Among the 4-H family in Fulton and Montgomery Counties, the 4-H Snack Bar is known as the place to be during the annual Fonda Fair!  Annually, local 4-H youth members and Cooperative Extension/4-H adult  volunteers prepare and serve milkshakes, ice cream cones and big chocolate chunk cookies as well as a variety of hot and cold beverages to county fair visitors.  Proceeds from the 4-H Snack Bar are used to sponsor some local 4-H youth development programs and special opportunities for 4-H teens.

The 4-H Snack Bar must have good workers to keep it running smoothly and for it to continue to be a successful fundraiser. Kid-power and adult assistance are key to keep all work shifts full and effectively serving snack bar customers.  Working in the 4-H Snack Bar has been a great community service and a fun activity for local 4-H members over the years and in 2013 five Kohl’s Associates in Action from the Amsterdam, New York location were welcomed to help with the effort.  The enthusiastic Kohl’s Associates including store manager Michael Franz, quickly “got the scoop” about order-taking, food preparation and food service and treated 4-H Snack Bar patrons to customer service with a smile during a shift on August 31, 2013.

The 4-H Youth Development Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties appreciates the volunteer assistance from Kohl’s in Amsterdam, New York and looks forward to receiving a $500.00 grant check from Kohl’s to help with local 4-H youth programming initiatives. 

In response to the presence of the emerald ash borer and hemlock wooly adelgid in this region, a program on these invasive species and how to mitigate their impact in our area is being offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County and Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties, in partnership with the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) on September 18, 6:30-8:30, 2013 in the Wellness Community Room at the Fox Care Center in Oneonta on Route 7.  Sign-in begins at 6:15.  Other species, such as the Asian Longhorn Beetle, will be addressed as time permits.

For more information contact David Cox of CCE Schoharie/Otsego: 518-234-4303/296-8310 or dgc23@cornell.edu. For more information and to register, contact Janet Aldrich of CCE Delaware County: 607-865-6531 or JLA14@cornell.edu. Advance registration is required; participation is free.

Dr. Mark Whitmore, Extension Associate for Cornell University’s Natural Resource Department will lead the discussion. A forest entomologist, Dr. Whitmore works with municipalities, professional land managers, state and federal agencies, government officials, and concerned citizens to understand the issues and strategies for minimizing the impact of non-native invasive insects on forest health. This is an opportunity to work together as a community and the start for taking action.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County and Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties provide equal program and employment opportunities.  Accommodations for persons with special needs may be requested by contacting their respective Cornell Cooperative Extension association prior to September 18.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties 4-H Program announces the results of the 2013 4-H Animal Science Program at the Fonda Fair.  We would like to recognize and thank they many volunteers and sponsors who made the 4-H Youth Program at the fair possible.  Special thanks go to Mike Settle for assisting with the 4-H Dairy Judging Contest and Breanne Duesler who judged Horse Stable Management all week

For a list of the Fonda Fair Animal Science Program Winners and their sponsors, click the link for the entire article.

There will be a Goat and Sheep Health Day at Cornell University this year.  The event will take place primarily on Saturday, September 21^st, 2013 at Morrison Hall and the Livestock Pavilion on the Cornell University Campus in Ithaca, New York.  It will have educational workshops and “tracks” for both youth and adults.

However, there will also be some activities on Friday evening, September 20^th, 2013 such as 1) a cheese making workshop taught by Holly Phillips of Straitgate Farm, 2) Goat/Sheep Bowl led by Jo Ellen Roehrig,  and 3) “Basic Health Management for Goats and Sheep” taught by Dr. Michael Thonney.

Saturday’s activities will include tracks geared towards 1) the 12 yrs. old and under crowd, 2) the teen crowd, and 3) adults. All youth 16 years and younger must be accompanied by adults.  Adults can opt to attend the youth workshops with their children or attend the adult activities. There will be a recreational goat track ( Mark and Janet Collier) with limited space where youth can make a pack saddle frame and learn about managing and handling pack goats, etc.  There will also be a workshop on pack goats in the adult track.

Researchers found that children now eat three snacks a day and adults snack twice a day.

For most adults trying to watch their weight, choosing healthy snacks can be a challenge. Even though snacking has developed a "bad image," snacks are an important part of your diet. They can provide energy in the middle of the day or when you exercise. A healthy snack between meals can also decrease your hunger and keep you from overeating at meal time. There are many snacks to choose from, and certainly not all snacks are healthy or help you manage your weight.

    Are you or someone you know the parent of a teen or young adult who self-injures?  Janis Whitlock a research scientist at Cornell Univerisy is looking for parents of youth with recent (within the last year or so) self-injury experience to review the first 2 modules (plus introduction) of this training and provide feedback. The program is entitled Healing Forward and it is a self-directed online course that can be used as a stand-alone program or as part of a therapy program with a mental health professional. Participation is completely voluntary and confidential. This should not require more than approximately 3 hours of time. Each reviewer will be compensated $100.00 for his/her time and feedback. The Healing Forward program is intended to help parents:

• Understand self-injury and the recovery process
• Develop emotional and cognitive skills for supporting themselves and their child through the recovery process. 
• Reflect on child and family strengths and opportunities in the various areas covered in the program.
• Build and practice new skills

If you or someone you know may be eligible to help us in evaluating the feasibility of this program, please send them this link to complete the eligibility survey: https://cornell.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3gFlSVMiIcS6o05 . If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Janis Whitlock at jlw43@cornell.edu.

   National 4-H Council’s (Council) Board of Trustees announced on July 31st that Jennifer Sirangelo, executive vice president and chief operating officer, has been appointed to the top post at the organization. Sirangelo, who joined Council in 2006 to grow support for the 4-H movement worldwide, will succeed the current CEO, Donald T. Floyd, Jr. who is retiring after 22 years with National 4-H Council. Sirangelo will officially assume her new position on January 1, 2014.

   “What an incredible testament to the outstanding leadership within 4-H that we have been able to select one of our own to lead this organization into the future. Jennifer’s incredible track record, transformational leadership expertise and interpersonal savvy make her the best choice to help 4-H bring opportunities and access to more young people than ever before.” For the entire article view the link below.

  On Wednesday, August 7th thirteen youth explored and learned about birds and nature at a 4-H workshop held at th Pine Tree Rifle Club. The youth were guided on a bird walk by volunteer Chris Keefer where they learned how to use binnoculars and identify birds while keeping a birding journal. In addition, youth played games such as migration hopscotch and sharp eyes.

  Youth also discussed the characteristics of birds while creating their own bird, learned about bird beaks and the foods that they eat while idenitifying different seeds and making their own pinecone bird feeder to hang at home. The day was not complete without a nature scavenger hunt along the trail where youth identified several things that would be found in a birds/animals habitat and then discussed various animal habitats while sorting animal crackers in their correct habitat. A big thank-you to the adult volunteers who helped and to Pine Tree Rifle Club for allowing Cornell Cooperative Extension to use their facility.

For more information about 4-H in Fulton and Montgomery Counties or what other program are available for youth to attend call Cornell Cooperative Extension at 673-5525.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Receives WGY Christmas Wish Monies

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties recently received a $750.00 allocation from the 33^rd Annual WGY Christmas Wish Campaign.  WGY Christmas Wish monies will be used by the 4-H youth development program of Cooperative Extension to purchase materials to help implement local youth education programming focused on science and healthy living in school, afterschool, summer youth program and club settings with children in grades K-8.  Programming outreach will include The Great Fossil Find, Seed Detectives, Lost Ladybug, Bird Sleuth Nature Detectives, From Cow to You, High Tech Agriculture. Exploring My Plate, and Are You Label Able?

The need for science, technology, engineering and math education is essential for today’s young people.  4-H programs prepare youth for the challenges of the 21st century by engaging them in a process of discovery and exploration.  Science is interwoven into learning experiences through inquiry based opportunities that connect knowledge, skills and resources to practical application across multiple settings.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties will be hosting a 4-H Pleasure Driving Show on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at the Fonda Fairgrounds starting at 10:00 a.m.  4-H Members from any county who wish to show much show a copy of their 4-H Project Horse Certificate signed by their 4-H Educator, proof that they have been successfully completed a 4-H Driving Evaluation, and a copy of the Rabies and Coggins Certificates.  All driving must also turn in a copy of the CCE NYS Acknowledgement of Risk form signed by their parent.  This form is available on the 4-H Member Resources portion of this website.  Attached is the class list.