2018 Spring 4-H/FFA Dairy Show
The Spring 4-H and FFA Dairy Show will be held on April 7, 2018 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. Entries are due to 4-H volunteer Charmayne Busker by March 15, 2018. The show is open to all Delmarva Residents who are owners or lessors of Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey and Brown Swiss cattle. The show will include both a Junior Division (age 21 & under as of January 1, 2018) and an Open Division which will run concurrently. For show information and an entry form please visit the state 4-H website http://extension.udel.edu/4h/projects-activities-for-members/4-h-animal-science/ . We are always looking for additional show sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring the 2018 show, please contact Charmayne by March 15 to be featured on the Spring Show t-shirt.
4-H Dairy Project Group Meeting Opportunity- Delaware Holstein Annual Meeting
The Delaware Holstein Association Annual meeting will be held on Saturday March 17th. The Farm Tour will be hosted by Fair Hill Farm and the address is 10118 Augustine Herman Highway, Chestertown. The tour of the new rotary milking center will begin at 11:00 am. The business meeting and Dairy Princess Contest will be held at St. James Church, 10965 St. James-Newtown RD, Worton, MD. For those who attended the 2015 Annual Meeting, St. James hosted our luncheon that year following the farm tour at Masons. For more information please contact Charmayne Busker, cpbusker@gmail.com
50th Delaware Dairy Princess Coronation
The Delaware Dairy Princess contest will be held on March 17th in Chestertown, Maryland. Applications are currently being accepting for the 2018 Delaware Dairy Princess.
The objective of the Dairy Princess program is to select a young lady and an alternate to be representatives for Delaware dairy farmers and the Delaware dairy industry for one year. Two young ladies will have a very busy and exciting year of promotion ahead of them. These young women will be looked upon as positive role models for today’s youth as they present the positive benefits of dairy nutrition in a healthy lifestyle. They will need to maintain their composure while responding to questions from the public such as where does chocolate milk come from or what is the future outlook for Delaware’s Dairy Industry with today’s economic situation. The applicant agrees that if she is chosen as the Delaware Dairy Princess, she will support the industry by making personal appearances to promote dairy products, and to be the industry’s official representative, upon invitation, at meetings, conventions, and promotional activities. She must be available for activities during the Delaware State Fair in Harrington in July and the Milk Run in May/June. For more information https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/01074704/Delaware-Dairy-Princess-Application.pdf Mail your application to Laura Greer 1196 Dutch Neck Road, Middletown, DE 19709. Applications can also be handed in on the day of the interest meeting. Any questions, please email lauraleegreer@gmail.com call Laura Greer at (302)-893-7258
New 4-H Livestock Project Resources on the Web
In addition to the 4-H Market Animal Project guidelines and the Vaccination guidelines, two new livestock project resources have been posted to the State 4-H Animal Science webpage. A list of local breeders with appropriate market and breeding project animals for sale in Delaware with contact information is now available as well as a list of veterinarians that will see livestock projects. These can be found at http://extension.udel.edu/4h/projects-activities-for-members/4-h-animal-science/ Please check them out!
Genetic Edge Showpig Sale
The Genetic Edge Sale will be held on Saturday March 31 at the Eugene Dill Riding Arena at 2408 Still Rd. in Wyoming, DE. Preview will begin at 9:00 a.m., there will be a short seminar at 11:00 a.m. and the auction will begin at 12 noon. Lunch will be available on site. If you have any questions, please contact John Tigner at 242-4315, Karen Tigner 632-4250 or Tignerfarms@yahoo.com
2018 Youth Sheep Conservationist Program – Win a Heritage Breed Ewe
Applicants must be between 9 and 18 years old and must submit an application postmarked by April 1, 2018 that includes:
- An essay which introduces you and your experience with animals. Your essay should explain your interest in sheep and answer the question: “Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep.” If for any reason the animal will not be kept at your own home, please explain in detail where it will reside and what exactly your responsibilities will be.
- The applicant should indicate if they wish to be considered for a particular breed or for any of the breeds available.
- Each applicant must include a letter of recommendation from their 4‐H advisor, FFA advisor, veterinarian, teacher or clergy.
- The total application/essay should be no more than 2 pages in length.
- The application must include address, phone and if available, email address.
Interested young people should contact Elaine for an updated list of breeds available, then submit their letter of application/essay to: Elaine Ashcraft, 46118 CR 58 Coshocton, OH 43812 ALL ESSAYS MUST BE MAILED. EMAILED ESSAYS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!
Requirements if selected:
- Must be present to receive the ewe at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday, May 6, 2018.
- Must exhibit the ewe at least twice in 2018 at: 1) a county fair or local sheep show and 2) the State Fair in the state where the recipient lives.
- Must breed the ewe to a registered ram (of her breed) in the fall of 2018, should consult the donor breeder for their recommendations.
- Must either use the ewe’s fleece to personally make a wool item or sell the fleece to a spinner, felter or weaver.
- Must submit an article, the following Feb/Mar to their local newspaper covering their year and including information concerning the next year’s YCP program.
- Must submit a scrapbook to the Donor Breeder by April 30, 2019 and provide a scrapbook to be used at the Maryland Festival which is then given back to the youth.
Any questions please contact Elaine Ashcraft 46118 CR 58 Coshocton, Ohio 43812, by phone at (740) 622‐1573 or by email at tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com (please note the underscore between “tankewe” and “cr58”) Donors select the recipients from the essays submitted by the youth.
DPI Offers College Scholarships
DPI is accepting applications for its 2018 College Scholarship Program. Applications are being accepted for undergraduate and graduate scholarships that are available in the amount of $1,500 or more.
Undergraduate applicants must be a Delmarva resident and a student in good standing at any accredited, degree-granting institution in the United States or in the case of graduating high school seniors, accepted to an accredited, degree-granting institution within the United States. Individuals must have an academic major in a subject matter relevant to Delmarva’s chicken industry and be planning a career in a segment of this industry. An official transcript must accompany each application.
Graduate student applications must meet the above criteria, with the exception of Delmarva residency. In addition, the individual must be engaged in research that positively could benefit Delmarva’s chicken industry.
Although an applicant is not required to have a family member of a family business that is a member of DPI, membership in DPI would be a deciding factor when applicants are otherwise evenly matched. Previous recipients, if still eligible, may reapply.
Applications must be completed and received at the following address on or before 4:30 pm on April 2, 2018: DPI College Scholarship Program, 16686 County Seat Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947. Applications and additional scholarship information are available from the DPI website at www. http://www.dpichicken.org/scholarship/ or by sending inquiries to morrow@dpichicken.com.
Champion Drive Board Sale
The Champion Drive Board Sale is being held at the Queen Anne’s County Fairgrounds on April 7, 2018. Preview will be at 11 am with the auction starting at 1 pm. Purebred and crossbred showpigs, market lambs, and market goats will be available from local breeders. Animals will be vaccinated and dewormed, all ready to go. Kingstown Farm and Garden will be attending as well as Just A Dreamin Livestock show supply to offer show feed and show equipment. For more information please contact Amanda Fabi 302-382-5443 or Kayla Kemp 302-531-6973.
2018 PQA/Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Training
All Junior Market Hog Exhibitors are required to have a current PQA or YQCA certification in order to exhibit a market hog at the Delaware State Fair. The national Youth Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) training is a program that was put together by the National Pork Producers Association. Commercial hog producers across the county have been required to have this certification since 1999 in order to market their hogs. This program is currently in transition to a new Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program which will cover all livestock species for all youth nationwide. For 2018, the Delaware State Fair Swine Department will accept either the PQA or YQCA certification. After June 1, the Youth PQA program will cease to exist and the YQCA program will be the only option for certification. The adult PQA certification program will continue.
There are currently two options for obtaining YQCA certification. The in person class certification option is open to any age but youth under the age of 8 (computed as of Jan 1 of the current year) must have a parent attend the class with them. Youth YQCA certification received through the classroom option is valid for one year. Youth must register through the YQCA website www.yqca.org and pay a $3.00 fee online that goes directly to YQCA even if you are attending an in person training. This must be completed prior to coming to the training. There is also an online YQCA training and certification option for youth ages 8-21. You must pay a $12.00 fee online that goes directly to the YQCA program in order to complete the online training. For youth age 12 and under, parents are required to register their youth on the YQCA website. Youth should take the online module that corresponds to their age as of January 1 of the current year.
Online PQA certification is now an option for parents of youth 5-7 as of January 1 if it is their first time receiving a PQA certification. There is no charge for this certification.
The following local YQCA class training dates have been scheduled for this spring:
- April 16, 2018- NCC YQCA Classroom Training- New Castle County Extension Office 6:30-8:00 pm
- May 10, 2018 – Sussex County YQCA Classroom Training- Carvel Center 6:30-8:00 pm
- June 4, 2018- FINAL YQCA Classroom Training- Kent County Extension Office- 6:30-8:00 pm
You may attend class or testing in any of the locations. If you plan on attending any of these sessions, please RSVP to Susan Garey (302)730-4000 or truehart@udel.edu at least three days prior so that there will be adequate materials. In addition, you must register online for the training through the YQCA website www.yqca.org and set up your profile. If there are no registrations in advance, the class will be canceled. Please contact Susan Garey if you have any questions or concerns in regards to PQA/YQCA certification needs as we transition to this one uniform national program
Delaware 4-H Equine Art Contest- Entries Due April 16th- NEW CATAGORIES THIS YEAR!
Calling all young artists! With categories encompassing painting, pastels, charcoals, photography, pencil, pen and ink and even crayons and markers for younger youth there is something for everyone in the Delaware 4-H Equine Art Contest. Entries are due to county
offices on or before April 16, 2018. New for this year are cartoon strip and mixed media classes! Entries will be put on display by May 11th at Chick’s retail store in Harrington, Delaware. Contest guidelines and entry information is posted on the State 4-H website.
Delaware Pork Producers Annual Dinner- April 21st
The Delaware Pork Producers Association will be holding their annual dinner and banquet on Saturday, April 21st at the Felton Fire Hall. Dinner will be served family style beginning at 6:30pm. The menu will consist of Felton’s famous fried oysters, delicious pork roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, dumplings, green beans, dessert and beverages. Tickets are $25 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. Please call Karen Tigner at (302)632-4250 for more information or to purchase dinner tickets. The Delaware Pork Producers Association has graciously provided support to Delaware 4-H Livestock programs for many years.
2018 DSF Livestock Tagging Dates
Tagging dates for market lambs, market hogs, market goats, market steers and feeder calves for the 2018 Delaware State Fair are:
- Saturday, May 5, 9 am-11 pm – Steve Cook’s Farm 3300 Frazer Rd. Newark (NC County)
- Saturday, May 5, 9 am- 11 am – Georgetown Research and Education Center (Sussex County) Georgetown is not capable of weighing steers or feeder calves but can still tag. If you wish to compete in Sussex Rate of Gain and weigh your cattle you must go to a Kent tagging date.
- Saturday, May 12, 9 am- 11 pm – Delaware State Fair (Kent County)
- Friday, May 18, 6 pm- 9 pm- Delaware State Fair (Kent County Jackpot Show and County 4-H Show Participants Only)
- Tuesday, May 22, 5 pm- 8 pm – Delaware State Fair (Kent County)
If you choose to participate in the 4-H/FFA Rate of Gain Contest sponsored by the Delaware Farm Bureau, you need to attend the tagging/weigh in for your county. If you choose not to participate in the 4-H/FFA Rate of Gain Contest you may tag at any of the three locations regardless of what county you are enrolled in. Please see the guidelines for the 2018 4-H/FFA Rate of Gain Educational Contest for further details. http://extension.udel.edu/4h/projects-activities-for-members/4-h-animal-science/
Harness Horse Youth Foundation Announces Summer Camp Programs
Spring is just around the corner. That can mean only one thing, the Harness Horse Youth Foundation summer camp schedule and applications are now available. Complete details are at http://hhyf.org/schedule-applications.
The HHYF Trottingbreds and staff will kick off the season with a bang on July 4-7 in Goshen, N.Y. with the Leadership Program and then spend another week with the introductory level July 10-14 also based at Goshen Historic Track. The next stop will be The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono July 17-21 and then on to Gaitway Farm on July 24-28. The introductory level finals will again take place at The Meadowlands on Hambletonian weekend Aug. 3-4. There will not be a Harrington camp this year.
Camp registration fee is $150, which includes meals, materials and lodging where applicable.
All introductory level events are open to any interested young person (no horse experience necessary) between the ages of 12 and 14. The Leadership Program is designed for former participants of HHYF events or those age 15 and up with at least some harness racing experience.
Camp applications are due May 15.
Additional dates will be announced as they are added. For questions or to find more details visit www.hhyf.org or e-mail Executive Director Ellen Taylor, ellen@hhyf.org.
The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing young people and their families educational opportunities with harness horses in order to foster the next generation of participants and fans. The Foundation has been making a difference in young people’s lives since 1976, and its programs include interactive learning experiences with harness horses, scholarship programs, and creation and distribution of educational materials. For more information on opportunities through HHYF, or to support its mission, go to www.hhyf.org.
Tufts University Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Camp
Adventures in Veterinary Medicine is a fun and engaging career exploration program for middle and high school students who are interested in pursuing a veterinary career. They invite 4-H youth to apply to AVM and discover if this exciting career is right for you!
AVM attendees will explore the wide variety of opportunities available within veterinary medicine and see first-hand what attending veterinary school is really like. Programs are available for middle school, high school, college and adult age groups. Sessions include lectures by Tufts faculty and vet students, interesting laboratories, demonstrations, and hands-on activities with animals. AVM is held on the beautiful campus of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, located about 40 minutes west of Boston in North Grafton, MA.
Applications for summer 2018 are now available! For more information on the program, including dates, eligibility, and tuition please visit the AVM website or contact us at AVM@tufts.edu.