Dairy Club Travels to Virginia Tech for State Dairyman's Contest

Members of the Orange County  4-H Dairy Club traveled to Virginia Tech today for the state contest of Junior Dairyman’s.  Congratulations are extended to members placing in the Top 10 in the junior division.  Hayley Coleman placed fifth overall and Marlaina Johnson placed eighth.  Great job, girls!  Shown is a photo of all the club members who participated. 

4th Grade Farm Tour- Day 1

The fourth grade students from Grymes Memorial School, Gordon Barbour Elementary School, and Orange Elementary School visited Kenwood Farm and Knight Cattle Company yesterday. They learned about the dairy industry, watersheds and water quality, farm animals, and Virginia Products, just to name a few. Thanks to all our volunteers that were able to come out and help teach our 4th graders about agriculture.

Exciting New 4-H Exchange Opportunities Announced

Great News! In the summer of 2013, Virginia 4-H families have the opportunity to host teens from the following countries: Argentina, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Japan, and Norway. This is a great opportunity for American families to share their lives with young people from abroad and learn about their countries at the same time. The hosting experience is for one month, and host families must have a child of the same gender and within a two-year age range of the hosted delegate.

Each of these groups will also have a chaperone, so host families are needed for them as well for 2 - 4 weeks. Families who host chaperones are not required to have children in the home.

Bring the world to you! This is an experience that will last a lifetime. Host family applications are due by January 15. Please share this with any family who may be interested. For more information, please contact the Extension office.

Poinsettias for Sale!!!

Finally, it’s time to begin selling poinsettias again!  Orange 4-H has had great success with these beautiful, high-quality plants from Battlefield Farms.  Your participation earns money for your club and also ensures continuation of events like Achievement Night.  Forms are available online or from the Extension Office.  All orders and money are due November 19.  You will need to pick up your plants on December 6 (evening) or 7 (daytime) at the Extension Office.  Let us know if you have questions!  Consider asking your family, neighbors, churches, businesses, and perhaps your parents can take a form to their work.  

Achievement Night Date Changed to November 20 (Tuesday)

Due to a scheduling conflict with the facilities, Orange 4-H Achievement Night will be held TUESDAY, November 20, (one day later than originally planned) at 7:00 p.m. in the Orange County High School Auditorium.  We hope you will join us to celebrate the membership’s many accomplishments in 2012.  Light refreshments will be served. 

Some additional notes about Achievement Night:

• ·         We will have a slide show at the end of the program and we welcome your digital photo submissions of events that happened since last October (the 2012 4-H year).  Please e-mail them to seweaver@vt.edu. 
• ·         All clubs will be recognized and have time on the program/on stage, so we encourage everyone to come out on November 20!
• ·         The Harry T. Peters, Jr. award nomination is posted online.  Consider nominating a senior 4-H’er, age 14-18, who is active in 4-H and provides service to others.  Nominations are due November 2^nd. 
• ·         All 2012 high school graduates are encouraged to apply for a $500 scholarship from 4-H.  This form is also online and also due November 2^nd. 

Weaber Wins Herdsman Award at World Beef Expo

Congratulations to former Orange 4-H member Julia Weaber, who exhibited cattle at the World Beef Expo recently.  Weaber won the Junior Herdsman Award and exhibited the Champion Belted Galloway Heifer at the event.  Now a resident of Kentucky, Julia was a member of the Orange 4-H Livestock Club last year and an award-winning member of the stockman's and livestock judging teams.

Please Join Us for 4-H Achievement Night

The 2012 4-H year was a GREAT one, so make plans to celebrate everyone's accomplishments.  4-H Achievement Night will be held Monday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m. in the Orange County High School Auditorium.  See you there!

4-H All Star Workshop Scheduled for October 16

Kaci will conduct a workshop for anyone interested in learning more about the 4-H All Star nomination process on Tuesday, October 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the Extension Office.  Youth of all ages, parents, volunteers, leaders are all welcome to attend.  Participants will receive copies of the All Star nomination form and will be able to ask questions about how to categorize various 4-H events and participation on the nomination form.  Please call the office to let us know if you plan to attend.

Virginia Junior Livestock Expo Posts Schedule

Persons interested in attending the Virginia Junior Livestock Expo (state 4-H livestock shows at Rockingham County Fairgrounds) are encouraged to view the event schedule online.  Note that animals may not arrive before 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 11, and all cattle will participate in a check-in process at the scales, even registered animals (new for 2012).  Click HERE for the link to the VJLE website.

Orange 4-H Members Earn Awards at State 4-H Horse Show

Orange County had two youth compete in State 4-H Horse Show events: record book competition, photo contest, and the horse show.  Big congratulations are extended to Delaney O’Donnell, who placed second in the Senior Record Book category and who also designed the 2012 official show T-shirt.  Bryan Ramey stayed plenty busy and earned many ribbons with his project horse Fenway Armani, including:   9th in Senior Hunter Showmanship, 3rd in Senior Large Pony Hunter Over Fences Course A, 4th in Senior Large Pony Hunter Over Fences Course B, 5th in Senior Large Pony Hunter Under Saddle, 4th in Senior/Large Pony Equitation Over Fences, a Blue Ribbon in Stable Management, and 2nd in Photography Contest - Senior Action Category.  Pictured are Ramey and his 4-H project horse.  Way to go, Delaney and Bryan!

Virginia Association of Fairs Announces Scholarship Contest Rules

The Virginia Association of Fairs annual Youth Leadership Scholarship Contest packet is now available.  Seven thousand dollars in scholarships will be distributed in the January 2013 contest and youth ages 14-19 who have participated in or provided service to a VAF-member fair are eligible to compete.  Contestants are scored on a written essay, an interview, a prepared speech, a PowerPoint presentation and an application and resume.  For a packet, please visit the VAF website or look HERE under Blog Post Follow-up.

Orange youth have been quite successful in past years, including winners Bobby Chambers, Marty Harris, Megan Harris, and Kaitlyn Gill.  Be sure to check with these folks for advice.  Entry deadline is the first Friday in December.