We wish the best of luck to all of the Eaton County 4-Hers who are exhibiting at the 2022 Eaton County Fair starting July 9 with non-livestock judging! No matter how you place, congrats on all of your hard work and accomplishments all year that led up to this showcase of your efforts. Have fun and make the best of it!

Are you planning to help with your club's shift at the 4-H Food Shack during fair week? Here are a few things you may need to know:

As the 4-H year begins to come to a close in August, consider applying for a county 4-H award for all your hard work throughout the year! Award applications are available in August and due September 15. It does not matter how you did at fair or even if you went to fair - if you learned and grew in 4-H, you should apply! Youth and volunteers can apply or submit nominations in the following categories:

Watch for more information and the link to award application submissions in August!

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.

The JLA sale cannot run without YOU! We need a significant number of volunteers to help on the Thursday and Friday of fair week to make the sale run smoothly. We are still in need of help for the sale, especially in the afternoon and evening. As a reminder, youth who work a sale shift (or have a representative work a sale shift on behalf of the youth) will receive their sale check a week earlier than those who do not.

Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/guOTVPS

Note that adults will need to complete screening in order to volunteer this year! This includes all adults for the shifts listed below, whether you come from 4-H or FFA. 4-H age youth (4-H or FFA) do not need to complete screening to help. Screening at a Gold level may take 2-4 weeks and screening at a Silver level may take 3-4 days, so please plan ahead (if staff are processing a large volume, it will take longer - applying now is highly recommended! If you are not accepted as a volunteer prior to fair, you may not volunteer in the role). If adults are interested in volunteering for one of the sale shifts mentioned below and need to complete the minimum level of screening listed, you can apply at: https://msu.samaritan.com/custom/502/#/volunteer_home

JLA will be be auctioning off a couple of gift baskets to kick off the sale! The JLA board would like your help in securing donations for the baskets. There are are two themed baskets: Grilling and Movie Night.

Donations can be dropped off to the Extension office by 7/8 or to the back office on the fairgrounds during fair week. All donations need to be dropped off by Wednesday, 7/13, at 5pm.

Sign up here if you would like to donate (so the board can keep track of donations): https://signup.com/go/xuTVmuk

The JLA lunch coordinators are looking for large coolers to use to store food for the JLA lunch. If you have a large cooler that you would be willing to donate for use on sale day, please contact and drop off the cooler to Donyaellie Wheaton or the back office during fair.

All clubs that have youth registered in large animal projects in 4-H Online, regardless of intent to exhibit at fair or sell in the sale, are included in responsibilities of working a sale lunch shift and providing food for the sale lunch.

July 14, 2022

Eaton County Fairgrounds (in-person sale)

Sale will start at 10:00 a.m. with a pause for lunch following the beef sale.

Sale Order: Beef - Sheep - Swine

Sale Resources

The SAA sale cannot run without YOU! We need a significant number of volunteers to help on the Saturday of fair week to make the sale run smoothly. We are still in need of help for the sale.

Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/CLJLPTX

Note that adults will need to complete screening in order to volunteer this year! This includes all adults for the shifts listed below, whether you come from 4-H or FFA. 4-H age youth (4-H or FFA) do not need to complete screening to help. If adults are interested in volunteering for one of the sale shifts mentioned below and need to complete the minimum level of screening listed, you can apply at: https://msu.samaritan.com/custom/502/#/volunteer_home

July 16, 2022

Eaton County Fairgrounds (in-person sale)

Sale starts at 1:00 p.m., Silent Auction runs from 9:00a.m. to noon, luncheon begins at noon

Sale Order: Poultry - Rabbits/Cavies - Goats

You can find many resources for youth sellers and for buyers on the websites linked below, including the following:

Website for Youth Sellers: Sale rules (in the SAA Bylaws), Frequently Asked Questions document, lunch schedule and food list (when available), shift sign-up (when available), sale forms

Website for Buyers: Sale Flyer, Proxy and Premium Forms, Frequently Asked Questions document, and additional information

Ready to be out on your own? Learn some important skills to be successful as an adult. Our FREE Adulting 101-Summer Series includes: Getting Organized, Home Food Preservation, Informed Renter, and Healthy U!. Bring questions and gain practical skills you can use in your everyday life. Webinars will be held on July 12, July 19, July 26, and August 2 from 1:00-2:00 PM. EST.

Register at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/adult101summer

Ready your pickaxes and ignite your lightsabers as we get ready to bring Star Wars and Minecraft to the kitchen in 4-H in the Kitchen: Cloud City Creepers. Join us as we learn how to make two dishes, one inspired by the light side of the force and the other inspired by 64-bit building blocks. Participants will be able to take part either virtually or in person! Those attending virtually will receive a zoom invite two days prior to the start of each session. Those attending in person can do so at the following address:

Mason County Reformed Church

45 S Amber Rd

Scottville, MI 49454

All participants, both in person and virtual, will need to supply their own ingredients.

To register for the event, please click the following link:

Camp will be held July 31-August 6, 2022, in person, at Camp Chickagami in Presque Isle, on the shores of Lake Esau. This year’s camper fee is $500.00 per camper and includes 6 nights of lodging, all meals and snacks, a t-shirt, and experiential learning provided by MSUE staff, MSU Fisheries and Wildlife and MSUE Sea Grant. Camper age is 13-15 and they do not need to be a 4-H’er to attend.

Registration can be found on the 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resource Camp website.

*Reminder: Eaton County 4-H has scholarships to attend this event. Contact the Extension office prior to registering for information!

The Michigan State 4-H Dog Show provides an opportunity for 4-H members aged 8-19 to compete in Showmanship, Obedience, Rally, and Agility classes.

Link to register: https://events.anr.msu.edu/StateDogShow22/

Now open for registrations! 4-HYPE: A teen leadership and influencer retreat is a NEW overnight event for youth ages 12-19 taking place August 10-12 at Barothy Lodge in Walhalla, Michigan. Teens will participate in hands-on learning activities to sharpen their skills in communications, learn about their personal strengths and how they contribute to a team, and will learn about opportunities to get engaged in local and statewide Michigan 4-H leadership opportunities. Registration details are coming soon, but let us know if you’d like to attend and you’ll be the first to hear when it opens. Spaces are limited! Cost is $75, scholarships are available! Cost is fully covered for youth who sign up as a NEW 4-H Health Ambassador, thanks to a grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Register at: https://events.anr.msu.edu/4hype/

Do you love learning about money? Are you interested in gaining leadership skills and meeting youth from across the state of Michigan? If so, consider applying to be a Michigan Money Smart Youth Ambassador. Application is available now until August 1 for those 12-19! Apply today: https://bit.ly/MoneySmartYouth

Do you know a youth who is passionate about health and wellness for Michiganders? Or interested on building skills in leadership, communication, and marketing? Want to learn more about science, communication, childhood & adolescent vaccines, or healthcare? If so, click to learn more about the 4-H Community Health Ambassador Program and register for the upcoming training. Questions? Email Alyssa at piconeal@msu.edu.

It’s fair season, and that means youth will be competing at county fairs and animal shows around the state with their 4-H projects. Let’s review some sportsmanship guidelines so that all youth and adults have positive experiences at the fair.

Good 4-H animal project sportsmanship is defined as:

Exhibiting good sportsmanship is not just for youth 4-H members – it applies to everyone involved, including volunteers, parents, leaders and others.

Additional sportsmanship resources can be found at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/competitive_event_resources

Adapted from "Fair season and sportsmanship" by Michelle Neff. Find more about this article at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/fair_season_and_sportsmanship.

Are you prepared to show off your non-livestock projects at the fair? Non-livestock superintendents have suggested youth consider the following questions and tips that judges may consider: