Celebrate National 4-H Week this year from October 7-13. This year's theme, Inspire Kids to Do, is a campaign that will give kids more opportunities to do, empowering them with the skills they need to succeed in life and career.
Throughout National 4-H Week, Oakland County 4-H will showcase the many ways 4-H inspires kids to do through hands-on learning experiences as well as highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them.
4-H was founded on the belief that when kids are empowered to pursue their passions and chart their own course, their unique skills grow and take shape, helping them to become true leaders in their lives, careers and communities.
Did you know that the National 4-H Week Window Display Contest has been going on since at least the 1950’s? This is an excellent way to promote Oakland County 4-H and your 4-H club plus earn a little cash as well as pride.
Prizes for each place
- 1st place—Ribbon & $150
- 2nd place—Ribbon & $100
- 3rd place—Ribbon & $50
Some hints and tips for 2018 include critically evaluating your store window. Is it in a high traffic area? Does it have curb appeal? If not maybe it’s time to scout around for a new location.
Judging is based on the following areas on a 4 point scale and on the required components.
- PUBLIC APPEAL
- QUALITY
- ATTRACTIVENESS
Exhibits must be on display by October 7, 2018 and remain in place until the end of the week, October 13th. Judging will take place midweek.
For questions please contact Jason Scott jscott@msu.edu or 248-858-0892
Oakland County 4-H has developed an all online system for our local awards in 2018. We are still working out a few kinks on a couple of awards, but they should be ready by mid September. Oakland County 4-H is looking for new 4-H Awards Committee members to serve the first meeting will be Thursday September 20th, 2018. If you are interested please contact Jason Scott jscott@msu.edu or 248-858-0892.
The date for the 4-H Achievement Awards is January 19th, 2019.
Please visit the Oakland County Achievement Awards Portal to learn about each award and how to apply. The deadline for award submissions is Sunday October 28th, 2019.
*You must sign in with a google account to submit a letter of recommendation if you have questions please contact Jason Scott jscott@msu.edu
 The Horse Protégé
program (photo top left) concluded with a final opportunity for cloverbuds and their mentors
to show off their horsemanship skills at the Grand Finale horse show, Saturday,
8/11 at Springfield Oaks County Park.
The judge was so impressed she awarded all participants 1st
place!
The Proud Equestrian
Program (photo bottom left) at Bloomfield Open Hunt Club started their last session (8/6-10/1)
for the year. In addition to the many
physical and emotional benefits therapeutic riding provides, our riders have a
lot of fun! Of course the dedicated
volunteers enjoy this amazing experience too!
New this year to Tollgate
Beginner Horse Camps was a Level 2 (photo right top and bottom) for youth previously attending Level 1. With the new format, campers were able to
spend a lot more time with the horses, leading, riding and for the first time,
ground driving the draft horse Max!
 Saturday, October 6: 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 7: 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Come, take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch to pick your perfect pumpkin. Food, music, farm animals, educational exhibits, and children’s activities all make for a fun fall outing for all ages.
Check out the music line-up of FREE concerts! Wixom Lake Public Librarians lead story times Saturday. In addition to a children's straw maze and pumpkin bowling, inflatables and target practice booths are fun destinations around the farm. The MSU Bug House and the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum will lead hands-on activities each day. Nijii Ami, local living history group, returns to the farm with a historic reenactment of earlier Michigan residents cooking fall harvest foods.
This special event is a fundraiser for educational programming at the farm. Entry, educational exhibits, children’s Strawland and music are free of charge. Tickets sold for cash or credit are required for pumpkins, food, and select children’s activities. There is a charge for parking.
Please bring your friends and family and join us for a fun, fall destination at Pumpkinfest 2018!
If you're interested in joining the team of volunteers who help make Pumpkinfest come to life, please email us at tollgateprograms@anr.msu.edu
If you're interested in supporting Pumpkinfest through a sponsorship or donation, please email koehle43@anr.msu.edu or call 248-347-0269 ext 227.
|
 The new 4-H programming year is finally here, and with it comes changes to the Michigan 4-H Age Policy. Beginning September 1, the Michigan 4-H Participant Age Policy reflects a younger beginning age for 4-H members. The new age for 4-H members is 8 to 19 years old, continuing to use January 1 of the program year as the date of calculation. The 4-H Cloverbud experience will remain available to youth ages 5-7.
This policy change has been implemented by MSU Extension after lengthy consultation with early childhood and Michigan 4-H youth development staff, as well as careful consideration of research regarding youth and competition. Furthermore, it moves Michigan 4-H into alignment with counterparts across the country, including National 4-H.
As always, age appropriateness and safety remain a top consideration for 4-H programming areas and Michigan 4-H continues to support minimum age limits for certain learning environments that may not be appropriate for children 8 years of age. Additionally, individual county 4-H programs with MSU Extension also retain their right to determine the beginning age for 4-H involvement within that county.
Furthermore, Michigan 4-H partners such as fairs and exhibitions may choose to implement age limits for certain projects where they feel 8-year old participation (or older age groups) may not be safe or appropriate (for example, market beef projects). Alternatively, fairs and exhibitions may offer activities that are not consistent with 4-H Cloverbud policies, such as competition for youth below age 8. These are not considered a Michigan 4-H Youth Development activity and participation is the decision of the young person and his or her family.
For more information on the 4-H Participant Age Policy, visit
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/resources/michigan_4_h_participant_age_policy1
For questions regarding the Cloverbud age, visit
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/resources/michigan_4_h_cloverbud_frequently_asked_questions.
|
 Again in 2018, Michigan 4-H Youth Development will be awarding a Michigan 4-H Animal Science Sportsperson of the Year Award. If you know an adult or youth that has exemplified the definition of good sportsmanship in any of the 4-H animal science project areas, please consider nominating them by filling out the nomination form by Oct. 1, 2018. Help us to recognize deserving youth and adults in the 4-H program going above and beyond to make the best better.
Please be sure to include the following with your submission:
|
 All Michigan 4-H Foundation members (those who have donated $25 or more in the past year) are invited to attend and vote at the Michigan 4-H Foundation Annual Membership Meeting. This meeting will be held on Friday, Oct. 5, at 2:30 p.m. at the MSU Kellogg Center in East Lansing.
Agenda items include trustee elections, audited financial statement report, 2018 president’s report and recognition of major donors to Michigan 4-H within the past year. Michigan 4-H donors are encouraged to attend. Admission to the annual membership meeting is complimentary.
Register by Sept. 20 at https://mi4hfdtn.org/event/michigan-4-h-foundation-annual-membership-meeting/.
|
 Participate in 4-H Maker, Agri-Science, Healthy Living or Photography summits to gain real world exposure and meet other 4-H’ers from across the nation that share your passions.
Held at the National 4-H Conference Center, these multi-day programs allow youth to learn technical skills, participate in hands-on activities and engage with nationally-recognized leaders. Students typically attend in groups comprised of two to eight youth and are accompanied by an adult chaperone.
Registration and more information about these events are available at https://4hcenter.org/tours-programs/national-youth-summits/.
|
September 13: Completing Your 4-H Groups Annual Financial Report Online Webinar
Join MSU Extension staff in this online webinar to learn how to complete an Annual Financial Report Summary, required by Michigan State University Extension.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/events/completing_your_4_h_groups_annual_financial_report
September 22: Michigan 4-H Goat Project Youth Workshop
Ionia Fairgrounds, Ionia
Learn about parasite management, the digestive system and dairy goat judging at this hands-on workshop. Registration closes September 12.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/events/2018_michigan_4-h_goat_project_youth_workshop
September 29: 4-H Night at MSU’s Observatory
MSU Observatory, East Lansing
Gaze into the sky using MSU's 24 foot reflecting telescope and others. Engage in hands on astronomy-related activities. Preregistration required by September 22.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/events/4-h_night_at_msus_observatory
October 5: Michigan 4-H Foundation Annual Membership Meeting
Michigan State University Kellogg Center, East Lansing
All Michigan 4-H Foundation members (donors of $25 or more) are invited to attend and vote on items. Major donors to Michigan 4-H from the past fiscal year will also be recognized.
https://mi4hfdtn.org/event/michigan-4-h-foundation-annual-membership-meeting/
October 5: Michigan 4-H Emerald Awards
Michigan State University Kellogg Center, East Lansing
Michigan 4-H Citation Award, Emerald Clover Society, Salute to Excellence and Michigan Farm Bureau 4-H Excellence in Agriculture Award winners will be honored at this event.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/events/michigan_4_h_emerald_awards
November 17: Michigan 4-H Creative Arts Celebration
Kettunen Center, Tustin
Meet others from across the state passionate about creative arts while engaging in hands-on activities that build your creative talent. Registration available in September.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/events/save_the_date_michigan_4_h_creative_arts_celebration
|
