4-H Youth Programs
|
Bay County Building
Suite 301
515 Center Avenue
Bay City, Michigan 48708-5124 |
Jodi Schulz
Extension 4-H Youth Educator
Jodi Wrzesinski
4-H Program Coordinator |
Voice (989) 895-4026
Fax (989) 895-4217
TDD/TTY (989) 895-4049
msuextension@baycounty.net
Office Hours: Monday-Friday
8 a.m to Noon - 1 to 5 p.m. |
4-H works with young people throughout Bay County helping them become self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society. Educational programs are provided by trained, dedicated adult volunteers interacting with young in a community setting. 4-H clubs, community service, environmental programs, community youth development, citizenship programs, leadership training, and school programs connect Bay County youth with the wider world through Michigan State University and the national and international programs it supports.
Hot Topics for 4-H Youth Programs in Bay County
4-H Youth Enrollment Deadline for 2012 Fair - The enrollment deadline for youth who plan to show at fair this year is April 1. Leaders may accept youth into their clubs after the April 1 deadline, but they will not be able to participate in this year’s fair. If you are unsure if you are enrolled in Bay County 4-H, please contact MSU Extension Bay County at (989) 895-4026 to confirm!
- Exploration Days 2012 - Exploration Days will take place June 20 - 22, 2012, at Michigan State University. It is a wonderful opportunity for youth ages 11 through 19 (by January 1, 2012). Exploration Days is designed to:
• Help you learn new ideas, techniques, and skills you can use personally and in your 4-H clubs and communities.
• Offer in-depth action learning through sessions.
• Enhance your personal growth by giving you opportunities to develop responsibility, independ-ence, accountability, decision-making, time management, and teamwork skills.
• Meet new people and make new friends from different places and with different backgrounds.
• Give you access to the Michigan State University campus and its wealth of resources.
The registration book and forms are available now at MSU Extension - Bay County or online at http://4h.msue.msu.edu/4h/4_h_exploration_days. Registration begins on March 20, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. The last day to register for Exploration Days is May 3, 2012.
- Do you need to buy animals? If you need resources for purchasing hogs, sheep, and/or beef for 4-H projects, please go to the Animal Science Youth Program Website at http://www.canr.msu.edu/anscikids/index.html. Choose Livestock Programs, then scroll to see updated list(s).
- Bay County 4-H on FaceBook! As Bay County 4-H tries to find faster and better ways to communicate and advertise our 4-H program, we felt it is time to get on FaceBook. Please search for Bay County 4-H on FaceBook and become a fan.
MSU Extension - Bay County Event Calendar
Want to know about our upcoming events? Click onto our MSU Extension - Bay County Portal calendar page here.
Clubs and Programs
- Attention 4-H club leaders - Request to Raise Funds/Accept Donations and Fundraiser Report forms are now available. Scroll down this page to the Bulletins and Downloads section, click on 'available for download.' Choose 4-H Youth Programs, Leader Resources.
- Do you know a youth who is interested in archery? Would they have Saturdays free? Contact our office at (989) 895-4026 for more details and local 4-H leader contact info.
Councils and Associations
Newsletters
The Clover Chatter newsletter is published six times annually, in odd-numbered months, for 4-H families. The Clover Quickie is also published six times annually, in even numbered months, for Bay County 4-H leaders.
Bulletins and Form Downloads
If your 4-H club is looking for frequently requested Extension bulletins and/or 4-H Bay County Youth Programs club forms or policies, they are made available for download at our Bulletins and Downloads page. If you have trouble opening anything posted to our Bulletin and Downloads section, please contact our office.
Bay County Fair and Youth Exposition
This year's Bay County Fair and Youth Exposition was held Tuesday, August 9, through Saturday, August 13, 2011, at the Bay County Fairgrounds, 800 Livingston Street, Bay City.
Congratulations to all Bay County 4-H youth participated in the 2011 Fair and thank you to all the superintendents, leaders, and family members who volunteered so much of their valuable time to make fair a success. The Bay County Fair award winners for 2011 can be seen here.
The Bay County 4-H Livestock Association would like to thank the buyers for purchasing animals at the 2011 4-H Livestock Auction. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!
Each year the fair edition of the 4-H Clover Chatter newsletter details 4-H youth event information. But for all other information, including derbies, entertainment scheduled, and vendor registration, visit the Bay County Fairboard Website. If you are interested in being a vendor at fair, an application is available by clicking here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the four "H's" stand for?
Glad you asked! "4-H" stands for Head (because 4-H gets adults and kids thinking and learning together), Heart (because 4-H fosters caring, important relationships between youth, their peers, and adults), Hands (because the focus of 4-H is on hands-on learning), and Health (because 4-H activities promote a healthy balance of young people's obligations to school, family, and community, and help kids learn to make healthy lifestyle choices.)
Don't I have to be involved with farming to enroll my child in 4-H?
No! 4-H programs are designed to benefit both youth and adults from all walks of life, regardless of whether they come from rural, urban, or suburban backgrounds.
How old must by child be to participate in 4-H?
Children between the ages of five and eight are considered to be "Cloverbuds" and have specialized programming in 4-H. Children between the ages of nine and 19 are standard 4-H members. "4-H Age" is determined by the age of the child as of January 1 of the current calendar year. In other words, a child who was 11 years old on January 1 is considered to have the "4-H Age" of 11 years for the entire year.
What does it cost to be enrolled in 4-H?
A ten dollar ($10.00) participation fee is collected once each year from each 4-H youth participant. Families with three or more children participating in 4-H pay a maximum of $30 per year. No child is ever turned away from 4-H due to an inability to pay the participation fee. Money collected from participation fees is used exclusively to develop, purchase, implement, and update 4-H programming.
When must my child be enrolled in 4-H to show at the Fair?
Any 4-H Member who plans to show projects or animals at the Bay County Fair and Youth Exposition must be enrolled in an active 4-H Club by April 1, and attend three (3) regular club meetings before the Fair begins in early August.
How long is my enrollment good?
Any youth or volunteer involved in 4-H programs must re-enroll on an annual basis. The 4-H program year runs from October through September. Re-enrollment for the new program year must generally be completed by December 1.
Can I start my own 4-H club?
Absolutely! You must have at least five youth from at least two different families, and conduct at least six meetings per program year. Also, each club must have at least one adult who accepts responsibility as the organizational leader.
What do I have to do to become a 4-H leader/volunteer?
All adults who work with 4-H youth must complete the Volunteer Selection Process, including a criminal history check. Contact MSU Extension - Bay County for more information on completing this requirement.
How does my child get to sell an animal at the 4-H Livestock Auction?
Any 4-H member who intends to sell an animal at the Livestock Auction must be a member of the Bay County 4-H Livestock Association and attend at least three regular association meets during the program year. Steer to be sold in the auction must be in the youth's possession by February 1. Swine, lambs, and goats must be in the youth's possession by May 1. Water fowl, poultry, and rabbits must be in the youth's possession by June 15.
Web Links
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