IT'S BACK! 4-H Exploration Days is Michigan 4-H's largest pre-college program and could be the highlight of your summer! The event is designed to help youth build the skills they need to successfully transition to college and to life as an adult. Michigan 4-H youth who participate have the opportunity to stay in MSU campus residence halls while attending sessions throughout their stay.

Dates: June 22 - 24, 2022

Theme: Explore your Spark

Registration fee: $220 for youth and $120 for adults. All participants will be required to pay a $50 deposit when registering.

Adult Chaperones Needed: Our county is in need of adults to serve as chaperones for our county delegation! Adults must be 21 or older, and successfully complete Gold level volunteer screening (or be a current Gold level volunteer). Lead chaperone and chaperone responsibilities can be found at https://www.canr.msu.edu/4_h_exploration_days/Volunteer-Information/Responsibilities-Procedures/. The cost of the event will be covered for Eaton County 4-H chaperones. Please contact Kristy at oosterh6@msu.edu or 517-543-2310 if you are interested!

Registration opens April 14 at 7pm and will be a first come, first serve basis and will be done in an online system this year. If you are interested in this event, please pay close attention to when the registration link is announced as this event can fill up fast and will have limited registration this year! **The registration link will be posted on the main page when it is available.** More information, including schedule changes from prior years and session options, can be viewed at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/4_h_exploration_days/

Ever wonder what your livestock judge is looking for in the arena?? You don't have to wonder anymore! You can learn what a judge is looking for and apply it to practicing for this year and picking out your animal next year. We will be covering Cattle, Sheep, and Swine over an 8 week period meeting once a week. Come to the Eaton County MSU Extension office on Thursday April 7th from 6:30-8:30pm for an informational meeting. Bring your friends!! If you cannot make this meeting, please contact Chevelle Hughes.

April 25 at 6pm, Kardel Hall

Register for the Zoom option: https://msu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqde6srjkuE9RBydywDmOyxu8hp9ejKHEs

All clubs should send a representative to this meeting. The Spring Leader Update Meeting will go over 4-H and fair updates and the 2022 Eaton County Fair.

Eaton County 4-H dog project leaders and members extend a welcome to Michigan 4-H Dog Project members and leaders and invite you to join us for a day of showing and fun being hosted by the Eaton County 4-H Dog Committee. The Eaton County 4-H Pre-Fair Dog Fun Match will be held on Saturday, May 14, at the Eaton County Fairgrounds. Registration the day-of starts at 7:30am and the show will begin at 9am with intermediate agility.

Pre-registration is preferred; please return forms (linked below) by May 1, 2022.

For more information and registration forms, rules, and flyer, visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/eaton-county-4-h-pre-fair-dog-fun-match

Eaton County 4-H Council is looking for linoleum or peel and stick tile remnants to cover the floor of the 4-H Food Shack building on the fairgrounds. If you have remnants that you would like to donate, please contact the Extension office at 517-543-2310 or Carla Nighbert.

The Eaton County 4-H Horse Development Committee (HDC) is asking all Eaton County 4-H horse members and volunteers to please complete the following survey for interest in programming and efforts for the 4-H Horse Development Committee.

4-H youth in the horse project area: The State 4-H Horse Show is back! We have 13 delegate spots for Eaton County 4-H (and will need 3 volunteers if we fill all 13 spots).

Dates: August 19-21,2022

Entries due to Eaton County MSU Extension office: July 8, 2022 (NOTE: Entries for our county are due earlier than the state advertised deadline due to our fair week)

As a reminder, to be considered as a delegate for the State 4-H Horse Show, all 4-H members must complete the delegate selection packet, including 8 of the listed activities, and return to the Extension office by July 1. The packet can be found at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/eaton/eaton_county_4_h/eaton_county_4_h_associations_and_committees/horse_development_committee

State 4-H Horse Show information will be available here starting May 1: https://www.canr.msu.edu/horses_ponies/

All meetings will be in-person at the PMR (basement conference room at the Extension office building) and will offer a Zoom option to connect virtually to the meetings, unless otherwise indicated. If you would like a virtual connection option for these meetings, please use the Zoom registration link for each meeting to register. Once you are registered, you will receive an email with the connection information. If nobody is registered for the Zoom option by 5pm the day of the meeting, Zoom connection will not be set up.

February 1 – April 30, we invite you to visit a local @JOANN store to create with your hands and give with your heart through a donation to @4-H. joann.com/4-H/ #JOANNhearts4H

Money, money, money! In honor of Financial Awareness Month held each April, Michigan State University Extension 4-H is sponsoring the 2022 Cash Composition Contest. Youth residing in Michigan, age 9-12, have a chance to win $100 by writing a 300 word (or less) essay on the importance of saving. Contest registration and essay submission must be completed by April 11. Contest details can be found: https://www.canr.msu.edu/4-h-money-smarts/money-smart-kids-contest

Youth 13-19 years olds, do you want to learn how to harness the power of time to make your money grow AND have an opportunity to win $100 in cash? In this fourth annual Show Your Money Smarts Contest, Michigan youth age 13-19 will compete in an on-line quiz challenge taking place the entire month of April. Contest registration must be completed by April 28, 2022 with the online quiz completed by April 30th. Contest details can be found: https://www.canr.msu.edu/4-h-money-smarts/show-your-money-smarts-contest

To help prepare youth for this contest, we are holding two webinars and have a self-guided learning experience.

March 24 at 6:15pm: https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/youth-money-3-24

April 13 at 4:30pm: https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/youth-money-4-13

Self-guided learning: https://www.canr.msu.edu/courses/grow-your-money

Ready to be out on your own? Learn some important skills to be successful as an adult. Our Adulting 101-Spring Series includes: Paying for Post-Secondary, Communication, Credit, and Resume. Bring questions and gain practical skills you can use in your everyday life. Webinars will be held on April 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 5:00-6:00 PM. EST.  Register at: https://events.anr.msu.edu/adulting101spring22/

Join 4-H staff as we take a look into life working with fisheries and wildlife! This month’s 4-H Wild Spartans Series will head out onto the Great Lakes to learn about fish of all sizes- from tiny venomous catfish to massive lake sturgeon. Join us on Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 at 6:30pm EST for ”Great Lakes Fisheries Investigations.” You will meet Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Technician, Brad Utrup, learn about his field work, and the education and career path he followed to get there. This scientist will take us above and below the water is a presentation full of photos and media detailing the work the Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station performs. Youth will be encouraged to ask questions to learn more through a live Q&A. This free series is open to 4-H and non-4-H youth ages 12-19 years. Monthly sessions will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm EST. Pre-registration is required: https://events.anr.msu.edu/wildspartans2022/

Exhibit your goats during the 4-H Goat Educational and Fun Show at the Montcalm County Fairgrounds on April 16^th. This show offers showmanship classes for ages 5 and up, dairy breed classes, a trail class, and more! Stay after the show for a market and fiber educational class and a goat cart demonstration. For more information visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/montcalm-county-4-h-goat-show This show is open to the public, and the entry fee is $5.

Contact Rachel Sheff with questions: ochylski@msu.edu (989) 831-7514

Interested in hosting a Japanese student for three weeks this summer? Learn about another culture, make a new international friend, and share about everyday American life! Become a host family with States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs! Contact Michigan 4-H International Exchange Programs Coordinator Jan Brinn brinn@msu.edu, your local MSU Extension office , visit their web page or email them directly for more information. http://www.states4hexchange.org/ exchange@states4h.org

Save the date: Michigan Dairy Expo and Michigan 4-H Youth Dairy Days comes back to the MSU Pavilion July 18-22, 2022! https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/michigan-4-h-youth-dairy-days

4-H alumni and supporters, we challenge you to get out and get moving this May! Compete for prizes for yourself and your county program just by walking. Make sure to pre-register now and tracking will begin on May 1! https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/michigan-4-h-alumni-and-supporters-walking-challenge

Please “Save the Date” for the Michigan 4-H Creative Arts Celebration to be held November 11-13, 2022, at the new location of the Ralph A. MacMullan (RAM) Conference Center, Roscommon.

The Michigan 4-H Creative Arts Celebration! (Formerly Visual Arts, Crafts, Sewing and Textiles) has been a popular overnight workshop with a life skill focus each year. This year will be the health benefits of the Arts from the 4-H Healthy Living & Mental Health First Aid team. Participants (4-H adult and teen gold leaders) will be learning new things, making new friends, putting all their creativity to work, and having a fabulous time! We are so excited to have an overnight face-to-face event at the new location this November 2022!

We are looking for potential instructors for this event. Sewing, textiles, visual arts, performing arts, crafts, art of cooking, photography, poetry, music, folk art, and so much more! If you are interested or know someone, please share to complete the link: https://forms.gle/DmvLn7o9YdCokH5z7

Save the Date! Join us on Wednesday, July 13th at the MSU Pavilion in East Lansing! The State 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest is held in conjunction with the Michigan Livestock Expo (MLE) and is a collaborative effort between Michigan 4-H and Michigan FFA. By participating in the livestock judging contest, contestants can enhance their livestock evaluation and selection skills, as well as improve their communication and decision-making skills. Registration information coming! https://www.canr.msu.edu/4_h_animal_evaluation/

Here are a few ways volunteers can add goal-setting skills to the experiences of their participants:

The Teen Leadership Project Guide is an excellent additional resource to help young people think of leadership as a project, as well as help them plan for how to improve and increase their skills. 

Adapted from "Five tips for building five key leadership skills - Part 4: Setting goals" by Sara Keinath. For more information and additional resources, visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/5_tips_for_building_youths_leadership_skills_part_4_setting_goals.

April 3- 17, fairgrounds

Groups that are exhibiting at the 2022 fair have been assigned spots to clean-up by fair board; see email sent from Martin to groups on 3/26/22 regarding spots.

Sheep tag in will be held at the Sheep Barn at the Eaton County Fairgrounds on April 24, 2022, 1pm-4pm. Tag in information is available at: http://eatoncountyfair.com/pageserver/tag-in

Swine tagging must be completed by April 29. NOTE: There are no Eaton County Fair tags this year due to supply chain issues. Please record the USDA tag numbers for your animals on the form. Forms, hair samples, and photos are due back to the Extension office by April 29. Tag in information is available at: http://eatoncountyfair.com/pageserver/tag-in

Prepare for fair with Bonnie Seitler, Eaton County dog superintendent and advisor for the Eaton County 4-H Dog Committee! Bonnie's dog classes are on Wednesdays (starting after spring break), at 6:30pm at the fairgrounds. Contact Bonnie with any questions at 517-543-3011.

4-Hers in the dog project and Eaton County Fair dog exhibitors, please remember to fill out and return the dog project form to Bonnie by May 1!

Form can be found at the bottom of the Dog Committee page at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/eaton/eaton_county_4_h/eaton_county_4_h_associations_and_committees/dog_committee

The fair book has a new class for antiques, vintage, and heritage projects. You can find information about the class, project guidelines, and the form to fill out for the class at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/eaton/eaton_county_4_h/eaton_county_4_h_club_resources/project_guidelines

Fair entry information and instructions for online entries via Fair Entry will be available starting in May, with entries due in June.