UF/IFAS Okeechobee County 4-H

I am proud to be associated with our Okeechobee 4-Hers. I have observed you in many different situations. Our 4-Hers always work well together, helping each other, as well as youth and adults from other counties and states. Please make sure you always follow the code of conduct and ethics in everything you participate in. You never know who is watching your behavior and actions. Always be a humble winner and a graceful looser.

The Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show will be held this month (check you calendar.) Remember health papers and up-to-date record books must be with you when you check in on Wednesday, March 17^th. Workdays are March 6, 13 and 21^st. There is a lot of volunteer time and effort that goes into making the show and sale a success, please be sure to thank the adult volunteers.

County Events will be held on April 3 at the Extension Office at 1:00pm . I need your registration form in my office by March 15^th. We will hold a workshop on March 10, to help you plan and develop your demonstration for County Events . The Workshop will be at the Extension Office at 6:00pm . (Can we bribe you with pizza?)

All senior 4-Hers are eligible to submit a portfolio to the State 4-H Office for award consideration. Awards consist of trips to National Congress, Scholarships, trips to National Conference, etc. You can do it!

Everything you do is an advertisement for 4-H…. make sure the message you are sending is the right one. Continue to make your best better.

4-H Club News

Udder Bunch

By: Kelly Buchanan

Our last meeting was held on February 10, 2004 . We discussed completion of record books. Thanks to everyone who participated in the demonstrations. Remember, at check-in you must have an up to date record book in order to show at the Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show. If you need help contact your udder buddy or attend the record book workshop on March 11 from 4:00-5:00 at the Extension Office.

Workdays for the OYLS are as follows:

March 6 or 13 and March 21. Choose two that suit you best!

Congratulations to everyone who was able to participate in the Florida State Fair. We did excellent showing, judging and in the Champion of Champions contest!!

Good Luck to everyone planning on attending the Central Florida Fair and Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show.

Let’s remember the Goggans Family in our prayers in their time of loss.

Sharp Shooters

By: Kolby Trimnal

Our last meeting was held on February 12^th at Mr. Sellers’ home. Each member received drawing tickets. I hope everyone is selling all they can. Also we will be selling tickets at the Speckled Perch Parade in the Park on March 13 & 14. Sharp Shooter members are needed to help sell on both days. We will have our fun shoot at Larson Dairy on March 22^nd. At this time we are working on having an Easter BBQ at this shoot.

Our next meeting will be March 11^th at 7:30 pm at Mr. Sellers’ home. Hope to see everyone there!

Please remember the Goggans family in your prayers.

Steaks and Chops T-bone Steak clip art

By: Samantha McKenna

At our last meeting, the Steaks and Chop’s members reviewed buyer’s letters and what they need to include. Hopefully everyone will be getting them out soon. Our next meeting will be March 8^th at 7pm at YMS media center. We will discuss last minute show information and showmanship. Everyone should be working with their projects and preparing for the show. Good Luck!!!

Our last meeting was held on February 17^th. We decided on a “Down on the Farm” and “St. Patrick’s Day” theme for Relay for Life. We also spoke about our State Clean-Up project. For this project we will be choosing a park to clean.

County Council’s next meeting will be March 15^th at 7:00 pm. Hope to see you there!

Chobee Cattle Kids met in late February for our showmanship / grooming workshop. The Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show is in March so we will not be holding our regular meeting in the month of March. Everyone should be busy preparing for the show.

If you need help with your record book, there will be a record book workshop on March 11^th from 4:00-5:00 pm at the Extension Office.

Spring is here and we are busy, busy, busy! At our next meeting we will be planting wild flowers on the trails at Arnold ’s Wildlife as well as in individual pots to take home. We will also be discussing County Events and beginning our record books.

The Wild Bunch will be working in the concession stand at the Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show instead of holding a meeting during the month of March.

Arnold ’s Wildlife will have an exhibit in the park during Speckled Perch. Stop by and learn about the animals on display. Have a great month.

Thank You – Thank You- Thank You to everyone who assisted with the yard sale, by making donations and/or helping out on February 14th. The sale was a big success.

At last count there are 32 small animal exhibits entered by 4-H members for the Okeechobee Youth Livestock Show. It’s going to be the best ever! Don’t forget about the workdays. March 6 or 13 and March 21. I will see you all at check-in between 4:00 and 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 17^th.

March is our show at the Speckled Perch Festival on Saturday, March 13, 2003 . The Barnyard Buddies has a sliver tent/ carport that will be set up by the corner of 5^th Avenue and S.W. Park Street (just west of 5^th Ave ). Everyone needs to bring their small animal project, in it’s appropriate cage (or on a leash) to our tent by 9:00am . If you are available to help to set up the tent and tables at 8:00am please call Janet McKenna 357-1019. There will be a judge to review all entries and give awards in the Park at noon . We will also have a fundraiser game for the members to assist with during the show. See you there!

We had a workshop at the Ag Barn for our meeting last month. I would like to thank Dr. Paul Bryant, Mrs. Prescott and the Barnes Family for two great demonstrations.

We now have three workdays. Everyone participating in OYLS is required to work on March 6 or 13 and March 21. We will be setting up hog pens on March 6^th, we will need all the help we can get!

Your projects need to be getting close to weight, let someone know if you think you may have a problem. Also, don’t forget to bring your record books to the weigh-in.

Our last meeting before the show will be Tuesday, March 2^nd at 6:30 pm at OMS. This is the deadline to turn in fundraiser tickets or money. Please be prepared. See you there!

Our last meeting was held on February 14^th at the Ag Barn. Our members groomed their horses and worked on conformation.

Our club will be taking a field trip to Big Lake Cutting Horses on March 27th. We will meet at the Extension Office at 8:30am . See ya then.

Our meeting on Tuesday, February 24^th was awesome!! We talked about our cooking meeting that was held on Saturday, February 21^stwe also talked about going to Dixie Stampede on May 22^nd for 4-H Day and discussed County Events . Everyone should be working on their demonstration/illustrated talks. We will having a County Events practice at our next meeting on March 30^th. We will also decide where we will be going on our Memorial Day camping trip. If you have an opinion you don’t want to miss this meeting!!

Buyer’s Thank-you letter in an addressed & stamped unsealed envelope is due: Monday, April 12, 2004 , before 5:00pm at the Okeechobee County Extension Office located at 458 Hwy 98 North.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office at (863) 763-6469.

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