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Thank you for the most challenging, inspiring and motivational three years of my professional career. It's hard to believe that three years have gone by. I have enjoyed working with you and getting to know many of you personally.
For those of you who have been a part of the curriculum committees and the Educational Design Team, I want to especially thank you for your hard work, commitment and dedication to Virginia 4-H. Without you, the VA 4-H program would not be viewed as a national leader.
I also want to thank those on the state 4-H staff. I have certainly learned a lot from you and have enjoyed working with each and every one of you. Best of luck to you as you begin working with your new leader.
Last but not least, I wish to thank the specialist staff that have given their hearts, souls and writing skills over to Virginia 4-H. You are the best group of specialists I have worked with and I certainly appreciate you. You made my job easy because you produced quality! Many times you are taken for granted and I just want to express how much I have appreciated your dedication and devotion to the 4-H program.
I wish the best for each of you as you continue the good work that you do for the youth of this state. It has truly been a pleasure working with each and every one of you.
(Beth Atkins)
(Beth Adkins, Extension Specialist 4-H, resigned from the Virginia 4-H Dept as of May 14, to accept a position with Alabama Extension Administration, Auburn University)
Identify Teens for Training at 4-H Congress
In preparation for this program, teens and volunteers will receive training at State 4-H Congress as part of the Service Learning tracks on Tuesday, June 20. You are encouraged to identity at least one (preferably two) teens to receive this training. The teens will in turn become leaders for your unit's effort during National 4-H Week.
In the next few weeks, you should be receiving from Dorothy Freeman additional information on all the Service Learning opportunities at Congress. A service learning registration form will be included. Please place the name(s) of your "Big Tree" teen leader on that form.
We are grateful for the outstanding leadership Dr. Jeff Kirwan, Extension Specialist in Forestry, is providing to this training and the overall
effort with its implementation during National 4-H week.
(John Dooley)
This is a field study program in coastal marsh and marine ecology. Participants will conduct investigative activities in water chemistry, wetland plant and aquatic insect identification, bird and reptile observation, marsh and dune ecology, ocean beach dynamics and other facets of coastal ecology.
Participants must be 14 years of age or older. The first twenty registrants will stay at the Washwoods Environmental Center. Registration includes lodging and meals. We will cook meals community style. Participants must bring their own bedding and drinking water.
This will be a physically demanding program. Participants will walk long distances carrying field gear and their own drinking water. Temperatures may be high and insects may be a problem. In spite of this, False Cape offers an exciting venue for natural history. See attachment for more details.
(Barry Fox)
For teachers, day care providers, and youth program volunteers. Provided by a network of educators from Virginia cooperative Extension/4-H, Virginia Department of Forestry and several area schools. Curricula will include Project WILD, Project WET, Project Learning Tree, Project Underground and WILD sites. Natural History Program and a special session for Preschool Educators will also be provided.
For more information on flexible a la carte registration see the attached form or contact Kris Jarvis, 804-817-0713 or email kjarvis@vt.edu
(Kris Jarvis)
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is hosting an event to highlight the Commonwealth's wildlife. This event is being coordinated by the Wildlife Diversity Division which includes the Department's Non-game and Endangered Species Section, the Fish and Wildlife Information Section, the Permits Section and the Environmental Services Section.
On June 24-25, 2000, we will be hosting the first Wild for Wildlife Days in an effort to highlight watchable wildlife activities. There will be classes on birds, backyard habitat, amphibians and reptiles, wildlifing by ear, butterflies, and endangered species, dealing with injured wildlife, mammals, nuisance wildlife, and nighttime critters. These classes are designed to provide a brief overview and introduction to Virginia's wildlife. Classes will be held predominantly outside and be as interactive as possible. Many classes will include nature walks, live animals, mounts, and handouts.
The event will be held at the Northern Virginia 4-H Education and Conference Center in Front Royal, VA. The cost is $25/adults, $10/children 10 and under, $50/family which will cover admission for the entire weekend. Children under 3 are free. Everyone who attends will get a prize to take home. There is a discount if you register prior to June 12.
More information will be available on the web page
www.dgif.state.va.us/events soon.
(Deb Jones)
Thanks to a recent donation from the Virginia Forestry Educational Foundation (VFEF) we can now award the 87-page tree identification book, Forest Trees of Virginia, to students enrolled in a school 4-H forestry project. The student must have demonstrated he/she has learned to identify 10 trees in order to earn the award. Guidelines for conducting a tree identification contest can be found in the School 4-H Activity Guide, Publication 388-802. The contest can be done; "on the stump"; (see Forestry Lesson # 2) or as a "paper quiz (see Lesson 3,)"
Tree identification directly relates to SOL 4.8- understanding Virginia's natural resources, and SOL 5.1- using a classification key
To receive books: e-mail me with the name of the school, the name of the classroom teacher and the number of books needed. I will then contact the Distribution Center and ask that the books be forwarded to you.
Other forestry awards are intended primarily for 4-H judging team members:
Contact me for more information,
or visit the EENR web site http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/eenr.html
(Jeff Kirwan)
June 4, 2000 from 2:00p.m.- 5:00p.m.
The 3rd annual Open House allows families and campers, as well as interested persons, to visit and tour the center. There are many traditional camp activities, exhibits, tours, and other programs. All staff and families are invited to this event. Please no pets. Come for the day and learn about our programs and changes here at the Jamestown 4-H Center.
(Gretchen Gochenour)
Summer Camp Registration is OPEN
The Jamestown 4-H Educational Center has the following summer opportunities open to youth. Registration is now open for all interested youth. These programs promise to be fun, exciting and educational. The Jamestown 4-H Educational Center is an American Camping Association Accredited Camp assuring quality and safety for all participants. These programs promise to challenge, educate and entertain. To sign up or receive more information please call our office at (757)253-4931. email: ggocheno@vt.edu
Teen Adventure Trips
Younger Campers
Registration fills fast for these great summer opportunities. There are group packages available and pricing benefits for those who sign-up early by June 5, 2000. For more information please call, Gretchen Gochenour at the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center at (757)253-4931 email: ggocheno@vt.edu
(Gretchen Gochenour)
A 4-H Archery Certification Workshop will be held the weekend of June 3-4, 2000 at Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Center. The class will start at 2:00 p.m. on Sat., June 3 and conclude at 3:00 p.m. on Sun., June 4. Cost for the workshop (including 3 meals and lodging) will be $27.00.
To register, please contact Barry Garst at Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Center. Marvin Heimbach will be instructor.
(Richard Pulliam)
September 23, 2000
Always an exciting competition held during the State Fair of Virginia. Registration is due by August 21, 2000
General Rules and regulations can be found on the 4-H website at http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/contests/dogs.html
Saturday, June 24 at Virginia Tech.
Be sure to mark your calendars. An unlimited number of teams are allowed to participate. Members must be enrolled in a livestock project in the unit they represent to participate.
Contest details will be distributed in early May.
(Mark Wahlberg)
One of the many educational opportunities at the Virginia Beef Expo was the Youth and Adult Stockman's Contest. The contest was conducted on Saturday, April 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon with contestants completing the classes in approximately a half hour in a self-serve fashion. Classes included cattle breed, equipment, and feed identification, beef retail cut identification, a steak judging class, a steer judging class, a bull performance class and a quiz about the beef industry. The contest was divided into junior, senior, and adult divisions.
In the 9 to 13 years of age division, Ben Roudabush, a 4-H member from Patrick County took top honors. Kathryn Taylor from Amelia 4-H placed second, while Ashley Roberts of Montgomery 4-H took third place. Colleen Buckley of Fauquier 4-H and Laura Sutphin from Pulaski 4-H rounded out the top five positions. In the junior team competition, Patrick County 4-H won the top team award. Fauquier 4-H, Washington 4-H, and Amelia 4-H placed second, third, and fourth, respectively.
In the senior, 14 to 19 year old, division, Seth Buckley on the Clarke-Frederick combination team took home the high individual award. In second place was Jason Pratt of Washington 4-H and Kelly McKinnon from Montgomery 4-H placed third. Completing the top five were Steward Boyd of Clarke-Frederick 4-H, fourth and Kathy Sponaugle from Highland FFA, fifth. The Clarke-Frederick 4-H team took top team honors while Highland FFA was second. Washington 4-H and Fauquier 4-H were third and fourth.
Tim Sutphin of Pulaski County was the high adult contestant and had the highest point total in the contest across all divisions. Rachael Covington and Regina Talley placed second and third, respectively.
(Bill R. McKinnon)
Nine teams of 4-H and FFA members competed in the state championships of the Youth Cattle Working Contest at the Virginia Beef Expo. The year 2000 marked the first time that three regional competitions led up to the state championship at the Beef Expo on April 15 in Lexington. Nineteen local teams had competed in the regional contests held in Madison, Harrisonburg, and Dublin.
The Carroll County 4-H/FFA team won the contest. Winning team members included Randy Nester, Todd Griffin, and Richard Webb. Jim Osborne, extension agent and Phil McCroskey, student teacher at Carroll County High School coached the winning team. More details of the contest are attached.
(Bill R. McKinnon)
Three I.F.Y.E.'s will be assigned to Virginia this year.
A boy from Costa Rica, age 19, who is a topography/civil engineering student. Grew up on a farm with grains, beans, and heart of palm. Enjoys music, dancing, chess, and computers.
A girl from Norway, age 20, who is interested in the travel & tourism industry. Grew up on a 118-acre farm with grains. Enjoys volleyball, nutrition, music and travel. Wants to learn about American Indians and visit the beach.
A lady from Taiwan, age 32. She is a 4-H advisor and wants to learn more about youth education and development. She is interested in organic agriculture, classical music, reading and riding bikes.
If you have any interested host families, please contact
Host families will be asked to keep the delegate for 2 - 3 weeks. Arrival in Virginia is July 1 with the Costa Rican & Norwegian delegates departing Sept 9, while the Taiwanese lady will depart August 3.
The I.F.Y.E. Program is a wonderful way to "bring home the world" without having to travel too far!
(Carol Nansel)
Expo Cattle Working Contest Results
Nine teams of 4-H and FFA members competed in the state championships of the Youth Cattle Working Contest at the Virginia Beef Expo. The year 2000 marked the first time that three regional competitions led up to the state championship at the Beef Expo on April 15 in Lexington. Nineteen local teams had competed in the regional contests held in Madison, Harrisonburg, and Dublin.
The Carroll County 4-H/FFA team won the contest. Winning team members included Randy Nester, Todd Griffin, and Richard Webb. The winning team was coached by Jim Osborne, extension agent and Phil McCroskey, student teacher at Carroll County High School. Two teams from Grayson County 4-H/FFA had identical point totals in a tie for second place. The tie was being broken on the cattle processing plan completed by the teams with the "A" team taking second and the "B" team placing third. Team members from several of the counties are involved in both FFA and 4-H and train together and hence, use the "4-H/FFA" team designation.
The fourth place team was from Madison 4-H while the Tazewell 4-H/FFA "A" team placed fifth. Other teams that won the right to compete to the state championship were Orange 4-H, Spottswood FFA and two additional teams from Tazwell 4-H/FFA
Each three-member team was required to process three head of stocker weight cattle. Products administered to the cattle included a Ralgro implant, Safeguard drench dewormer, two Double Barrel fly tags, a 20/20 Vision with Spur vaccination, and a Bovi Shield 4 vaccination. Before the cattle were processed, team members completed a cattle processing map which required members to interpret product label information. Completion of the processing map accounted for 20% of the possible score. Teams were also judged on the manner in which they handled the cattle and products. The time taken to process the cattle accounted for 10% of the possible score. Preparation for the contest requires team members to learn about cattle handling, implants, vaccine preparation and administration along with a health dose of beef quality assurance.
Dr Allen Strecker, local veterinarian, Rodney Leech, extension agent, and Scott Buchanan, Virginia Tech Animal and Poultry Science student served as contest judges.
Contest sponsors included Pfizer Animal Health, Intervet, Bayer Animal Health, Schering Plough, and Cowco handling equipment. Perry Huffman and Charlie Potter of Rockbridge County provided the cattle for the contest. Fort Dodge, Tucker Livestock, Wayne Shifflett, and Andy Cullip also provided support to the three regional contests.
(Bill R. McKinnon)
