Muskogee County 4-H. November/December

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1 Muskogee County 4-H November/December November/December 2017 Christmas is Almost Here!!! I know! I know! We still have Thanksgiving next week. But in my opinion Thanksgiving is just a warmup for Christmas. Don t get me wrong. I m thankful for my family, friends, and we have great life going here. But I really enjoy the Christmas time of year. People are normally more friendly and outgoing. Everything is lit up with lights and decorated for the Holiday. I even love snow. I just like it where God intended it to be. On a ski slope! For our family December is a constant series of parties, Christmas Plays, family and friend gettogethers. I always try to imagine that our family is normal, so I assume that is what most of you are doing as well. Slow down and enjoy the moment you are in! Take time to spread the Christmas Cheer. Sing a Christmas Carol. Get the family in the car, grab a pizza, and eat dinner driving around looking at Christmas lights. Muskogee Garden of Lights Donation Collections. December 22nd. 4-H is signed up to collect donations for the Honor Heights Park Garden of Lights on Dec. 22nd. 5:15 Oktaha and Hilldale 6:15 Haskell and Porum 7:15 Warner 8:15 Midway, Webbers, Ben Franklin 9:15-County Officer Team If you club is not signed up you can still volunteer. Pick a time and show up. The list is just to make sure that we are doing the job we said we would do. Enter the park by going against the flow of traffic out of the park at the 48th street entrance. There are some parking spots near the collection hut. Make sure your group wears their 4-H Hat, sweatshirt, Gloves, or tee shirt and Flip Flops depending on the weather.

2 Winter Fun Trip Dec 16th. 5:00pm meet at the Extension Office or 6:30pm at Incredible Pizza. Invite your friends and join us for a few hours of fun at Incredible Pizza in Tulsa. $10 will get you dinner and a game card if you signup by Dec. 8th. After that you can pay full price at the door. I m saving my quarters to be able to spend my time there on the Go-Carts!! So consider yourself challenged to a race. This 4-H recruitment trip is open to all 4-H members and your friends if they become 4-H Members. 4-H ers 12 and under are required to have a guardian attend. The plan is to Carpool to Tulsa leaving from the Extension office or to meet the group at Incredible Pizza off 71st street. We will leave Incredible Pizza about 8:30 for the Christmas lights at Rhema then back to Muskogee about 10:30pm. Air Rifle Shooting Sports Starting Dec 7th at 6pm at Connors Bull Sale Barn. This is all dependent on some paperwork coming together between 4-H and Connors but I think we will get that worked out. There are a few Air Rifle contests in January and we are planning to offer enough trainings for Muskogee County Youth to be able to attend. 4-H members are required to have 8 hours of 4-H training and to complete the Oklahoma Hunters Safety program to compete in contests. Joining the Group will cost $10 for materials. I m excited to announce that through some donors we have some door prizes for each of the Thursday Night Trainings for Air Rifle. Come learn shooting fundamentals/safety, make new friends, and maybe win some shooting sports gear. After the Air Rifle program is completed and spring starts to arrive the plan is for this group to begin working on Archery. Shooting sports needs volunteer leaders. If you are interested in coaching a team or offering a series of practice nights, please let the Extension Office know. 4-H offers some in-depth trainings that will prepare you for success. 4-H Science Bright Night 2018 February 16-17, 2018 Registration Due: January 19, 2018 Price: $20 for kids, $20 per adult Think Christmas Present. Cost includes Transportation, Dinner, CurioCity exhibit, Planetarium, Science Live show, Science Activity Tables and a fun-filled evening exploring the Science Museum. We sometimes call this event Science Museum Camp in. It is a great first overnight 4- H event for young 4-H members. Oklahoma 4-H rents the whole facility for the evening. The museum is kid friendly and the new CurioCity area is amazing.

3 Dates to Remember Nov. 16th AFR Speech Contest-Sapulpa Dec. 2nd Muskogee Christmas Parade Dec. 7th E-Forum Helping 4-H ers Grow in Life & Work Dec. 16th. Winter Fun Trip to Incredible Pizza Dec. 18th Nominations and entries due for Muskogee County and Muskogee Regional Stockshows Dec. 22nd Garden of Lights Collections. Jan. 4th-7th Denver Western Roundup Jan. 13th. Teen Movie Night Feb. 12th Winter Foods Festival/Food Showdown Feb Science Museum Camp In, Due Jan 19th. Feb th County Livestock Show Feb 27-March 3rd Regional Livestock Show. March 1st-ish State 4-H Ambassador Applications Due March 6-16th OYE April 5th. County Speech Contest April 12th. Fashion Revue/Appropriate Dress April 14th Exchange Club Chili Cookoff Chillin-n- Grillin Contest June 30-July 8 Costa Rica International 4-H Trip June-29th-July 8th 2019 Europe International Trip Page 2 County Teen Leaders and Volunteers Meetings Teens and Leaders/Parents meetings are the 2nd Monday Night each month at 6:15pm and 7:00pm. Muskogee County 4-H obviously has deep tradition and there are some activities that are dictated by State Events etc. But our leaders association actively discusses County 4-H budgets, events, contests, and camps to plan and update programs regularly. If you want to help Muskogee youth this is the place you need to be on the second Monday night of the month! Our goal for the adult volunteer meeting is one hour for some 4-H training and discussions. Most months we meet that goal making it a very worthwhile hour of your time. Leaders meeting occur August-November, and back to regular meetings January-May. Please go ahead and program the meetings into your calendar. Even though we have a committed group of current 4-H volunteers, there is always room for you. Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating. Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures.

4 Livestock Shows-Muskogee County and Muskogee Regional Junior Livestock Show Nominations are Due on Dec 18th But will be taken anytime before the Extension office closes on that day. So don t wait to the last minute get them turned in. That way you don t have to worry about that freak snowstorm that will change our weather from mid 80 s to the mid 20s for two months. The big news for this years Livestock shows are the plans to have the show at our first new location in decades. That s right the Regional is older than the Round Barn. Work is underway in the Hangers at Hatbox for new lights, wash racks, tie outs and pens. The Chamber Agribusiness Committee is planning an open house/ribbon cutting at the Hangers on Jan. 18th. Watch for more details in the January Newsletter and Facebook. National 4-H Volunteer e-forum Signup one week before each session. Dinner is provided There is only one more e-forum training night. The two previous e-forums have been well prepared and taught by experience professionals that have relevant ideas that will work for your clubs. Wow that was fun to write! These are good trainings for the teens and adults that are the leaders in your club. Plan to join us in December to get some simple activities for your club. December 7, :30-7:30 PM (CT) - Helping 4-H ers Grow in Life & Work In 4-H, all youth can explore their future. Club meetings, events, camps, and after-school programs are places to develop life skills and expand their interests through 4-H. During this session volunteers will share ideas, receive resources, and see a variety of successful programs that help youth focus on lifelong learning, workforce readiness, and career exploration. Caring adults can help all young people make decisions and create their own positive future. Food Showdown and Winter Foods Festival Feb 12th Food Showdown Starts at 6:30pm Pre-entry is Due Feb. 5th. Teams of 2-3 may participate in the competition. Each team will be given a Secret ingredient and be required to make dish to serve to the judges. Teams should also be able to calculate the nutritional value of their dish and cost breakdown. The Senior teams will need to bring their own cooking box. A list of items is posted on the Website. The Junior Teams will be provided a box of supplies. More information is available at: All Entry forms are Due Feb. 5th.

5 International Trips: 2018 Costa Rica Sun, Sand and Service Are you looking for an adventure and an opportunity to give back? The 2018 International Trip to Costa Rica slated for June 30-July 8 promises to be a jam-packed adventurous journey! 4-H members who will be 15 or older by June 30, 2018, are eligible to apply. Youth must be active 4-H members in good standing in their county and be able to participate in highly active excursions including kayaking, lots of walking, zip-lining, white water rafting and manual labor in a service project. Cost for youth is approximately $2300, and applications are being accepted now. Click here to access the website with the application and flyer. For more information, contact Cheryl Newberry Trip: France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany The 2019 Trip will be to France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Dates of the trip are June 29-July 8, A total of 24 slots are available and registration will be accepted until March 1, 2019 or until all slots are filled. Priority will be given to YOUTH. Fund raisers: Currently selling Christmas Hams smoked by Runt s BBQ. The Ericksons are assembling flower pot animal holders, and before you know it we will be selling Corn. These trips are expensive but if you set yourself some fundraising goals you can raise enough money to make the trip affordable. Contact David to get on the list for Fundraising and Trip updates if you are interested. State Record book Workshop Dec. 21st and Jan 2nd. 9am-12pm. Extension Office. Bring your county record books, old calendars, records, pictures, etc. We will have a short presentation about record books but the majority of the time we will spend working on your State Record Book. State 4-H Project Awards, Scholarships, Ambassadors, and National 4-H Conference: Applying for each of these special opportunities basically takes the same document. This document will also help you to organize your service activities, awards, skills, and leadership so that that you have it listed for college or job applications. What is this magical Document? It is the State 4-H Record book. A State Record book is a combination of each year of your county record books. State Books are due in April, State Ambassador applications are due early March, and there are some scholarships due in February so it is time to get started. 4-H Project awards are state level awards in the major project areas that 4-H Members are entered in. The list changes from year to year as 4-H members enter books in different areas. The top three members are selected for an interview. From the book and interview scores a state level winner is chosen for each project. Ambassadors are members of the state leadership team that help with state events, fairs, donor relations, Day at the Capitol, and State Roundup. There are 24 active ambassadors that are selected through an application then a day of interviews, and speeches. In many ways becoming a state ambassador is harder than a state officer. National Conference is held each year in Atlanta around the Thanksgiving Holiday. Delegates are chosen through and Application and an Interview that is submitted at the same time as State Record Books.

6 Check out Ag Youth Website for dates and information on livestock shows!! Facebook: Muskogee County 4-H Oces.okstate.edu/muskogee Muskogee County Newsletter is published by the following: Muskogee County OSU Ext. Center 1440 S. Cherokee, Muskogee, OK Phone: (918) FAX: (918) Editor: David Adams Extension Educator 4-H Youth Development Oklahoma State University, US Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments cooperating. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Robert E. Whitson, Director of Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma. This publication is printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and has been prepared and distributed at a cost of 85 cents per copy. 11/15 DLA Muskogee County Cooperative Extension Service Oklahoma State University 1440 S Cherokee Muskogee OK MUSKOGEE COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER