September 2019 California 4-H Monthly Newsletter

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Register for the Volunteer Retreat e4: The Volunteer Retreat November 8-10, 2019 Asilomar Hotel & Conference Grounds Pacific Grove, CA  Registration is only $97* We invite all volunteers who work with youth to attend this conference focused on developing stronger youth development skills. Workshops are geared towards EMPOWERING you with new ideas and skills to take back to your clubs and projects.

‌ Visit our website Book your Lodging and Registration by October 31

* For those who utilize the Asilomar lodging and meal plan only. Other rates available on website

Tractor Supply Paper Clover October 9 - 20, 2019 Check out the new resources to support the Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign on our new  Brand Toolkit ! Funds raised go toward 4-H camp and leadership opportunities for youth, including the  State Leadership Conference .

NEW California 4-H Treasurer’s Training This course is designed to walk 4-H Club Treasurers through their important role. It is meant to serve as a complimentary resource to any face-to-face training for 4-H Treasurers.  The course and its unique enrollment keys (different from the required training enrollment keys) can be accessed directly by youth members and volunteers  here

National Youth Science Day Game Changers The 4-H National Youth Science Day is an annual initiative inspiring kids everywhere to take an active interest in STEM topics through hands-on learning. It is celebrated starting October 1 and will continue to take place in classrooms, clubs, homes, and after school spaces throughout October. This year's Challenge, Game Changers, was developed by Google and the West Virginia University Extension. The kit teaches kids how to use computer science to create games, solve problems, and engage with topics they care passionately about. BUY KITS

Promote your event Help spread the word about your National Youth Science Day event by using the resources in our  NYSD Toolkit   . We will be posting a link to share your event. All events entered will show up on the map. Check our  Event page   for the link and the guides for youth and facilitators to do the event.

If you have backyard livestock or poultry or are a small-scale producer of livestock or poultry, this survey is for you. This questionnaire asks about the specific practices and perceptions that you apply to your animals’ health, husbandry, and antimicrobial use. It is being conducted for research and outreach purposes in order to find better ways to serve people and communities with backyard and small-scale livestock or poultry. Conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension and the School of Veterinary Medicine and funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, this survey will take about 20 minutes to complete. Provided information will be kept strictly confidential. We will not connect your name with your responses.  Originally created as part of the Healthy Animals, Healthy People workshop series in California, the survey is now open to all owners and small-scale producers of livestock and poultry in California regardless of workshop attendance. We would appreciate your time and participation in this survey by October 15

National 4-H Week October 6 - 12, 2019 Get ready for National 4-H Week! Promote your events and activities using the National 4-H Week toolkit. National 4-H Week toolkit

Upcoming 4-H Program Events

Washington Focus 2020 Important Dates for the 2020 trips

Registration for the 2020 Washington Focus trips will begin on October 15, 2019.

CITIZENSHIP WASHINGTON FOCUS   (AGES 15-19*) Citizenship Washington Focus  (Conference Only)** June 25-July 4, 2020 Citizenship Washington Focus (Conference + Extended Trip) ** June 25-July 7, 2020 Hosted at the National 4-H Center near Washington, D.C, Citizenship Washington Focus gives youth the opportunity to explore, develop, and refine the civic engagement skills they need in order to become outstanding leaders. The extended trip includes more educational opportunities in Gettysburg, PA, Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD.  * Delegates must be at least 15 years of age by time of travel. **This trip will begin at the California 4-H State Office in Davis, CA. LEADERSHIP WASHINGTON FOCUS   (AGES 12-14*) July 26-July 31, 2020 Hosted at the National 4-H Center near Washington, D.C, Leadership Washington Focus is a 5-day trip is packed with educational adventure as participants tour our nation’s Capital and learn life-changing leadership skills in a conference setting. The program will take place at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center, just one mile from the Washington, D.C. border.   * Delegates must be at least 12 years of age by time of travel.

National Youth Summit Series - Registrations now Open National 4-H Conference Center brings together inspired 9-12th graders for our National Youth Summits, where they'll participate in STEM, Agri-Science, Healthy Living, or Photography progams! STEM Summit (formerly Maker) - October 24-27, 2019 Agri-Science - January 9-12, 2020 Healthy Living - February 13-16, 2020 Photography - February 26 - March 1, 2020 Learn More

California 4-H Youth Summits - Registration Now! Ripples of Today, Waves of Tomorrow! The California 4-H Youth Summits are three-day leadership development conferences hosted in four locations across the state. Youth summit programs are designed to grow the leadership abilities of intermediate 4-H members (ages 11-13). The summits are planned by a team of senior 4-H members (ages 14+) overseen by the California 4-H Management Board. Register Now!

Northern - Nov. 15-17 Sly Park, Pollock Pines Bay/Coast - Jan. 10-12 Walker Creek Ranch, Petaluma Southern - Jan. 17-19 Pathfinder Ranch, Mountain Center Central - Jan. 24-26 Wonder Valley Ranch, Sanger

National 4-H Conference

March 28-April 4, 2020 Application Deadline is November 5, 2019

The National 4-H Conference is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture's premier youth development opportunity to engage youth in developing recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program.  This event brings together youth, volunteer leaders, and state and county extension staff members from across the United States, the U.S. territories, and the Canadian provinces.

A Working Conference Youth and adults develop recommendations to help guide 4-H Youth Development Programs nationally and in their communities.  Apply for the National 4-H Conference

Sponsored by the National 4-H Headquarters As the sponsor for this conference, the National 4-H Headquarters is charged with sharing the recommendations that emerge from the conference with the Secretary of Agriculture, national extension program leaders, and others who determine 4-H programs. At the same time, the National 4-H Headquarters ensures that the conference is a meaningful experience for youth and adult participants.

The California 4-H Delegation’s expenses for the conference are fully funded through the Thomas and Dorothy Levey foundation and various other donors.

Mindfulness Retreat November 1-3, 2019 Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria Take a “time-in” with us at the UC 4-H Mindfulness Retreat in Cambria, CA. Teens 13-19 and adults are invited to spend the weekend at beautiful Camp Ocean Pines developing their health and well-being. Participants will not only increase their personal skills in leading a healthy lifestyle, but will also gain skills needed to be a health advocate in their communities.

The retreat will focus on stress management, relationship building, nutrition, and a general understanding of mindfulness. REGISTER by October 1

Highlights from 2019 National 4-H Western Heritage National Conference

Article Submitted by Thomas Aquino, Texas A & M Intern and Santa Clara County 4-H Alum The National 4-H Western Heritage Conference and Invitational Match was held for the first time ever in California July 30 – August 1, 2019. California hosted about 100 4-H youth, parents, and volunteers from seven states at River Oaks Range in Winton, CA. The Western Heritage project is aimed at educating youth not only in firearms safety, but also engaging them in living history and public speaking. Participation in the project requires members to learn the safe handling of firearms through shooting a variety of cowboy action style stages for time, as well as learning about U.S. history from 1860-1900. They must also develop and present a 3-5 minute “Persona” where they dress in period appropriated clothing and demonstrate their historical knowledge to a panel of judges.

Event attendees were also able to attend a variety of “historical demonstrations” in which they learned about the lifestyle and work of those who lived on the frontier through a hands-on approach. Some of these demonstrations included: leather working, lead casting, historical clothing and a frontier style sutler’s tent, where participants could purchase a variety of frontier goods. Shooting demonstrations were also included, where members had the opportunity to shoot original firearms. Some of these guns included the “Quigley” Sharps, an 1873 Springfield trapdoor as well as a variety of muzzle-loading revolvers and even a civil war era cannon!

In addition to historical events, participants ate a variety of foods that highlighted California’s rich agriculture industry and some even went to Yosemite, and Monterey. Of all of the activities however, the biggest crowd pleaser was the Tuesday night concert with cowboy entertainer Dave Stamey. The success of this event would not have been possible without the help of our 4-H volunteers, sponsors, and participants.   If you would like to see more of the activities that took place at this year's conference, visit the California 4-H Shooting Sports Facebook page

Learn More visit the Western Heritage Project

Scholarships and Awards

Diamond Clover Awards

The California Diamond Clover is the highest achievement for which a 4-H youth member and young adult volunteers are recognized.  All youth members and young adult volunteer who achieve the requirements are eligible to receive this award.  This year we presented three Diamond Clover Awards at SLC: Dustin Geringer Katherine Shannon Alyssa Hurtado  Applications are accepted year-round. Applications are reviewed by the 4-H Incentives and Recognition Advisory Committee and awarded quarterly. Learn more.

Youth in Action Award The 4‑H Youth in Action Program recognizes four confident young leaders in our core pillar areas: agriculture, civic engagement, healthy living and STEM. Each Pillar Winner will experience an exciting year of telling their 4‑H story and celebrating their leadership. Winners receive: $5,000 higher education scholarship Promotional video showcasing their 4‑H impact story All-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. for National 4‑H Council’s Legacy Awards Networking opportunities with 4‑H celebrities and other prominent alumni Recognition as the official 4‑H youth spokesperson for their pillar One Pillar Winner will be selected as the 4‑H Youth in Action National Award Winner and will receive an additional higher education scholarship.

See the Application Guidelines Apply by October 21

Calendar at a glance - Save the Dates! Check our Events and Deadlines calendars regularly for updates. Month of October National Youth Science Day: Game Changers October 6-12 National 4-H Week October 8 4-H Spirit Day October 9-20 Tractor Supply Paper Clover October 22 Application deadline for Youth in Action Award October 24-27 STEM National Youth Summit November 1-3 Mindfulness Retreat November 2-3 Shooting Sports workshop-Rifle discipline certification November 5 Application deadline for National 4-H Conference November 8-10 e4: The Volunteer Retreat November 15-17 California 4-H Youth Summit-Northern

Support 4-H with a donation 100% of donations to the California 4-H Foundation support 4-H programming in California. DONATE NOW

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