4-H Newsletter | April 2021
‌
Mark your calendars!
Mark your calendars! All animals who will be exhibiting at the 2021 Dallas County Fair must be identified in 4-H Online 2.0 by May 15th. This is a hard deadline enforced by the state. If you do not have your animals identified by this date, you will not be able to show at the 2021 Dallas County Fair! If you are having trouble inputting your animal information into 4-H Online 2.0 or have any questions, please call the Dallas County Extension Office. Don't miss it!
‌
Communications Day is coming your way on June 12th, 2021! We will be hosting the 2021 Dallas County 4-H Communications Day at the Adel Public Library Community Room from 8:00 - 12:00 PM. This event is open to 4-H members & Clover Kids. Create a presentation or a working exhibit to share with judges for the opportunity to compete at the Iowa State Fair! Not sure where to start? Call the Extension Office or See below!
Calling all fashionistas! (or fashionisters!) The Dallas County 4-H Clothing Event is scheduled to be held on June 12th, 2021 at the Dallas County Fairgrounds. This event consists of Fashion Revue, Clothing Selection, and the $15 Dollar Challenge. Open to both 4-H Members & Clover Kids. Keep an eye out for a registration form coming out in May. Looking for more info? See below.
‌
Dallas County 4-H'ers combat hunger!
For the month of February, Dallas County 4-H members worked together as a county to collect 475 pounds of food and supplies to donate to the Adel Good Samaritan Food Pantry. Dallas County Council members helped to deliver these supplies to the pantry where they were able to weigh, label, and organize everything that was delivered. A special recognition goes out to the Heartland Warriors 4-H club in Minburn for making the largest donation! Dallas County 4-H members, you rock! For more information about donating or receiving food from the Adel Good Samaritan Food Pantry, click the link below.
‌
Sheep & goat weigh-in to be held May 1st
The Dallas County 4-H Sheep and Goat Weigh-In will be held on May 1st from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at the Dallas County Fairgrounds. If you are unable to make it to the weigh-in at this time, you may attend another county's weigh-in. Please contact the extension office if you are needing to make other arrangements.
(Dairy Goats do NOT need to attend the weigh-in) Not sure if you need to attend? See the document below! (Breeding animals must have confirmed Scrapie ID's)
** NEW FOR 2021**
Just like the Market Beef Weigh-In, the state is now requiring that families input their own Weigh-In and animal information into 4-H Online 2.0. The extension office will then confirm the information. This must be done prior to May 15th!
‌
Outstanding 4th Static Exhibit Award coming to the 2021 Dallas County Fair!
Calling all 4th graders, this is for YOU! Because 4th grade exhibitors are unable to have projects move on to the Iowa State Fair, we have had a generous sponsor reach out to offer one talented 4th grader an "Outstanding 4th Grade Static Exhibit Award". Make you mark at your first county fair! We can't wait to see your projects!
‌
Join us for dog obedience classes!
Dog obedience classes have started and are running every Monday evening until fair! Come to one or come to them all. Our Dallas County Dog Superintendents, Steve and Paula Exline, are hosting these classes for any Clover Kids, 4-H members, or community members who are interested in improving their dog's behavior and dog handling skills. Steve and Paula have extensive canine experience and breed, show, and train all of their own animals. Cost of attendance is free for 4-H members and Clover Kids and $25 for non-members. NO experience required! Call the extension office for more info.
Dogs must attend on leash & be able to provide proof of rabies vaccination.
‌
‌
‌
Tags are here! Come and get'em!
We will NOT be having a 2021 Swine Weigh-In in Dallas County. That being said, you will need to come pick up your swine tags. County tags are $2 and state fair DNA tags are $8. Animals exhibiting at the state fair will need both a county tag and a state fair DNA tag. Hogs exhibiting at the Dallas County Fair are also required to have their first round of Erysipelas vaccine by April 15th and their second at least 21 days prior to the Dallas County Fair. Vaccine is available free of charge at the Dallas County Extension office. You must bring new syringes and needles to draw vaccine. Call us with any questions!
‌
Hey Photgraphers! This one's for you!
For the month of April, Dallas County 4-H is going to be hosting a photography contest! The theme for this contest is "Things that fly". 4-H Members can submit up to two photos for the contest and photos must be submitted by May 1st. Submissions can be emailed to awisger@iastate.edu. We can't wait to see your photos! (Did we mention the winner would get a 4-H duffle bag?!)
‌
Interested in Joining Our Pen Pal Program?
Dallas County 4-H is partnering with Adel Acres long-term care facility to provide youth and residents an opportunity to make connections through a Pen Pal program this spring! This is a great opportunity to create intergenerational connections within our community and combat the feeling of isolation that has come along with the pandemic. If you would be interested in making a friend at Adel Acres through this Pen Pal program, please sign up below. We will be working hard to match 4-H members with Adel Acres residents who have similar interests.
‌
Now is the time!
Now is the time to start your 2021 record books! We will once again be hosting an Awards Day and would love to have a record number of record books turned in for evaluation. Record books are a great way to keep track of project progress and growth. Click the link below for more information!
‌
The Perry Pathfinders 4-H Club worked together to collect donation items for the Raccoon River Pet Rescue! The club donated cat litter, paper towels, pet food, cleaning supplies and more. They even made cat beds to donate at a recent club meeting. Way to go, Perry Pathfinders!
‌
Are You Up For The Challenge?
The County Council is challenging Dallas County 4-H Clubs to a Mascot Contest! They are challenging clubs to come up with a 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft mascot to be highlighted around the 2021 Dallas County Fair. This mascot should represent Dallas County 4-H and be able to be left outside for a variety of fair activities. These mascots must be completed on June 1st to be judged! Please email awisger@iastate.edu with any questions or reach out to your County Council representative!
‌
Complete YQCA Training NOW!
It's that time of year again... YQCA! All 4-H and FFA exhibitors who are planning to exhibit market animals at the Dallas County Fair must complete YQCA training. Click the link below to complete! Log-in credentials are the same as 4-H Online 2.0 for 4-H members. FFA members must create their own accounts. Training must be completed by May 30th, 2021.
‌
2021 Market Broiler Challenge
At the Dallas County Fair, we are again offering Annual Market Broiler Challenge to replace the Standard Market Broiler Class for the Dallas County Poultry show. The Challenge will consist of ten participants that purchase 10 wing banded chicks then continue to raise them for 8 weeks. Each participant will bring their best 3 birds from the original 10 birds to the Dallas County Fair for the Poultry Show. Participants must sign up by April 19, 2021 with the Dallas County Superintendents.
Great News! Welp is providing a discount rate again for this year. The cost of birds will be $16.70 for 10 chicks. This includes the bird, wing band, and Marek vaccination.
Arrival Date:
All birds are scheduled to hatch and ship on May 10 from Welp Hatchery. Then to arrive 2-3 days at the Adel Post office. The superintendents will pick them up and contact the families the morning of their arrival. Chicks will need to be picked up that morning at a location set by the superintendents or at the Dallas County Extension office between the hours of 3:00-5:00 p.m. At the time of pick up, you will write a check to the extension office for the cost of the broilers.      
Rules: 
Will follow the 2021 poultry rules in the Dallas County Fair Rule Book. All participants will have the opportunity to take part in the Dallas County Fair Auction if desired. 
Cost of Processing birds: 
Participants are responsible for the processing fee which will be approximately $.43 cents per pound for a whole bird that will be bagged. The Dallas County Superintendents will transport birds to Duncan Poultry for processing on Monday, July 12, 2021, for an 8:00 a.m. appointment. All participants must bring birds to the fairgrounds that morning at 6 a.m. to be transported to the processing facility. Birds will come back to Adel late morning after processing. The superintendents will contact families once they head back to Adel with processed birds. All participants need to pick up their birds after processing, deliver birds if they are sold, or take them home.    
To sign up email Lisa at wilkerson@prairieinet.net. Spot will be fill on order of the emails received. If you have questions, please call or text Lisa Wilkerson at 515.321.6690.
‌
‌
‌
‌
Expand Your 4-H Career Through Youth Conference!
"Quest to Be Your Best" with the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference June 29th - July 1st, 2021! This is an opportunity for 4-H members to add depth to their 4-H resume by participating in workshops throughout the Iowa State University campus, networking with other 4-H'ers from around the state, and much more!
Interested in attending? Registration opens in April 2021!
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
Want to know more?
Allison Wisgerhof
awisger@iastate.edu
515-993-4281