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.
4-H Dairy Project Group Meeting Opportunity- Delaware Holstein Annual Meeting
The Delaware Holstein Association Annual meeting will be held on Saturday March 30th. The Open House and tour will be hosted by the Cook and Morris families on Frazier Road in Newark from 10:00 am -12:00 pm followed by a meal and business meeting. The meal and business meeting will begin at 12:30 pm and will held at Middletown High School in conjunction with the 2019 Delaware Dairy Princess Contest. For more information please contact Charmayne Busker, cpbusker@gmail.com
Team Felton Open House- Offering January Crossbred and Purebred Pigs
Saturday March 23, 10:00 am -1:00 pm 164 Hayfield Road, Felton, DE 19943
All pigs are pre-priced and sold via private treaty. For questions or directions please contact Kayla Kemp (302)531-6973, Matt Galloway (302)242-5045 or Amanda Fabi (302)382-5443.
Genetic Edge Showpig Sale
The Genetic Edge Sale will be held on Saturday March 30 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
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.
Stock Show University- Coming to Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park in May!
Presented by Sullivan Supply, Stock Show University is a FREE, educational program open to all stock show youth and adults, compliments of Sullivan Supply. Stock Show University offers different types of clinics for cattle, sheep, goats and hogs. Clinic types that are offered: one or two hour demos, one-day grad programs and the more intensive, two-day grad programs. The best and most talented ‘professors’ in the industry will focus on all areas needed to achieve the championship look such as: daily care, clipping and fitting, showmanship, nutrition and selection. Stock Show University hosts clinics at numerous locations and shows across the United States, Canada and Australia. Stock Show U is coming for a two day program at the Queen Anne’s County Park- May 4 and 5th for beef, sheep, goats and hogs. More information and registration is available online https://www.sullivansupply.com/event/maryland-two-day-4-species-grad-program/ For questions please contact Taylor Harrison taylor@sullivansupply.com
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.
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 4-H Equine Art Contest- Entries Due April 15th-
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 15, 2019. Entries will be put on display by May 10th at Chick’s retail store in Harrington, Delaware. Contest guidelines and entry information is posted on the State 4-H website. https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/28151743/2019-Delaware-4-H-Equine-Art-Contest.pdf
Delaware Pork Producers Annual Dinner- March 23rd
The Delaware Pork Producers Association will be holding their annual dinner and banquet on Saturday, March 23rd 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.
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.
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: