4-H Program Contact Information

• 4-H Program Coordinator: Zaire Parrotte - zaire@msu.edu - 517-543-4420
• 4-H Online enrollment questions: Please reach out to Sara Corr, Eaton’s support staff, at 517-543-2310 or msue.eaton@msu.edu
• Newsletter additions: Zaire Parrotte
• You can also reach out to Roxanne Turner, District 8 supervisor (including Eaton), at turnerr@msu.edu or 517-546-3950.

Save the Date: Participation Celebration Banquet - January 20th, 2024

The 4-H Participation Celebration will be on Saturday, January 20th, at Kardel Hall at the Eaton County Fairgrounds. The doors will open at 5:30pm and dinner will be at 6pm.

All are invited to join 4-H Council in celebrating our award winners and volunteers for an evening of food, entertainment, and celebration. The awards banquet is returning to the pre-pandemic format with a catered meal from Swede's!

Tickets will go on sale at the Extension office December 11 - December 22 and January 3rd. Award winners (including volunteers receiving years of service awards), and kids 6 and under are free. All others are $5/ticket. Those being recognized at the event as award winners (including volunteers receiving years of service awards) will receive a post card invitation in the mail in the next couple of weeks.

January 3rd is the deadline to purchase tickets.

Extension office hours

The Extension office will be closed the following dates for county and/or MSU holidays:

• Monday, December 25 through Tuesday, January 2
• Monday, January 15

The Extension office is open generally from 9am - 5pm and closed from noon to 1pm, Monday through Friday.

We may be closed occasionally due to the availability of staff. Please be patient with us if we are closed on short notice! You are always welcome to call the office to check hours prior to making the trip. Our phone number is 517-543-2310.

Save the Date - Upcoming County Meetings

4-H Council: Monday January 8th at 7pm, in the PMR

• Open to all regardless of project area! Every club is encouraged to send at least 1 volunteer and 1 youth to every Council meeting.
• This meeting will feature officer elections (youth and Gold level volunteer board), awards and banquet updates, and programming ideas for the upcoming year.

Jr Livestock Association: Monday December 11th at 7pm, in the PMR

• Open to all youth and volunteers in the beef, dairy beef/feeders, sheep, and swine project areas.
• This meeting will feature office elections (youth board), and sale committee discussion

Horse Development Committee: Wednesday December 13th at 6:30pm, in the PMR

• Open to all youth and volunteers in the horse project area
• This meeting will include a discussion on creating an educational horse workshop in June

Small Animal Association: Thursday December 7th at 7pm, in the PMR

• Open to all youth and volunteers in the poultry, rabbit/cavy, and goat project areas
• This meeting will feature office elections (youth board and species representatives) and wrap-up from the 2023 sale

Dog Committee: Wednesday March 20th at 6:30pm, in the PMR

• Open to all youth and volunteers in the dog project area.

Support Michigan 4-H with holiday shopping!

Buy your favorite Michigan 4-H apparel, drinkware, and essentials at the SHOP 4-H Online Store! 

Offered in collaboration with National 4-H Council through Shop 4-H, the Michigan 4-H store offers Michigan 4-H branded apparel and other gifts. Visit the store online and find the perfect item for your favorite 4-H’er, volunteer, alumni, professional or fan! The shop is open to the public and a percentage of all proceeds will be donated to Michigan 4-H. 

To order Michigan 4-H specific items, visit https://bit.ly/30pdNJw. The store will remain open beyond the holiday season to continue offering Michigan 4-H branded gear to the Michigan 4-H community. 

Interested in attending a state or national 4-H workshop, camp, or other event? Don't forget - Eaton County 4-H has many scholarships available to help cover the cost of the events! For more information about scholarships, visit the link in the button below or contact 4-H staff.

MICHIGAN 4-H DAY AT THE BRESLIN - February 24th, 2024

MSU Campus, Breslin Center, 534 Birch Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824

Join us as the Spartan Women’s Basketball Team takes on Rutger’s Women’s Basketball Team!

SAVE THE DATE! You’re ALL invited to attend the eighteenth annual celebration of MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development at the Spartan Women’s basketball game, Saturday, February 24, 2024.

Ticket Price: FREE for the Michigan 4-H community including MSU Extension and 4-H youth, volunteers, partners, stakeholders, staff, alumni and their families! 

Tickets: Ticket reservations will begin in the mid-December. Look for additional information in December on the event website.

2024 Host Family Applications Open!

If you or your family is interested in hosting this summer, we invite you all to come join the fun and apply to host a student for 2024! Michigan 4-H will be having 14 Japanese youth and one Chaperone available in 2024 for interested families opening their home and hearts by hosting! 

Currently they are scheduled to arrive in Grand Rapids, MI July 21^st and depart August 16^th to meet host families. A host family needs to complete the States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs online application, have a youth to match as a host brother/sister (be within 3 years of age), be Michigan 4-H adult Gold Volunteers, participate in an interview and home visit process. 

Applications to host can be found at www.states4hexchange.org

For more questions, reach out to Jan Brinn - brinn@msu.edu or John Wurm - wurmj@msu.edu

4-H WILD SPARTANS SERIES!

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 take a dive into the Great Lakes and rivers to explore their coldwater residents. Join us on Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 6:30pm EST for “Casting for a Career in Coldwater Conservation.” 

You will meet the Great Lakes Engagement Coordinator for Trout Unlimited, Jamie Vaughan, learn about her field work, and the education and career path she followed to get there. 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/wildspartans20232024/ 

2024 State Rabbit and Cavy Expo and Show

MSU Pavilion 4301 Farm Lane Eat Lansing, MI

January 27th, 2024

Join us for the State 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Expo and Show!   

Youth may choose to exhibit their rabbit and/or cavy as well as compete in other contests such as breed identification, photography, and educational display.  

Here by popular demand, Rabbit and Cavy Showmanship!  

Showmanship exhibitors are required to pre-register by January 19, 2024 at https://events.anr.msu.edu/showmanship_state_rabbit_and_cavy/.

Educational sessions will be scheduled throughout the day with the support of The Rabbit School. We will have the schedule posted in the showroom as well as on our Facebook Page MI State 4-H Rabbits.

Contact Glenda Weiss for further information.  weissgle@msu.edu or 517-676-7303

Michigan 4-H Horse Show Judges and Volunteers Conference

January 13th-14th, 2024

MSU Pavilion, East Lansing, MI

This annual event hosted by the Department of Animal Science and the MI 4-H Horse Judges Advisory Committee is open to all Judges, Horse Show Mangers, and adult Volunteers. The registration fee is $80 and includes lunch on Saturday as well as program materials.

Please register by January 2, 2024, to avoid the late registration fee (additional $20). Online payment and registration link: https://commerce.cashnet.com/MSU_3645

For counties interested in using University account numbers for payment, please send an email prior to January 2, to the event coordinator, Carla McLachlan at carlam@msu.edu

SAVE THE DATE: 2024 National 4-H Conference Program

April 19-24, 2024

For youth ages 15-19 who are currently enrolled in 4-H

National 4-H Conference is the flagship youth development opportunity of the USDA focusing on 4-H Civic Engagement, hosted by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). From April 19 to 24, this nationally recognized event will be developing the next generation of leaders alongside federal partners. Here is a link to an introductory/ promotional video and here is a link to the 2023 Evaluation Report.

National 4‑H Conference is the pinnacle experience in 4‑H Civic Engagement, providing the opportunity for young people to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, nation, and world. At the conference, delegates (ages 15-19) will have the opportunity to participate in round table discussions, present to federal partner agencies, and engage with their U.S. Senators and Representatives. 

To sign up, contact Liana Pepin at deisenro@msu.edu.

2024 Winter/Spring 4-H Volunteer Webinar Series

This webinar series will provide Michigan 4-H volunteers with a variety of learning opportunities to help them grow as a volunteer. All webinars take place at 12pm (noon) and at 7pm. Registration is required for each individual webinar - registration is free! Recording will be posted on the website for later viewing.

Sessions include:

• January 23, 2024: Teaching Science When You Don't Know Diddly Squat
• February 7, 2024: Engaging 4-H Youth in Animal SCIENCE Education
• March 18, 2024: Group Management for 4-H Clubs and Groups
• April 22, 2024: Working with Cloverbuds
• May 13, 2024: Preparing 4-Hers for Fairs and Showcases
• May 22, 2024: Managing Risk For Volunteers

Contact: Christine Heverly - sisungch@msu.edu

MSU Extension Listening Session Series

MSU Extension is holding a series of public listening sessions across the state. Through these sessions, we hope to gather input to determine where the organization is, what we do well, and where there are opportunities for improvement. This feedback will be used to help shape MSU Extension’s priorities and service for years to come.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend – youth, parents, community and statewide partners, all MSU Extension-affiliated faculty and staff, and curious community members.

What to Expect:

Participants will be invited to share their perspectives and insights through a series of facilitated activities. Finally, common themes heard from participants will be identified and reflected to the entire group for each activity. If time allows, participants may be able to give additional input through worksheets. Light refreshments will be provided.

Pre-registration is highly encouraged. Walk-in registrations may be limited due to facility capacity.

Listening Session Locations and Dates:

• Dec. 11 - Marquette - 4-6:30 p.m. - Northern Center, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855
• Dec. 12 - Grayling - 4-6:30 p.m. - Kirtland College Event Center, 4800 W. Four Mile Road, Grayling, MI 49738
• Dec. 13 - Frankenmuth - 4:30-7 p.m. - Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center, 3775 S. Reese Road, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
• Dec. 14 - Muskegon - 4-6:30 p.m. - Muskegon Community College, 221 S Quarterline Road, Muskegon, MI 49442
• Dec. 18 - Kalamazoo - 4-6:30 p.m. - Kalamazoo (location to be announced at a later time)

For more information and to register, go here: https://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?eventID=7AB45541B5A9FF764E84F4C92F89AB4C990CEAD5C94E1F54F3B8026582DBCA3F

2023 Michigan 4-H State Award winners announced

The Michigan 4-H State Awards Program recognized outstanding 4-H members during the opening session of 4-H Exploration Days on June 22. At the event, honorees had the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments with their fellow 4-H Exploration Days participants.  

A Michigan 4-H State Award is the highest honor bestowed on Michigan 4-H members and recognizes a level of excellence in learning, leadership and service. In total, 22 4-H members from 15 counties submitted applications to take part is this year’s program.

“All of our 4-H’ers across the state are amazing but the youth honored with 4-H State Awards are some of our most accomplished,” said Julie Chapin, state 4-H leader for Michigan and director of MSU Extension’s children and youth programs. “They have demonstrated their dedication to improving themselves and their communities through 4-H, service and more.”

Michigan 4-H State Awards were presented in 13 of the 20 available award categories that showcase the diverse array of 4-H knowledge, skills and experience. Recipients of the 2023 awards are:

• Beef Science: Caleb Souva of Branch County (junior division) and Bridget Paidl of Menominee County (senior division)
• Birds & Poultry Science: Makayla King of Van Buren County (senior division)
• Career Development: Avery Stallman of Macomb County (junior division)
• Companion Animal Science: Stellamia Aerts of Monroe County (senior division)
• Environmental Science: Amanda Towne of Van Buren County (senior division)
• Gardening and Horticulture: Katie Miller of Eaton County (junior division)
• Goat Science: Dori Stuever of Huron County (senior division)
• Leadership: Makayla Chew of Midland County (junior division) and Alexis Fisher of Monroe County (senior division)
• Rabbit and Cavy Science: Brandon Fisher of Monroe County (junior division) and Morgan Bliesener of Ingham County (senior division)
• Shooting Sports: Justin Yarger of Monroe County (senior division)
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Peter Rambadt of St. Joseph County (senior division)
• Swine Science: Joseph Endres of Isabella County (junior division)
• Visual, Performing and Expressive Arts: Alana Aulph of Monroe County (senior division)

The Michigan 4-H State Awards Program is open to 4-H members who are 13-19 years old with three or more years of 4-H experience. To qualify for the award, 4-H’ers must submit a written application that showcases the learning experiences, knowledge and skills they’ve acquired through their participation in 4-H, as well as their contributions to their local 4-H programs, clubs and communities. Submissions are reviewed by the Michigan 4-H State Awards selection committee. This group of volunteers, staff members and industry experts determine which members are selected as award finalists. All applicants receive written feedback from selection committees.

In addition to a plaque, each 4-H State Award winner in the senior division will also receive a $200 cash award; junior winners receive $50 cash awards. These awards are made possible by generous donations to the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

This section will feature a different topic each newsletter highlighting best practices for 4-H clubs. Everyone, youth 4-Hers, adult volunteers, and families, can contribute toward making their club the best and following best practices!

Office roles and responsibilities

Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development offers teens an opportunity to develop leadership skills while preparing them for using these skills as adults. Club officer positions provide an opportunity to practice real leadership roles that impact the success of a group. The following describes the four essential officer positions their responsibilities and supporting materials to help officers be successful.

President

The president of a club presides over meetings, builds the meeting agenda, assures that the meeting runs in an orderly manner and strives to make sure all members’ opinions are heard. If committees are needed, presidents appoint committee members. Since the president is responsible for creating the meeting agenda, it is important they are familiar with the order of business. A typical meeting agenda would consist of:

• Call to order
• Pledges
• Roll call
• Secretary’s report
• Treasurer’s report
• Old business
• New business
• Announcements/leaders report
• Adjournment

Vice president

Vice presidents fill in for the president and presides over the meeting if the president is absent, therefore, the vice president must understand the roles and responsibilities of the president listed above. Additional responsibilities to consider giving the vice president includes following-up with any committees to make sure they stay on task, having them responsible for the learning portion of the meeting and serve in the role of introducing presenters or guests.

Secretary

The secretary records all of the business of the meeting and a record of each member’s attendance. Secretaries provide a report at each meeting by presenting the minutes from the previous meeting. This can be done by providing a handout or by reading the minutes aloud, and must be approved by the entire group. Once minutes are approved, they become the official record of the business that was conducted at the meeting. Secretaries should record full minutes as soon as possible after the conclusion of the meeting so that the discussion is fresh in their mind. Keep all meeting minutes in one safe place so they can be referenced as needed.

Treasurer

Treasurers are responsible for keeping track of and reporting the income and expenses for the club. Treasurers are responsible for writing checks for expenses, making any deposits into the club account, balancing the club check book, and preparing and reporting a treasurer’s report to the 4-H club. A treasury report must include previous balance from the last report, a summary of income and expenses since the last meeting. The treasurer should be prepared to answer specific questions regarding income, expenses and current balance. Managing Money Wisely is a full financial manual for 4-H treasurers.

For more information regarding roles and responsibilities of officers in clubs Michigan State University has excellent resources to assist each of the officers as well as a publication “Helping You Help Officers and Committees,” which assists volunteers in supporting officers in their roles.

Adapted from "Officer roles and responsibilities in a 4-H club" by Janelle Stewart. Find more about this article at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/officer_roles_and_responsibilities_in_a_4_h_club.

Fair board meetings

Fair board holds public meetings on the third Monday of the month. The next public fair board meeting is Monday, December 18th, at 7pm at Kardel Hall.