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Inside this issue:

Clover Connections SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Time to Re-Enroll 1 4H Clubs & Mtg. Schedules 1 4H Voluntary Ldr. Training 1 Calendar of Events 2 Barn Clean Up Day 2 How to Be a Member 2 Letter to Exhibitors 3 Ice Cream Social 4 Record Books 4 National Shooting Sports 4 Poultry Clinic 5 Hog Raffle 5 Sew with Cotton Contest 5 State O’RAMA 6 Citizenship Washington Focus 6

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

4-H VOLUNTEER LEADER TRAINING

When: Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 Time: 6:00 p.m. Where: Union County Extension Office All certified Union County 4-H Volunteers working with clubs are encouraged to mark their calendars and attend this important meeting. If you plan to attend, call the Extension Office at 870-864-1916 no later than noon on Wednesday, September 6th.

TIME TO RE-ENROLL

All 4-H members MUST re-enroll in 4-H online. Please go into the 4-H Site http://www.arkansas4honline.com and get re-enrolled for the new year. PLEASE DO NOT START ALL OVER TO RE-ENROLL!!! Go into your name and edit and update your information. If you have any questions, please call us at 870-864-1916.

Year Round Clubs

CenterPoint 4-H Club

Enable Building Griffin Street, 2nd Monday 6PM

Leaders: Donna McCoy, Shana Talley

Faircrest 4-H Club

Mt. Union Baptist Church , 1st Monday@6:30PM

Leaders: Rachel Thurmon, Vicki Dison

4-H Teen Leader Club- (ages 13 and up)

County Extension Office- 3rd Monday @5:30PM

Leaders: Cherrie Sweeney, Amy Crawford

Shooting Sports: Meetings to start in January

Clubs that only meet during the school year:

Norphlet 4-H Club

NES, Ag Classroom- 1st Monday @3:45PM

Leaders: Nancy Reynolds

Westside 4-H Club

Westside Christian School, 2nd Friday @3:15PM

Leaders: Lauri Fruge, Melissa Tanneburger

Smackover 4-H Club

SHS, Ag Classroom-1st Tuesday @ 3:45PM

Leaders: Cole Jackson, Debbie Foot

COME JOIN US!! Every meeting is full of fun and learning!

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Dates to Remember

SEPTEMBER 2017

1 Re-Enrollment Begins 7 Volunteer Leader Training 9 Mandatory Fair Barn Clean-Up 8:00 16-22 Union County Fair 28-Oct.1 District Fair—Hope

OCTOBER 2017

1-31 4H Month of Service—All Clubs 1-7 National 4-H Week 7 Ice Cream Social 12 Deadline for Sew With Cotton—4:00 p.m. 14-23 AR State Fair

HOW TO BE A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING

To maintain your 4-H membership in 2017-2018 you must: 1. Enroll in Arkansas 4-H On-Line (if you need help call (870) 864-1916 or ask a certified 4-H Volunteer

Leader. 2. Attend a minimum of 6 organized club meetings per year with a recognized club in your County. 3. OR attend and participate in a minimum of 6 educational workshops or clinics conducted by Extension Staff

and Volunteer Leaders. (Dates to be announced) 4. Follow all rules and regulations set forth in the 4-H Code of Conduct (Members sign when enrolling) A Certified or chartered 4-H Club must: 1. Be organized and supervised by a minimum of 2 unrelated certified 4-H Adult Volunteer Leaders. (Leaders

are required to attend 4 hours of youth development training each year). 2. A club must have at least 6 members not of the same immediate family. 3. Have a duly elected set of functioning officers and conduct meetings monthly (as possible) using Roberts

Rules of Order and operate under a set of approved By-Laws (Union County has a set in place.

Fair Clean-Up Day September 9

Livestock Barn 8:00 a.m.

All livestock project members wear work

clothes and bring a good attitude.

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“Barn Character… Think about it”

Show season is upon us! It’s crunch time! I know each of you have been working tirelessly with your projects and are ready for the fair. There are a lot of things your project can teach you but if there is one lesson I want you to take from being raised in the barn, it’s that your character is the most important thing you have. One thing I wanted to remind each of you about who is watching you. The second you pull into the fairgrounds you are being watched by more than your parents, family and Ag teachers/agents and leaders. You do not know the impact you make on younger youth every second you are there. As we prepare for the fair, think about the reason you show livestock. Did you enter the barn and see the beautiful banners and belt buckles won by the best showman? Did you see the exhibitors spending time washing, feeding and grooming their projects? Looking back, at least one exhibitor comes to mind right? I want each of you to be that exhibitor. You never know who or what age youth or adult is looking for inspiration. It doesn’t come with winning. You can inspire someone just by talking to them, showing them your animal or helping them with their project. Here are a couple ideas to help you be the best example you can be.

Be helpful. Not matter what is going on, you can help. Whether it is sweeping, shoveling,

helping another exhibit or just being ringside (in case of a run away!) Be dressed appropriately. Girls and guys. I know this gets beat in the ground but let’s face it,

someone is going to bend the rules. Belts, boots, button up shirt and jeans. That simple. Inside and outside the show ring. You do not have to reveal to appeal.

Have a good attitude. This is one that is overlooked quite often. We get agitated with siblings,

parents or other exhibitors. This also includes your project. We work so hard, and animals will be animals. Be gentle and understanding. The difference with the animal will amaze you and your attitude will impress others around you. It’s easy to lose a temper, but it’s hard to regain a reputation and trust with an animal or an exhibitor. Sportsmanship is one of the easiest things to learn and the best way to be known. These are the people that are remembered, the ones that are helpful, respectful and hard working.

ALWAYS thank the judge (another thing that you have heard a million times). We say it

multiple times every year and there are still youth that don’t thank the judge. The judge has taken time out of their day to come and talk about every animal in the ring. They are there for one reason. They enjoy judging livestock and teaching youth. The show ring is a classroom. You have worked all year with this animal and the judge is there to explain to you how to improve your animal selection and presentation, just listen. This will help with next year’s project!

Just remember that you are being watched by everyone the second you walk into the Fair barn. Be the person the younger youth remember and look up to. Be the youth that parents refer to as a great example or role model.

Good Luck!

Brittany Riley 4-H Program Assistant

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The Union County Teen Leader Club is planning an Ice Cream Social on October the 7th for ages 13-19. To RSVP or for more information please call Cherrie Sweeney or Amy Crawford at 870-864-1916

NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS COMPETITION

Congratulations to both our Jr. and Sr. Shooting Sports teams for representing Union County at the National Shooting Sports Competition in Raton, New Mexico.

Record Books Due in January Be thinking about your 4-H Record Book! The Record Books are due in January so workshops will start in November and December. Write down your fair placings, summer activities, etc., so that you don’t miss recording any of the hard work you have done this year.

Pictured are: Top left to right: Landon L., CJ M, Bryce B., Grace R. and Titus S. Bottom left to right: Tristan S., Tristin J., Hannah C., Thomas C., and Griffin R.

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Union County Sew with Cotton Contest

Poultry Clinic The 2017 Poultry Clinic was a great success! Special Guest Sunni Deb Weaver gave demonstrations on poultry bathing, grooming, show day prep, showmanship, handling and a presentation on Biosecurity! At the end of the day Natalee S. of Centerpoint 4-H was awarded the Ostrich Egg for being so attentive and answering questions.

Union County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee is sponsoring a Sew with Cotton Contest for Youth. This contest is open to all 4-H and other youth. Age divisions are Junior (9-13) and Senior (14-19). Monetary prizes for top three entries in each category with additional prize for overall in each age division. The two categories are garment and non-garment. Items are due at the Union County Extension office by 4 pm on September 11th, 2017. Modeling for garments will be Tuesday Sept 12th at 5pm. Participants may enter one item in each category. For additional rules or to enter please call the Union County Extension Office at 870-864-1916.

Hog Raffle

Union County 4-H is raffling a 250# free range hog. This fundraiser is a county wide effort, meaning every club and every member should participate. This will be our major fundraiser for the year, which will help pay for awards, the Achievement Banquet, scholarships, O’RAMA trips, portions of other trips attended by Union County Members and various other activities. The hog and processing is being donated. The hog is pasture raised (not feral). Hog will be processed and USDA packaged. Help us meet our goal of 500 tickets sold! There will be a prize for the 4-H member that sells the most tickets. For questions call the extension office. If you have not picked up a book of tickets see Mrs. Brittany

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2017 STATE O’RAMA Union County had 6 Senior members participate in State 4-H O’Rama, held at the University

of Arkansas Fayetteville Campus.

Clayton B. Represented Union County in Washington DC at Citizenship Washington Focus!

What is O’RAMA? O’RAMA is a series of competitive events for 4-H members. We start with B-Day and County O’RAMA in the spring. 4-H members come together and present talent, instrumental, illustrated talks, demonstrations, bicycle, baitcasting and many more.

Austin F.- Welding , Safety Amber S.– Entomology Talk Clayton B.– Human Development Christen T.– Environmental Stewardship Breanna H.– Ornamental Horticulture Kaitlin J.– Health CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS.

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Union County 4-H

Union County Cooperative Extension Service

307 American Road Suite 101

El Dorado, AR 71730

Phone: 870-864-1916 Fax: 870-864-1919

All meetings and activities announced in this newsletter are open to all youth between the ages of 5 and 19 without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, or any other legally protected status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (large print, audiotapes, etc.) should notify the county Extension office as soon as possible prior to the activity.

Robin Bridges County Extension Agent

Staff Chair Union County

Brittany Riley Lauren Brown 4-H Program Assistant County Extension Agent Union County FCS/4-H Union County