February 2019 

4-H Awards Recap

This year marked our 40th Annual 4-H Achievement Awards here in Oakland County.  With 96 honorees this year it was one of our best awards programs in recent memory. A very special thank you goes out to Oakland County Farm Bureau and Oakland Schools for making it an evening to remember. 

For a recap of our awards please check out our online program here. 

Special thanks to this year's presenters from Left to Right: Micah Grayhek, Annika Hockman, Jason Scott, Julianna Latimer, Veronica Latimer, Angel Grayhek, Chloe Campbell, Shelly Sena, Emilie Parkanzky, Rachael Sena, Terra Whittico, Samaya Potts, Rachael Klassa, Paul Potts, Danika Grayhek, Amari Potts, Ajani Knox, Rachael Klassa, Khamani Potts

Oakland County 4-H Lifetime Achievement Honorees

Mel Hager

Mel has been a fixture with Oakland County 4-H for over 34 years. During his time in 4-H his kids and  grandkids have participated in the program. Mel served as the Club Leader for the TASC 4-H club for many years and was a long-time member or the 4-H Awards Committee. 

Mel was also the CCA for 4-H Youth Exploration Days at MSU and is still volunteering with the 4-H sixty mile bike trek that leaves from the Oakland County Fairgrounds on Monday morning and arrives at MSU on Tuesday afternoon.  

Mel was an integral part in the development and evolution of the Culinary Exchange Dinner and the 4-H Fashion show.  Currently Mel is on the 4-H Discovery Day planning committee and a cornerstone of fun activities every year.  

Mel has an amazing heart and when his family experienced the unexpected loss of his son George they turned to 4-H and created a scholarship in his memory to help youth in the 4-H community by recognizing outstanding citizenship and community service. 

Carol Hilf

Is a volunteer with Proud Equestrian Program at Bloomfield Open Hunt 4-H Club for the last 34 years as the administrative leader. The Proud Equestrian Program is a therapeutic riding 4-H program and one of the oldest 4-H therapeutic riding programs in North America! 

Carol manages the promotion of the program to families and our community and coordinates 4-H enrollment and scheduling of the riders. She keeps things in order and is a great administrator of such a fantastic program. 

Carol’s devotion and passion contributes to the longevity and success of this amazing and impactful program for youth with disabilities, their families and our community.  We are extremely appreciative for volunteers like Carol, for their amazing generosity, and life-long commitment supporting BOH PEP and Oakland County 4-H for all these years.

Melissa Musgrove

Is a long time 4-Her. As a youth member of the Blue Jean Kids horse club she showed an Appaloosa mare named Raindrops Wiggle at the fairgrounds in Davisburg.  Back then the barn had standing stalls only and during fair, 4-H members took turns sleeping on cots in the barn with their horses!  Because Melissa and her sister, Robin Biebuyck (also a long-time 4-Her and volunteer) missed 4-H so much they returned as adult volunteers to co-lead the club, Paint Creek Valley (oldest club in Oakland County) as soon as Robin’s daughter Erin was old enough to be a 4-Her. 

For the last 24 years Melissa was very involved in Oakland County 4-H. In addition to leading Paint Creek Valley, Melissa always helped with the many Horse Council events over the years, including many Equestrian Sleepovers, horse camps, horse shows, clinics, horse court, tack sales, and annual awards events.  As treasurer of the Oakland County 4-H Horse Council, Melissa attended monthly meetings and was an integral part in creating youth officer positions and stronger youth voice at the current Horse Council meetings.  She is a prime example of the impact 4-H has on youth and their families and we are extremely grateful for and glad to recognize Melissa for her dedication and commitment to 4-H! 

Beekeeping Scholarship Opportunity for 4-H Youth

Beginning in 2019, SEMBA (https://www.sembabees.org/ ) is offering two (2) scholarships to 4-H youth to support and encourage young beekeepers by providing educational support and financial assistance required to get started in beekeeping. 

Since 1934,  SEMBA has been educating and helping beekeepers with their hobby by disseminating the latest information and improved methods of beekeeping, promoting fellowship and cooperation among beekeepers, cultivating a friendly relationship between honey producers and consumers, and assisting, whenever possible, the Michigan Beekeepers' Association, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan State University Department of Entomology, and other local, state and national beekeeping organizations.

Early bee clubs were organized to promote beekeeping education to the general public at the state and local level, to share beekeeping ideas and to provide help to fellow beekeepers with a variety of beekeeping problems. Toward that end, the first annual bee school started in 1938.  Currently, MSU Tollgate Farm & Education Center is home to the SEMBA Beekeeping School. 

Selection Criteria

Applicant must be:

1. Current 4-H member and enrolled in 4-H Online https://mi.4honline.com/ )
2. 4-H age 12 to 19 (as of 1/1 of current year)
3. Enrolled in public, private or home school
4. Complete and return all required paperwork, including application, terms and condition, and waiver/binder forms signed by parent or guardian by the deadline:  February 18, 2019

Selection Process

1. After all applications have been received, a selection committee will review and select finalists.
2. Finalists will be contacted for an interview.
3. Two awardees will be announced by 3/1.
4. Equipment will be distributed to the awardees prior to the first class on 3/3.
5. Selection by the committee is final. 

For additional information about SEMBA/Beekeeping School, please visit their website at: https://www.sembabees.org/beekeeping-school/

For questions and application, please contact Debbie Morgan, 4-H Program Coordinator at morga194@msu.edu or 248-347-3860, ext. 279. 

MSU Tollgate Farm Camps 2019

Join us in 2019 for an exciting outdoor farm-based learning season for youth ages 6 – 19 at MSU Tollgate Farm, 28115 Meadowbrook Rd., Novi, Michigan.

MSU Tollgate Farm Stewards Teen Leadership Program 2019

Tollgate Farm Camp is a fun place for teens to make new friends and develop life skills. The Tollgate Camp Teen Steward (15-19 years) and Tollgate Steward-in-Training (13-14 years) positions are for teens interested in gaining experience working with campers in the outdoors in education, agriculture, and the natural sciences.

This experience offers a chance for teens to enrich, mentor, and lead campers while gaining valuable leadership experience. In a positive educational environment, teens gain community service hours and exercise responsibilities associated with potential career paths before entering college. Orientation training with campus speakers, mid-summer celebration, and camp closing celebration with career development and teambuilding. Leadership opportunities June 24 – August 23^rd.  Learn more or register here.

MSU 4-H Tollgate Farm Wild Winter Camp

Option A: Monday, Feb. 18 & Tuesday, Feb. 19
Option B: Monday, Feb. 18 - Friday, Feb. 22
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Aftercare available 4 – 6 pm with preregistration For ages 6 - 12 Drive away the winter blues and embark on outdoor adventures with camp friends at Wild Winter Camp! Spend time on the winter farm as a farmer-in-training. Engage in daily animal chores, feeding and caring for our goats, sheep, rabbits, and chickens. Explore how plants, animals, and people cope with the cold on the winter farm. Warm up in Garden Kitchen while cooking delicious snacks. Cook over an open fire, build a track trap, investigate the science of cardboard sleds, and try your hand at ice fishing (weather permitting.) We have a different theme each day, making for new adventures to apply science learning to everyday life! A typical camp day includes Garden Kitchen snacks, animal chores, STEM learning, and hikes. Low child to adult ratios make this camp fill quickly, so register early.

MSU 4-H Tollgate Farm Spring Break Camp

Monday, April 1 through Friday, April 5, 2019
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Aftercare available 4 – 6 pm with preregistration For ages 6 – 12

Every day at MSU Tollgate Spring Break Farm Camp is an exciting adventure as we move through daily themes to care for baby kids and lambs, hatch chicks, take afternoon hikes in the woods, harvest early produce for nutritious Garden Kitchen snacks, engage in a creative week-long STEM project, and experience lots of real science and hands-on fun! A typical camp day will include making yummy and nutritious snacks, caring for our farm animals, sowing seeds in the garden, and investigating the natural world of field, forest, and pond. This camp fills quickly. Learn more or register here.

MSU 4-H Tollgate Farm Summer Camp

Eight weeks of summer camp themes for ages 6 - 19 run June 24 - Aug. 23
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Aftercare is available 4 – 6 pm with preregistration. Ages 6 – 14

Every day at Tollgate Farm summer camp is an exciting adventure with a different theme. A typical day includes making nutritious snacks in Garden Kitchen, caring for our farm animals, sowing seeds in the garden, engaging in a creative week-long STEM project, and investigating the natural world of field, forest, and pond. Iconic Tollgate camp weeks include Green Science Adventure, Farm Animal Camp, Water Camp, Top Chef Food Camp. Exciting new themes include Time Travelers History on the Farm Camp, Red Planet Survival Camp, Wildlife Animal Adventure.  Teen Specialty Camp Track this year offers teens 13-14 years camp opportunities including Winged Wonders Traveling Camp, Advanced Outdoor Adventure Challenge, Vet Science, and Eco-Challenge. Some weeks include field trips or overnights. For youth ages 9 – 14, there are 4 weeks of Horse Camp including Equine Science, Colonial Horse Camp, and Western and English Horse Camps! Check out the joy of fun, farm, and friends at MSU Tollgate Farm Summer Camp. 

4-H Sledding Day at Waterford Oaks County Park

4-H families across Oakland County indicated in the recent 4-H Community Event and Workshop survey that they would like to attend a 4-H Sledding Day, so here are the details! Mark your calendars for our first 4-H Community Event on Friday, Feb. 15, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Waterford Oaks County Park’s sledding hill. The double-sided sledding hill will be lit with lights provided by Oakland County parks. Lumineers will light the path from the sledding hill to Lookout Lodge where there will be a warming station, cider, doughnuts, and a S’mores Station! 4-H information and an activity will be setup inside the lodge as well! Please RSVP for this free event to April or Kelly at our main office at (248) 858-0889 by Feb. 14 so we can purchase snacks and activity supplies.

2019 4-H Livestock Novice/Mentor Program

The Livestock Novice/Mentor Program matches cloverbuds (age 5 to 7 as of January 1, 2019) OR 1st/2nd year project members with more experienced livestock project members.  Program emphasis will be on education, participation and the development of the youth.  A workbook will be provided for the Mentor to reference when working with the Novice and a notebook will be given to the Novice to complete and enter at fair.  Together, the Novice and Mentor will decide what show(s) if any, they will exhibit at. This is a big commitment for the Novice, Mentor and their families.  Cloverbuds age 5-7 as of January 1, 2019 AND 1st or 2nd year (Novice) livestock project members/exhibitors will be eligible to show hogs, lambs, goats, prospect calves, beef/dairy calves in showmanship as beginner projects based on the following:   Hogs, lambs and goats will be market animals owned and exhibited by an older 4-H teen member (intermediate or senior age division), who will serve as the Mentor to the Novice. When showing hogs, lambs, or goats the Mentor must accompany a cloverbud in the show ring to assist with the animal. Lambs must be on a halter or lead rope that the Novice has a consistent hold of. Novice youth cannot sell their exhibition animals in the auction. Calves may be owned by the Novice exhibitor or the Mentor AND the mentor, adult leader or parent must assist cloverbuds in the show ring. All interested novice families and mentors should join us for an informational meeting on Wednesday, 2/20 at 6:30pm in the Community Room at the Fair Office.  Any questions, please contact Debbie Morgan at morga194@anr.msu.edu 248-347-3860, ext. 279.

2019 4-H Horse Protégé Program

We are looking for cloverbuds (ages 5-7*) and mentors for the 2019 Horse Protégé Program!  Experienced mentors are essential (along with gentle, kid-safe horses) in order to provide our cloverbuds with this fantastic opportunity!  All interested cloverbud families and mentors should join us for an informational meeting on Wednesday, 2/27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Fair Office.  *Previously enrolled 8 year old cloverbuds are eligible! For more information, please contact Debbie Morgan at morga194@anr.msu.edu or 248-347-3860, ext. 279.

S.E.M.I. Target Archery Tournament

The third annual shoot will be held March 16, 2019, at Springfield Oaks Activity Center. Participants must be 4-H members who have participated in archery with a 4-H certified instructor.

Junior Master Gardener 4-H SPIN Club

The Oakland County Fair Fiesta

The Oakland County 4-H Fair Association is getting ready for the 2019 Oakland County Fair.  We will be kicking off with the 13^th Annual Fair Fiesta on Saturday, February 23. A fun filled evening of Tacos/Nachos and the ever popular Rain Forest Café Lava Cake.  We will again be holding both a silent auction, live auction and have plenty of activities for the youth. Admission is $10 Adults, $5 kids 6-14, 5 and under is Free!  Doors open at 5:30 pm.  We are also looking for donations to the silent and live auctions.  Please call the Fair Office at 248-634-8830 if you have any donations.

The Oakland County Fair also has openings in the following departments for superintendents:  Shooting Sports, Hobbies and Collectibles, Crafts, Fashion Embellishments, Sewing and Needlework, Club Exhibits and Pocket Pets.  Superintendents are very important in helping our youth have a successful Fair, If you are interested in any of these areas please contact the Fair Office.

The Oakland County Fairbook will be available online early March.  A limited number of copies will be available for purchase in the Fair Office.   Online entries will be open on Discovery Day. 

World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute Deadline April 1

As millions across the globe deal with food insecurity, the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute (WFP MIYI) offers young people an opportunity to be part of the solution. Held May 9, the event seeks to inspire and prepare the next generation of global leaders to end world hunger. Occurring in two locations, East Lansing and Marquette/Chatham, attendees have the opportunity to share their ideas related to global food security with experts and other Michigan youth while learning how university faculty and staff members, researchers and students are working to address world hunger. To participate, youth should be in grades 8-12 and register by the April 1 deadline. As part of the registration process, youth are required to prepare a two- to five-page research paper about one of twenty grand global challenges which are related to food, hunger and poverty. At the event, youth present and discuss their papers with other attendees and research and industry experts. They also participate in interactive activities related to global food challenges and engage with area experts to discuss solutions to global hunger and poverty. The top performing students at the WFP MIYI will be selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa, in October. For more information, visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/wfpmiyi/. Registrations and papers are due April 1.

Start Planning Your 4-H Exploration Days Adventure!

Plans are well underway for the 2019 4-H Exploration Days, a fun summer favorite for Michigan 4-H’ers across the state.  This signature MSU precollege program, to be held June 19-21, allows youth to stay on the campus of Michigan State University while attending classroom and field trip sessions throughout their stay. In addition to enjoying fun and learning on campus, attendees build the skills they need to successfully transition to college and to life as an adult. The event features more than 200 session choices. Begin planning your stay when the 4-H Exploration registration books become available mid-February! Topics include animal science, business and entrepreneurship, international language and culture, performing and visual arts, and science, engineering, and technology. Use the registration book to make your top session selections in advance of registration opening on March 12 (also be on the lookout for session age restrictions). Sessions will fill up quickly and all registration information is due to your county’s MSU Extension office at the end of April, although specific dates vary. For more information, contact your local MSU Extension office or visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/4_h_exploration_days/.

Michigan 4-H Miniature Horse Show Guidelines

The new Michigan 4-H Miniature Horse Show Guidelines allow Michigan 4-H mini showmen to understand the rules governing their shows. It is also a great resource for leaders and show managers, as well as 4-H members! Included in the document is information for all classes, including: jumper, hunter, costume, driven dressage, gymkhana, pole bending and more. Download your free copy today at https://www.canr.msu.edu/horses_ponies/uploads/files/Miniature-Horse-Rule-Book-Final-2019.pdf

New Michigan 4-H Cavy Fitting & Showmanship Guide

Michigan 4-H cavy showmen now have a new resource! The Michigan 4-H Cavy Fitting & Showmanship Guide contains objectives and guidelines for the 4-H participant in cavy fitting and showing contests. Information covered in the resource includes feeding, care, handling and conditioning. The bulletin provides full color, step-by-step instructions with photo illustrations for completing the contest examination. Also included is a cavy showmanship scorecard.  Download your free copy today at https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/cavy-fitting-showmanship-member-s-guide-4h1345.

4-H Events and Workshops

February 2 : 4-H Benefit Clinic
MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
Learn more about form, function, improving patterns and lead changes from experts Brian
Bannerman, September Croel and Karen Waite during this day of interactive sessions.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-benefit-clinic

February 15-16: 4-H Veterinary Science Teen and Adult Leaders Workshop
Kettunen Center, Tustin
Explore animal systems and learn about animal health for a broad array of animal species. Come prepared to learn from experienced veterinarians and others.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-veterinary-science-teen-and-adult-leaders-workshop

February 16: Michigan 4-H at the Griffins
VanAndel Arena, Grand Rapids
Come out to VanAndel Arena for an exciting night of hockey with the Grand Rapids Griffins! A portion of each ticket will support Michigan 4-H programming.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/michigan-4-h-at-the-griffins

February 16-17: 4-H Beef, Sheep and Swine Teen and Adult Leaders Workshop
Kettunen Center, Tustin
This workshop is designed for both teen and adult leaders who are involved with beef cattle, sheep and swine projects. Topics include animal health, management, care and nutrition.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-beef-sheep-and-swine-teen-and-adult-leaders-workshop

February 23: 4-H Teen and Adult 4-H Horse Leaders Conference
Anthony Hall, East Lansing
Attend this conference to explore topics such as horse judging, equine first aid, and veterinary care for horses. Information shared will assist leaders in youth development and more.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/mi-4-h-teen-adult-4-h-horse-leaders-conference

February 23-24: 4-H Teen Leaders in Action Workshop
Kettunen Center, Tustin
Teens attending this workshop will learn how to teach an educational lesson to other youth in their local community.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-teen-leaders-in-action-workshop

February 24: 4-H Alumni Tip-Off Reception
MSU Spartan Stadium, East Lansing
The Michigan 4-H alumni community is invited to an alumni reception prior to the 4-H Day at the Breslin event.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-alumni-tip-off-reception

February 24: 4-H Day at the Breslin
MSU Breslin Center, East Lansing
Show your Michigan 4-H pride while cheering on the MSU Women's Basketball team during this annual event.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-day-at-the-breslin

For the most up-to-date events listing, go to http://4h.msue.msu.edu/events.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Interim Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. The name "4-H" and the emblem consisting of a four-leaf clover with stem and the "H" on each leaflet are protected under Title 18 U.S.C. 707.