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Beef rate of gain and market beef weigh-in will be held on Wednesday afternoon, March 19^th, at the Davison County 4-H Fairgrounds. We will be weighing from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

All market beef animals must be green tagged and weighed in by March 31^st. No tags will be handed out and sent home! See the January 2008 4-H Newsletter. These are new livestock guidelines put in place by the state. All market beef in the 4-H division that will potentially be shown at a state sponsored livestock event such as the South Dakota State Fair must be in the possession of the exhibitor by the closing enrollment/ownership date.

WANTED: Adult interested in helping

with livestock weigh-ins. Please let the

Extension Office know.

All market sheep, swine and goats will need to be weighed in and green tagged on Wednesday, May 21^st from 3:30 – 7:00 p.m. With swine herds that have a higher status of health/bio security, animals can be verified and weighed on the farm by the May 31^st ownership date. No tags can be handed out and sent home.

This was addressed in the December 2007 4-H Newsletter: Livestock Exhibitor Changes for 2007-2008. Be sure to review the changes if you exhibit market beef, sheep, swine or goats.

All 4-H members in the 4-H Horse Project who plan on participating in the 4-H Horse Show or 4-H Horse Judging on the county or state level must attend the 4-H Horse Safety Training. The State 4-H Horse Committee has said that all 4-H Horse Project members must attend the training each year. A parent or guardian must attend the training at a minimum of once every three years. First year 4-H Horse Project parents/guardians must attend the first year.

Davison County will have 4-H Horse Safety Training on Thursday evening, March 27^th at the Davison County 4-H Fairgrounds. Registration starts at 6:00 p.m. with the program starting at 6:30 p.m. All area youth are welcomed to attend.

The program is sponsored by the Davison County 4-H Horse Project Committee and the Davison County Extension Office. There is no charge for the training.

The following are 4-H Horse Safety Training dates that members can attend if they are unable to attend the March 27^th date set for Davison County.

Mark your calendars for Monday, July 7^th for the Davison County 4-H Horse Show. Vet check will start at 7:00 a.m. with the horse show activities starting at 8:00 a.m.

If you have an idea for the cover of the 2008 State Fair Book, put your idea on paper and if you have an idea for art work or clip art, include that also. Send your typing paper size sheet to Kathryn Reeves, West River Ag Center, 1905 Plaza Boulevard, Rapid City, SD 57702. The deadline is March 10^th. Be sure to include your name, 4-H club name, county, and address.

On Thursday morning, March 13^th from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. we will have an introduction into building a programmable robot. This is open to boys and girls of 4-H age who enjoy putting together Legos! Call the Extension Office by March 7^th if you are interested in coming on this morning!

On Friday, March 14^th a day-long workshop is being planned for the Home Environment area! If you need something to do on Spring Break, plan on getting a 4-H project finished! Please give the office a call by March 10^th if you wish to attend. Details will be sent to those who sign up!

This workshop will begin at noon on Good Friday – March 21^st and continue through Saturday – March 22^nd at noon.

This is a hands-on workshop, so you will need to bring your dog. There will be 4 different workshops on Obedience, Showmanship, Agility, Rally and Dog Quiz Bowl. There will be demonstrations and follow up practice with your dog. The cost is $35.00 which includes your meals. If you have questions or wish to attend, call Michele Hanten at 999-0822 or Sarah Fenske at 605-690-4125. You can pick up the agenda for the 2-days at the Davison County Extension Office.

This year this annual day highlights whole wheat products. Bake and Take Day, celebrated the 4^th Saturday in March, is an opportunity to share and show someone you care. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to take a freshly baked wheat food to a shut-in or friend to say “thank you” or “you’re not forgotten”. Share your time and talent on this Easter weekend to make someone feel special.

If your club is planning to participate, you can obtain free recipe pamphlets and matching stickers for your baked packages by contacting the Wheat Commission at www.info@sdwheat2.org or write the address below!

This year a random drawing will be held from all eligible entries which have been collected by April 15, 2008. There are 4 categories: Youth (4 – 17) A $50 check will be given in one of four categories: youth individual, youth group, adult individual and adult group.

To enter, participants must send a completed entry form to the S.D. Wheat Commission, PO Box 549, Pierre, SD 57501 no later than April 15, 2008.

On Monday, March 24^th, the Central 3 4-H Leaders and Jr. Leaders Meeting and Training will be held. It is scheduled from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Aurora County 4-H Building, Plankinton. The registration includes a light supper. The Davison County 4-H Leaders voted to cover the expense for the Leaders and Jr. Leaders who wish to attend. See the enclosed brochure. The deadline for registration is March 20^th!

4-H Citizenship Washington Focus interviews. If you were 15 years of age or older by January 1, 2008 you are eligible to apply.

Please note that the date for applying has been extended. 4-H’ers interested in applying, who meet the criteria, are asked to sign up at the Extension Office by March 14^th (Note extended deadline). There will be an application form for each participant to complete. The office is asking that the completed application be into the office by the 14^th of March so multiple copies can be made for the interview committee. The

We are again looking at selecting two youth to attend. Youths will be selected in interviews conducted by the local businesses sponsoring the trip. The cost of the trip to the 4-H member is $250 (tentative) plus personal expenses.

While in Washington you will get a better understanding of how our government works plus tour the Nation’s Capitol and surrounding area. It’s a trip of a lifetime.

If you want to talk with the 4-H’ers who attended in 2007, give Paige Holum or Derek Adams a call.

to help support this program and to help send two Davison County 4-H’ers to Washington, D.C. If someone would like to sponsor this trip or if you know of someone who would like to sponsor, please let the Extension Office know. Sponsorship for the Citizenship Washington Focus trip is $100.00 per sponsor.

State 4-H Scholarships due March 28, 2008

Applications are due into the Extension Office by March 28^th. Guidelines for making your application were in the December 2007 4-H Newsletter! Give the office a call if you have questions.

4-H Leaders, Junior Leaders, Extension Educators and 4-H Parents are invited to attend the annual State 4-H Leaders Convention in Watertown on Saturday, April 5^th. The one day event will offer you training on a variety of topics, a chance to network with other 4-H families from across the state and input into the State 4-H program through the association business meeting.

The pre-registration for the luncheon and workshops has past, but a contact can be made to see if you can still attend. The program was reviewed in the February Newsletter.

The Ownership Verification Forms that have been developed are required for youth exhibiting in the following areas: Breeding Beef, Market Beef, Market Swine, Breeding Swine, Breeding Sheep, Dairy Cattle and Horse. These forms will be required to be filled out by the exhibitor and their family to verify which animals they will be exhibiting. The ownership deadline and weigh-in deadline is March 31^st for Market Beef. The ownership deadline for Breeding Beef, Swine, Sheep, Dairy Cattle and Horse is May 31^st. These forms will help verify the ownership and identification of the animals youth are choosing to exhibit. The forms will also help youth in the entry process for county achievement days/fairs and State Fair because they now have a sheet to refer to with the information when filling out their entries. Horse exhibitors will fill out Horse Form I. The forms will allow you to list up to ten animals on each form.

You are encouraged to sign up all animals that you may exhibit even if you do not intend to exhibit them unless there is an injury, etc. to your other animals. You are also encouraged to put all 4-H family members name with each animal just in case changes need to be made.

1. 4-H Green tagging for Market Animals must be completed by the deadline. All Ownership Verification forms, Horse 1 forms, YPQA forms, Horse Safety Forms, copy of breed Registration papers will be filed at the County Extension Office at the following deadlines.

March 31 - Market Beef (AKSARBEN requirement)

registration papers need to be filed at the county office and NOT SENT TO THE STATE 4-H OFFICE. Ownership verification forms may include registration number or indicate "pending registration". Deadline for these papers are that youth must have them by your County Achievement Days, otherwise they enter as Commercial animals. Commercial animals, designated by tattoo, green tag, bangs tag.

4-H members who wish to show livestock exhibits, but do not own the animal, can do so by leasing the animal. To lease the animal, the 4-H’er must have a signed lease agreement into the Extension Office by the livestock enrollment deadline – March 31^st for market beef and May 31^st for all other livestock. This is a great way for youth to be able to exhibit in livestock areas.

4-H Junior Leaders Meeting

Sunday, March 9^th

4:00 p.m.

Extension Office Conference Room

Discussion: Ag in The Classroom

Teen Activities for Summer

A reminder that 4-H Performing Arts registration audition form and check for $250.00 are due April 15 for this year’s program. After April 15^th, registration goes up to $275. Youth who have participated the past three years were sent a letter of invitation announcing the program. The audition form is available on the 4-H web site. Youth must be age 13 by January 1 to participate. The 2008 Performing Arts Camp runs from June 15-21, 2008 on the Northern State University Campus, Aberdeen.

The Davison County 4-H Leaders voted to pay half of the registration for Davison County 4-H’ers who attend.

Both a male and female counselors who are 21 years of age will be needed so Davison County 4-H’ers can attend. We need counselors by April 25^th! That is the deadline for registration for campers. The

Next 4-H Leaders Meeting

Monday, May 5^th, 2008 – 7:00 pm – tentative – pending school conflicts

Refreshments – Stand Up & Smile

Davison County 4-H Fairgrounds Complex

Now is the time to start thinking about recipes for Special Foods Event and Spring Break would be a great time to try a recipe or two! You’ll have more time to practice and brush up on the nutrition if you start NOW! If you are wondering about your recipe or have any questions, do call the office.

This is a great way to get involved in Youth-In-Action Events! You only have to answer questions. Not give a speech! Yes, boys can enter also! Let’s have a full day of entries!

If you would like me to come to your club to make a short presentation on Special Foods, give me a call. If your are interested in a Special Foods Help Session, give the office a call. It will be scheduled when school is out.

We have started setting tentative dates for summer activities, however, we do try to schedule so the majority of 4-H’ers can attend. It would be great if you can let the office know when sport camps, special livestock shows, and church camps are being planned. . . . We will try our best to stay away from those dates.

June 3 – 5 on the SDSU Campus in Brookings. John Paul Murphy, of Maximizing People Potential, will provide the keynote on Tuesday, along with a large group workshop on Wednesday. There will be bus service available from the west side of the state, and some sort of performing opportunity for delegates—those details in February!

Through April 15^th, the registration is $130. After April 15^th, the fee will be raised to $160, until May 14^th when registration closes. Complete details will be available by March 1, 2008.

Here’s your chance to apply! This is for youth 15-17 years of age or currently in grades 9-11!

The South Dakota 4-H Council is a group of teens who works throughout the year promoting, leading and representing 4-H. The group meets face-to-face in July, October, January and May. They provide key man power at the State Fair, provide promo materials for National 4-H Week, manage the statewide 4-H Community Service project (Environment for 2008), meet with the South Dakota Legislature, plan and conduct INB and TLC, and represent South Dakota 4-H members at a variety of special meetings or committees as needed. If these types of challenges appeal to you, call the Extension Office for an application.

Interviews will be conducted during Teen Leadership Conference, June 3-6, at SDSU in Brookings. If you are unable to attend TLC, please explain why in your cover letter; you could be selected for a phone interview prior to the conference, and selected in that way. Application deadline is April 30^th.

Rod Geppert, Youth Livestock Project Leader is coordinating an intensive livestock judging program to be held in conjunction with Teen Leadership Conference, held on the SDSU campus in Brookings. This program is limited to the first 50 applicants, and will include some of the following topics: systematic class placings, definitions and terms, organized note taking, presentation skills, and understanding breed characteristics. Participants will participate in TLC evening events, but spend their days at Livestock Judging Camp. Complete a TLC registration form, available at the Extension Office, and follow the mailing directions. The cost for the Livestock Judging Camp is the same as for TLC, $130, which includes meals, lodging and conference fees for June 3-6, 2008. The age range would be 13 years and older by January 1, 2008. The Davison County 4-H Leaders will also pay ½ of the registration fee after completing the camp.

Mark your calendars! Davison County will be camping June 13 – 15 for ages 9-11 at Camp Lakodia near Madison. Cost for the camp is $100.00 for 4-H members and $120.00 for non 4-H members. The Davison County 4-H Leaders will reimburse 4-H’ers half the registration fee upon completion of camp! This is always a great time for youth to have fun and make new friends! Registration is due April 25^th!

Transportation to and from camp traveling with the Davison County Camp Group will cost each camper $20.00.

The Davison County 4-H Leaders voted to give 4-H members half the registration fee toward any 4-H related overnight camp. This would include but not be limited:

Enrollment in More Than One Club

If a member belongs to more than

one club, regardless if in one or more

counties, he/she must enroll in different

projects in each club.

Bill Folkerts and his wife Kay have established a 4-H scholarship to recognize 4-H members in memory of

Bill’s parents William T. and Helen R. Folkerts, longtime Davison County 4-H members.

A. Absolute priority will be given to person(s) related to direct descendant of William T. and Helen R. Folkerts who has not received other scholarships and wishes to further their education at South Dakota State University. If more related or direct descendants qualify than there are scholarships available then the direct descendants involved in 4-H will be given priority. If no applicants are related or direct descendants then:

B. Person(s) is a Davison County 4-H club member and plans to further their education. The person must demonstrate some financial need and leadership qualities in their 4-H, school and/or community activities, and wishes to further their education at South Dakota State University. If there are no applicants, then:

C. Person(s) in South Dakota who has been or is active in 4-H, wishes to further their education at South Dakota State University plus has a financial need plus demonstrated leadership qualities. If there are no applicants, then:

D. Any person(s) in South Dakota who has a financial need and has demonstrated leadership qualities and wishes to further their education at South Dakota State University. If none, then:

E. The interest earned in the year reverts to principal to earn interest for the future scholarships.

F. Recipients may receive the scholarship more than one year if they continue to meet the requirements of financial need and leadership qualities.

Note: A representative of Davison County 4-H will provide input to the Committee on this particular scholarship during the selection process via teleconference or personal presentation.

The USDA Farm Service Agency has Rural Youth Operating Loans available to youth between the ages of 10 – 20 either from rural areas or from towns under 10,000 population. The loans are available to establish and operate modest sized income producing projects with a maximum loan amount of up to $5000. The loans may be either for annual operating expenses repayable in one year or for capital purchases such as beef cows with up to seven year terms. The Davison/Hanson County Office currently has approximately 25 youth loans. The current interest rate for March is 3.75%. For more information please contact the County Office located at 1820 North Kimball Street in Mitchell. Their telephone number is 605-996-1564 ext. 2.

Last year, the Todd and Michele Hanten and George and Donna Wilson Families hosted Japanese students during July and August! From July 25^th to August 23, 2008, 13 Japanese girls and 11 boys will be in South Dakota experiencing our culture! They will range in age from 12 to 18 years of age. Would you like to be a host family? The Japanese youth are matched with a host family that shares their interest and have a child of the same gender and within two years of age. The delegates aren’t here as tourist, they are here to live with the host family and participate in their normal activities. They want to learn about your family customs, culture, your values, foods, clothes and lifestyle. But mostly, they want to make friends with young people and try communicating in English.

If you have questions, give the above families or Doug Fuerst a call. Host family applications are available.

Needed:

Adults interested in Robotic & Lego Building to give leadership to a Robotic Team.

If you have a 4-H event that should be on the summer Calendar of Events, please contact the Extension Office. We hope to have the summer schedule in the May 4-H Newsletter.

Mark Wednesday morning, August 6^th as the date for interview judging all of the indoor 4-H exhibits here in Davison County. Start planning!

Mark August 6 – 8 on your calendars for the Davison County 4-H Achievement Days! August 6^th (Wednesday) morning will be the judging of 4-H Display Exhibits.

2008 State Fair Dates

Mark August 28^th – September 1^st as the dates for the 2008 South Dakota State Fair.

Caring doesn’t just happen automatically. In order for young people to learn to care, they must practice acts of caring. The learn-by-doing approach enables the youth to see what a difference their acts of kindness make in the lives of others. Why are people helpful and kind to others? Some people help others because it makes them feel good. Some show they care because they feel it is expected, while others feel badly when they know others are hurting.

Caring about the welfare of others is a sign of growing up. Babies and small children are concerned only with their own wants. As we grow, we begin to take an interest in the lives of others.

Caring is more than just a feeling, and is demonstrated by concern for others. Caring people help, give, and are kind to people and animals. They are concerned not only with humanity, but also with the environment, pets, and plants.

To help your club members practice the act of caring, challenge each of them to perform a “random act of kindness” before the next meeting.

State 4-H Scholarships due March 28, 2008

March 31 - Market Beef (AKSARBEN requirement)

2008 State Fair Dates