New York Farm Bureau is encouraging high school seniors who have been involved with agriculture and plan on continuing studies in this field to apply for the New York Farm Bureau Agricultural Youth Scholarship sponsored by the New York Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee.  Scholarship awards are $1,500 for first place, $1,200 for second, and $1,000 for third place.  The first place winner will be invited to present their essay at a NYFB Spring event.

Students applying must have a family Farm Bureau membership or a Student Farm Bureau membership (a membership application may be included with scholarship enclosures).  Students are required to submit a brief essay answering the question, “If you had the power to change something in your community or on your farm, what would you change and why?”

At the District level, a personal interview and essay presentation may be scheduled at the discretion of the District Representative.  The county winner will be the applicant scoring the highest for each county.  The District winner will be overall highest county winner.  District winners will be notified on or before the District judging deadline of January 18^th, 2014.  The District winners will have an opportunity to make minor changes (i.e. grammar, spelling, additional awards etc.) to their applications prior to the February 1^st final deadline, at which time all applications must be into New York Farm Bureau for the state judging.  The State competition is based solely upon the application and attachments.

Fulton-Montgomery Counties 4-H Gymkhana Horse Show

 Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

 Fonda Fairgrounds, Fonda, N.Y.

Registration Fee:  $10.00 (for the whole day) Must have 8 pre-entered by September 24^th or the event will be cancelled. If we have 16 pre-entered, there will be prizes for first place in each class. (except team games)

Place ribbons will be awarded and Champion in each Category. All participants must wear suitable helmet and heeled riding boots, be currently enrolled in 4-H and show proof of completion of riding evaluation.  Acknowledgement of risk form must be filled out and signed.

Top honors at the 66th annual Junior Livestock Show went to young handlers from Montgomery, Herkimer and Oneida counties on Tuesday, July 9, during the show’s final event, the Parade of Champions. The show, sponsored by The Farmers’ Museum and conducted in cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension, county 4-H educators, and clubs throughout central New York, brings together youth handlers from a nine-county area for three days of competition.

The top winners at the Junior Livestock Show bested over 260 exhibitors and their 600 animals. Earning The Farmers’ Museum Cup for Best of Show Dairy was Hailey Paddock of Oneida County, who showed her Holstein, Groeslon Twilight.  The F. Ambrose Clark Livestock Cup for Best of Show in the beef, swine, and sheep categories was awarded to Katelyn Reed of Herkimer County showing her Southdown Ram, Clarkshire . The Farmers’ Museum Dairy Goat Cup for Best of Show Dairy Goat went to Victoria Opalka of Montgomery County showing her Recorded, CH The CFO Height’s Winfry.

Dairy cattle Grand Champions were awarded in the Ayrshire division to Jack Vunk of Otsego County who showed Dutch-Ayr Burdette’s Misery; in the Brown Swiss division to Sharla Woodrow of Otsego County who showed Sunny Acres Denver Dilila; in the Guernsey division to Kara Evans of Chenango County who showedChurch Cinnamon Candy; in the Holstein division to Hailey Paddock of Oneida County, who showed Groeslon Twilight; in the Jersey division to Mariah Goodwin of Otsego County who showed SRF Saturn Moonbeam and in the Milking Shorthorn division to Jack Vunk, Otsego County who showed Hickory Hills Crystals Ruby; Other Breeds division to Emily Dibble, Oneida County who showed HHA Ginger (Normandy).

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.

Two new localized 4-H t-shirts are available for order now. View the attached order form and designs below. Get ready for all your summer events and the Fonda Fair by ordering your t-shirt today. T-shirt orders are due by Thursday, August 1st and will be available on 4-H juding day on August 24th. Any questions contact the 4-H office at 673-5525. 

Fossil Workshop for Youth Being Offered

 Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties will be offering a day-long program for youth called “Lasting Impressions”  on  July 24,  9am-4pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties, 50 East Main Street Canajoharie, N.Y.  The program targets youth ages 9-14 but older youth are welcome to attend.  It is not suitable for younger children.  Youth need not be members of 4-H to attend.  Please pre-register by July 22, 2013.

“Lasting Impressions- Understanding Fossils in the Northeastern United States” is a 4-H Project will be offered during this workshop.  The program teaches young people about Fossils in their own communities as well as developing their skills in scientific inquiry skills.   Participants will explore scientific concepts involved in finding and identifying fossils.  Weather and transportation permitting, we will be looking for fossils in an alternative location in the afternoon.  Participants should bring a bag lunch and beverages.  For more details and to register, call Bonnie Peck at Cornell Cooperative Extension at 673-5525 extension 115 or email bsp8@cornell.edu.  Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

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.

Looking for something fun to do this summer? Join 4-H educators and volunteers on Wednesday August 7th from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for a fun day learning about birds, their habitat and much more! Youth will go on a nature scavenger hunt, create a bird feeder, play outdoor games, go on a bird walk, create a bird in addition to many other activities. 

Register by August 1st, 4-H members are $6.00 while non-4-H members are $8. View the attached registration form and informational sheet.  

Cornell Cooperative Extension in the Capital Region’s youth-oriented program called “Livestock Explorers” and applications are now available. Modeled after the current “Dairy Visions” program, the plan is to expose interested youth 14-18 years old to a variety of beef production systems, marketing information, career opportunities and business owners through meetings, field trips and tours.

Many of the region’s livestock-oriented youth view their prospects as culminating in showing their animals at their local fair. But there are many more openings available if they only knew and understood what is possible. Gaining exposure to commercial operations, larger-scale thinking and successful enterprises can provide participants with new information and ways of thinking. With the growing local foods focus in our communities and beyond, new markets and opportunities will continue to open.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties is holding it's annual 4-H Bi-County Horse Show on July 20, 2013 at the Fonda Fairgrounds in the indoor arena.  This show is open to any 4-H Horse Project Member from any county.  The only requirements are proof of rider evaluation in your county and a signed NYS 4-H Acknowledgement of Risk form.  Pre-entries are due July 15th.  The judge will be Dave Phillips from Penn Yan, N.Y.  See attachment below for the class list.