events? Or maybe you want to try showing a new animal or exhibit at the Hancock County District fair? We are here to help you learn new skills, try something new, and make fun memories. Be sure to check out what is coming up by opening up this newsletter.

Rabbits, horses, dogs, and sewing all have hands on learning activities coming up that are anything but boring. Wanna train your dog? Wanna play horse jeopardy? Wanna learn how you get can a rabbit, how to care for it, and how to show it? Wanna learn how to sew and help provide cheer to sick kids? Be sure to attend the workshops in March and April that will teach you all these things and more.

While you are thinking about what to try new this summer be sure to stop by the office or download the 2016 fairbook. Rule changes for 2016 are highlighted in this newsletter as well as a separate download online for a quick glance at what may have changed or been added. It seems like a long way off, but don’t forget you’ll need to complete your livestock identification process by May 15th to make your critters eligible for fair. That’s step one. Step two will be to enter them in a fair class by July 1st.

Fair isn’t the only thing happening this summer. We are busy planning our Summer Exploration trips, workshops, and tours to be released the first part of May. You’ll want to watch for the flyer to come home with your next newsletter and in school backpacks. Last year many camps, workshops, and trips filled up fast. Be sure to turn in your registrations so you don’t miss out on our summer fun.

While spring and summer are right around the corner we can’t forget about the exciting things that are wrapping up for this season. BLOCKHEADS had a fantastic season and ended by winning an award at state competition. ASK club and Clover Kids are almost over, but we are excited about finishing up those programs and seeing you this summer!

All the best,

Victoria Schmidt

County Youth Coordinator

[email protected]

641-923-2856

Nikki Renner

Youth Enrichment Coordinator

[email protected]

641-923-2856

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

4-H Calendar

Fairbooks Available

Rabbit Workshop Series

FSQA Certification

4-H License Plate

Livestock Rule Changes

Horse Project Kickoff

4-H’ers for 4-H

BLOCKSHEAD season finale

Livestock Identification

Project Updates

Dog Training

Bucket Bottle Calf

Swine Tagging & Derby weigh-in

Bucket Bottle Lamb

Sewing for Service

4-H CALENDAR March 13 Orthel Jolly Workers club mtg. FUEL - Clarion 2:00 - 4:00 pm

March 13 BullsEye Bunch Archery practice Dan Nelson’s house 1:00 - 2:00 pm

March 14 Britt Clover Kids K-1st grade Britt Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

March 14 Concord Challengers club mtg. Extension Office 6:30 - 8:30 pm

March 18 Britt Broncos Lock-in The Edge, Britt 6:00 - 10:00 pm

March 19 Garner Lucky Clovers Extension Office 9:00 - 10:30 am

March 20 High School County Council Extension Office 2:00 - 3:30 pm

March 21 Britt Clover Kids 2nd-3rd grade Britt Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

March 21 Last Garner ASK Garner Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

March 22 Last Britt ASK Britt Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

March 22 Horse project kickoff Britt First Lutheran Church 6:30 - 8:30 pm

March 25 Office Closed - Good Friday

March 31 Food Safety Quality Assurance training Extension Office 6:00- 8:30 pm

April 2 BullsEye Bunch Archery practice Dan Nelson’s house 1:00 - 2:00 pm

April 3 North Iowa 4-H Archery Tournament Mohawk Archery - Mason City 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

April 9 Orthel Jolly Workers club mtg. Humane Society 10:00 - noon

April 9 Rabbit Workshop Series - owning a rabbit Extension Office 10:00 - noon

April 9 Britt Broncos club mtg. TBD TBD

April 9 - 16 Swine Weigh-in Around County All week

April 11 Britt Clover Kids K-1st grade Britt Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

April 16 Garner Lucky Clovers Extension Office 9:00 - 10:30 am

April 17 High School County Council Extension Office 2:00 - 3:30 pm

April 18 Britt Clover Kids 2nd-3rd grade Britt Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

April 30 Sewing for Service workshop Extension Office 10:00 - noon

May 2 Food Safety Quality Assurance training Britt Municipal Building 6:00- 8:30 pm

May 15 Animal identification due ONLINE

July 1 Fair Entries due

July 26-August 1 Hancock County District Fair

FAIR CLASSES & RULES FOR 4-H/FFA EXHIBITION IN HANCOCK COUNTY

the Extension Office or leaders, you can take copies for your club meetings. All other fair forms can also be found on our fair website.

Fairbooks for livestock shows, non-livestock shows, and pre 4-H exhibitions are now available. They can be found online at our Extension website, listed below. Hard copies can be picked up at

2016 Fairbooks Available Now

OUR VISION A WORLD IN WHICH YOUTH AND ADULTS LEARN, GROW, AND WORK TOGETHER AS CATALYSTS FOR POSTIVE CHANGE

www.extension.iastate.edu/hancock/4h/hancockcounty_districtfair

FOOD SAFETY QUALITY ASSURANCE TRAINING

ALL 4-H (4th-12th grade) exhibitors who plan to show beef (including bucket/bottle calf), sheep, swine, dairy, rabbit, poultry, or goats at County or State Fair MUST be FSQA certified. Two trainings are being offered this spring in Hancock. Junior 4-Hers (4-6th grade currently): MUST attend one annual training. Intermediate 4-Hers (Grades 7-9th currently): Can attend annual training or test once for duration of Intermediate level. Senior 4-Hers (Grades 10-12th currently): Can attend annual training or test once for duration of Senior level. Must be certified by July 1st.

FSQA is very important to ensure that the products 4-Hers produce are safe for food consumption. FSQA certification reassures packers that 4-H animals are safe to purchase. It only takes one person to not follow the rules and cause big problems for 4-H livestock shows. FSQA training is very import to ensure that you know the rules.

Anyone eligible to take the test can visit the office. Log-in to 4-H Online to see when your

certification expires.

FSQA Certification - REQUIRED Livestock Exhibitors

ALL THINGS RABBIT: OWNERSHIP, SHOWING AT FAIR, BREEDS, & MORE

Rabbit Workshop Series

All are welcome. Learn about rabbits and how to show at the fair. Presented by Mandy Hiscocks - Walters. Call or email Victoria with questions, 641-923-2856 or [email protected].

FSQA Training March 31st @ Extension Office or May 2nd @ Britt City Hall

6:00-8:30pm

WANT TO KNOW MORE? FIND US AT: EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/HANCOCK/4H

4-H PLEDGE

I PLEDGE MY HEAD TO CLEARER THINKING, MY HEART TO GREATER LOYALTY, MY HANDS TO LARGER SERVICE,

AND MY HEALTH TO BETTER LIVING, FOR MY CLUB, MY COMMUNITY, MY COUNTRY, AND MY WORLD.

Iowa “Ag Tag” license plate

2016 Hancock Fair Livestock rule changes

SUPPORT 4-H, FFA, AND AG LITERACY FOUNDATION

FAIRBOOK UPDATES FOR 2016 EXHIBITION

Auction

Exhibitors MUST be present to accompany their animals through the auction.

Rabbit or poultry exhibitors will be allowed to enter the auction no more than 2 exhibits per species. This includes Grand or Reserve Champions.

Pigs must weigh no more than 320 lbs. to be eligible to sell at auction.

Beef

Class B3, Market Dairy steers has been added. Dairy steers going through the auction may be subject to a different cash bid.

Market Beef sold at auction will be delivered to Waverly sale barn Monday evening to sell on the Tuesday auction. – new from 2015

Sheep

The market bred county lamb class had been added to the fairbook. Please identify if showing in that class by July 1st. (Instead of at check-in as has been done in the past.)

Division FBB – Bucket Bottle Lamb, has been added for the Pre 4-H age division. See Pre 4-H rule book for more information.

Swine

Pigs must weigh no more than 320 lbs. to be eligible to sell at auction.

Class EB1 – Purebred Breeding gilt & Class EM4 – Purebred Market Swine have been added

Purebred animals must show proof of breed registration papers at check-in.

Purebred classes will be split by breed if more than 5 entries in that breed. All other purebreds will be shown in “All other purebred” class.

Goat

All GOATS (Dairy, Market, & “Fancy”) have been moved to a new Goat Division and will be shown on Thursday, July 28th immediately following the sheep show but not before 11:00am.

Horse

Ride A Buck – class J41 for Seniors has been added to Thurs-day gaming classes

Poultry

Poultry check in is 4-7pm on Tuesday, July 21st - new from 2015

Significant changes to the poultry show classes to try to reduce confusion about which class to enter. Please refer to a 2016 fairbook to see new class system.

Rabbit

In the new Standard of Perfection, the weights for single fryers are to be -- minimum weight of 3 1/2 pounds and the maximum weight will then be 5 1/2 pounds ( that is 1/2 pound more than the previous standard). Meat pen of 3 maximum weights will be 16 1/2 pounds.

A new specialty license plate will soon be available throughout Iowa for passenger vehicles, trucks and trailers. The "Iowa Ag Tag" license plate recognizes the important role that agricul-ture plays in our state's economy, and proceeds from its sale will equally benefit three great youth foundations: Iowa 4-H Foundation, Iowa FFA Foundation, and the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation. See the design and pre-order your own standard ($35) or personalized ($60) plate now at www.IowaAgTag.org.

OUR VISION A WORLD IN WHICH YOUTH AND ADULTS LEARN, GROW, AND WORK TOGETHER AS CATALYSTS FOR POSTIVE CHANGE

LEARN ABOUT HORSES

Horse Project Kickoff

STATE 4-H COUNCIL CAMPAIGN

4-H’ers for 4-H

All are welcome to the horse project kickoff meeting. Horse ownership is not a requirement. Please be sure to RSVP to Laurie at 641-860-0140 or Tiffanie at 712-348-5977 for a pizza order count. Parents are encouraged to stay and learn too. You must be in 4th grade to show your horse in the 4-H/FFA horse show at the fair, but you can be younger to attend this workshop and watch weekly workouts. There is also an open show for any ages on the Saturday of fair. Days are getting longer, soon fur will be flying, are you pumped up about horses yet for this summer?!

at the State 4-H Youth Conference.

Improving the Iowa 4-H Center with new equipment to enhance campers’ experiences - new beds this year.

The top contributing counties and regions will be formally recognized at the 2016 State 4-H Youth Conference in June. Clubs interested in participating should contact Victoria at the Extension Office

about your donation. The campaign runs March 1st - June 1st. The State 4-H Council appreciates everyone’s commitment to help “make the best better” for all Iowa 4-H’ers. Additional information can be found at www.iowa4hfoundation.org/en/ways_to_give/4hers_for_4h

This year marks the 31th anniversary of the Iowa 4-H’ers for 4-H Campaign. The state 4-H council has set the goal at $31,000 with a suggested $3.00 per member donation. Your investments contribute to:

Providing financial assistance to help 4-H’ers attend 4-H camp or conference.

Helping members from low-income families pay part of their annual 4-H program fee.

Funding speakers and entertainment

MISSION STATEMENT 4-H EMPOWERS YOUTH TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL WORKING

AND LEARNING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARING ADULTS

Critter Check-list for fair exhibition

DEADLINES AND PAPERWORK - CLARIFIED

ALL THINGS RABBIT: OWNERSHIP, SHOWING AT FAIR, BREEDS, & MORE

The BLOCKHEADS - Advance to State Competition

The 2015-2016 game, FIRST® RES-QSM, is modeled after rescue situations faced by mountain explorers all over the globe. Played by two Alliances of two robots each, robots will score points by: “resetting” Rescue beacons; delivering Rescue Climbers to a shelter; parking on

the mountain; and parking in the Rescue beacon repair zone or floor goal. The Blockheads constructed a robot which is able to compete against other robots to complete the challenge. The Blockheads have had an amazing season. In January they were awarded the Inspire award for their regional competition. This is the top award for The FIRST Tech Challenge competitions. With this award they earned a spot at the State competition on March 4 and 5th. The Blockheads put in numerous hours building and rebuilding their robot, to make it just right to compete at State.

This past weekend they attended the state tournament in Cor-alville, and performed wonderfully with 3 wins. While not go-ing to Super Regionals to compete, they were able to capture the Ambassador Award. With this award they are able to attend as a guest and represent FTC and Hancock County. Also advancing to Super Regionals is Andrew Dornbier with the Dean’s List award. We are very proud of the Blockheads. This is the 3rd year for the Blockheads being a FTC 4-H Club. Their members include; Reece Smith, Eric Goll, Dalton Hawe, Matt Barickman and Andrew Dornbier. The Blocks have had a

busy year traveling to The State capital, the Garner City Council, several league meets and the Garner Schools.

Animals you wish to exhibit at fair must be identified and entered in the fair class - two separate things. Identifying your animal means that your animal is a 4-H project. You are taking care of it and preparing to show that animal. Identifying animals make them eligible to show at fair but does not enter them in any fair classes. The identification deadline on most critters is May 15th. There are a few exceptions: market cattle is Feb. 1st because they take longer to grow, poultry, pets, bucket bottle calf, and rabbits is June 15th because they might not be born yet on May 15th. You must also make an entry for a class at fair. The fairbook is now available to help you pick which class you need to enter. Class entries can be based on age of your animal, weight of your animal, your age, your expertise, or your animals exper-tise depending on the type of animal you are showing. All fair entries should be made prior to July 1st. After July 1st late county fair entries are subject to a $25 fee. Any critters that you are thinking about showing at the Iowa State Fair MUST complete the ID process and the entry process through 4-H online.

County fair entries are encouraged to identify animals through 4-H online, fair entries are accepted as paper copies into the Hancock County Extension Office.

Step 1: ID Deadlines: Market Beef (also weighed-in): Feb. 1st Derby Swine (also weighed-in): April 9-16 Breeding Beef, Market Swine, Sheep, Goats, Dairy Cattle, Horse & Dog: May 15th Poultry, Rabbits, Bucket Bottle Calves, Cats, & Pets - June 15th

Step 2: Fair Entry deadline: July 1st Visit our fair webpage, www.extension.iastate.edu/hancock/4h/hancockcounty_districtfair for more information.

4-H IS BASED ON RESEARCH

Project Area Updates

DOG

State Fair swine need a DNA punch ear tag. These tags cost $8 each and must be purchased at the Extension Office. Mr. Hauge and Mr. Baumgard will tag State Fair pigs when they are on farm to weigh county animals.

All county animals must be tagged, but county fair swine only need to be weighed if they are showing in the Derby

Swine classes. The County swine weigh-in will be the week of April 9th - 16th. Contact Mr. Hauge or Mr. Baumgard if you need to have pigs weighed during that week. More information will be sent to 4-Hers enrolled in the Swine project area. Questions? Call Victoria 641-923-2856.

The Bucket Bottle Calf show is very popular at the Hancock County District Fair. 4-Hers 4th-8th grade can compete. The fairboard sponsors identical classes for preschool -3rd. Here is a reminder of the rules:

Calves must be born between March 1- June 1 (this has been expanded from previous years)

Exhibitor must take possession of the calf within 2 weeks

Calves must be tagged and identified by June 15th (this is moved back from previous years)

Calves must be bucket or bottle fed, no nursing

Calves will be shown at halter

Judging will be based on knowledge of exhibitor and health of calf

Have a dog in your family? 4-H members can attend dog training classes for free! Help your dog learn how to sit, stay, and heel. Then showoff your new skills at the dog show at the county fair. A dog obedi-ence information session will be held on Monday, May 9th from 6:30-7:30pm at the Britt Public library. (no dogs) Training classes begin on with your dogs Thursday, May 26th and happen weekly until the Hancock County District Fair. Please register for the class through the NIACC Continuing Education by calling 1-888-466-4222 Ext 4358. Course number is #101918 and be sure to mention you are a 4-H member.

BUCKET BOTTLE CALF SWINE

BUCKET BOTTLE LAMB

Want to help out a good cause? Want to learn how to sew? Need to rack up some community service hours? Want to make a difference for kids who are seriously ill? Come to the Sewing for Service workshop, put on by Palo Alto 4-Her, Mackenzie Berkland. She needs your help to make 1,000 pillowcases for kids who are sick. You can turn this into a 4-H exhibit by making a poster about your day. Wanna learn about how to sew? Or maybe how to set up a service project? Great poster idea for fair. Don’t forget to RSVP to the Extension Office at 641-923-2856.

A new bucket bottle lamb class is being offered to Pre 4-H youth by the Hancock County District Fair. Lambs will show on Thursday of fair with the Sheep show. Rules are nearly identical to the bucket bottle calf show:

Lambs must be born between March 1 and June 1 of this year

Must be in possession of the partici-pant within 2 weeks of birth

Bucket/bottle lambs must enter the fair by July 1st by filling out a Livestock Entry form

Lamb must be bucket or bottle fed.

Lambs will be shown at halter.

Judging will be based on knowledge of the exhibitor and health of lamb

SEWING PILLOWCASES TO DONATE

HANCOCK COUNTY EXTENSION

327 WEST 8th STREET

GARNER, IA 50438

NON-PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

GARNER, IA 50438

PERMIT NO. 26

Hancock County March - April 2016

4-H Family Newsletter Watch for our flyer to come home from school,

or in the next newsletter Coming in May