Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

ISU Extension and Outreach Keokuk County , 400 220th Ave—Suite A, Sigourney, IA 52591 | 641-622-2680 LEARN MORE AT WWW.EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/KEOKUK

Keokuk County Extension Office Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Phone: (641) 622-2680 Fax: (641) 622-2637

Office Staff

Gene Mohling Regional Director

Brenda Spurgeon 4-H/Youth Program Specialist

Katharinna Bain County Director

Michele Sieren County 4-H/ Youth Outreach Educator

Jorie Altenhofen Program Assistant

4-H Pledge I pledge my Head to

clearer thinking,

my Heart to

greater loyalty,

my Hands to

larger service, and

my Health to

better living,

for my club,

my community,

my country,

and my world.

KEOKUK COUNTY 4-H FAMILY NEWSLETTER February—March 2017

Keokuk County Extension and Outreach will be reaching out to

Tri-County Elementary as well as Sigourney’s SEIDA Head Start

program for Pick a Better Snack this spring! That will make 4

schools, and more than 450 kids reached within a calendar

year! (We visited Sigourney and Keota last fall)

Pick a Better Snack is a program that teaches youth to make healthier

lifestyle choices— healthy foods, drinks, getting adequate exercise,

and correct portion sizes. Kids get to try a new healthy snack each

week while learning about personal health and wellness. Some past

snacks include kohlrabi, starfruit, apricots, and more!

For more information about Pick a Better Snack, or for resources on

health and wellness for kids, contact the Extension Office at the number above.

It’s that time of year again!

Ricochet 2017 kicked off with the 7th graders at Tri-County in January.

Ricochet, a youth program that uses adventure and experience to

teach leadership skills, was created by Iowa State University Extension

and Outreach in cooperation with Iowa 4-H.

Ricochet means to move around with a lot of energy and be

unpredictable—something like middle school aged youth. They bounce from one thing to the next,

trying on different roles, as they find their place in this world. Another thing that is unpredictable—

when opportunities for youth leadership will arise. Ricochet helps prepare youth to become leaders,

and to be ready to accept the leadership opportunities that will come their way.

Tri-County’s 2017 group will be having a bake sale fundraiser at their February 10th home

basketball game. Proceeds will be donated to local veterans! If you are in the area, please stop by

Tri-County High School on February 10th for some delicious treats to support their efforts!

WANT TO KNOW MORE? FIND US AT: EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/KEOKUK OR ON FACEBOOK AT: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION-KEOKUK COUNTY

2

2017 Livestock Weigh-In’s

March 25th, 2017 from 8-10 am

Keokuk County Expo Fair Grounds

All 4-H and FFA Expo Swine and 4-H State Fair swine must be weighed in.

Pigs may weigh no more than 70 pounds at the spring weigh-in. There will be no exceptions!

Each exhibitor is limited to nominate 10 pigs.

Due to biosecurity guidelines, this weigh in is done BY APPOINTMENT

contact the Extension Office ASAP to be placed in our schedule

May 6th, 2017 from 8-10 AM

Keokuk County Expo Fair Grounds

This will include all 4-H / FFA Expo & 4-H State Fair Animals

ALL 4-H State Fair lambs including: Market, Commercial, Purebred, and Breeding Lambs will be retinal scanned and MUST

attend county weigh-in.

If you are unable to attend one of the scheduled weigh-ins in Keokuk County, please

contact Michele at the Extension Office for additional information on surrounding county weigh-ins.

Below are a few upcoming deadlines and rules for the Antibiotic-Free Swine Show 2017.

To receive a complete list of rules and to officially sign up,

please contact Michele Sieren in the Extension Office at (641) 622-2680 by the March 1st deadline!

A) Participants must sign up by March 1 with the Extension Office, and pay a non-refundable ‘deposit’ ($10 per head).

B) Participants can purchase up to four pigs from the county’s single source producer, and show a maximum of four pigs at the Single Source Antibiotic Free Swine Show. Entrants in the class will not be eligible to show any other pigs in the

Keokuk County Expo 4-H swine show. Exhibitors are also responsible for pigs purchased that might not come to the fair.

C) Pigs will be vaccinated by producer, tagged and weighed by the Swine Committee at the county weigh in on March 25th.

D) All pigs will be selected and distributed to youth randomly by drawing group numbers.

E) Price will be set according to the value of the pig the day of pick up. Participants will pay the balance at the Swine weigh in on

March 25th, minus the $10 deposit fee given to the Extension Office on or before March 1.

*Rules for the Antibiotic-Free Swine Show are set by Keokuk County Expo Swine Superintendents

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Animals & Livestock 2017

Requirements are based on grade level:

Grades 4-6: must attend training sessions every year

Grades 7-9: must attend training sessions every year OR pass the Intermediate Level Test

Grades 10-12: must attend training sessions every year OR pass the Senior Level Test

Testing Out Option

Tests may be taken up to three times in one day. You MUST pass with a 70% or higher.

Once a test is passed, the member is certified until moving into the next age bracket.

Who is Required to Train or Test?

ANYONE showing any of the following animals that does NOT have current grade level bracket certification.

Beef (Breeding, Market OR Dairy) Goat (Market OR Dairy)

Poultry Swine Sheep Rabbit Bucket/Bottle

To find out if your child is currently certified for their age bracket,

check the FSQA expiration date under their name in “Member Settings” in 4hOnline.

If you have trouble finding it in 4hOnline, contact Michele in the Extension Office. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

FSQA Training for Keokuk County Expo Exhibitors will be held on Sunday, February 26th, 2017

at the Keokuk County Extension Office from 2:00—3:30pm.

Contact the Extension Office by February 24th if you plan on attending the training.

Testing will be offered during the training for those old enough to test out.

(YOU CAN TEST ANYTIME between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday—just call us 1 day ahead of time) .

DON’T FORGET THE MAY 15TH DEADLINE! ALL ANIMALS MUST BE INTO 4HONLINE BY 11:59 PM ON MAY 15TH, 2017!

IF THE ANIMAL IS NOT IN 4HONLINE BY THE DEADLINE, IT CANNOT COME TO EXPO 2017!

KEOKUK COUNTY EXPO For more information on the Keokuk County Expo please visit their website at: http://expokeokukco.com/

The Horse Department of Keokuk County Expo is looking for you!

If you have an interest in horses, EVEN IF YOU DON’T OWN ONE, we want to talk with you!

Please contact the Extension Office if you are interested in being a part of the horse

program and learning more about them!

We have opportunities available for you!!

(641) 622-2680 or xKeokuk@iastate.edu

4

Upcoming Events 2017

4-H MOTTO: TO MAKE THE BEST BETTER

Youth Engagement Strengthens 4-H The 2017 Leaders’ Training will be held at the Extension Office Conference Room

on March 2nd promptly starting at 5:30 pm. The meeting will last approximately two hours.

Keokuk County 4-H Council members will be serving a potato bar starting at 5:00 pm.

LEADERS: Please contact the Extension Office at 641-622-2680 ASAP if you are unable to attend!

2017 Beef Production Workshop

Who: 7th-12th grade 4-H members of Region 15

What: Beef Reproduction at Iowa State University Dissect reproductive tracts

Conduct a breeding soundness exam

Practice selecting good reproductive females

Design feed rations to optimize reproductive performance

Where: Iowa State University Hansen Center How Much: $40 per 4-H’er (includes transportation and meal)

When: March 22nd, 2017—Leave Tanger Outlet Mall at 7:20 am, return at approximately 5:45 pm If this is a school day for your school district, Michele can provide an explanation of the educational components and value of the

trip to your school for an excused absence. Exact Pick up and drop off times may alter slightly after the registration deadline. 4Her’s are responsible to find their ride to and from the Tanger Mall.

Why: By participating in this workshop, you will... Have a better understanding of what it means to be a beef farmer

Learn how to produce a better a herd

Practice good beef production practices

How: Register by contacting Michele in the Keokuk County Extension Office by March 1st, 2017

Call (641) 622-2680 ASAP if you are interested!

It’s that time of year! We will be selling Butter Braids for our Enrollment Fund-

raiser this spring. Sales will begin February 20th, and are due back to the Exten-

sion Office with ALL payments by March 6th. Delivery date is March 18th.

ANY cash needs to be counted in front of someone, so if you cannot drop off your

sales before the office closes, please contact your leader and ask if they can do

it for you. PLEASE do not leave orders and payments in the drop box this year!

LEADERS: YOU MAY BRING ANY ORDERS TO THE MARCH 2ND LEADERS’ TRAINING MEETING (Please contact the office at 622-2680, and plan to arrive a little early if you do this)

JORIE WILL COUNT THE CASH IN FRONT OF YOU.

5

OUR VISION A WORLD IN WHICH YOUTH AND ADULTS LEARN, GROW, AND WORK TOGETHER AS CATALYSTS FOR POSTIVE CHANGE

Announcements 2017

Due to recent rules passed down from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, ALL new and existing volunteers

are subject to regular background screenings. There will be an initial background screening at the beginning of volunteer

service, and routine screenings every three years of service.

These background screenings serve two purposes. First, they protect our youth from potentially irresponsible or

dangerous volunteer contact. Secondly, it protects the liability of our current volunteers. Regular screenings keep our

volunteers covered by our umbrella of liability insurance (particularly important during livestock events).

Again, this is not to make a volunteer feel uncomfortable in any way.

This policy is to protect both the volunteer and the youth of our county. Safety is our number one priority for our youth and adults

within our 4-H program.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Keokuk County’s ISU Extension and Outreach Staff

Gene Mohling, Regional Director Katharinna Bain, County Director

Michele Sieren, County 4-H/Youth Outreach Educator Jorie Altenhofen, Program Assistant

Little Hands on the Farm is looking for volunteers!! As a participant, your club or county would commit to providing the volunteers for the exhibit

for a shift. In return we would list the name of your club or county on the entrance and exit

gates of Little Hands on the Farm along with listing your club or county on the Iowa State Fair

website as a volunteer group.

The Iowa State Fair Little Hands on the Farm provides children ages 2 to 10 the chance to get

involved with agriculture as farmers on this mock farm. They plant and harvest products, earn

money at the market for their work, and then buy food at the grocery store. The children are

asked to do chores on the farm, ranging from gathering an egg from the chicken coop, to

planting a carrot or onion seed, then digging up an artificial vegetable, or picking an apple off a tree. They also get the chance to

feed and milk a cow and drive a pedal tractor. The program helps kids connect to agriculture by teaching them in an entertaining

and interactive way.

The 2017 Iowa State Fair is August 10-20. In order for the exhibit to run as smoothly as possible, it is necessary to have a mini-

mum 30 volunteers at the exhibit at all times. Little Hands on the Farm is open daily from 9 a.m.

to 8 p.m. and would need to be staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Each day is divided

into three shifts: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Noon to 4 p.m. and 3:30 to 8 p.m. Volunteers would

receive one admission ticket, one vehicle permit and a Little Hands on the Farm volunteer t-shirt.

Shifts are filling up quickly so if you would like further information on what days and shifts are still

available, please contact coordinator Emily Wynn at the information listed below.

Phone: 515. 401.1544 or Email: ewynn@iowastatefair.org

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Keokuk County

400 220th Ave - Suite A

Sigourney, IA 52591

February—March 2017 Keokuk County 4-H Family Newsletter 4-H Family

Newsletter

at a Glance...

February

14th— Happy Valentine’s Day!

26th—FSQA Training for Keokuk County

March

2nd—Leaders’ Training (see page #5)

17th—Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

3rd—4th—Annual 4-H Lock-In

25th—Keokuk County Swine Weigh-In