Science of Agriculture Team Deadline Extended

We have extended the deadline for teams to sign up for the Science of Agriculture Challenge to April 30th.  Remember: teams do not need to meet in person to work on the challenge. 

We are looking for youth in grades 6-12 who want to explore agricultural related topics and share their problem-solving ideas. Youth do not need to be in 4-H already to join this challenge.

What is the Science of Agriculture Challenge?

It is a hands-on learning experience to inspire the next generation of agriculture leaders in Kansas. Teams of 2-5 youth in grades 6-12 work with volunteer coaches and mentors to create projects and build solutions. The team will identify agriculture-related issues in their community, develop solutions and share the projects with the community. Each year, teams present their ideas to a panel of industry expert judges at a state competition. Each member of the top three teams will receive a scholarship ranging to use at the university, college or trade school of their choice.

For more information, check out the website https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/science-engineering-and-technology/science-of-agriculture/ for important dates or to register a team.

4-H Camp is moving Virtual

I am happy to announce that we will be having a Virtual 4-H Camp.  Sarah finished a meeting this with agents afternoon from Oz-Some Camp Group and we will be holding camp, but in a different way.  Details are still being worked out and we hope to get camp registration out soon to our 4-H members.

Here is what we know:

• Monday, June 15 – Counselor Training, 1-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 16 – Counselor Training, 1-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 16 – Camp, 6-9 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 17 – Camp, 6-9 p.m.
• Thursday, June 18 – Camp, 6-9 p.m.
• Friday, June 19 – Camp, 6-9 p.m.

Registration is being worked on as we speak.  More details will be forthcoming as they are available.  

Counselors can still apply!  Details were emailed to those who had completed the application earlier this afternoon and those who haven’t yet will receive an email hopefully by the end of the week.

If you have any questions, please let Sarah know.

Update on Suspended 4-H Activities

Dear 4-H Families:

During this time of uncertainty, we are in this together!  We are learning alongside one another and living by the 4-H motto, “To Make The Best Better.”

K-State Research & Extension (KSRE) has made an incredibly hard and heart-wrenching decision.  We had a meeting this afternoon which informed us of the decision to continue with no face-to-face (or in-person) Extension programming activities or contact with our participants through July 4. We are sharing this information with you at this time so you hear it from us first.  However, we ask that you please do not make any posts on social media until after you have received information from Kansas 4-H tomorrow.

Here is why:

• The health of YOU (our constituents), volunteers, and professionals is KSRE’s #1 priority;
• We cannot assure that health through July 4; and
• We need to divert planning and preparations to alternative activities.

Therefore, the following state 4-H coordinated events will be impacted:

• Discovery Days
• 4-H Camps
• Campference
• Insect Spectacular
• Geology Field Trip
• Shooting Sports Matches
• District Horse Shows
• Shutterbug Events

Other events that will be included (but not limited to):  CKD 4-H Dog Show, Horse Clinics, and in-person project meetings.

While the above events are impacted, we do not know what virtual option(s) may or may not come about.  I ask that you keep up on your email and the CKD 4-H Blog for announcements.

Before you ask, will we have in-person county fairs?  The answer is, at this time, we just don’t know.  Regardless if an in-person county fair happens or not, there is no doubt that we will work with our local fairboards on providing a showcased learning experience for our 4-H members.  For our livestock exhibitors that still need tags, we ask that you continue to be patient.  Once a plan has been devised and approved, we will get information out to you.  For KSF and KJLS exhibitors only:  Since you will have nomination paperwork that needs to be signed and it cannot be signed until the tag has seen in the animals ear, please contact Cade Rensink (crensink@ksu.edu).

Again, we are in this time of uncertainty together!  The decision that KSRE administration has made is the responsible decision.  Now, we are responsible for:

• Abiding by this decision;
• Planning to engage and keep engaging in ways that are offered (i.e., virtual club meetings, leadership workshops, etc.);
• Planning for county fairs & alternate activities; and
• Developing alternative showcases for 4-H participants while obeying social distancing for the safety of everyone.

While the situation is fluid and more information will continue to come your way, know we are here to help you and answer questions!  Do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Our methods are changing, our opportunity is growing, and our 4-H mission remains the same!  

Update on Livestock (Small Animal Ear Tags & YQCA)

Small Animal Ear Tags for County Fairs

All small animals that will be shown at the county fair must be owned and in the 4-H member’s possession by May 1.  We will not have small animal check-ins on April 29 and 30 as originally scheduled.  At this time, we are waiting until we know more about what may happen with our current situation with COVID-19.  At this time, small animal owners do not need to do anything.  Once we know more, we will post it on the Central Kansas District 4-H Blog. 

YQCA for Livestock Exhibitors

The YQCA program is offering a “Flash Sale” for the month of April. This will allow youth to complete the online course at a reduced rate of $9, only during the month of April.  However, in order to take advantage of the reduced price, participants must use a coupon while registering for the online course. Extension units or individual families may obtain these by using the attached form. To be clear – using a coupon is the ONLY way a family can take the online course at the reduced rate. A family will not receive the discount if they just log in, sign up for the online course and pay with a credit card. I realize it is a really cumbersome process to get the $3 price reduction, but the board expressed that this is the best option. The platform developer would have to overhaul the system to institute a price change, so the coupons are the best method YQCA could develop, with a reasonably quick turnaround, to reach their objective. It will be more efficient if counties or extension units submit one order and distribute the coupons to their clientele. However, the staff will accept coupon orders from individual families, so anyone interested may take advantage of this opportunity. It is imperative that the instructions on the order form are closely followed and a copy of the form/payment are sent to sales@yqca.org prior to mailing.

If there are youth who are enrolled in an instructor-led class and would like to take the online course, they may cancel their current registration and receive a refund. The family will just need to log in to the family’s account and cancel each child’s registration. If a family used a coupon code originally, it will be re-activated for future use. There are more details on cancelling class registrations in the attached resources.

Mid-Year Award Review

Now is the time to do a status check on where the 4-H member is with their pin application.  The Trips & Awards Committee would like to offer the 4-H members the opportunity to do a mid-year appeal, if they can determine right now that they are not going to be able to get the pin in which they have set out to achieve.  There are lots of 4-H events that will still occur this year, but there are several that have come and gone.  A 4-H member may have missed an opportunity or two.  What does this all mean and what should I do?  

Here are some steps for the process:

1. Fill out the 4-H Pin Application as completely as you can to make it current.
2. Determine if you are on the right track.  Are there still things that you need to complete?  Check the 4-H Newsletter and Master 4-H Calendar (both available at http://www.centralkansas.ksu.edu/4-H) to see what other things are still yet to come this 4-H year.
3. If you have missed an opportunity and you do not see where it can be picked up later this 4-H year, please complete the CKD 4-H Deferral Appeal Process Form.  This form can be found at http://www.centralkansas.ksu.edu/4-H → Awards & Recognition → Appeal Process.  Follow the directions on this form and mail it with a copy of your 4-H Pin Application to the Salina Office (Attn:  Sarah Maass, 2218 Scanlan Ave, Salina, KS 67401).  Items will need to be postmarked no later than May 1.
4. The Trips & Awards Committee will review your forms and get back to you with a response.  This will allow you to know if you continue working towards your goal of achieving the pin, if you will be able to receive it in November.  Keep in mind, the Trips & Awards Committee may ask you to do certain things in place of what you may have missed.   All of this will be outlined in their response back to you.
5. Additionally, there is a document with helpful hints for parents on the website located at http://www.centralkansas.ksu.edu/4-H → Awards & Recognition → Helpful Hints for Parents. 

If you have any questions regarding the 4-H Pin Application, the opportunity for the appeal, etc. please let Sarah know.

CO2 Cars Kits

CO2 car kits are available for purchase at the Salina Office.  Kits are $8 each.  You can pick up the kit(s) between the two front doors of the Extension Center building on campus.  If you take the last kit, please email Sarah (semaass@k-state.edu) so the stash can be replenished.  Once you have picked up the kit(s), you are to mail a check (made out to Central Kansas District 4-H Council) to Central Kanas District, Salina Office, 2218 Scanlan Ave, Salina, KS  67401.  Place “CO2 Car” in the memo with the number of kits you took.  Email Karen (kborch@ksu.edu) to let her know how many kits you took and that you have placed a check in the mail.

4-H Camp

Campers - We want YOU to know that we are actively planning 4-H Camp for 2020.  The following statement has been placed on our 4-H Camp website:  Camp registration opened on March 1, 2020.  In this time of uncertainty, registration will continue to be open with the understanding that at any point we may need to cancel this event.  If camp is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will close registration and notify those who have registered.  If we cancel the event, full refunds will be processed.  Thank you for understanding.  Don’t worry about not getting a refund back and register for camp today!

Counselors - We will continue to accept counselor applications through April 15.  Each 4-H member eligible to be a counselor has received an email message with a link, specific to them, for their online application.  Interviews will be conducted virtually and information will be sent to the applicants.

Virtual Leadership Workshop

A Virtual Leadership Workshop will be held Tuesday, April 7 at 7 p.m.  This will be for parents, volunteers, and of course, all 4-H members!  Come learn how you can do some leadership activities for your club meeting and other groups you are a member of.  Be sure to register by going to our website (Http://www.centralkansas.ksu.edu/4-H) and register using the link under Upcoming Events and Online Registration.  Online registration is due Monday, April 6.  Those who register will receive an email from Sarah on Tuesday with items to be sure to have ready for the workshop that evening. 

4-H Council Scholarship Applications

We have summer events coming up, and we are continuing to plan for them.  The temporary method for handling 4-H Council Scholarship Applications is as follows: 

• 4-H Member is to contact the Organizational Leader and ask them to email Kate their “approval” which will count as their signature, THEN

• Mail application (without Organizational Leader signature), preferably to the Salina Office (2218 Scanlan Ave, Salina, KS 67401), OR

• Email application to Kate (klittich@ksu.edu).

Horse IDs – Due May 1

Since the Extension personnel are working from home during this time, ALL Horse IDs are to be postmarked no later than May 1 and mailed to Sarah Maass (mailing address is in the email sent on Friday, April 3, 2020).  The May 1 deadline will not be changed, per the State 4-H Office.  Sarah will sign the IDs.  We will worry about HOW we will get the IDs back to 4-H families after May 16.  Once we know more, we will post it on the Central Kansas District 4-H Blog.  If you have any questions, please contact Sarah.

Virtual 4-H Club Meetings

Your organizational leaders have all received individual links for your club to be able to conduct virtual club meetings using zoom.  We discussed this with them at the Organizational Leader update on Tuesday evening.  Be watching for communication from them on your next meeting.  Note:  DO NOT post the zoom links publicly anywhere!  These are only to be sent via email or text or CLOSED Facebook group.  This will prevent uninvited people from joining the meeting.