MARCH 4-H UPDATE 
Hello 4-H'ers!

March is a busy and exciting month, a close second to August for me! We are closing up the County Public Presentation events this weekend, Agricultural Literacy Week is March 19-23, and our DCTA's head off to Austria at the end of this month!

Help me share our love of agriculture in schools across the county by reading to a classroom, contact me to see the available classrooms across the county where you can read!

We have moved the 4-H Club Mailboxes- they are in the kitchen now!

As always, if you have any questions, email me at cmm473@cornell.edu!

-Cassie
4-H Fairbook Cover Contest!

            Click here for more information!
Entries are open for the Cover Contest!
CONTEST RULES
All entries must be on 8 1/2 x 11 white paper. Include the OFFICIAL 4-H CLOVER with no specific club name or leader references.

All entries must depict the range of 4-H projects in the County, including items in the Exhibit Hall as well as Agriculture.

Include your name, club, and age on the back.
     Be creative.
Agricultural Literacy Week!
New York Agriculture in the Classroom is coordinating the fourteenth annual New York Agricultural Literacy Week to be held from March 19-23, 2018. Over 1,200 community members around the state will be volunteering to read Before We Eat: From Farm to Table by Pat Brisson to elementary classrooms. 

Students will be taken on the journey from farm to table to understand different aspects of agriculture and the many possible careers involved. This is a captivating glimpse on what it takes to bring the food we eat to us in order to nourish our bodies and spirits. The vivid illustrations show the depth of industries and diversity that agriculture includes. Last year, approximately 45 volunteers read to over 2300 students across Dutchess County.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer reader, email cmm473@cornell.edu by 3/12!

We have close to 90 classrooms across the County to read to!
Orange County Livestock Knowledge Day
SAVE THE DATE : 4/21/18.

Join Orange County 4-H'ers in a knowledge focused day of livestock bowls and other projects! Registration closes 4/9. Contact Cassie for more information.
STARR- STATE TEEN ACTION REPS RETREAT
The State Teen Action Representative Retreat (STARR) is a three-day, fun-filled event where 4-H members participate in a variety of workshops and activities meant to challenge, excite and further develop life skills. The event is planned by teens and adults serving on the youth/adult STARR planning committee and is held at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY.

For more information ->https://nys4-h.org/starr

Registration form and payment due to Cassie by 3/16.
Equine and Dairy 101
May 11/12. This one-night two-day 4-H Dairy & Equine Camp will be held at Morrisville State College. 4-H youth ages 13-19 years of age are eligible to participate in this camp/college experience. Participants choose to participate in either the dairy or equine tract. All sessions will be taught by Morrisville State College faculty and other professionals in the industries.

The cost for the program is $100 per 4-H participant ($75 per chaperone). For more information on this awesome program or to register, call Jennifer Collins at the Herkimer County 4-H office at 315-866-7920. Registration is also available online at  https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/2018EquineAndDairy101-2-
Forestry Weekend
Join youth from across the state for a weekend of forestry activities, games, and competition. This three-day event is for youth aged 10 and up (as well as staff and volunteers) interested in learning more about forests, and to select the NYS team that will go to the 2018 National 4-H Forestry Invitational (must be 14-19 for the national event).

For more information click here.
Thinking of selling in the Livestock Sale?
All 4-H'ers considering selling their animals in the Sale need to submit their Seller's Agreement by 4/1/18.

Review and sign the 4-H Seller's Agreement.
Opportunities for 4-H'ers
 If you are interested in attending any 4-H event, please keep in mind there are often local and state scholarships available!  Submit the  General Event Scholarship Application application with your event registration!

4-H EQUINE EXTRAVAGANZA
Saturday, April 7th 2018. 9:00am through 3:00pm. Equine Center at SUNY Cobleskill
Come join SUNY Cobleskill Faculty and Students for a fun filled day of learning about Equine Science!
Educational topics include: Nutrition, Tack & Saddle Fitting, Horse Judging, Horse Management, Farrier Care, and more! This event also includes a tract for Cloverbuds! Registration is $15 per youth and $10 per adult (includes a t-shirt) Open to enrolled 4-H youth ages 5-19 and adult chaperones. Lunch is not provided, dining options are available on and off campus for lunch . For more information and registration materials contact: Kyle Yacobucci at ky292@cornell.edu or Teresa Adel at tla47@cornell.edu. Registration is due Friday, March 16th

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Dutchess Outreach Farm Stand - volunteers needed to assist us with set up, distributing free, fresh produce and clean up! Farm stand operation time: 2:30-4:30 Contact: Nyhisha T. Gibbs, Dutchess Outreach, Inc. Volunteer Administrator. 845.454.3792

GIRLS WHO CODE
The Summer Immersion Programs are FREE 7-week summer programs for 10th–11th grade girls (rising juniors and seniors) to learn the computer science skills needed to make an impact in their community and be competitive in the job market of the future! No computer science experience is needed.
  • In the Summer Immersion Program, students will learn about:Jobs—They'll meet female engineers and role models and get an inside look at technical roles in the world’s top companies, like AT&T, Twitter, and Amazon.
  • Skills and Impact—They’ll learn to code through real-world projects in art and storytelling, robotics, video games, websites, apps, and more—plus, they’ll create a final project that solves a real-world problem they care about!
  • Sisterhood—They’ll learn in a supportive, girls-only environment and make lifelong friendships!
Apply today at  www.girlswhocode.com/sipapply . The early acceptance deadline is February 16, 2018 at 11:59 PM PST, so don’t let the girls in your city miss out on this amazing opportunity! All applications are due March 16, 2018 at 11:59 PM PST.

Calling All Young Writers!
Become a part of the Millbrook Literary Festival’s 10th anniversary celebration on May 19, 2018 by submitting an original POEM to this year’s competition. All writers will have their work included in the Young Writers Showcase 2018 publication.
Guidelines for Entering:
The Showcase is open to students between 8 and 18 years of age. Three gift cards to Merritt Bookstore will be awarded in each age group: 8 - 12 and 13 - 18 First prize winners will receive a $20 gift card Two Runners up will each receive a $10 gift card Finalists will be announced on May 1st.
Finalists must read their poem at the festival on May 19 to be eligible for a prize.

  • One entry per student
  • Each entry must be typed and no longer than 20 lines
  • Entry must include the student’s name, age/grade, school, and telephone number
  • By submitting your entry, you are giving permission for your work to be published.**

Write on a subject of your choice. Your entry can be something already written during this school year, or something written especially for the Showcase. Entries must be typed and submitted electronically to fountainpress1@yahoo.com.
Deadline for entries is April 15, 2018
For more information about the festival go to www.millbrookliteraryfestival.org

4-H STEM CAMP - June 15-17
The NYS 4-H STEM Camp at 4-H Camp Shankitunk in Delaware County is open for registrations for youth ages 10 and older. Three new course offerings! $75/person. Online and paper registration along with more detailed information is just a click away ..
CCEDC Wi-Fi Information
 If you are in the building for a meeting and need the Wi-Fi, please use the following:

CCEDC_PublicWifi or CCEDC_PublicWifi 5G

Password for both is: publicwifi
1- Tractor Safety Session # 3
10 - Last Day for new 4-H Members to join and be eligible to exhibit at the 2018 Fair!
10 - County Level Public Presentation Event (#3); 9-1 @ CCEDC
8 - Tractor Safety Session # 4
10 - District Dairy Bowl
10 - Rabbit and Cavy Teaching Day; 12-4
10 – Tractor Safety Session # 5
15 - Tractor Safety Session # 6
17 - Tractor Safety Session # 7
17 - March Dog Madness
19-23 - Agricultural Literacy Week - Volunteer to read!
30-31 - Dairy Discovery @ Cornell
7- Regional Horse Communications @ CCEDC
7-12- National 4-H Conference, Chevy Chase, MD.
13-15- STARR (State Teen Action Rep Retreat), State Fairgrounds, Syracuse
17- Mandatory Livestock Sale Meeting (Option 1)
19- Sewing Evaluations @ CCEDC
21- District Livestock Skillathon–Orange County
21- State Dairy Bowl, Cornell
26- Fashion Revue @ CCEDC
28- District Level Public Presentations
And Finally ......
Don't forget- all 4-H club meeting minutes, advisory minutes, and independent member reports are due by the 10th of the following month.  And please, send photos and be sure to let me know what awesome things your club is up to!
Contact Cassie Messina
(845) 677-8223, ext. 108