4-H Tip Sheet
August 2004

Items of Interest:

Kansas State Fair
2004

Dates -  for the 2004 Kansas State Fair are September 10-19.  Entry day is Friday, September 10.  The theme for this year's fair is "It's A Wild Ride, Baby".

State Fair Volunteers - Agent, adult and teen volunteers are needed for the many committees at the Kansas State Fair.  Refer to the March 25th letter for the list of committees and duties.  Volunteers will receive an admission ticket if one is needed for the time they work.  The committee List/Ticket Order Form is due in the State 4-H Office August 2.  You can download the form from the KSF Packet and return it via e-mail!  Tickets for selected committee members will be sent to Extension Offices by August 23.  We cannot guarantee admission tickets for people who volunteer after August 1.

State Fair Pre-entries - Don't wait until the August 15 deadline to make pre-entries on the KSFAIR web site or mail paper forms for State Fair pre-entries.  We will begin printing and mailing entry cards for exhibits in early August.  Check the State Fair packet and Kansas State Fair Exhibitor Handbook for due dates.

KSF Parking Hangtag and Encampment Reservation Forms - These forms were mailed to your office from the KSF Competitive Exhibits Department in early May.  Only one copy was sent, so please make sure that it is routed to the agent responsible for the Kansas State Fair.  The return procedure is the same as in previous years.  The admission ticket/hang tag order and Encampment reservation forms are due to the Kansas State Fair Office by August 15.

4-H Crops and Wheat Variety Plot Displays - will be in the Pride of Kansas building near the Open Class Crops.

Beef, Sheep and Swine Shows - Please refer to the letter sent to each local Extension Office from the Kansas State Fair Office in May, for all information about the 4-H/FFA Beef, Sheep and Swine Shows.

Entries for State 4-H Horse Show - Entries for the State 4-H Horse Show will be due for KSFAIR 2004 by August 2 (August 1st falls on a Sunday).  Please send to me at the State 4-H Office a copy of the summary sheet and the entry fee of $5 per class.  The stall information is to be sent to the State Fair office in Hutchinson.  You will note the stall fee is $10.00 per night. 

When mailing entry forms, ticket order forms, encampment reservations, etc., make sure that they are mailed to the correct location.  Some forms are sent to the State 4-H Office and others must be sent directly to the Kansas State Fair Office.   There is a summary of where to send information in the State Fair packet.  Sending the information to the wrong office causes unnecessary delay in processing. Gerhard

State 4-H/FFA Wheat Show - August 10--Cloud County Community College, Concordia. Divisions requiring samples for protein testing must be submitted by July19 to Tim Herrman, 002 C Waters Hall, Manhattan, Ks.  66505. New division this year is Wheat Photos! 

Find general information at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/nwao/ Adams

If you have questions, please contact Diane or Beth. Cost to attend is $20 payable to the Kansas 4-H Foundation. Please contact Diane Mack at: dmack@oznet.ksu.edu by September 7 if you plan to attend. Hope to see you there!! Mack/Hinshaw

2004 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest: - The NRA is now accepting entries for its 2004 Youth Wildlife Art Contest. The contest, the 17th in the annual series, is open to students in grades 1 through 12 (including home-schooled children). NRA membership is not required. The deadline to enter is October 1, 2004. 

Entries may be submitted in one of four categories, based on school grade. Category I includes grades 1 through 3. Category II is for grades 4 through 6. Category III covers grades 7 through 9, and Category IV includes grades 10 through 12. Entries may portray any North American game bird or animal that may be legally hunted or trapped. Endangered species and non-game animals, such as eagles and snakes, are not eligible subjects. Call (703) 267-1531 if you need to confirm whether a certain animal or bird is eligible.

Contestants are limited to one entry each. Entries may be in a medium of the artist's choice (oil, water color, pastels, pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, etc.). Submissions should be on good quality bond or drawing paper, or illustration board. Preferred sizes for the image are 8½" x 11" or 11" x 14"; matting is optional. Entries need not be framed.

Composition must be original. Photographs may be used for reference, but artwork determined to have been traced or copied from an existing photograph or work of art will be disqualified.  Entries must arrive at NRA by October 1, 2004, and must be accompanied by a brief statement signed by the student's parent, guardian, or teacher attesting to the originality of the work and verifying the artist's grade level as of October 1, 2004. In addition, the artist's name, home address, phone number, age, and grade must be printed on the back of the entry or on a note attached to the back of the entry.  Entries will be judged on effort, creativity, anatomical accuracy, and composition. First place winners in each category will receive $100. Second and third place winners will receive $50 and $25, respectively.

Send entries to: 
NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest, 
11250 Waples MillRoad, 
Fairfax, VA 22030. 

Entries will be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. NRA assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged artwork, and reserves all rights to reproduce entries. The immediate families of NRA staff members are not eligible to enter. Questions regarding the contest may be directed to kharris@nrahq.org or (703) 267-1531.  Gerhard

Many of their usual support systems may no longer be adequate. Extensive media coverage of on-going military operations creates daily anxiety. These "new " military kids need to connect with other youth in similar situations. They seek friends and adults who can empathize and can help them cope with their new world.

Operation Military Kids is an outreach effort that:

*Creates community support networks for military youth "in our own backyard" when soldier parents are deployed.

*Supports kids coping with the stress of knowing their deployed parents may be in harm's way.

*Educates the public on the impact of the deployment cycle on soldiers, families, kids and the community as a whole.

As a part of this effort, our National 4-H Conference delegates participated in a community service project and created Hero Packs to thank the men and women, fathers and mothers in the National Guard and Army Reserve who have been separated from their loved ones. The Hero Pack thanks military youth for the sacrifices their families have made. The pack includes items that help a young person stay connected to their deployed parent. Hero Packs included: camera, picture frame, stationary, day planner, "Freedom" the 4-H liberty bear and other 4-H items. Most importantly was a hand written letter from the conference delegate to the family.

You will soon be hearing more about Operation: Military Kids and how you can help support these families. FCS Agents will be able to attend a session at the upcoming FCS Update. Two sessions will be offered at the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum for teens to make additional Hero Packs for Kansas youth.

If you would like additional information go to:

http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/liaison_resources.htm

Under the sub heading of "National Guard and Reserve" is an Operation Military Kid's powerpoint and a brochure. Mack

"4-H Spirit Week" was the brainstorm of Caitlin Cairns, one of the eight Washington County ambassadors. Activities included:

Monday - banner day. Clubs displayed their banners in schools and businesses.

Tuesday - pin or button day. Current 4-H members encouraged to wear a 4-H pin or button.

Wednesday - leader appreciation day. Members encouraged to thank their leaders by sending a note or making them a special treat.

Thursday - pencil day. All elementary students in the county received a 4-H pencil during school from an ambassador.

Friday - 4-H spirit day. Every 4-H’er encouraged to wear a 4-H shirt to show their spirit.

To get others involved, each ambassador contacted their school superintendent for their support.. There are four different school districts in Washington County. They also contacted the club leaders and each of them spoke to their own club to get everyone involved in the activities.

The team also made clover name tags for school lockers so that members could write their projects on them and keep them up at school all week. The team also designed buttons that say, "4-H Ambassador, individual’s name, Got a Question? Ask Me."  Mack

KYLF - The Kansas Youth Leadership Forum will be November 19 - 21, 2004 at Rock Springs 4-H Center.  The Forum is for youth ages 14-18, as of January 1, 2004.  A letter with registration details will be sent to local offices in early August.  Registrations will be due October 15, 2004.  This event, will include:  speakers, track sessions, service learning, consulting groups and election of the fifth State 4-H Council.  A brochure about the event can be downloaded from the Kansas 4-H website:  http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/4h/kylf/KYLF2004.htm 

Any Kansas 4-H member between the ages of 14 and 18 by January 1, 2004 may apply to be a council member.  The duties of the Council Members include planning the next Youth Leadership Forum and may include assisting with State 4-H functions, working with 4-H public relations, and speaking at local achievement programs, forums, and other workshops or conferences.  Applications for the State 4-H Youth Council will be available in the registration materials and also on the State 4-H website.  Please encourage your interested 4-H members to apply.  Hinshaw/Wiebers

State Team and KAA Eligibility Input Requested - Earlier Dr. Jim Lindquist had asked for your input on 4-H programming in a District governance structure.  

Two issues of concern include state judging team eligibility and the number of KAA's that advance to Area Screening. We would like your input to ensure that we don't limit opportunities for our young people.

Currently the rule for teams is that "Each District Extension Council may enter one team of four regularly enrolled 4-H members equal to the number of counties comprising the Extension District in each division."

The "4-H Programming in Extension Districts" document suggests that "the number of teams could be based on enrollment numbers or percentages, providing a minimum number of one per county for single county extension operating units."

State and area 4-H Youth Development faculty in a recent meeting offered another option of leaving the determination of the number of teams to be sent by a local extension unit to a state contest to be determined by the local unit, with no minimum or maximum number prescribed by statewide guidelines. This suggestion also stated that the state 4-H event organizing entity would; however, continue to have the final decision on such matters (Note: The following situations are just examples and are not meant to be limiting or all inclusive.) as offering clinics/non-competitive participation privileges for youth under 10 years, to permit non-team member individuals to compete for individual awards, to permit blended teams from Extension units if they cannot organize a team independently, and/or limiting the contest to youth 14 years or older, etc.. These aforementioned circumstances might result from restrictions of space, time, daylight, or other management related variables.

If you have comments or suggestions on these two issues please forward them to Diane Mack dmack@oznet.ksu.edu, NE Area 4-H Specialist by September 1.  Mack/Buchholz

4-H Citizenship Revision Pilot for Youth, Grades 6th-8th - The 4-H Cooperative Curriculum System (4-H CCS), is ready to launch the national pilot for the revised Citizenship curricula for youth in grades 6th-8th. Beginning in August 2004, 4-H sites across the nation will be piloting Public Adventures. 

WHO MAY PILOT - It is time to get the word out about this revised and exciting Citizenship curricula. Please consider piloting the curricula with a broad audience such as: 4-H clubs, camps, school enrichment, military youth programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA's, junior high, high school and home school programs. Each site will be asked to review or complete the seven steps. Pilot curricula will be available in PDF format and accessed on the 4-HCCS web site for downloading. Success stories and photos may be posted to the website from groups who pilot the curriculum. 

HOW TO PILOT - The pilot will begin in August and run until January 1st, 2005. You may complete the activities at any time during these months. If you wish to pilot the revised Public Adventures , please email lauxman@ag.arizona.edu. Include your name, email (of course!) mailing address, phone, and fax. In the subject line type: 4-H Citizenship Pilot. More information will be sent to you via email about how to download the pilot materials. 

The evaluation forms for youth and adults will also be available at the web-site in August and may also be downloaded or filled out on-line by participants. We sincerely appreciate your willingness to participate. Your comments, feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated.  If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Lauxman at lauxman@ag.arizona.edu.  Adams

4-H Master Volunteer Program -  To kick off the new 4-H year with a fantastic experience, consider recruiting a key volunteer to serve as a 4-H Master Volunteer for a specifically identified activity or program. Now's the time to work with your PDC to identify a program, event or activity that could benefit from the leadership of a 4-HMaster Volunteer.

The training to become a 4-H Master Volunteer consists of two components: a four-hour training (August 28 in Emporia and October 16 in Scott City) and a sixteen-hour training (November 19-20 at Rock Springs 4-H Center).

Registrations for the four-hour training sessions are due two weeks prior to the date: August 13 and October 1. Registration materials and brochure were electronically distributed to extension offices in early July. Please visit with your Area 4-H Specialist or Pat McNally if you have questions about this dynamic volunteer development program. McNally

Camp Counselor Recognition Program - A reminder to submit the names of camp counselors from your Extension Unit (due July 15th) to the State 4-H Office pmcnally@oznet.ksu.edu. This is a critical step for the successful implementation of the 2004 Camp Counselor Recognition Program. Thank you! McNally 

State 4-H Volunteer Forum -  November 20-21.  Registration information will be sent to Extension Offices the first week of August, announcing the theme, schedule, and activities that will take place at the annual State 4-H Volunteer Forum at Rock Springs. Many of you have identified "volunteer development" as a key issue or need in your 4-H program. Sending a delegation of volunteers to the State 4-H Volunteer Forum may be one way that you can begin to meet the training needs of your volunteers! McNally

Come Visit   http://www.Kansas4-H.org - To simplify our marketing efforts and make our web site address easier to remember, we have requested a new sub-domain name with K-State.  You can begin to market this new address as soon as you are able to use it.

Along with this, we have also purchased domain name of “Kansas4-H.org” as well as “Kansas4-H.com” and “Kansas4-H.net”  All these addresses will route browsers to our current web site. Wiebers 

Official 4-H Clover Name and Emblem

Did you know the level of protection provided for the 4-H Name and Emblem exceeds that of a copyright or trademark?  As such we all have a responsibility to make sure the clover we use to market our program is the official emblem displayed in the correct fashion.

               Correct                                      Incorrect

In addition to using the appropriately shaped (notice the V shape where the leaves attach on the incorrect clover) and proportioned clover (don’t stretch or distort), the stem should always point to the right, the entire clover should always appear without portions being hidden or covered by text or other images.  If you wish to use a clover in the background, use one without “H”s on the leaves.  More detailed guidelines are available at: 
http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/4-Hguidelines-v4-26-04.pdf

Many of our current materials have versions of the clover that will be updated and corrected as these materials are revised.  Please check to make sure you are using the correctly shaped clover and if you need to download the official version, please visit: 
http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/emblem/4h_name.htm   Wiebers

State 4-H Contact Change - Due to Rod Buchele's work with the Photography Action Team, it became apparent that Rod should be the State 4-H Contact for all Photography questions and will work with the Action Team to facilitate all of the photography activities at the State Fair. Pat McNally will now be chair and coordinator of the Demonstrations and Illustrated Talks at the State Fair.  Adams

4-H Master Calendar
April - December 2004

All educational programs and materials available without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

The information here is maintained by the State 4-H Office and Staff.  The administrative assistant contact is Kathy Zimmerman at 785-532-5800 or e-mail kzimmerm@oznet.ksu.edu