Fresh off the 4-H Press!Community Service Makes 4-H GreatBy Roxie Leischer, Rangely 4-H Coordinator

One of the greatest parts of being a 4-H member is the community service in which 4-H’ers become involved. In a recent study, 64.3% of Colorado 4-H members were involved in a project to help others as compared to 47% of non-4-H youth. These projects help 4-H’ers to feel more connected to their communities.  You feel better about yourself while you make a difference to others. As an extra incentive, these community service activities that you do throughout your 4-H career can be included on your college and scholarship applications, making you a more desirable candidate.

In Rangely, you can help your community by attending monthly 4-H Community Council Eagle Crest Visits at the Eagle Crest Assisted Living Facility.  These visits often include doing seasonal crafts with the residents and other 4-H members, playing bingo, and just visiting.  Recently at the 1st Annual Rangely 4-H Community Council Officer Retreat, the council officers decided to hold a drive to collect needed items for The Children's Hospital of Denver.  They also decided to plant flowers in various locations around Rangely and spend some Fridays going to lunch at the Radino Center to get to know some of the long time Rangely residents who eat there. 

In Meeker, at the next Council meeting, we will be compiling a list of possible community service projects for the Council. We will also distribute this list to club leaders as a tool for their Community Pride Project.

Look for 4-H community service events that will be coming up in the newsletters, get involved, and help make a difference in our community!

Enrollment Deadline is Approaching!The enrollment deadline is coming up soon, MARCH 31ST! You will still be able to enroll after March 31st, but you will be assessed a $5 late fee. Hurry in to sign up for the 2011 4-H year if you haven’t already! Enrollment fees are $30 for 4-H members and $15 for Cloverbuds. Don’t forget, as of April 1st, it will be $5 more!

Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rio Blanco County cooperating.Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.

Water Rockets, Straw Rockets, and Bicycles – STEM and State FairYou may have noticed we have a few new entries at the State Fair this year.  Here are just a few tips to get you ready.

First, there are many ways to launch bottle rockets.  Some rocket launchers can cost almost $100 and some you can build at home.  The most cost effective and easiest I have used, that require no anchors, are the Aquapods.  http://www.theaquapod.com/ These are the launchers I will use at the State Fair.

For straw rockets, Pitsco(LEGO) has cornered the market with their $169 straw rocket launchers http://www.legoeducation.us/store/detail.aspx?ID=786&bhcp=1.  However, you can build your own launcher for about $10.  One person was kind enough to post a great guide online.  I have attached the PDF to this e-mail.  All of the items can be purchased a hardware store (Home Depot, Lowes) except for the brass tubing.  You can find this at a hobby store (Hobbytown USA).

Finally, the bicycle contest.  When you look at the skills riding course, don’t use cones!  I prefer to use old tennis balls cut in half; these can be donated by your local tennis club.  A great source of information is the League of American Bicyclists at www.bikeleague.org

These three events and nine other 4-H programs will be highlighted through skill-a-thon stations and STEM kits at a training on the Sunday morning of Leadership Development Conference. – Willa L. Williams

2011 YHEC and 4-H Shooting Sports Hunting/Outdoor Skills Challenge Contest The event will be held on May 7 – 8, 2011 at the Flagler Lake Wildlife Area at Flagler, Colorado. The YHEC portion of the challenge event will be the Colorado state qualifier for the National YHEC Challenge to be held in the summer. New this year is the addition of the 4-H Shooting Sports Hunting/Outdoor Skills contest. This contest will be the qualifying event for participating senior 4-H contestants for the 4-H National Invitational Shoot to be held this summer in Texas.

Use the link below to access the detailed contest information and registration materials.http://www.co4hshooting.org/shooting_opportunities.html - Perry Brewer

Rio Blanco County Butter Braid FundraiserButter Braids are back! Want to earn Council Credit dollars that can be used for fun and exciting trips while supporting your 4-H Council? Earn them by selling Butter Braids! Contact the Extension Office to get an order form and more information.

Don’t forget: when selling your Butter Braids, SMILE! A happy salesperson has better sales! Be sure to say THANK YOU to all of your buyers. Not only are they getting a delicious treat, but they are supporting Rio Blanco County 4-H Youth, too!

Butter Braids will be ready for pick up Wednesday, April 6th

Meeker Grandparent’s DinnerThank you to all the wonderful 4-H’ers who participated by helping cook, decorate, serve, and clean!

Thank you…Logan, Sydney, and Lathrop Hughes, Emily Eliasen, Amber

Holding, Anna Walsh, Bradi Bland, Jake Smith, Faith, Sarina, and Kylloe Goedert, Macy Collins, and Kolbi “Cheese” Franklin.

And a special thank you to Rhonda Hilkey and Renae Neilson for everything they do!

Rangely Eagle CrestBe sure to join the next visit to Eagle Crest, March 7th at 3:55. Call Roxie for more details!

Rangely 4-H Council Officer Retreat!Saturday, February 19th the Rangely 4-H Council Officers headed over to big, beautiful Vernal, Utah for their Officer Retreat.

Rangely Council Officer SpotlightHi my name is Samantha Jo Lapp.  I was born in Grand Junction, Colorado on August 16, 2000.  I am in the 4th grade.  Besides 4-H, I enjoy barrel racing and livestock judging.

My favorite pet is Gizmo my Maine Anjou steer.  I am in the market steer project this year.  Raising 4-H animals is my favorite part of 4-H and this year my goal is to raise a quality market animal.  I am the 2011 Rangely 4-H Community Council Secretary and the next Council

meeting is March 7th at 6:30pm at the Western Annex Building.  Hope to meet you there!

WMQA in Moffat County- it’s really fun, I promise!If you missed the first training, orrrr you would just really like to hop on the snowball for a trip to Craig- mark Thursday, April 21st on your calendar. We will head up there afterschool, check out the WMQA program, and grab some dinner! Even if you already have had WMQA training, this training will be something you will not want to miss! There are so many cool things in this trailer from mini-farm scenes to life size calves you practice giving shots to, this is definitely a hands on training you will not want to miss!!

Feeder Show Dates for 2011 Rangely Swine/Sheep/Goat Weigh-In

1. Saturday, April 30th, time to be determined Meeker Swine Weigh-In

1. Tuesday, May 3rd at 4:00 PM Meeker Sheep/Goat Weigh-In

1. Wednesday, May 4th at 4:00 PM

Livestock Field Days We welcome any and all counties who would like to participate in this event being hosted in Larimer County.  Pre-registration is required for this event and all information, including online registration, can be found at www.larimer.org/ext. Click on “4-H/Youth” and scroll down to find links for “Livestock Field Day” or click on http://www.colorado4h.org/Blog/docs/2010/YouthLvstkFieldDay.pdf or you may also call the Larimer County Extension Office at 970-498-6000.

Livestock Field Day will be held Saturday, March 6. Field Day has a $10 registration fee and will be held at the Embassy Suites (morning sessions) and The Ranch – Livestock Pavilion (afternoon live-animal demonstrations). Field Day is for 4-H youth only.

Community Pens Open in AprilThe Rangely Community Pens will be opened on April 1st for market goat, sheep and swine. Before you will be allowed to check into a pen, you are required to sign a contract at the Extension Office.

The cost for the use of a pen is $30.00 for sheep or goat, $35.00 for swine, and an additional $15.00 refundable deposit if your pen is cleaned and in good condition at the end of the year. It is $10.00/month if you want to use a heat lamp.

Call Roxie at 878-9495 for pen rules and to reserve your pen starting March 1st. Youth that had community pens in 2010 will have first choice on their pen from last year, but must still submit their contract and fee. If you want to change your space then you must wait until March 1st to make that request. Sign up for pens is a first come, first pick basis, starting March 1st. The space at the community pens is limited, therefore each 4-H youth will only be allowed to initially reserve space for one animal at the

pens. After April 15th, if space is available, youth may bring in a 2nd animal of the same or different species for an additional $20.00.

o Meeker Council Meetings-

Tuesday, March 1st @ 6:00pm Tuesday, April 5th @ 6:00pm

o 4-H Foundation Meeting Wednesday, March 9th @ 5:30: 1st Nat’l in Meeker & Ext.

Office in Rangelyo Rangely Council Meetings-

Monday, March 7th @ 6:30pm Monday, April 11th @ 6:30pm

o Eagle Crest Visits March 7th @ 3:55

o RBC Fair Board Meeting Thursday, March 24th 6:00pm

o District Retreat “4-H Got Game!” – March 18-20 in Glenwood Springs

o Butter Braids - Order forms available now! Order forms due back to the office by March 29th

Butter Braids ready for pick-up April 6th

Call us anytime! In Meeker at 878-9490 or In Rangely at 878-9495Stop by 779 Sulphur Creek Rd in Meeker or the Western Annex Building in

Rangely

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