September 2020 4-H Reporter Newsletter

COVID-19 Update 🎉

Sonoma County 4-H club & project groups may resume outdoor in-person meetings as long as they adhere to the following the Sonoma County -- COVID-19 Safety Protocol Checklist For 4-H Adult Volunteers. Before any in-person meetings take place, all volunteers must attend a virtual training session led by the 4-H staff on Thursday 10/1 @ 6pm, Monday 10/5 @ 7pm, and Wednesday 10/7 @ 7pm. Register to the training webinar by responding to this SURVEY.

Calendar

September

🍀 7: Labor Day (UCCE closed)

🍀 1 @ 7pm: County Council Meeting

🍀 8: Virtual eXtension Training for New Volunteers

🍀 TBD @ 6pm Record Book Judging

🍀 15: Virtual eXtension Training for New Volunteers

🍀 22: Virtual eXtension Training for Returning Volunteers

🍀 29: Window Display Contest Applications Due

October

🍀 1-31: National 4-H Youth Science Month

🍀 6 @ 7pm: County Council Meeting (4-H Ofc.)

🍀 17 Achievement Night (YAL)

🍀 4-10: National 4-H Week

🍀 4-10: Window Displays Judged

🍀 13 & 14Virtual eXtension Training for New & Volunteers

🍀 7-18: Tractor Supply Paper Clover Campaign

🍀 9: TBD 4-H Spirit Day (Wear 4-H Shirt)

From the 4-H Office & 4-H Council

Hello, friends. I hope this finds you safe and sound. There are only a few short months left of 2020, let's keep hanging on!

Here we are, mid-September, our first ever Virtual Record Book Evaluation event in full swing (you'll read this long after it's over, but I'm writing it from under an awesome stack of scanned Record Books!) and I am so proud of each youth member who took the time and effort to put together a book this year. Thank you so much to the adult evaluators who are taking their time to go through and provide feedback to those members as well. And I am so grateful to all the adult partners and office staff who helped get them (and all the end of the year paperwork) uploaded so we can start getting everything wrapped up! Thank you! It has been an adventure, to say the least! I have enjoyed seeing all the different project areas our youth members are participating in, and reading their stories and seeing their learning opportunities has been such a joy. I know COVID and fires have taken a lot of wind out of our sales, but I love love love that 4-H keeps us all going, supporting each other and supporting our kids!

Members who think they might enter their Senior Record Book in the State competition, remember you need to complete your "Intent to Submit" survey through the State website by September 27. The books are not due on that date, but if you don't do the Intent to Submit, you can NOT submit to the state. If you DO complete the Intent to Submit, you are not obligated to submit.

I want to say thank you to the office staff for putting together our Annual Leader Training this year. I hope you found it useful, and if you have topics that you would like addressed or questions you would like answered, please reach to the CCC board, we are here to help! We are always open to suggestion and always want to improve for you, so definitely let us know what you need! Also, thank you to the organizers of this year's Officer Training, it was so cool to see youth from 3 different counties come together at once, further broadening our connection to each other. I know that Lisa Schuldt, your Vice President of Membership and Diego did a VEC training and the feedback I've heard so far was that it was great. Thank you!

Shout out to Diana Stornetta, your County Treasurer, for managing both the general fund account and our Special Accounts Treasury while we get nominations and vote-in a new Special Accounts Treasurer. If you haven't already sent me or Diana your self-nomination and are interested in the opportunity, please reach out soon. We will be preparing the ballot so it's ready for your vote at the October CCC meeting.

Is your club interested in participating in this year's Window Display Contest? Were you afraid it wouldn't happen? Well don't despair, friends! The Window Display Contest IS happening, there will be some specific guidelines to use in order to comply with county health orders and UCANR guidance regarding social distancing in the preparation and installation of the displays, which will come from Diego soon. Applications will be due September 29.

National 4-H Week is coming next month October 4-10, 2020. How are each of your clubs marking the occasion? "? Maybe with a "Wear your 4-H T-shirt to Zoom School Day"? Does your club send community bulletins to local print media sources, highlighting the amazing accomplishments of your members? Getting creative in our current climate is key, and to be honest, I think it's getting harder and harder. Are you excited about the pinnacle celebration at the end of the following week?

Sonoma County 4-H Achievement Night will be Saturday, October 17, 2020...they aren't my beans to spill so I can't say much, but I can tell you that your All Star Team is planning an event to remember! It will be an afternoon event, socially distanced, COVID-compliant and fabulous, so mark your calendars and plan to be there!

I look forward to seeing you at our next CCC Meeting on Tuesday, October 6 at 7pm via Zoom, of course, and in the meantime, stay as well and safe as you can and thank you so much for continuing to be part of our amazing 4-H Program here in Sonoma County!

State 4-H Updates

Make it With Wool Contest

The contest has since encouraged personal creativity and exceptional workmanship while showcasing thousands of awe-inspiring woolen garments from all over the US, many handcrafted by 4-H Clothing and Textile members.

Specific contest rules, age requirements, previous contest photographs, and judging criteria may be found on the MIWW website. www.makeitwithwool.com

Junior, Senior and Adult California winners can sew, knit, or crochet, their way to the National Finals in Denver, Colorado January 2021! For information contact the California Director April Ward.

April Ward april.ann.ward@gmail.com or (510) 205-7017

California Entry Deadline- Oct. 24, 2020

National 4-H Volunteer Conference

Learn more

This year's national 4-H volunteer conference virtually Sept. 24 - 26. The conference, coordinated by the Volunteer Conference of Southern States, provides a variety of educational, engagement, and networking sessions for 4-H volunteers and staff.

Two NEW State 4-H Advisory Committees:

Make a Difference in 4-H!

The State 4-H Office has added two new Advisory Committees:

4‐H Public Speaking and Communications Advisory Committee - they will provide recommendations on Regional and State Presentation events.

4-H Multicultural, Equity and Community Engagement Advisory Committee - they will provide recommendations on improving multicultural, equity and community engagement in 4-H programs.

The State 4-H Advisory Committees provide leadership and offer insight, review, and input to the Statewide 4-H Director for the operation and management of the 4-H Youth Development Program.

Applications open until October 15

Youth (ages 14 and up), Adult Volunteers (ages 18 and up) and County Staff are encouraged to apply!

Apply for State Advisory Committees

Fall Tractor Supply Paper Clover | Oct. 7- 18, 2020

The fall Tractor Supply Paper Clover campaign is still going forward as in previous years.

A percentage of funds raised in CA will go towards the State Leadership Conference and counties will receive their share raised in their county to enable youth to participate in camp and leadership conferences.

This year, because of the COVID crisis, TSC is requesting no physical presence from 4-H programs at their stores, including outdoor spaces like parking lots.

National 4-H Week

& 2020 Window Display Contest

What you need to do: Submit Entry Form to the 4-H Extension office by October 2nd. Register for the contest by submitting an entry form.

Every year, National 4‐H Week sees millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni come together to celebrate the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4‐H.

The theme for this year’s National 4‐H Week, #Opportunity 4 All, is a campaign that was created by National 4‐H Council to rally support for 4‐H programs and identify solutions to eliminate the opportunity gap that affects 55 million kids across America.

Window Display Guidelines

Contact businesses and arrange to set up display. Multiple entries from clubs are allowed, but a club can win only one prize.
In order to be eligible for an award, display MUST be contained in an actual WINDOW of a store or business.
Due to COVID19, members must plan and work on the display remotely, no in-person gatherings allowed. A family can collect the display pieces and assemble the display at the business.
Display should promote the current theme and the activities of the club designing it.
Display must be set up for judging, by 5pm, October 4, 2020 and remain thru October 10th, 5pm.
Cash prizes for awarded to the clubs with the top three displays. Community First CU personnel will judge all entries.

Community Connections

Rabbit Manure Wanted

4-H community my name is Melissa and I am looking for rabbit manure for my garden. I am willing to trade rabbit food or pay 4-Hers. You can reach me at 707-280-8787. I look forward to hearing from you!

Land/Grazing Exchange Opportunity

Steve Ehrmann is offering 4-Hers the opportunity to graze his property next spring for free. He is hoping that 4-Hers with livestock will assist him with his land management needs and in exchange for forage & space to keep livestock. You can email Steve, at steve.ehrmann@gmail.com or him a call at 707-332-5292.

Land/Grazing Exchange Opportunity

attn: Swine 4-Hers

Catherine Yonger is looking for 4-Hers to assist her in grazing a wetland area on her property. She is interested in having swine graze her property. You can reach Catherine via email at cyourowing@gmail.com

Help Re-homing a Rooster

Marion Webber is hoping to rehome a rescued rooster. She is unable to keep the rooster as her flock of hens are a young and smaller than this species. If you are interested in you can give her a call at 707-996-1767 or email her at mariannwebber@att.net

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