JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017

4-H Family Newsletter

Hancock County

Hancock County Extension and Outreach

327 West 8th Street Garner, IA 50438 (641) 923-2856 xhancock@iastate.edu

4-H friends and families,

Starting a new year, we focus on becoming the best we can be. “Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress.” -Charles Kettering. We have a clean slate, a new year, endless possibilities. Pick a project area you have always wanted to try, suggest a workshop you think would be fun.

Open the newsletter and find all the activities you could be interested in. Sign up for ASK in Garner or Britt. We will be learning about forensic science- how to lift finger prints and use science to solve crimes. For GHV no school day on January 16th send your kiddos to On Their Own & OK to equip them to stay home without a parent. Love to paint? Paint ‘N’ Party is returning January 31st with a Warm Up Winter theme. Sign up now, space is limited. Have you wondered about shooting sports? Sunday, January 29th you can decide what the shooting sports club will be doing this year. Look inside and see what we all have to offer.

Join us for Family Fun Night on March 24th at the Garner Hayfield Ventura High School. Get out of the cold and your house to join families all over Hancock County. Sign up for the basketball tournament, play Bingo, do hands-on kid crafts, and enjoy entertainment. Prizes will be awarded!! Don’t forget to RSVP.

New in 2017 we are please to be able to offer additional support to our community clubs. Our County council members are looking to help by offering team building games and community service opportunities to any club interested. Our office staff would also like to offer workshop opportunities with ready to go kits. By the end of the meeting the kids will have a completed fair project and paperwork! We will be contacting club leaders to determine the best fit for your club.

It is also the time of year to start planning our summer explorations workshops/trips/tours. If you have any ideas you would like to see offered, or have one you would like repeated from the past, please let us know.

Don’t forget this New Year is all about people and our interactions with them. In our busy world, take the time to thank your 4-H Leader or coach for their time and service they are giving to your club. Take time to celebrate your successes with your 4-H peers and take time to pass along your skills to the younger 4-H kids. Take time to build relationships and invest in the lives of the people around you. You won’t regret it!

All the best,

Hancock County Extension Staff

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

4-H Calendar

Fair Entry Update

FLL Highlights

4-H Award Program

Family Fun Night

Afterschool Kids Club

On Their Own Workshop

Paint ‘N’ Party Workshop

Plaque order - project bars

Club Support

Last call - re-enrollment

Shooting Sports Update

Beef Workshops

High Schoolers

State 4-H Recognition

4-H Scholarships

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

FIND US AT: EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/4H

4-H CALENDAR January 2 New Year’s Day observed Office Closed

January 7 Britt Broncos club mtg. Ewing Funeral Home, Britt TBD

January 8 Northwest Chargers club mtg. Woden Community Center 2:00 pm

January 8 Orthel Jolly Workers club mtg. North Iowa Ice Arena 2:30 - 4:30 pm

January 13 Spring ASK regirstrations due Extension Office

January 15 Elcon Indians club mtg. Extension Office TBD

January 15 High School 40H County Council mtg. Extension Office 2:00-3:30 pm

January 16 On Their Own & OK Workshop Extension Office 9:00 - 3:00 pm

January 16 Britt Creative Clovers (K-1) WH Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

January 21 Garner Lucky Clovers Extension Office 9:00 - 10:30 am

January 23 GHV ASK club starts ?? 3:30 - 5:00 pm

January 23 Britt Creative Clovers (2-3) WH Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

January 24 WH ASK club starts WH Art Room 3:30 - 5:00 pm

January 29 BullsEye Bunch club mtg. Bear Creek Archery 3:00 ?

January 31 Paint ‘N Party workshop Extension Office 6:00 - 8:00 pm

February 4 Orthel Jolly Workers club mtg. Extension Office 9:30 am - 2:00 pm

February 12 Britt Broncos club mtg. Britt Community Center 2:00 pm

February 13 Britt Creative Clovers (K-1) WH Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

February 18 Garner Luck Clover Extension Office 9:00 - 10:30 am

February 20 Britt Creative Clovers (2-3) WH Elementary 3:30 - 5:00 pm

February 26 Northwest Chargers club mtg. Woden Community Center 2:00 pm

February 27 Elcon Indians club mtg. Extension Office 7:15 pm

March 24 Family Fun Night GHV High School 5:30 - 8:00 pm

July 25-31 Hancock County District Fair

August 10-20 Iowa State Fair

CHANGES FOR FAIR 2017 - NEW ENTRY PROCESS

New for fair 2017

We are excited to announce 2017 will be a year of change for Hancock County 4-H and our fair registration process! This year fair registration will be completed by families in the FairEntry online registration system. FairEntry is integrated with 4HOnline which means that your will be using your 4HOnline login to ac-cess FairEntry, and all ACTIVE members and their contact infor-mation will already be there. We are excited to move forward with the technology being offered to our families and we look forward to improving the efficiency of the fair entry process and the fair as a whole. To help the transition process we will have laptops available to use in or office with staff help to walk you

through both the ID and fair entry process. What that means for Hancock County District Fair Exhibitors:

All 4-H animal ID’s must be completed online.

All fair entries, 4-H, FFA, county, and district will completed in the FairEntry system

Exhibitors will have access to make fair entries anywhere at any time within your own convenience

We will send out help sheets, as well as having 1 on 1 staff help available in our office

Additional information will be distributed as we continue to set up the system.

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.

Hancock County LEGO Teams

WRAPPING UP A SUCESSFUL SEASON

Our FLL and FLL Jr season has been crazy, just like the weather. Our 2016 FLL challenge is Animal Allies and for Jr FLL –Critter Craze. Hancock County’s 5 FLL teams all worked hard to create a way to understand animals just a little bit better and to help them to live better lives. The Challenge was to find a way to identify a problem when people and animals interact by designing a solution that makes the interaction better for animals, people, or both and then sharing your problem and solution with others . The teams broke out of the box and created innovated ideas and shared it with the communities in Hancock County.

Take a look at ICE’s website doggiedefend-ers.wixsite.com/doggiedefenders. Extreme Chaos created an app that would help pigs be more comfortable in transit. Flip the Switch decided that Garner would benefit greatly from a

dog park .

Team ICE received an 2nd place trophy for their project on a website about

caring for a dog.

Team FIRE researched all the different and safe ways to protect sheep from outside predators.

And the Flaming Eagles project is all about Elephants and

how to stop poaching. Even today poaching and ivory trade continues and elephants will be extinct in 20 years if no action is taken. Our 4 Jr FLL teams have been learning all about

Bee’s and animals that live in their habitat. The teams did some fun activities and built a moving part in the bee habi-tat. The also got to talk to a bee keeper, a DNR and met Elise the Bee.

Team Extreme Chaos tackled the challenge by making pigs a bit more

comfortable when traveling.

Our New team the Flaming Eagles are saving elephants in their solution to the challenge.

Congratulations to Flip the Switch,

Extreme Chaos, and Flaming Eagles

for advancing to the State FLL Tournament January 14, 2016 @ ISU

Team FIRE found different ways to protect sheep.

Team Building is core to Flip the Switch and dog parks are in their future.

LEGO Storm are

learning all

about Bears

from DNR in

Northern MN.

The LEGO Master Builders Rocked Their EXPO, talk-

ing all about Bee’s.

OUR VISION A WORLD IN WHICH YOUTH AND ADULTS LEARN, GROW, AND WORK TOGETHER AS CATALYSTS FOR POSTIVE CHANGE

HIGHLIGHTING OUR 4-H YEAR

Awards Program

Family Fun Night

Hancock County 4-H hosted more than 100 people at their annual 4-H Awards & Recognition Program on Sunday, November 13th, 2016. Festivities included inducting the 4-Hers into the County Council leadership groups for high school and junior high, recognizing the project area achievements of more than 35 4-H members, and awarding competitive awards to 4-Hers for character, hard work, and commitment. In addition to the project records, 4-Hers were eligible to apply for competitive awards that are judged based on their citizenship, leadership, and character. Winners for these awards have done an excellent job showcasing the amazing things they have done in each award category. Winners are: Jr. Citizenship Award Braden Boehnke Mason Graham Kollin Hanson

Jr. Leadership Award Braden Boehnke

Int. Leadership Award Brody Boehnke

Int. Citizenship Brody Boehnke Marissa Eekhoff

Sr. Leadership Natalee Dippel

Sr. Citizenship Natalee Dippel

Livestock Achievement Natalee Dippel

Danforth “I Dare You” Natalee Dippel

Wendy Greiman Achievement Int/Sr. - Trevor Kluver Jr. – Kollin Hanson

Hanson Family Shows performed for more than 200 family members at our Fun Night last year.

Philip Sweers Character in Service Int/Sr. – Trevor Kluver Jr. – Kollin Hanson

Mitchell & Ida Mae Bock Memorial Scholarship Rachel Weaver

The Awards Program also recognizes outstanding 4-H volunteers. This year we recognize Kris and Joan Hanson for outstanding volunteerism for the 4-H program. We also recognized and thank the following retiring

volunteers: Emily & Aaron Forsyth, Jamie Stromer, Dave Sloan, Mona Kraft-Harle, Jon Gamerdinger, Frank Marshall, Al Steffensmeier, Heidi Konz, Phil & Michelle Dornbier, Jamie Stromer, George Smith, Dan Goll, Ian Barrick, Patricia Barrick, Cassie Collins, Jillian Van Epps, & Jeanne Dick. These volunteers are the caring adults that make the 4-H program thrive in Hancock County.

Friday March 24th, 5:30-8:00 pm we are hosting a Family Fun Night at the GHV High School. All Hancock County families are welcome to attend. We plan to have Bingo, Ping Pong, and 3 on 3 basketball tournaments as well as crafts and games for younger kiddos and pizza and drinks. There will be no cost to attend. This event is being sponsored by Hancock County Extension and Hancock County Seed Dealers. We look forward to having a fun night with your family and ours. Be sure to RSVP so we have food for all.

FREE PIZZA, BINGO, TOURNAMENTS

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.

ASK 4-H Club Registrations

On Their Own & Ok Workshop

Paint ’N’ Party Workshop Returns

LEARN ABOUT TORNADOS & EARTHQUAKES

PREPARE TWEENS TO STAY HOME ALONE

KID & PARENT DATE NIGHT

This workshop helps to build skills, maturity, and confidence to safely stay home alone. Topics discussed with your child include:

Ideas for rules to have in place

Setting a basic schedule you want your child to follow

Child’s procedure if someone comes to the door

Ideas for managing the ever-present sibling squabbles This workshop does not certify your child is ready to be home alone. You must make that decision as a family. Your child will leave our workday with a family workbook to guide you through discussing rules and expectations together. Call 641-923-2856 or email vschmidt@iastate.edu for more information.

Back by popular demand: painting workshop. When: Tuesday, January 31st, 6:00 - 8:00 pm Where: Garner Extension Office Cost: $20 for 4-H members (including Clover Kids)

$25 for non-4-H youth $35 for adults Registration: contact the Extension Office, 641-923-2856 or vschmidt@iastate.edu

Have you ever wondered how to lift a finger print from the scene of a crime? Or how detectives solve crimes? It is just a few of the topics we will be learning about in the spring session of After School Kids Club. The kids will be making a detective kit, finding hidden messages and solving a case. In our 8 week session the kids will take the lead and make important decisions about who will help out, what we will have for a snack, games, and people they want to have come in and talk. Besides learning all about the science behind criminal justice they will learn leadership, teamwork, healthy

eating habits and most importantly HAVE FUN! Be sure to get your registrations in by Friday, January 13th. Our session starts the week of January 23rd and ends in March.

No age requirement. Parents are welcome to paint. Warm Up Winter with our summer evening theme. We will paint this dragon fly. You will get to make choices about the background to make it your own. We will complete fair paperwork so you will have a fair exhibit ready to go!

4-H IS BASED ON RESEARCH

BEEF - EMMETSBURG RE-ENROLL TO BE IN 4-H

We are excited to be brainstorming with our 4-H county council youth about ways they can help support our community clubs and help expand their leadership opportunities in Hancock County 4-H. They have indicated an interest in learning how to lead teambuilding and ice breaker games for club mtgs. They have also said they would like to help build a local community service ideas and contacts list for clubs to reference when looking for community service opportunities.

Watch for your high school county council team to develop these offerings early this spring.

The 2017 NW Beef Bonanza will be held on Saturday, February 3rd from 9:45 am - 3:00 pm at the Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg. Cost is $5 to attend for 4th grade and up, lunch in provided, and parents are welcome. Topics this year include:

Speaking up for Ag

Reproduction

New Vet Feed Directive rules

Show Me the Moola

FSQA certification Register by January 27th by contacting Taylor for a registration form, 641-923-2856 or trkluver@iastate.edu.

This newsletter is the last piece of mail-ing you will receive if you have not re-enrolled in 4-H. On January 1st, 2017 anyone who has not gone on to 4-H Online or turned in paper enrollment copies at the Extension Office, will no longer receive correspondence. If you wish to stay in 4-H and have not completed your re-enrollment contact Victoria immediately at 641-923-2856 or vschmidt@iastate.edu. After January 1st re-enrollment you will start missing information about deadlines and upcoming events. New 4-H members can join anytime. If you are transitioning from a Clover Kids club please contact Victoria to make sure we have all paperwork completed.

Project Area Updates

PROJECT AWARD BARS

The 2017 North Central Iowa Youth Beef Conference will be held on Saturday , January 28th from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm at the Ellsworth Community College Agriculture & Renewable Energy Center. Cost is $5 to attend, lunch is provided, and parents are welcome to stay. Topics this year include:

meat quality

skill-a-thon

new Vet Feed Directive rules

FSQA certification Pre-register by January 17 by contacting Jackie at 641-456-4811or jackied@iastate.edu.

The Bulls Eye Bunch shooting sports club will be meeting on Sunday, January 29 at 3:00pm - 4:30 pm at the Bear Creek Ar-chery range on Hwy 69 South of Forest City.

Attend the mtg. to learn range rules, try you hand at archery, and voice your vote about what the club should do in 2017. Do you want to go on a field trip? Compete in archery or rifle tournaments? Maybe you want to visit a neighboring shooting sports club? Anyone interested in joining the club is welcome to attend. Bring a friend!

Many of you received a lot of project award bars at the 4-H awards program. If your plaque is full of your great 4-H accomplishments you can order a new plaque.

Plaque orders are being accepted until January 31st. Please send your order and money to the Extension office. Checks can be made to Hancock County Extension.

$10 - Plaque with a header plate that has your name, 4-H Clover and Hancock County. (please include name to be put on plaque in your order.) $7 - Plaque with no header.

SHOOTING SPORTS UPDATE

BEEF - IOWA FALLS COUNTY COUNCIL - CLUB SUPPORT

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

AND LEARNING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARING ADULTS

Exclusively for High School 4-Hers!!

80 4-H Scholarships Available

The Iowa 4-H Foundation announces the 2017 scholarship programs for 4-Hers attending or planning to attend college fall 2017. Even current college students are eligible for 4-H schol-arships. Over 90 scholarship programs totaling more than $90,000 will be awarded to 4-Hers across the state. The various awards range in amounts from $500 to $10,000. Some of the scholarships are open to students pursuing any field of study, while others are open to students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food and nutrition, ag business, animal science, and journalism. Former Iowa 4-Hers and current 4-Hers graduating from high school are eligible applicants. When asked about her scholarship experience a past Hancock County 4-Her says, “Applying for a State Level 4-H scholarship is a very extensive process. A bonus of the 4-H scholarship is the information I provided made me eligible for numerous

different scholarships, all different amounts. I was notified I was going to be receiving the Pioneer Scholarship and was asked to attend the ceremony one of the days at the Iowa State Fair on the stage in the 4-H building. It was the toughest scholarship I applied for but in the end one of the most rewarding ones I received.” Scholarships are available for Iowa State University, University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa as well as Iowa’s private colleges and community colleges. 4-H Scholarship information, (can be sorted by school or degree) forms, and applications are available on the 4-H web page: www.iowa4hfoundation.org/scholarships

Applications must be submitted online no later than 11:59 pm February 1, 2017 for consideration. Applications require two letters of recommendation so be sure to ask those people before the due date so they have time to complete those for you.

MONEY FOR COLLEGE

STATE LEVEL RECOGNITION

Compete for Award Trips or Project Awards

High school aged 4-Hers have many opportunities for them beyond the county level. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to teach leadership and teambuilding skills, spend a week in our nation’s capitol, plan a conference just for your peers, or get recognized for the work you have done in your project area.

National 4-H Conference - Trip to Washington D.C.

National 4-H Congress - Trip to Atlanta, GA

State 4-H Council - Plan Iowa’s 4-H Conference

State Project Awards - Be recognized for your accomplish-ments in your project area. Opportunities require a written application and an interview on Saturday, April 1st at Iowa State University.

Pre-recorded interviews are accepted for schedule conflicts. Your electronic application is due no later

than 11:59 pm February 1, 2017. Application and additional information can be found at www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/page/recognition-opportunities. This is a great opportunity to be recognized for your project accomplishments or to participate in the leadership trips across the country with fellow Iowa 4-Hers. Take advantage today!

HANCOCK COUNTY EXTENSION

327 WEST 8th STREET

GARNER, IA 50438

NON-PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

GARNER, IA 50438

PERMIT NO. 26

Hancock County January - February 2017

4-H Family Newsletter

Thursday, January 19 Brenda will present “Energy Boosters!” Simple Strate-

gies for Overcoming and Increasing Your Vibrancy. Monday, January 23

Brenda will present “I Dare You...to Create Positive Changes in Your Life.” Both sessions

will provide practical, take-home strategies in an upbeat, entertaining way. Join us for lunch

and these two engaging, motivational sessions...and learn how to revamp you for the new

year! Sponsored by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach in Hancock County and

Hancock County Economic Development Corporation.

Come and learn how to revamp you for the new year! Join us in a two

session Lunch and Learn series with national-recognized speaker Brenda

Clark Hamilton

New Year, New You 2017

Lunch and Learn

Thursday, January 19 &

Monday, January 28

12:00 noon—2:30 p.m.

Garner Education Center

Register by calling

641-923-2856 or emailing

trkluver@iastate.edu