4-H Results from the Florida State Fair

While most people know 4-H members can earn premiums and ribbons at the fair, many may not realize how much work goes into winning those ribbons.
Last month five of our 4-H members excelled in the State Fair and Champion Youth Program.

Savannah Kutz won Senior Champion Youth Dog and Katie Hendrix won Intermediate Champion Youth Dog.
Olivia Cook won second place in Senior Champion Youth Poultry.
Beverly Strautmann won Grand Champion with her goat "Southern Star" and Teressa Strautmann won Reserve Champion with her goat "Southern Gem.

These competitions involve not only preparing and showing the animal, but also keeping an accurate record book and possibly participating in a skill-a-thon, creating posters, answering questions at the Ask Me booth and speaking in front of a community group.

All this hard work and discipline results in not only blue ribbon animals, but also blue ribbon youth. Congratulations to all the 4-H'ers, parents, and volunteers who participated in and contributed to the successes at the Florida State Fair.

Happy 100th Birthday Florida 4-H

The year 2009 marks the Florida 4-H Centennial. Counties and Districts across the state are planning a number of Centennial events. Here are a sampling of events happening:

• The official start of the celebration starts at the Florida State Fair. Come see the 4-H exhibits and play 4-H putt putt golf at the Ag Hall of Fame building. The Floida State Fair runs from February 5-16.
• District IX Council is hosting a Florida 4-H Centennial Celebration on January 31st from 10:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., at Selby Public Library in Sarasota County . This event will have an open house format, featuring interactive booths and displays designed to highlight a variety of 4-H program areas. There will also be hands-on activities, crafts, games, face painting, a marine science touch tank, and more! At this event, attendees can take part in our Centennial Community Service Initiative by making cards to be sent to deployed military personnel. The goal to make at least 100 cards!
• The Pinellas County 4-H Foundation is planning a Centennial Banquet Friday, March 13, 2009. The banquet will take place at Banquet Masters in Pinellas Park. Tickets for adults will be $50.00 and will include dinner, entertainment, and a guest speaker.
• Across the state, 4-H members are planning tree planting activities with the goal of planting 100 trees per county. Local clubs will be working with their families, schools, and municipalities to achieve this goal.

For more information on the Florida 4-H Centennial or for volunteer opportunities, go to http://www.florida4h.org/events/centennial.shtml or call the Pinellas County 4-H Office at (727) 582-2215.