U:\4-H Member Guide\4HLINGO_2106.doc
Jones County 4-H
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/jones/4h
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/
Jones County Extension and Outreach
800 North Maple Street, Suite 2
P.O. Box 28
Monticello, IA 52310
Monica Gray
County Youth Program Coordinator
319-465-3224
4-H - 4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills as they work in partnership with caring adults. That means 4-H is committed to helping young people develop skills that will help them succeed. 4-H is committed to helping empower all youth to reach their full potential.
4-H & Youth Committee - This Jones County Committee is made up of 15 adults and 3 youth. They help determine the 4-H and Youth programming needs. They help with many activities such as judging record books, the fair, Awards Day, etc.
4-H Camp - Going to camp can surely be a high point in a 4-Her’s year. There is a county-wide camp for juniors. It is usually held in conjunction with neighboring counties. There are also state-wide camping opportunities for all 4-H’ers. Financial assistance is available so that all youth can have the opportunity to participate.
4-H Club Program – A pamphlet distributed by the Extension and Outreach Office in cooperation with 4-H clubs that needs to be replaced with the current one each year in the record book. It tells about 4-H, has a 4-H member self-evaluation guide, tells how to organize the record book, and contains the Jones County 4-H guidelines. It should include your local club monthly schedule, leaders, and officers.
4-H Exhibits - A 4-H exhibit is an item resulting from project work that the 4-H’er has chosen to be exhibited at the fair and evaluated by a judge.
4-H Leaders - Organizational leaders are the “main” leaders in the 4-H club and handle the overall organization of the club. They may or may not have assistant leaders who help them carry out specific responsibilities. There may also be project leaders who teach in specific 4-H project areas. There are county wide project leaders in some projects and individual clubs may have several project leaders.
4-H Members - In Iowa, youth in 4th-12th grades can become 4-H members in three ways:
1. As a part of a community club.
2. As a part of an interest club.
3. Through 6 hours of instruction in school with materials taught by 4-H staff members or adults trained by 4-H.
4-H Newsletter – See Friday 4-H Info.
4-H Program Development Fee - Effective October 1st, 2001 Iowa 4-H has established that 4-H club members will be charged a program development fee. Each year the State 4-H Office sets a designated fee ($30 per member/2016). Jones County Extension and Outreach provides a $10 scholarship for each new Jones County 4-H member. New member fees are $20. Member program development fee each year after the first is $30. Each 4-H club will be billed for the current amount due. It is their choice how they collect the money – each member pays, club activities fund it, etc. No child will be denied access to the 4-H program based on their ability to pay.
4-H Symbolism
· 4-H Equation
Empower youth to reach their full potential through youth-adult partnerships and research-based experiences.
· The 4-H Motto
"To make the best better," was proposed in 1927,proposed by Miss Carrie Harrison, botanist in the Bureau of Plant Industry, and was adopted by the leaders.
· The 4-H Colors
The official colors of 4-H are green and white. Green is nature's most common color and stands for springtime, life, youth, and growth. White symbolizes purity and high ideals.
· The 4-H Pledge(usually recited at meetings)
I PLEDGE
My head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
My health to better living,
For my club, my community,
my country, and my world.
· 4-H Emblem
The four H's stand for Hearts, Hands, Heads, and Health and has been around since 1906. It represents the four-square education:
· educational development
· fellowship development
· physical development
· moral development
4-H Teen Council - This group of high school 4-H’ers helps plan and carry out county-wide events and serves as a liaison between the local club and the county program. Teen Council applications are due October 1st.
4-H’ers For 4-H - A combined effort by 4-H groups around Iowa to contribute to the Iowa 4-H Program. The campaign is coordinated and promoted by the State 4-H Council. Funds are used for (1) special Iowa 4-H youth program needs, (2) the State 4-H Council, (3) International 4-H programs, and (4) financial aid for participation in 4-H events.
4hOnline – Electronic 4-H enrollment software. Members, club leaders, and adult volunteers use this software to enroll and re-enroll in 4-H. Members choose projects to indicate their interest in an area. Contact information completed in 4hOnline is used for emails and newsletters to share important 4-H information with 4-H members and their families!
Achievement Show - Some 4-H clubs have local achievement shows shortly before the county fair. These events are an opportunity for 4-H’ers to bring their 4-H exhibits to be evaluated by a knowledgeable adult who can give suggestions on how the exhibit could be improved or prepared to be judged at the county fair and allows the 4-H’er to “practice” conference judging prior to the fair.
Awards - Awards are one form of recognition given to 4-H members. Most are based on the information recorded in the 4-H’ers record book. There are awards for record books, project work, and overall achievement. Youth may apply for any award for which they are eligible. There can be local club awards as well as county, state, and national level awards.
Awards Day - A county-wide event usually held in the fall to honor 4-H members for their accomplishments during the year. This is the final climax of each 4-H year. New members of the Teen Council are installed.
Clothing Event - the county event consisting of three components 1) Clothing Selection - 4-H members model clothes they have selected (purchased). Senior 4-H’ers may be selected for participation in the State Awardrobe Event. These exhibits are usually judged prior to the fair in May. All entrants will be expected to model their garments at the County Fair’s public style show. 2) Fashion Revue - 4-H members model clothes they have made. Senior members are selected from those eligible to participate in the State Awardrobe Event. These projects are usually judged in May at the county Clothing Event. Participants are required to model their garments at the public style show during the county fair and 3) $15 Challenge - participants have purchased an outfit for $15 or less from second hand stores or garage sales. These selections are evaluated and eligible members are also chosen to participate in the State Awardrobe Event.
Club Activity - A 4-H club usually plans more than just regular meetings. Club activities may include special project workshops, parties, trips, or family potlucks. These are opportunities for “learning by doing” or just plain having fun!
Club Tour - A club may schedule a tour of all the members’ homes before the county fair. The purpose is for each 4-H’er to show the rest of the group his/her projects that may be exhibited at the fair. This works especially well for clubs that have a lot of livestock projects.
Code of Ethics - The Jones County Youth Code of Ethics is a two page document that must be read and signed by every 4-H’er and their parent/guardian each year. Any youth who breaks the code of ethics or allows another person (adult or peer) to talk them into violating the code of ethics agrees to forfeit all prizes, awards, and premiums. The youth may also be prohibited from participating and exhibiting at future activities and exhibitions including the Iowa State Fair and other county, state or regional exhibitions as well as other disciplinary action. The Iowa Youth Code of Ethics is agreed to when reenrollment or enrollment in 4-H via 4hOnline. Be sure to read it – don’t just agree and sign!
Communications - There are four categories of 4-H Communication. Educational Presentations are the talks or demonstrations, given in front of an audience, about some topic that interests the 4-H’er. They should contain three parts - an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. A Working Exhibit is less formal than an educational presentation. It involves a one-on-one type of demonstration technique. 4-H’ers usually work from a table in an area where people walk through and stop to see what the 4-H’er is showing. Sometimes 4-H’ers may choose to work in pairs when giving educational presentations or working exhibits. Extemporaneous Speaking is designed to encourage the development of the life skill of communication with others through enhancing the ability to think, to organize, to speak, and to answer questions readily by participating 4-H’ers before an audience. Finally there is Share-the-Fun. These are entertainment acts and can include things such as music, dance, interpretive speech, or skits. They can involve any number of youth - from one 4-H’er to the entire club. 4-H’ers are expected to give educational presentations at their local club meetings. All types of 4-H Communications are also judged at the county level where some are selected to advance to state level.
Communications Day - a county event held in May at which county presentations and extemporaneous speaking entries are judged. Each club must have at least 1 entry here or have a Working Exhibit at the County Fair to qualify for participation in the county 4-H Volleyball Fun Day and the county 4-H Basketball Fun Day.
Community Service Project - Many clubs carry out community service projects. The variety of projects is endless, but may include such things as working with the handicapped, painting a public building, having foster grandparents in a nursing home, or planting trees.
Conference Judging - This method of judging is used for the majority of all classes at the county fair, with the exception of some livestock classes. The 4-H’er brings his/her exhibit to the judge and discusses the work with the judge. The judge uses this information, any written information required by the class rules, and the exhibit itself in determining the ribbon placing of the exhibit. A ribbon is awarded, the placing is recorded, and the 4-H’er takes the exhibit to be displayed.
Educational Presentation - See Communications.
Extemporaneous Speaking - See Communications.
Extension Council - The Extension Council consists of nine elected representatives from all over the county. They oversee the County Extension program and approve all of the expenditures. The Council is the legal governing body of the County Extension program and meets monthly.
Extension and Outreach Office - Each county has an Extension and Outreach Office which provides research based information to the general public. The office and activities held in conjunction are funded with county, state and federal taxes. If you have any questions about almost anything, the Extension and Outreach office is a good place to start looking for answers! The Extension and Outreach Office telephone number in Jones County is 319-465-3224 and the address is 800 N Maple St, Monticello, IA. The website is http://www.extension.iastate.edu/jones/ The office is located on the Jones County Fairgrounds in the Citizens State Bank Youth Development Center.
Extension and Outreach Staff - Each Extension and Outreach Office has staff qualified and trained to meet the needs in that county. The first person you’ll probably hear on the telephone or talk to when you visit the office is the Jones County Office Assistant. The Office Assistant will assist you in reaching the proper person or resource to answer your question! One of those people might be the County Extension Director. The Director’s job is to see that programming goes on in the county in all areas, Agriculture & Environment, Business & Community, Families & Healthy Living, and 4-H & Youth. Monica Gray is the Jones County 4-H & Youth Program Coordinator. She is available to assist you with your 4-H questions. Other people the Office Assistant might direct you to include Field Specialists. A Field Specialist has a subject matter area in which she/he is highly trained. They answer questions and help put on programs for County Directors. The Field Specialists housed in Jones County are Phyllis Zalenski, Human Sciences – Family Finance and Jacki Luckstead, State Youth Field Specialist. Julie Orris, Child Care Resource Coordinator is also housed in Jones County.
Fair Board – An elected board responsible for the Great Jones County Fair. This is a totally separate entity from the Extension and Outreach office and its staff, although they work in cooperation on many projects and have offices in the same building.
Fair Entry – Form or electronic registration process completed prior to July 1 for county fair (paper form) and Iowa State Fair (electronic process). Identifying which animals will be exhibited at each fair. This is in addition to animal identification in 4hOnline!
Friday 4-H Info - Jones County 4-H newsletter. It is e-mailed some Friday’s to each 4-H family actively enrolled in 4hOnline. Read the email carefully for information and deadlines that pertain to you. This is your main source of information and notification. It is also available on the county extension website. Share it with everyone!
FSQA - Food Safety Quality Assurance - All 4-H members exhibiting beef, bucket/bottle calves, dairy cattle, goats (dairy/meat), poultry, rabbits, sheep or swine (all food animals) at the county fair must be FSQA certified. FSQA certification requires exhibitors to complete FSQA training to learn more about their responsibility to produce safe food. Youth who completed the FSQA requirements will be certified in the Iowa FSQA program (making them eligible for participation in the Iowa State Fair 4-H division and other county fairs).
Great Jones County Fair - This is usually the highlight of the 4-H year. It is held in July at the fairgrounds in Monticello. 4-H members may exhibit projects if all requirements have been met. Rules and fair classes are in the fair book. Exhibition at the fair teaches life skills but exhibiting at the fair is not required.