Livestock Club Meeting Change and Announcement of Sheep and Goat Weigh-in

Livestock Club members need to refer to an email message sent. There will be no meeting this week, but it's postponed to next week for a demonstration.

The sheep and goat weigh in will be Monday, May 9, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at the Virginia Tech Northern Piedmont Center on Rt. 15 south of Orange. (14471 Research Rd.) This weigh in and nomination process is required for all market lambs and goats to be shown or sold at the Orange County Fair.

Additionally, members who wish to nominate animals for the State Fair sheep and goat shows may do so at the same time. For the State Fair tags, there is a fee of $5 per head, with checks made payable to the Virginia 4-H Foundation. No cash or cards will be accepted. Nominating animals at the county weigh-in site will save you a trip to another location in June.

If you have questions about the weigh-in or nomination process for county or state fair, please call 672-1361.

Market Hog Ear Tag Photos Due THIS FRIDAY

Market hog exhibitors: Don't forget that this Friday, April 22, is the deadline for nomination photos. Any member planning to show or sell a market hog at the 2016 Orange County Fair must obtain an ear tag from the Extension office, install that tag, and submit a digital photo of the tag and the hog to ocva4hcrew@gmail.com.

You will receive a confirmation email so that you know we received your nomination. This process replaces the weigh-in and tagging process used several years ago. The nomination process is REQUIRED, not optional.

Anyone who needs access to a set of Allflex ear tag applicators can borrow them from the Extension office, but please do not wait until the last minute.

Northern District Livestock Show CANCELED for May

Due to problems with location and availability, this year's Northern District Livestock Show will not be held.

However, mark your calendar now for May 13, 2017! Or better yet, subscribe to the Orange 4-H Google Calendar and it is already recorded for you!

Orange 4-H Bit N' Bridle Club Excels at State 4-H EquiSmartz Contest

Reported by club members

Bit N' Bridle enjoyed the Virginia Horse Festival while attending our state knowledge weekend known as EquiSmartz.  We watched clinics on jumping and riding gaited horses as well as trying our hands at shoeing a "horse". 

The contest was a great way to test what we learned from all of our studying this year.  Club members participating included Andie, Cora, Alisa, Alayna, Emily, Matthew and Charlotte.  We were fortunate to be paired with other 4-Hers for some contests and we enjoyed competing with Savannah, Claire, and Carrie from Craig and Rockingham counties.

Team awards:  

Hippology Seniors, 3rd Overall; Juniors 5th Overall.

Horse Judging:Seniors 5th Overall,Juniors 5th Overall

Charlotte and Cora took home individual ribbons: 

• Charlotte, 1st place overall for Hippology, 1st place for Horse Judging and 1st place for Horse Bowl, high point individual.  
• Horse Presentation, Senior Charlotte 2nd Place. 
• Cora, 5th place overall Hippology, 7th place overall Horse Judging; and Horse Public Speech Junior,Cora 1st Place.  
• Charlotte and Cora were able to Caroline county's horse bowl teams.  Charlotte's senior team finished fourth and Cora's junior team finished first.
  

Three Orange Teams Compete in Regional Youth Cattle Working Contest

Orange sent three teams to the regional youth cattle working contest held Wednesday at Tucker Livestock facilities in Radiant. Two of those teams qualified for the state contest to be held April 16 in conjunction with the Virginia Beef Expo and Junior Beef Round-up.

Orange's Team A won the regional contest. The team consisted of Blake Hopkins, Garrett Hopkins, and Marlaina Johnson. Team B, Brice Norford, Skyler Hitt, and Autumn Rogers, placed second. Both teams will advance. Team C was comprised of Carter Hart, Landon Hitt, and Robert Goodwin. They placed fifth in the regional event.

Cattle working involves teams of three teens processing three head of cattle. Teams are scored on their processing plan created before the contest, safety and handling, vaccinations and injections, ear tag application, and dewormer. Time is also a contributing factor, with up to 10% of the final score.

For additional photos, view our Facebook post at https://www.facebook.com/orangecounty4h/.

Culpeper Soil & Water Conservation District Offers Scholarship Due April 12

High school seniors residing in the Culpeper SWCD (that includes Orange) are encouraged to apply for their college scholarship by April 12. 

Applications are available online at  http://www.culpeperswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/Scholarship-App-16.pdf

Master Gardeners Advertise $1,000 Scholarship

The Rapidan River Master Gardeners Association awards a $1,000 scholarship each year to a senior from Culpeper, Madison or Orange County who will be enrolling after graduate in a college or vocational institute and will be seeking higher education in the field of horticulture or agriculture.

Please let Kaci know if you would like an application.