HERE GROWS

4-H

CLOVERS TO:

Welcome new 4-H & Youth Committee

member Mary Albrecht!

All the members that attended Stemfest at

Dordt College!

Emily Walton as she will be competing in the

State Horse Judging Contest later this month!

Good luck Emily!

A great series of Air Rifle classes! Thanks to

all that volunteer and participate!

DEAR 4-H FAMILY & FRIENDS:

Mother Nature keeps tricking us, but I know spring is just around the corner! We are gearing up for some really cool workshops, weigh-ins, and the 4-H Foundation Glow Walk/Run!

I am also excited to let you know that we have reach 432 members! This has topped last year and 92 of those are brand new enrollments! You are all awesome! There are still a few of you that have not completed that yet! PLEASE get it taken care of ASAP! Be sure to be checking on your club meeting attendance to make sure you are getting your four required meetings in!

The Lincoln Toppers invite you to their annual Soup and Sandwich Supper on Sunday, March 26 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. at the Hinton Community Hall! It’s all you can eat soup, sandwich, and dessert! Carry out is available!

Sincerely,

COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING REMINDER

Upcoming meeting dates:

March 2 at 7:15 p.m. (Extension Office)

April 6 at 7:00 p.m. (Location to be announced)

PLYMOUTH COUNTY 4-H CLOVER CONNECTION

MARCH 2017

ANN SCHOENROCK

PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION & OUTREACH

County Program & Youth Coordinator

schoenro@iastate.edu

PHONE: 712-546-7835 FAX: 712-546-7837

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4-H’ers must be in good standing with their

county in order to participate in state or

interstate 4-H shows according to the State

Livestock Handbook document 4-H 202.

Extension & Outreach staff will not approve

entries for these shows if 4-H’ers and their

families have not been in compliance with

county guidelines.

Direct criticism or interference with the judge,

fair officials, show coordinators,

superintendents, volunteers, staff, or other

exhibitors before, during or after the

competitive event is prohibited. Parents shall

not enter the show ring during the event unless

it involves the health and safety of the

exhibitor. In furtherance of their official duty,

these officials, volunteers, and staff shall be

treated with courtesy, cooperation, and

respect. If this rule is broken the parent will be

asked to leave the fairgrounds and the

exhibitor will be disqualified from the rest of

that show. If the confrontation continues, the

exhibitor may be disqualified from the fair and

asked to leave the fairgrounds and forfeit all

premiums. This will be determined by

Extension & Outreach staff, Extension Council

and Fairboard. This could result in the family

being banned from exhibiting at other state

and interstate exhibitions as well.

REMINDER OF LIVESTOCK HOUSING POLICY

The following policy has been set forth by the 4-H & Youth Committee for several years and is supported by the Plymouth County Extension Council and Plymouth County Fairboard. This is a no tolerance policy. Failure to abide by this policy will result in not exhibiting at the Plymouth County Fair. This is a reminder to all livestock exhibitors as we start the new 4-H year. It is not the leader’s responsibility to follow these guidelines, it is up to each family. Should you have any questions, you will need to contact the Plymouth County Extension & Outreach Office at

712-546-7835.

4-H families that live on a farm/acreage with any

kind of livestock housing will be expected to have

ALL of their 4-H livestock project (beef, sheep,

swine, and poultry) housed there. If alternative

arrangements need to be made, the location must

be approved by the Extension and Outreach

Office and 4-H & Youth Committee. This means

you must call or email the Extension and

Outreach Office with the request so that it can be

put on the agenda for the next 4-H & Youth Com-

mittee meeting and then discussed and voted on!

We ask that the alternative address be written on

identification forms.

If the 4-H’er does not have ANY facilities at the

location where they live, alternative housing is

acceptable as long as it’s preapproved and meets

the following criteria: The project needs to be

within close proximity for the 4-H’er to easily care

for that animal on a daily basis. For exam-

ple, if Johnny 4-H’er lives in town and his sheep

are kept at his Grandpa’s place six miles out of

town on the farm then Grandpa’s address will

need to be on the identification form. It is not ac-

ceptable for the project to be 40 miles away at a

friend’s farm. The 4-H’er needs to be the one in

charge of that project and the primary care

giver of that project as they have signed

during enrollment on the Code of Ethics.

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FSQA (FOOD SAFETY QUALITY ASSURANCE)

TRAINING REQUIRED

FSQA training is for all members that plan on

showing a meat animal at any 4-H show. This

would include beef, sheep, goats, swine, rabbit,

and poultry. Any member in grades 4-6 is

required to attend a training each year. There are

7 good production practices and different ones are

taught each year. The last training will be April 17

from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Please call and RSVP for a

training so that enough materials and chairs can

be ready. Parents are welcomed to stay but it is

not required.

Members in grades 7-12 have testing options.

Member should call the office to schedule a

testing time. If you do not know when your

testing expires, please log into your profile in

4-H Online as it is listed right under your name

in the member list.

Starting in the Fall of 2017 we will be transitioning

to the new YQCA (Youth for the Quality Care of

Animals) program.

SWINE PROJECT INFORMATION

Members exhibiting swine will need to purchase

official tags from the Extension and Outreach

Office. The cost is $2 per tag. Tags will need to

be in place and pigs identified online by May 15.

Identification instructions will be in the April Clover

Connection. If you intend to show swine at the

Iowa State Fair or Ak-Sar-Ben please contact the

office to set up a time to get the verification done.

ADOPT A PIG INFORMATION

A joint project between the Plymouth County Pork

Producers and the Plymouth County Extension

Office will provide an opportunity for 4-H or FFA

members that do not have the means to have a

swine project, to adopt a pig! This project is for

town or acreage youth that cannot house a swine

project. Three building sites have been secured

with a producer/mentor at each site.

ADOPT A PIG CONTINUED...

Each member that wants to participate will sign a

contract agreeing to the terms and pay a one time

fee of $20 to take part.

There will be four educational meetings and

members must attend three of those. They will

take place on March 18, May 13, June 10, and

July 8. The March meeting (March 18 from 11:00-

1:00) is mandatory in order to sign the contract

and pay the fee. Pork Producers will be grilling

lunch! There will also be four site visits to the

barn with the producer and members must make

it to three of those. A barn site visit will be sched-

uled with the adult mentor for April, June, and

twice in July. The members will also be

responsible for purchasing the tags to identify the

pigs with. Members will be given the opportunity

to tag up to twelve pigs and will be able to exhibit

one barrow and one gilt at the Plymouth County

Fair. This project will show in it’s own class and

not with the rest of the regular 4-H/FFA swine

show classes. This class is terminal and pigs will

be sold at the conclusion of the fair with the mon-

ey going back to the producer that owns the pigs.

The Pork Producers will provide all the proper

gear (plastic boots, coveralls, and masks) for the

site visits, water and feed troughs for the fair, and

will also pay for these pigs to be scanned to get

carcass data. A class will be held following the

fair to explain what that data means and to

complete record keeping as far as expenses and

income for that swine project.

We understand that ball schedules and family

events happen and are willing to work with your

schedules so please keep us posted and we will

do our best to accommodate.

If you did not make it to the informational

meeting and are interested in the project,

please contact the Plymouth County

Extension and Outreach Office and let us

know, so we can be prepared with enough

food and materials!

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SHEEP/MEAT GOAT WEIGH-IN

Sheep/Meat Goat weigh in will be Saturday, April 22

starting at 8:00 a.m. at the fairgrounds. Members

may tag a maximum of 15 sheep. All sheep need to

be at weigh in. This includes all market and

breeding (both purebred and commercial). All

lambs must be weighed and tagged and any lamb

that you want to possibly show at Ak-Sar-Ben or the

Iowa State Fair must have the additional retinal

image taken. Only the Meat Goats (does and weth-

ers) that will be exhibiting at the Iowa State Fair or

Ak-Sar-Ben need to come to weigh in. They will get

weighed, tagged, and a retinal image taken.

For those Meat Goats that DO NOT attend weigh-

in: Breeding —can be identified by either a 4-H tag

or an official tattoo that they already have. Market

meat goats are identified with a 4-H tag. 4-H tags

can be purchased at the Plymouth County

Extension and Outreach Office for $2.00 each.

Members will be responsible for identifying these

animals on 4-H Online. The animals that go

through weigh-in will be entered by staff and

members will need to verify that information by May

15.

POULTRY INFORMATION

The Iowa Department of Agriculture would like to

share some information with poultry families about

biosecurity to help prevent the possible recurrence

of diseases like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

that producers in our area were affected by in 2015.

The link to the “Defend the Flock” site is:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/

defendtheflock

Dr. Greg Schmitt, District State Vet stopped by this

past week and brought us some calendars. Poultry

families are encouraged to stop by and grab one for

free!

NUTRENA COUPONS

Bomgaars now carries a Nutrena feed called

Show Edge. There are several varieties that

include cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. They

have sent us coupons for $2 off a bag. Stop by

the Extension and Outreach Office to pick up a

coupon!

TALLEST CORN

Do you think you can grow the tallest stalk of corn? This contest is open to all 4-H/FFA members. The goal is to grow the tallest corn stalk by the Plymouth County Fair. The corn stalk will need to arrive at the fair on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in a five gallon bucket. A differ-ent species of corn will be used for 2017. Please register by visiting:

https://form.jotform.com/

plymouthcountyextension/tallestcorn or by calling

712-546-7835. The contest is open to the first

30 participants and the deadline to register is

March 31st. Seeds will be ready for pickup by

April 14th.

PLYWOOD BUSTERS SHOOTING SPORTS

Archery sessions will begin on April 4! The

sessions begin at 7:00 p.m. at Century Hall at

the Fairgrounds. You must be enrolled as a

Plymouth County 4-H member before attending

(anyone in grades 4-12)! You may bring your

own equipment or there is equipment available

for you to use!

STATE 4-H YOUTH CONFERENCE

ANIMAL SCIENCE ROUND UP

State 4-H Youth Conference will take place June

27-29 on the campus of Iowa State University

where 1,000 youth come together! Students

choose different workshops to attend. For those

that want to attend the animal science portion, a

application must first be submitted before you

can register. Those are due March 15. Go to:

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/

Iowa4hyouthconference

to register.

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FLEX TRAILER: BLOWN AWAY THROUGH

WIND ENERGY

This trailer comes to us from Iowa State University

and brings youth a hands on experience! Youth in

grades 4-6 will learn about and experience wind

energy and windmills using STEM, design

thinking, and 21st Century Skills. They will be

building and interacting with windmills and wind

farms through: Interactive Virtual Reality, 3D

Printing, Immersive visualization with 3D goggles,

and Circuit Bending with Little Bits electrical

components. Youth will gain an understanding of

aerodynamics, natural resource energy, and the

importance of windmills in Iowa, as well as skills

related to teamwork, communication, and critical

thinking.

It will take place on Saturday, March 11 from 9 am—3 pm at the Plymouth County Extension Office. Youth are to bring their own sack lunch. Snacks will be provided. This event is a free event for 4-H members. Youth should register

ASAP at https://form.jotform.com/

plymouthcountyextension/flex-trailer-registration-

form

Space is limited to the first 20 registered! Only a

few spots left!

4-H VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

The 2017 4-H Volleyball Tournament will be on Saturday, March 25 starting at 9:00 a.m. There are two categories: Junior Co-ed and Senior Co-ed. Juniors are considered 4-7th grade and seniors 8-12th grade. Juniors may play on a senior team, but seniors cannot play down on a junior team. A member may only play on one team. It needs to be their own club team. If their club does not have a team they may join another, but that first must be approved by the Extension and Outreach Office. Tournament brackets are enclosed in the Clover Connection.

Please remember sportsmanship! We are all there to have fun and many people are volunteering their time to make the tournament happen! We ask that you respect the refs, score keepers, YMCA staff, and Extension staff. There will a concession stand available! Please support it and also remember to pick up your trash!

STATE TRAINING FOR ALL LEADERS

A reminder that if you missed the state leader

training on January 30, you must make that up.

The instructions have been sent to you! It must be

completed by July 1!

4-H FOUNDATION...READY, SET, GLOW

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 8 for the second annual Ready, Set, Glow 4-H Fun Run/Walk. This event will kick off at the Fairgrounds and will use the walking trail around the golf course. There will be a 1 mile fun run/walk and a 5K race. Cost will be $15 for 4-H members or leaders and $20 for non members/parents/others. Three years old and younger are free. If they want a t-shirt, they can pay the cost of the shirt. Registration will include a t-shirt, glow item, and a raffle ticket! Participants may register online at:

https://form.jotform.com/plymouthcountyextension/glowwalk

Registration forms are also available from the Extension and Outreach office or on the website. Registration will be due March 17 in order to get a t-shirt and glow item. Check in will be from 7:30-8:15 p.m. and the run/walk will begin at 8:30 p.m. A meal will be served from 7-8 p.m. for a cost of $5 per person for 11 years old and up. Ten and under will be $3.00. There will be fun games and face painting for the kids. Drawing for prizes will be done at the conclusion of the event. New this year will be gift bags with items in them. Participants will be able to put their raffle ticket in a bag they would like a chance at winning. Additional tickets will be available to purchase. Additional glow items will also be available for sale! If 4-H Clubs would like to make a small donation to help with the event, it would be greatly appreciated! The proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly into the Plymouth County 4-H Foundation fund which currently supports 4-H trips, workshops, and community service projects.

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PLUNGE CAMP

The northwest 4-H region has another camp

planned! This is open to all middle school 4-H’ers

in grades 6-8. It will take place at Camp Foster on

April 28-29 and cost is $60 per youth. Youth will

arrive Friday evening and stay the night and camp

will wrap up at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Activities

include wall climbing, horseback riding, archery,

team building challenges, nature hikes, campfires,

service projects, and more! Contact the Extension

and Outreach Office with questions. There is

potential for youth to possibly ride with a

chaperone from our county. To register go to:

https://form.jotform.com/4Hregion1/4-h-plunge-

2017

SUMMER ASSISTANT POSITION OPENING

The Plymouth County Extension Office has opening for a 4-H summer youth assistant. Duties include planning and implementing summer programming related to youth/4-H, 4-H assistant at the Plymouth County Fair, and other office clerical work. Must enjoy working with people and youth, have strong organizational and computer skills. Knowledge of ISU Extension and 4-H is helpful. Position is a temporary, hourly position starting June 19th with 32-40 hours/week with a potential for more hours during the Plymouth County Fair. For a full job description and the job application visit the Plymouth County Extension website at :

www.extension.iastate.edu/plymouth or stop by the office M-F, 8am-12:00 pm 12:30-4:30 pm. To guarantee consideration, submit application by Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 AA/EEO employer.

UPCOMING EXTENSION PROGRAMS

Starting April 3: Powerful Tools for Caregivers with Children with Special Needs. This six week course allows those caregivers to learn more about how to care for their children as well as take care of themselves. Families will also share their ideas and learn from each other. March 7: LeMars Private Pesticide training-March 23: ISU Wildlife and Tree specialist will be presenting a program at the Plymouth County Extension and Outreach Office. March 30: Healthy Meals in a Hurry

PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION STAFF

JANELLE JOHNSON

COUNTY PROGRAM COORDINATOR

janelle@iastate.edu

ANN SCHOENROCK

COUNTY PROGRAM & YOUTH COORDINATOR

schoenro@iastate.edu

JILL LENERS

OFFICE & PROGRAM ASSISTANT

jleners@iastate.edu

JODI FISHER

PART TIME PROGRAM ASSISTANT

jlfisher@iastate.edu

JANIECE BOHLKE

PART TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT

@iastate.edu

BEN PULLEN

YOUTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST

bpullen@iastate.edu

4-H & YOUTH COMMITTEE

Zach Pratt Kayla Ruhland

David Becker Andrea Hawkins

Jill Feuerhelm Angie Schnepf

Jim Jauer Dawn Kessenich

Randi Anstine Brian Lang

Alise Allen Ben Vondrak

Ryan Schroeder Mary Albrecht

… and justice for all

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of

race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,

religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s

income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with

disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,

etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimina-

tion, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-

9410, or call 800-795-3272 (voice) or 202-720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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MARCH 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 COUNTY COUNCIL

MTG. 3 4

5 6 7 4-H FOUNDATION 8 9 10 11 FLEX TRAILER

12 13 14 15 16 4-H & YOUTH

MTG 17 18 SWINE MEETING

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 VOLLEYBALL

TOURNAMENT

26 27 28 29 30 31

APRIL 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3 4 ARCHERY BEGINS 5 6COUNTY COUNCIL 7 8 GLOW WALK

9 10 11ARCHERY 12 13 14 15

16 17 FSQA TRAINING 18 19 204-H & YOUTH MTG 21 22 SHEEP WEIGH-IN

23 24 25 ARCHERY 26 27 28 PLUNGE CAMP 29 PLUNGE CAMP

30

Classy Clovers

#2

3 Court C Saturday, March 259:00 Jr. Coed

Kinglsey Patriots 11 Court C

Portland Preston 9:40

Pillars

1 Court A

9:00

5 Court B

Liberty Perry 9:20

Pacers

Stanton Lucky

Clovers #2 15 Court A

10:40

Grant Clever

Clovers

Classy Clovers 6 Court C

#1 9:20

2 Court B

9:00

Grant Little 12 Court A

Giants 10:20

18 Court A

Stanton Lucky 11:20

Clovers #1

4 Court A

9:20 winner

Union Vikings

Loser 2 Loser 12 19 Court A

7 Court A Loser 15 11:40

9:40 14 Court C

10:20 17 Court B

9 Court A 11:00 winner

Loser 3 10:00

16 Court B

10:40

Loser 5

Loser 11

Loser 6 13 Court B loser of 18

10:20 if 1st loss

10 Court B

Loser 1 10:00

8 Court B

9:40

Loser 4

Stanton Lucky Clovers#2

Court A

Classy Clovers #2 12:20

Court B 7

11:40 Court B

1 1:40

Grant Clever Clovers

#1

Lincoln Toppers

Court C 17

11:40 2

Court B

Kingley Patriots #1 12:40

8

Union Vikings

Court B

12:00

3

Stanton Lucky Clovers

#1 Court B

2:20

Kingsley Patriots #2

Court C 23

12:00

4 Court C

Classy Clovers #1 12:40

9

American Achievers

Court B Court C

12:20 1:40

5

Remsen Ramblers

Court A

Portland Preston Pillars 18 3:00

Court C

12:20 26

6

Grant Clever Clovers #2 Court A

12:40 10

L23

Grant Little Giants

Court A

Court A 3:20 27

L8 L18 2:40

Court C

L4 1:20 Court C 25

Court B 15 2:00 21

1:00 Court A

11 1:40

L5 19

L6

Court A

1:00

13

L7 Court C

2:20 24

L1

Court B

1:20 14

Court B

L10 2:00

20

L9

Court A Court A 22

L2 1:20 2:00

Court C 16

1:00 L17

12

L3

Saturday, March 25Sr. Coed