January 2019
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Message from the Director

Happy New Year! I have a few exciting highlights to share from the past year.

Enrollment is growing.
4-H continues to grow with enrollment reaching 142,277 youth, up 30% from last year!
4-H is reaching deeper into our rural communities and expanding into our urban areas. Participation in our long-standing community club program and overnight camping programs has increased (6% and 15%, respectively), as well as participation in some of our new program deliveries like afterschool clubs.

Volunteers continue to make a positive impact.
The 4-H program continued to thrive with the support of over 14,000 caring adult volunteers – the heart of our program. Over the year, their service amounts to an estimated economic contribution of over $49.7 million (yes MILLION) dollars to 4-H. We have the most amazing, passionate, caring 4-H adult volunteers who not only share their time but their knowledge help support 4-H youth gain the skills they need for a lifetime.

4-H'ers are gaining life skills.
Our 4-H’ers continue to report that 4-H helped them develop workforce competencies, such as achievement/work ethic and communication skills; positive attitudes and aspirations towards science; science skills and abilities; improved college and career readiness; and the skills to be effective leaders!

What can you look forward to in the New Year?
We will continue our pattern of growth and having a positive impact on the lives of young people. We will also continue our efforts to strengthen our environmental education programming in clubs, schools, afterschool programs and camps through statewide implementation of Project Learning Tree – an award winning, nationally recognized program for 4-H aged youth!

New for our 4-H program
This year will bring lots of new support for our 4-H program:
  • A UC 4-H Youth Development Strategic Plan to help guide our work over the next 10 years,
  • A first-ever Annual Report to share with our community partners and stakeholders,
  • A volunteer recruitment campaign being launched nationally, and
  • New programs focused on college and career readiness and agricultural workforce development.

New fundraising opportunities
We are launching some new fundraising opportunities in partnership with the California 4-H Foundation to help support and sustain local county programming. More to come on the Forever 4-H Campaign!!

Stay tuned for all the great things the New Year has in store for 4-H!

Shannon 
Giving Tuesday thank you
Thank you for your support on #GivingTuesday

Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday took place on November 27 th and kicked off the giving season by inspiring people to give back. California 4-H once again participated in #GivingTuesday with exciting results!

Donors in 41 counties across the state gave to support various 4-H clubs and initiatives. Nearly $57,000 was donated —and thanks to an additional matching funds contributed by the California 4-H Foundation, more than $81,000 was raised in total for the program!
 
#GivingTuesday continues to grow each year as people come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.

“It’s been incredible to work with leaders all over the state building a movement around #GivingTuesday,” said Mary Ciricillo, CA 4-H Foundation Director. “This campaign has truly been embraced by the next generation of philanthropists and entrepreneurs.”
Infographic: 2018 Spark Survey Highlights
Thank you to all the 4-H'ers who filled out your Spark Surveys! Here is an infographic showing some of the highlights from the Spring 2018 surveys. Download a PDF to share how 4-H is helping youth gain life skills.

You can still fill out your Spark Surveys in ORB by January 31, 2019!
Login to ORB to fill out your Spark Surveys and increase your scores!

See our FAQs about the Spark Surveys and how they're used.
Sparks Wheel 2018
California 4-H Grown blog
How 4-H'ers can help with disaster relief

Published on: November 19, 2018 The past few years California and the nation have faced devastating natural disasters. When we see images of devastation and loss on the news and Internet our first instinct is to mobilize, organize, and help those ...

Read more
ucanr.edu
Now hiring
Extended: Apply for Data System Analyst position by Jan. 8th

Join the State 4-H office team as a Data System Analyst!

This role involves analyzing extensive and multi-layered processes and problems; developing identified online system needs and solutions, along with coordinating all validation and testing of new system processes that will improve efficiency of the 4-H program's enrollment system.

Club Leader Essentials Certification Course
Saturday, February 9, 2019
10 AM – 3PM
Back by popular demand!

We had such a positive response to our last class offering, we were asked to hold another Club Leaders Essentials certification course. Sign up by January 27, 2019 to reserve your space.

In-person and live streamed from the
University of California
Agriculture and Natural Resource Building
2801 2nd  Street - Davis, CA 95618

Register online by January 27, 2019

SPREAD THE WORD: Share the flyer

ABOUT THE COURSE:
This certification course will give Club Leaders basic information that they need to provide great leadership to their club. This course will help new Club Leaders understand their role, the lingo, programs and due dates, risk management, youth-adult partnership and outreach strategies.

Participants will earn the new Club Leaders Essentials Certificate.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
New Club Leaders (1-3 years). This is also a great refresher course for seasoned veterans and those mentoring others.

In-person: $30
Includes certification training, training materials and lunch

Live Streaming: $20
Includes live stream of in-person training and training materials*
(*Training materials and link for live stream will be sent via email upon receipt of payment)

Online registration will accept credit cards.

If paying by check, checks should be made payable to UC REGENTS and mailed to:
Club Leader Essentials Certification
c/o Scott Mautte
2801 Second Street
Davis, CA 95618

Questions:
Scott Mautte at 530-750-1335 or [email protected]
STEM Activity: Make a snowball launcher!

Try this fun physics activity that you can do with the snow or Styrofoam balls! In this experiment youth will learn physics by comparing the different launch items and angles to see what flies the farthest. Youth can create a launcher by using just a balloon and a plastic cup.

For more information on the experiment, please visit the littlebinsforlittlehands.com website.
California Agricultural Tourism Directory
We believe in getting to know your local farmers. Find out how to visit one in your community by checking out the California Agricultural Tourism Directory. You can even search by county. You'll learn about farm and wine trails, accommodations, entertainment, outdoor recreation, educational experiences, and more that are offered by California's farmers and ranchers.
State Fashion Revue 2019
June 1, 2019

The 4-H State Fashion Revue event is for all 4-H members. You don’t need to sew to enter! Members construct or purchase an outfit of their choice which fits into one of the entry categories, model in a fashion show, and participate in a variety of educational activities including community service.

Qualify at your County Fashion Revue
See your county 4-H newsletter or website for entry information for your County Fashion Revue. Junior, Intermediate, and Senior members who are County Winners in their County Fashion Revue, in the 5 State Categories, may qualify to advance to State Fashion Revue. Some counties offer additional categories, but these 5 are the ones that may advance to SFR.

2019 State Categories that do NOT require sewing:
  • Consumer Science Purchased, $40 limit
  • The Make It Mine Challenge
These 2 categories are open to all 4-H members to enter, not just members enrolled in a Clothing and Textiles (Sewing) project.  

2019 State Categories specifically for members in the Clothing and Textiles (Sewing) project:
  • Traditional
  • Retro/Historical Challenge
  • The Box Challenge

See the SFR event webpage or the 2019 SFR brochure f or category descriptions and 2019 service projects that all 4-H members can participate in .

The state committee organizing SFR is actively planning the event and looking forward to meeting you!

See the State Fashion Revue event webpage for more information.
2019 State Avian Bowl Qualifier
Saturday, February 23, 2019
The Greater California Society of Poultry Fanciers’ Show
Fresno County Fair Grounds

The Avian Bowl State Qualifier is a knowledge bowls where contestants demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge of subject matter for several species of poultry, food safety, physiology, nutrition, eggs, and other related subjects.

For more information regarding the 2019 State Avian Bowl Qualifier, please see visit the State Qualifiers for National Animal Science Events page .
CPPA 2019 Show Pig Scholarship
The California Pork Producers Association (CPPA) Youth Committee is now accepting applications from breeders and junior members for the 2019 Show Pig Scholarship program.
 
This program is offered to promote interaction between the leaders of today and those of tomorrow by providing junior members with a high-quality show pig for their county fair, as well as gain a depth of knowledge about the swine industry from the breeder.
 
A goal of the program to assist junior members with strong scholastic skills and have an interest in the swine industry who may not be financially able to purchase a show pig.
 
Applications are available on the CPPA website .
 
Deadline to apply is January 31, 2019.
2019 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition

Submission Deadline: March 1, 2019

Essay Topic: Honey Varietals, State to State

Each jar of honey reflects an unrepeatable combination of climate, soil, weather and flowers. Each state has unique honey varietals that beekeepers can market to their customers. Please identify one unique varietal to your state and discuss the flower’s uniqueness and how beekeepers can effectively market that varietal.

In your essay, please include a photo of the varietal’s flower, an interview with a local beekeeper who collects this varietal and a recipe that highlights the varietal.

Please see the complete competition details .
Last Call!
2018-2019 State Ambassadors
Apply for the 2019-2020 State Ambassador Team!

for application instructions, timeline, and links to apply and submit your reference.

For more information, contact the California 4-H Ambassador Coordinator, Jenna Colburn at  [email protected]


Applications are due
January 7, 2019
4-H Shooting Sports
18 th Annual Don Haglund Memorial Air Rifle Invitational Match

Saturday March 2, 2019
Stanislaus County Sheriffs Canine Training Center
250 E. Hackett Road Modesto, CA 95358

Registration Form and Members list by class and with shirt sizes MUST be in by the January 21, 2019 County Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting.

If you wish to register on line or for more information, please contact Dan Mello:
(209)535-5808 / [email protected]

This is an ALL DAY EVENT so bring your necessities, lunch, drinks, etc.
Save the Dates
California 4-H Equine Field Day

Saturday, Feb 2, 2019
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Diamond Bar Ranch - Ceres, CA

Who should attend?
4-H Horse Leaders, Volunteers, Members, Parents and all Horse Enthusiasts
About this event
·      Educational Sessions taught by great clinicians!
·      You do not have to own a horse to attend!
·      This educational event is a fundraiser for the Statewide 4-H Equine Programs.

For event information, please visit the 4-H Field Day website
Please contact Shauna Bond at [email protected] (530)260-3277
California 4-H Equine Education Contest Day

Saturday, April 27, 2019
8:00 AM – 8:0 PM
Fresno Ag Pavilion - Fresno, CA

New for 2019!!

The State 4-H Education Contests for Horse Judging, Hippology and Public speaking will be held on April 27th, 2019 at the Fresno Ag Pavilion from 8am-8pm.
2019 California State 4-H Horse Classic and Horse Bowl Contest

June 27 – June 30, 2019
Elk Grove, CA

The California 4-H Horse Classic offers 4-H members the chance to showcase the culmination of their efforts put forth in their equine projects throughout the year. At the State Championship Horse Show, 4-H riders have this opportunity to compete at a level beyond local, county or regional events. Participants must pre-qualify at  qualifying 4-H horse shows

Tentative Schedule
June 27 th : Horse Bowl Contest
June 28 th : English Flat and Jumping
June 29 th : Western Flat, Trail and Ranch Horse
June 30 th : Mini Horse and Gymkhana.

New to 2019
New this year is that Mini Horse classes will need to qualify. Ranch Horse division classes to include, ranch horse trail, ranch riding pattern, modified reining, western riding and ranch horse trail. Will have high point and reserve high point as well.
For more event information, please visit the 4-H Horse Classic webpage
For contact information, please contact Shauna Bond at
[email protected] / (530)260-3277. 

Keep up to date with Equine events; follow us on Facebook:
California State 4-H Horse Classic
Give to Grow 4-H
100% of your donations to the California 4-H Foundation support 4-H in California