November 2013

November 26, 2013

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY

SALVATION ARMY VOLUNTEERING

We will again this year ring the bell for Salvation Army. All other clubs will be ringing Saturday, November 30, 2013 from 9 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Wal-Mart in Starkville. I will be at home. So please make sure you are on time (if not early). The schedule is as follows:

·       9-11 a.m. CYW club- Pharmacy Side only (Cathleen Poe – 775-2990)

·       11-1 - Clover Dawgs - Pharmacy Side only (Courtney Headley 617-2098)

·       1-5 p.m. - Generation II - Jameka Harkins - Pharmacy Side only (Jameka Harkins 769-7962 or Rose 242-7962)

Grocery side
9am - 5 p.m. Longview Disciples- Angela Stewart (Angela Stewart 242-2112)

CHRISTMAS PARADE

If you would like to assist with decorating the float for the Christmas Parade we will be decorating on Sunday December 1, 2013 starting at 2 p.m. The parade is December 2, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

HOLIDAY IDEAS WORKSHOP

There will be a Holiday Ideas Workshop held Tuesday December 10, 2013 from 2-5 p.m. We will make three or four holiday gift ideas for you to take home. Call to reserve your space today. Limited to 25 people. Call and sign up today.  Deadline to register is December 5^th.

ATV Online Course – Help

We need each county to have at least 10 participants (can certainly involve more) to sign up for the ATV Safety E-Course by going to: http://www.atvsafety.org/ and have youth/adults register for the course. The course is age specific and participants do not have to complete the course at one time. By creating an account, this will allow participants to work through the course at their own pace. Parents can help younger youth but we would love for parents to sign up as well. When registering, be sure to check the box that reads: Check this box if you are registering for this course as part of a Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth or FFA Youth Program. This will give Mississippi 4-H Credit for participation.

We also need each county to have at least 5 (can have more) youth to play the Tread-Sylvania Game. They may do so by going to the following site: http://www.atv-youth.org/.  The electronic game is another means of implementing ATV Safety to young people. This project needs to be completed by December 11, 2013.

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY EXTENSION OPEN HOUSE

Oktibbeha County Extension Service is planning an Open House for Monday, December 16, 2013 beginning at 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.  .  Please come share the day with us.  This is FREE to the public.  If you have any questions, call LaTrell or Julie at 323 5918.

AWARDS MONEY

Don’t forget you have until December 1^st to order your awards out of the 4H Catalog. You can go to www.4hmall.org. Just email me the number, name and quality.

FOOD DRIVE
Oktibbeha County Extension Office is a site that nonperishable food items can be dropped off for local food pantries. This is a great community service project.

March-April 2013 Newsletter

March/April 2013

Oktibbeha County 4-H

4-H Scholarship Application Deadlines!

The following 4-H Scholarship applications will be due in the Oktibbeha 4-H Office no later than March 22, 2013:

• 4-H Scholarship applications
• 4-H Honor Club Applications
• Powell Gray 4-H Scholarship
• Marilyn Purdie Scholarship
• MS 4-H Volunteer Leader Assn. Scholarship

The applications are available online at:  http://msucares.com/4h_Youth/scholarships/index.html

Field and Stream Registration

Anyone planning on participating in the North Field and Stream Shooting Sports Contest in April must complete and return the following: Registration form, registration fees ($10 per discipline), health card and code of conduct forms. The contest will be held May 4, 2013 at Whitetail Ridge Range in Blue Springs, MS. Website for range is

http://whitetailridgeoutdoors.com/. These forms are due in our office by April 1, 2013.

Make-Up Contest Day

I have scheduled a makeup day for all contests for April 2, 2013 from 3-5 p.m. at the Extension Office.

Club Congress

The 2013 State 4-H Club Congress is just around the corner. This is for Senior 4-H members. The dates of Congress are May 29-31, 2013 at MSU Campus.  Cost has not been announced yet. The county will again pay for part of this depending on the number of youth wishing to participate. You will be responsible for the remaining part. In order to go you must be active in Oktibbeha County 4-H and must have competed in the County Visual Presentation, Public Speaking, and/or County Judging Contest.

If you are unable to attend this after registration is paid you will be responsible for paying the FULL balance. Deadline to return congress registration form will be mid April 2013. We will hold a Club Congress Meeting on May 20, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.  Call for more information at 323-5918.

Poultry Chain Project

It’s time again for the 4-H Poultry Chain Project!! Youth ages 8-18 are eligible to participate. You can choose to raise either Egg type or Meat type birds. If you are interested in participating please call Julie at the Oktibbeha Extension 323-5916 by April 15th! There will be a meeting about the Poultry Chain on April 15^that 5:30 p.m.

Poster Art Contest

Themes for the 2013 Poster Art Contest are; 4-H: The Green Promise and an Open Theme…this category allows 4-H’ers to create a poster and use their own theme.  The size of the poster must be 14” X 22” (half sheet of poster board).  More rules are available at the County Extension Office on this contest.

Dairy Poster

June is National Dairy Month. The 2013 Dairy Poster Contest Theme is "Dairy Packs Power". The poster must be 22 inches by 28 inches.  Posters are due in the County Extension Office May 1, 2013.  More information is available at the Extension office or by going to the following link: http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p0799.pdf .

Expressive Arts Program

The annual Expressive Arts Program will be held on May 13-14, 2013 at the County 4-H Office. This is open to youth of all ages. Forms are available at the County Extension Office. Check-in is from 3-6 p.m. on May 13^th. Check-out is from 4-5 p.m. on May 14th.

BASEBALL RUN OUT

We will be participating in the MSU Baseball Run Out on May 16, 2013. All 4-H'ers will be admitted free (limited to 25); parents will have to buy a general admission ticket which is $5.  We will be meeting and greeting the baseball team and players. we will also get to run on the field with them for the National Anthem. If anyone is interested in joining in doing this, please email me names. As of now we are only allowing two or three from each club to attend (free). Adults must pay.

National Conference Application Process

The following is the process for applying for National Conference for 2013:

1. Applicants must be senior 4-H (ages 16 through 18) members.
2. Complete Application Packet. 
3. a. Mississippi 4-H National Conference Application Form

b. My 4-H Story (maximum of 4 pages)
c. Three Letters of Recommendations (2 from non-relative adult and one from Extension Agent signing the application)

3. Interviews will take place May 30th during 4-H Club Congress. (Note: Interviews times will be flexible)    

The deadline to have all the above information into our office is April 25, 2013.

 

Gail Ballard’s Retirement Reception

Come help us celebrate Gail’s Twenty Years of Service to MSU-ES and Oktibbeha County. The staff is compiling a book of letters, if you wish to submit one or if you would like to send donations please send to Julie White at the above address by April 15.

Horse Information/Deadlines:

If you plan on showing horses in 4H this year here are some important deadlines:

• You must Own horse by May 1, 2013
• You must have completed enrollment for 4H by May 1, 2013.
• Rule books and entry forms are available around April 2013.
• All new riders must have ethics training. Call Julie at our office to schedule this.
• If you are interested in Junior or Senior Horse Judging, Hippology or Horse Bowl please contact Julie or myself. Practices will start in March.
• County Horse Show will be June 1 – MS Horsepark
• District Horse Show – MS Horsepark – June 12-15
• State Horse Show – Jackson – June 25-29

CONGRATULATIONS CORNER

Thank you to everyone who attended the county contests that were held March 11, 2013.  We had a great turn out. 

Thought for the Day

Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you’re in control, they’re in control. -Tom Landry

Legislative Day 2013

February/March 2013 Newsletter

February/March 2013

Oktibbeha County 4-H

Shooting Sports!

Here are the practice dates and locations of the shooting sports program.
22 Rifle/ Shotgun
 - Mondays starting February 11^th at 3:30 p.m.
  -Location - Starkville Gun Club

Archery

 - Mondays starting February 11^th at 4 p.m.
  -Location – Camp Seminole

Air Rifle

-meets on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at 4-H Field behind Mossy Oak in West Point.

Land Judging Training

There will be a Land Judging training held on Saturday February 16, 2013 starting at 10 a.m. on MSU Campus. If you are interested in attending. Contact Julie or myself by Monday, February 11^th. Neither Julie or myself will be able to attend this training due to family obligations.

 

Land Judging Contests

If you are interested in learning more about the soils in Mississippi call our office with your name and ages and we will call you when the first practices begin. We must register teams by February 4^th. The State Contest will be March 21, 2013. Location TBA.

Records/Resumes/Other

Applications Workshop

There will be a volunteer training workshop on Records/Resumes/Other Applications on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 starting at 5:30 p.m. at our office. Come get tips on how your youth can track their 4-H activities. You will also learn tips on preparing for visual presentations (making poster, presentation, gathering information and delivering).

Call the Extension Office to sign up for this workshop by February 25, 2013.

 

All Star Applications & Scholarship

This is a great opportunity for 4-H’ers; To qualify for All-stars you must be the following:

• 16 years of age or older (as of Jan. 1)
•  active member for 3 years

If you are interested you must complete and submit a 4-H All Star Application.  All

information is available to pick up at the Oktibbeha Co. 4-H Office and must be returned by March 1, 2013.

Junior Council

The next Junior Council will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 starting at 5:30 p.m. We will plan some summer activities.  

County 4-H Contests

Public Speaking Contest  - Monday, March 11, 2013  -2 p.m. - Extension Office.

Judging Contest - Monday, March 11, 2013 – 10-4 p.m. - Extension Office

• Please call in no more than five contests (horticulture, forestry, interior design, photography, seed id, etc.) to our office.

Visual Contest -Monday, March 11, 2013 - 10 a.m. -Extension Office.

• Be sure to call the 4-H office at 323-5918 with your name/age/topic. Remember ALL topics/presentations MUST be approved and reviewed by Club Leader BEFORE contest.
• Remember topics should NOT be inappropriate. No explict photo, language, graphics, etc. If you come to contest with material, you will be stopped immediately and will not be able to go further.

Talent Show -Monday, March 11, 2013 - 4 p.m. -  Extension Office

Deadline to register for ALL CONTESTS is March 7^th.  Be sure to call the 4-H office at 323-5918 and register.

4-H Scholarship Application Deadlines!

The following 4-H Scholarship applications will be due in the Oktibbeha 4-H Office no later than March 22, 2013:

• 4-H Scholarship applications
• 4-H Honor Club Applications
• Powell Gray 4-H Scholarship
• Marilyn Purdie Scholarship
• MS 4-H Volunteer Leader Assn. Scholarship

The applications are available online at:  http://msucares.com/4h_Youth/scholarships/index.html

Field and Stream Registration

Anyone planning on participating in the North Field and Stream Shooting Sports Contest in April must complete and return the following:  Registration form, registration fee, Health Card and Code of Conduct Forms to the Extension Office. These are due in our office by April 1, 2013.

Make-Up Contest Day

I have scheduled a makeup day for all contests for April 2, 2013 from 1-5 p.m. at the Extension Office. If you cannot make one of the contests during Spring Break call to register (before March 6^th deadline) for makeup. If you cannot make either you will need to make arrangement with me to make up your contest.

Club Congress

The 2013 State 4-H Club Congress is just around the corner. This is for Senior 4-H members. The dates of congress are May 29-31, 2013 at MSU Campus.  Cost has not been announced yet. The county will again pay for a part of this depending on the number of youth wishing to participate. You will be responsible for the remaining part. In order to go you must be active in Oktibbeha County 4-H and must have competed in the County Visual Presentation, Public Speaking, and/or County Judging Contest.

If you are unable to attend this after registration is paid you will be responsible for paying the FULL balance. Deadline to return congress registration form will be mid April 2013. Call for more information at 323-5918.

Horse Information/Deadlines:

If you plan on showing horses in 4H this year here are some important deadlines:

• You must Own horse by May 1, 2013
• You must have completed enrollment for 4H by May 1, 2013.
• Rule books and entry forms are available around April 2013.
• All new riders must have ethics training. Call Julie at our office to schedule this.
• If you are interested in Junior or Senior Horse Judging, Hippology or Horse Bowl please contact Julie or myself. Practices will start in March.
• County Horse Show will be June 1 – MS Horsepark
• District Horse Show – MS Horsepark – June 12-15
• State Horse Show – Jackson – June 25-29

Banner Club Award Winners

Controllers Generation II 4-H Club won Governors Banner Club Record Award!

Longview Disciples 4-H Club won 1^st Lady Fitness Banner Club Record Award!

Congratulations to both clubs. I am so proud of the work you have done this year.