June 2008

Upcoming Events

June 1 . . . . . . . . . State Deadline 4-H Horse Project Enrollment for 2008 (see your leader for club deadline)
June 3 . . . . . . . . . 4-H Teen Council Meeting - Erie County Tech School, 7:00 p.m.
June 12-15 . . . . . .4-H Junior Camp, Emlenton, PA
June 13 . . . . . . . . Extension Office Closed
June 15 . . . . . . . . 4-H Club Enrollment Deadline for 2008 Fair Season
June 21 . . . . . . . . Meat Animal Quality Assurance Round Robin, 10:00 a.m. - Waterford Fairgrounds
June 23 . . . . . . . . 4-H/Youth Development Advisory Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m. - Extension Office
June 28 . . . . . . . . 1st Horse Qualifier Show, Albion Fairgrounds
June 30 . . . . . . . . State Achievement Days Registration Deadline
July 4 . . . . . . . . . .Extension Office Closed - Happy 4th!
July 7-11 . . . . . . . 4-H Intermediate Camp, Franklin, PA
July 8-11 . . . . . . . 4-H Club Family Days at Waldameer
July 19 . . . . . . . . .2nd Horse Qualifier Show, Erie Hunt & Saddle Club
July 28 . . . . . . . . .Northwest 4-H Horse Production Show, Mercer County 4-H Park
August 5-7 . . . . . .PA 4-H State Achievement Days
August 8-10 . . . . .Erie County 4-H Fair!!

The summer 4-H season is about to kick into full gear, so I hope you are gearing up for some great fun! It's not too late to get started on
a 4-H general project like woodworking, sewing, insects, cooking, theater arts, photography, electricity, gardening or one of the many other 4-H project options. Talk to your leader about how you can get a copy of a 4-H project book that interests you for this summer. Keep
an eye out for details on this summer's fair catalog, it will have all of the information you need to complete and exhibit your 4-H project at the Erie County 4-H Fair in August. This summer's 4-H Fair is sure to be another great year of fun, games and friends. I am sorry that
I will not be here to enjoy it with all of you. This will be the last 4-H Banner that I write in Erie County. Next month will signal the return of Janice Ronan as your 4-H news editor. Please make a special note of where to send your Newsreporter Notes to for July.

QUALITY ASSURANCE OPPORTUNITY

Calling all 4-H'ers who still need Quality Assurance Credits for 2008 and all youth planning on taking a pig to the Farm Show in 2009! Erie County 4-H will be holding a Round Robin Quality Assurance Program about the 10 Good Production Practices in raising meat production animals. The event will be held on Sat., June 21, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in, or just outside, the Youth Arena at the Waterford Fairgrounds. You will learn valuable information about raising and caring for market livestock animals while travelling through several hands-on learning stations. This event will earn you two Quality Assurance credits for 2008 and will also certify you in the Youth Pork Quality Assurance pro-gram, which is required for all youth exhibiting swine at the PA Farm Show. Registration is not required, but you may contact the office if you have questions about the event at (814) 825-0900.

THE GREAT TASTE OF 2008!

The 2008 4-H Cookoff Cookbook is now available on the 4-H website. Check out everything from appetizers to desserts in both the Junior and Senior Divisions. You may re-quest a printed copy from the office if you are unable to retrieve it off the web.

REGIONAL FASHION REVIEW - SAVE THE DATE

Theme: 4-H Project Runway
Date: Tues., July 8
Place: Pleasantview Alliance Church, north of Meadville

STATE ACHIEVEMENT DAYS AUGUST 5-7

All 4-H'ers age 13 and older as of January 1 of this year are invited to attend the 2008 4-H State Achieve-ment Days event at Penn State University, August 5-7. Penn State 4-H Achievement Days is a competitive and education-al three-day program spon-sored each year by Penn State Cooperative Extension. This annual event is held to demonstrate achievement of 4-H members and provide recognition of their accom-plishments. Such events provide youth with educational oppor-tunities to develop self-confidence, increase skills in project work, increase skills in decision making and develop high standards. Contests and activities exist in almost every project area, including horse, shooting sports, dog, rabbits, foods & nutrition (see the next article about this), orienteering, tractor driving, poultry and so many more! Many contests require that you have qualified at the county level, but several others are open to anyone.

If you have qualified to partici-pate in a contest, or would like to participate in one of the many contests and events that you don't need to qualify for, please complete the registra-tion form included with this month's Banner or contact the office for more information. This year, the cost for Erie County 4-H members to participate is $85, which is a big discount compared to the actual cost to attend of $135, as well as the fact that we are also providing the transportation. All registration materials must be submitted to the office by Mon., June 30, at 4:30 p.m. You can view the details of each contest online at: http://pa4h.cas.psu.edu/77.htm

FOOD & NUTRITION CONTEST AT STATE DAYS

Every year Erie County sends 4-H members to State Achievement Days where they demonstrate their achievement and receive recognition of their accom-plishments. This year there is a new opportunity to attend and participate! We are looking for members interested in partici-pating in the Food and Nutrition Contest. The contest will be a combination of knowledge testing and the opportunity to experience the food science area.

You can participate as an individual or form teams of three or four. Participants must be currently enrolled in 4-H food and nutrition, food science based, or food related 4-H project (This will be interpreted loosely. Members completing animal production projects will qualify.). The contest will be based on the member's knowledge of food labeling, food handling and safety, and knowledge of basic food nutrients. You will also participate in a food product development event that will require decision making, goal setting and teamwork skills.

The contest will be held at the new Penn State Food Science Building and give contest participants a behind-the-scenes look at the new facilities. Erie County will be holding some prep sessions to give our members a chance to successfully compete. If you are interested or have ques-tions, please call Janice at the office or e-mail her at jmr27@psu.edu by Mon., June 30. We can send as many teams as we have interested members.

HORSE JUDGING RESULTS

Congratulations to everyone who competed in this year's 4-H Horse Judging contest at Three Point Farm in North East. Special thanks to Mariclaire Stearns and all of the volun-teers who helped to make the event a success. Special congratulations are due to the following 4-H members who achieved first place in their divisions:

- Senior Team: Caiti Poulson and Madison Sturdivant - Half-Halt 4-H Club, Graceanne Domino - Tally Ho 4-H Club
- Senior Individual: Desiree Parker - Trailblazers 4-H Club
- Junior Team: Brooke Stafford and Rachael Harrington - Cloverleaf Riders 4-H Club, Tia Waldron - Waterford Bucking Broncos 4-H Club, Olivia Domino - Tally Ho 4-H Club
-Junior Individual: Haley Hartleb - Horsin' Around 4-H Club

ARCHERY OPPORTUNITY

The Gem City Outdoors-men Club in Fairview is hosting a youth archery shoot, free-of-charge and would like to invite all 4-H members to attend. This is an opportunity for all youth to give the sport of archery a try. Our own Blazing Arrows 4-H Club will be there helping out. The event will be on Sat., June14, Noon at the Club. If you would like more informa-tion, you can contact 4-H parent, Barb Moore, who is helping to coordinate the event at 814-796-3390 or email her at RBJM3@YAHOO.COM.

WELCOME
STEPHANIE & JULIE

Please join us in welcoming back our 4-H Summer Assistant for 2008, Stephanie Rzepka. We also welcome Julie Vavreck this summer, who is the summer assistant in the family living programs in Erie County, work-ing closely with Janice Ronan. You may know both Stephanie and Julie from the many 4-H activities they participated in when they were 4-H members. Both were actively involved in the Tally-Ho 4-H Club, Teen Council, State Achievement Days, Winter Weekend and much more! Stephanie will be busy helping to plan this year's 4-H Fair, helping out in our Urban/4-H Program and filling in as needed in many other ways. She will also be at many of this summer's 4-H events. Since Janice Ronan does spend plenty of time helping with the 4-H program, you will likely see Julie helping out with 4-H events this summer as well. Make sure you take a moment to say Hi!

The Milky Way 4-H Dairy Club met May 18 at Holly Hunter's house for a showmanship meeting. Mem-bers worked with different animals, showing and reviewing different aspects of showmanship. They also discussed ethics for show-manship and rearing animals. The next meeting will be at the Sherman's on Sun., June 29, where everyone will learn fitting techniques.

The Beefer's plus 4-H Club had their April monthly meeting at the McKean Boro Building. We welcomed a new member last month, his name is Travis Vittorio. Members were reminded about the upcoming 4-H Auction, their turn to hold items is 9:00 a.m. Members were also reminded about weigh-ins for the lambs, hogs and goats on May 18, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Members ordered new club T-shirts, the new design was submitted by Christopher Robinson.

In May, the Club welcomed a new member. They also discussed who was raising a goat, sheep and hog. They decided that they would not be interested in participating in the Heritage Days Parade. Members were reminded about tag-ins. It was also men-tioned that there would be a vet from Corry willing to do a group Health Chart at the Waterford Fairgrounds; it was brought up that you should get your Health Chart at your barn so the vet can verify that your barn is free of infectious disease. The next meet-ing will be June 8 at the McKean Township Building at 6:00 p.m.

Mountaintop 4-H Club members have been busy finishing up several projects in the last few months including sewing and archery. Several members are also finishing up our cooking project, "Let's Bake Quick Breads" with monthly meetings at the Kerner's home. We made Strawberry and Pear Breads in April and Corn-bread in May. We are also getting more involved with our livestock projects now.

Besides our projects, many of us participated in the Cookoff and the Livestock Challenge, donated a chocolate basket and a car-wash basket to the 4-H Auction and worked at the Auction. We adopted a stretch of road near the Waterford Fairgrounds and did cleanup there. We also had a fun evening at Evans Skateland with the Happy Hoggers + 4-H Club.

At our last meeting, Corey Nadolny gave a demonstration about his dog project. He told us about training and choosing a breed of dog. We also started planning our summer events, a club picnic, participation in the Waterford Heritage Days Parade and maybe a Vet Science Project!

On May 12, Cloverleaf Riders 4-H Club had their monthly meeting. We are having an open horse show on Sat., June 7. Hope to see you there. Everyone that went to the Horse Bowl did great. Lauren Harringtion got 4th place, Brooke Stafford got 1st place and our junior team got 1st place also. Enrollment forms are due by June 1 to the office, so hurry and get those in. Junior 4-H Camp will be June 12-15, forms are due by May 30. Justin Suchar, Brooke Stafford, Sarah Huegel, Jackie Huegel and Brittany Varo helped out at the Auction. The Horse Judging competition is Thurs., May 22. Our Junior Team is Rachael Harrington, Brooke Stafford and Sarah Huegel. The Senior Team is Justin Suchar, Lauren Harrington, Ashley Brace and Jake Learn. Good luck to everyone, hope you do great. The next meeting is Mon., June 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Erie Hunt & Saddle Club, don't forget to bring your horse.

Tally-Ho 4-H Club members have had fun with the practices held at Mrs. Rose and Mrs. Rzepka's houses for Hippology and Horse Bowl. We want to thank them for leading us to success in both contests and having fun along the way. We enjoyed the good food at the Cookoff and are planning our menus for next year. We are looking forward to Horse Judging. We had fun at Mrs. Rzepka's house making our family baskets that we donated for the Auction. We are waiting to hear John Manison's presentation at our next meeting.

The Trailblazers 4-H Club meeting was held in May at Anna Liocano's house. Our sub money is due to Kristin. We talked about our Show that is coming up in June. Sponsor forms are due by June 1 and our project books are due to Judy by July 25. The next club meeting is Thurs., June 12, at the Fairgrounds, it is also a cleanup at 6:00 p.m.

Please note the following change: To get your news in the Banner, send
your articles by the 20th of the month to JMR27@psu.edu.

Sincerely,

Shawn E. Graves
Urban 4-H/Youth Agent
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