2005 Kansas State Fair Updates  Periodically check this site for changes.
Wiebers

Later phases of this project being discussed and planned include an on-line testing component and the ability to print completion certificates at the local level.  If you have questions or comments, please contact us in the State 4-H Office. Adams/Wiebers

Farewell to Jean Paquette  After 24 years of faithful service to the Kansas 4-H Youth Development Program, Jean Paquette retired June 3, 2005. Her dedication to the 4-H program is commendable and we will greatly miss her corporate history, knowledge and presence in our department. Jean is very excited that she will now have more time to spend in her gardens, with her grandchildren and traveling. Fortunately, we will be able to advertise and fill her position, hopefully, by late July.

In the meantime, please know and understand that our department will be short staffed this summer. Please allow for more response time to your requests and questions. Our goal is to deliver top-notch customer service - but it may take us a bit longer than usual.  Thanks for your patience, understanding and cooperation. McNally

State Fair Guidelines and Policies  Please carefully review the 2005 State Fair Exhibitor Handbook, as it contains changes and additions to Guidelines and Policies. This information should be of vital interest to everyone, in particular for those exhibiting livestock at the 2005 State Fair.

New policy items that should be reviewed include:
1. Kansas State Fair Ethics Guidelines (inside of front cover)
2. Consequences (Page 10)
3. Disqualification (Page 10)
4. Disclaimer (Page 10)
5. Liability (Page 11 -- some new information)
6. National Show Ring Code of Ethics (Page 14)
7. Use of Drugs (Page 18)

Questions pertaining to livestock exhibits at the State Fair should be directed to Julie Voge jvoge@oznet.ksu.edu or Jim Adams jadams@oznet.ksu.edu. McNally

Opportunity for Unique Community Service Project for 4-H Members  Please share the following information with your 4-H clubs, members and leaders as it offers a unique opportunity for them to be involved in a unique community service project. Please note: Responses need to be sent ASAP directly to Dale Goter (contact information is listed below) rather than to the State 4-H Department.

KPTS-TV (Channel 8, Wichita) plans to apply to the Kansas State Historical Society for funding in FY2006 to collect video/audio stories from the ever-dwindling numbers of World War II veterans in Kansas.

This past legislative session, the Kansas Legislature created a grant funded program for this purpose, intended to improve the historical record of World War II as described by surviving veterans, and to enhance the public's appreciation and understanding of the phenomenal contribution by these soldiers.

KPTS has enlisted the partnership support of the Kansas State University journalism school, Barton County Community College and the Kansas State Library, and makes a similar solicitation for volunteer support from Kansas 4-H members.

Our request is to have 4-H clubs and members across the state participate in the recruitment of surviving veterans. Clubs would assist in the distribution of promotional materials about the project and secure contact information about individual veterans who are willing to share their stories. 4-H members would also be encouraged to collect video stories on their own, using whatever video equipment was available. KPTS would assist the chapters in providing technical information about how to video tape the interviews.

Kansas 4-H would be recognized in program credits during broadcast of an associated documentary created from the various video stories.

Our grant application will be submitted by July 1, so even the most tentative commitments would be appreciated. Thanks again for your consideration of this request on such a short term notice.

Dale Goter
Public Affairs Editor
KPTS-TV
320 W. 21st
Wichita KS 67203
316 838 3090 ext. 217
316 371 0134 (mobile)

Thanks for sharing the news of this unique opportunity!  McNally

Kansas 4-H Centennial Corner  Here is a brief reminder of Centennial due dates, projects and update of newest developments.

County Fairs - some will celebrate the Centennial in 2005, and others are waiting until 2006. Encourage pre-orders for the new 4-H Cookbook. (If you have not seen a club cookbook packet in your office, contact Rhonda Atkinson in the 4-H Foundation ASAP!)

August 1 - audition tape from 4-H soloist, duet, ensemble or chorus, singing "I Pledge" centennial theme for the opening ceremony, Sept. 10, new 4-H Centennial Hall, 10:20 am. Send tape, name of member/group, county, and contact information to State 4-H Office.

August 15 - Pre-entry due to Kansas State Fair for decorated Hay Bale contest, 1 from each county. Also all other OPEN CLASS entries are due to the State Fair Office. Remember to promote the Governor's Cookie Jar, Scarecrow, and theme floral arrangement that all must use the 4-H Centennial theme this year.

Centennial Candle - EVERY COUNTY must have a Centennial Candle (see instructions on
4-H Centennial link on 4-H website), and a 4-H member designated to carry their candle in the opening ceremony at the State Fair. Candle bearers will line up alphabetically by county and will lead off the 4-H parade from Gottschalk Park to the Centennial Hall. We will have a county name badge that they will wear. A form for you to complete with this information will be sent soon.

4-H Centennial Parade - All 4-H members, family members, leaders, alumni and staff are invited to march in the opening Centennial parade at the State Fair. Everyone marching will need to wear a shirt that has a 4-H logo, preferably the 4-H Centennial shirt. Begin gathering at Gottschalk Park (the open area south of the Fair Administration building, right inside the main gate) at 9:30 am, Saturday, Sept. 10. We will line up the 105 Candle Bearers to lead it off, and as we march, we will all chant this simple phrase, "HEAD, HEART, HANDS, HEALTH, FOREVER 4-H-CLAP, CLAP; REPEAT".

We plan to arrive at the 4-H Centennial Hall about 10:20. The ribbon cutting dedication for the new building and opening Centennial ceremony will be held outside the southeast entrance to the building. We will conclude the ceremony with the roll call of counties taking in their Centennial candle, placing it around the giant birthday cake, and then singing Happy Birthday to 4-H.

The State 4-H Office is in the process of inviting all Kansas and Kansas federal legislators, the Governor, her Cabinet, State Fair Board, 4-H Foundation Board, and selected University dignitaries to the Opening Ceremony.

New projects and ideas in the works -The 4-H Marketing Action Team and Extension Communications are working to put together a National 4-H Week press kit, with a Centennial focus.

Power Cat/Clover Pin - The College of Agriculture and 4-H are collaborating to design, order and give away at the 2005 and 2006 State Fairs, a specially designed metal pin that will feature both the Power Cat and the 4-H Clover! In addition to the pin being given out at the Ag and K-State R&E booths in the Pride of Kansas building, we will begin to hand them out to participants and those gathered for the opening Centennial Ceremony at the 4-H Centennial Hall, and through the rest of the Fair.

4-H Centennial Profiles - Nancy Peterson plans to write a human interest story, profiling 4-H alumni/leaders/members who have been successful in their career and life because of their 4-H experience. She is hoping to do about 24 of these, with releases throughout the year, at the first and 15th of each month.

Prairie Home Companion -This will be a live broadcast from the KSF Grandstand on Saturday, Sept. 10. Contacts are being made to see how 4-H could be involved as part of the show.

Westlake Hardware--For counties who have a Westlake Hardware in their community, they are also celebrating their 100th anniversary. We encourage you to contact them to see if you might collaborate on a joint project. Nancy Peterson suggests that they might help sponsor an ad around the Sept. 10 Centennial kick-of or National 4-H week, or since they sell tools, and 4-H teaches tools for life, they might consider a special discount to 4-H members/families.

Thanks to all of you who collected and delivered the brown paper grocery sacks for use at the "Do-Art" activity at the State Fair. I think that we hit the mark!

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me, sfisher@oznet.ksu.edu FOREVER 4-H!!! Fisher

Included in the recruitment issue is a "Belong" pull out section that can be taken out of the journal and shared with new families. This pull out section will be available on the State 4-H website beginning August 1 for you to copy in your local office and use to recruit new members. Mack

There are many new items including t-shirts that you can order with the 4-H AfterSchool logo.
http://www.4-hmall.org/4H_Mall/afterschool.asp   Mack

Kansas Youth Leadership Forum Presenters Needed  It is time to recruit instructors/presenters for the 6th Annual Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, to be held November 18-20 at Rock Springs 4-H Center.

Proposals are due to the State 4-H office by July 10, or if you have questions, contact Beth Hinshaw, bhinshaw@oznet.ksu.edu  or Justin Wiebers jwiebers@oznet.ksu.edu  Hinshaw/Wiebers

Please let me know if you are bringing a team to either of the events.  The hosts put out a lot of effort for us to do this and we wish to use our time and their facilities efficiently.  When completed, thanks are always appreciated.  Schafer

Campference  Mark you calendars - September 30 – October 2, 2005, for a new event designed for betweenagers.  Campference, sponsored by Kansas Youth 4-H Council, will focus on 4-H'ers, ages 11-13.  Participants will experience the feel of a conference at Rock Springs 4-H Center, through workshops that will inform them of opportunities in the 4-H program, get them up and moving while learning leadership skills, and how to interact with others.  

Participants will be able to meet others from across the state, and help to shape this exciting program for years to come.  So tell your 11-13 year olds to save the date for the first Campference!  Additional information will be available in July.  Matt Felzke-Campference Chair / Hinshaw

Painting Party
We need lots of help getting the new 4-H Centennial Hall ready for the State Fair.  Think of it as an Extreme Makeover: State Fair Edition!!  A separate e-mail will be sent to all Extension Offices with registration information and it is posted on the State 4-H web site.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kate Kramer or Justin Wiebers. Kramer/Wiebers

Discovery Days in Review
Thanks to everyone who had a hand in making Discovery Days such a fantastic event this year!  The evaluations are being tabulated and will be reviewed in depth at the Discovery Days Action Team meeting on July 16.  We appreciate everyone’s flexibility when the rain and threats of thunderstorms shook up the planned activities.  We have also already talked with Housing about problems at registration and have assurances that delegates will be grouped by county or district again next year.

Visit the Discovery Days web page to see photo galleries, and download files from this year’s event. Wiebers

A limited supply of these new wristbands are available for $1.25 each with the intention of being used for fund-raising and/or marketing. To order and make shipping/delivery arrangements, call the State 4-H Office at 785-532-5800 or the Johnson County Extension Office at 913-764-6300. Davis/Wiebers

Kansas Shrine Bowl events will be held July 29-30 in Manhattan. To order your YF&R/Shrine Bowl tickets, call 800-530-5524 and tell them your 4-H club name. Remember to tell them you want to purchase the special YF&R/Shrine Bowl tickets. And for a limited time, when you order your YF&R/Shrine Bowl tickets, if you also order non-member and adult tickets at the same time, your 4-H club will earn a $2.50 donation on those tickets too! Get your order in soon - the deadline for YF&R/Shrine Bowl tickets is July 1.

Get all the details included in a letter from YF&R/Farm Bureau. Wiebers

New 4-H Enrollment Form  A Microsoft Word version of the new 4-H enrollment form is available on the web.  Extension Offices are welcome to use this document with the MG-3A form to add or remove projects that are different from the state project list.  Adams/Wiebers

New Version 2.5 Blue Ribbon Youth Enrollment  The CD with the newest version of Blue Ribbon has arrived at the State 4-H Office.  CD’s are being mailed to Extension Offices.  An invoice will be included with the CD. Thomas/Wiebers

4-H Flag Banners from Discovery Days  Several people have asked about the 4-H Flag Banners we had at Discovery Days. The company we ordered them from was:  

Prices for tire stand, ground stake, telescoping pole and banner flag is: 20 ft - $100.00, 16 ft - $80, and 13 ft - $60.  Price without the tire stand and ground stake is: 20 ft - $80, 16 ft - $65, and 13 ft - $50.  There was an additional fee of $5 per flag to airbrush the 4-H Clover. Wiebers

National Animal Identification System Information for 4-H--USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in collaboration with industry and the states, has been working to develop a national animal identification system (NAIS). The NAIS will be an essential tool for carrying out animal health monitoring and surveillance programs. As it comes online, the system will also ensure rapid disease containment and maximum protection of American poultry and livestock.

You can order them by sending the amount you need, your street mailing address, and a phone number to nais_info@aphis.usda.gov, or by calling Amy Spillman directly at (301) 734-7253.

Amy Spillman
Legislative and Public Affairs
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA
4700 River Road, 2B-02.2
Riverdale, MD 20737
Tel: 301-734-7253
Fax: 301-734-5221
Adams

Bridging the GAP (Generations And Power) 
The Kansas 4-H Youth Council has received a grant to help youth and adults
learn to work together in stronger partnerships. Based on a nationally developed curriculum, workshops will take place to help youth and adults learn how to work together for the greater good of their clubs and their communities. The focus of the sessions will be overcoming misconceptions and developing respect. Although the workshops are put on by 4-H, participation is not limited to 4-H members or volunteers, so please feel free to invite other youth and members of your communities.

Additional information will be sent directly to Extension Offices and will be posted on the State 4-H website. Registration will take place on the internet.
Ludwick/Wiebers

Volunteers Needed at the Kansas State Fair 
Teen and Adult Volunteers will be needed to help with all areas of 4-H on both weekends, September 9 &10 and 17 & 18.  In addition a few Agents would be appreciated to help at the Information Booth in the 4-H Centennial Hall during the week.

People who want to volunteer should sign up through their local Extension Office.  Offices will enter registrations through the KSFair database as Class#1234. We cannot provide admission tickets for volunteers who are not entered in the KSFair system by August 15.  Wiebers

State Fair Packet to be Posted by July 1  Detailed information (forms, explanations, score sheets, etc.) about the 4-H exhibit areas is being posted and will be ready by July 1.  If you have downloaded any of this information prior to July 1, we cannot guarantee that it will be accurate for this year’s State Fair.  We are working to make appropriate documents available for your clientele to access while access to other documents is being restricted to Extension personnel.  If you have concerns or trouble downloading documents on the State Fair Packet web page, please contact Cheryl Thomas or Justin Wiebers.  Thomas/Wiebers