Can you believe, Fair is almost here! In this newsletter, you will find a few specific pre-Fair information. However, for all the specific Fair information, please refer to the Butler County Fair Book! You can also find the Fair Book online at: http://www.butler.k-state.edu/4hfair/

In the past, I started talking about the Seven Keys to Consider: Exceeding Family Expectation in 4-H Clubs and this was based on: “Inside the Magic Kingdom: Seven Keys to Disney’s Success” written by Tom Connellan.  With Fair almost here, I want to recap Lesson 6—Reward, Recognize and     Celebrate.

Motivation is something that as an employer, an organization, a group, etc. that we must embrace and build into a plan. Disney, for example, receives many letters from guests each year. Many of these letters refer to a cast member they interacted with while on their stay Disney. The supervisor takes the letter and reads it aloud to the cast members within that department. The letter is then posted on a bulletin board for all to see.

The lesson here is to take time. How, you ask? What are you doing to recognize your club volunteers, your 4-H members, or your parents that are lending an extra hand.

With Fair upon us, take those few extra moments to tell a volunteer Thank You.  Thank them for their help with a project, handing out cards, lining up the youth for various projects, etc.

Tell a youth good work with their project. Give them specific feedback.  ..”It looks like you put a lot of time in to your project…” Ask them to tell you about their project. Some youth embrace the opportunity to share their stories! It’s not the color of the ribbon that counts, but the time, effort,   dedication and energy put forth to do those projects.

As parents, 4-H’ers, and leaders, we can all take those few extra moments to share our appreciation for others. Thank You for all that each of you do to help others out and lend those kind words of encouragement!

SEE YOU AT THE FAIR!!!!

~Charlene

JULY CHECK-UP

The final countdown is on…fair, pin applications, KAP’s, Annual Summaries, etc.!!! Where has the year

gone? Where are we now? Let’s take a look…

Review

____4-H Forecaster read and important dates marked on calendar.

____Review highlights from the 4-H Forecaster at club meeting.

To-Do

____Check project leaders on progress.

____Ready for the County Fairs. Entry cards picked up and distributed to       club members.

____Project Leaders conducting project meetings.

____Check club mailbox at the Extension Office.

____Continue…or start 4-H records

____Update 4-H Records, KAPs and Pin Applications.

____Annual Club Summary up-to-date

Promote/Recruit

____Parents’ Committee recruiting “new” leaders.

____Preparing for fair: concession stand times confirmed; judging schedules confirmed.

____Encourage exhibiting at fair.

AUGUST CHECK-UP

____Celebrate the current 4-H year…begin planning for the club achievement party.

____Start planning for the new 4-H year.

Review

____4-H Forecaster read and important dates marked on calendar.

____Review highlights from the 4-H Forecaster at your club meeting.

To-Do

____Project leaders notified of the specific responsibilities.

____Project Leaders conducting project meetings.

____Check club mailbox at the Extension Office.

____Begin planning for election of club officers.

____Have members think about projects for the new year.

____Check club’s progress toward goals.

Promote/Recruit

____Parents’ Committee recruiting Organizational Leaders and Project Leaders for the 2016-17 4-H year.

____Encourage Achievement Pin Award Applications.

Remember

____State Fair Pre-Entries Due to Extension Office by Wednesday, August 10, 5:00 PM

____ Record books, KAPS, Pin Applications and Club Summaries due September 23!

When the last day of Fair arrives, everyone is tired and ready to go home. However, it is important to remember that we need to leave the facility as clean as, if not cleaner, that we found it in. Every 4-H’er who participated (non-livestock and livestock youth) in the Butler County Fair needs to be there to clean-up. As soon as clean-up is finished you will receive your money for the ribbons you earned at Fair! The more people to help, the quicker the clean-up goes. Here is a break-down of how Thursday morning (August 4th) will work.

7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. – Release and removal of all exhibits, displays & equipment from the buildings and barns.

7:30 a.m. – Clean up of building and barns (Everyone is expected to help)

As soon as the building and barns are clean – Prize money is handed out down at the arena. This includes the prize money for the youth who only had exhibits in the buildings.

Community leaders and veteran 4-H families, please help share this information with the new 4-H families. It is everyone’s responsibilities to get things cleaned up.

Kansas State Fair will be here before we know it! Please pay attention to these important details:

1. Livestock – Entries are due by July 15th. Entry forms and details can be found here: https://kansasstatefair.com/livestock-competitions/youth-show-grand-drive.html
2. Non-Livestock – We will have entry forms available in our office beginning at Noon on Wednesday, August 3rd. You can come into our office anytime after 12:00 p.m. on August 3rd and fill out the forms. All forms must be filled out 12:00/Noon on August 10th. Rules and other information can be found here: http://www.kansas4-h.org/events-activities/fairs/kansas-state-fair/index.html
3. We will have ticket forms available to fill out beginning at 12:00 p.m. on August 3rd.

TAKING ENTRIES TO THE STATE FAIR

OPTION 1

If you are taking your 4-H entry to the State Fair yourself:

1. Turn in your State Fair Entry Form at the Extension Office by August 10.
2. Pick up entry cards (which we will receive from the state office sometime the end of August) at the Extension Office before going to the State Fair.

OPTION 2

If you want Charlene to take your 4-H exhibit to the State Fair:  (SMALL, NON-BREATHING ITEMS ONLY! Due to limited space—anything requiring boxes or extra support cribbage to transport cannot exceed 12”x 12”x12” This does not include poster boards that can lay down flat):

1. Turn in your State Fair Entry Form at the Extension Office by August 10.
2. Bring your exhibit to the 4-H Building, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 8. Exhibits WILL NOT be accepted before 1:00 p.m. due to not having any secure storage.

July 6th—Poultry Testing (required for Fair), 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

July 16—County Fair Horse Show

July 18—Countywide Photography Project Meeting – 7:00 p.m. at the 4-H Building

July 21 – Fair Superintendent’s meeting – 7:00 p.m.

July 23 – Fair Fashion Revue – El Dorado High School

July 29 – August 4th – FAIR!!!!

August 18 – Third and Final Record Book Class 6:00 p.m. at the 4-H Building

August—4-H Livestock Sweepstakes in Manhattan

September 8th—Bring small, non-breathing items to the Extension Office for Charlene to take to Kansas State Fair.

September 9—18—Kansas State Fair

September 23 – Record Books, Scholarships, Special Awards due 5:00 p.m.

September 30—End of 2015 4-H Year

Sept. 30 – Oct. 2—Kansas Junior Livestock Show in Hutchinson