 April 2008Newsletter Editor: Contents:
HELP WANTEDOur Broadcasting Project is growing exceptionally well. We have an energetic team of youth working on it with Micah, and they are beginning to develop a nice variety of programming options. But in late June, we'll be saying goodbye to Micah as his Americorps term ends. In order for this exciting project to continue, we need someone to step forward to begin working with us NOW. As an adult Broadcasting Project volunteer, you'll work with youth as they learn how to use available technology to develop music programs, Public Service Announcements, spoken word programs, and more. Your interest and energy levels are much more important than your experience levels, as the 4-H motto is "learn by doing!" Our long term goals for this project include creating a dynamic partnership with the up and coming KWPA radio station, establishing an archive of local interest interviews, providing audio files of educational info addressing local issues, offering a format to highlight our 4-H performing art members, and so many other applications. But we can't do any of them without you. Check out the Broadcast page. If you like what you see and want to help us make sure it continues, please contact Judy FeldmanWSU/Island County 4-H Program Coordinator 360-679-7328 Coming Events
Club Reports
Central Whidbey Cattlemen Our Big CWC Club News is that we have a Beef Superintendent; (Sheriff) Tom Molitor, father of 4-Hers, Tommy and Matt Molitor. We will have our market beef weigh-in, a cake bake for Foster Kid Families Cake Walk, and a Spring Fling Learning Fair for beef on Saturday May 3rd at the Molitor's Ranch on Ducken Rd. The Circle 4K Ranch crew has been busy planting and growing food this cold Spring; strawberries (Lance), cherry, Italian prune, and apple trees (Jay and Monica), and Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries (everyone,including G'Pa) Inca Pride Alpacas Manure Composting On Saturday April 12th, our club, Inca Pride Alpacas, had a visit from Janet Hall from Waste Wise. She came to talk to us about manure composting at the Island County Fairgrounds. She showed us her four-foot tall thermometer that we can use to check the manure's temperature. The hotter the manure gets, the faster it composts. When the manure gets up to 130 degrees F. all the pathogens in it will die. The compost bins at the fairgrounds will be divided into three sections. As the manure gets older it will be moved from section to section. When it is in the last section the manure should be almost completely composted and full of worms who help break up the manure. You have to turn the manure making sure you don't have too many woodchips or straw in the compost bin because you have to have the right amount of nitrogen. If you have too many woodchips or straw there will not be enough nitrogen for the manure to compost. Straw is better than woodchips, but it is best to not have much of either in the compost bin. Grass clippings can help to raise the level of nitrogen in the bin. You also need to add water to the bin to keep the manure moist so it can compost. Janet Hall said she likes alpaca manure the best because alpacas are ruminants with three stomachs so their manure is virtually weed free! They are sometimes called Inca Pride Alpacas thanks Janet Hall for teaching us how to compost. Thank You! Submitted by: Kelly Uhlig Committee Reports
Our Board and committees are so busy that they didn't submit a report this month! Good golly! Here's the short version of what they've been up to: Leaders' Council - The Council has been addressing the question of how to increase 4-H'ers engagement with Public Presentations and Record Books. Everyone agrees that these activities strengthen communication and record keeping skills that are very important throughout life - but we are not sure about how to create opportunities that are interesting and helpful for our members. For now, the Council has decided to allow any 4-H'er who has done an evaluated public presentation (evaluated by a teacher using the 4-H standard, a club, or a panel of judges) to move on to the county fair level. In the past, you could only move on to county fair if you got a blue at the local level and were evaluated by a panel of judges. This change is intended to allow 4-H'ers to incorporate the feedback they have received in a timely fashion and seek to improve their presentation for the next level of evaluation. The Council has also been providing information on the new manure composting facility that will be in place at the Island County Fair this year. Janet Hall, coordinator of the WSU Extension Waste Wise Program, will make sure that we are all trained and ready to make something useful out of all the stuff we muck out of the barns in August and beyond. Dog Project Committee - These folks are busy getting ready for their Leaders' Fun Match, Saturday, April 19th. They are also planning for Spring Show and looking into possible Agility lessons for 4-H'ers. Horse Project Committee - Never at a loss for things to do, this group has been trying to figure out measures that might be taken at the Fairgrounds to minimize the impact of the amusement rides on the horses and riders. Each year we have at least one or two 4-H' ers who meet emphatically with the ground when their horse gets spooked by one of the rides. Last year, it was especially frustrating when the riders were trying dressage for the first time at Fair, with some repeatedly thrown from their mount and other horses refusing to go into the arena. The committee has done research on a type of tightly stretched material like that used around tennis courts. If they are able to get approval from the Fair Board, they will put this material up along the end of the arena closest to the rides. In addition, they have been encouraging all of their horse project members to participate in the startle response clinics that have been recently held on the island. These clinics work to increase the level of trust between horse and rider, so that the horses remain more calm in the presence of otherwise scary circumstances. Leaders hope that between the two efforts, the Fair will be a much safer experience for their members and their horses this year. Livestock Sale Committee - This is going to be a big year for those 4-H'ers in the Market Animal Project! Since our last newsletter, the numbers have changed. It looks like we will have 10 beef (sold by the quarter), 12 sheep, 9 goats, and 16 pigs up for auction! Make room in your freezer and get those check books ready! The Committee is looking for ways to get the word out about the auction, this year set for Saturday, August 16th at noon at the Island County Fairgrounds. Please contact Judy at the 4-H Office if you know of an opportunity to post information. Horse Project No report this issue Dog Project No report this issue Livestock Sale Looking Back at March
It went by so quickly! And with April half gone, it's hard to remember what filled the days back in March, but I'll try. A big chunk of our time here in the office was devoted to getting the website up and running. If you still haven't taken a look at it, please do so! Given that websites are a form of We'd also love to include information about your club. What is your primary project? How many kids meet with you regularly? What kinds of community based service learning are you doing? The more information we can share with the public (safely, of course), the more accessible we become to new members. In March, we started work on the M-Bar-C garden! Many of you know about the M-Bar-C Ranch. It's devoted to providing opportunities for kids who are emotionally, physically, or financially challenged. In the past, these opportunities have centered on horses. Now, these kids will also have a chance to pick fresh flowers, smell fragrant herbs, and try some just-picked vegetables too! So what does this have to do with 4-H? Well, we want to increase the number and variety of experiences available to ALL youth, and we're looking to use the new garden as a demo site for our Food For Thought Program as well. 
The M-Bar-C Garden pairs nicely with the new Plant A Row garden at Hummingbird Farm in Oak Harbor. Both provide our larger community with opportunities to increase their awareness of how food gets to our tables. The M-Bar-C garden, however, is more of a display garden. What's exciting about the Hummingbird Farm site is that it offers actual garden plots for anyone who is interested in learning about gardening and wants to donate the resulting produce to the local food banks! If your club is located on the north end, and you're looking for a dynamic service learning opportunity, please contact the 4-H Office for more information on this. Our Food For Thought Program is growing nicely. As with anything new, it is taking some time to get all the pieces organized and all of the events rolling. But interest is on the rise, and spring is in the air! Our website has begun featuring ideas of what to plant and how to care for it. We've done presentations to both the South Whidbey and Oak Harbor Kiwanis Clubs, and Judy taught a class at the Whidbey Gardening Workshop. Freeland ACE has donated a box of seeds that we will begin distributing this next week to interested gardeners. Lois Fisher is ready to teach a class on cooking with locally raised beef as soon as we get a class of students organized. And we have posted interesting questions for your family to use as conversation starters at the dinner table. In spite of the fact that it was just March, we began our superintendent trainings as our first step toward Fair. We still need to identify superintendents to coordinate and supervise the following divisions: Fine Art; Arts & Crafts; Gardening & Environmental Science; and Clothing & Needlework. If you are interested in applying for one of these positions, please call Judy today. Finally, plans are already underway for the 2008 Farm Tour, to take place October 4th and 5th. Please consider setting up a booth/display at one of the farms as part of your recruiting/marketing/educational activities for 4-H. Over 200 folks visit each farm, and you can be a part of the incredible experience they encounter while on the tour. Food For Thought
Speaking of food, Judy wants to report that her snow peas are doing quite nicely, and her onions are starting to put on new growth. Her spinach has finally put on it's second set of leaves. Have you risen to the challenge yet? Have you planted something edible in your yard? If so, please let Judy know so she can put it on the website (and start planning for our 4-H potluck!). You're On The Air!
The broadcast crew is growing, both in numbers and in the variety of projects they are taking on. Check out the samples of their work at their website. WRITE!
4-H'ers, don't forget that you can enter your writing at the Fair in August! What's more, in between now and August, you can practice your skills by writing a short story, a poem, or a non-fiction piece about 4-H. We are looking for examples of 4-H writing that will help us tell the story of our program. If you are interested, submit your work for review. It is probable that someone will offer editing suggestions and return it back to you for revision before it is used on our website and in written promotions. Submissions are due to the 4-H Office by May 16th, at 4:00pm. Fair Report
Let's see, changes to the premium book will be submitted to the Fair office the last week of April. Jackie Vannice, Mark Zahrt, and Jay Kidder have been working with Janet Hall (Waste Wise), Karen Bishop (Conservation District) and Leandra Reuble (Fair Board) to finalize our plans for the manure composting site. If you are planning to participate at the Island County Fair, remember that you need to be enrolled in our database no later than June 1 (May 1 for horse projects), and you need to meet all the requirements of your division. For more information, contact Judy. What are other WSU Extension programs up to?
Master Gardeners - Plant Sale coming up at Greenbank Farm, May 10th. Livestock Advisors - available to share information with our 4-H clubs…ask Judy Beach Watchers - they have a new class of trainees! Waste Wise Volunteers - also starting a new class…Janet has been key to us our manure composting site at the fairgrounds. Shore Stewards - Scott is working on grant funded projects at Strawberry Point and Holmes Harbor…if you live in those areas and are interested in participating (possible some grant funding available for clubs) let me know! Admiralty Head Lighthouse Docents - Lighthouse License Plates are still for sale! Agriculture Sustainability & Land Stewardship - working on all sorts of exciting ag projects! Olivia is a great resource for us, so be sure to introduce yourself to her at some point. We want all of our 4-H families to be models of good land stewardship. Go to the WSU Extension programs website and 4-H is in the business of growing kids! We do this by working in our community to offer a wide range of opportunities for K-12 youth. Our goal is to support kids as they discover their talents and interests and then provide them with experiences to help them deepen, strengthen, and use those talents and interests! In addition to the club structure that many are familiar with, we also offer activities for families that can be done outside of a commitment to a club, and resources for educators to use in their classrooms. |
She's hoping that once the chance of SNOW has passed, things will start growing a little faster.