County Updates: February 2021

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** All 4-H Members must enroll with 4-H Online by March 1, 2021 to be eligible to participate in any summer statewide events such as State Camp and State Fair **
ENROLL HERE

Delaware 4-H Foundation – Club/Group Financial Aid Form
The Delaware 4-H Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting the 4-H program.  Financial Support Requests will be accepted twice a fiscal year.  March 1 and October 1

The applications will be reviewed and awarded at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  DE4H Foundation Grant Application 2021 must be submitted electronically to de4h@udel.edu.  Notification of the receipt of the request will be confirmed within 72 hours to the contact person named on the request. Once a decision has been made, the contact person will be notified of the Board’s decision.

Judging Training Materials for all county/state contests can be found at the following link: https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/personal-economic-development/4H-youth-development/events/

**NEW THIS YEAR** Virtual Judging Training Videos will also be made available along with the training manuals.  Members or Leaders will have to fill out a request form and you will be sent a link to the virtual kits that are available.  All kits should be available by February 15.

Sussex 4-H Judging Dates:

  • Photography Judging – April 21 (Location TBD)
  • Wood Science Judging – April 21 (Location TBD)
  • Foods Judging – April 21 (Location TBD)
  • Clothing Judging – May 15 (Location TBD)
  • Horticulture Judging – May 15 (Location TBD)
  • Wildlife Judging – May 15 (Location TBD)

Favorite Foods Contest – POSTPONED to later date
Contests in all three counties have been postponed due to UD prohibiting tasting of prepared foods at any program events.  We are so sorry for this inconvenience and look forward to holding this annual event in the future!  Registration will be open again once the future date is set.

National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest

2021 Essay Topic: Immunity: Threats to Bee Colonies and Methods to Defend Against the Threats

Honey bee colonies have developed many ways to stay healthy.  Their immune responses range from behaviors such as grooming to using materials such as propolis, a plant-derived substance bees coat on the interior of a hive for antimicrobial purposes.  Even the gut of the honey bee contains beneficial bacteria to help the bee stay healthy!

In your essay, name at least two threats (a parasite such as Varroa, a pathogen such as a virus, a predator such as a bear, etc.) to honey bee colonies and then discuss the methods colonies use to defend against the threats. If possible, include at least one picture you have taken from Feb. 2020-Feb. 2021 that illustrates how colonies manage to stay healthy against a variety of threats.

Eligibility:

The 2021 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition is open to active 4-H Club members only.

Any 4-H Club member who placed first, second or third in previous years of the national competition is NOT eligible to win in 2021, however, state competition winners remain eligible to enter the national competition. Entered essays must encompass the designated topic only. There will be no exceptions.

Competition Rules & Essay Requirements:

Any 4-H Club member interested in writing an essay should submit them via email to de4h@udel.edu by Monday, March 15, 2021. Each state may submit one entry to the National competition.  National winners will be announced June 15, 2021.

  • Essay requirements for national judging:
    • Essay must be typewritten or computer-generated on single-sided pages and formatted following standard manuscript format using double-spaced type and 12pt font in legible font face.
    • Essay must encompass the designated topic in 750 to 1,000 words. Word count does not include sources, works cited or the writer’s biographical statement.
    • All factual statements and interview references must be cited in a “sources” or “bibliography” list.
    • Essays will be judged on (a) scope of research, 40%; (b) accuracy, 30%; (c) creativity, 10%;
      (d) conciseness, 10%; and (e) logical development of the topic, 10%.
    • On a separate page, please include a brief biographical statement of the writer including mailing address, email address and phone number.

Awards:

Three cash prizes will be awarded in the 2021 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition. The author of the highest scoring essay will win first prize. The author of the second-highest scoring essay will win second prize. The author of the third-highest scoring essay will win third prize.

  • First Prize:      $750
  • Second Prize: $500
  • Third Prize:     $250

The three prize-winning essays will be published in ABF Quarterly, the magazine of the American Beekeeping Federation. All authors of essays submitted to the national competition will receive a relevant book on honey bees, beekeeping or honey.