HOORAY...SPRING!!

Spring is here and the place is hopping!! There are many 4-H events and programs happening this spring, lots of opportunities to get involved. This week 4-H’ers headed out to the Training Center to participate in the Hug-a-Tree program and then outside for a bit of fresh air and to check out and clean up the trail…they did a great job…we’re sprucing up the place for Walk-a-thon…

The 4-H Walk-a-thon to benefit the Training Center will be held Saturday, April 24th, rain or shine, but we all know it will be a beautiful day. Registration begins at 7:30am and the walk kicks off at 8:15am. Local newscaster Jessica Layton will be on hand as this year’s honorary chairperson.

Revised dates for evaluations on clothing/ items for Fashion Revue:
Thursday, April 29th, 3-8pm and/or
Tuesday, May 4th 3-8pm
There is a change in the format this year, so please read the packet coming in the mail to all organizational leaders and individual members
The Fashion Revue at the “Clover Café” will be held on Friday, May 14th at 7pm in the auditorium at the CCE Office.

Registrations for dog obedience classes are due in the office on April 22. The classes begin on Monday, May 10th.

Presbyterian Church in Ballston Spa is looking for a club to host a table/ booth with an activity at their Health/ Fun Fair on Saturday, May 1st, 10am-1pm. If your club has an activity and would like to participate, please call the office and get the details from me.

The Town of Milton is sponsoring a Children’s Fishing Tournament to be held Saturday, May 1st, 7-11am, at the Training Center.

Horse club leaders- Riding evaluations are scheduled on May 2, 8, 15 and 16. Call Cassie in the office for details.

A Beginner Horse Show will be held Sunday, May 16th, 1-4pm, at the Training Center.

There will be leader training on Thursday, 4/22 and it will cover the weather/ climate project.

Registration for Career Explorations is due in the office on Wednesday, April 14th.

Remember…members must be enrolled by May 1st to exhibit at the county fair.

Welcome 2010

Welcome 2010!

A new year filled with opportunities, challenges, places to explore, new people to meet, things to do. In January, 4-H'ers begin to prepare for Public Presentation Day. Training will be held 1/14 and 1/20 at 7pm at the CCE office in Ballston Spa. It begins with a PowerPoint presentation y 4-H teens, a food demonstration and then a game to practice. It promises to be practical and fun.

In February, leaders have a chance to learn more about astronomy at a training Monday, Feb. 8th out at the Training center on Middle Line Rd. In a perfect world, it will be a crystal clear winter night. Then during February break, there is a project day on 2/16 featuring Herbs in Clay Pots for those 8-11 and the nutrition project You're the Chef for the 12-18 set. Cloverbud Day is 2/18 and we'll look into snow and snowflakes.

Saturday, March 6th is Public Presentation Day, one of the biggest 4-H events of the year. It's exciting and scary at the same time, if you know what I mean.

Teen Council meets the 2nd Saturday of every month out at the Training Center on Middle Line Rd. (see photos) Over 13? Stop in and check it out.

Wrapping up 2009 in 4-H

December is right around the corner and then it's 2010! WOW!. Let's see...this fall we gave the county supervisors baskets full of homemade treats, had fun at Achievement Night, worked together Election Night collecting results for Channel 13, got started on Horse Bowl and horticulture training, had a great turn out for club officers training, and Teen Council elected new officers. Next up gingerbread house display at the Victorian Street Walk on Dec. 3rd in Saratoga Springs. Many clubs and members are working dilgently to create yummy houses for theis popular display. Then on December 8th, there will be and come and browse project fair here at the CCE office for adult and teen leaders to look over and try out various projects.

Coming up...preparing for Public Presentation Day in January, Cloverbud and project days in February, the start of Hippology and Dairy Bowl practice.

AND there's Thanksgiving and end of year holidays too!! PLUS snow and sledding and skiing and snowmen and skating- head outside and enjoy the winter.

Saratoga Co. 4-H'ers travelled to the NYS Fair August 26th- 31st. Their booth in the 4-H Building featured actvities from the Fabric/ Flight Connection project; paper helicopers, straw rockets and astronaut gloves. Fairgoers strolling through the building had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities sponsored by counties around the state. Several times a day, many of the 4-H'ers modeled the fashions they created during the Dress Revue. And of course there's always fair food (deep fried everything, Dinosaur BBQ, cotton candy), the rides, the music, the butter sculture, the livestock and shows, and more!! A good time was had by all

Celebrate 4-H!!

The theme for National 4-H Week this year is Celebrate 4-H! And we will be celebrating this fall with the Leader's Banquet on Sept. 24th and Achievement Night on Oct. 17th. Both of these events are good times to gather and enjoy the fruits of our 4-H labors over the past year. So mark your calendars.

A 4-H Discovery Day will be held on 8/15 out at the Training Center at 556 Middle Line Rd. in Ballston Spa. There will be archery from 1-3, a woodworking demonstration in the afternoon, forestry with tree, flower, and plant ID, fishing in the ponds, and other projects. Stop over if you are interested.

The great NYS Fair begins on Aug. 27 and runs through Sept. 7th. Saratoga Co. will be at the fair from 8/27- 8/30. Stop by the 4-H building and look for the Saratoga Co. booth if you go.

Hard to believe that Oct. 1st marks the beginning of the 2009-10 4-H year. See you soon!