As of 11/30, here’s our Clinton County numbers:

· 137 Clover Kids

· 254 4-H Members

· 57 Volunteers

· CW Jr. Ag— 30

· Charlotte Jr. Producers— 16

· Delmar Hot Shots— 15

· DeWitt Hustlers— 57

· Equine Fever— 27

· Goose Lake Jr. Feeders— 51

· Iowanna— 20

· Livestock Judging Teams—

· Minnehaha/Mohawk— 11

· Orange Future Leaders— 16

· Welton Jr. Farmers— 10

The Extension Council has approved the livestock section of the fair book for 2023. Rules and classes are available on our website now. You’ll also find the Summary of Changes document. Link: www.extension.iastate.edu/clinton/county-fair

Attention graduating senior 4-H members - we want to hear your future plans and favorite 4-H memory to share on social media this spring! Fill out this survey to share your 4-H story: https://go.iastate.edu/VFGI0P

Iowa 4-H - open Dec 1-Mar 1. Link.

Clinton County 4-H - due April 1 Link.

· Tom Olson Memorial Beef

· Chuck Goddard Memorial

· Iowanna Juniors

· Clinton County 4-H Foundation

Market Beef Weigh In will be December 17 from 8-Noon at the DeWitt Vet Clinic. If

you’d like to help, please contact Sam. Who should attend? 4-H and FFA members planning to exhibit performance/carcass beef, market steers, market heifers for the Clinton County Fair or Market Beef exhibiting at the Iowa State Fair for 4-H or FFA. FFA members, please connect with your advisors!

All 4-H members who are signed up for the beef project received an email update AND will have their forms pre-filled out. (Want to make sure you are signed up? Log into 4hOnline and check the 4-H member’s projects. “Market Beef” or “Beef” apply.)

Fees will be: $2/ 4-H tag, $5/state fair retinal image.

If you cannot attend, please contact the office for accommodations!

9-12th grade members should plan to attend an informational Zoom webinar about State and National 4-H Recognition Opportunities on December 13 from 5:30-6:30. Registration is required.

 We are thrilled to have nearly 50 new members joining 4-H this year! Some are 4th graders and some are older. This is great! Check out the Newsletter for the full list of members.

All members, please help welcome and encourage these members as they learn.

New members, please reach out anytime with questions or concerns! The Extension Office is here to serve YOU!

Please review the upcoming events and key deadlines on the first page of the newsletter! Some are for 4-H (4-12th grade members) only but some apply to all youth.

· Cal-Wheat CK - 12/11 from 2-3 @ CALCO

· Delmar CK - check with leader

· DeWitt CK - 12/11

· Elk River Eagles CK - 12/1 at 5 pm @ Faith Lutheran Church

· Goose Lake CK - 12/14 from 4:30-5:30 at Elvira Zion Church

· Grand Mound CK - check with leader

Link for Chicken and Rice Soup.

In this lesson, challenge youth to create a costume for one of the Nutcracker ballet characters in the time given. This lesson combines STEM and the arts for a costume design challenge.

After youth complete the challenge, they could watch the Nutcracker Performance on December 9th! Learn more online.

This document is the "Animal Identification, Weighing, and Exhibiting Requirements for County, State and Interstate Shows." This is what Iowa 4-H and FFA use for livestock! Please review this important document online.

Big change: "Animal can be identified by more than one 4-H member (immediate sibling or step-sibling only), but cannot be identified as 4-H under one sibling and FFA under another sibling."

Big change: "ALL horses are required to have photos uploaded into 4-H Online by May 15 (both county and state fair)."

Big change: Horse lease forms are not allowed anymore. Read more in the document.

PLEASE REVIEW YOUR SPECIES!

Who: completed grades 9-12th

When: June 17-24, 2023

Where: Washington, DC

Cost: $2,300 (financial assistance available) Registration opens Dec. 15!

Learn more online.

Who: 9-12th grade

When: The group will meet the fourth Monday of every month from 6:30-7:30 pm January-August via virtual meetings.

Cost: $0. Free!

Register through the 4hOnline events tab. Visit https://v2.4honline.com

Youth are invited to expand their learning in this project area by joining. Participants will connect with other youth across Iowa, participate in fun challenges, and meet mentors who will help take their skills to the next level!

Computer Science Week—Dec. 5-9, 2022

Computer Science Week is December 5-9. The Governor's STEM Advisory Council has some great opportunities for all Iowans that week that can be found on their website. Opportunities include an engaging coding lesson tied to the Nutcracker Ballet + STEM! Check out all of the wonderful resources!

This is a program designed for elementary-aged youth (grades 2-5) to highlight the connection between STEM and the arts. Take part in the costume design challenge OR watch the free performance at Stephens Auditorium on December 9 at 12:30 PM. Learn more online.

Spark some 4-H cheer this holiday season! From scarves to hoodies and other thoughtful gifts, this year’s guide has everything you need to cross each person off of your list! Holiday Gifts.

We are excited to announce the State 4-H Council newest service initiative, Do All the Good You Can. Sign up with this Jotform link to receive bi-monthly service challenges to give back to your community! Your club or group will log hours or things donated. The counties with the most hours by Youth Conference in June will receive an award. We look forward to hearing all of the good you are able to do this year!

You have access to discounted tickets to the 2022 Nutcracker Ballet at CY Stephens Auditorium in Ames on December 10 (1 PM and 7:30 PM performances) and December 11 (1 PM). Tickets can be purchased online.

January Lunch & Learn Series Topic: Incorporating Project Area Guides into Club Meetings

The American Egg Board has announced a new Egg Design Submission opportunity. The AEB calls for entries across the country with selected egg designs to be featured as part of a special Easter exhibit in 2023. This call for submissions is open to ages 5-18, and the theme is the “United States of Possibility.” The AEB challenges entrants to show what makes their home state/territory special. Submissions are open until December 31, 2022, with one winner selected from each U.S. state/territory. See the call for submissions, submission entry form, and full rules on the Incredible Egg website.

The Clinton County Extension Council met on November 30, 2022. Their next meeting will be on December 21, 2022. Learn more about the council on our website.

Grant Writing 101 is a workshop created by ISU Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development staff to provide Iowans with hands-on training in seeking and writing successful grant applications. The workshop is from 9-Noon on January 5. The registration fee for the workshop is $25, with registration required by Jan. 3. Class size is limited, so those interested are encouraged to register now at https://go.iastate.edu/PZ005I.

The two-day Farm Transitions Conference will return to the Gateway Hotel in Ames Feb. 9-10, 2023. Whether you want to begin farming, are looking to transition your farm business to the next generation or simply want to know more about farm estate planning, this conference will provide expert answers and insight. Learn more online.

Lessons focus on preparing for home ownership, shopping for a home, securing a mortgage, closing the loan, and being a homeowner. Learn more online.

 If you are dealing with picky eating, you know the struggle is real. But you might be asking “Why?” and “What can I do?”. Get research-based answers and reality-centered solutions in this Science of Parenting episode!