June 2019

Congratulations Melissa! 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award

Congrats to Melissa Musgrove on being presented with the Oakland County 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award. 

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.

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!

Volunteers Needed for Summer Programing at Tollgate

4-H Volunteers and Youth! Oakland County 4-H is working with Friendship Circle* this summer to provide a 4-H experience as a part of their summer program on eight Mondays beginning June 24. 4-H will provide a 30 minute activity to their rotation of camper groups (5-10 youth) from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and WE NEED YOUR HELP!  We need help assisting with planning and facilitating an activity for this amazing group on any of the following Mondays: June 24 July 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 August 5 & 12 Examples of activities could including an introduction to an animal (rabbits, dogs, goats, etc.), hands on crafts/food prep, gardening activity, etc.  We can help you plan something and/or leave up to your imagination!  All costs of materials or expenses would be covered by our office.     Please consider this fantastic service opportunity and help us introduce 4-H to this great organization. Please contact Deb Morgan 248-347-3860 ext. 279 or morga194@msu.edu. * Friendship Circle is an organization for individuals with special needs for more information visit them at https://www.friendshipcircle.org/summer/

Oakland County 4-H and Hess Hathaway Farm Team Up

Oakland County 4-H will be collaborating with Waterford Parks and Recreation to provide a great summer experience at Hess Hathaway Farm. Campers will be introduced to all the animals on the farm with an educational focus on a different species each week of the summer. "Campers will enjoy an unforgettable summer as they explore everything the farm and outdoors have to offer. Summer is a wonderful time for engaging with our natural surroundings, including the farm animals." For information on how to participate in Waterford Parks and Recreation Day Camps please contact them directly. Phone: 248-674-5441 Website: https://www.waterfordmi.gov/286/Summer-Day-Camps

ATTN: 4-Hers Exhibiting Market Animals at the Oakland County Fair!

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program for youth ages 8 to 21. The program is an annual education and certification program designed to provide an estimated 60 minutes of education each year. YQCA is focused on food safety, animal well-being and character awareness for youth ages 8 to 21 producing and/or showing pigs, beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, market rabbits, and poultry. The program has been designed by extension specialists and national livestock program managers to ensure it is accurate, current and relevant to the needs of the animal industry and shows and is appropriate for youth.

YQCA training is recommended for all market animal exhibitors.  All market hog exhibitors must be PQA or YQCA certified and present a copy of certification before unloading animals at the Oakland County Fair (see Fairbook, page 35.)  

Please see information below for a YQCA face-to-face training coming up soon as outlined below.  Youth can also train online at http://yqca.org/ for cost of $12 per person.    

When: Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 6:30 pm

Cost: $5

Where: Oakland County Fairgrounds, Fair Office Community Room

12451 Andersonville Rd., Davisburg, MI 48350

How: Youth must register at:  https://events.anr.msu.edu/YQCA_June_12_2019_MSU/

Registration fees for YQCA Training Programs are non-refundable.

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on June 11, 2019.

There are 40 openings available.

Oakland County Fair July 5-14, 2019

https://www.oakfair.org/   FAIRBOOK Hard copies of the Fairbook are available for review at the Fair Office. You may also purchase a hardcopy of the Fairbook for $10. Supplies are limited. RECORDS, FORMS AND APPLICATIONS Record books, forms and applications are available on our website. Horse and Dog verification forms are located on the participate tab of the website. REGISTRATION/PAYMENT DEADLINES June 3 - date entries must be received in the Fair Office to avoid a late fee. June 4-8 - online entries received and accepted in the Fair Office with a $40.00 late fee. June 8 - last date entries will be received and accepted. June 17 - by 4:00 PM- last date payments will be accepted for all registrations. Postmarks will not be used to determine if your payment is on time. MEGA PASS AND GRANDSTAND ARENA PASS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE Mega Pass: $60.00 if purchased by July 1. $70.00 if purchased after July 1. Grandstand Pass: $40.00 per person, good for all Grandstand Shows, sale ends July 4th Parking Pass: $35 if purchased by June 8. $45 after June 8. IMPORTANT DATES June 29 - Exhibit Hall project check in, See Check In Schedule for Exceptions July 2 - Barn Set Up July 5 - Poultry Auction Birds check in July 6 & 7 - Livestock check in July 7- Rabbit check in July 9 - All other poultry check in LIVESTOCK Each exhibitor that sells at the 2019 Auction will be expected to work prior to the Fair on Fairground projects for 2 hours at scheduled work sessions. Work bee dates and times are: June 8: 10 am-2 pm June 9: 1pm-5 pm June 29: 10 am-2 pm June 30: 1 pm-5 pm All Market Auction Entries are now in Department 11.

4-H Exploration Days 50th Celebration

Join 4-H alumni, retirees and friends at an ice cream social celebrating 50 years of 4-H Exploration Days. Attendees of the event will have the opportunity to share stories of past 4-H Exploration Days, hear current 4-H experiences, enjoy the 4-H Children’s Gardens and celebrate with treats. Reservations are required, to learn more visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-exploration-days-50th-celebration.

2019 Michigan 4-H Mark of Excellence Award Winners

Author: Betty Jo Krosnicki
Every year, counties across Michigan offer 4-H youth, ages 11 and 12, the opportunity to participate in Michigan 4-H State Awards’ 4-H Mark of Excellence essay contest. The essay theme is “Because of 4-H, I can…” and the youth referred to a variety of memorable experiences in their time as 4-H’ers

As part of the contest, up to two 4-H youth essays from each country are selected to be recognized as award winners. In 2019, the following 37 4-H members from 26 counties were selected as the 2019 Mark of Excellence county winners.

Each recipient received a medal, and their winning essays were added to the Mark of Excellence history book at the Michigan 4-H Foundation and State 4-H Office at MSU Extension. The essays are also on display at the Kettunen Center in Tustin, Michigan. Congratulations to our winners!

• Alpena County: A’va Maria Mitchell
• Berrien County: Derrick J. Freehling and Isabelle Noel Hunn
• Cass County: Leah Shelby and Savannah Shelby
• Chippewa County: Jessy Baron
• Clare County: Haley Schunk and Allison Whitaker
• Clinton County: Natalie Bounds
• Genesee County: Elizabeth Hartmann
• Gratiot County: Brayden Bonga and Paisley Hansen
• Ionia County: Alyssa Possehn and Nicole Trierweiler
• Iosco County: Symphonie J. Nelkie
• Isabella County: James Endres and Eva Lynch
• Lapeer County:Arianna Wright
• Lenawee County: Holly Mitchell
• Livingston County: Yasmin Scheuneman and Karley Williams
• Macomb County:Shelby Philion
• Mecosta County: Jadyn Herzog
• Missaukee County: Chiara Z. Sible
• Monroe County:Brandon Fisher and Camden Schmidt
• Newaygo County: Aimee Jo Boisvert and Isabel R. Zimmer
• Oakland County: Mitchell Bessolo and Oscar Vartanian
• Saginaw County: Noah Hecht
• Sanilac County: Amelia Adamczyk and Maggie VanSickle
• St. Joseph County: Zachary Sowards Haack
• Van Buren County: Jack Loomis
• Washtenaw County: William Rogers
• Wayne County: Cooper Genaw

Explore Your Personal Wellness with 4-H Healthy U @ MSU

Are you interested in learning more about living a nutritious and healthy lifestyle by maintaining your physical and mental health? If the answer is yes,  join Michigan 4-H for a one day program at Michigan State University on August 2. Participants of the program will be provided information on nutrition, physical fitness and emotional health, with tips regarding how to maintain your health throughout the year. The event will be held on campus, with a check-in time at 9:30 a.m. and will last till 5:00 p.m. To attend this event, the cost is $35.00 for 4-H members and $50.00 for non 4-H members. The cost of the event includes meals, a t-shirt and camp materials. To learn more, visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/4_h_health_food_science_camp/ and make plans to register by July 12.

Great Neighbor Photo Contest

Tractor Supply Co. (TSC) is holding its yearly Great Neighbor Photo contest.

Until June 16, Michigan 4-H members and FFA youth have the opportunity to submit a memorable photo of 4-H or FFA projects.

The photo should illustrate how you have made a positive impact in your community. Include with the photo a brief caption explaining your photo submission in 200 words or less.

TSC will recognize three winners at each stop along their fair tour route as a way to highlight the differences that both 4-H and FFA make in their communities. Each winner will be presented with a plaque and a TSC gift pack.

To learn more about the contest, visit https://www.tractorsupply.com/landing-pages_events_fair-tour.

4-H Events and Workshops

June 1: 4-H Children’s Garden Geocache Event Plant and Soil Sciences Building, East Lansing

This event is for everyone interested in spending a day on a geocaching adventure. Bring a picnic lunch and come spend the day in the gardens.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-children-s-garden-geocache-event

June 8: 4-H Day at Michigan’s Adventure Michigan Adventures, Muskegon

Support 4-H and enjoy a day of fun with 4-H friends. Tickets are $26.00 per guest and includes use of both parks. Advanced purchase is required.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-day-at-michigan-s-adventure

June 11: Interviewing Success Online webinar

This webinar will help youth 13 years and older prepare for job, scholarship and award interviews. Topics include what to wear, how to answer tough questions and more.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/interviewing-success-june-11

June 14: MSU Tollgate Starry Night on the Farm Family Overnight 2019 Tollgate Farm and Education Center, Novi

This family-oriented visit will give you a rare glimpse into what goes on after sundown on the farm. Registration is required.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/msu-tollgate-starry-night-on-the-farm-family-overnight-2019

June 15: Archery Regional Training Livingston Conservation and Sports Association, Brighton

This training is open for adults and teens 14 years and older who would like to become certified instructors for the 4-H Shooting Sports program.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/archery-regional-training

June 22: State 4-H Goat Show MSU Pavilion, East Lansing

Kick off the show season and exhibit your goats at the 2019 Michigan State 4-H Goat Show. Registration is due by June 17.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/2019-michigan-state-4-h-goat-show

June 26: Floral Design Workshop Isabella County Building, Mount Pleasant

Learn tips and tricks to make your flowers extraordinary. Have fun while learning about flowers and use your creativity to design a flower arrangement like a pro. 

 https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/floral-design-workshop-isabella-county

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.