4-H Clubs Exhibit at Pet Expo

Montgomery County 4-H participated in the Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo, Friday November 6 through Sunday November 8, which was held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. Throughout the weekend, 4-H members passed out informational brochures and were available to answer questions. A computerized slide show ran continuously, highlighting various club programs, horse shows and the 4-H fair. Banners, project posters, and photographs were on display. The club scrapbooks were available to look through and served as a visual explanation of each club’s activities.

The animals exhibited by 4-H members were a big hit. The public was able to meet and pet mini horses, goats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and Seeing Eye puppies.

The Expo provided an opportunity for Club members to reach out to the general public to show how 4-H has evolved from the traditional clubs to a large variety of non-traditional clubs. Livestock, dairy, horse, dog, cat, poultry, rabbits, sewing, beekeeping, gardening, fishing, crafters and Seeing Eye puppy are among those offered for children between the ages of 8 and 19 to join. Special projects such as 4-H State Achievement Days, the Exchange Program, Leadership Conference and Capitol Days were also highlighted.

Halloween Horse Show

Central Montgomery Co. 4-H Horse & Pony Club presents their 2009 Fall Fun Show. Held October 31, 9AM at the Montgomery Co. 4-H Center.
Registration is between 8:00 and 9 AM
For information: 610-287-7619
Come see our Costume Class! Food will also be available.

2009 4-H Fair Pictures Now on the Web!

Pictures from the 2009 4-H Fair are finally uploaded!

http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu/4-H/4-HFair2009/index.htm

If you see one you would like to have, email me and I will send it to you!

Norma Young, 4-H secretary
njy1@psu.edu

Study Says 4-H is Great!!!!

Study: 4-H Sparks Science Achievement in Children
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: October 7, 2009

BOSTON (AP) -- American universities have an ally in their efforts to educate more students in science, technology and engineering and keep the nation competitive in the global economy, a Tufts University study released Wednesday shows.

Children involved in 4-H perform better in those subjects and are more likely to pursue science careers, according to the study, released Wednesday in conjunction with 4-H National Youth Science Day.

''When parents ask, 'What can I do to get my kid a leg up?,' getting them involved in 4-H turns out to be a very effective strategy,'' said Richard Lerner, director of the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts and lead researcher for the multiyear study. Read more...

4-H Fair, August 6th - 8th

It's 4-H Fair Time!!!

The 4-H Fair takes place on August 6th , 7th & 8th at the 4-H Center located just outside Skippack on Rt. 113 in Creamery, PA. The Fair opens on Thursday, August 6th from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, Friday, August 7th 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM and Saturday, August 8th from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

There is LOTS to see and do! The Mobile Ag Science Lab will again be featured all 3 days during the Fair, and the Giant Fabric Sale will be ongoing throughout the fair. We have horse and tractor wagon rides, a wonderful Mexican Dance Troupe, the 4-H Animal Costume Show, a magic show, The Daisy Jug Band, and of course all of the 4-H clubs will be featuring their projects and the 4-H animals will be here with their people. Please join us!

Please go to this website for more information and flyers:
http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu/4-H/4HFair2009.html

Friendly Paw Dog Club Members Participate in Dog Handling Course

Friendly Paw Dog Club members recently completed a six-week training course on Conformation Dog Handling. Members met for an hour once a week to learn handling techniques and gating patterns. It was obvious by the marked improvement of both the children and their dogs' that they were diligent in practicing throughout the week at home. The knowledge they gained during the training sessions will enable them to compete in dog shows as well as Junior Showmanship competitions.


The culmination of the training sessions ended with a club field trip to the Huntington Valley Kennel Club show held at the Wrightstown Grange in Bucks County. Members were able to see first hand the professionals and owner-handlers at work in the ring with their dogs. This experience, of being able to see the application of the dog handling techniques they had been taught, helped to solidify their basic understanding Conformation Dog Handling. Several of the members were surprised to realize, "My dog and I are not that bad after all" and that all the compliments that club members had been receiving from their instructor at 'how good they were doing' were for real.


The highlight of the day was the Junior Showmanship Competition for children ages 9 through 18. In this competition the youth's ability to expertly present their dog is judged, not the quality of the dog. The Dog Grooming & Showmanship Competition that Friendly Paw Dog Club members participate in at the 4-H Fair is modeled after this event. 4-H permits contestants to enter any dog, pure or mixed breed, as long as they can safely control it in the ring.
Click here for photos of this event!

4-H Fair Update

1. This year members will be judged in their outfits prior to the fair, on Thursday, July 30 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the 4-H Center. You may come at any time, but not past 7:30 p.m. because we would like to be finished no later than 8 p.m.

If members will be on vacation, you may bring your member's outfit to the 4-H Center, on or before July 30, so that judges may judge construction.

2. 4-H members' projects will be on display at the 4-H Fair from 5:00 PM August 6th until 4:00 PM on August 8th. We will have a mini Fashion Revue (no competition) on Saturday, August 8 at 3:30, using the same commentaries from the County 4-H Fashion Revue on June 20. You will have an opportunity to sign up to participate when you come on judging night, July 30. All outfits will be kept here from July 30 until the Fair is adjourned. Members will need to arrive at 3:00 PM on August 8 to participate in the Fashion Revue. Be sure to bring along a written commentary if you did not participate at the Fashion Revue in June.

3. We need help setting up the clothing displays for the 4-H Fair on Tuesday, August 4 at 4 p.m. Adults and youth are needed to make the room look as beautiful as it has in the past. If you can help, please email or call Patti Colby at patticolby@msn.com or 610-630-8289.

In addition, we need members, parents and leaders on Saturday August 8 at 4:00 PM after the fair is over to help take down exhibit tables and clean the facility.

5. Again this year, there will be a GIANT Fabric Sale, to benefit your 4-H Center and the

4-H Clothing & Textiles Program. The hours will be August 6 from 6-10 p.m., August 7 from 9:30 AM-9 PM, and August 8 from 9:30 AM-3 PM. The sale will take place in the gym. Volunteers (parents, leaders and teens) are needed to help sell fabric and to sort/price the fabric during July and the week prior to the fabric sale. For every two hours that you work at the Fabric Sale, you will receive a $5 credit toward any purchases at the Fabric Sale. Email Patti Colby (patticolby@msn.com , preferred, or call 610-630-8289) if you can assist. If you want to donate fabric for the sale, we will accept donations at the Extension Office, beginning June 27 through July 25 (go to the website http://montgomery.extension.psu.edu/4-H/FabricDonations.html for specific dates and times). It is helpful if you can label the content and yardage amount.

6. During fair judging each level is judged separately. As a reminder, we will award Clovers for a truly outstanding job, and Grand and Reserve Champion for first and second place of all clothing entries, plus we will continue to award a "Best in Class" at each level. We'd like everyone to feel good about the ribbon he or she receives, whether it's red, blue, or white, and to understand that it's OK to not get a blue ribbon every time. Remember, everyone gets a ribbon! Members who don't fit into a specific 4-H clothing category can be judged in the "OPEN YOUTH" categories.

Sara Danehower Scholarship

Finally, it’s not too late to apply for the Sara Danehower Scholarship to help finance your 2010 4-H clothing and textiles project. The application will be forwarded in another email within the next week. Your leader also has a copy of the application. The deadline to apply is 7/15/2009.

See you at the Fair!

Patti Colby

4-H Volunteer