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	4-H News & Notes
	Celebrating 100 Years of 4-H 1902 - 2002	In This Issue: Greetings from Dee No District Fair/County Awards Local Club News Upcoming Meetings Upcoming Events Community Service Idea for August Children's Outdoor Fun Emily, 1st 4-H Collector Doll 4-H Web Sites MI 4-H Youth Conservation Council Win $100 10 Commandments for Parents Corn Maze Daze Calendar 4-H Exhibits Monitors Needed
Kurt H. Schindler, CED Dee Williams, 4-H Youth Educator Susan Baldwin, 4-H Secretary	Wexford County	August 2002 Vol. VIII Issue 11

Greetings from Dee:

Northern District Fair is just around the corner. I have volunteers ready to interview the 4-H youth when they bring exhibits into the Civic Center on August 10. Some of you may have noticed there was not a place to register for the 100th Anniversary of 4-H Club Exhibit. Just see me when you bring exhibits on Saturday and we will have club interviews after you have the exhibit in place. Those with barn 100th Anniversary decorations can sign up at the mandatory meeting after livestock weigh-in on Sunday evening.

Please notice the information about fair monitors. This can be youth or adults. We ask that you serve a two-hour shift during the week. I would like each time slot filled. You can sign up at the Civic Center on August 10 or during the fair. Call us now if you want a certain day or time.

The 4-H vests will be available from Candy Prince for 4-H youth on barn duty to wear. You will also serve as a 4-H Ambassador and meet and greet the public while on duty. This is a great community service project as well as a chance to educate the public about 4-H. Wear your 4-H vest with pride!

We have two Japanese students being hosted by the Cindy & Dave Funck and Jill & Bill Benson families. The Deb & Dave Pearce family will receive a year-long Japanese exchange student in August. Be sure and welcome them to your 4-H activities!

Sincerely,

Dee

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Northern District Fair/County Awards

4-H Volunteer Leaders & Members are needed to help monitor your 4-H exhibits and keep them safe from accidental damage, vandalism, or theft. The work shifts are two hours long. It is nice to have two people per shift. Persons who do this will receive a pass for free admission. The following chart shows where monitors are still needed. Please call the office to sign up for the best time suited to your schedule!! #779-9480.

Fair week is finally approaching! Exhibits must brought into the Civic Arena for judging on August 10 between noon and 5 p.m. Be ready to discuss your project with a judge and receive your awards!
Pullorum testing will occur on Sunday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.. Market Livestock weigh-in and your mandatory meeting will occur at 6 p.m. or as soon as weigh-in is finished.
When you are on barn duty, please wear a 4-H Ambassador vest and greet visitors who come to the barns. Get your vest from Candy Prince.
The Market Livestock Auction will begin promptly at 6 pm on Wednesday. Be sure to line up buyers for your project! Additional passes for your buyers may be picked up at the MSU Extension Office any week day between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The 4-H Potluck will be Saturday at 6 p.m. followed by the presentation of trophies at 7 p.m.
Have fun at the fair!

Available in the office is the Wexford County Awards Application. You all have worked very hard during the year and have this opportunity to be recognized for all your efforts. The pins available are listed on the reverse side of the application When you apply for a special award, be sure you are already enrolled in that project area. If you are unsure, call the office and speak to Susan.

	4-H	EXHIBITS	MONITOR	SIGN-UP	SHEET
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
12 - 2 pm	Filled	Filled	Filled	Filled	Filled	Filled
2 - 4 pm	Filled			Filled
4 - 6 pm
6 - 8 pm
8 - 10 pm
To volunteer	for a particular	time, call the	office at:	# 779-9480		Back to the Top

4-H Days at the Corn Maze -- August 15-17

More information has arrived regarding 4-H Days at the Corn Maze!

Spend the day with your 4-H members or family members at the corn maze then head to the Michigan State University campus (about 30 minutes west of Williamston) and watch the State 4-H Horse, or visit the 4-H Children's Garden! Navigate through miles of corn maze trail and shapes of a life-size Saturn V rocket, space shuttle, Hubble telescope, and other space-related objects! The corn maze is located across from 3770 Noble Road in Williamston, about 1 mile from the I-96 and M-52 intersection. The cost is $5/person. Weather permitting, 10" and 12" telescopes will be available after dark to use for an extra $.50. These telescopes can track and find over 64,000 objects in space. See numerous galaxies and more! For more information visit the web page: http://www.maze-n-market.com.

Upcoming Meetings

Aug
07	Livestock Committee, 7:30 pm
11	4-H Market Livestock Sellers following weigh-in
28	Livestock Rules Meeting, 7:30 pm
Sep
10	4-H Leaders Meeting, 7 p.m.
10	Leader Update, 8 pm
11	Livestock Committee, 7:30 pm
18	Leader Update, Alternate Date, 3 pm
19	Fairboard Meeting, 7 pm
26	Leader Update, Alternate Date, 7 pm

The above meetings are open to the public. Please feel free to attend and give input. Your opinion and ideas do count and are welcomed! Back to the Top

Community Service Idea for August

It’s back-to-school time this month -- Offer to assist your younger brother/sister or neighbor’s child in getting on the school bus or in walking to school.

Ten Commandments for Parents at Fair!

Doing the right thing as a parent isn’t always easy. However, the following Ten Commandments can act as a guide for parents when it comes to teaching youngsters about the responsibilities of raising and showing livestock:

1. Thou shall not feed, train or care for the animal.
2. Thou shall forgive a child for making mistakes in the showring
3. Thou shall not get mad when they child forgets items in the showring
4. Thou shall help the show management for they are doing a job that thou would not want to do
5. Thou shall see that thy child is on time
6. Thou shall be sure that thy child has the animals entered & registration papers are in order
7. Thou shall teach the child that winning the blue ribbon is a desirable goal, but making friends is more important
8. Thou shall not complain about the judge
9. Thou shall remember that livestock projects are teaching projects not money making projects
10. Thou shall remember that the livestock project is a family project that is enjoyed and supported by the entire family

Emily - The First 4-H Collector Doll

Emily is a devoted 4-H member carefully feeding her little lamb. Her head, arms, and legs are d crafted of fine porcelain and her facial features are hand-painted, including the delicate blush on her cheeks and her adorable freckles. Emily wears a Kelly green t-shirt with the universally recognized 4-H emblem and a white camp bearing “Head, Heart, Hands, and Health” from the 4-H pledge. This collector’s item is available exclusively from the Danford Mint for only $99. If you are interested, contact the office for an order blank

4-H Web Sites

The following are a few sites with information that may interest you:

Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council

You can provide important leadership for conserving Michigan's natural resources in the 21st century. The Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council, a new advanced environmental leadership opportunity for teens aged 13 to 19, was introduced by the Michigan Senate in 1999 and is coordinated by Michigan 4-H Youth Development. The next council will begin in December 2002. Positions are limited to 20 tens. Three teen representatives from each of the six Michigan regions will be selected by September 27. To receive an application and information packet, contact the office or email your request to Andrea Grix at the Kettunen Center.

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Upcoming 4-H Events:

The following animal/horse events will occur during the next few months:

AUGUST
7	Twilight Shows, Oscoda Co Fairgrounds, Fairview
10	State 4-H Dog Show, MSU Pavilion
11-17	Northern District Fair! See Fair book for schedule of events
16-18	State 4-H Horse Show, MSU Pavilion
21	Twilight Shows, Oscoda Co Fairgrounds
24-25	No Region 4-H Horse Expo, Ogemaw Co Fairgrounds
SEPT
4	Twilight Shows, Oscoda County Fairground, Fairview.
4	7th Annual Ride-A-Thon
18	Twilight Shows, Oscoda County Fairgrounds, Fairview.
18	Wex/Miss 4-H Conservation Dairy Tour

For any MSU Pavilion Updates visit: http://www.msu.edu/dept/ans/pavnew/pavhome.htm

Local Club News

The PEP Club has wrapped up their summer program with a club picnic in the park on August 1. Participants in this club were provided therapeutic horseback activities with the help of Certified Instructor Rich Fitch and Liz Banks, Jo Brown, Leslie Durrant, Greg Finstrom, Mary Fitch, Lori Ann Herron, Cathy Kubik, Marie Mercier, Janis Mercier, John Palacios, Mary Palacios, Douglas Parker, Nancy Richardson, Deb Rudolph, Leah Rudolph, Mike Rudolph, Bob Schaafsma, Ken Sitkiewicz, Nicole Stratton, Lauren Taylor, Tracy Trautner, Mary Trautner, Marijane Wiebenga, Phil Wiebenga, Jennifer Wilcox, Vickie Wilcox, and Wayne Williams, who generously provided assistance!

Awards were distributed at the picnic including: "Most Knowledgeable About Horses" - Derrick Patino; "Most Years in Program" - Jennifer Parker; "Happy Cowboy" - Dennis McMartin; "Animal Lover (Especially Cats)" - Jennifer Richardson; "Most Determined Rider" - Trisha Young; "Most Improved Female Rider" - Tesha Seager; "Most Improved Male Rider" - Jordan Schaafsma; "Natural Rider" - Rachel Durrant; and "Happy Cowgirl" - Sarah Sitkiewiez. Congratulations!

Special thanks to Liz Banks for providing the facility and horses and Jill Byard, who brought in additional horses.
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Family Nutrition Program

The Family Nutrition Program can help you learn how to stretch your food dollar; improve your shopping skills; make delicious, low cost, quick and easy meals and snacks; add a variety to your diet that can lead to better health; and manage your resources. Shelly Psaros, Wexford/Missaukee Counties Family Nutrition Program Associate, shares with you some "hot" tips for sun safety!

Children’s Outdoor Fun - Submitted by Shelly Psaros, FNP Associate

You don’t need to have expensive playground equipment or a large space for good summertime fun. Most likely, you have everything that you need. The secret to wonderful productive play outdoors is to set up activity areas outside. This lets children choose from old familiar activities and exciting new ones. It is extra work to carry things outside, but remember the old saying -- many hands make light work. Most young children really enjoy helping to bring things outside. All it takes to make your outdoor space wonderful is a little extra effort.

Dramatic Play - Dramatic play outdoors can be even more exciting than indoors. Children can safely run while playing and can even use riding toys as part of the play. You can help to get this type of play going outside by making a playhouse using an old blanket placed over a table or cardboard box. Bring sturdy, washable toys outside, such as plastic pots and plans and spoons.

Quiet Time Activity Area - Place a soft blanket and pillows under a tree or in a shaded area to make a quiet time activity area. Bring out a basket of books to read. Children in child care always need a quiet activity area to calm down and relax.

Art Area - You can make a space for art by bringing a small table or easel outside, or simply attach painting paper to a fence or wall. If you have chain-link fence, you can use clothes pins to attach the paper to the fence. If you have a wooden fence, use masking tape to hang paper. Paint cups can be put in a cardboard six-pack holder and placed next to the paper on a plastic crate or other low table. The great thing about art outside is that you can let the children do messy things. Clean up with a hose.

Sidewalk Art - Sidewalk art can be a very exciting change. Give the children chalk or wide brushes and tempera paint. Encourage the children to think big. Hose it down or wait for a good rainstorm to clean it.

Construction Zone - Add a construction zone to your outdoor space by bringing your blocks outside. Children love to help carry blocks outside. Cardboard boxes and inexpensive pieces of PCV pipe are wonderful additions to this area. The children will enjoy the chance to make extra large buildings. Ask them to build wide instead of tall to prevent injuries from falling blocks.

Obstacle Course - Get out all bikes, tricycles, wagons, carts, and cars - anything with wheels. With the children’s help, decide on a course. Mark the course by using cardboard milk cartons or a chalk line. Try these tricks for making a challenging course: zigzags, corners, driving through large box tunnels, string-up crepe paper streamers for children to drive through. I you don’t have enough hoops or jump over a 4-to-6 inch boxes placed on the grass. The children will have great ideas - let them help. Start the helmet habit early -- Use safety helmets!

Make a Nature Center - Create a nature study center outside. Magnifying glasses, binoculars, and a bird field guide are good things to put in this center. You might want to try attracting animals to your nature center with a bird bath, bird feeder, or squirrel feeder. A set of wind chimes or a wind sock, along with an outdoor thermometer can help you and the children in your care to carefully observe the changes in the weather. The children can work on developing a collection of rocks, seeds, and shells for your nature center.

Play Ball - Preschool and school-age children enjoy building their skills with balls. Set up an area where children can roll a ball at a target, throw a ball at a target on a wall, or toss a ball into a basket or hoop. Preschool children can use an enlarged lightweight plastic bat to hit at a ball suspended by a string. School-age children enjoy bouncing or dribbling a ball, or using a racket to strike a ball towards a wall or up into the air. It helps to have lots of balls in this area so lots of children can play at the same time.

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Attention: Exhibitors at the Northern District Fair!

To celebrate 100 years of 4-H, the Wexford County 4-H Council is offering a $100 prize to the most outstanding 4-H Club Centennial display in the Civic Center and in the Livestock Barns.

In the Civic Center we will be looking at creativity, theme, percent of members participating, and educational impact. If a club exhibits in more than one barn, please choose only one barn for your display. In the Livestock Barns we will be looking at creativity, theme, and percent of members participating.

You may stop into the office and request a copy of the following bulletins: Making Posters, Promote 4-H With Successful Visuals, or Planning Your Exhibits.

Some of the things you might want to consider doing are including 4-H projects or bulletins from the past in your display, interviewing people who were in 4-H in the past, getting information I
have available on 4-H during the different decades and sharing it in your exhibit. Be creative and let the people coming to the fair see how 4-H has changed over the years!

WIN $100 Back to the Top

Aug		Check on senior relatives and neighbors!		1	2	3
4	5	6	7 Twilight Shows Livestock Committee	8	9	10 State 4-H Dog Show
11 Weigh-In - Northern District Fair Mandatory Mtg following weigh-in	12 Fair Opens!	13	14 4-H Market Livetock Auction at Fair!	15 4-H Days Corn Maze	16 4-H Days Corn Maze State 4-H Horse Show	17 4-H Days Corn Maze State 4-H Horse Show
18 State 4-H Horse Show	19	20	21 Twilight Shows	22	23	24 No Region 4-H Horse Expo
25 No Region 4-H Horse Expo	26	27	28 Livestock Rules Mtg	29	30	Remember Wading/ Swimming Pool Safety!
Sept
1	2	3	4 Twilight Shows	5	6	7 7th Annual Ride-A-Thon
8	9	10 4H Leaders Mtg Leader Update	11 Livestock Council	12	13	14
15	16	17	18 Wex/Miss 4-H Conservation Dairy Tour Leader Update Twilight Shows	19 Fairboard Meting	20	21
22	23	24	25	26 Leader Update	27 MI 4-H Youth Conservation Council Positions Chosen	28
29	30

Bringing Knowledge to Life! Return to Top

4-H: 4-H Newsletters & etc.; Dee Williams; Coming Events.

Wexford County Extension: Home page; Coming Events; Programs & Services; Staff; Quarterly Partner Report; map to find the office; Site Map; Mission, Indica, Disclaimer.
Programs and Services: Land Use; 4-H; Family and Consumer Science; State and Local Government; Christmas Trees.
Staff: Support; 4-H; Dee Williams; Children, Youth, Family; Community and Economic Development; Kurt Schindler; Agriculture (Christmas Trees).
Wexford Extension Programs: for Wexford; Coming Events.
Land Use: Land Use Page; Education programs; Pamplets; 2001 Amendments; for people who are not members of planning commissions, appeals boards.
State and Local Government.
Integrated Crop Management, Christmas Trees.
MSU Extension: MSUE; Michigan State University North;
Other: Michigan State University; Wexford County government; Cadillac Area Visitor and Convention Bureau.