_{Check out what's coming up!} 

Have you ever wondered how baskets are made? Explore the basics of weaving with a woven greeting card (youth ages 5-7) and make your own flat-reed basket (youth ages 8+) with friends and 4-H volunteers. Please register by Wednesday, March 8th. Is the $10 supply fee a financial barrier for your family? Call the 4-H office and let us know.

The 88th annual 4-H Capital Days Program will be held April 16-18, 2023. The objectives of the 4-H Capital Days program are:

If you area high school student and interested in attending, please contact the Monroe 4-H office at monroe4h@cornell.edu before Friday, March 10th, 2023 as registrations are due by Friday, March 17th.

The Cornell University Department of Animal Science is pleased to announce 2023 Animal Crackers, "All Creatures Great and Small”, on Saturday, May 6, 2023, on the Cornell University campus. This year’s program will highlight Dairy, Sheep, Poultry, Rabbit/Cavy topics. 4-H youth 8-12 years old or those with beginner to intermediate knowledge of the covered species are invited to participate.

There is a $20 per youth cost to attend the program - adult chaperones are free. Attendees are asked to bring their own lunch. Registration for the event will open soon and must be done through the Monroe County 4-H Team.  

In celebration of New York agriculture, volunteers

throughout the state will read a book with an agricultural theme to elementary classrooms during Agricultural Literacy Week on March 20-24th.

The featured book for 2023 is Tomatoes for Neela by Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi.

If you would like to volunteer to read to a local 2nd grade class, please contact the 4-H Office at monroe4H@cornell.edu by Friday, March 3rd.

If you are a teacher, please reach out to register. We are still recruiting classrooms.

The Sewing Sparks club took postcards to the next level! They tried several stitches and layered several pieces of fabric to create their personalized fabric postcards.

As part of their outer space theme, the 4-H Friends made Mars rovers at their last meeting!

The 4-H UNITY teens got to experience printmaking as well as tour the Flower City Arts Center in February, learning about careers in the visual arts. In the spirit of Black History Month, the teens also learned about how Black exemplars such as George Washington Carver contributed to innovations in the printing industry. As part of their experience, they were able to try out hand at using a printing press to print a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr's book, "Stride for Freedom."

Although honey bees are much-beloved for honey, bees also produce beeswax that can be used in many ways. For this essay, a 4-H student should discuss why beeswax is so important to the hive (it's a pantry, it's a nursery, it's the dance floor), but also discuss their favorite way to use beeswax outside the hive. Photos of candles, soaps, or lip balms that are made to show the 4-H'er's skill in using beeswax are welcomed as are recipes or brief instructions.

Eligibility: The 2023 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition is open to active 4-H Club members only.

The state selection process must be completed through the State 4-H Office. State competition entries to be evaluated for national submission may be submitted for judging via email to afd7@cornell.edu

National winners will be announced: June 15, 2023.

Three cash prizes will be awarded in the 2023 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition.

First Prize: $750

Second Prize: $500

Third Prize: $250

The three prize-winning essays will be published in ABF Quarterly, the magazine of the American Beekeeping Federation. All authors of essays submitted to the national competition will receive a relevant book on honey bees, beekeeping, or honey.

STARR, also known as the State Teen Action Reps Retreat, is an annual weekend experience for 4-H teens from across New York State to get together to build leadership skills as well as network with peers and adults from across the state. This year, STARR will take place at Camp Shankitunk from May 19-21st.

STARR encompasses the best of team building activities, youth community action & youth adult partnerships in one fun-filled, fast-paced weekend. Participants gain new skills and knowledge by attending workshops of their choice and participating in awesome community services activities!