WEAKLEY COUNTY 4-H HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 WEAKLEY COUNTY 4-H HANDBOOK The winning 2017 County 4-H Poster submitted by Hunter Willis - Martin Member s Name Teacher s Name School Grade Weakley County 4-H sponsored by UT Extension and Weakley County government cooperating

2 Table of Contents Page 2.General Information Page Parent s Letter Page 4...Calendar of Events Page H Pledge and Officers Page 6...Club of the Year Awards Page 7....Points Possible for Activities Page Public Speaking Contest Page Poster Contest Page Demonstration Contest Page Photography Contest Page 15.. Community Service Projects Page 16. Camping Opportunities Page Judging Teams Page 18..Livestock Activities Page Horse Club Page Poultry Chain Page 21 Shooting Sports Page Support 4-H Page Activity Report Form

3 Weakley County 4-H Weakley County Extension Office P.O. Box 168 Dresden, TN Phone: (731) Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EXTENSION AGENTS for Weakley County 4-H : Bob Shumake Extension Agent III, 4-H Youth Development rshumak2@utk.edu Loren Stanford Extension Agent I, 4-H/Adult Agriculture lstinso2@utk.edu Learn more at these 4-H websites: Other County Extension Staff Members: Jeff Lannom - County Director / Extension Agent III, Adult Agriculture Beverly Shelby - Extension Agent III, Adult Family & Consumer Sciences Pam Filtz - Administrative Support Assistant II 2

4 Dear Parents, Many people who are not familiar with our program may think that 4-H is only for those who are raised on a farm or like to sew. Nothing could be farther from the truth! While some of our students do work with livestock or participate in sewing activities contests, 4-H has expanded over its 100 year history into 27 different project areas. Your student will have the opportunity to develop a portfolio, or record book, to document their accomplishments over their years in the 4- H program. As a result, many of them receive scholarships, due in part to their participation in the many activities available through membership in 4-H. With your support, your child can get started in the right direction. The Weakley County 4-H Program has experienced many successes in the past year, and we hope to continue our success this next year with students like your child. This past year, over 500 students in Weakley County participated in the 4-H Public Speaking contests in their classrooms. In May, sixteen students competed in the regional project demonstration and interactive exhibit contests, with twelve students taking top honors in their project areas. This summer, nearly forty students participated in livestock related projects competing in various local, regional and state shows. Seven high school students attended state 4-H Roundup where they competed for college scholarships based on their 4-H project involvement. Five of these students were state winners in their projects, with three winning trips to National 4-H Congress. Teams of 4-Hers from Weakley County advanced to state competitions in Horse Judging, Outdoor Meat Cookery and Meats Judging this past year. The Meats Judging team placed second overall in their state competition. Over 40 youth in Weakley County were involved in shooting sports programs this past year. These students learned important skills related to firearm safety, goal setting and sportsmanship. We truly believe that every student has an opportunity to find an area of interest and excel in our program. Our program emphasizes students development in leadership, citizenship, and service while trying to provide students with the necessary skills to be successful in college and their future careers. You will see through the year s activities that 4-H focuses on five basic competency areas which define the range of behaviors and skills identified as essential for success as an adult. These areas include: Health/Physical, Personal/Social, Cognitive/Creative, Vocational, and Citizenship/Ethics. We hope you will encourage your child in the Weakley County 4-H Program activities and that your student may benefit from the many experiences our program has to offer. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (731) Sincerely, Bob Shumake Loren Stanford As a concerned parent, I have taken the time to familiarize myself with the activities outlined in this 4-H Handbook. I agree to encourage my child to participate in these activities as often as possible. Parent s signature Date Each student returning this page signed will receive 1 pt. towards End of the Year Awards. 3

5 4-H CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER County 4-H Poultry Show County Dairy Show Air Rifle practice begins DECEMBER NO Classroom meetings County Public Speaking (4 th -5 th grades) 4-H Sponsor Appreciation Event Happy Holidays! OCTOBER Club Meetings begin 4-H Enrollment Officer Elections Regional Land Judging (6 th -12 th grades) JANUARY Classroom Poster Contest (4 th - 6 th grades) Air Rifle new session begins Regional Horse Bowl & Hippology Contest State Market Hog Show NOVEMBER Classroom Public Speaking (4 th - 6 th grades) 4-H Handbooks signed Regional Livestock Judging (6 th -12 th grades) Horse Bowl & Hippology practice begins FEBRUARY Classroom Demo Contest (4 th - 5 th grades) County Poster Contest (4 th -12 th grades) Poultry Chain applications due Horse Judging practice begins Drill Team practice begins MARCH Project Portfolios due - Mar 15th (6 th - 8 th grades) Classroom Photo Contest (4 th - 5 th grades) State Poster Contest Horse Judging practices State 4-H Congress APRIL Project Portfolios due - April 15 th (9 th -12 th grades) County Demo Contest (4 th - 5 th grades) Regional Project Showcase Regional Horse Judging 4-H Drill Team performance State Shooting Sports Matches MAY Club of the Year Awards Jr. Livestock Lamb, Hog & Goat Weigh-In Regional Wildlife Judging (6 th -12 th grades) JUNE 4-H Summer Camps County & State Photo Search (6 th -12 th grades) Regional & State Horse Shows Jr. Hi. Academic Conference Regional Livestock Expo JULY State 4-H RoundUp (9 th -12 th grades) State Livestock Expo County Junior Livestock Show State 4-H Roundup AUGUST Fall Judging Team practices (Meats, Forestry Outdoor Cookery, LifeSkills) Back to School! ** Check out our online calendar at < > for current updates! ** 4

6 The 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. The 4-H Motto is To Make the Best Better. 4-H was founded in 1902 and is the WORLD s largest youth organization! 4-H Club Officers President Vice President Secretary Community Service Chair Bulletin Board Committee 5

7 4-H CLUB OF THE YEAR and SPIRIT AWARDS These awards are presented to the clubs with the highest level of participation in 4-H throughout the year. Each classroom or club competes against all of the other clubs in the county in their respective grade level to earn their title. At each 4-H club meeting, 4-H ers will have the opportunity to earn points for their club (or class) through participation in 4-H contests and activities. The possible points awarded per student will vary depending on level of difficulty and effort required for that month s project. At the end of the year, each club s points will be totaled and averaged. The clubs with the highest average number of points per member will win awards. A total of five classrooms are recognized in each grade level (4 th and 5 th ), with one classroom winning Club of the Year and the other four earning Spirit Awards. Club of the Year Award Winners Pizza Party for class Spirit Awards Winners Ice Cream Party for class Club of the Year and Spirit Awards are determined by the highest average number of points per student. Along with a Pizza Party, the winning class will be presented with the Club of the Year trophy, which will remain in the classroom until the following year when a new Club of the Year is announced. The top four runners-up in each grade will receive an Ice Cream Party and an engraved plaque for their classroom Club of the Year and Spirit Award Winners 4 th Grade Club of the Year Rebecca Drewry s Class Martin 4 th Grade Spirit Awards Lisa Whitworth s Class Dresden Amanda Barker s Class Gleason April Fishel s Class Martin Jan Mitchell s Class Greenfield 5 th Grade Club of the Year Jessica Fortner s Class Martin 5 th Grade Spirit Awards Carrie Stringer s Class Martin Amelia Guerin s Class Martin Mary Lee Grossner s Class Martin Missy Galey s Class Greenfield 6

8 Points Possible for Various 4-H CLUB Activities (points are per member unless otherwise stated) November Public Speaking Contest - 10 Points Officer responsibilities 40 Points max. per class NEW 4-H Bulletin Board - 15 Points max. per class January Poster Contest 5 points Officer responsibilities 40 Points max. per class NEW 4-H Bulletin Board 15 Points max. per class February Demonstration Contest (preference) 10 points Officer responsibilities 40 Points max. per class NEW 4-H Bulletin Board -15 Points max. per class March / April Photography Contest 5 points Officer responsibilities 40 Points max. per class NEW 4-H Bulletin Board - 15 Points max. per class Community Service Project (with completed report form) - 75 Points max. per class BULLETIN BOARDS! Every class has the opportunity to earn additional points by creating a 4-H related bulletin board for each meeting. Teachers are encouraged to have students think of possible ideas and have committee members contribute to the production of the display, with assistance provided only when necessary. Bulletin boards will be judged on originality of design and neatness. These points will be awarded: 15 - purple, 10 - blue, 5 - red. 7

9 4-H Public Speaking Contest due Good communication skills are important to every student s future. No matter what your career plans, everyone needs to be able to communicate and express their ideas clearly and concisely. The ability to organize your thoughts and speak to a group is an extremely important life skill. Selecting a Topic One of the most difficult tasks in preparing a speech is the selection of a topic that can captivate your audience. Speaking about something you feel strongly about or a subject that you are familiar with will make it easier for you to deliver a good speech. We have already helped you to get started by selecting the main topic, but before you begin to write, it is recommended that you brainstorm about the details of your speech. GRADE TOPIC TIME 4 th My favorite. 1-2 minutes 5 th Prepared speech related to a 2-3 minutes role model, hero, or someone you admire. 6 th Prepared speech about a topic 3-4 minutes the 4-H member has researched. 7 th -8 th Prepared speech; topic open to the 4-5 minutes discretion of the speaker. 9 th -12 th Prepared speech; topic should be related 5-7 minutes to experiences in 4-H or things learned through 4-H (promotional speech). ** Please be sure to practice with a parent or friend, so you are able to be within the expected time range when you give your speech for your teacher or 4-H Agent. Time will be a determining factor in scoring. Upcoming Events: County The Best of Show speech, or speeches, in each classroom will be invited to the county contest to be held in early December. Sub-Regional Students winning at the county level in the 4 th -8 th grades will be invited to the sub-regional contest to be held in mid- February. Regional Students winning at the county level in 9 th -12 th grades will be invited to the regional contest to be held in February. 8

10 The Three Main Parts of a Speech 1. INTRODUCTION - The introduction to your speech is your opportunity to capture your audience s attention. The first few words in your speech should grab your audience. You might want to use a famous quote, verses of a poem, a humorous story, or even a joke. 2. BODY - This is the main part of your speech. This is the time to bring out what you want your audience to know. It is a good idea to limit yourself to five main points. This should be enough material to inform your audience without overloading or confusing them. Try to avoid using numerous statistics and wordy information. 3. CONCLUSION - This is the end or summary of your speech. You might end your speech by restating the main points of your speech, a statement of your views on your topic or by challenging your audience. o o o o o o Pointers for Delivering a Good Speech Practice! Practice! And more Practice!! You should know your speech without reading it, and feel comfortable delivering it in front of others. Your words are all you have, as visuals are not allowed to be used. Be sure to stand straight, but not stiff and rigid. Body posture is very important. Hands should be at your side. Remember when using hand gestures, they should be natural and not appear rehearsed. Outline the main points of your speech on index cards. Under each main point write a few key words that will help you remember what you want to discuss about that point. This will keep you from reading your speech. Try your best NOT to read every word of your speech from your paper! Speak in a natural tone of voice, yet loud enough that everyone can hear you. This is called projecting your voice, and it s extremely important. Get assistance in preparing your speech if it makes you more comfortable. Parents and teachers may be able to get you started. You should use any available resources that might help you. Books, newspapers, computers, and magazines can be good sources of information. Refrain from stating your name in your speech. It should not be part of the Introduction or Conclusion Public Speaking Contest Winners 4 th grade Akeisha Chua Martin 1 st place Cassidy Norwood Martin finalist Ava Anderson Martin finalist Hayden Swain Martin - finalist 5 th grade Garrett Moore Martin 1 st place Ashlee Mallon Dresden finalist Kaci Finney Dresden finalist Barrett Cunningham Dresden finalist 9

11 4-H POSTER CONTEST due January Let s advertise 4-H! How? Simply choose a catchy theme related to 4-H and create a poster centering on that theme. Entering the 4-H Poster Contest gives you an opportunity to showcase your artistic talents while promoting 4-H! You don t have to be an artist to enter a poster. You may want to print images from your computer, use scrapbooking supplies, or even cut pictures from a magazine. Whatever you decide, make sure that your artwork relates to the theme you have chosen. RULES & GUIDELINES: Poster must be 14 x 22 in size. 14 Note: This is the size of ½ a sheet of posterboard! Poster must be HORIZONTAL! 22 If you use the 4-H emblem (clover), do not place text or other images over or on top of it. Also, the emblem should not be tilted on the poster. The stem of the leaf should always turn to the right. Any objects attached to poster cannot extend more than 1/8" from the surface of the poster. Also, please do not use crafts that may easily fall off your poster. The use of any copyrighted cartoon figures (such as Spongebob Squarepants, Superman, etc.) or pictures of famous individuals (Elvis, etc.) will result in poster being disqualified. Lettering should be a minimum of 2" tall in order to be read easily from a distance. Ideal lettering may include using stencils, cut outs, or adhesive lettering for your poster. In addition, you may print from a bold font on your computer. The use of hand lettering is highly discouraged because it lacks the neatness and eye appeal of other methods. Markers, paint, crayons, construction paper or any other desired materials may be used to create the poster. However, the use of glitter should be avoided at all costs! On the back of your poster please print (with ink or marker): o Your Name (first and last) o Address (mailing) o School, Teacher & Grade NEED HELP? To help you think of some catchy themes, you may want to visit the 4-H site: < > Note: State winning posters may NOT be duplicated! 10

12 Judging Criteria for 4-H Posters The 4-H Poster Contest will be judged on: a) Originality of design, b) Relativity of artwork to 4-H and theme, and c) Neatness of construction. Neatness should be a TOP PRIORITY! ** This area will weigh heavily in choosing the winning posters. ** Awards: Classroom Purple, blue or red ribbons will be awarded to all qualifying posters. The poster(s) winning Best of Show in the classroom will automatically be entered in the county contest. County The top three posters chosen at the county level will receive a cash award (which will be mailed) and the winning posters will automatically be submitted to the regional contest held in February. State The winning posters at the regional contest are submitted to the state contest held in March. The top ten entries at the state contest receive a rosette and $50 savings bond. Weakley County students have submitted over 300 posters annually! Therefore, those students winning at the county level deserve a great deal of recognition. Winners are recognized in several ways. The winners of this contest are contacted and awarded their check by mail. Also, in the County 4-H Poster Contest, the member winning Best of Show at the county level, will be recognized by having their poster featured on the front of next year s handbook. Listed below are the Weakley County 4-H members whose posters received Outstanding County Awards in H Poster Contest County Winners Best of Show winner: Hunter Willis - Martin Honorable Mention: Lexia Sawyers -Greenfield Honorable Mention: Alison Davis - Dresden NOTE: Posters winning at the county level become property of the Weakley County 4-H. These posters are used to promote the contest the following year and may also be entered in other contests. We will make every effort to return posters after promotion is complete. 11

13 DEMONSTRATION CONTEST due February It s time to showcase your favorite hobby! With a demonstration, you are describing to your audience HOW TO do a particular activity. Also, with this contest, you will use visual aids! This means that if you want to show your class how to make your favorite dessert, you can bring in all the ingredients and actually make it for them! Or if you enjoy animals, you can bring in items and describe to your class how to take care of them. (NO live animals. Pictures only, please.) RULES & GUIDELINES: TIME LIMIT: 4 th grade: 2-3 minutes 5 th grade: 3-4 minutes USE VISUAL AIDS! Just as you learned with the 3 main parts of a speech, you will also have those 3 MAIN PARTS TO A DEMONSTRATON. 1. Introduction This is when you catch the audience s attention with an interesting fact or question relating to your demonstration. You will need a title poster for your demonstration to display while you are giving your introduction. 2. Body In the main part of your demonstration you should include a start-to-finish procedure. Steps should be given in chronological order and be easy to follow. Multiple visual aids are strongly encouraged. These can be pictures and/or actual objects. Visual aids should be used while explaining each step. 3. Conclusion Ending your demonstration may include showing a finished product of your demonstration or by answering a question you asked in the beginning. You should also state your related 4-H Project Area (listed on opposite page), reference your sources of information, and give your audience a reason why you chose to share this topic County Demonstration Contest Winners 4 th grade County Contest 5 th grade County Contest Anna Grace Abernathy Large Animal Science* Creed Melton Large Animal Science Marianne Moore Small Animal Science* Gabe Gilliam Food Science* Emma Harrison Nutrition and Health Josh Hage Personal Growth Sadie Bell Personal Growth* Taylor Longacre STEM* Aniston Carter Environmental Science* Kaci Finney Consumer Skills Akeisha Chua Consumer Skills* Brady Crumby Engineering/Safety Finley Smith Engineering/Safety *Regional winner 12

14 PROJECT AREAS SAMPLE TOPICS Beef How to Top Out a Steer for Market Citizenship How to Select a Service Project Clothing and Textiles...How to Prepare Wool for Clothing Communication/Public Speaking How to Make a Great Introduction Companion Animal How to Train Your Hunting Dog Computers and Technology...How to Create a Facebook Page Consumer Education/Economics...How to Start Saving for College Dairy...How to Judge Dairy Cattle Electric....How to Re-wire a Lamp Engineering/Safety Science..How to Make a Brick Entomology...How to Identify Insects Environment Science/Conservation...How to Conserve Water at Your House Food Science...How to Make Fudge Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries...How to Catch Your Favorite Fish Goat...How to Trim Goat s Hooves Horse...How to Care for Your Horse in Winter Horticulture/Garden...How to Plant a Flower Leadership/Personal Development...How to Write a Friendly Letter Line and Design.. How to Draw a Dog Nutrition, Health, and Fitness...How to Find Your Target Heart Rate Performing Arts/Recreation...How to Juggle Photography.How to Select Proper Lighting for a Photo Plant Science..How to Identify the Parts of a Plant Poultry...How to Care for Baby Chicks Sheep...How to Get Lambs Ready to Show Swine...How to Wean Piglets Veterinary Science..How to Apply a Leg Bandage HELPFUL POINTERS Try to select a topic that you are familiar with and can easily explain. Posters should be used; lettering should be BOLD and at least 2 tall. The use of visual aids is highly recommended. It is a good idea to practice your demonstration with all of your visual aids before presenting to your teacher. The time ranges are important. This may be a deciding factor for awards. PORTFOLIOS **Selecting a project area in which you can begin to develop a portfolio, or record book, is strongly encouraged. Having a portfolio will help students understand responsibility and goal setting. Beginning with the prep work for portfolios at an early age (6 th grade and up) can also help students to achieve Honor Club membership, determine selection for delegates with award trips, and eventually play an important role in nominating scholarship recipients. If you would like more information about starting a portfolio, please contact the 4-H Office for the necessary materials and instructions. We will be happy to assist! 13

15 Photography Contest due March Do you like taking pictures? Then, here's an activity for you! Select 1 or 2 pictures that you've made in the past year, or that you make before the contest, and mount them separately on poster board or construction paper to make your exhibit(s). Select photographs that show imagination! People don't always have to smile and your dog doesn t have to sit and look at you. Start by selecting a variety of subjects to photograph. Experiment with different angles. Remember to get close enough to your subject for a good shot with sharpness. Be aware of the lighting, so that your pictures capture the true color. Rules and Guidelines: 1. All photos must be taken by the student. (You should NOT be in the photo.) 2. Each student may enter 1 or 2 photos. (Only one photo per category.) 3. The categories are: People, Animals/Insects, Barns and Landscapes. NOTE: A landscape can be a field, a shoreline, mountains, etc. NOT a single flower. 4. Each entry must have a short title under the photo. Be creative and original. A catchy title helps judges remember your photo! 5. Photos may be color photos, black and white or sepia. 6. Photos may not be more than 1 year old. 7. All photos must be mounted on a 9x12 sheet of poster board or construction paper. Each photo should be mounted separately. The student s name, address, school, and teacher's name must be on the back of each entry. 8. All winning classroom entries (purple ribbons) will receive a county ribbon. The top 10 photos from all schools will be chosen as county winners. Examples: Summer vacation photos, wildlife scenes, pets and family are all good examples of photos you might want to enter. Start thinking of ideas for your photos or go through your current pictures today! If you think you need to take pictures before the contest, please remember to allow time to get them printed and mounted County Winners Elizabeth Edwards - Martin Owen Taylor - Gleason William Rea Martin Barrett Cunningham - Dresden Kyleigh Fishel - Martin Grace Ann Abernathy - Greenfield Kyla Rea - Martin Kennedy Smith Dresden Isabella Shell Greenfield Marcel Goulding - Gleason 14

16 Community Service Projects Helping the Community = Points! Learn by doing has long been the 4-H slogan. One of the best activities in which to get involved is 4-H COMMUNITY SERVICE. One of the many purposes of 4-H is to help teach citizenship and leadership. As you work with classmates, you can be proud in knowing that you are helping others! Community service can best be described as giving/sharing of one s time, talents and service. Your class project may be helping another club, family, school endeavor, or an individual in need in the community. Take pictures of your class as you are working in the community! Try to involve as many individuals as possible. Everyone in the class should be able to contribute either by planning, doing, or following up with your report. Take a look at these Community Service Projects: 1. Make holiday cards or gift baskets for underprivileged children or nursing home residents. With gift baskets, you might include fruit, candies, books, toiletries, or clothing. Be sure to contact organizations for permission and arrange for a time when you can deliver. 2. Assign first friends for new students. Have one person sit with them at lunch, introduce them to others, and help them get through their first week at school. 3. Make a Trim a Mitten Tree in the classroom for the holidays. First, locate an organization that can help you serve underprivledged children, ask for donations to buy or make mittens, then distribute mittens to keep hands warm! 4. Collect aluminum cans to recycle and present money to charity of your choice. 5. Conduct a food drive for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. Plan your event, decide who will receive the food you collect, and then ask for donations. 6. Assist with a beautification project in your community. You may want to help with planting trees or flowers around your school or at a local park. These are only a few possible ideas. Be creative! You may think of others with the help of classmates, parents, or teachers. Regardless of the project you select, you should work together and have fun! 15

17 4-H CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES The 4-H camping program has been a tradition for Weakley County 4-H members since H Camps are designed to keep an active pace of activities including educational sessions and recreation. These activities are designed to enrich the lives of the participants, provide them with a week full of FUN, & the opportunity to build social skills. Check out these many 4-H Camps available for SUMMER 2018: Junior 4-H Summer Camp (grades 4-6) Join in the fun! This camp will be held June 11-15, 2018 at the W.P. Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia, Tennessee. Activities include swimming, crafts, zipline course, archery, rifle range, sports, campfires and more! 4-H members will be under the direct supervision of Extension Agents and adult volunteer leaders. In addition, outstanding, experienced 4-H members will serve as teen leaders. Approximate Cost $300. (Includes meals, lodging, and transportation.) Jr. High Ed-Venture Camp (grades 7-8) Your Ed-Venture awaits! This camp will be held July 3-6, 2018 at the W.P. Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia, Tennessee. The advanced version of summer camp it s about personal growth, team challenges and learning the qualities of becoming a great leader! Approx. Cost $250. OWLS Conference (grades 6-12) This camp is tentatively set for May 29 June 1, OWLS Conference stands for Outdoor Wildlife, Leadership and Service. This is an opportunity for youth that have an interest in wildlife and forestry judging, outdoor cookery and shooting sports. Space is limited, so sign up early! Approximate Cost $170. Electric Camp (grades 6-7) Get ready for an electrifying experience! This camp will be held June 26-29, 2018 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. At camp you make your own electric lamp, use GPS to find items on a scavenger hunt and maneuver through obstacles driving an electric golf cart. Campers also enjoy swimming, a pizza party and a trip to Dollywood! Approximate Cost $200. Target Smart Camp (grades 5-12) This camp will be held July 3-6, 2018 at the W.P. Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia, Tennessee. At camp youth learn appropriate skills to succeed in their specific interest area. Students can choose from: archery, rifle, shotgun, muzzleloading, and hunting skills. Programs emphasize safety, correct form, and responsible use. Campers should have some training and background knowledge before attending this camp. Approximate Cost $200. Line and Design Camp (grades 5-12) Make your own crafts! This camp will be held July 9-11, 2018 at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Students will enjoy projects in scrapbooking, sewing, decorating and fashion. Campers will also enjoy swimming at the university pool. This is an overnight camp; students will be staying in university housing. Space is limited, so sign up early! Approximate Cost $100. **Applications and deadline information will be given out at March classroom meetings. You may also find information about our 4-H Camping Center at: 16

18 Judging Teams ALL YOU NEED to be on a judging team is the dedication to succeed and 2 or 3 others like you! Judging teams give 4-H ers in the 4 th - 12 th grades an opportunity to learn about a given area and use their knowledge in contests against other teams from across the region, state, and maybe even the country! Judging teams teach youth valuable decision-making skills that can be used throughout a lifetime. In addition, this is a chance to spend time with your friends outside of school activities and you will get to visit different places as we travel to competitions! In Weakley County, we are planning for the following teams in : Dairy Judging (Aug.) - Judge dairy cows and heifers. Land Judging (Oct.) Identify soil types, uses, and expected crop yields. Livestock Judging (Nov.) - Evaluate beef, swine, sheep and goats. Forestry Judging (Sept.) Learn to identify trees, insect and diseases of trees, and tree measuring skills. Horse Judging (April) Judge horses based on conformation & performance. Wildlife (May) - Learn Tennessee wildlife species, their food, & habitat needs. 4-H Grilling Team (Sept.) Learn proper grilling techniques and food safety. Meats (Aug.) Identify retail cuts of meat, cooking methods, and meat quality. LifeSkills (Aug.)- Contest featuring nutrition, personal development, the environment, health, food safety, & money management. CALL the 4-H Office to find out more about how you can prepare for these great judging events. Practices for each team will meet 4-6 weeks prior to the date of the actual regional competition. *** PARENTS You can be involved! If you would like to assist in coaching one or more of these Judging Teams, we would much appreciate your help! In addition, we may also need volunteers to assist on the day of the competition. Call us at if you would like to be involved in your student s interests. 17

19 LIVESTOCK ACTIVITIES PROJECTS IN BEEF, DAIRY, POULTRY, LAMBS, HOGS AND GOATS DO YOU LIKE ANIMALS? DO YOU LIKE TO HAVE FUN? Then, this is for you! In each project, you raise and care for the animals at home, as well as have the opportunity to participate in one or more livestock shows. Livestock project participants learn responsibility, how to handle investments, how to properly raise animals and good sportsmanship. BEEF HEIFER There are many opportunities and great self-satisfaction in showing beef heifers. Beef heifers must be registered in the name of the exhibitor in order to show. Opportunities to show include the Regional and State Junior Livestock Exposition in July, area county fairs and breed association sponsored shows. DAIRY Grade or purebred dairy cattle can be shown. Opportunities to show include the Weakley County Dairy Show, Henry Co. Fair, & Tennessee State Fair during August and September. Generally, the 4-H'er will start with young heifers and show an animal for two years before calving. POULTRY A poultry show and sale is held annually in Weakley County in September. This show is only open to youth selected to participate in the Weakley County Poultry Chain (see page 20) MARKET LAMBS, HOGS & GOATS Any purebred or crossbred can be shown. All animals should be of high quality and can be farm reared or purchased from producers. Lambs may also be purchased from market lamb sales and can be shown at the Regional and State Junior Livestock Exposition in July. Market Lambs, goats and hogs can all be shown at Weakley County Junior Livestock Show in August DETACH and RETURN TO: Weakley County Extension P.O. Box 168 Dresden, TN Livestock Activities Interest Form Name Phone # Mailing Address School Grade Parent Signature Planned Projects Animal(s) Do you currently own the animal(s) to be exhibited? yes no Will you be a first time exhibitor? yes no Other comments: 18

20 Join us in the Weakley County Horse club Do you like horses? Then join the Horse Club today, and get in on all of these fun events. This club has something to do nearly year-round! Horse Bowl & Hippology: No horse necessary. Practices begin in October/ November. The regional competition is held in late January and the state competition is held in mid to late February. Teams of 3 or 4 members test their knowledge in the Horse Bowl with Jeopardy-Round questions focused on horses. Individual competition in Hippology focuses on horse breeds, anatomy, tack, judging, and more. Grades Horse Communications Contests: No horse necessary. State contest only, no prerequisite. State event is held in conjunction with State Horse Bowl and Hippology Contest in February. Students may enter speech contest, individual or team demonstrations. Members are encouraged to enter, $500 scholarships awarded to winners. Grades Horse Judging: No horse necessary. Practices begin in early March. Regional competition held in mid- April. Teams of 3 or 4 members judge classes of halter and performance. Senior High team members give individual reasons on classes. Grades H Horse Shows: Lots of fun, but horse is required. Project animals may be shared, however no more than 2 members of a family can share the same horse. Non-family owned project animals may also be used, but must be approved by a 4-H leader. Enrollment forms on each project horse must be completed and turned in to the 4-H Office no later than March 1 st to be eligible for the Regional and State 4-H Horse Shows in June. Making plans? The Regional 4-H Horse Show is always held at the UTM Ag Pavilion on first weekend in June, and the State 4- H Horse Show is held in Shelbyville the last full week of June. The Southern Regionals are held in July for qualifying participants. Grades Saddle Up! for St. Jude Trail Ride: Horse required. Horses may be borrowed. Members organize a trail ride in the county and solicit local business and/or individuals to sponsor each mile or hour spent on horseback. Proceeds benefit the St. Jude Children s Research Hospital. Eligibility: all ages. Mounted Drill Team: Horse is required. Tryouts are also required to meet safety guidelines. Members with advanced horsemanship skills are encouraged to try out. This team will perform at various rodeos and horse shows. Grades

21 4-H POULTRY CHAIN The Weakley County 4-H Poultry Chain is a long-standing tradition. For over 90 years, members have participated in this project and have exhibited at the Weakley County 4-H Poultry Show and Sale. All students in the 4th-12th grades are eligible to apply. NOTE: As this project is intended to advance educational experiences, selection for applicants may be limited to one per household. In addition, first-time applicants and older students will receive priority. Limit: 20 participants. Rules and Guidelines * 4-H'ers are selected to receive 25 pullets (female baby chicks). * Members must have parental approval (shown by signature on application) to be eligible. * Member is responsible for feed, water, facilities and care of birds. * Chicks must be kept warm, well-nourished, free of disease and protected from other animals that may cause them harm. (*Chicks should be kept at 95 degrees the first week.) * We will plan to have chicks arriving in May. In late September, members will bring their six best pullets to the Weakley County 4-H Poultry Show and Sale. * Pullets will be judged for maturity, development (size and degree of pigmentation) and quality. Prize money will be based on ribbon placing. * Pullet groups will be sold at the auction. Money raised from the sale will provide prize money for students and will also be used to assist the 4-H program the following year. * Remaining pullets (up to 19) are the member's to keep and use as they wish. Pullets and/or eggs may be sold. However, the pullets may not be sold before or during the 4-H Poultry Sale (in September). APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM FEBRUARY 12 th -16 th DETACH and RETURN TO: Weakley County Extension P.O. Box 168 Dresden, TN H Poultry Chain Interest Form Name Parent Phone # Mailing Address School Grade A $40.00 deposit must be sent with this application. Checks should be made payable to: Weakley County 4-H. This deposit will be refunded after the poultry sale in September, provided the student participates in the Weakley County 4-H Poultry Show & Sale. I have read the above stated rules and guidelines and understand the responsibilities of the 4-H Poultry Chain project. I also agree to the commitments my student has made through this project. Parent Signature Date APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM FEBRUARY 12 th -16 th

22 4-H Shooting Sports Shooting Sports in Weakley County: We currently offer an Air Rifle Club that meets at the UT Martin ROTC range and a Shotgun Trap team. These programs are conducted by leaders who have completed the Tennessee 4-H Shooting Sports Training and hold a certification in those disciplines. Members of the Rifle, Archery or Shotgun teams will be given the opportunity to attend practice sessions and competitions throughout the year. The 4-H Shooting Sports programs are designed to teach the following: Firearm Safety Responsibility Sportsmanship Teamwork and Commitment To learn more about 4-H Shooting Sports, contact the 4-H office at Other Shooting Sports: Students interested in shooting sports may also be interested in the 4-H State Shoot (April), OWLS Conference (late May/early June) or Target Smart Camp (July). To learn more about these exciting opportunities, visit our website at: < > ATTENTION PARENTS! You can be involved too! If you would like to serve as a volunteer leader, please contact us at the 4-H Office for more details. 21

23 Be a 4-H Volunteer. YOU can make a difference. 4-H is an experiential learning youth education program for boys and girls in 4 th 12 th grades. Its practical life skills education in science and technology, healthy lifestyles and citizenship can reach any kid... anywhere... any time through 4-H clubs, camps, after-school programs and events. 4-H volunteers and professionals have a great deal of latitude in determining when, where and how 4-H learn-by-doing activities take place. More and more youth need the values, skills and guidance 4-H offers. As a 4-H volunteer, you are supported by 4-H professionals through your local Extension Office, a branch of The University of Tennessee. Adult volunteers play an important role in the 4-H program. Contact the Weakley County Extension Office today at to learn about how to apply and receive training to be a 4-H volunteer. Learn more at: Support 4-H. Donate today. Sponsorship plays an integral role in the operation of Weakley County 4-H. Investment in 4-H allows quality, innovative and sustainable leadership and life skills programs for youth and volunteers, that benefits the citizens and communities in which we all live. It is a key component that allows our 4-H program to effectively meet the needs of its members and adult volunteer leaders. 4-H in Tennessee began in 1910 and has provided youth leadership and life skills development for 100 years. 4-H provides young people with an opportunity to learn how to become productive, self-assured adults who can make their community and country a better place in which to live. This is fostered through project and program work, experiences with their 4-H club members and leaders and their participation in county, regional and state programs. We rely on the support from the community, the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our financial partners. If you would like to become a sponsor, know of a potential sponsor or would like assistance in approaching a potential sponsor, please contact: Weakley County Extension Office P.O. Box 168 Dresden, TN (731)

24 WEAKLEY COUNTY JUNIOR (4TH - 5TH GRADE) ACTIVITY REPORT Member's Name School Teacher's Name Grade A. Contests I Have Entered: (Check only if you entered contest this year & ribbon received) CLASSROOM CONTEST COUNTY CONTEST No. Purple Blue Red Green No. Purple Blue Red PUBLIC SPEAKING 4-H POSTER PHOTOGRAPHY DEMONSTRATION POULTRY CHAIN n/a OTHER: B. Participation in My 4-H Project One of the 4-H projects areas that I am interested in is. These are some of the things I have done this year in my project. (Use numbers to show size, dollars saved, or number of times a task was performed). Examples are number of times made biscuits, number of times fed steer, number of color photos taken, number of speeches observed, etc. PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SECTION TASK PERFORMED NO. OF TIMES HOURS SPENT EXPENSE 23

25 C. Citizenship and Leadership 1. Individual Member Assistance (Assistance you have given individual 4-H members with their project work). Indicate number of different 4-H'ers assisted each year. ASSISTANCE GIVEN (task) Name / # Name / # Name / # TOTALS 2. Leadership in club or group of which you are a member (list by years the offices you have held, committees you served on, programs you helped with) LEVELS: L=Local Classroom; C=County; R=Regional; S=State YEAR OFFICE, COMMITTEE, or PROGRAM YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES LEVEL D. ANIMAL SHOWS: I have entered animals in the following show(s): BEEF HORSE DAIRY SHEEP SWINE GOAT POULTRY (If you have participated in 4-H Poultry Chain) Event/ Entry Award(s) Event/ Entry Award(s)