- Author: Darlene McIntyre
Pre-Weighing of Market Beef
The Merced County fair will once again be pre-weighing market beef and pulling hair follicles for potential DNA testing as a condition of entry at this year’s Fair. All market beef entries must be brought to Turlock Livestock, 10430 North Lander Avenue, Turlock, on Thursday, February 16th, between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00 PM. While at the yard, we will take a certified scale weight, ear tag the animal and pull a hair sample to put on file.
INDEPENDENT MARKET BEEF EXHIBITORS MUST PROVIDE A PICTURE OF THEIR ANIMAL AND PROOF OF OWNERSHIP AT THE PRE-WEIGH ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH.
If you have any questions, please call the Fair Office at (209) 722-1507. We look forward to seeing you at the 2012 Merced County Fair.
Communications Day
Communications Day will be held March 17, 2012 here in Merced. We are still working on confirmation of a site. Registration will be open the first part of February.
Food Fashion and Fun Festival
The Food Fashion and Fun Festival will be held March 31. We are still working on confirming a site. Fashion revue is held during this event. There will be a $19.99 challenge category and a Bag Up Fashion Tote Bag challenge this year. This challenge uses Simplicity pattern #7161. More information will be available the first part of February.
COUNTYWIDE PROJECTS
Tech Xcite
If you are interested in Science, Technology and Engineering then check out Corey Bayer’s Tech Xcite project in Stevinson. It is open to all Merced County 4-H groups. For his first project members will be making wireless burglar alarms. The meetings will be held on the second Friday of every month from 6:30 to 8 at the Merquin School in Stevinson. The First Meeting is January 13th. Please come and join this fun project.
Pathway to Your Future
9th, 10th and 11th graders come join our new countywide project. “Pathways to your Future “ is a new project designed to help you succeed in the University system. We will be focusing on career choices, how to choose a college, how to apply, what you need to do to get accepted, financial aid and cost, what is the best path for you for your college career, what to expect when you get there. We will have guest panelist and college tours. I will be holding project meetings in Merced and Los Banos. The first meeting for Merced has been changed to January 26, from 6-9 in the classroom. The first meeting in Los Banos has been changed to January 25, from 6-9 at San Luis Delta Water Authority, 842 6th street. Dinner will be served at all of the meetings. You may also contact me at 385-7418.
Please click on the website below to register.
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=7762
WEB DESIGN PROJECT
Lander 4-H is offering a county wide web design project. Members will focus on individual projects while learning about real world applications in graphic and web design. The project will be scheduled for the 2nd Saturday of each month from 10-11:30 AM. The next meeting will be December 10, 2011 in the cafeteria at Merquin School in Stevinson. If you have any questions email Mike Magboo at mike.magboo@gmail.com.
GARDENING PROJECT
The next meeting for the countywide gardening project will be February 4 from 9:00-11:00. This meeting will be held at Migliazzo’s Dairy.
Emerald and All Star Projects
If any member is interested in doing an Emerald or All Star project please fill out an application and turn it into the 4-H office. The applications can be found on the Merced County 4-H website or picked up in our office. Ideas for All Star projects are planning a county event such as 4-H Expo, Mechanical Skills Day, Merced Focus. If you have other ideas for an All Star Project please let me know.
California 4-H Revolution of Responsibility $1,000 for 1,000 Service Learning Projects
Funding up to $1,000
Review date will be April 15, 2012.
In support of this community development work, the CA State 4-H Office will consolidate the Requests for Funding (RFP) for Service-Learning, Healthy Living, SET, and Legacy into one application. Chartered 4-H clubs/units can apply for funding up to $1,000 to support service-learning projects related to their club or project activities by submitting the proposal linked above.
you have questions please call me at 385-7418.
We would like every club to participate.
Los Banos May Day Spring Fair Barn Quilt Contest
The Los Banos May Day Spring Fair introduces a new completion this year. Barn Quilts is a rapidly growing grassroots public art movement throughout the farmlands of the United States. There are more than 3000 Barn Quilts spread across 29 states including California. A Barn Quilt is a 8X8’ or 4X4’ piece of plywood painted with a colorful quilt block pattern. It is then hung on a barn or out building. If you google barn quilt trail you can find examples of them and more information about them.
The Spring Fair is excited to introduce the Barn Quilt Contests at the fair this year.
We will have 4 Special Divisions in which to compete. Junior, Senior, FFA and 4H. There will be premium awards given to Jr and Sr Divisions. FFA and 4H clubs will be awarded both premiums and receive clean barn points. The fair will provide the 4X4 piece of plywood to the entrant and we will add the framing to it for support and hanging when it's turned in. There will be a limited # of boards/entries available, and will be on a first come first serve basis. Before you pick up your board you must do your online entry. FFA will enter under division 401/class 2. When you pick up your board we will also provide you with some instructions. We have a book of patterns which you can go thru and we will make copies for you. You are welcome to choose a pattern or design your own. These can be entered each for multiple groups within your FFA club, swine, sheep, dairy etc. There is only 1 entry per "group."
The completed Barn Quilts will become the property of the fairgrounds and used at their discretion.
There are be Barn Quilt samples available for viewing in the main office.
Eileen Vaughn
826-5166