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With the expiration of the state-wide masking mandate, UC ANR 4-H has updated meeting protocols for indoor, outdoor, overnight, and out of state events. Indoor meetings are now allowed again if everyone masks unless it is an adult only meeting. Vaccinated adults may unmask if they choose and no youth are present. The following webpages have been updated with the new COVID guidance.

I'm writing one last newsletter to tell you about the exciting events coming up and also to say goodbye! I have enjoyed working with all the wonderful 4-H Club Leaders, club officers, board members and volunteers for the past 4 years. After I leave, you will be in good hands with Gwyn Vanoni and Susana Bruzzone-Miller until a new 4-H rep is hired. If you need to reach either one of them after 2/23, just email venturacounty4h@ucanr.edu

Yesterday, National 4-H Council announced a $50 million gift from writer and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest single gift in 4-H’s 120-year history. This investment will support positive youth development for nearly six million kids and their families in every U.S. county, parish, and territory!

One of the best opportunities 4-H has to offer is a safe, supportive space to practice public speaking and job interviews! And if you earn blue or gold, you can move up to Regional then to State Presentation Events:

The 4-H Presentation Manual - Revised January 2021 is the standard guide for all 4-H presentations. The included evaluation forms are for use at all

Virginia Reyes, Briggs 4-H Club Leader, is organizing this event and is looking for belt buckle sponsors for the lamb and goat showmanship competitions. If you know of someone who will sponsor a buckle, or if you're interested in helping with this event, please email vergereyes24@gmail.com

Topa Topa Flywheelers will once again be offering $5,000 in college scholarships for 4-H'ers and Robert Rich is giving a $2,000 scholarship in honor of his late wife Norma Rich. Links to scholarship applications will be posted in April.

The CWA (California Women in Agriculture) is offering four $1,000 scholarships. Deadline to apply is June 5, 2022. Click the button below for more information and the application.

This tournament will offer both in-person and postal match options. Rules and registration information is posted on the California 4-H website. Registration is due no later than March 15, 2022. In-person event hosted in Merced County will be on May 29, 2021 and postal targets must be postmarked by May 31, 2022.

Jose Campos, UCCE Merced 4-H, jaccampos@ucanr.edu 209-385-7418

Questions related to statewide equine events should be directed to ca4hequine@ucanr.edu

HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI) IS BACK AND WITH TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES

HPAI is something we are warned about annually. As migratory birds move across the globe each winter, the virus can also move with them. The H5N1 strain of HPAI is having devastating effects on the avian populations of Israel. As of the first week in January, over 1 million commercial poultry had been depopulated in Israel. In addition, 5,200 migrating wild cranes had died in what the Jewish Press described as the “worst ecological disaster to hit the country” (www.jewishpress.com, Jan. 6, 2022).

You might be saying to yourself, “Not to worry, Israel is a long way from Sonoma/Santa Barbara/San Diego counties.” Well, in the last days of 2021, HPAI was detected in an exhibition flock of poultry in the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

History is important and valuable. In 2015, another strain of HPAI made it to the United States. When the outbreak was finally controlled, 15 of our States had become positive for the virus and over 43 MILLION domestic poultry died. This was incredible loss to the owners of those birds.

It is simple to greatly decrease the likelihood that your birds will become exposed to the virus: Keep your birds in a structure that prevents the entry of wild birds. That is, use appropriately-sized wire mesh on the walls of your poultry yards. In addition, have the runs COVERED with a solid material. By doing that, any wild bird that flies over cannot drop contaminated fecal material, feather, or dander onto your birds. As this issue was being finalized, I received word that USDA has confirmed H5N2 in an American wigeon (dabbling duck) in Colleton County, South Carolina. This disease is in the United States; let us work to keep it out of our California flocks.

Webinars will be organized once a week on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 PM until March 1st, 2022. Five will be held live using Zoom and will include a Q&A session, and the other three will be pre-recorded and posted on the FARM PPE website.

If you are interested in attending, please register here. For more information, don’t hesitate to email us at pireslab@ucdavis.edu.

UC 4-H Handbook for Families - The essential guide!

Cloverpedia - Learn about 4-H terms, events & programs

Star Rankings - What they mean and how to achieve them

4-H Project Sheets - Ideas for Project Leaders

4-H Uniform Guidelines - What is the 4-H uniform?

Feb. 26 GCSPF Poultry Show & Avian Bowl Qualifier @ Fresno Fairgrounds

Thurs. Mar 24 Food Faire contest entry deadline @ 5pm

Fri. Mar 25 Food Faire contest submission deadline @ 5pm

Sun. April 10 Presentation Day and Fashion Revue @ UC HAREC

April 20: Deadline to register for Virtual Regional Presentation Event

April 9-23: Virtual Regional Presentation Event

April 29: Deadline to register for State Presentation Events

Sat, May 7: Large Animal Field Day @ Santa Rosa Clubhouse (11701 E. Las Posas Rd., Camarillo) (Buckles will be given for lamb & goat showmanship!

May 11 - 21 Virtual CA State 4-H Field Day including Presentation Events and State Fashion Revue

Sat. May 28 In-Person CA State 4-H Field Day including Presentation Events

Sun. May 29 CA 4-H Field Day Award Ceremony via Zoom and Facebook Live

Aug 3 - 14 Ventura County Fair

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