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!

Wow, what a blast!!

Another busy year at the Saratoga County Fair has come and gone. Did everyone have fun!! Many fair goers complimented on the talent and skills represented by the exhibits in the 4-H building. Several said it was the "nicest building they'd seen." There was lots of traffic through the Poultry and Rabbit tent, Goat and Sheep buildings, Dairy Barn and horse stables. The 4-H Snack Bar once again served up the best breakfast, lunch and dinner at the fair. Great job by all the teens and adults who volunteered their time, especially Cathy, Pam, and Carolyn. The Leader's Association Chicken BBQ was especially delicious, and so any good pies! Another great year at the popular archery and shooting sports booths; busy, busy, busy. Looking forward to another great 4-H year and county fair in 2010.

Do you know about Pet Care? Dept. 12

Pet Care is open to all 4-H and Cloverbud members. Bring your pet to the 4-H building on Wednesday, July 15th at 7pm and talk to an evaluator about it. Look on page 27 of the Exhibitors Handbook for more information. Entries close on June 26th.

Also,

Tips of the week:

Read the rules for each dept. and section in the 4-H Exhibitors Handbook. For example:

Photography- each photo must be mounted on sturdy backgrounds (no construction paper, fun foam, etc.) Do not frame under glass or plastic. Adjacent to each photo must be a title or caption. Mountings and captions will be included in the judging process.

Art Objects- paintings, drawings, graphics/ prints and sculpture, any style must be appropriately displayed, stretched, matted or framed and READY TO HANG. Art work is to be signed on the front.

Be sure to pick up the 2009 4-H Exhibitors Handbook, forms and entry tags from the 4-H Office. It has a ship on the cover commemorating Henry Hudson and the Half Moon. (Do not confuse it with the Saratoga County Fair Book, which has a plain light green cover. It is for the open class.)

Also, for those of you new to the county fair, we will offer a class, Fair 101, on Tuesday, June 16th, beginning at 7pm. It will help you through the process.

All animals, Pet Care, Club Exhibits, Group Action Booth, and Young Farmers Olympics entry forms are due in the 4-H office by Friday, June 26th.

Here Comes The Fair

THE 4-H EXHIBITORS HANDBOOKS AND MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CCE OFFICE!!

Each club should send a representative to pick up handbooks ( 1 per family), entry forms (1 per exhibitor), and exhibit tags (1 per exhibit). There are also Advanced Entry forms (due June 26) for all animals, pet care, club exhibits, group action booth and young Farmers Olympics.

Stop on over!!

Did you know...

• The Saratoga County Fair will be July 14-19.
• The 4-H Exhibitors Handbook for the County Fair will be available on Monday, June 1st. This year's cover features a graphic similar to the Half Moon, the sailing ship Henry Hudson sailed up the Hudson River in 1609.
• Cloverbuds can exhibit at the fair! Up to 20 static exhibits, such as photos, arts and crafts, birdfeeders, plants, will be exhibited under Dept. 34, section A, class 1. Clubs turn in the registration form on June 26th.
• Clubs can set a club exhibit in the 4-H building to highlight one of the projects they worked on over the year. (Dept. 32, section A, class 1) Or they can select a topic suitable for an action demonstration from a 4-H project. Three club members and 1 leader will present for approximately 2 hours. Register by June 26.

2009 County Fair Patriotic Flags- Instructions

Preferred material: rip stop nylon, duck or canvas or broadcloth, no loose weave or burlap

Pattern cut: 19" wide X 29" long

Finished flag- 18" X 26"
Hem 3 sides- 1/4" turned under to finished 1/4"
Dowel pocket- 2 1/4" turned under to finished 2"

Sketch ideas on paper prior to working on flag
Hem sides and create dowel pocket
Deocrations can be stitiched on or stenciled or painted or glued

Saratoga County Fair

I'd like to try to use this site during fair season to post information about fair, answer questions and create a dialog among leaders. At the Leaders Assoc. meeting May 18th, we'll have information on tips for particpating at the county fair. 4-H Fair books are available on June 1st.

The June Highlights will be out soon. It is full of important county fair information so be sure to look for it in the mail. There is a patriotic theme this year; red, white and blue, stars and stripes. Stop by the office and pick up a flag to decorate- or I can send you the simple sewing instructions to make one.

Somebdy talk to me!!