As provided by Susan Garey, Extension Agent, Animal Science:
Delaware 4-H Members Attend National 4-H Dairy Conference
4-H‘ers Miranda Hunter of the Flock of Friends 4-H Club in New Castle County and Michaela Hunter of the Peach Blossom 4-H Club in Kent County are currently attending the National 4-H Dairy Conference on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wisconsin. While there Michaela and Miranda are participating in dairy science workshops and field trips along with approximately 200 other dairy project members from across the United States and Canada. Exploration of dairy related careers, dairy production, marketing, genetics and production and processing of dairy products are a few of the subjects they will be exposed to. In addition, they will also have the opportunity to spend a day at the World Dairy Expo. Our delegation is being chaperoned by 4-H volunteer Robin Hunter of New Castle County. Special thanks to the Delaware 4-H Foundation for funding this leadership and dairy science experience for our 4-H members! If you are interested in attending National 4-H Dairy Conference next year and have three years of dairy project experience, applications will be due May 1, 2014.
Saddle up with 4-H!
The annual State 4-H Trail Ride at Redden State Forest sponsored by the State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee will be held on October 6, 2013 at the Headquarters tract with the ride off occurring at 10 am. This is a fun family event with riders of all ages and levels of experiences. There will be some volunteer walkers as well to assist our less experienced riders if needed. Following the trail ride there will be a picnic in the pavilion beginning at 11:30 am. ASTM/SEI hard hats are required for all riders. For more information please see the flyer posted on the State 4-H Animal Science webpage http://s3.amazonaws.com/udextension/4h/files/2012/02/2013-4-H-Fall-Trail-Ride.pdf To RSVP, please contact Susan Garey at (302)730-4000 or truehart@udel.edu no later than October 4th.
Equine Health Short Course
The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension is excited to offer a three-evening educational series this fall on topics related to equine health. All three sessions will be held at the Paradee Center, Kent County Extension Office in Dover, Delaware from 6:30-8:30 pm. A registration fee and advanced registration will be required. Light refreshments and take home materials will be included as part of the registration fee. This short course would be appropriate for older 4-H members, horse projects leaders and parents.
Night 1 on Wednesday, November 6 will focus around the theme of “Foundations of Equine Health” and will cover the topics of anatomy and physiology (cardiovascular, respiratory and skeletal systems), physical examination of the horse and vital signs.
Night 2 on Thursday, November 14 will focus around the theme of “Economical Veterinary Care and Lameness in Horses” and will cover topics such as stereotypies and dealing with common equine behavior issues. This evening will feature a special guest lecturer, Dr. Michael Fugaro, V.M.D Professor and Staff Veterinarian, Centenary College
Night 3 on Wednesday, November 20 will focus around the theme of “Digestive Health” and will cover topics such as the basics of the digestive system, equine colic and gastric ulcers.
You may attend just one or all three of the sessions. For more information please contact Susan Garey at (302)730-4000 or truehart@udel.edu or Dr. Carissa Wickens at cwickens@udel.edu
If you have special needs that need to be accommodated, please contact the office two weeks prior to the event.
Delaware 4-H Horse of the Year- Deadline November 15, 2013
Have you ever wished that you could have a model of your own favorite horse or pony to cherish forever? Here’s your chance!
Peter Stone of Stone Model Horses (www.stonehorses.com) has volunteered to create a model horse to honor the great horse or pony selected as Delaware’s “4-H Horse of the Year”. The winning 4-H member will be announced at the Horse Bowl contest and awarded their horse/pony model horse at the winning member’s county achievement banquet in fall of 2014.
Any currently enrolled traditional Delaware 4-H member (Cloverbuds are not eligible), can nominate their beloved horse/pony by completing these steps:
1. Complete the Nomination Form 2014.
2. Provide Four (4) 4×6” full color photos of your horse/pony in natural light (not in the barn): front, back, left side and right side. Attach to the provided page. These photos will not be returned so make sure you have copies.
3. Add an essay of 500 to 1000 words written by the 4-H’er (age of 4-H’er will be considered in writing quality). The award will be chosen based on how well the 4-H member can answer the following topic:
“My Horse or Pony has Promoted the Delaware 4-H Horse Program by….”
a. Do NOT include your name or the horse’s registered name in the essay.
b. Use the horse’s unregistered nick name or pet name in the essay.
c. This essay is about how your horse or pony has promoted or represented the Delaware 4-H Horse Program in your community, Delaware and surrounding states (if applicable). Awards won by the horse should not be included in the essay.
4. The nomination with the essay must be postmarked by November 15, 2013.
Nomination forms and more details are available on the state 4-H animal science webpage https://s3.amazonaws.com/udextension/4h/files/2012/02/2014-Horse-of-the-Year-Flyer1.pdf
Horse Bowl Already??
The Delaware 4-H Horse Advisory Committee has made some additions to the resources list for the 2014 Delaware 4-H Horse Bowl Contest. New in 2014, the National 4-H Council educational resources titled “Horse Science” and “Horses and Horsemanship” will be used to develop horse bowl questions in addition to the resources utilized in the past. Both books are packed full of information and are reasonably priced at $4.50 each. They are currently in stock and can be ordered online through the 4-H Mall by clicking on this link http://www.4hmall.org/Category/educationalresources.aspx.
Delaware Equine Council Scholarship- $1000
Eligibillity:
- Must be a U.S. citizen and a Delaware resident or Delaware Equine Council member. ($10.00 to become an individual member)
- Must be enrolled and in good standing in an agriculture, equine, veterinary or vet tech program in the United States.
- Must submit a typewritten 250-word essay :
“How I plan to use this course of study to further the equine or agriculture industry.”
- Must complete a typed application and include a transcript of a minimum of one full semester’s grades from an accredited college or university.
All awards are given without discrimination as to race, sex, or creed.
Application deadline is January 31, 2014. Winners will be awarded in March 2014. To download the application or for more details please visit:
http://www.delawareequinecouncil.org/ScholarshipPAGE.html
Equine Blog
You may not know it but the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension maintains an equine blog. This blog includes information on current equine news, upcoming events, 4-H related equine programs and results, topical fact sheets and management tips. Please visit it frequently and feel free to share your feelings on what would make it more useful to you! The equine blog can be found at http://extension.udel.edu/equine/
2014 Delaware State Fair Tagging Dates
May 3, 2014- New Castle County- Cook Farm, Newark 9:00 am-12:00 noon
May 3, 2014- Sussex County- REC Georgetown, 9:00 am- 11:00 am (no steers)
May 10, 2014- Kent County- DSF, 9:00 am-11:00am
May 16, 2014- Kent County- DSF (Jackpot and Kent County Show participants) 6:00pm-9:00 pm
May 20, 2014- Kent County-DSF, Final Tagging 5:00 pm-8:00 pm