Dear 4-H Families:

It has been a quite a couple of weeks with changes coming quickly. Thank you for your patience with your county 4-H staff, the state 4-H office, and OSU Extension. I know you have many questions:

• When can we have club meetings?
• Will there be summer camp?
• Should we invest in projects?
• What about fair?
  
  

The answer is at this point is that we just don’t know. It is all changing rapidly. But what we do know for sure is that we’re committed to doing our part to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19. We also know that when we choose to act together, we can have incredible positive impacts.

The actions we’ve taken so far are in alignment with necessary precautions recommended by the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Ohio Department of Health. These are in place to help keep us all from getting, or unintentionally spreading, this virus. This includes the temporary closing to the public of our county Extension offices. We’ll continue to be available via email and phone.

To help clarify, ALL 4-H events, programs, and activities scheduled between now and April 20 be held virtually, postponed, or cancelled.

We are also suspending 4-H project book distribution, effective immediately through 3/31/2020. This means there will be no project book distribution at the local or state level until after March 31. We will continue to monitor the situation and will re-evaluate project book distribution as we get closer to March 31 and share more information with you at that time.

For our livestock project members and families, Ohio 4-H and the Ohio Department of Agriculture discussed some changes for this year that will help mitigate the effects that this virus is having on holding in-person programming. For livestock quality assurance (QA) for the 2020 year only:

• QA must still be completed before the opening day of exhibition, however the 45-day prior to the opening of the exhibition requirement will not be enforced.
• Youth livestock exhibitors (8-18) may take the online YQCA certification.
  
  

In the coming days, we’ll post updates on our Facebook page, in the app, and on our website. We'll also include links to resources that you and your children can use. And we’ll do what we can to keep you updated as we learn new information.

Yours in 4-H,

Kirk Bloir

This information is subject to change based on updates the 4-H program is receiving daily.

• Club Meetings - All club meetings must be canceled or held virtually until April 20.
  
  - Advisors that would like help holding a virtual meeting should contact Beth boomershine.10@osu.edu or Rachel stoneburner.31@osu.edu to make arrangements.
  
  
• Franklin County 4-H Council Meeting, March 18 - CANCELLED
  
  
• Franklin County Teen Leaders Council, March 24 - CANCELLED
  
  
• New Volunteer Orientation, March 25 - VIRTUAL (Details coming soon.)
  
  
• Fashion Board, March 29 - POSSIBLY POSTPONED (TBD)
  
  
• Camp Counselor Meeting, April 2 - VIRTUAL (Details coming soon.)
  
  
• Walk & Serve, April 4 - POSTPONED to September 26 (More info coming soon)
  
  
• Clover 5K, April 4 - POSTPONED to September 26 (More info coming soon)
  
  
• Horse Committee, April 6 - POSSIBLY VIRTUAL
  
  
• Backyard Poultry Production Vet Science Clinic, April 8 - CANCELLED
  
  
• Horse Safety & Ethics, April 14 - TO BE DETERMINED
  
  
• Franklin County 4-H Advisor Fair Update, April 15 - POSSIBLY VIRTUAL

Each family must do their own online 4-H enrollment every year. This includes club advisors and members. Online enrollment is something we can still do while social distancing. Watch one of the videos below to see how to enroll.

• Changes can be made to your project selections until the EXTENDED 4-H enrollment deadline on April 15, 2020. Email Kathy Bohanan by April 15 if you need to make changes to your enrollment after you've submitted it.

• A NOTE ABOUT PAPERWORK AND COUNTY ACTIVITY FEES - We understand that the social distancing guidelines that are being updated every day is causing a lot of uncertainty for how advisors will collect county activity fees and turn in enrollment paperwork due to canceled meetings and the closed office. Please know that we are doing our best to adjust our requirements as circumstances change. As of now, advisors, please hold your club enrollment paperwork until our office reopens. We will send further details as we know more. PLEASE CONTINUE ENROLLING ONLINE.
  
  
• HORSE ID FORMS AND OTHER HORSE PAPERWORK - The horse possession and lease deadline has not changed from April 1.
  
  - HORSE ID FORMS MUST BE TURNED IN BY APRIL 15. This can be done by emailing it directly to Beth at boomershine.10@osu.edu OR by sending it to Horse Committee chair, Becky Applegett, via US Mail or dropping it off to the box on Becky's porch. The address is 947 Harborton Dr., Columbus, OH 43228.
  
  - Check out http://fchorse.org/FC960%20Fair%20Forms.html to get all required horse forms.
  
  - All other horse forms that were previously due April 1 are not due May 1. (But feel free to send them to Becky prior to that.)
  
  - Franklin County 4-H Horse Website - www.fchorse.org

IMPORTANT! The Franklin County Fair will be completely ractopamine-free in 2020. NO ANIMALS ON EXHIBIT AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIR SHOULD EVER BE FED A PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS RACTOPAMINE.

Ractopamine is sometimes fed to beef cattle, swine, and turkeys to improve growth rate. Product trade names include: Paylean®, Optaflexx®, Engain®, Actogain®, and other generic derivatives. It is also sometimes used inappropriately in other species.

FOR 2020, NO ANIMALS ARE PERMITTED TO HAVE BEEN FED RACTOPAMINE. This ban includes ALL species such as beef, swine, turkeys, goats, sheep, rabbits, other poultry, and horses.

Six things you should do to make sure your animal is Ractopamine Free in 2020:

1. Understand the status of any animal you purchase or raise on your own farm and comply by not feeding or exposing your animal to ractopamine.
   
   
2. Work directly with your feed supplier to assure that the feed you use is free of ractopamine.
   
   
3. Feeders and containers should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water and dried prior to adding new feed. This will prevent cross-contamination if you fed ractopamine last year.
   
   
4. Pens, bedding, fans, etc. should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water as they have a risk of containing ractopamine if you have fed it in the past.
   
   
5. Do a complete wash and dry of trailers and vehicles between loads of animals.
   
   
6. Don’t offer ractopamine as it is not acceptable for the fair or exhibition.
   

Signed affidavits will be required prior to exhibiting your animal stating that you have not fed your animal ractopamine. Random testing will occur during the fair.

• If you are taking a swine project in 2020, read the resources found at this link prior to purchasing your pig.

All youth, ages 8 and in 3rd grade through 13, are invited to join the adventure at Franklin County 4-H Camp. Campers will have fun meeting other youth while participating in a variety of camp activities like canoeing, disc golf, bottle rockets, creeking, nature exploration, swimming, hiking, team challenges, high ropes, a climbing wall, campfires, crafts, and so much more!

Financial aid is available in the form of partial camperships for 4-H families with financial need. Campership applications are due by email April 5.

Date: June 17-21, 2020
More Information: go.osu.edu/camp

We are pleased to announce the creation of a wonderful opportunity for Franklin County 4-H members, volunteers, and clubs. The Brundige Legacy Foundation has been established at The Columbus Foundation. The Fund seeks to provide grant opportunities to Franklin County 4-H members and clubs in Franklin County. It is intended to allow the creation of new opportunities for 4-H youth in Franklin County. The program guidelines are as follows:

Amount: Up to $1,000 per proposal

Applicant Eligibility: Any 4-H members and/or clubs in Franklin County 4-H

Requirements: Any 4-H club applying must have a current Ohio 4-H club charter, an active checking account, and follow all Ohio 4-H requirements and guidelines for club finance management. Checks will be made out in the club's name.

Application: Submit up to a two-page letter summarizing the following:

- The project

- The financial plan (including other funding that has been raised/secured)

- The dates and locations of the planned activities

Deadline: The application is a rolling process with no deadline. However, the Foundation desires to be a lead partner and requests that projects be submitted at least three-six months before the anticipated activities.

Click here to download the complete application

Grant Requests should be sent to:

The Brundige Legacy Foundation

Attention: Steven Moore

The Columbus Foundation

1234 E. Broad Street

Columbus, Ohio 43205

There are some new changes and requirements to pre-fair horse project evaluations and grading. Get all of the important information here: http://fchorse.org/FC960%20PreFair.html

The Ohio 4-H Cloverbot Challenge gives 4-H Cloverbuds the opportunity to work cooperatively in teams to problem-solve using STEM (science, engineering, technology and math) skills. A new theme is selected each year and teams research a topic, build a working model of their solution to the Challenge issue and create a poster to illustrate their findings. Cloverbuds, team advisors and families come to the Nationwide Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in the spring, for the Challenge event. Teams present their models and findings to a group of reviewers, learn about other Cloverbuds’ LEGO projects, participate in age-appropriate STEM activities and are recognized at a closing celebration.

This is an excellent opportunity for clubs that want their Cloverbuds to get engaged in 4-H. See details of how your club can participate in the Cloverbot Challenge HERE. This year's theme is Transportation and the Challenge event will take place on June 13.

More Information: https://ohio4h.org/families/cloverbuds/cloverbot-challenge
Deadline to Order LEGO Kit: March 20, 2020
Deadline to Register Club for Event: May 1, 2020

Are you taking any of the following 4-H projects to the Franklin County Fair this year?

• Lactating Dairy Cows
• Market Rabbits
• Market Poultry
• Market Lambs
• Market Goats
• Lactating Dairy Goats
• Market Beef (including beef & dairy feeders)
• Market Swine

If you answered yes to the question above, YOU MUST ATTEND a livestock quality assurance session before the fair. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Franklin County 4-H will be holding two sessions (pick one):

• April 25, 2020, 9:00am - Kunz Brundige Franklin County Extension Building; 2548 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210; No registration required.
  
  
• May 26, 2020, 6:30pm - Kunz Brundige Franklin County Extension Building; 2548 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210; No registration required.

Other approved LQA’s throughout central Ohio will be shared as the Extension Office receives them. Also there is an online option offered nationally for a fee that we'll share information about soon.

Ohio 4-H Sea Camp at Kelleys Island has offered hundreds of young people the opportunity to learn about aquatic science and experience a variety of recreational watersports on Lake Erie. Sea Camp is offered to youth ages 15-17 (age as of July 11, first day of camp).

The mission of Ohio 4-H Sea Camp is to offer teenage youth an introduction to the Great Lakes through hands-on experiences in a variety of aquatic-based programs. Sea Camp will enable participants to experience Lake Erie-based activities and culture such as aquatic science, water recreation, and fishing. The program is a supervised, educational environment fostered by Ohio 4-H and The Ohio State University.

Get more information here!

Jun 7-12, 2020

Have you ever wondered what types of trees are in Ohio's forests? Or what kinds of relationships organisms have with the forest? If so, Camp Canopy is the place to be! Camp is held at FFA Camp Muskingum, located on Leesville Lake in the beautiful rolling hills of Carroll County, Ohio. Any student who has completed 8th grade through seniors graduating the year of camp are welcome to participate. Be prepared to obtain valuable forestry information, make many new friends and HAVE FUN!!!

https://campcanopy.com/camp/