K-State Research and Extension

The school year has ended for some and about to end for others. Raise you’re hand if you’re excited for summer! I know I am! This week sure hasn’t felt much like summer temperatures yet but they will be here before long and everyone will be ready to get out and enjoy the warm sun!

This week we received our weekly “Tuesday Letter” from K-State Research and Extension. In it was an article written by Dr. Daryl Bucholz called Reflections and Life Lessons. In his article he referenced Admiral McRaven’s commencement speech that he gave in 2014 at the University of Texas Austin. With the many graduations that are upon us and life happens as we know it, I would encourage you to listen to Admiral McRaven’s speech found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70. There are several life lessons he talks about and I bet at least one of them will hit a chord with you! I encourage you to share this with your graduates.

As we  move towards summer and continue prepping for Fair activities,  reach out to the youth and help set a positive youth learning environment. Summer is a busy month with lots of activities and deadlines. As volunteers and parents, it’s your responsibility to guide and mentor them to help them achieve their goals and dreams. I challenge each and everyone of you to go out there and make a positive difference in the lives of others!

Until next month!

~Charlene

Discovery Days is just around the corner and we have more Butler County 4-Her’s attending this year! I am excited to have 8 Butler County 4-H youth  attending who will be learning about career opportunities, gaining knowledge, making friends, and having a great time!

4-H Camp will follow hot on the heels of Discovery Days! Overall 4-H Camp numbers are down this year. In fact, our camp group had to turn away camp counselors due to the lower numbers. Butler County will be taking 8 counselors to 4-H Camp this year.

If you are registered for camp, you will receive a letter in the mail by the end of May with IMPORTANT information.

Happy Camping to all those camping!

Information and Forms on the Internet

Remember, you can go to our Butler County Extension Website to get any county or state livestock forms for information. Go to: www.butler.ksu.edu and click on the “4-H & Youth” link on the left side and then on “livestock information” for the selections. In addition to Butler County information, there is a link to the state site. You can get information on state nominations, state events, etc.

Another good sight with lots of information on dates and events is: http://www.asi.k-state.edu/students-and-programs/youth-programs/

Judging Camps for Livestock and Horse

K-State is hosting 3 youth livestock judging camps for 14-18 years old and a Horse Judging Camp for Beginners and Advanced Youth of all ages.

Go online for more information: http://www.asi.k-state.edu/students-and-programs/youth-programs/judging-camps.html

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER!!!

June 15—Commercial Heifer, Commercial/Market Swine, Sheep, and Goat nominations Due

June 15—Tagging deadline for Commercial Heifers

June 15—Dairy Heifer or Cows must have registration or transfer papers dated before this date and turned into the Extension Office

August—4-H Livestock Sweepstakes in Manhattan

Ambassador Day Camp Flyer

May 24—Mini-Fair

June 1—Pre-entries due for Spring Horse Show

May 31-June 3—Discovery Days

June 3 – 4-H Counselors go to 4-H Camp

June 4-7—4-H Camp

June 11—Butler County Spring Horse Show

June 12th—pre-entries for District Horse Show Due

June 13th—Ambassador Day Camp for 5-9 year olds. Be watching for more information.

June 15—Commercial Heifer, Commercial/Market Swine, Sheep, and Goat nominations Due

June 15—Tagging deadline for Commercial Heifers

June 15—Dairy Heifer or Cows must have registration or transfer papers dated before this date and turned into the Extension Office

June 29th—Bird counts due for the pullorum-typhoid blood test for county fair. (See July 6th below)

July7th—District Horse Show, Kingman Co.

July 6th—Poultry Testing (pullorum-typhoid) for the County Fair. This test is required for to participate in the county Fair. Will be held at the Fairgrounds from  4:30 pm—6:00 pm.

July 16—County Fair Horse Show

July 23 – County Fair Fashion Revue – El Dorado High School

July 29 – Aug 4—County Fair

August—4-H Livestock Sweepstakes in Manhattan

September 9—18—Kansas State Fair

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

Here is some important information on the 2016 Butler County Fair:

1. Fair Books have been made available to your community leaders. If you have not yet received yours get in touch with them to pick them up. An electronic copy of the Fair Book can be found here: http://www.butler.k-state.edu/4hfair/
2. County-wide photography photo mounting meeting – The photography superintendents will be hold a project meting on July 18th, 7:00 p.m. at the Butler County 4-H Building. Here they will be going over how to mount the photos and showing examples of tools available to help you. We will also have plastic sleeves and mounting boards available for purchase that evening.
3. There is no 4-H Supporter’s Picnic this year. It has been combined with the meal before the Livestock Auction and renamed the Friends of 4-H Supper.
4. Pre-Entry letters will be coming out soon! Make sure to watch your mail. All pre-entries are due by Friday, July 1 at 5:00 p.m. into the Extension Office. You can mail them, but they must be postmarked on July 1. Pre-entries cannot be made via email or fax.
5. Entry cards – those items that DO NOT require pre-entry will still have the project entry cards to fill out. The old cards have been replaced and new ones have been made. If you have any of the entry cards (as seen below in the pictures), THROW THEM OUT! They will not be accepted at the Fair. We have them available in our office for pick-up or you can also pick them at the Butler County Fair.

Butler County Spring Horse Show

The annual Butler County Spring Horse show is just around the corner! Pre-entries are due into our office by 5:00 pm on June 1. You can still sign-up until the day of the show, it will just cost a little bit more to do so! The pre-entry form can be found on the Butler County 4-H website.

We have also received the new Horse Rule Books in. Each family who submitted a Horse ID Paper will receive 1 book free of charge.

District Horse Show

The District Horse Show will be held on July7th at Kingman County.  Youth must be 9 by 4-H age and have completed the necessary Level 1 testing. Level 2 is not required this year.  Pre-entries and payment are all due online this year. You can do them here: http://goo.gl/forms/OEoBPGTyKn. Entries are due June 15th.

Negative Coggins papers are required at check-in the day of the show. Entries are due June 15th and no late entries will be accepted.