The Ultimate State Conference Poem

Noah the 4-H Bard stikes again:

It’s the annual event,
Of true competition.
Where 4-Hers gather,
For one great mission.

To win the prize,
Of buckles and plaques.
And for bragging rights,
As they get back.

They meet in Fort Collins,
Where the teams unite.
To battle it out,
In a triumphant fight.

Judging livestock and horse,
Our judgers took stand.
Showing nothing but talent,
And ambition, first hand.

And who can forget,
The demos and speeches.
Grasping attention,
Like mind gathering leeches.

We congratulate all,
Who did so well.
And for those who ask,
These kids aren’t for sell.

So thank you all,
For joining the fun.
Good luck next year,
For this poem is done.

Happy Independence Day, 4-H

Happy red, white, and blue to all of you from the Douglas County 4-H Office staff. Some thoughts:

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. ~Albert Camus

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls. ~Robert J. McCracken

Let freedom never perish in your hands. ~Joseph Addison

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country! ~Daniel Webster

4-H USA - An Online 4-H Community

Want to connect with 4-H members all over the U.S.? This site, started by the National 4-H Council, is a great way for you to make new friends and get new ideas from 4-H members everywhere.


We encourage you to join this community of youth that are just like you: learning leadership, citizenship and life skills through the wonderful and exciting 4-H programs. Registration on 4HUSA is free and open to anyone, youth and adult alike! And you don't even have to be a 4-H member to register - so check it out!

Volunteer opportunity: build an open space trail

Organizers of an upcoming Community Work Day at Castle Rock's Memmen Ridge Open Space hope volunteers can help them complete the first continuous trail loop on the property.

The Saturday, July 19, Community Work Day will begin at 7:30 a.m. with registration and a free breakfast. Volunteers will work on the trail from 8 a.m. to noon and then eat lunch - also free - from noon to 1 p.m.

Pre-registration for the Work Day is encouraged and is available by visiting www.voutdoors.org or by contacting Jennifer Martin with the Town, 303-814-7444 or jmartin@CRgov.com.

For more details, see the entire press release at http://denver.yourhub.com/CastleRock/Stories/News/General-News/Story~489006.aspx.

2008 4-H contest press releases online

You may recall a blog posting about a wonderful online resource called Yourhub.

All press releases submitted to the regular newspapers in Douglas County are also submitted to http://www.yourhub.com/. Simply log into the site and do a search on 4-H. Several articles should come up.

Here are links to recently submitted 4-H contest PR's:

Creative Cooks Contest on the Lone Tree hub: http://denver.yourhub.com/LoneTree/Stories/Goings-on/General/Story~482329.aspx

Cake Decorating Contest on the Roxborough hub: http://denver.yourhub.com/Roxborough/Stories/Goings-on/General/Story~482682.aspx

Talent Contest on the Castle Pines hub:
http://denver.yourhub.com/CastlePines/Stories/Goings-on/General/Story~484309.aspx

Demo and Speech on the Franktown hub:
http://denver.yourhub.com/Franktown/Stories/Goings-on/General/Story~483811.aspx

Delaware and Colorado - Quite a Match

What could be more fun than a whipped cream fight at a picnic with eighteen 4-Hers and an array of parents and leaders? The simple answer is five days of fun with eighteen 4-Hers from two different states!

Not only were there lots of laughs to be had during the week that 4-H youth and chaperones visited Douglas County, Colorado, from Sussex County, Delaware, but there was ample learning taking place too. The Delaware 4-Hers learned about everything from Colorado wildlife and Mexican food to altitude sickness and what timberline is. Colorado 4-Hers had great fun learning new 4-H songs like "The Beaver Song" and making new friends.

In addition to spending time with their Colorado host families, Delaware delegates took a three day excursion with their new Colorado friends to the Rocky Mountains. They toured Rocky Mountain National Park, rode an alpine slide, soaked in hot springs, participated in a chuck wagon dinner and ride, toured Georgetown, ate at Casa Bonita, and took pictures of many different kinds of wildlife. Marmots and mountain sheep seemed to be at the top of the list of "Ooooo, look at that" species!

There were some tears when the new friends departed, but that will make the reunion next summer even sweeter. Nine Douglas County 4-Hers will travel to Delaware next summer for an amazing cultural learning experience. Of course there will be a day at the beach, but some of the other possibilities include a side trip to Washington, D.C., visiting local Delaware historical sites, going crabbing, or even doing some kind of event with trucks in mud bogs! Be assured - there will probably be another whipped cream fight.

4-H Exchange is a two year commitment for Douglas County 4-Hers. If you think you might be interested, talk to Mary at the the 4-H Office about possibilities of joining the exchange program in 2010.

Thanks for reading.

Mary Baldwin

June Updates From Your Friendly Fairboard

As we head in to Fair season, last minute changes and adjustments MUST be made to ensure that we run a safe and successful Fair. A few things all 4-H families should know:

1. Thanks to Bob Thomas, the AQHA Versatility that runs Tuesday & Wednesday of the County Fair will be awarding a saddle to the youth division Grand Champion.
2. All 4-H Entry Forms are up online with the Premium Book and can be found at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/douglas/4h_files/dcfair.htm
3. Due to the 90th Birthday Celebration of the Douglas County Fair, happening on Sunday morning at 10am at the Midway Stage, release of ALL 4-H projects will not happen until 4pm. This includes Kirk Hall and the livestock barns. Open projects will also be releasing later, starting at 3pm.
4. The livestock sale committee is mixing things up a bit this year by closing off the Pavilion prior to the sale. All buyers along with the youth sellers may enter, eat lunch and socialize about the animals that will be sold. Make sure that YOU make time to go in and talk about your livestock if you make sale!
5. Starting Wednesday morning 8/6, the County Fair security will not allow ANY vehicles on the grounds. This includes vehicles that want to park by their campers. You will need to park in the designated lots and walk in. Fairboard members with gators along with wheelbarrows will be available for you to use in transporting feed to your animals. They will also allow clubs to store feed in the stalls in the Beef Barn to assist in making things run smoothly. Rabbit & Poultry members that check in animals on Wednesday morning will get more details on their check in times and procedures at ID day as this will be more contained and regulated than usual.

If you have any questions about the Fair or your entries, feel free to call the office. Good luck with all your projects!

4-H volunteers website looking for educational activities

The national 4-H volunteers website is looking for information on all your fabulous 4-H activities. The website is http://www.4hvolunteersusa.org/. Here's their blurb:

Dynamite Activities with 4-H’ers Wanted
Have you tried an educational activity that went so well with your 4-H’ers that you’re willing to share? This could be at a club or project meeting or special event. If you would write this up to share with other volunteers across the country, please submit to this web site and we’ll post it. Be sure to tell what materials you need, how many youth, preparation time in advance, how long the activity will take and how to do it.

For starters, see the activities offered on the Nebraska 4-H State web site. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Volunteer opportunity: help an Iraq war veteran

Passing on a volunteer opportunity:

A Parker church is coordinating a volunteer effort for a wounded Iraq war veteran Staff Sgt. Matthew Keil, his wife and daughter. They need help building a wheelchair accessible home.

Pulte Homes is providing the home design and a project manager. Volunteers are needed June 27 to 29, anytime between 7:30 a.m. until dark. You can meet at 7:15 a.m. at Hilltop United Church of Christ, 10926 E. Democrat Road, in Parker to carpool to the job site, or call 303-841-2808 or e-mail hilltopoffice@qwestoffice.net for details.

The Final Farewell

“What we see is what we get.”
Was the thought of a young 4-H, when we first met.

But as time has passed, and the program grew.
There was something about this agent of new.

She changed the thinking and ways of the past.
Brought new attention to 4-H, and fast.

But now she parts, as this year’s her last.
We wish her the best, as she returns to class.

I thank her for all the work she’s done.
If it wasn’t for her 4-H was dumb.

Then as a 4-Her, and now she’s my boss.
Life couldn’t be better, not a memory lost.

Here and now I bid her adieu.To the greatest success, and we’ll all miss you.

Composed by Noah VanBibber, 4-H Intern, as a good-bye to Alexa Lamm, 4-H Agent

Horse camp photo collage

From what I hear, horse camp went well this year - even with all the rain the last day! Here's a little photo collage for your enjoyment:

Ode to Horse Camp

The event of the season has kicked off the fair. With 50 4-Hers, so all you beware.
Horse camp has come, and went in a flash. But if you attended you all had a blast.

The vigorous training started with advancements on trail. Then there was English, Western, and working ranch horse to tail.

Each day was filled with activities and fun. Headed by Barbie, who helped out a ton.
And who can forget the tasty treats. Thanks to Jenny Phippen, our mom for the week.

Remember the groups you all were placed in. You all did so well as a team of new friends.

And the day always ended with tremendous sizes. Giving out awards and day end prizes.

So if this sounds great and you would like to come. Keep a lookout for next year and join in the fun.

Composed by Noah VanBibber, 4-H Intern