Young Riders Help Cleanup Efforts at the Fairgrounds

Preparing for the Jr. Fair Livestock Sale

FAQ’s and Helpful Hints to a Successful Sale!

BEFORE THE SALE

1.     Who is responsible for contacting the buyers?

a.     You are responsible for contacting your buyers to attend the livestock sale to support the sale. While many old supporters are contacted from the Junior Fair it is important to make sure that you personally invite your possible buyers. Some possible ways to contact buyers could be through:

                                                              i.      Letters

                                                            ii.      Cards

                                                          iii.      Phone calls

2.     Who should I contact?

a.     Feed store/other businesses your family patronizes

b.     Family members/friends of family

c.      Old buyers looking to support new youth

d.     Make a goal of asking two new buyers!

3.     What should I put in my letter to the potential buyer?

a.     Give some background about your project

b.     Who your parents are

c.      Ask them to support the sale, NOT purchase your animal directly

d.     Include pictures if possible.

4.     When should I send the information to the potential buyers?

a.     2-3 weeks should be adequate.

5.     What other things should I remember when contacting buyers?

a.     Make sure words are spelled correctly

b.     Neatness counts!

c.      Dress nice if you are going in person

6.     What things should I AVOID saying to a potential buyer?

a.     Do not demand that they buy your animal

b.     Do not pass out letters during the sale

c.      Do not make promises

d.     Do not threaten to take your business someplace else if they are not interested

DURING/AFTER THE SALE

1.     How can I ensure that my donor is thanked for their contribution?

a.     Make sure that you verbally thank your buyer at the sale. (If you aren’t sure who they are, ask an adult helping with the sale and they will assist you.

b.     Offer to take a picture with your buyer, or if a champion animal ensure that you get your picture with your buyer.

2.     How can I make sure that my animals and I are ready for the sale?

a.     Make sure your animals are clean.

b.     Make sure that you dress appropriately.

3.     What can I do to ensure that people know I appreciated their contribution?

a.     Follow up with a written thank you and picture card for their contribution.

b.     Thanking donors the following year with posters above pens is a good idea and will support your sale for the upcoming year.

Venedocia Lads & Lassies Meeting!

The Venedocia Lads and Lassies joined July 15th and July 30th to discuss the upcoming Van Wert County Fair project judging and events of "wrapping up" the 4H year. Discussions were held for the booth display for the Lads and Lassies to be a "Hollywood theme" and plans were made for the group to complete the booth project and have and end of the year celebration. The next meeting will be held on August 22, 2013 at 7p.m.  

Addison Mueller

-Reporter-

4-H is a Family Event!

4-H lingo, registration forms, choosing a book, enrolling in judging, enrolling in the fair, premiums, weigh ins and move in for livestock. 4-H projects are truly something that parents must be a part of for the youth to be successful. They often say it takes a community to raise a child, but I believe it takes a 4-H family to complete a project.

Now, don’t let that scare you out of joining 4-H. While it is a family event, it can be fun and useful for everyone! Cooking projects teach safety in the kitchen, quick recipes, and you may even get a night off in the kitchen to try a homemade meal! For those youth interested in hobbies, finding the right hobby that a family can enjoy together can be fun also. I have seen families that train their dog together, take pictures, learn about small engines, or even explore their family genealogy.  Projects often become the hard efforts of a youth member, with the support of a highly enthusiastic family member. Projects have the ability to bring families closer, improve communication, and give your child a new passion for something you might find equally compelling.

Being a 4-H parent also means that you are engaging in helping your child learn about their new responsibilities as a club member. Sometimes youth are forgetful, so parents are needed for gentle reminders of upcoming deadlines. Of course, this is always received pleasantly or with a groan of “yes mom/dad, I know”. Looking back at the kind and sometimes necessary nudging from my own family I realized they were helping me learn from what I did in a way that only experience itself could teach.

Through the projects, the club meetings, the fun events, and the socialization parents and youth alike begin to see the family effect that 4-H has. It works very nicely with the Ohio State University Extension’s impact area: strengthening our families and communities, and preparing our youth for success.

Looking for a good way to build your family relationships? Take a look at joining 4-H! Enrollment begins January 1, 2014 and is due no later than April 1, 2014. You can contact the OSU Extension Office at (419) 238-1214 for more details!

2013 Jr. Fair King and Queen Candidates

Leah Lichtensteiger- Leah Lichtensteiger, a senior at Crestview high School, is running for Van Wert County Jr. Fair Queen. Leah is a four-year member of Crestview’s FFA and a ten year member of 4-H. She is currently on the Van Wert County Jr. Fair Board, a Buckeye Ambassador, and volunteer with CARTEENS. After High School, Leah plans on attending The Ohio State University majoring in Veterinary Science with a minor in Business Management. In FFA, Leah has achieved her Greenhand Degree, Chapter Degree, and has completed her State Degree. She has also been a teacher’s assistant for her Chapter’s Advisor for the past two years. FFA courses include Wheat, Soybeans, and Hay. Also in her spare time, run errands for her Chapter Advisor, and other school teachers. Leah represents her FFA Chapter as a member of the Jr. Fair Board. She is on the Livestock Committee, Media Committee, and Awards Committee for the Board. At tagging and weigh-ins, she helps with the prep and record keeping. While in 4-H, she has held the office of Secretary, and is currently President of the Young Riders 4-H Club. Leah’s projects include goats, chickens, horses, turkeys, and rabbits. She qualified for The Ohio State Fair with her horse in 2010 and 2012. In 2012, she placed in the top ten in the Stakes race. Also in the Young Riders, she helped with the putting up of horse stalls for the past 5 years. With her horses, she shows on weekends competing in barrel racing and pole bending. During the Fair, Leah helps with exhibit preparation, Babyland set up and assembling monitors to watch the animals as well as clean up when the fair concludes.

Sarah Klinger- Sarah Klinger is the daughter of Bruce and Sandy Klinger, and granddaughter of Joyce Baer, and the late Paul H. Baer, George Klinger, and Chrystal Klinger. She is from Convoy, Ohio and attends Crestview High School, where she will be a senior this fall. Through 4-H, she is an 8-year member of Bunny Hoppers, and is currently secretary; a 7-year member of Ohio Challengers, and is currently the President; a 3-year member of the Buckeye Ambassadors, and is currently secretary; a 2-year member of the Jr. Fair Board, and is on the coronation committee, and is Chairmen of the Awards Committee, Rabbit and Turkey barn Superintendent, and is treasurer; and is a 3-year CARTEENS Junior Facilitator. Over the course of her 4-H years, Sarah has taken rabbits to the county and state fairs and has raised them for nine years. She has also raised turkeys for eight years, and broilers. Other projects she has taken include cooking, vet science, leadership, and self-determined; and has also qualified several times to take her miscellaneous projects to compete at the State Fair. Over the course of the years, she has taken her livestock projects she has learned a great deal, and through this has participated in the Showmen of Showmen competition for five years, continually learning about different species. Through her school, she has been a member of Model UN and High School Chorus, and is a member of the Honor Roll, FCCLA, and is currently vice-president; Writing Club, National Honor Society, and is currently secretary and treasurer; and the High School Scholastic Bowl Team. She is also involved in the annual school musical. Sarah has also received many awards for her hard work as a student at Crestview, including the Award of Excellence, which she has received every year for the past 3 years. Sarah is also a Junior Curator for the Van Wert County Historical Society, was a Buckeye Girls State Delegate, and is also a member of First Baptist Church, where she is active in the church and youth group. Also at First Baptist she was given the opportunity to be a part of a 7-person team who went to Brazil for two weeks in July/August of 2010. She enjoys reading and volunteering in the OSU Extension office in her free time. She also volunteers in her church and community. Sarah wishes to have the honor of being Jr. Fair Queen in order to be a role model for younger Jr. Fair members, and desires to show them that with hard work and determination one can reach his or her goals. Sarah also wishes to give back to the Jr. Fair has given her over the years, and have the opportunity to meet new people, learn more, and make life-long friends.

Meredith Arn- Meredith Arn, daughter of Rex and Patti Arn, is a senior at Van Wert High School. Her activities in school include BETA Club, Service Pack, French Club, Van Wert Swim Team, Van Wert Band, and being a Cougar Mentor. Activities outside of school include 4-H Bunny Hoppers, Van Wert County 4-H Camp Counselor, Dance at PSD Stars by Erin (formerly known as Pam’s School of Dance), teaching assistant at PSD Stars by Erin, and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Youth Group. Meredith was also chosen to be a sponsored delegate at Buckeye Girls State this past summer by Van Wert American Legion Auxiliary Unit 178. After high school, Meredith plans on attending college and study Pharmacy.

Jacob Germann- Jacob Germann will be a senior at Crestview High School. He is very active in Knight Vision, FFA, National Honor Society, Cross Country, Track, and being a class officer. He enjoys his horse and a wide array of other animals on the small farm where he lives. He is also very active in the church with outreach opportunities and worship team. Jacob works at Century Trading Co. in Van Wert. After graduation from high school, he will attend college to pursue his love of animals with the goal of reaching doctorate work for exotic animals. Jacob is the son of Doug and Marcia Germann.

Daniel Joseph- Daniel Joseph, son of Kirby and Samantha Joseph, is running for Van Wert County Jr. Fair King. He will be a senior at Crestview High School this fall where he is active in many clubs. He plays trumpet in the band and sings tenor in Knight Vision, which is the school’s show choir. Daniel has also been in all the last three school fall productions, but played in the backup band in Junior High. He is also active in a student government club, Model UN. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Van Wert where he helps with many worship services. Joseph is a member of the Ohio Challengers 4-H Club and the 4-H Exchange club. He has qualified and participated at the state level all 9 years that he has been a member of his club. He takes Food and Nutrition projects and also makes Black Inc. presentations each year. Recently, Daniel represented the Convoy American Legion Post 208 at the annual Buckeye Boys State held at Bowling Green State University. He was also chosen as a member of the All-Ohio State Fair Band, where he will play the trumpet while marching and playing at the State Fair.   

Logan Miller- Logan Miller, son of Dennis and Melanie Miller, is a senior at Lincolnview High School. His school activities include basketball, golf, Science Club, Industrial Technology Club, and Student Council. Logan is very active in the 4-H community by helping with many events through his nine years in 4-H such as being a camp counselor. He has also shown goats, swine, sheep, and rabbits at the Van Wert Fair.

Macey Ashbaugh- Macey Ashbaugh, daughter of Rick and Dianna Ashbaugh, is a senior at Lincolnview High School, where she is involved in National Honor Society, Agents of Change, BETA Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, Spanish Club, Golf, and Softball. She is also a very active member in her FFA chapter, where she is the President, and has also received her State FFA degree this past spring. Macey is a member of the Leaders of the Future 4-H Club, and also attends First Baptist Church. She is also a member of the Van Wert County Jr. fair Board, where she is continually busy helping with preparations for the upcoming county fair. Macey recently attended Buckeye Girls State as a representative of Lincolnview Local Schools. Macey also enjoys playing golf, softball, helping out if possible, and hanging with friends in her spare time.

Ashlynn Henderson- Ashlynn Henderson, daughter of Jeff and Pam Henderson, is a senior at Parkway High School. Her school activities include FFA, basketball, and softball. She is also a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, and the Willshire Wide Awake 4-H Club. Ashlynn also works at the Willshire Drive-In. At the Jr. Fair, she has taken many 4-H projects, including chickens, turkeys, vet science, cooking, scrapbooking, bee-keeping, and cake decorating. She is also a member of 4-H Ambassadors, Jr. Fair Board, and 4-H Camp Counselor. Becoming the Van Wert County Jr. Fair Queen is a great honor that Ashlynn is eager for and the duties that it will bring with the 2013 Van Wert County Fair. 

Brief History of OSU Extension

Let me give you a brief history of why OSU Extension has a presence in our county. If you have ever visited Ohio State University main campus or watched buckeye football on TV, you may have seen two white buildings located next to the football stadium. In these are student housing and business offices. One is the Lincoln Tower, named after Abraham Lincoln. The other is the Morrill Tower name after Justin Morrill.

During the mid 1800’s, the nation was experiencing an economic time similar to the one we have currently been experiencing. To promote economic recovery, Morrill persuaded Lincoln to pass an act that would grant tracts of land in each state on which states could build universities. This was the 1860 land grant system. For example, there’s an OSU in Ohio, Rutgers in New Jersey, and Cornell in New York. In the 1890’s the land grant act was used to build 17 Historically black colleges and Universities in states where Blacks were excluded from the original land grant university.

In the early 1900’s another act was passes. This stated that land grant universities would be the university for all the citizens of a state, not just the students who attend classes on campus. This was the beginning of the Land-Grant departments of Extension in which the university faculty and staff members were placed into counties to educate residents with research-based information.

At first Extension educators focused on topics related to agriculture. But as social sciences grew, extension began to focus on topics related to home economics. Today, home economics is known as the Family and Consumer Sciences. Topics focus on relationship skills, health and nutrition, and financial management. Economic development is another added area that has been developed to help communities grow through businesses development and retention. The last program area 4-H Youth Development was actually developed here in the state of Ohio. Many people recognize the presence of 4-H in their county, but may not associate it with the land grant university.

Extension is wonderful resource in your county. Through Extension we have been able to adapt to our changing clientele to help build your community with better businesses, stronger gardens, and by developing the future leaders of our community. The Extension of the University reaches to our county and we hope to continue our tradition of improve families here in Van Wert County. Our staff in Van Wert County is a team of individual areas waiting to serve those with questions. 

4-H Livestock Projects Create Quality Products for Consumers

Much of what most people see when they see a livestock project is at the jr. fair. The project at this point is almost to its end, ready for market and for the consumer. For many youth, their project has been a long journey, many starting over again right after the fair.  Youth participate in educational sessions, record every detail, and work countless hours to reach the point where they proudly show their animal to the county (or what often feels like to the whole world).

This past spring members gathered for what we call Livestock Quality Assurance. We often refer to this simply as QA. This training simply said is our way of preparing youth to give quality care to animals. Through 10 Good Production Practices we give youth information about proper veterinary plans and relationships, proper identification, medication dosage, and how to read feed tags. These youth producers are given hands-on activities to  guide them through the production practices in a way that is not overwhelming but allows them to apply what they have learned. Any youth producer planning to exhibit a market animal at the jr. fair must complete this training.

From the moment youth take possession of their livestock they are expected to maintain daily care of their animal. They document what equipment is needed to house the animal, and keep record of feed purchased and medications administered. Through their record book they are able to explore and learn about their project ranging from the different breeds of their animals, part identification, and what parts of the animal become marketable. For many youth exhibitors they continue their learning through Black Inc. projects by exploring further and presenting their findings to a judge. Aside from the book and daily care, youth must also begin working with their animal by walking it, grooming it, and learning how to properly handle the animal to be as comfortable as possible. Animals like humans have many characteristics that help them to be trained, which youth are able to explore and adapt to.

In order to complete a 4-H project, members must go through interviews with a judge. They are asked basic questions about their project, quality assurance questions, and the judges looks over their records kept for their animal. In addition to completion through interviews members are also able to exhibit their project at the jr. fair. Youth compete in market, breeding, and showmanship shows to exhibit their animal as a marketable product with a consumer (in this case the youth) that has carefully cared for the animal.

Youth who exhibit market projects are able to sell their product to producers (and supporters) at the jr. livestock sale at the completion of the fair. The end of many youth’s project is soon after as the animal leaves for a new home, or to be processed for human consumption. The training, records, and hours spent are all important in the end product for the consumer. While many youth may never be a commercial producer livestock projects help them to gain an understanding of how a producer creates a quality product.

In a month we will all begin to gather at the fairgrounds to celebrate the many accomplishments of our youth. I encourage anyone to walk through the barns and watch youth as they beam with pride for the animal that they have watched grow, and cared for. Feel free to ask any member about their project, what they have learned and what they have fed it.  4-H members are creating quality animals, which in turn helps us to create quality youth for a successful future.