Paper Clover Campaign Begins September 19th.

Go to the either the Amsterdam or Gloversville Tractor Supply (TSC) store between September 19th & 30th and you can support 4-H by purchasing paper clovers for $1.00 each at checkout.  Buy 10 paper clovers and donate $10; buy 20 paper clovers and donate $20! Help us fill up Tractor Supply Store windows with paper clovers!

All funds raised will be donated to 4-H, and 70% will remain at the county and state level where the store is located.  That means that for every paper clover you purchase here, 70 cents stays here in Fulton & Montgomery Counties to support local 4-H programs! To learn about the TSC and 4-H partnership, please visit Tractorsupply.com/4-H.

Over the last two-and-a-half years, Tractor Supply’s Paper Clover fundraiser has raised over $1.6 million in support of 4-H programs across the country.  The efforts of the Amsterdam and Gloversville TSCs have most recently provided support for Fulton/Montgomery’s participation in the 4-H Career Explorations at Cornell University in June 2012 and implementation of the Fulton/Montgomery 4-H Vet Science Special Interest Program August 1 & 2.

The public is invited to view several films produced by youth during the recently concluded Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties’ youth super-8 film workshop series at a free screening in the Great Hall at the Canajoharie Library/Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie, New York on Sunday , September 30, 2012 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Workshop instructor and film director, Omonike Akinyemi of Fort Plain, New York, will be in attendance at the screening, accompanied by the student film producers.  During the workshop series participants worked on camera techniques, storyboarding, acting, directing, film processing and scripting. 

The following films to be screened are based on the workshop participants’ life experiences and imagination and use super-8mm film camera to tell stories: 

• "A part, Mais Jamais Seul (Apart, But Never Alone)", by Kelsey Liz Habla of Fonda, New York  (In the Summer of 1942, Elise, a young ballerina, and her fiance, Charlie, are torn apart by World War II until fate brings them together one last time.)
• "Sophomore", by Dayna Peck of Gloversville, New York (A story about first love.)
• "Second Thoughts" Group Film:  Creating Youth Leaders through Film Workshop; Youth Scene Directors:  Marissa Nellis of St. Johnsville, New York and Kelsey Liz Habla of Fonda, New York; Editor: Omonike Akinyemi, Instructor (A young woman with an alcoholic mother considers suicide.)
• Documentary on Ghost Signs of Fonda by Melanie Gessinger of Fonda, New York (A documentary about Fonda then and now.)
• "Empasant" or  "Passing" (Directed by Omonike Akinyemi and Sherry Beckman, 1997)

Light refreshments will be served. This program was funded in part by the Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council of the Arts, administered by Saratoga Arts. 

For 84 years, jcpenney has been part of the 4-H family, beginning with Mr. Penney's first donation to 4-H in 1928. We are thrilled to share that jcpenney’s commitment to this legacy will continue with support for 4-H again this year.

JCPenney is dedicating the month of August to one large “Round Up” campaign to benefit 4-H and BGCA after-school programming. Learn more about the JCPCares program.

The amount of funding that will be generated is unknown at this point, but your engagement and participation is essential to help it grow. There are three unique opportunities that will allow you to help drive funding to 4-H:

• Get Your Haircut at jcpenney on August 1^st. Throughout the month of August, jcpenney will give any young person, grades K-6th, a free haircut at participating stores. For each free haircut they give on August 1st, jcpenney will donate $1 to 4-H up to $25,000. Haircuts are first come, first serve, or by appointment.
• Shop at jcpenney and “Round Up”. Start your back-to-school shopping at jcpenney in the month of August and support your local 4-H program by rounding-up your purchases to the next dollar.

Help us spread the word via Facebook and Twitter!

Applications for the 2012 President's Environmental Youth Award are due December 31.

The PEYA program promotes awareness of our nation's natural resources and encourages positive community involvement.

Since 1971, the President of the United States has joined with the Environmental Protection Agency to recognize young people across the U.S. for protecting our nation's air, water, land, and ecology.  One outstanding project from each region is selected for national recognition. Projects are developed by young individuals, school classes (K-12), summer camps, and youth organizations to promote environmental stewardship. 

Visitwww.epa.gov/peya for more information.

Due to the potential of severe weather in our area, the fair orientation session tonight is cancelled.  The CCEFM office in Canajoharie is closing today at 3:00 p.m. due to the severe weather alert.  A tornado watch was issued at 2:10 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. for an area including Fulton and Montgomery Counties. 

If you need some assistance in regards to fair preparations, please contact Bonnie Peck about animal exhibit topics at 673-5525 ext. 115 or bsp8@cornell.edu.  Questions/concerns about general, non-animal 4-H exhibits may be directed to Georgia Dutcher at 673-5525 ext. 113 or gad23@cornell.edu or Linda Wegner at 673-5525 ext. 114 or lew9@cornell.edu.  Linda and Bonnie are willing to meet with new 4-H club leaders about 4-H fair questions on a one-on-one basis. 

• This Afternoon Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4pm. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Tonight Occasional showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Low around 67. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Applications for the 2012 President's Environmental Youth Award are due December 31.

The PEYA program promotes awareness of our nation's natural resources and encourages positive community involvement. Since 1971, the President of the United States has joined with the Environmental Protection Agency to recognize young people across the U.S. for protecting our nation's air, water, land, and ecology.

One outstanding project from each region will be selected for national recognition. Projects are developed by young individuals, school classes (K-12), summer camps, and youth organizations to promote environmental stewardship. 

Visitwww.epa.gov/peya for more information.

Thursday, July 26:  6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Shirley Luck Senior Citizens Center, 109 East Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095

When and where do I bring my non-animal 4-H project exhibits to be judged?
What’s the Danish Judging System?
What’s a fair exhibitor wristband and how do I get one?
What are 4-H volunteer passes and 4-H parent passes?
How do I prepare my 4-H project animal to exhibit at the fair?
What are premiums and when do I get them?
What’s up with the 4-H Snack Bar?

These and many other questions will be answered at this session focusing on everything 4-H at the upcoming Fonda Fair August 27 – September 3.  New 4-H members, parents and volunteers will find this orientation particularly helpful, though the session is open to all current members of the Fulton/Montgomery 4-H family. 

If you plan to attend, please call Georgia at the 4-H Office at 673-5525 ext. 113 on or before July 25^th.

4-H Veterinary Science Course “The Normal Animal”

August 1-2, 2012:  8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (both days)

  This year’s 4- H Veterinary Science Program is for youth ages 13 and up who are interested in exploring animal health.  For 2012, we will be learning about the normal animal and then in 2013 we will focus on animal diseases.  The program will involve both classroom time and going “on the road” to veterinary clinics, farms, and other animal health support businesses.  The program will be a mix of hands-on and interactive learning.  This is a new format from years past and will prove to be interesting and exciting.  Local veterinarians will be assisting throughout the two-day period and we will visit a mix of large and small animal veterinary practices.  We will be meeting at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office in Canajoharie for the program.  Cost:  $25 for the two days which will include lunch each day. 

 Due to limited space, only those who have not previously attended will be able to participate.  If you have taken part in Vet Science in the past and wish to continue further, there is a Unit 3 that is a self-directed study with a Veterinarian Mentor.  Please contact Bonnie for more information.  Pre-register by contacting Bonnie at the 4-H office at 673-5525 ext. 115 by July 30.

4-H Horse Rider/Driver Evaluation July 31:  If you have not been evaluated and placed in a riding level or if you have but wish to be re-evaluated in order to move up to the next level, there will is one more opportunity to do so.  The evaluation will be done in the indoor arena at the Fonda Fairgrounds.  The last opportunity is on Tuesday, July 31 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Fonda Fairgrounds.  Please call Bonnie at 673-5525 ext. 115 to register and indicate the time you plan to be there (make an appointment).

4-H Horse Camp, July 17-20: At the Fonda Fairgrounds and is open to all 4-H Horse Project Members who submitted in their Horse Certificates (due June 1).

2012 Bi-County Horse Show, July 21:  Class list was emailed to project members and is available on the 4-H Website at www.ccefm.com.  The show will be on July 21^st, the day following Horse Camp.  Horses will be permitted to stay overnight between camp and this show.

2012 4-H Driving Show, July 29:  10:00 a.m. at the Fonda Fairgrounds.  Judge is Tom Baird.  Class list will be emailed to the 4-H Horse Member list and is available on the 4-H Website at www.ccefm.com.  Also, hard copies will be available at Horse Camp.  Please note:  those who have not been evaluated to drive previously or who are driving a new horse, must be evaluated at the July 31^st evaluation.  When registering to evaluate, let us know it is for driving.

If you are planning to exhibit 4-H poultry at Fonda Fair 2012, take note of the following important information:

PULLORUM TESTING
BIRDS AT LEAST 4 MONTHS (16 WKS) OLD, chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, peacocks, pheasants & quail eligible.  (Pigeons and waterfowl are exempt from testing.) Birds obtained from an NPIP certified hatchery/flock (or from a feed store) may exhibit with a copy of the NPIP certificate or receipt showing the NPIP information.  These expire in one year.                                

Tuesday, July 25, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m., Adirondack Feed Center, 4608 State Highway 30, Amsterdam; REQUIREMENT TO EXHIBIT AT COUNTY AND STATE FAIRS; UP TO 15 BIRDS (per family). THERE WILL BE NO TESTING AT THE COUNTY FAIR

Applications for a complete flock test for NPIP certification may be obtained at

http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/poultry/AI_473_NPIP_Application_122009.pdf

For a list of other area clinics go to:

www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/2012_Pullorum_Clinic_Schedule.pdf

Questions? Call Deb Toth Animal Health Inspector (607)760-5989.