The 2012 Fonda Fair has concluded and all youth who participated in 4-H activities and programs at the fair are winners for all that they have learned! Download the list of animal science award winners below. As you ready the impressive list, please take note of all of the sponsors of the awards.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties thanks the many volunteers and sponsors who made the 4-H Youth Animal Science Program at the fair possible. We recognize your dedication to the program and your commitment to youth learning by doing. Thank you.

Special thanks go to Mike Settle for assisting with the 4-H Dairy Challenge Contest, Jake and Joe Pamkowski for implementing the 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, and Breanne Duesler for judging the week long horse stable management.  In addition, a special thank you to Harry and “The Hitching Post” for giving gift certificates to all 4-H Horse Camp participants so that they could enjoy “The Hitching Post” meals during the fair.

Download the latest 4-H E-Newsletter to find out what's happening in September & October. You'll also find some November events and activities included as well.

This issue includes information about: 

• Sundae on the Farm & Fulton County Day on the Farm
• 2012 Fall Tractor Supply Company Clover Campaign Fundraiser for 4-H
• 4-H Volunteer Team Meeting
• Free Super-8mm Film Screening
• National Youth Science Day
• 4-H Member Record Books
• Nominate an Outstanding 4-H Volunteer
• 2012 Northeast Region 4-H Volunteer E-Forums
• 4-H Member & Volunteer Potluck Supper & Recognition Program
• NYS 4-H Volunteer Forum
• 4-H Horse Task Group Meeting
• 4-H Gymkhana Show
• 4-H Dairy Task Group Meeting
• 4-H Saratoga Harness Track Tour
• Jennifer Freeman Memorial 4-H Scholarship Recipients
• 4-H Dairy Member Accomplishments
• 4-H Kudos from 2012 Fonda Fair
• Best of Show 4-H Exhibits in CCE Building
• 4-H Animal Science Award Winners at Fonda Fair

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.