SPEAK UP - Results of the 2010 Bi-County 4-H Public Speaking & Presentation Contest

On Tuesday, May 4th, Clearfield & Jefferson Counties hosted the 19th Annual Bi-County 4-H Public Speaking & Presentation Contest in the Hiller Auditorium of Penn State University – DuBois Campus. The event was open to all Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, and Jefferson County 4-H members, ages 8 through 18, as of January 1st. 9 4-H members from Clearfield & Jefferson Counties participated in one of four categories, including Senior Division Public Speaking, Junior Division Public Speaking, Senior Division Presentations, & Junior Division Presentations. This year, topics included opportunities through 4-H, the proper way to groom horses, protecting pets against ticks, reining horses, swine ear notching, caring for cats, and raising poultry.

In the Public Speaking Senior Division competition, Victoria Garner of the Clearfield County 4-H Hot Shots received first place and a monetary award of $20.00. Victoria is the 16 year old daughter of Larry & Karen Garner of La Jose. Receiving second place was Fran McAninch of both the Town & Country 4-H Horse and Pony Club and the Open Range 4-H Club. Fran is the 15 year old daughter of Dan & Phyllis McAninch of DuBois. In the Senior Division Presentation competition, Kathleen Thomas of the Thundering Hoofbeats 4-H Club received first place and a monetary award of $20.00. Kathleen is the 17 year old daughter of Pamela Thomas of Morrisdale. All three young ladies also serve on the Clearfield County 4-H Teen Council.

In the Junior Division Presentation Contest, Amanda Pennington of the Harmon 4-H Club received first place. Amanda is the 11 year old daughter of Faye Pennington of Cherry Tree. Amberley Spicher of the Gateway 4-H Club received second place honors. Amberley is the 11 year old daughter of Marty & Sherri Spicher of Punxsutawney. Third place went to Sydney Turner of the Thundering Hoofbeats 4-H Club. Sydney is the 10 year old daughter of Mark & Sally Turner of Philipsburg. In fourth place was Lauren Turner, also of the Thundering Hoofbeats 4-H Club. Lauren is the 8 year old daughter of Mark & Sally Turner of Philipsburg. Fifth place went to the team of Laura Lanager and Emma Potter, both of the Growing On 4-H Club. Laura is the 9 year old daughter of Cindy Lanager of Frenchville and Emma is the 10 year old daughter of Greg & Sharon potter of Frenchville. Each junior division participant received a 4-H bag filled with 4-H items. All participants in each category received a certificate of achievement and a ribbon. The competition was followed by refreshments and an awards ceremony.

Two local individuals served as judges for this year’s contest. Judges for event included Marlene Duttry and Rachel Syktich. Marlene was a former 4-H leader with the Town & Country 4-H Horse and Pony Club and served as volunteer for Clearfield County for 35 years. Marlene currently serves as the owner of At Home Realty Associates, Inc. and as the office manager & closing agent for Blakley & Jones, Attorneys at Law, both of DuBois. Marlene resides in DuBois with her husband Dan and they both enjoy showing and riding their registered Arabian horses. Rachel Syktich is the 20 year old of Paul & Jackie Syktich of DuBois. Rachel is a former Clearfield County 4-H member and currently serves as the Clearfield County Fair Queen. Since being crowned in August of 2009, Rachel has kept busy promoting agriculture by traveling and speaking at over 50 events throughout the county and state. She also continues to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network through the “Queens for Kids” organization. Rachel is a sophomore at DuBois Business College, where she is majoring in the Executive Assistant program with a minor in agriculture business.

Pictured in the photo above - front row from left to right is Victoria Garner of La Jose, Lauren Turner of Philipsburg, Amberley Spicher of Punxsutawney, Laura Lanager of Frenchville, Emma Potter of Frenchville, and Sydney Turner of Philipsburg. In the back row from left to right is Susan Alexander, Extension Educator in Jefferson County, Fran McAninch of DuBois, Rachel Syktich, judge and 2009 Clearfield County Fair Queen, Marlene Duttry, judge, Kathleen Thomas of Morrisdale, Amanda Pennington of Cherry Tree, and Jana Davidson, Extension Educator in Clearfield County.

Lewie Greene Memorial 4-H Scholarship - Due August 1, 2010

The Lewie Greene 4-H Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an active Clearfield County 4-H member who plans to enroll in either a two-year or four-year post high school curriculum. Applications for this scholarship are available in the Extension Office, please call Jana at (814) 765-7878 Ext. 3 if you would like an application sent to you. All applications are due back to the Extension Office by August 1st.

SUMMER 4-H MINDBENDERS – TIME TO USE YOUR HEAD!!!

1. What word looks the same upside down and backwards?

2. What can you hold without ever touching or using your hands?

3. I am a box that holds keys without locks, yet they can unlock your soul. What am I?

If you know the answer to both of these mindbenders, call or e-mail  Jana at (814) 765-7878 Ext. 3 or jld289@psu.edu with your answers or simply post the answers to this post.  4-H members with correct answers will have their name appear in next month’s 4-H Newsletter along with the answers. The first 4-H member to correctly answer both riddles will receive a special prize!

Updates & Snapshots from 2010 PA 4-H Capital Days

4-H members from across the commonwealth met in Harrisburg for the 46th Annual Pennsylvania State 4-H Capital Days, an annual citizenship awareness event that was held April 25-27 at the Harrisburg Hilton and Towers. Three 4-H members from Clearfield County were in attendance at this year’s event. Representing Clearfield County was Marissa Douthit, the 15 year old daughter of Tom & Janet Douthit of Punxsutawney, Abby Lee, the 16 year old the daughter of Albert & Glenda Lee of DuBois, and Liz McAndrew, the 16 year old daughter of Joseph & Debbie McAndrew of Brockway. All three of the delegates belong to the Town & Country 4-H Horse and Pony Club. The delegates were escorted to Harrisburg and chaperoned at the event by Jana Davidson, Children & Youth Development Educator for Penn State Cooperative Extension in Clearfield County.

The goal of the two-day program is to introduce 4-H’ers to Pennsylvania government through a series of hands-on, interactive experiences. Participants learned how laws are passed by participating in a mock legislative session. The youth are grouped into the majority and minority parties to discuss their party’s stand on the issues, and then come together as full house and vote on three bills that include issues such as cruelty to animals, restaurants display of dietary information, and prohibiting the administration of certain antimicrobial agents in animals. Other activities included hearing keynote speeches by Patrick Rushton, Education/Outreach Manager for Victims Resource Center, J.D. Dunbar, Chief Executive Officer of RULE (PA Rural Leadership Program, Representative Scott Conklin of Centre County, and Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture. In addition to guest speakers and the mock legislative session, several workshops were provided on the topics of parliamentary procedure, how to read a bill, understand the rights of youth, spending plans, and citizenship & governmental affairs. All 4-H delegates were also given a tour of the Capitol Building and had their picture taken on the stairs of the Rotunda. At this program, 4-H members learn about local, state, and national governments through several opportunities during the program year.  The program concluded on Tuesday, April 27th with a legislative breakfast. Representative Matt Gabler of Clearfield & Elk Counties attended the breakfast and invited the Clearfield County delegates on a tour of his office in the Capitol Building. Staff from the offices of Representative Sam Smith of Jefferson County, Representative Camille “Bud” George” of Clearfield County, and Senator and current Lieutenant Governor Joe Scarnati was also in attendance at the breakfast.

2010 Clearfield County Fair Entry Tips

The 2010 Clearfield County Fair Premium Books are now available! If you haven't received one in the mail, feel free to pick one up at either the Clearfield County Fair Office or the Extension Office. This year's Clearfield County Fair will take place on Monday, August 2 - Saturday, August 7, 2010! All 4-H/Department 10 Entries should be completed on a 4-part form. 4-part forms are available at the Extension Office. To make it easier on those doing filing entries for the Fair, please use a separate 4-part form for each different category such as swine, goats, sheep, horses, dairy, vegetables, etc.... All Clearfield County Fair entries must be received by the Clearfield County Fair Office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 23, 2010! No late entries will be accepted! Here are 10 tips to help you in completing your 2010 Clearfield County Fair Entry Blanks:

1. Obtain a copy of the 2010 Clearfield County Fair Premium Book (available at the Fair Office or Extension Office).

2. After you enter your 4-H projects, keep your premium books to use as a reference for animal weigh-in dates & times, animal show dates and times, superintendent contacts, and animal health rules and regulations.

3. Use a 4-part Entry Blank for ALL 4-H/Department 10 entries found on pages 41 through 49. On the 4-part forms: The White Copy goes directly to the Fair Office, a Canary Yellow Copy goes to the Extension Office, a Pink Copy goes to your 4-H Leader, and the Goldenrod Copy is for your records.

4. Let’s practice entering two (2) 4-H market swine. First, you go to pages 47 & 48 of the premium book. On the entry blank, where it asks for DEPARTMENT put the number 10. On the entry blank, where it asks for SECTION put 5A for market classes and 5B for fitting & showmanship. On the entry blank, where it asks for CLASS for Section 5A, please leave this blank, as you will be placed in your class after weigh-in. For Section 5B, select class 1-9 based on your age as of January 1st. CATEGORY can be left blank for this species (this is only needed to determine breeds or types). Then you will want to add a brief description under ANIMAL/ARTICLE (Example: Market Swine - Barrow). Finally, since you have two (2) animals you will repeat all the steps again!

5. Use a NEW 4-part Entry Form for all different sections you enter under 4-H Department 10 (Example: If you are showing both beef steer and lambs, one entry blank should list your Section 3 market beef classes along with your showmanship/fitting classes and a separate entry blank should list your Section 4 market lamb classes along with your showmanship/fitting classes.

6. If you are entering market animal classes, you will not know your weight class until weigh-in on Monday, August 2; therefore, the CLASS section of your entry can remain blank. After weigh-in, your animal(s) will be placed in the appropriate class.

7. Use a new entry blank for all different departments you enter. Please use a regular entry form located in the back of the premium book for all entries other than Department 10/4-H.

8. If you enter a 4-H project in the 2010 Clearfield County Fair, you should be completing the appropriate requirements in a 4-H project book.

9. Don’t forget about OPEN opportunities like Good Housekeeping (last section on each animal department), safe tractor driving contest for those ages 14-21 (page 92), and the Livestock Judging Contest for ages 8 to 19 (page 92).

10. Make sure your entry forms are received by the Clearfield County Fair & Park Board Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 23, 2010.

NASCo Rebate Program

As you continue caring for your 4-H project animals and plan to do shopping in Nasco’s Farm & Ranch Catalog, I remind you that Clearfield County is involved in their 2010 rebate program, so 5% of your total purchase will come back to the county 4-H program. Please remember to use the following coupon number when ordering: 9800230R. If you don’t receive the catalog, shop on-line at www.enasco.com/farmandranch 

Green postcards with the coupon number was in the Spring 4-H newsletter!

4-H Day at Kennywood - Friday June 25

Kennywood Amusement Park of West Mifflin, PA will be hosting a 4-H Day on Friday, June 25, 2010. You’ll have the chance to meet 4-H members from across the state and experience many fun rides.

The advanced purchase of the of Fun Day Passes at the 4-H group rate is $20.50 each (The Normal Gate Price is $35.99); however, you must order tickets in advance to take advantage of the $15.49 reduced rate. Discount tickets will not be sold after June 21! Children ages 2 and under are admitted free and seniors 55 and older can purchase a discounted pass at $17.49. Tickets may be received on consignment or paid in advanced by check or money order. To order tickets, please complete the attached ticket order form. If you have questions, call or e-mail Kelly Kukic at (412) 461-0500 Ext. 1169 or kelly@kennywood.com or complete the registration form found in the Summer 2010 4-H Newsletter.

Kennywood is located just minutes from downtown Pittsburgh via I-376, Exit 7 (Swissvale). Then follow the Kennywood arrows. For more information on what Kennywood has to offer visit their website at http://www.kennywood.com/

FREE Teen Night at the Moshannon Valley Super Bowl

There will be a FREE Teen Night at the Moshannon Valley Super Bowl in Philipsburg on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 from 6-8 p.m. This invite is open to all Jr & Sr. High Students. Come out for free bowling, free shoe rental, free pizza, and free soda.

The event is sponsored by Tapestry Family Planning & Health Services. RSVP through http://www.tapestryofhealth.com/   Your name MUST be on the list to take part!!!!

I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My apologies faithful bog followers, but I was mysteriously locked out of my blog for the past couple of months and couldn't access my blog or make posts from my computer at work!

Thankfully, I am up and running now!  Please stay tuned for new posts soon!  There are so many great things happening in the Clearfield County 4-H Program!!!!

Thanks for your patience!