Special Riding Camp 2009

Special Riding Camp is a long time tradition in Orange County. Over 50 volunteers come together to provide therapeutic horseback riding and the camp experience to children with disabilities. Camp is from 9:00 a.m. to noon everyday during the week of July 13-17. There are a variety of tasks for volunteers including, but not limited to: side-walking, crafts, recreation and barn duty. If you might be interested in volunteering some of your time to this great community event or if you know a child between the ages of 9 to 19 with a disability who may enjoy this opportunity, please contact Ashley Elgin at the Orange County Extension Office, 672-1361.

OC 4-H Now on Facebook

Orange 4-H is now on Facebook! If you have an account, look us up and become a fan. Keep in touch with the latest 4-H happenings, and stay connected with 4-H friends in your club, in other clubs, or who participate in camp and school events. Adults are invited, too, not just teens!

Log in to your FB account, and search Orange County 4-H. Be sure to find the Virginia one, not California or Florida! :-)

OES Kindergarteners Tour Local Dairy

4-H and the Roberts family of Fairfield Dairy at Somerset hosted a Kindergarten Dairy Day for students at Orange Elementary today. Approximately 100 youth traveled to four stations where they learned about dairy nutrition and practiced feeding baby calves. They toured the milking parlor and were able to pet cows in the stanchion barn. Wesley and Bill Roberts took the youth on a hayride through the pasture, and students finished up with a dairy foods station where they created milk mustaches and had their photo taken. The group enjoyed beautiful spring weather and finished the trip with lunch on the lawn and ice cream provided by the Roberts family.

Extension Office Welcomes New Intern

Please welcome Sarah Joseph, new Extension Intern for the summer. Sarah is a senior at Virginia Tech (graduating in December) and hails from Rockingham County. She participated on the 2008 VT Livestock Judging Team and plans to pursue a graduate degree in ruminant nutrition. Sarah is friendly, enthusiastic, and a real go-getter! She's already completed some of the tasks assigned. We're happy to have her in the Orange office for the summer. Please stop by to meet her if you're in town one day. 4-H families will also have the chance to meet Sarah throughout the summer. While many of her responsibilities will be Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) with Steve Hopkins, she will assist with Stockman's Camp, the county fair, and helping to coach the livestock judging team.

Anglers Host Final State Tournament

The OCHS 4-H Jr. B.A.S.S. Anglers Club will host the final Junior State Qualifying Tournament at Lake Anna on June 7th. Thanks to the group for a great event and atmosphere for the participating teams!

Ramey to be Inducted into Virginia 4-H All Stars

State leaders recently announced that Amanda Ramey of Orange's 4-H Hoofmates Club will be inducted into the Virginia chapter of 4-H All Stars in June. Becoming an All Star is the highest honor a Virginia 4-H'er can receive. Ramey has been active in 4-H in a number of project areas, including dogs, sheep, and horses. She has competed in district and state level horse events and plans to represent Orange and Virginia in the Southern Regionals Horse Show this summer in Arkansas. Amanda is a freshman at Hollins University and is the daughter of Jody Ramey of Culpeper. Congratulations! Amanda will participate in the tapping ceremony at Virginia Tech in June during State 4-H Congress.

Host Families Needed for Exchange Students

Host families are needed for 4-H IFYE Exchange students this summer and fall. Hosting periods are for as little as one week or as many as six weeks--you decide!!! IFYE's are young adults ages 19-26 and hail from countries in Europe. There is no cost to the host family, other than providing room and board. IFYE's bring their own spending money. They live with your family and complete chores and activities alongside your family; host families do NOT need to provide special or extravagant activities for the exchanges.

I have hosted two IFYE's--one from Switzerland and one from Germany--and both were very positive experiences. Please consider opening your home to these young people. You will learn a lot about other countries and cultures and make friends that will last a lifetime. Contact the Extension Office for more details about the delegates coming to Virginia this year!!!

Livestock Club Partners with Industry Professionals and VT Vet School

Members of the 4-H Livestock Club hosted guest presenters Doug Harris and David Lee of Select Sires for a club program and workshop focusing on cattle reproduction. The youth learned about reproductive cycles and hormones, and then participated in a hands-on workshop in which they donned plastic gloves and examined the parts of a reproductive tract. Youth learned about semen handling and then were able to practice passing an AI rod through the tracts. The group was assisted by a Virginia Tech Vet School instructor and senior student. Many thanks to 4-H volunteers Roger Scott, Holdan Swope, Bert Martin, and Brad Douthit for assisting with the hands-on part of the workshop.

Goat Club Plants Trees for Earth Day 2009

Members of the 4-H Goat Club completed a tree-planting community service project recently in honor of Earth Day. Service Committee Chairman Zachary Williby organized this project on the grounds of Lightfoot Elementary School. Zachary communicated with the school's principal, and placed the order for white oak, red oak, and kousa dogwood seedlings provided to 4-H'ers free of charge by the Virginia Department of Forestry. On Saturday, April 25, Goat Club members met at the school with local forester Erik Filep, and planted seedlings. This project coincided with Earth Day (Week) festivities. The club is to be commended for this great project!

Anglers Host Mothers' Day Tournament

The OCHS 4-H Jr. B.A.S.S. Anglers will host a special Mothers' Day fishing tournament at Lake Orange on Sunday. The event is held in memory of Shirley Cox (grandmother of Angler Ryan Cox) who passed away this year. The tournament will be held from 4:00-6:30 p.m. and will be followed by a picnic until dark. Please RSVP to Becky Gore (iteach72@yahoo.com) if you plan to attend.