CLUB REPORTS

Swine Time By: Cindy Pearce

It’s that time again! Our first meeting will be September 19th at the Extension Office at 6:30 pm. To be an official member you must have your enrollment forms turned in by October 31st.   Hope you had a great summer! Let’s get to work! See you at the meeting!

 Udder Bunch  By: Denise Burnham

 I hope everyone has had a great summer and is ready to start a new year.  The Udder Bunch's first meeting of the year will be our annual BBQ and Officer installation.  It will be held on September 11th at the Civic Center at 6:00 pm. Dairy Quiz Bowl, Dairy Judging, Record Books, Show Attire and this year’s calendar will be discussed.  Our new members will also be recognized.  If you have not signed up we will also be filling out those necessary papers and taking up dues which are $6.00 for the year.

Everyone who would like to be a part of the Udder Bunch club we would love to have you.  If you have any questions about our club you can call the Extension Office or any of our leaders.

Spurs and Saddles   By: Erin Hudson

Welcome back everybody! We hope everyone had a great summer. As you all know, it’s that time again. We will be having our first meeting on Thursday, September 7th at the Fort Drum Community Church at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. At the meeting we will be electing new officers and discussing all the fun and exciting things we will be doing this year. We hope to see everyone there.

Barnyard Buddies   By: Janet McKenna

The Barnyard Buddies is a small animal, noncompetitive 4-H club for youth five to 18 years old. Members 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 we do show them at county events. The members also take field trips, do community service projects and partake in most 4-H functions.

Meetings are usually held the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. until noon. The first meeting of this year will be Saturday, September 9, 2006 at 10:00 at the Extension Office on 458 Highway 98 North. At this meeting the “Buddies” will be electing officers and talking about our upcoming year. Dr. Letcher will be at the meeting to talk to us about selecting and raising rabbits and poultry.

Everyone who would like to be a part of the Barnyard Buddies is invited to come to the meeting and join the club or sign up at the Okeechobee County Extension Office.

Chobee Roundup   By: Dudley Kirton

 Chobee Roundup’s first meeting this year was held on Thursday, August 24th at the Extension Office. The next meeting will be September 28th at 7:00 pm. All members should attend.   Chobee Roundup will also be holding their Gold Classic Steer and Heifer Show on November 10th and 11th. More information on that will follow.

 Bits & Spurs   By: Paula Daniel

 Bits & Spurs is planning another exciting and fun filled year. We will be scheduling monthly trail rides and drill team competitions as well as different educational activities. We will participate in many fundraisers and community service endeavors. We will also participate in a week long summer horse camp again this year.  You do not need to own your own horse to be in the club. However, if you want to participate fully in all club activities, owning your own horse is a necessity.

You must wear a helmet when mounted on your horse at any 4-H activity. The helmet rule is enforced in this club. Please do not join this club if you have no intention of wearing a helmet. Safety comes first!   Our first meeting will be held at the Extension office on Thursday, September 14th at 6:30 p.m.  Refreshments will be served.  Hope to see you then!   Our first trail ride will be September 16th at Real Life Children’s Ranch at 9:00 am. Bring your horse, helmet and lots of water!

 Chobee Cattle Kids  By: Marcia Candler

 Chobee Cattle Kids will have a meeting for our returning members on Wednesday, September 6th at 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Office. Please see the re-enrollment information in this newsletter.

 Steaks & Chops  By:  Rebecca Whitehead

 Welcome back everyone! Our first meeting will be September 18th at Yearling Middle School at 7:00 pm. I hope to see everyone there!

 Junior Leaders/County Council  By: Dianne Spann

 Welcome back to a new year!! Our first meeting will be held on September 18th at 7:00 at the extension office.  We will be holding our officer elections at that time.  We will kick off our community service this year with our annual school supplies drive for needy children.  We will have a drop box at the extension office and also at the awards banquet. Thanks for your help.  This should be a fun and exciting year.  See you at the meeting!

Chobee Crackers   By:  Justin Wolff

Hello everyone!  Hope you all had a wonderful summer! It’s time to get back in the swing of school and meetings again. Our first meeting will be Thursday, September 14th at Osceola Middle School at 6:30 in Mr. Trimble's Ag classroom. We hope to see everyone there!  

Wild Bunch  By:  Doni Sheffield

Are you looking for a 4-H club that is involved with wild animals? As you know, wild animals are not pets. In this club you will learn about Sue Arnold’s Animal Rehabilitation Center as well as wild animals and the environments that they prefer. You will also learn what plants attract butterflies and much, much more.

Sue Arnold is the sponsor and Cindy Letcher, Doni Sheffield and Sheryl Heater are the leaders of this club. You must be 8 years or older and willing to get your hands dirty to be a member of this club. Stop by the Extension Office to fill out a registration form or join at our first meeting on September 16 at 10:00 am at Sue Arnold’s Animal Rehabilitation Center . We will be learning about butterflies at this meeting with our guest speaker, specialist Merle Bass. If there are any questions please call Mrs. Clements at the Extension Office at 763-6469.

New Rabbit Club   By: Sheryl Heater

Sorry! We don’t have an official name yet but members will choose one soon. This club is a great club to join if you want to learn all about your rabbit project. We will devote our time to learning about all aspects of rabbit care, breeds of rabbits, showing rabbits and much more. We encourage members to raise a recognized ARBA breed rabbit so they can enter shows throughout Florida . We will be holding showmanship clinics as well as a mock show to help ease those show jitters.

Our first meeting will be held at the Extension Office on Saturday, September 9th from 10:00-12:00. If you are a youth ages 8-18 that is interested in taking your rabbit project one step further this would be a great club for you! We look forward to seeing you there.

 Beef N’ Bacon Raisers  By: Ginnifer Mullis

Welcome back ya’ll! Boy, what a great year we had last year. For all our members who will be raising and showing a steer this year we will have a meeting on September 5th at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office. We will discuss all the rules and regulations and make sure everyone has the necessary forms for the weigh-in. The weigh-in is on September 9th from 8:00-10:00 am at the Okeechobee Livestock Market. Please remember, if you have not enrolled in the club and are showing a steer you must enroll and pay your dues by September 8th by 5:00 pm. You will not be allowed to enroll at the weigh-in!

For all members, our first club meeting will be held on Thursday, September 21st at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office. Please put these dates in your calendar and don’t forget to remind your parents. Please be thinking about who you want as your new officers for the year. We will be electing them at our first meeting. Also, please be thinking of some fundraiser ideas that you would like to do this year. We will discuss them at this meeting.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me (Mrs. Ginnifer) at 863-763-5930. Hope to see you at the meeting!

Sharp Shooters   By:  Don Sellers

Welcome back everyone! Our first meeting will be on September 21st at 7:00 pm at Mr. Sellers’s house. For more information please contact the Extension Office or Don Sellers. Hope to see you there!

Bacon Bunch   By:  Roxanne Barnes

Our first meeting will be on September 12th at Osceola Middle School at 6:30 pm. I hope to see all returning members there!

Places To Go   By:  Pat McCoy

Our first meeting will be on September 19th at the Extension Office at 6:30 pm. We hope to see everyone there!