Wayne County 4-H

National 4‑H Youth in Action Pillar winners will receive the following –

• $5,000 scholarship for higher education
• Customized promotional video showcasing their 4‑H impact story
• All-expense-paid trip to the National 4‑H Council’s Legacy Awards in Washington, D.C.
• Networking opportunities with 4‑H celebrities and other prominent alumni
• Recognition as the official 4‑H youth spokesperson for their pillar.

One Pillar Winner will be selected as the 4‑H Youth in Action National Award Winner and will receive an additional scholarship for higher education. Applications are due to National 4-H by October 23, 2017. Learn more about the National 4-H Youth in Action Awards.

The Senior Fair Board could use additional help with some painting projects around the fairgrounds. A work day is scheduled for this coming Saturday morning August 26th from 9 am - 12 noon.

If you are available to help paint some poles and other items for part or all of this time - please contact Fair Manager Matt Martin at 330-262-8001 by Wednesday August 23rd at 4:30 pm if you can help. This is a great opportunity for 4-H families to show pride in the fairgrounds and give back to the fair board for all of their support of our Jr. Fair and 4-H programs and activities.

We want to thank everyone that participated in the Skillathon Suggestions meeting earlier this month and for all of the feedback received from individuals and our livestock committees. The Senior Fair Board's Jr. Fair Liaison Committee recently met and as a result of the poor communication regarding switching from years in the project to basing Skillathon on the member's age - the Liaison Committee has decided to drop the book score for this year from the Outstanding Market Exhibitor / Outstanding Dairy Exhibitor calculation. Therefore, for the purposes of scoring for OME / ODE Awards - the Skillathon total points available will be 80 instead of 100. This change is only for this year and all other points earned at Skillathon will remain as they were scored at this year's Skillathon.

The Livestock Action Committees, Skillathon Committee, 4-H Advisory Committee, and the Senior Fair Board's Jr. Fair Liaison Committee will consider many of the suggestions made earlier this month in planning for next year.

Be sure to read through your August Link Newsletter. A copy was mailed in early August to all Jr. Fair Families. However, you can download a PDF copy of The Link from the Extension Office website anytime. There are lots of important pre-fair reminders in this special Fair edition of The Link.

Attention Wayne County 4-Hers: picture yourself in The Post's Wayne County Fair Guide Junior Fair Spotlight! This special section prints Sept. 2, and we want to include YOU! Submit your photo and a caption (first & last name, town, 4-H group, years you've been in 4-H, this year's projects) via the "Send Message" button on The Post's Facebook page by Friday, Aug. 25 at noon! It's FREE!

Jr. Fair Board & the Wayne County 4-H Food & Fashion Board are sponsoring the annual Baked Goods Contest and Auction on Sunday Sept. 10th. The contest is open to any Wayne County youth ages 8 - 18.

Entry forms are available at the Extension Office or online at go.osu.edu/JFBC17. Entry deadline is Friday, Sept. 8th at 4:30 pm. Prizes will be awarded to the top three placings in each category. Proceeds from the auction will be used for scholarships and board activities.

Congratulations to the Junior Fair Royal Court

Ty Clark, Garrett Gwin, Isaac Kinney, Briar Lehman, Krystalyn Martin, David Miley, Hannah Strock, Kaci Way, Abbey Werstler and Kierstyn Wood

Be sure to see the crowing of the new queen and king, prince, and princess on Saturday, September 9th at 8 pm in the Carter Building.

You can also learn more about this year's Royal Court by reading their bio's available on the Extension Office website.

4-H / American Red Cross Blood Drive in Honor of 9/11

Please consider donating blood during the fair. The Red Cross has indicated that there is an urgent need for blood donors of all blood types. The bloodmobile will be located on the south side of the Coliseum on Sunday and Monday Sept 10-11 with extended hours both days from 12-7 pm in honor of 9/11.

If you or your club would like to donate any juice or snack items for the Blood Drive Canteen - please let 4-H Educator Doug Foxx know by Friday September 1st.

Earlier this summer there was an outbreak of H3N2 influenza at the Clinton County Fair. This strain of virus will often cause a fever in hogs. Humans infected with H3N2v have mostly been associated with prolonged exposure to pigs at agricultural fairs. Limited human-to-human spread of this virus has been detected in the past.

Here are some simple steps to keep in mind to keep everyone safe:

• Don’t take food or drink into pig areas; don’t eat, drink or put anything in your mouth in pig areas.
  
• Don’t take toys, pacifiers, cups, baby bottles, strollers, or similar items into pig areas.
  
• Wash your hands often with soap and running water before and after exposure to pigs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid close contact with pigs that look or act ill.
  

As always, frequent hand-washing can lower your risk of getting sick from influenza, salmonella, e. Coli and other illnesses. Ohio’s fair veterinarians are trained and encouraged to carefully monitor fair livestock and poultry for clinical signs of illness. Exhibitors who believe their animal may be sick should immediately contact a committee member and the fair veterinarian. Fair guests who experience illness should contact a medical professional, and their local health district.

If an outbreak were to occur during the Wayne County Fair, everyone should follow directions given by the veterinarian and ODA officials who would be investigating the case.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/swineflu/h3n2v-cases.htm and ODA Press Release July 14th: OHIOANS URGED TO PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE AT FAIRS

Please click the links below to access the various application and nomination forms from the Extension Office website.

• Excellence in 4-H Award Nominations - advisors nominate your older outstanding members (ages 17-18) for this award. Nominations are due to the Extension Office by 4:30 pm on Friday September 1st. Note: the teens you nominate will also need to complete an application for this award. The Extension Office will mail the application to teens that you nominate. Teens may also apply for this award without having been nominated by an Advisor. The application is due to the Extension Office by 4:30 pm on September 30th.

• County Award Medal Applications / Nominations - advisors may nominate or youth may apply directly for a County Award Medal in various project areas. Applications / Nominations are due to the Extension Office by 4:30 pm on September 30th.

• Meritorious Service Award Nominations - each year the Extension 4-H Advisory Committee presents an award to an individual, group, or business who has made great contributions of his/her time and talent to the 4-H program. Nomination forms are due to the Extension Office by 4:30 pm on September 30th.

• STAR Club Award Applications - This program is not a competition, but a standard of excellence for all clubs to strive to achieve. Every club can earn points during the year (January through September). Star Clubs will be recognized at the 4-H Recognition Banquet on November 9, 2017. Fabulous prizes will be awarded to clubs that earn this special recognition! Final applications are due to the Extension Office by 4:30 pm on September 30th.

It takes many volunteers working together across all of our committees to keep our 4-H and Jr. Fair programs strong. Please consider running for one of the 4-H / Jr. Fair Action Committees such as: Beef, Dairy, Horse, Sheep, Swine, Goat, Rabbit / Poultry, Building 10, and Dog committees. We also need club advisors and volunteers to serve on the Extension 4-H Advisory Committee. Click the links below to download the forms. All forms must be signed by the applicant / nominee and are due to the Extension Office by 4:30 pm on September 30th.

The completed nomination forms will be compiled and placed on a ballot to be voted on by advisors and committee members. Nominees do not need to be current club advisors.

• Extension 4-H Advisory Committee Application / Nomination Form
• 4-H / Jr. Fair Action Committees Application / Nomination Form (Beef, Dairy, Horse, Sheep, Swine, Goat, Rabbit/Poultry, Building 10, and Dog Committees)

We would like to add your club’s name to the list below who have supported the Bike’s for Kids At Christmas project. We have not received many sponsorships so far this year. Thank you to those who have sponsored so far:

• Madisonburg Pioneers - 2 bikes
• Apple Creek Wide-A-Wake - 2 bikes
• Sugar Creek Gang - 1 bike
• Jefferson Pioneers - 1 bike
• Springville Cowpokes - 1 bike
• Country Strong - 1 bike
  
• Burbank Livestock - 1 bike
• Smithie Whiz Kids - 4 bikes!

Approximate cost for one bike is $65.00 and they are given to local children around Christmas time. If your club would like to donate to bikes for kids, please make your donation to the Extension Office by 4:30 pm on September 30th.

Email: foxx.2@osu.edu
Website: wayne.osu.edu
Location: 428 West Liberty Street, Wooster, OH, United States
Phone: 330-264-8722
Facebook: facebook.com/WayneCty4H
Twitter: @WayneCo4HOhio