An Introduction to Raising Backyard Chickens

Franklin County 4-H is pleased to announce a new clinic for 4-H families interested in taking 4-H chicken projects or just raising a flock of backyard chickens. This informative session will cover topics such as selection, housing, nutrition, health, as well as other subjects. The clinic is taught by OSU Extension, Franklin County's newest addition to the staff, Dr. Tim McDermott, Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator.

The clinic is free and open to the first 60 registrants. Each family will receive a free color copy of the Chicken Resource Book (143 pages) that Franklin County 4-H will be using this year to accompany record books.

Clinic Details:
When: Monday, February 26, 2018, 6:30pm
Where: OSU Extension, Franklin County Office
530 W Spring St., Suite 275, Columbus, OH 43215
Registration Link: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_894l5ikZogi3U0Z

Please save the date of Saturday, April 7, 2018 for these 2 county wide events held at the Franklin County Fair Grounds in Hilliard.

• Clubs who coordinated a non-profit station in 2017 have been contacted directly about their 2018 involvement.

• Do you know a non-profit organization who has their 501(3)(c) status that would like to apply for adoption by a 4-H Club? They need to provide information about their organization and what type of hands-on project would benefit them on the Contact Us link on the 4-H Council website, https://4hcouncil.org/contact-us/

For those who aren't familiar with these events:

4-H Walk & Serve

We have at least 15 4-H Clubs who have each "adopted" a non-profit organization. The club learns about the organization's purpose and how we can help support them with a hands-on service project. The 4-H Council has received grant money that can help clubs purchase supplies. The club members prepare the supplies and work together on a plan of how to create a station at the event where the public is invited to attend to complete the service projects.

• Example: The K-9 Wonderdogs 4-H Club discusses an organization to adopt. They agree to reach out to CHA Animal Shelter. The shelter shares with them what they do and what needs they may have. The club decides they would like to help with the need of dog blankets for the dog's comfort while they are at the shelter. The club has a fleece drive within the club membership and then supplements what is needed with the grant money and some from the club treasury to purchase additional fleece. They then prepare the fleece at an afternoon "Fleece Cutting Party" for the club members and their families. A couple of the members set up their station the night before the event. On the day of the event, they have enough members that they have created 2 shifts for their members to facilitate their club station. Someone from CHA Animal Shelter attends the event along with 2 dogs that are up for adoption. At the end of the event, the CHA representative takes the blankets for the shelter.

Clover 5K

This is the 3rd run/walk that we have held the same day as the 4-H Walk & Serve. Pre-registration will be available on January 22. Something new for 2018 will be that the entire course will be on the Franklin County Fairgrounds. It is open to the public and 4-H clubs will be asked to help promote the event.

4-H teens are invited to apply to be on the Franklin County Teen Leaders Council for 2018. We are looking for Franklin County 4-H members who are at least 13 years old or in the 7th grade. Our meetings will mostly be held the 4th or 5th Tuesday of every month from 6:30-8:30. The location will usually be at the Franklin County Extension Office located at, 530 W. Spring St. Columbus, Ohio 43215.

The Teen Leaders Council is a Franklin County 4-H club that focuses on preparing teens to be caring and contributing leaders through educational and leadership opportunities. In 2018, TLC members will explore many different forms of government and meet local, county and state government officials. Other opportunities will include fun outings and service learning projects.

Teen Leaders Council Calendar

(All Dates and Times are subject to change)

January 30, 2018 6:30-8:30 Planning for officer training and Winter Fair.

February 24, 2018 6:30-8:30 Fun Outing

March 27, 2018 TBD Explore a City Council Meeting

April 24, 2018 6:30-8:30 Explore County Government

Assist with Walk and Serve

May 22, 2018 6:30-8:30 Visit the State House

June 26, 2018 6:00-9:00 Project Help Night

July 24, 2018 6:30-8:30 Post Fair Party

August 11, 2018 6:30-8:30 Adventure Outing

September 25, 2018 6:30-8:30 Meeting

October 23, 2018 6:30-8:30 Real Money, Real World

Assist with National 4-H Educators Conference

November 27, 2018 6:30-8:30 Service at the Ronald McDonald House

December 19, 2018 6:00-8:00 Holiday Celebration - Canvas and Cocoa

Interested in applying to serve on the Franklin County Teen Leaders Council?

• Fill out the easy TLC application here by January 17.
  

Calling all 4-H clothing members (with at least one year of construction experience)! We are looking for bright, motivated 4-H'ers hoping to help organize at least one event for Franklin County clothing participants and to assist with various activities surrounding judging and the fashion review.

All 2018 clothing project members who are at least 12 years of age by 1/1/18, and have at least one year of 4-H clothing construction experience are welcome to apply. Please complete the following application no later than January 17, 2018. Fashion Board advisors, Samantha Brill and Kim Cross, will notify individuals about selections soon after that. Fill out the application HERE.

Each year, the Franklin County 4-H Council raises money to support our local 4-H program. Part of the money they raise goes to providing 4-H teens with amazing opportunities to take part in a trips and camps throughout Ohio and nationally. The opportunities that teens can apply and compete to receive full scholarships for include...

Citizenship Washington Focus: July 1-7, 2018

4-H leadership program for high school youth, ages 15-19, from across the country. The program uses our nation’s capital as a classroom to foster youth appreciation, understanding and involvement in civic responsibility, government operations and current issues.

Leadership Washington Focus: July 16-20, 2018 (Entering grades 7-9 in Aug. 2018)

LWF is a 4-H leadership program for middle school youth. The program will take place at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center, just one mile from the Washington, D.C. border. Participants build confidence in their ability to motivate and direct others in meaningful action; practice effective communication with others through group discussion and public speaking; work with others to create and accomplish goals; develop an understanding of their own personal leadership style, exchange ideas, practice respect, and form friendships with other 4-H'ers from across the nation; and experience hands-on learning using the historical backdrop of Washington, D.C.

Ohio 4-H Leadership Camp: June 2-6, 2018 (Ages 15 and older)

The State 4-H Leadership Camp is a once-in-a-lifetime, exciting, fun, challenging, in-depth, learn-by-doing leadership development experience. It is one of the best programs of its kind in the nation. Leadership campers plan, conduct, and evaluate the program themselves!

Ohio 4-H Sea Camp: July 7-11, 2018 (Ages 13 and older)

Experience marine biology first-hand at Kelley’s Island 4-H Camp on Lake Erie. Fishing ecology, marine navigation, snorkeling, sailing and much more.

Ohio Forestry & Wildlife Conservation Camp: June 10-15, 2018 (Entering Grades 9-12)

Ever wonder what types of trees are in Ohio’s forests? Or what kinds of relationships organisms have with the forest? This camp is for the nature lover and is held at Camp Muskingum in eastern Ohio.

Shooting Education Camp: July 8-13, 2018 (Ages13-18)

This camp will foster life skills in 4-H youth through the shooting sports curriculum and activities that will enable boys and girls to reach their fullest potential as capable, caring and contributing citizens. This camp is held at Canter's Cave 4-H Camp in southern Ohio.

Buckeye Leadership Workshop: April 4-8, 2018 (Ages 15 and older)

Designed as a balanced program of social, physical, mental, and spiritual activities. Participants are encouraged and empowered to experiment with new activities, develop new abilities, expand their creativity, practice and master new leadership skills, share ideas and personal skills, establish new friendships, and develop networks of human resources.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• To apply for a Franklin County 4-H Trip Scholarship, complete the Ohio 4-H Achievement Record Application and submit it to the Franklin County Extension Office no later than January 22, 2018.
  (530 W Spring Street, Suite 275, Columbus, OH 43215)
  
  
• Some dates for these trips overlap with Franklin County dates which is beyond our control.
  Franklin County 4-H Camp: June 18-22, 2018 (Monday-Friday)
  Franklin County Fair: July 14-21, 2018
  

These 25 awards recognize a 4-H member's achievement in a specific area. Areas include: Beef, CARTEENS, Citizenship & Community Service, Clothing & Textiles, Companion Animals, Dairy, Dairy Goat, Environmental Sciences, Family Life & Child Development, Foods & Nutrition, Gardening & Horticulture, Health & Safety, Horse, Leadership, Meat Goat, Mechanical & Engineering Sciences, Personal Development, Photography, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Shooting Sports, Swine, Woodworking and Veterinary Science. Each achievement award winner will receive a trip to the National 4-H Congress and which is scheduled to be held in Atlanta, Georgia in late November, 2018.

• To apply to be selected as the county nominee for a State Achievement Award and compete for the statewide award, complete the Ohio 4-H Achievement Record Application and submit it to the Franklin County Extension Office no later than January 22, 2018.
  (530 W Spring St., Suite 275, Columbus, OH 43215)
  
  

• ONE COPY OF THE COMPLETED APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED PER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD THAT YOU ARE APPLYING FOR.
  

State Junior Fair Board: SJFB is comprised of representatives from several different youth organizations in Ohio including 4-H Youth Development. State Junior Fair Board members help strengthen and coordinate State Fair activities in a fast-paced, action-packed month at the Ohio State Fair. Junior Fair Board members are expected to attend meetings and stay at the fair for the entire 12 days.

• To apply for this opportunity, members need to complete a State 4-H Achievement Record and submit it to the Franklin County Extension Office no later than January 22, 2018.
  (530 W Spring St., Suite 275, Columbus, OH 43215)

OTA Local Government Award: Two $1,500 awards are available to any 4-H high school senior who has completed a local government-type activity that has had significant impact on the applicant's community, township or county.

• To apply for this opportunity, members need to complete a State 4-H Achievement Record and submit it to the Franklin County Extension Office no later than January 22, 2018.
  (530 W Spring St., Suite 275, Columbus, OH 43215)

There are over 20 state 4-H scholarships available and each has its own description and its own list of eligibility requirements. Completion of an Ohio 4-H Achievement Record is not necessary to be eligible for this award/opportunity. Instead, a separate, specialized online application form is required. Please follow the instructions on the Ohio 4-H website.

A 4-H SPIN Club is a special interest, short term club where five or more young people learn about a topic of interest in an already existing program such as an afterschool program, a recreation center, etc. SPIN Clubs are designed to be educational, but in a fun way. A SPIN Club provides an opportunity for youth to experience some of the things that the 4-H program has to offer, but in a short time frame. The SPIN Club is held one time a week for one hour a day, generally in the summer, and is scheduled the same time each week.

The Farm Animal SPIN Club will be five weeks in duration, from June to August. There will be about 15-25 children attending the SPIN Club. Five 4-H older youth and/or adult 4-H volunteers are needed to teach individual sessions. You must enjoy working with children and be able to express yourself clearly in front of a group. The location has not yet been designated, but the program will be during the day. You must also be willing to transport at least one of the following animals, and discuss general information about the animal, their care, general use, etc. These are the presentations and the animals needed:

• General Introductory Session
• Piglet
• Small goat
• Chicken
• Rabbit

If this is of interest to you, please contact Sue Hogan at hogan.239@osu.edu for additional information.