Ventura County 4-H

Clover Lines

March 18, 2020

Letter from Statewide 4-H Director

Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty

Dear California 4-H members, families and volunteers,

I hope this post finds you well and managing the new realities of life amid COVID-19. Please know the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program is working at the state and local level to provide you with resources to support your health, well-being, and ongoing learning and development.

To ensure 4-H members successfully complete their goals and objectives for the 4-H year, 4-H academic and program staff have begun collecting educational resources to support project leaders in the continuation of member learning opportunities. Families and members can expect to be connected to virtual and self-directed resources for completing 4-H projects shortly. I have also been in contact with CDFA to ensure we will be notified of any changes relative to the up-coming fair season.

Presently, all in-person 4-H activities are either cancelled, postponed, or being moved to a virtual platform until April 7. This applies to all 4-H audiences (youth and adults) in all delivery modes (clubs, SPIN, in-school, after-school and camp). As we are living in a very fluid environment right now, please connect with your local University of California Cooperative Extension Office for the most up to date information about local event status, and the California State 4-H website: http://4h.ucanr.edu/index.cfm for up to date information about state supported 4-H events and related activities.

Lastly, please keep in mind these everyday preventative actions to minimize the risk of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

• Practice social distancing if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.

• Older people and people with severe chronic conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness. CDPH further recommends that individuals over 65

years of age, those who have serious chronic medical conditions, or those who have compromised immune systems stay at home and self-isolate .

• CDC does not currently recommend the use of facemasks or respirators by the general public to help prevent COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Link here for additional actions you can take to protect you and your family.

Wishing you all health and wellness,

Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty

Statewide 4-H Director

University of California, Agriculture & Natural Resources

4-H Youth Development Program

California State 4-H Office

2801 Second Street

Davis, CA 95618-7774

(530) 750-1334 | Fax (530) 756-1148

lschmittmcquitty@ucanr.edu

http://4h.ucanr.edu

HAREC Closed & In-Person Meetings Cancelled

Notice from our County Director Annemiek Schilder

To reduce risk of COVID-19 virus spread, the UCCE Ventura County Office and Hansen Agricultural REC will be closed from March 18 through April 7, 2020 in accordance with UC guidelines. UC Academics and Staff will continue to work remotely during normal business hours, while critical on-site staff activities, such as maintenance of research trials, will continue on a reduced schedule.

All UC ANR-hosted meetings, events and gatherings of any size will be cancelled, conducted via Zoom or postponed. This includes all in-person programming, meetings and gatherings, whether led by UC ANR employees or volunteers (e.g., 4-H club or project meetings, Master Gardener workshops, Hansen Education Programs, etc.).

Please check for updates on http://ceventura.ucanr.edu and http://harec.ucanr.edu/

Thanks for your understanding and stay well!



Annemiek Schilder

Director UCCE Ventura/HAREC

No Plans to Cancel or Postpone Fair

Letter from Barbara McQuaid, VC Fair CEO

and Kim Leach, VC Fair Exhibit Supervisor

This is a confusing time with the overload of information on COVID-19 and directives being issued from the Governor's office regarding events, and we wanted to let you know at the present time there are no plans to cancel or reschedule the 2020 Ventura County Fair, August 5-16, 2020.

 

We know many of you are trying to decide whether or not to purchase an animal for the Fair - that is a decision that must be made between you and your child.

 

Online entries will open on Friday, March 20th for all market animals.  Entries close on Friday, April 10th for market steers/heifers and on Friday, June 5th for market goats/lambs/swine/meat pens.

 

Beef DNA Kits are due Friday, April 10th by 5 pm and Goat/Lamb/Swine DNA Kits will be available beginning April 20th.

 

It is difficult to give definitive answers at this time but we will do our best to answer questions. With an email question we can reply to everyone that may need the same answer.

 

Stay well and healthy.

 

Best regards,

 

Barbara Quaid, CEO                            

Kim Leach, Exhibit Supervisor

Primaries Field Day: Postponed

Letter from Ashley Pyler, Loma Vista 4-H

Good Evening Ventura County 4-H Families:

Thank you all for registering for Ventura County 4-H Primaries Field Day (originally scheduled for this Saturday, March 21st). My name is Ashley Pyler, and I a member of the Loma Vista 4-H Club of Ventura. I am responsible for coordinating Primaries Field Day since it is my 4-H Emerald Star Project. Due to the recent COVID-19 Outbreak, the State 4-H Program has ordered 4-H Counties to suspend all programs and activities until further notice in order to ensure the safety and well-being of all youth, parents, volunteers, and staff members. Since everyone’s health must be the #1 Priority, I had to make the difficult decision to indefinitely postpone Primaries Field Day. Please note that this event is postponed; not cancelled. It is currently unknown when I will be able to reschedule Primaries Field Day due to the current situation, but I will do so as soon as it is deemed safe enough. I still remain hopeful that I will be able to reschedule this event before the end of the 4-H Program Year, but I won’t know if I am able to for quite some time. As soon as Primaries Field Day is rescheduled, I will immediately contact all of you to inform you of the new date. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns, as I am always more than happy to answer any questions. Thank you in advance for your patience and for your kind understanding, and I wish everyone safety and all the best during this challenging situation.

Sincerely,

Ashley Pyler

Loma Vista 4-H Club

Emerald Star Candidate

ashley.pyler@icloud.com

(805) 775-6768

4-H Events Calendar

Ventura County 4-H Google Calendar

Sat. 3/21 Primaries Field Day (POSTPONED - see article)

Wed 3/25 Ventura County 4-H Management Board Meeting , 7pm via Zoom

4-H Food Faire New online format will be announced soon.

Fashion Revue New online format will be announced soon.

Presentation Day: New online format will be announced soon.

Sat 5/2 Southern Area Field Day at Mt. SAC CANCELLED

Sat 5/16 Small & Large Animal Field Day at HAREC

Mon. 5/25 Memorial Day - 4-H office closed

Sat 5/30 California State 4-H Field Day at UC Davis

6/14-6/20 4-H Summer Camp at Camp Seeley in Crestline, CA

June 20 Happy SUMMER SOLSTICE!

6/22-6/26 Sustainable You! Summer Camp, 9am-12pm at HAREC

6/19-6/23 California Focus Sacramento, CA

Wed 6/24 Ventura County 4-H Management Board Meeting and Scholarship Awards Presentation, 7pm at HAREC

7/17-7/19 Horse Fair at Ventura County Fair

7/23-7/26 State Leadership Conference @ UC Davis

8/5-8/16 Ventura County Fair

HAREC - 287 S. Briggs Rd., Santa Paula

UCCE - 669 County Square Dr., Ventura

CASH PRIZES

AND FAIR TICKETS

Winners receive cash prizes!

Each child who enters will receive 2 Fair admission tickets.

(Fair Dates: August 5-16, 2020)

Open to Ventura County youth grades 5-12

Deadline to enter is Friday, April 3

For more information call (805) 648-3376

California 4-H State Field Day

May 30, 2020 8 am - 6 pm

UC Davis

The California 4-H State Field Day is the largest educational event for California 4-H youth members and adult 4-H volunteers. The event is intended to provide a culminating experience in public speaking, textiles, plant sciences, photography, interview skills, and entomology. This family-friendly event is for all ages to participate.

Save the Date and Sign Up to Help!

State Field Day contests are planned and implemented by 4-H volunteers. This year, we could use more help! The following committees need adult and youth volunteers:

Please contact Steven Worker at  4hsfd@ucanr.edu   to help make these contests happen at State Field Day!

State Presentation Day Impromptu Topics

Categories for impromptu presentations are available so the presenter is expected to have completed basic research. Presenters are allowed one 5" x 7" note card (single sided) to reference during the delivery of the impromptu speech. More information is available in the  4-H Presentation Manual.  At State 4-H Presentation Day, participation in Impromptu Speeches is limited to Intermediate and Senior 4-H members.

State Fashion Revue

20/20 Fashion...What's your vision?

State Fashion Revue (SFR) is one of the activities during State Field Day, open to members from all counties in California. This is the 15th annual SFR brought to you by a dedicated committee of youth members and adult volunteer leaders.

Enter your County Fashion Revue to qualify (Ventura County will host our Fashion Revue at HAREC on April 18. Details coming soon!)

Members qualify for SFR at their County Fashion Revue or equivalent event in their home counties. Each county may qualify one member in each of the age groups in each category. The age groups are Junior, Intermediate, and Senior. Primary members may enter at the county level but do not advance to the state event.

Categories

For 2020, there are two categories open to all 4-H members:

Three categories are open to only sewing project members:

See the  SFR event page (click button below)  for category descriptions and entry information.

Save the date:

4-H State Leadership Conference

July 23 - 26, 2020

UC Davis

Read about last year's SLC on our 4-H blog.

VENTURA COUNTY FAIR NEWS

DNA Kit Requirements

New for 2020, DNA kits will need to be purchased and turned in for the following:

Market Steers, Miniature Market Steers and Market Heifers

Market Goats, Market Lambs and Market Swine

 

Buy your DNA Kits for $5 each at the Fair Administration Office Monday-Friday 9am - 4pm. Return completed DNA Kits to the Fair Administration Office Monday-Friday, 8am - 5pm (closed 12pm - 1pm).

 

Items due with DNA Kits :

 

Online Entries open on Friday, March 20, 2020 for all market entries.

Entry Deadlines:

Market Steers, Miniature Market Steers and Market Heifers: Fri, April 10, 2020 by 11:59pm.

Market Goats, Market Lambs, Market Swine: Friday, June 5, 2020 by 11:59pm.

Market Meat Pens: Friday, June 5, 20202 by 11:59 pm.  

Paperwork, found on the Livestock page of the Ventura County Fair website , is due at coop-in. Please do not wait until the last minute to enter.

If you have any questions please contact Kim Leach via email at  kleach@venturacountyfair.org  or by phone at 805-648-3376 ext. 105.

It is the policy of the University of California (UC) and the UC Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person in any of its programs or activities Inquiries regarding ANR’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to UCANR, Affirmative Action Compliance & Title IX Officer, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2801 Second Street, Davis, CA 95618, (530) 750-1397. Complete nondiscrimination policy statement can be found at http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/215244.pdf