End of the year coming up!

Hello 4-H Families!

WOW. The State Fair was amazing and the 4-H presence there was crazy! Thank you to all of our incredible volunteers and exhibitors who made everything run so smoothly! You are all truly appreciated. Teamwork makes the dream work :)

I have a few exhibits left from the 4-H June Tull building that were not picked up. Please let me know when you can stop by the Farm to get them. I will hang on to them until 9/17, then they will go away. I don't have the space to store any extra stuff.

Our Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center doors are locked, but we are open. Please ring the doorbell for entry during normal business hours (8-4:30 M-F). Masks are required inside the building, regardless of vaccination status.

Announcements
CLUB LEADERS:
--I will be sending out an end-of-the-year letter to you that had active clubs this past 4-H year. Guidance for award nominations and record book judging will be in there.
--If you are intending on being an adult volunteer again when the new 4-H year starts (October 1), you can start getting your required trainings done NOW. Please see the instruction sheet HERE. The only thing you cannot do is actually enroll. Our enrollment system erases waiver signatures at the rollover of the new 4-H year.

4-H MEMBERS:
--Get your record books done and turned into your club leaders. They will let you know when they are due.
--Start thinking about what projects you want to do in the next 4-H year!

LIVESTOCK JUDGING OPPORTUNITY
From Rayne Reynolds:
Any interested 4-H member contact Rayne by email sending their parents email address to him only (not the youth's contact info) and he will send them information on the commitment and contest. We are looking for absolute committed and dedicated youth with 100 percent parent involvement who want to be a part of this team.  No experience is necessary because we will coach them, however willingness to learn and willingness to compete is required. The youth have to be at least 14 years old and no older than 18 as of Jan 1st. We can take 19 year-olds but we will be training and learning for at least a year.  The team consists of three 4-H members and one alternate.
Livestock Evaluation develops decision making, problem solving, self discipline, self motivation, team work, organization, analytical thinking, critical thinking, and most important of all the ability to effectively communicate. It also provides the youth with the ability to defend and explain their positions.
There are numerous colleges that recruit and offer scholarships based on the livestock judging competition.  Being involved on a state winning livestock team would increase such opportunities greatly.
This contest is different and separate from Quizbowl and or the livestock skillathon.
​rayne63@yahoo.com

All volunteers who requested discounted/free tickets to the fair
--A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL WHO VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME in both the 4-H June Tull building and the Barn. 
--a note for next year, for those that received free or discounted tickets (as per the request form):
1. if you did not sign up for a volunteer shift in the June Tull building, you will not be eligible to receive free or discounted fair tickets next year.
2. if you signed up for a volunteer shift in the June Tull building, but did not show up for your shift or make other arrangements, you will not be eligible to receive free or discounted fair tickets next year.
3. if you did not sign up for a volunteer shift in the June Tull building, yet strolled through the building and signed your name in the binder as if you volunteered your time (while I'm standing right there), and then walked out, you will not be eligible to receive free or discounted fair tickets next year.

Upcoming
9/16: Volunteer Leaders Association monthly meeting. 6:30pm in room 208 Kerttula Hall, Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, masks are required, regardless of vaccination status. You can also participate via video: Zoom ID: 945 296 187. All leaders are welcomed! Participation from all clubs helps with planning and decision-making.

9/16: MatSu Livestock Committee monthly meeting. 7:00pm in room 208 Kerttula Hall, Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, masks are required, regardless of vaccination status. You can also participate via video: Zoom ID: 945 296 187. 

9/20: Livestock Record Books due. Please drop off at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. To ensure safe-keeping, you can either bring them into the office and drop it off with Theresa at our main desk, or slide them into the "after hours" mail slot on the outside of the front of Kerttula Hall. Please check to see if you mistakenly picked up the wrong record book after the first round of checking. An orange, 3-ring binder record book has gone missing. Thanks! 

10/1: NEW 4-H YEAR BEGINS! Please be on the look out (emails, social media) for helpful tips on enrolling, required trainings for adult volunteers, and hopefully new clubs!

Thanks everyone!
Ann