Community invited to Douglas County 4-H Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction

Please join Douglas County 4-H at the annual Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction event on February 5, 2010 in Kirk Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Dinner and the silent auction begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by a live auction.

This annual event is the main fundraising effort of the 4-H Exchange Group. Every two years, Douglas County trades trips with another state, giving members the opportunity to learn about diversity, history and culture.

In July 2008, Douglas County 4-H Exchange members hosted a group from Sussex County Delaware. Then in 2009, Douglas County 4-H traveled to Delaware to reconnect with new friends, tour Sussex County, and learn about a different state.

Not only do Douglas County 4-H members and staff prepare and serve spaghetti and Italian fixings, but many fine items are available for bidding at the silent auction. Items include original art work, gift baskets, gift cards, rounds of golf, a well-stocked kid’s table with items as low as 50 cents, and more.

To purchase tickets, call the Douglas County 4-H Office at 720-733-6940. Tickets remain at 2005 prices: $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.

For information on the Douglas County 4-H Exchange Program, or any 4-H program, go to the web site at www.douglascountyextension.org or call the office at the number above.

Creative Cooks Workshop in Adams County

Douglas County 4-H,

Here are details of an upcoming Creative Cooks Workshop.

Saturday, January 16, 2010
Would you like to learn more about the Creative Cooks Contest?
Are you interested in learning more about napkin folding and
garnish making? Do you need a refresher on nutrition?

When: Saturday, January 16, 2010 from 9:00am to 1:00pm

Where: Adams County Fairgrounds, 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton in the Extension Office Meeting Rooms (first building as you drive into the park).

Cost: The cost of this hands-on creative cooks workshop is $5 per person.

Please RSVP to Julia, with money, by January 14, 2010. Checks should be made out to Adams County 4-H Home Ec. Committee Participants are asked to bring a paring knife and cutting board with them.

Questions: Call Julia Hurdelbrink at 303-637-8108 or e-mail at jhurdelbrink@co.adams.co.us

A note about the Douglas County 4-H newsletter

Hello Douglas County 4-H,

Did you know...

In addition to emailing the newsletter to you all every month, it is also available on the web site. If you ever need to take a look and you lost that email, just go to the 4-H web site and take a look. There is a button at the top of the page labeled, well... newsletter.

The next one is February 2010 and will be emailed the first of February. Watch for it!

Douglas County Extension Office January closures

Douglas County 4-H families,

Just a friendly reminder that the office is closed Friday, January 1 and Monday, January 18 for county holidays.

If you need something from us, please plan ahead.

Happy New Year!

4-H club in Japan looking for pen pals

Douglas County 4-H members,

The Camp Zama SAS 4-H club in Japan is once again looking for pen pals to correspond with. 4-H clubs interested in communicating with them are asked to contact their 4-H club leader, Nick Andrews at nicholas.andrews2@us.army.mil.

4-H members and families eligible for discount prices at NWSS

Announcement straight from the state 4-H office...

All 4-H members, families and friends, and their invited guests are eligible for discounted prices on reserve seating at the National Western Stock Show. The prices offered are unavailable to the general public and tickets purchased through this special offer are free of all service charges, an additional savings of $3.75 per ticket. (Tickets must be purchased through Group Services. Discounts will not be given at the Stock Show Box Office.)

The National Western Stock Show invites all 4-H members to enjoy their personal favorite(s) of our shows, and to spend a day full of fun that will include numerous opportunities to be entertained by the exhibits, shopping, art, delicious food and western spirit. (Your show ticket includes free grounds admission to all exhibits, all day long 9am-8pm.)

You will receive a $2 discount off of regular price for the majority of our shows. In honor of “4-H Day”, which is on Wednesday, January 20, you will receive a $3 discount off of regular price for both Pro Rodeos that day. For the Pro Rodeo at 2:00pm, tickets will be $9 each, and for the Pro Rodeo at 7:30pm, tickets will be $11 each. Again, these tickets must be purchased through Group Services.

Choose your own best method of reserving your shows:
• Fax this page to our secure fax line: 303.297.1849.
• Order by Internet: www.nationalwestern.com/groups.
• Order by phone: 303.295.2979.

To see a brief description of each show, please refer to www.nationalwestern.com/groups. To order tickets please click on: http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2009/4h-GroupSalesForm2010.pdf

4-H Shooting Sports Leader Training information now online

Douglas County 4-H Shooting Sports Leaders,

The 2010 Colorado 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Training dates and locations have been posted on the State 4-H SS Blog.

Below is the direct link to the blog posting:
http://co4hshooting.blogspot.com/2009/12/2010-4-h-ss-leader-workshops-announced.html

If you are a new leader for shooting sports in Douglas County 4-H, you must attend one of these certification trainings.

Douglas County 4-H hosts Cloverbud Fun Night for kids 5-7

Cloverbud Fun Night was a big hit again this year!

We posted a press release letting letting Douglas County residents know about the Cloverbud program. It was published on all seven DC hubs on yourhub.com. Take a look.

New Colorado Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner

Douglas County 4-H,

Thought I would pass on some news about a Douglas County resident that is involved in agriculture.

Jim Miller of Parker has been named the Colorado Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner. His wife is a third generation Parker native whose grandparents homesteaded in the area.

Since many of you are involved in agriculture, thought you might be interested.

For the full article, read Longtime Parker resident named Colorado Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner.

Online course for farm and ranch families

Douglas County 4-H families,

Here is an opportunity to take an online course about investing specifically for farm and ranch families. Take a look.

eXtension, in partnership with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, has launched a new online investing course targeting farm and ranch families. The 8-lesson course helps farm families plan for a financially stable future that meets long-term needs. Enrollment is now open at http://www.extension.org/pages/Investing_for_Farm_Families.

The FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Investor Education Foundation worked with a team of 16 members from 10 different states, USDA/CSREES (now USDA/NIFA) and eXtension.

12th Annual “Colorado…it’s AgriCultural” photography contest

Douglas Count 4-H photography project members,

You may be interested submitting photos to this upcoming contest, due December 31. Here are the details:

Entries must be submitted to the Colorado Department of Agriculture with an official entry form by December 31, 2009, and all photographs must relate to Colorado agriculture in some way. Prizes will be awarded in four subject areas: agritourism, crops, livestock and people. A $150 gift card will be awarded as the grand prize for the photograph that best portrays the spirit of Colorado agriculture.

Judging will be based on theme, creativity and technical quality. All winning photographs will be displayed in the Beede-Hamil Agriculture Building at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo.

Visit www.coloradoagriculture.com or call (303) 239-4119 for complete contest rules and an entry form. The contest is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the AgInsights Committee and Northeastern Junior College.

Looking for some holiday fun? CALF is hosting an old-fashioned Christmas event

Douglas County 4-H,

Here are the details...

Please join CALF in thanking our incredible Volunteers and Supporters and celebrate the Christmas Holiday Season!

At CALF’s 2nd Annual
Old Fashioned Christmas Open House
December 13, 2009

Ag Barn at the Lowell Ranch
1:00 pm - Volunteer Appreciation
2:00 –5:00 pm ~ Open House
Bring your favorite dessert to share!

For more information please call
303.688.1026