4-H News

As of this date, we have 96 families who haven't enrolled yet this year! This includes club leaders, project leaders & members. County Fair enrollment deadline is March 2, 2009. That date is quickly approaching. Don't miss out!

February 25 - March 1, 2009 Roundup your leaders and head to Colorado for the Western Regional 4-H Leaders' Forum. Discover the trail which leads to fun and learning to take back to the herd at home.
Get a rope around personal skills you can use with 4-H'ers and gather up stray enthusiasm while having fun sharing ideas and developing skills. Clean the stable of old ideas and corral lots of new ones!
Join 400 volunteers from the 13 western states, Canada and the U.S. territories in the South Pacific at this great event. Don't miss the most energizing and educational forum for 4-H volunteers this side of the Rockies! Don't get left out of this roundup of hands-on experiences, sharing ideas, developing friendships, motivational speakers, and workshops to address your interests and challenges.
Grab your ropes, the ROUNDUP IS ON! Check it out at: http://www.colorado4h.org/wrlf09/index.shtml ATTENTION, Fremont County 4-H leaders: You can still register! We currently have committed $100 per person, up to a maximum of 10 people, for you to attend this conference. Register, attend, and we'll reimburse you after it's over. If we have more than 10 leaders attend, we will hold a drawing to determine the winners. Let's have a group attend!

Ages 13 & older, plus adult chaperones March 20-22, 2009 Silvercliff Ranch, Nathrop, CO (new place)

Cost without scholarship $115 per person, plus transportation & user fees Cost with scholarship, including transportation & user fees is $40

Attention, leaders & parents: There will be workshops for you this year! Learn about Getting to know you games/energizers, Parliamentary Procedure and “Are You Smarter than a 4-H Leader?”

Geospacial, Wind Power, Visual Arts, Financial Champions project information Packets are due back to the Extension Office by 5:00 PM on February 25, 2009 .

The Fremont County Fair Board will REQUIRE all livestock (goats, sheep, swine, and cattle), poultry, rabbits, and horses to have a valid Premises ID to ENTER the 2009 Fremont County Fair.

Premises ID's MUST be on file in the Extension Office BEFORE your County Fair entry will be accepted.

If you turned in a Premises ID in 2007-08 and you are keeping your project(s) at the same location you do not need to turn it in again. If you move your projects to a new location, you will need a new Premises ID for that location.

ALL 4-H members with animal projects are REQUIRED to fill out an Animal Care Housing Form. This form must be filled out and on file in the Extension Office for a 4-H member to be enrolled in an animal project.

Items can be dropped off at the Fremont County Extension Office before March 5, 2009.

Animal e-Record Books need to be turned in by Thursday, August 13, 2009, by 5:00 p.m.

This year, because the first Gymkhana has been set for May 30-31 we MUST have your horse certificates BEFORE this show. The new deadline will be May 27, 2009 instead of June 1!

We will be doing three (3) Meat Quality Assurance/Pork Quality Assurance trainings. All classes will be at the 4-H Building. Watch the newsletter for a list of those who must take the trainings.

Thursday, April 30, 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 11, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2:00 p.m.

This year I want to get several youth and/or adult volunteers to help with the MQA/PQA trainings.

Each volunteer would teach one section of the training using hands-on learning modules provided in the curriculum.

Every Shooting Sports leader must attend certification training before he or she is approved as a leader.

The closest training will be held in Pueblo on February 20-22. Registration deadline is February 13. Cost of the training is $85 for currently enrolled 4-H leaders. Funds are available to reimburse $50 per person for our 4-H leaders after they attend. Registration forms are available at the above website.

There's still time to apply to be a volunteer if you aren't currently enrolled. Be sure to call the Extension Office if you have questions!

Would you like a workshop in a certain area? Do you have specific questions that need to be answered? Is something absolutely confusing to you? We try to meet the needs of our 4-H families, but we need your help. If there's an area you need help, most likely there are others who need help too. Feel free to contact our office at any time. Leave a message if it's after hours. We will do our best to get back to you with the answer. You can also email us. Phone: (719) 276.7390 E-mail: csuext@fremontco.com or verla.noakes@fremontco.com or tommy.covington@fremontco.com

The Fremont Fairs and Shows Association met on Thursday, January 27 and made the following policy regarding COOL.

ALL market Goats, Sheep, and Swine MUST turn in a COOL Declaration NO LATER than that species' weigh day in May.

All Market Chickens MUST turn in a COOL Declaration NO LATER than the Fremont County Fair Entry Deadline.

Last year, 4-H Council officers made and donated more than 50 blankets for newborn babies of Fort Carson soldiers. This year, we would like to open it up to all 4-H clubs to help out.

All of last year's blankets have been distributed and more babies are on the way. Can your club help out?

We put a message with each blanket, telling the moms that our 4-H youth care about what they are doing and appreciate their service to our country. We had flannel receiving blankets, fleece blankets, and patchwork quilts.

Fremont County 4-H makes a difference! Can your club help? Bring completed blankets to the Extension Office and we'll deliver them to Fort Carson .

Rebekah White, New Horizons Club, is doing a community wide community service project this year.

She is challenging all 4-H and community members who raise chickens to donate any extra eggs they may have to Loaves and Fishes, Manna House, or any other organization that provides food or meals to ones in need.

If you do have eggs and are unable to get them to an organization, please call 276-2871, leave a message, and they'll make arrangements to pick them up and have them delivered at no charge.

Bekah would like this to be a year round project for this great versatile food. Please remember to ask for your tax deductible receipt. Bekah would also appreciate donations of your egg cartons.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 CSU Extension Meeting Room 6:30 p.m. Join us! Things are happening!

3 rd Monday of each month, beginning February 16 (yes, we know it's Presidents' Day) at 6:30 p.m. at the 4-H Building

We know you want your project manuals as quickly as possible. This year we are trying something new.

When your books arrive in our office, we will call you and let you know they are here.

If you cannot pick up your manuals, please let us know and we will ask your club leader to take them for you. We're working to make things better for you!

There are 14 (4 bucks and 10 does), they are of champion bloodlines with pedigrees and are breed winners. They have cages, carriers and all the cage equipment.

For more information please call Teresa Archuleta at 719-383-4661 on Friday and Saturdays only, or E-mail cowbunniesrbtry@hotmail.com

Phil has retired from active leadership, but is willing to set up a meeting designed to get 4-H members into the proper units for the projects they are choosing. 4-H has had some leather things donated for the Leathercraft projects, in the way of pounding boards that are at the 4-H Building. Phil will be donating some of his tools, leather, patterns, and related Leathercraft stuff, for use by the 4-H members.

We would also encourage all leaders, or prospective leaders to attend, to familiarize themselves with the Leathercraft units. We have had several past students of Phil's help with workshops, and also older students, as well as parents and grandparents help out, and would continue to encourage that participation. Again, please try to attend and all students should have some idea of what they want to accomplish or make, so that we can properly get them into the proper units by drop day, the 1st of March.

Leathercraft has been a huge success in the past, and with everyone helping out, that success should continue. Phil will help out in any way possible, but still feels he must step back and work on other important things also, in his life.

"Leathercraft has been a huge part of my life, the kids I've taught, and the Fair", and "I believe in what we have started, still as strongly as ever". "So please encourage ANYONE who wants to help continue our success to come out the 25th".

Every 4-H Shooting Sports member must possess a valid Colorado Hunters' Safety Card.

Classes are offered through 4-H and through the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Classes are filling up quickly!

Call the Extension Office, 276-7390 to sign up for the class. There is no charge for the classes if you are enrolled in 4-H Shooting Sports.

There will be a workshop for all club reporters and their leaders on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at the 4-H Building, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Michelle Marriott, reporter for the Florence Citizen, will be working with our reporters this year to help assure success. No reservations necessary. Just come!

For a Night You'll Both Remember! Saturday, February 14, 2009 in the Garden Level of the County Administration Building 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Your choice of: Roast Beef or Lasagna Dinners Soup, Salad, Drink & Elegant Desserts

There is a drop box for 4-H and Fremont County Extension Office, located on the north east entrance of the Fremont County Administration Building. This drop box is for any materials for the office that cannot be delivered during business hours. The drop box is checked daily, except for deadline days. On days that have a 5:00 p.m. deadline, the box will be checked at 5:00 p.m. (anything put in the box after 5:00 p.m. will be late).

4	4-H Council, 7:00 p.m., 4-H Building
6-7	Hunter Education for Shooting Sports (Must attend also attend 13-14), Friday night 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sat. 8:00 a.m. - noon, 4-H Building
10	Fremont County Fair Board, 7:00 p.m. CSU Meeting Room
13-14	Hunter Education for Shooting Sports (Must attend also attend 6-7), Friday night 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sat. 8:00 a.m. - noon, 4-H Building
13-15	Youth Fest (ages 9-13), Ponderosa Camp, Larkspur
16	*Holiday (Presidents Day) Extension Office Closed*
19	4-H Horse Council, 7:00 p.m., CSU Meeting Room
24	Fremont Fairs & Shows Association, 7:00 p.m., TBA

2	Last day to be enrolled in ANY 4-H project (Animal and General) to be eligible to exhibit that project at the Fremont Co. Fair
2	Must own and have in your possession-Breeding Beef, Dairy Cattle, and Dogs.
2	DOG CERTIFICATES must be turned in to the Extension Office no later than 5 p.m.
4	4-H Council, 7:00 p.m., 4-H Building
TBA	Hunter Education for Shooting Sports (Must attend all three classes), 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., DOW Hunter Ed. Building
TBA	Hunter Education for Shooting Sports (Must attend all three classes), 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., DOW Hunter Ed. Building
TBA	Hunter Education for Shooting Sports (Must attend all three classes), 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., DOW Hunter Ed. Building
10	Fremont County Fair Board, 7:00 p.m., CSU Meeting Room
19	4-H Horse Council, 7:00 p.m., CSU Meeting Room (Leaders, Parents and 4-Her's are invited to attend to pick up your horse packet and to go over the information. Questions will be answered regarding the Gymkhanas, Royalty, and County Fair.)
20-22	Southern Region Retreat (ages 13 & older) Silvercliff Ranch, Buena Vista
24	Fremont Fairs & Shows Association, 7:00 p.m., TBA
31	Must own and have in your possession-Rabbit Doe(s) that you must breed (see May 22) to kindle a litter for market rabbit pen

1	4-H Council, 7:00 p.m., 4-H Building
14	Fremont County Fair Board, 7:00 p.m., 4-H Building
16	Horse Certificates for the 4-H Royalty Contest MUST be turned in by 5:00 p.m.
16	4-H Horse Council, 7:00 p.m., CSU Meeting Room
27	Fremont County 4-H Foundation, 7:00 p.m., 4-H Building
28	Fremont Fairs & Shows Association, 7:00 p.m., TBA
28	CSU Extension Advisory Committee, 7:00 a.m., TBA
30	MQA/PQA Class (1st of 3 classes), 7:00 p.m., 4-H Building