University of Illinois Extension Winnebago County
4-H Clover Newsletter
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/winnebago/4HClover/
For more information, please contact:
Winnebago County Unit
1925 S. Meridian Road
Rockford, IL 61102
Phone: 815-986-4357 / Fax: 815-986-4329
E-mail: winnebago_co@extension.uiuc.edu
You may know Winnebago County former 4-Her Elizabeth Flores who can be found helping with a variety of Extension programs this summer. Please be sure to welcome her to our staff when you see her at future events! We are so glad to have her!
WELCOME JUDI SCHMELING!
We also welcome Harrison Hotshots leader Judi Schmeling as a summer helper. We are so pleased that she has agreed to help us this summer!
Goodbye
I want to take a moment of your time to say goodbye to all those in Winnebago County 4-H. My job position has been eliminated; therefore, after July 14, 2006, I will no longer be with Extension. I hope you will all be patient with those who are working on the fair this year and will help as much as possible.
Chris
It's a Boy!!
Most of you know, but for those who don't, my husband and I are having a baby expected on June 17. I want to thank all of the wonderful volunteers, members and parents for all the hard work done helping with fair and other 4-H events. Please continue helping Judi and Liz survive the upcoming events. I will let everyone know when Baby Groves arrives!
Marshal John Groves arrived on June 11 (his daddy's birthday!) at 8:59 p.m. He weighed 6lbs 8 oz. Mom, Dad and baby are doing fine.
Record Finish Up
RECORD FINISH UP
Packets will be sent to leaders soon. Individual State Award applications will be due in the Extension Office on Friday, September 1.
Clover Challenge Agreements
DON'T FORGET YOUR CLOVER CHALLENGE AGREEMENT!
One signed copy is due in the Extension Office July 1.
Rocketry Kit Info
Want more info on rockets? The answers are just a click away. Head over to www.rocketryonline.com where you will find 239 different vendors. Click on Vendors Icon under the Go To menu. If you are looking for a big rocket for a Level 4 project you can use a Public Missiles kit or an Aerotech Kit.
What is 4-H About?
As we are about to enter into 4-H Show season we'd like to remind all of you what the 4-H program is really about. It isn't about trophies or ribbons; it's about learning life skills.
4-H'ers can learn things like setting goals, taking action on something, new skills, how to play fair, when to ask for help, how to utilize resources, ways to develop relationships in the community, and how to learn from others' input. It's so important that we take the 4-H opportunity to help our youth learn what they can for the future.
Learning things like how to be angry if you didn't get a trophy or the champion ribbon is NOT what we want our youth to learn. Let's teach our 4-H'ers good sportsmanship and how to be thankful for the opportunities that they have. What a great chance we have to teach today's youth!
4-H can be a very rewarding experience even if a 4-H'er doesn't win the top prize! Let's all team up together to help 4- H'ers learn why they are a part of the nation's largest and finest youth program!
Club State Award Aps
CLUB STATE AWARD APPS DUE IN OFFICE JULY 31
**Member award applications and all record finish-up paperwork due in Extension Office September 1.
4-H Restaurant
To all the 4-H'ers, parents and volunteers that made last year a great success THANK YOU for all your help. Let's do it again this year!
The Restaurant is under new management this year and plans are underway to make the restaurant even better. We will still need volunteers to keep the 4-H Restaurant going. Club schedules will be coming out soon.
If you have any questions or need info call Cathy at 986-4357.
Helping Leaders be 4-H Savvy
PREPARING FOR 4-H FAIR/SHOW EXHIBITS:
4-H Fairs or shows are often the highlight of the 4-H year. From a youth development perspective, fairs allow 4-H members to display projects and to participate in educational experiences critiqued by an adult expert. Shows provide opportunities for 4-H members to demonstrate new knowledge, abilities, skills and attitudes. Fairs provide a showcase for recognition of youth and allow an avenue for youth people to practice the life skills of teamwork, cooperation, communication, sportsmanship and club pride and unity.
Youth Responsibilities:
4-H members need to establish a time line to work on their 4-H projects. They should set realistic goals on what they want to accomplish and set realistic completion dates. Be sure to read the rules and regulations outlined in the 4-H section of the fair book as well as the 4-H "fair" newsletter. Pay close attention to deadlines and specific requirements for each project. It may be helpful to highlight the wording in the fair book for each project in which members are enrolled. 4-H members need to do their own project work and complete it in the current year. Members will want to refer to the conference judging materials that are available on the 4-H web site (www.4-H.uiuc.edu/staff/fieldstaff.html) under Enrollment and Fair ~ Judging - Conference Judging Fact Sheets or obtain these fact sheets from their local Extension office. By reviewing these written materials, members may become more comfortable with discussing their projects with the judge. Judging score sheets for individual projects should also be available.
Parent Responsibilities:
Parents are encouraged to help 4-H members obtain the materials and resources needed to complete 4-H
projects. Adults may answer questions, demonstrate skills, and offer guidance on project work but should not do the work themselves! Parents need to be familiar with the exhibit guidelines and judging schedules so they can help members be ready and on time for the various judging events. Adults can offer encouragement as young people prepare for conference judging and can provide support and reflection as youth complete the judging experience. Some counties offer parent meetings to help families become familiar with the "fair experience." Take advantage of these sessions!
Volunteer Responsibilities:
4-H leaders are a valuable asset when assisting members in their fair preparations. Volunteers are the link between the Extension office and the families. Be sure that 4-H families have the materials they need (project manuals, fair book, entry forms, and newsletter) to adequately prepare. Fair superintendents, 4-H curriculum committee members, project leaders, and older youth enrolled to similar projects can also answer questions and help members prepare their exhibits.
Club Responsibilities:
Clubs are encouraged to conduct a meeting where projects that are going to be exhibited at the fair are brought in and a mock judging occurs. This allows the members to practice the "question and answer" period of conference judging and provides adults with the opportunity to offer "last minute" suggestions for finalizing projects before the fair. Invite parents to attend along with the members and use this meeting as an opportunity to provide feedback and recognition to individual members and to promote club unity and pride.
4-H exhibits at a fair or show are designed to showcase the work of young people to others in the community. It provides young people with the opportunity to demonstrate skills and knowledge as well as to gain ideas for improvement. 4-H members are encouraged to try something more challenging each year and to practice good sportsmanship. Exhibiting is designed to be an enjoyable educational experience not just a contest. Enjoy the fair experience!
4-H Show Helper Sign-Up
4-H SHOW HELPERS
(Parents, 4-Hers, Others)
DEADLINE AUGUST 1
RECORDERS OR 4-H BUILDING HELPERS–NON-LIVESTOCK JUDGING
That there will be about 1500 projects in non-livestock areas judged on August 4? Each of the 25 or more judges need an assistant to help record grades and comments on score sheets, give out ribbons, etc. These assistants need to be available from orientation at 12 p.m. until the judges leave at the end of the day (hopefully by 7:30 p.m.). We need judges assistants and helpers.
Conference Judging-Message to Leaders & Parents
A Message to Leaders and Parents
Each child is an individual of utmost importance. Keeping this in mind, the leader should try to make 4-H a positive learning experience. Part of this experience is the 4-H exhibit.
The 4-H exhibit is not an end in itself nor does it measure all the learning that takes place in the 4-H project. The exhibit is only one measure of success. Self-recognition, self-satisfaction and the learning from completing the project are important rewards.
1. Discuss the purpose of judging with 4-H members & their parents:
§ To evaluate the exhibit which is an example of the child's work.
§ To help each member see the process that he/she has made and put judging in perspective.
2. Help the child set realistic goals for himself/herself according to his/her own age and experience.
3. Be sure that your goals are in line with the child's age and experience.
4. Recognize good work. Give constructive criticism.
5. Be familiar with the requirements or criteria of the 4-H project that is to be judged.
6. Be familiar with several methods of accomplishing the desired result.
7. Regardless of who does the judging there are some basic points to keep in mind:
§ The development of young people is our first consideration in 4-H work.
§ We are really concerned more about what the 4-H'er learns than with the exhibit.
§ Projects are a means to an end – not an end in themselves.
§ No exhibit is so poorly done that it is not worthy of an encouraging comment.
§ No exhibit is so well done that some improvement may not be made.
8. Judging is done according to quality standards. It is not a matter of personal whim or tastes. The standards area:
§ High, but attainable
§ Appropriate to different age levels.
§ Known by the 4-H members.
9. Projects are evaluated, not members. All completed projects meeting show requirements will receive a Blue, Red or White rating. Projects are evaluated independently, not compared.
Blue.......... meets requirements
Red........... needs improvement
White........ needs much improvement
10. Stress that judging comments can be helpful, but that they are only one person's evaluation.
11. In competition, avoid overemphasis of the winner. Help the child accept the results of the competition and realize that through his/her own accomplishments everyone is a winner.
Conference Judging-4-H Members
A Message to the 4-H Member
Judging is a learning experience. From which, you can learn what you did well and how that you could improve in the future. An exhibit does not measure all that you have learned, but it is an example of what you have done.
1. During conference judging, the judge will encourage you to talk about your project exhibit.
2. You will be asked some questions about your exhibit, so you should be prepared to tell what you were trying to do in your project (goals and objectives) and be able to describe the methods and processes used to produce the exhibit.
3. Read and follow the rules and requirements for your project carefully.
4. Learn good sportsmanship.
5. Listen carefully to the judge so that you can accept constructive criticism, and learn from it.
6. Remember, judging comments can be helpful, but they are only one person's evaluation.
