GO.OSU.EDU/CHAMP4H December 2, 2020

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BEEF and DAIRY STEER WEIGH-INS DECEMBER 19TH Weigh-In Letter https://champaign.osu.edu/sites/champaign/files/imce/Program_Pages/4H/4HBeef/december%20weigh%20in_0.pdf Cattlemen’s Certificate: https://champaign.osu.edu/sites/champaign/files/imce/Program_Pages/4H/4HBeef/Cattlemen%20Certificate_2.pdf Weigh-in Cards will be distributed as you pull in line. Please have an ink pen with you. Those taking animals to state fair, there will be DNA packets and tags available. The tags are only to be distributed to those registering and attending state fair and not those just attending the BEST Shows. Thank you to the Champaign County Cattlemen’s for their work every year in making this a successful and smooth event. **************************************************************************************************

OSU Extension Cancels In-Person Programming Through January 15, 2021

(as of December 4, 2020) To our stakeholders: In an effort to keep our employees, volunteers, and communities safe, effective December 7, 2020, all OSU Extension-hosted meetings and events will be canceled, postponed, or held virtually until January 15, 2021. This includes 4-H club meetings and events, as well as Master Gardener Volunteer meetings and events. This also means that OSU Extension professionals are not able to attend in-person meetings or events with our community partners; they may only attend virtually. Examples include, but are not limited to, fair board meetings, livestock weigh-ins, and year-end celebrations. Ohio State University Extension is part of a land-grant academic institution. As such, we follow science and model what the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the Ohio Department of Health, and other experts stress is important in addressing this virus.

The Ohio State University Extension Champaign County

As I am sure you are all well aware, the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are all increasing for Ohio and across the nation. We must continue to be vigilant and put the safety of our employees and that of our clientele first. It is the belief of the university, our college, and our organization that if we can help reduce the load by preventing or slowing down the spread of the virus, we should. Our rationale and assumptions include: •The number of cases, hospitalizations and death in Ohio are on the rise, and are NOT likely to reverse in the next three to four weeks. •The increased gatherings over Thanksgiving and anticipated gatherings likely to occur between now and the new year will only contribute to this pattern of increase. •Experts are indicating that hospital capacity in Ohio is already stressed by new COVID-19 cases and will soon have limited availability for non-COVIDpatients. This demand does not reflect the anticipated increases from recent Thanksgiving gatherings. •We must do our part to reduce the spread of infection to help keep hospitals and the health care workforce from being overwhelmed. •We, as part of an academic institution, need to follow science and model what the CDC and other health experts stress is important in addressing this virus. We also have updated our current office staffing guidelines; those are based on the rating assigned to each county by the Ohio Public Health Advisory System. Please see the summary on the next page for more information.

THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 7,

2020 AND RUN THROUGH JANUARY 15, 2021: County Office Staffing The Ohio Public Health Advisory System indicates the status of counties based on a color-coded system. If a county is purple or approaching purple, OSU Extension offices will be closed and employees will be working virtually. If a county is red, OSU Extension offices will be staffed by appointment only. You will need to call in advance to schedule a time to go to the office. If a county is orange or yellow, the OSU Extension office can remain open to the public, with safety protocols in place. There will be a limited number of employees in the office at any one time. If a county’s status changes to red or purple, the staffing guidelines listed above will apply immediately. Please note that there may be additional guidelines from county health departments. If a county has issued a local health advisory, we expect the Extension professionals in that county to follow the most restrictive guidance (Ohio State or local). Our Request for your Continued Understanding We ask for your continued support in encouraging a respectful understanding that our OSU Extension county professionals are required to follow this guidance as part of the university. We all share the disappointment and sense of loss that comes with not being able to connect in-person. We will continue to monitor the situation and look forward to being able to return to in-person programming when the situation has shown sustained improvement. Our collective

actions will have much influence on the timing of when that might occur, given the spread of the virus and our need to work together to limit infection and spread. We will continue to effectively and efficiently serve our clientele via phone, email, and virtual programming. While distanced programming is not our first choice for serving you, it is currently the safest choice. Thank you for your continued support of OSU Extension, and for supporting our approach to our work in the way that contributes to the safety and well-being of our employees, volunteers, and communities during the COVID-19 crisis. Sincerely, Jacqueline K irby Wilk ins Associate Dean and Director, Chair, Ohio State University Extension College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

With the above being stated, the following events have been adjusted: December 28th Camp Counselor Training will be rescheduled. Time TBD. January 4 Rabbit Meeting – Virtual January 6 Horse Meeting - Virtual January 11 FCS Meeting, 4-H Committee, and Dairy Council - Virtual January 12 Poultry Meeting -Virtual January 13 Goat Council Meeting -Virtual January 14 Advisor Training – Will be rescheduled. As we get thru these winter months, please be patient on meetings and schedules as they may need to change for the protection of our community. We are almost thru 2020 .. WHEW.. but we still have to get thru 2021. **************************************************************************************************

JUNIOR RABBIT & CAVY COUNCIL

The Junior Rabbit & Cavy Council is looking for 4-H members in the 6th grade and up and who carry a rabbit or cavy project. We meet the first Monday of each month. If you are interested in becoming a member or would like more information, please contact April LeMasters at 937-869-4396 or Carol Hunter at 937-408-6839.

If you are currently in high school and have been a 4-H member for a minimum of 3 years then you are eligible to apply. The Board will be a working board. Board members will meet once a month to discuss 4-H in the county, assist in planning and coordinating events. Representatives will attend the 4-H Committee meetings to take new ideas to the committee, give an update on what the youth board is doing, and represent 4-H members. If interested, request an application by emailing ryan.1608@osu.edu. The final date for applications is January 15th. Interviews will be held January 21st. Individual times will be set up.

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HORSE UPDATES

Uniform Rules for 4-H Horse Shows has been updated for 2021. They can be purchased at the Extension Office. Updates include:

• New Ranch Classes in Showmanship and Horsemanship. • Scoring Updates for Showmanship, Horsemanship, Equitation, and PAS • Tack & Equipment Updates.

EquiSTEP will be an annual requirement beginning January 2023. For 2021, it is optional. Participants will manually enroll using a link.

• STEP 1 Helmet Safety Video • STEP 2 Safety & Handling • STEP 3 Preventative Health • STEP 4 Handling Adversity

2021 Horse Event Dates

• January 30th State 4-H Horse Advisory Virtual Training • February 20th Virtual Hippology/Horse Bowl/Horse Judging Educational Clinic • March 13th Virtual Communications Contest • April 10th Virtual Horse Judging & Hippology Contest • June 14th Horse Bowl Contest • September – Competitive Trail Ride • September 25th Groom & Clean Contest

OHIO STATE FAIR HORSE SHOW July 19th -23rd

• Tentative Registration Deadline: Wednesday, July 17th **************************************************************************************************

2021 4-H Enrollment Process Update

Our new enrollment system will be changing over on November 1st. We have decided that with changes in the new system, that we will send out re-enrollment forms this year for returning members and advisors. New members will complete the enrollment form as normal. You will receive a packet with re-enrollment forms, calendar and a 4-H Handbook in December. Once the packet is received, you will need to check and make sure all the information is correct, make any adjustments, sign and return. Should be a simple process on your part. As we receive the information back, advisors will still be able to go in and view the information. More information will be available. The final date to enroll, pay enrollment fees, and register for a project is March 1, 2021. New with the system this year, all animal information will be entered. A picture of your animal project will be required to submit no later than May 15th. Any questions on enrollment for 2021, contact Deb Knowles or Melinda Ryan. **************************************************************************************************

WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A YOUNG PERSON’S LIFE?

Become a 4-H leader. If you or someone you know wants to make a difference in a child’s life, then considering becoming a 4-H volunteer or club advisor. How do you know if you would make a good advisor? Do you like to help kids? Do you have expertise knowledge in a subject matter that you would like to share to help kids with their projects? Do you want to learn as your kids learn? New advisors and volunteers are always welcome. Deadline to apply to be an advisor is February 15th. Applications are available at the office or contact horn.217@osu.edu and she will email you an application.

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CLOVERBUD ADVISORS

It’s never too early to start planning for a fun year for your cloverbud members. Visit the Cloverbud Resource page https://ohio4h.org/cloverbudresources or Cloverbud Connections blog https://u.osu.edu/cloverbudconnections/. Two new articles are posted each month.

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SUPPORT Champaign Co. 4-H While Shopping AMAZON

No additional cost to you In your browser, type smile.amazon.com In the charity search box, type Champaign County 4-H Committee Follow on screen instructions and you will be sent an email confirmation Your account is now linked to donate 0.5% of your purchase to Champaign County

4-H. at no additional cost to you! You must remember to start amazon shopping by going to smile.amazon.com first.

Your 4-H County Extension team, Melinda Ryan Kiley Horn Jenni Nott Deb Knowles Extension Educator Program Assistant Program Assistant Office Associate Ryan.1608@osu.edu Horn.217@osu.edu Nott.13@osu.edu knowles.104@osu.edu Champaign County OSU Extension go.osu.edu/champ4h 1512 S. US Hwy 68, Suite B100 facebook: champaigncountyohio4h Urbana, Ohio 43078 937-484-1526

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information visit go.osu.edu/cfaesdiversity.