January 2009

Newsletter Editor:

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Associate Editor: Anna Potts

Contents:

• Meet the Staff
• Gleaning Project
• Island County Fair Association Scholarship
• Coming Events
• Club Reports
• Committee Reports
• Looking Back
• Food For Thought
• WSU Extension Program Updates
• Advertisements

HELP WANTED

Broadcasting Project - Our Broadcasting Project is growing exceptionally well. We have an energetic team of youth working on it and they are beginning to develop a nice variety of programming options. 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.

There will be meeting for all who are interested in developing radio content on the afternoon of 7th December. For details click here.

Check out the Broadcast page. If you like what you see and want to help us make sure it continues, please contact

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Each month we will highlight one of our WSU Extension staff to give you a better insight as to who we all are and what we do. With this information, we hope that you will be more familiar with Extension and what goes on behind the scenes to keep it all working smoothly.

Robert Yule Elphick

Robert was born in Germany and raised in Great Britain. Robert is a Scientist by education with degrees in Applied Physics and Geophysics and Planetary Physics obtained at The University of Central Lancashire (Harris College) and Newcastle University in England. He came to North America to live in 1974 and worked mostly in the energy industry. He recently retired to live on Whidbey island and provide computer services on a voluntary basis. He is currently the President of the Macintosh Appreciation Group of Island County (MAGIC). He is the webmaster for several websites based on Whidbey Island including MAGIC, Island County 4-H, Port of Coupeville, KWPA Radio, and others. He often provides advice and assistance on University Extension websites and the 4-H online newsletter.

Robert teaches courses on using Macintosh computers for beginners as well as more advanced courses on Whidbey Island. He has earned a reputation for being a great teacher who is entertaining as well as informative.

Good Cheer Food Bank has announced the 2009 Adopt-a-Farm and Adopt-a-Garden Projects. These projects will will set up volunteer gleaners who will, at your direction, pick up leftover produce that would otherwise be lost to market to benefit in need. For more information click on the following documents:

• Adopt-a-Farm
• Adopt-a-Garden

• Super Saturday, February 14, Coupeville Middle School PAC, check in 8:00-8:45, Classes begin 9:00am ending at 2:15pm.
• KYG (Know Your Government) – February 14-17, Olympia

Regularly Scheduled Meetings

• Livestock Sale Meeting – Feb. 10, 7 pm, WSU Conference Room
• Dog Committee Meeting – Feb 12, 6 pm, WSU Conference Room
• Leaders’ Council Meeting – Feb. 12, 7 pm, Comm. Hearing Room
• Horse Leaders’ Meeting – Feb. 19, 7 pm, WSU Conference Room

Each year the Island County Fair Association awards a $500 scholarship to a graduating student which can be applied towards tuition costs to attend a community college, technical school, or 4 year university. The criteria in considering applications include completeness and neatness of application packet, and community service/involvement (especially Island County Fair involvement).

For additional information, please contact the Island County Fair Office at (360) 221-4677 or email at 19icfa12@whidbey.com.

None this month

Horse Committee

Leaders discussed current enrollment numbers for this year and determined that participation in the horse division is up over last year. State tack box lettering will be added to read “Island County” to go along with the cutout of the island. Judges are being selected and contracts signed for upcoming shows which begin in February and run through the month of July and also for Island County Fair in August.

Livestock Sale Committee

The committee has begun to plan the 2009 Auction to include improvements to how the bidders interact with the registration process and how the purchases are completed after the sale is complete. Other improvements will include changes for receipts, computerization and security.

The committee is also conducting educational workshops for the livestock project kids that will be announced through their clubs.  The first workshop is planned for late January or early February and has not been set.  Topics for the workshops may include; feeding market animal strategies, market animal record keeping, vaccinations and medication strategies, judging, marketing and showmanship.  Each workshop will have a common thread of support to provide the kids ways to market their projects for the auction; such as how does record keeping, feeding strategies, judging or medication records support their successful marketing of their project.

This year the Livestock Sale Committee is planning again to have a pig raffle for a completely cut and wrapped pig processed by Del Fox Meats, that will be raffled off at the fair during the 4H Auction.

Fair Board Rep

Island County Fair Board passed a vote to purchase a self-guiding watering system for the fairgrounds arena to be used when needed during the times when watering trucks are not available. Zoning update – Zoning has been approved for the new restroom facility at the far end of the existing campground. Plans are to be under way with construction in the near future. Many of the repair requests submitted for the fairgrounds by our various 4-H divisions have been completed and with the remainder to be finished up in the near future.

Looking back at December

How could we ever forget the snowfall we had last month!?

What great memories I had that brought me back to the days way-back-when I was a child growing up in Oak Harbor and we looked forward to this amount of snow just about every year! Many days were spent sledding down the street in front of my house with all the neighborhood kids, building snowball forts and constructing various snowmen families.

It seems the rest of the time was spent inside the house changing into yet another set of warm, dry clothes that my mother always had ready to go for us. The tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches also helped warm our spirits along with the hot chocolate and marshmallows. Yum!

My hopes are that you all were able to build some wonderful memories with your families this past month as well.

We have no article this month. If you have an article that would be good for the Food for Thought section, please contact Jackie at

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Master Gardeners – Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 14th for the 2009 Whidbey Gardening Workshop. A great educational event for all! Beach Watchers – Save the date! Sound Waters Senior 4-H’ers, leaders and parents are needed to help in classrooms and will be provided free lunches for their volunteer efforts. A great way to fulfill community service requirements for the year. Please contact Jackie asap.

Livestock Advisors - available to share information with our 4-H clubs…ask Jackie.

Waste Wise Volunteers – Check out e-cycle on the WSU Website for more information and learn how to recycle your electronic waste. Small effort – big return.

Admiralty Head Lighthouse - Lighthouse License Plates are still for sale!

Go to the WSU Extension programs website and wander around for more detailed information.

• Equine Seminar - Friday 01/30/2009. For a flyer with full details, click here.
• Whidbey Wind Riders are having a Valentine's day Sweets Sale. For details on what will be available and how to order click here.

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.