Delaware Junior Dairy Futurity Second Entry Deadline
The second entry deadline for the 2019 Delaware Junior Dairy futurity is February 1, 2019.  The entry form can be found here https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/21084712/2019-Delaware-Youth-Dairy-Futurity-Entry-Form.pdf  To participate in the 2019 Futurity for Summer Calves, a calf must be nominated by May 1, 2019.  All calves, born June 1, 2018 to August 31, 2018 inclusive, of any dairy breed are eligible to enter the Delaware Youth Dairy Futurity. Calves MUST be exhibited by a Delaware State Fair Junior Dairy Exhibitor.  Leased animals are eligible and an exhibitor must be named on the last entry on May 1, 2019.

1st payment of $5.00 due on or before November 13, 2018

2nd payment of $10.00 due on or before February 1, 2019

3rd payment of $15.00 due on or before May 1, 2019

Late entries are permitted but if you do not enter the animal on the first due date, the payment will be doubled.  If your first entry is made on February 1, your entry fee will be $30.00.  If you do not enter until May 1, your entry fee is $70.00 on May 1.

Entry questions can be directed to volunteer Dairy Futurity co-chairs John Hickey or Charmayne Busker cpbusker@gmail.com

2019 Spring 4-H/FFA Dairy Show
The Spring 4-H and FFA Dairy Show will be held on April 6, 2019 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds.  Entries are due to 4-H volunteer Charmayne Busker by March 15, 2019.  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, 2019) 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 2019 show, please contact Charmayne by March 15 to be featured on the Spring Show t-shirt.

Delaware 4-H Horse Bowl
The Delaware 4-H Horse Bowl will be held on March 9, 2019 at Lake Forest North Elementary.  Divisions are available for Ages 8-10, 11-13, and 14-19 as of January 1 of the 2019 4-H year. Entry fees have increased this year to $15 per team but prize money has also been increased.

Questions may come from:

• 4-H Horse Manuals(blue cover 2015 version):

“Giddy Up and Go”, “Head, Heart and Hooves”, “Stable Relationships”,

“Riding the Range,” “Jumping to New Heights,” “Horse Project Helper’s Guide.,”

and 4-H Horse curriculum corrections found on-line at www.n4hccs.org.

• In addition to the 4-H Horse Project manuals:

Age 8-10: Horse Care for Kids, by Cherry Hill

Age 11-13: Your Horse, a step-by-step guide to horse ownership, by Judy Chapple (and age 8-10 material).

Horses and Horsemanship – by Ray Antoniewicz, National 4-H Council-

Age 14 and older: Storey’s Horse-Lover’s Encyclopedia, edited by Deborah Burns (and age 8-10 and 11-13 material).

Horse Science- by Ray Antoniewicz, National 4-H Council

Complete contest rules and guidelines are posted on the State 4-H Animal Science page at https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/03154738/2019-HORSE-BOWL-CONTEST.pdf  The 2019 Horse Bowl entry deadline is February 11, 2019.

NEW Quality Assurance Certification Requirement for All Delaware State Fair Market Animal Exhibitors!
Beginning with the 2019 Delaware State Fair, all junior exhibitors showing a market animal (steer, market lamb, market goat or market hog) will be required to have a current quality assurance certification in order to exhibit in a market class at the Delaware State Fair.  The Swine Department will accept either an existing Youth PQA certification that is still valid through July of 2019 or a current Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certification. The Youth PQA program no longer exists to train new youth or recertify. The YQCA program is a national certification that now covers all livestock species with a single certification for all youth ages 8-21 nationwide. Program ages are calculated as of January 1 of the current year. Options for obtaining a qualifying quality assurance certification in order to be able to show a market animal at the 2019 DSF are:

• Ages 5-7– A parent, guardian or responsible adult must have a current quality assurance certification. Options to fulfill this requirement include PQA(Pork Quality Assurance) or BQA (Beef Quality Assurance https://www.bqa.org/certification/online-certification) adult online trainings or parents can either attend a YQCA classroom training session with their 5-7 year old to obtain a valid QA certification to meet the DSF requirement.  Please contact Susan Garey if you would like to be granted access to the online Adult PQA certification training to cover youth ages 5-7. An email address is required.
• Ages 8-18– The youth exhibitor must have a current YQCA certification obtained either through an YQCA classroom training session or YQCA online.
• Ages 19-21– The youth market exhibitor must have a current YQCA certification that can only be obtained online as per the YQCA program rules.

Youth YQCA certification is valid for one year.

In order for youth ages 8-21 to participate in either an online or in person classroom YQCA training session, they must register and create a profile at … For youth age 8-12, parents are required to register their youth on the YQCA website. The YQCA classroom training costs $3.00 and the online training costs $12.00.  These fees are paid online and go directly to YQCA even if you are attending an in person training.  This should be completed prior to coming to the in person training. Youth completing the online YQCA training will take the online module that corresponds to their age as of January 1 of the current year.

The following YQCA in person class training dates have been scheduled for this spring:

May 23, 2019– Sussex County YQCA Classroom Training- Carvel Center 6:30-8:00 pm

May 29, 2019- NCC YQCA Classroom Training- New Castle County Extension Office 6:30-8:00 pm

June 12, 2019 – FINAL YQCA Classroom Training- Kent County Extension Office- 6:30-8:00 pm

If you choose a classroom training option, you may attend class 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. 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 new quality assurance certification requirement for all market animal exhibitors.

2019 Delaware State Fair Livestock Tagging Dates
Tagging dates for market lambs, market hogs, market goats, market steers and feeder calves for the 2019 Delaware State Fair are:

• Saturday, May 4, 9 am-11 pm – Steve Cook’s Farm 3300 Frazer Rd. Newark  (NC County)
• Saturday, May 4, 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 11, 9 am- 11 pm – Delaware State Fair (Kent County)
• Friday, May 17, 6 pm- 9 pm- Delaware State Fair (Kent County Jackpot Show and County 4-H Show Participants Only)
• Tuesday, May 21, 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 2019 4-H/FFA Rate of Gain Educational Contest for further details. http://extension.udel.edu/4h/projects-activities-for-members/4-h-animal-science/

2019 Youth Livestock Conservationist Program
Sponsored by the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

Youth interested in applying for the 2019 Youth Conservationist Program

• Must be between 9 and 18 years old.
• Submit an application postmarked by April 1, 2019 that includes:
  • An essay which introduces you, your experience with animals, if for any reason, the animal is not being kept at your own home, explain, in detail where it will reside and what exactly your responsibilities will be, your essay should explain your interest in sheep, and answer the question: “Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep.”
• 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 applicant should indicate if they wish to be considered for a specific breed or for any of the breeds available.
• 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

740.622.1573 tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com

please note the underscore between tankewe and cr58!

ALL ESSAYS MUST BE MAILED, WILL NOT ACCEPT EMAILED ESSAYS!

Requirements if selected:

• Must be present to receive the ewe at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday

May 5, 2019.

• Must exhibit the ewe at least twice in 2019 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 2019, 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 one to two-page report, with pictures, to the Donor Breeder by April 30, 2020 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

1-740-622-1573 tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com

please note the underscore between tankewe and cr58!

Donors choose the recipients from the essays submitted by the youth.

Tufts University Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Camp
Do you know an aspiring veterinarian? Adventures in Veterinary Medicine (AVM) is a fun and engaging career exploration program for middle and high school students who are interested in pursuing a veterinary career.  AVM attendees will explore the wide variety of opportunities available within veterinary medicine and see first-hand what attending veterinary school is really like. 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 2019 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.

DPI Offers College Scholarships
DPI is accepting applications for its 2019 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 academic 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.

Applications must be completed and received at the following address on or before 4:30 pm on April 5, 2019:  DPI College Scholarship Program, 16686 County Seat Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947.  Applications and additional scholarship information are available from the DPI website at http://www.dpichicken.org/scholarship/  Late, incomplete, or handwritten applications will not be considered. DPI membership on the part of the applicant or his/her family is not required and has no effect on the selection process.

Delaware Livestock Exposition Benefit Oyster Dinner March 9^th– Felton Fire Hall
Mark your calendar for the 2019 Delaware Livestock Exposition, October 12-13 at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington.  The show is a junior breeding show for beef cattle, sheep, swine, and Boer goats and is open to exhibitors from across the country.  Entry and registration information is available via our new website at www.delawarelivestockexpo.com  Premiums are paid to the top placing animals in each class.  Sponsors and donors support the Expo financially however we still need your help too!  This show has returned over $250,000 in premiums to our young livestock exhibitors.

The show committee is hosting a benefit Fried Oyster and Chicken Salad dinner and auction at the Felton Fire Hall on March 9th.  Tickets are $30 each and are available for purchase at the Kent County Extension office beginning in February.   Please contact Kristin Cook kristin@udel.edu  or 730-4000 to reserve yours now.  All proceeds are used towards Livestock Exposition premiums and expenses.  We are also actively looking for donations of unique items for our silent and live auctions that evening.  Please join us for a fun filled evening to support our livestock youth! 

2019 State 4-H Avian Bowl Study Sections
The Avian Bowl is a knowledge based quiz bowl style competition that focuses on poultry and eggs and poultry industry topics.  The 2019 Delaware 4-H Avian Bowl will be Saturday July 27th at 1:00 pm in the Centre.  All questions and answers will come from the following material in the 2016 version of the Avian Bowl Manual:

• Avian systems (Only Circulatory, Nervous, Excretory, Muscle and Skeletal) – pages 39-40
• Breeds, varieties, and strains (AOSB and Miscellaneous only) – Pages 79-80
• Raising game birds (All) – pages 81-99
• Eggcyclopedia (Eggs from A-Z through Chantilly Meringue) AND (Sabayon sauce through Zeaxanthin) – pages 103-110 and 145-151B
• Raising your home flock (All) – Pages 151C-161 • Contributions of poultry to the development of science (All) – Pages 169-170
• Avian influenza (All) – Pages 181-182

For more information on the Avian Bowl please consult the contest rules and guidelines which can be found on the State 4-H Animal Science webpage:

https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/10135448/Delaware-4-H-Avian-Bowl-Rules-and-Guidelines-2019.pdf

Delaware Pork Producers Annual Dinner- March 23rd
The Delaware Pork Producers Association will be holding their annual dinner and banquet on Saturday, March 23^rd 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.