Heels Down Horse Club

By: Tamara Higgins

We will be kicking of the new 4-H year at our September meeting at the Extension Office. The meeting will be held on September 2, 2004 at 6:30pm . We will be discussing the year’s agenda and electing 2004-2005 club officers.  Heels Down plans to have many trail rides and other fun activities. It’s time to start dusting off your gear, and working with your horse so he will be ready for the new 4-H year. We hope to see new and old faces at our first meeting.

Sharp Shooters

By: Rebecca Whitehead

The Sharp Shooters 4-H Club will hold their first meeting of the new year on September 9^th at 7:30pm at Mr. Sellers’ home. For more information or directions call the Extension Office 863-763-6469.

Barnyard Buddies

By: Janet McKenna

The Barnyard Buddies is a small animal noncompetitive 4-H club for Children ages 5 to 18. We learn how to select and care for small animals, including rabbits, poultry, dogs, cats, fish, snakes, gerbils and hamsters.  

The club members are not required to sell their animals, but they do show them in county events. The members also take field trips, perform community service and partake in most 4-H functions.

   The first meeting of this year will be Saturday, September 11, 2004 at 10:00am at the Okeechobee County 4-H Extension Office located at 458 Hwy 98 North. We will be electing officers and planning for the year at this meeting. Dr. Letcher will be in attendance and he will be teaching us some things to consider when selecting a small animal.

 Everyone who would like to be part of the Barnyard Buddies is invited to come to the meeting. You can sign up at the meeting or in advance at the Extension Office Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm . If you have questions please call 863-763-6469.

Bacon Bunch

By: Mariah Anuez

Our first meeting will be held on September 7, 2004 at 6:30pm in the Osceola Middle School Cafeteria. You can enroll for the new year at the meeting or enroll in advance at the Extension Office.

Our officers for the 2004-2005 4-H year will be:

President: Ashley Goggans                     Jr. President:   Shiloh Anuez

 Vice President: Rebecca Barnes             Jr. Vice President: Shyanne Prescott

Secretary: Brooke Stokes                      Jr. Secretary:  Allison Matthews

Treasurer: Jared Prescott                       Jr. Treasurer: Nikki Stratton

Chaplin: Cory York                               Jr. Chaplin:  Amanda Harrison

Sergeant of Arms: Mike Wise                Jr. Sergeant of Arms: Randi Barnes

Reporter: Ashley Childers                      Jr. Reporter: Carly Enfinger

Leaders:

Roxanne Barnes- 634-8225     

Dean Prescott- 634-8135

Pam Goggans- 697-2513

Mariah Anuez- 610-2946

 There is a mandatory officers meeting at the Extension Office on August 18^th at 5:30pm for all junior and senior officers.

 The Annual BBQ Fundraiser will be held on September 17, 2004 . Please pick up your tickets to sell at the Extension Office.

Places To Go

By: Pat McCoy        

This group of youth ages five to eighteen are definitely going places! These youth learn life skills such as crafts, cooking, sewing and more. Places To Go will meet every third Thursday of the month. The first meeting will be held on September 16, 2004 at the County Extension Office at 6:30pm . We invite everyone who is interested in being a part of our club to come, please join us.

Wild Bunch

By: Sheryl Heater

The Wild Bunch 4-H Club is dedicated to educating young people about the value of our wildlife. This club will meet the third Saturday of each month from 10:00am until noon . The first meeting of the new 4-H year will be September 18, 2004 at Arnold ’s Wildlife Center . Officers will be elected at this meeting and we will go on a tour of the center. We hope to see you there.

Steaks and Chops

By: Samantha McKenna

Steaks and Chops is a livestock club that competes in various fairs showing steers, hogs and beef breeding animals. During the 4-H year the club members are educated in the areas of selection, feeding and showing their projects. Also included in the curriculum is record keeping and letter format. Our first meeting will be on September 13^th at 7:00pm in the Yearling Middle School media center. We will be discussing selection and have our election of officers. If you are interested in joining Steaks and Chops, our first meeting will take place after the September 11^th steer weigh-in.  All steer exhibitors must have their 4-H enrollment forms completed and turned in before the September 11th weigh-in. 

Hope to see you there!

New Okeechobee 4H Horse Club

To Study Parelli Natural Horsemanship

This year a new club has been organized for all 4-H members interested in studying Parelli Natural Horsemanship.  Natural Horsemanship is a way to be with and teach horses using communication, psychology and understanding rather than mechanics, fear and intimidation.

Our new club will focus on the Parelli Natural Horsemanship Program and will require each member to purchase the Parelli home study program packages including equipment.  The Parelli Program is set up as a home study program however it can be enhanced by many avenues including private and group lessons by certified instructors, 2 day weekend seminars and longer term study programs at the Parelli Study Center in Ocala .  

We will study the Parelli program as a club beginning with Level 1 and working together so that the entire 4-H club will progress through completion of this level and move to level 2 and level 3.  We will accomplish this goal by organizing study nights and by having clinics with our horses to practice and demonstrate each lesson.  We will also integrate many fun days that include riding at the rodeo arena and several trail rides.  Our plan is to have many opportunities for all of us to play with our horses and become “Natural” horsemen.  Additionally, we will travel to see Pat and Linda Parelli and their team when they schedule a tour in a convenient Florida location.

 An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, August 26^th at 6:30 pm at the County Extension Office.  We invite you to join us for refreshments and to watch videos by Pat Parelli on Parelli Natural Horsemanship.  We will have more information on how members can purchase the Level 1 Partnership Study Program discounted to $200.00 for 4-H members (non-members cost is $350.00). 

 Please join us and see what we have planned for this year.  We will have a lot of fun playing with our horses and watching our relationships with our horses grow stronger.

    Contact Renee’ Mims for additional information on cell number 561-324-3624.

Chobee Cattle Kids

By: Marcia Candler

Welcome back Chobee Cattle kids members. To kick off the new year we will be having a cookout and swimming at the Candler’s house on Sunday, September 12^th starting at 1:00pm . Bring your swim suit and towel. See you then.

Udder Bunch

By: Joy Burnham

Welcome back from a great summer! I hope you all have been keeping up with your record books and measuring your animals.

 The 4-H awards banquet will be held on August 28, 2004 in the Okeechobee High School Cafeteria. Get your tickets at the Extension Office.  

If you are interested in the Champion Youth program at the South Florida Fair there will be a seminar on September 25^th in Tampa . For more information contact Mrs. Clements 763-6469.  

The first Udder Bunch meeting will be on September 13, at 6:30pm at the Civic Center . All existing Udder Bunch members please bring a covered dish for our BBQ dinner. At this meeting we will be inducting officers for the 2004-2005 4-H year. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Udder Bunch, you are invited to join us. Hope to see you there!  

County Council

By: Mrs. Spann

County Council will have their first meeting of the year at 7:00pm on September 20^th at the Extension Office. We will be electing our new officers for the upcoming year. For our first community service project we will be collecting new school supplies for foster children in Okeechobee. We will have a collection box at the Extension Office and a box at the Awards Banquet. Don’t forget the Chinese Auction at the Banquet. All   4-H members please help by collecting items for the auction. Thanks for all your help. See you at the Banquet. 

Beef ‘N’ Bacon Raisers

By: LeeAnn White

The Beef ‘N’ Bacon Raiser’s first meeting of the new year will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2004 at the Extension Office beginning at 6:00pm . We will discuss the steer weigh-in, election of officers and decide on future meeting dates and times. Anyone interested in being a part of the Beef ‘N’ Bacon Raisers 4-H Club please join us at this meeting. Please be prepared with your 4-H enrollment forms and $6.00 ($5.00 for Dues and $1.00 for 4-H insurance).  We hope to see you there.

Camera Club

By: Bobbi Poole

What’s your focus? Go a step beyond the norm. Step out of the box. Be a non-conformist with your photographs, use your imagination, kick it up a notch, get the picture? Join our group for though provoking times.

You must have a 35mm camera or a good digital to learn the techniques. We will go on field trips, work out of work books, take tests; you will be challenged to create. Still interested? Call 467-2614 to sign up or ask questions. Meetings will be held at the Studio, 213 S.E. 2^nd St. Time and date will be announced.

Bits & Spurs

The Bits & Spurs club will be headed up by, new leaders Paula and D.R. Daniel. Activities for this year include roping and riding clinics, horse maintenance, fundraisers and community service.  This club will meet the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm . The first meeting will be on Tuesday, September 14^th at the County Extension Office. Officer duties and club calendar planning will be discussed at this meeting. We also we will take time to get to know each other. Anyone that would like to be part of the Bits and Spurs club please join us on September 14th.