DECATUR COUNTY EXTENSION, 309 N. MAIN, LEON, IA | 641-446-4723 | M-F 8:00 AM-4:30 PM LEARN MORE AT WWW.EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/DECATUR

Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

Pg 1– REPEAT-Enrollment Due!

Pg2– Enrolling/Re-enrolling Details

Swine/Sheep/Goat Weigh-in April 21

County Fair Class/Rules Update

Pg3 - FSQA/YQCA Update

IFAA Scholarships Available

Extension Office Centennial

Decatur County Fair Update

Club Leader Training Online

4-H Senior Leadership Council Plans

Pg4 - Camp WILD– June 11– 13

State 4-H Summer Camps

Pg5 –4-H Experience Agronomy Day

2018 State 4-H Conference

Pg6-Quick Reference Calendar

WHAT’S INSIDE:

FOCUS ON 4-H APRIL–MAY 2018

Swing Into Spring With 4-H!

Spring has arrived and the camps, fairs and other activities of the 4-H summer season are

just around the corner.

Make sure you are current with the deadlines and requirements outlined in this news-

letter. These include market swine, sheep, and goat weigh-in April 21st; the May 1 dead-

line for enrollment and livestock I.D.’s; FSQA and YQCA certification for all those who

have meat and dairy animal projects, and fair entry deadline day July 1 to name a few.

Please look over and take advantage of other opportunities such as area Jr. Camp and

state 4-H camps and others listed in this newsletter.

Good luck and best wishes as you “Spring into 4-H.”

Jack Van Laar Kala Leeper DECATUR COUNTY EXTENSION DECATUR COUNTY EXTENSION Program Manager Office/Program Assistant jvanlaar@iastate.edu kleeper@iastate.edu

Yours in 4-H,

Jack Kala Jack Van Laar Kala Leeper

**REPEAT** Please Get Enrollment/Re-enrollment Up-To-Date **REPEAT** Before we can mark you as an active 4-H member in good standing your 4-H on-line ac-count must be up-to-date and enrollment fees paid by May 1. Even if the club pays your share of the $20 enrollment fee this must be done! If you wish to apply for some financial assistance, you also need to let us know. Application for 4-H Foundation financial assis-tance for enrollment fees can be found at:: https://www.iowa4hfoundation.org/en/

funding_opportunities/iowa_4h_program_fee_assistance/

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

PARTNERSHIPS AND RESEARCH-BASED EXPERIENCES.

1.7The Decatur County Extension

Office and 4-H program5” x 2.25”

Area for a photo if you have one. If

you don’t, then just delete this and

pull the text boxes over.

Enrollment, Livestock IDs: MUST BE DONE by May 1

LOCAL 4-H NEWS

All 4-Hers need to be listed as ACTIVE in 4honline and have fees paid by May 1 in order to be enrolled in good standing, complete any remaining livestock ID’s, and be eligible for county and state fair entry.

To determine your standing you need to go into 4honline and sign-in. If you are listed as PENDING, you may need to pay enrollment fees or correct some information. If you are listed as INCOMPLETE, you need to sign back in, complete the step by step enrollment process and choose submit at the end. If you are listed as INACTIVE, you need to use your

account sign-in information and complete the enroll-ment process in 4honline. If you have any problem with this process, call the office immediately.

You can also go to the 4honline page at:

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/page/4honline-information-families-and-leaders

Scroll down to “Help Documents for Families” and download help sheets for re-enrolling or new enrol-ling families for a step-by-step tutorial which will guide you through the enrollment/re-enrollment process.

This will be held 8-11 am on Saturday, April 21st at the Jim Scott Livestock Pavilion at the fairgrounds. NEW THIS YEAR: All market swine, sheep and meat goats must be ear-tagged before coming to weigh–in. As soon as you have your market animals select-ed, come to the Extension Office to check out your tags. Swine that do not weigh-in must have pictures taken from front, back and each side and entered in 4-H Online. Pigs that do not weigh-in will not be eligi-ble for the rate of gain contest. Though they may be sent to carcass (to allow for an extra pig in the meat animal sale), they will receive cut-out information but not be eligible for placing. The exception to the pre-tagging requirement is 4-H market swine to be nomi-nated for State Fair. These must be ear notched be-fore coming to weigh-in, but the DNA punch tags

must be applied at weigh-in. All market sheep and goats, as well as breeding sheep and meat goat does that are to be eligible for State Fair must be retinal imaged (also $8/head). Breeding ewes or meat goat does need not be weighed. Please have check or cash ready that day to pay the DNA tag or RI Fees. State Fair Breeding meat goat does need retinal images and either a 4-H tag OR official tattoo AND birth date in 4honline. (Official Tattoo=Left ear-Individual animal ID; Right ear-Herd prefix. (Individual ID number only needed in 4honline). Breeding ewes-(both commercial and purebred) need a tag AND retinal images. Ewes and meat goat does can be identified as both market and breeding animals and can be shown in either their respective market classes along with weth-ers, or as breeding animals but not both. Deci-sion must be made by July 1 fair entry.

Following are the class and rule changes for the 2018 Decatur County Fair made by the Fair Board to date:

Livestock entries withdrawn early without authorization of the Fair Board will forfeit all premium money and will not be allowed to show that species the following year.

Pen fees for small animals (poultry/rabbits) will be $1 per head.

Non competition classes have been added for Clover Kids (K-3) in rabbits, poultry, dog obedience, pet and bucket/bottle lead animal classes. All will receive an

evaluation from the judge and a gold participation ribbon. They may show only one bucket/bottle animal per year. Clover Kid animals will be subject to the same check-in and release requirements as other animals entered in the regular classes in their respective divisions.

Home Raised Market Beef will go back to being selected from the regular show classes. (e.g. no separate class for home raised).

All changes will be printed in the 2018 Decatur County 4-H and FFA Fair Book.

County Fair Classes and Rule Update

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.

FSQA/YQCA Training Update IFAA Scholarships

More Livestock Information

A reminder this is the final year for FSQA Training and testing. Beginning in 2019, YQCA (Youth Quality Care of Ani-mals) will replace FSQA as the required training. Either FSQA or YQCA is required for exhibitors of all species of meat and dairy livestock– market or breeding– including rabbits and poultry to be eligible to show those animals at the Decatur County or Iowa State Fair.

Anyone still needing FSQA training or testing after March 31:

Regional training for all ages-Southwest Comm. College, Creston-April 4, 5:30-7:30 pm and April 7, 9:30-11 am. Seniors-Current Sophomores in high school can test out by taking the advanced level test by July1. Sophomores this fall may test out before the end of the year. They will be certified for the rest of their years and need not take YQCA– Interme-diates-Current 7th graders may test out by passing the inter-mediate level test by July 1. Those in 7th grade this fall may test out before the end of the year. This will be good until they are sophomores in high school.

YQCA– Go online and enroll in Youth Quality Care of Animals https://yqca.learngrow.io/Account/Login

College-bound Iowa youth active in 4-H and/or FFA live-stock projects and current undergraduate students may apply for $161,500 in scholarships available from the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement (IFAA). Current undergraduate applications post-mark deadline, April 1. Incoming freshmen applications post-mark dead-line, May 1.

For application forms and details go to:

https://www.iowastatefair.org/participate/competition/sale-of-champions/scholarships/

Or contact:

Steph Doran IFAA Administrative Secretary 3116 Evergreen Road- Ames, IA 50014 952-240-0156 Email: admin@ifaa.org

County Wide Events and Activities

2018 Decatur County Fair The 2018 Decatur County 4-H and FFA Fair will be held July 18-23 at the Decatur County Fairgrounds in Leon.

Entry deadline is Sunday, July 1. We will continue us-ing the Online Fair Entry process. The schedule of events is being finalized by the Fair Board and will be shared with you as soon as it is ready. As stated earlier, any major changes to the fair classes will also be re-layed to you as soon as they become available.

Club leaders who did not attend the group training session offered last fall have only the online training option left to fulfill this annual training requirement.

This option has been spelled out in a letter sent to all leaders recently. This year’s training entitled “4-H

Builds Resilience” is via 4-H Online. At the comple-tion of online training you will click to receive a certificate which verifies you completed the train-ing, which must be completed no later than July 1, 2018 for you to remain an approved volunteer.t 4-H

The Senior 4-H Youth Council is planning their second annual Make It - Take It Day-Saturday, April 14th, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. at the CD high school. Sessions are planned for K-12th grade (do not have to be in 4-H to attend). Sessions will include K-3 Food and Nutrition (please let us know of any food allergies when you register); 4th-12th Sewing project, and a mini-recycling and horticulture project for everyone. Members can sign up through the Extension Office for $10 per partici-pant by April 6th. Other activities and events are being planned for county fair. We will keep you updated online and on social media. Any high school 4-Her who would like to join this group should contact Heidi Bell or Joy Evertsen, group adult leaders.

Club/Leader Information

Decatur County Extension Celebrates 100 Years Decatur County Extension was established in 1918 beginning a century of extension programming including 4-H. To commem-orate this centennial, we will be having a meal and program at the Barnum Community Center in Decatur on April 18th, 2018 starting at 6:00 p.m. (See invitation with this newsletter).

All 4-Hers, leaders and their families are invited. The meal and program are free but we need reservations by April 11 for a meal count. As an added bonus, the State Historical Museum of Iowa will have their mobile museum set up nearby that day and will be giving free tours from 5-7 p.m.

Annual Leader Training Requirement Senior Leadership Youth Council

4-H IS BASED ON RESEARCH

Other 4-H Events Around Iowa

CAMP WILD June 11-13, 2018

Take a ride on the "WILD” side and mark your cal-

endars to attend Camp Wild, June 11-13, 2018 at

Camp Clover Woods near Madrid, Iowa. Camp Wild

is offered for youth completing grades 5, 6, and 7 in

Spring 2018.

Experience adventure and excitement during three

days filled with 4-H camp traditions and favorite ac-

tivities, including nature hikes, challenge course,

creek walk, rock wall, archery, swimming, camp

songs, crafts, and campfires. Bring a friend with

you, and make new ones while you are there too!

Camp will run from Monday, June 11 at 11 a.m. un-

til the closing ceremony, starting at 3:15 p.m. on

Wednesday, June 13.

http://bit.ly/campwild18

Registration Deadline will be May 15, 2018. Regis-

ter before May 1, 2018 to secure your spot, and

receive our $200 registration early bird price. Reg-

istration costs $220 after May 1 and before May 15.

No registrations will be accepted after May 15,

2018.

The County Extension Office will reimburse 4-H

members up to $50 of the camp fee upon verifica-

tion of attendance.

Scholarships are also available from the Iowa 4-H

Foundation, with an April 25th deadline for applica-

tion. Visit www.iowa4hfoundation.com for infor-

mation or to apply.

2018 Summer Camps Go to https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/2018-state-4-h-camp-information

for more details and registration links for these camps.

June 8-11, 2018 - Shooting Sports Youth Camp at Pictured Rocks Camp, Monticello. Explore the Safety and Education in Shooting Sports (SESS) program by trying new skills, meeting new friends and making connections with County Shooting Sports Clubs. Campers will arrive Friday, June 8th at 10 a.m. Camp concludes Monday, June 11th at 4 p.m. Registration $250.

June 17-20, 2018 STEM Survival Camp at Clover Woods Camp, Madrid. A rustic camp where you can practice archery, creek stomping, shelter making, fire making, outdoor cooking, team sports, and low ropes challenge course. For youth that have completed grades 4-7. Campers will arrive Sunday, June 17th at 10 a.m. Camp concludes Wednesday, June 20 at 4 p.m. Registration $250.

June 29-July 1, 2018 Global Explorer Camp at Clover Woods Camp, Madrid. Challenge yourself as you learn about arts, traditions, and games from around the globe.

Campers will also get to participate in traditional camp activi-ties such as archery, a ropes course, teambuilding games, and

of course s’mores around the campfire! The last day will wrap up with fun festivities such as Water Olympics and a Pledge Challenge.

For youth that have just completed 5th grade through those just completing 8th grade. Campers will arrive Friday, June 29th at 9 a.m. Camp concludes Sunday, July 1st at 1 p.m. Registration $250.

July 8-13, 2018. Design Dimensions Camp at Clover Woods Camp, Madrid. Focus will be on 2D, 3D, and 4D thinking across disciplines while providing hands on experience with the latest design technology. For students entering 9th through 12th grades and 2018 high school graduates. Spend nights at the 4-H Center in Madrid, Iowa with access to tradi-tional camp activities. Spend your days at the College of De-sign. We’ll provide the transportation, meals, and lodging. Overnight campers arrive Clover Woods Sunday at p.m. De-part from ISU Design Friday at 4 p.m. Registration fee:

Traditional 5 night camp July 8-13: $495

Day campers arrive ISU Design College 9 am-4pm, July 9-13: $345 Additional information is available on the College of Design-

Website.

Camping-Regional and State

State 4-H Summer Camps– Registration Now Open

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

PARTNERSHIPS AND RESEARCH-BASED EXPERIENCES.

Iowa 4-H Youth Conference is June 26-28, 2018

Check it Out!

Every June, almost 900 teenagers converge on the campus of Iowa State University for 3 days full of speakers, work-shops, mixers, dances, a banquet, and community service activities. If you've completed 8th grade, you're eligible to attend. You don't even have to be in 4-H to attend this confer-ence! You will get to experience campus life and meet new people from across the state! You will be having fun while learning by doing, dancing the nights away, and serving the community. You will get to learn new things to take back to your community and school, and in the process you might even discover something new about yourself! There are opportunities for you to share your talents with

the rest of the delegation through small group discussion, the Conference Chorus, and a Talent Show! If you have a specific interest in animal science, you might want to look into becoming part of the ROUND-UP track! There are also workshop tracks that span all 3 days for certain topics if you'd like to study something in more depth. Or, you can choose different workshops each day to get more variety while you're on campus. If you'd like to be part of the team to capture the Confer-ence in photos, join our Iowa 4-H Youth Camera Corps, and

bring your camera.

We're doing things a little differently this year and you'll get to learn photo skills and put them to work through the workshop series.

Please join us in June for the most incredible three days

of your life at the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference!

Check the Conference website at:

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/iowa4hyouthconference

They will continue to update this site as they confirm new workshops and have additional information about the Conference.

Regular registration for a fee of $180 closes on June 1 with late registration for $200 available until June 11. You can also check out financial aid applications, due April 25 to the Iowa 4-H Foundation. The website is: https://www.iowa4hfoundation.org/en/funding_for_4hers/

You can access application for assistance forms and in-formation from the Iowa 4-H Event or Activity section on that page.

4-H Experience Agronomy Event-April 7

April 7, 8 AM to 1 PM, Agronomy Hall, ISU Cam-pus, join the Agronomy Club for hands-on activi-ties centered around the three pillars of sustaina-bility in agronomy covering the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability, along with a session on technology in agronomy and an outreach component of packaging meals for those in need in Iowa. Registration includes a t-shirt and lunch. Learn about agronomy at a basic level while developing a passion for agriculture and increasing your agricultural literacy! Flyer & Registration.

(Full link):

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4hfiles/public2018AprilAgromonyEvent.pdf

Contact Heather Wilson hkwilson@iastate.edu for a registration form. Parents, guardians, and chaper-ones are more than welcome to attend with their students and do not need to pre-register. The ISU Agronomy Club wishes to thank you for your support of Iowa’s 4-H and all things agriculture!

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.

MAY JUNE-AND LATER APRIL

June 3-LeRoy MerryMakers 4-H Club meeting-4 pm

June 3-Decatur Co. Achievers Club Meeting-2:30 pm-4H Bldg

June 5– Young Guns Club Meet-ing-2:30 pm-4H Bldg

June 10-Bloomington Rustlers 4-H Club Meeting– 1 pm

June 10-Wranglers 4-H Club Meeting– 7pm

June 11-13– 2018 Camp Wild Camp Clover Woods, Madrid.

June 11- Decatur County Dyna-mites 4-H Club Meeting

June 11- Extension Council meeting– 5:30 pm-Extension Office

June 13-Lamoni Livewires 4-H Club Meeting

June 17- Decatur Co. Boosters 4-H Club Meeting

June 18-Southern Trailblazers 4-H Club Meeting-6:30 pm

June 18-Fair Board Meeting-7:00 pm-4-H Building

June 26-28-State 4-H Youth Conference-ISU, Ames

————————————— July 1-County and State Fair Entries DUE in 4-H Entry site ————————————- July 18-23--2018-Decatur County Fair

August 9-19, 2018-Iowa –State Fair ————————————--

May 1-All members must be enrolled and fees paid in 4-H Online

May 1-All Livestock ID’s DUE in 4-H Online

May 1- Young Guns Cub Meet-ing-Fairgrounds-6:30 pm

May 6-LeRoy MerryMakers 4-H Club meeting-4 pm

May 6-Decatur Co. Achievers Club Meeting-2:30 pm-4H Bldg

May 14- Decatur County Dyna-mites 4-H Club Meeting

May 14- Extension Council meeting– 5:30 pm-Extension Office

May 9- Lamoni Livewires 4-H Club Meeting

May 13-Bloomington Rustlers 4-H Club Meeting– 1 pm

May 13- Wranglers 4-H Club Meeting– 7pm

May 21 Southern Trailblazers 4-H Club Meeting-6:30 pm

May 21- Fair Board Meeting-7:00 pm-4-H Building

May 15– Deadline to Register for Regional 5th-6th Grade Camp

May 20- Decatur Co. Boosters 4-H Club Meeting

April 1- LeRoy MerryMakers 4-H Club meeting-4 pm

April 1-Decatur Co. Achievers Club Meeting-2:30 pm-4H Bldg

April 3- Young Guns Cub Meet-ing-Fairgrounds-6:30 pm

April 4-FSQA Training-All ages at SWCC, Creston 5:30-7:30 pm

April 7-FSQA Training-All ages at SWCC, Creston 9:30-11:30 am

April 8-Bloomington Rustlers 4-H Club Meeting– 1 pm

April 8-Wranglers 4-H Club Meeting– 7pm

April 9-Decatur County Dyna-mites 4-H Club Meeting

April 9-Extension Council meet-ing– 5:30 pm-Extension Office

April 11-Lamoni Livewires 4-H Club Meeting

April 15-Decatur Co. Boosters 4-H Club Meeting

April 16-Southern Trailblazers 4-H Club Meeting-6:30 pm

April 16-Fair Board Meeting-6:30 pm-4-H Building

April 18-Extension Centennial Celebration-Barnum Center, De-catur– 6 pm

April 21– Market Swine/Sheep/Meat Goat Weigh-in-Fairgrounds-8-11 am ————————————-Please Note: Check with lead-ers for possible changes in time/date and location of club meet-ings listed above. —————————————--

Quick Reference Calendar