We are so excited about our new website! A few features we would like to point out to you:

Maps:

There are two maps, showing where our local 4-H clubs and 4-H farms are located. On the club map, each pin shows the location and time that the local club meets, along with the club contact information. Visit the Club Page and the Farm Page to check them out.

Enrollment Help:

New to 4-H? Having trouble with enrollment? Let us know by filling out the Enrollment Help Ticket. Someone will get back to you in 24 hours. Also, you can access this from the website by going to the "Join Tab" and selecting "Enrollment Help."

Forms Page:

This is where you will find all the forms you need in 4-H, all on one handy page. Many of the links will take you to the California State 4-H page. This is because the State is often updating forms for things such as Record Book and many of the leadership conferences.

If something is missing, please email jguild@ucanr.edu.

Calendar Page:

This shows all the upcoming events for our county and state 4-H program. For information on County Events, such as Presentation Day or Fashion Revue, click the County Events tab under the Calendar page. Check with your local club to find out dates for project meetings.

Volunteer Interest Form:

What do you like to do? How much time can you give? Let us know and we will find a great volunteer opportunity for you with 4-H. You can find this under the "Volunteer," select "How to Volunteer" the look under "Volunteer Enrollment Steps". This interest survey is a great way to find out more about our current and potential volunteers. 

Volunteer Positions Page:

We want to help you learn more about our 4-H Volunteer Opportunites. Check out all our current needs here, in one handy place. Sometimes, local clubs will have variations on these roles, but this helps you get a sense of what we are all about. You can also fill out the Volunteer Interest Survey here.

Donate Page:

Running a successful youth program takes a great amount of time, energy, and resources. Please considering donating, it's fast and easy with our online donation system.

Enjoy!

Those are some of the new features! Let us know if you have a comment or suggestion by emailing jguild@ucanr.edu

At the beginning of November, Belmont 4-H club held their youth created Krispy Kreme donut fundraiser! This exciting event was youth conceived and youth led, netting the Belmont club $1000 in one weekend of sales and donations. How did they do it?! Several economic factors were important in creating this successful fundraiser.

First, choose something your fellow 4-H members can get behind. Donuts, while not high in nutritional value, are a tasty treat! Also at this step it is important to consider cost. How much product will you need and how much money do you need to raise for this effort to make sense? Make sure you do your research and investigate all the possible options for this fundraiser. Does the organization give donations? Discounts? Do they support having their volunteers give time in their community? How can you harness what the company offers? Krispy Kreme offered several different options, one being for the club to pre-purchase a minimum of 25 dozen donuts at 50% off, or $4.50 per dozen. The club then sold the donuts at $10-12 a dozen. If the club bought 25 dozen donuts, it would cost them $112.50. Selling all 25 dozen for $10 a dozen nets the club $137.50! Here is a breakdown of the pricing structure:

• 1-2 donuts at $1.50 each (=$14/dozen) = 70% profit
• 3 donuts for $4.00 (=$12/dozen) = 60% profit
• 6 donuts for $7.00 (=$14/dozen) = 70% profit
• 12 donuts for $10.00 = 55% profit

So, you can see that doing a little math can help you figure out the best use of your resources. Also, it’s a good idea to keep expenses to 1/3 of costs so as to ensure that you are getting the most out of your fundraising efforts.

Once you decide on your fundraiser, set a goal. Belmont club decided to set a net profit goal 60% or better. They knew that they could sell 1-2 donuts at 70% profit, so they pushed these individual sales, while also capitalizing on soccer moms buying donuts for the teams playing across the street. Their choice of selling outside of a Starbucks across from a park where they were holding a soccer tournament ensured that the club’s fundraiser would get maximum exposure with little effort. If you do choose to sell outside of a store or business, make sure you get pre-approval with the store’s general manager first.

Also, timing is important. Belmont 4-Hers knew that the Girl Scouts would be selling cookies from February-March, capitalizing on the fundraising market. They also thought late November and December were too close to the holidays, and January would be a slow month (with everyone having spent their money in December). So they decided to do an early November fundraiser.

Once you’ve decided to do a fundraiser, don’t forget to promote your event. Make flyers to put up in the grocery store and post on social media and online community news sites such as Patch.

On the day of your fundraiser, get started early (Belmont club set up their fundraiser at 6:45am) and bring your ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM! Harness youth member excitement. At the Belmont fundraiser, youth members were dancing around with 4-H signs point to the donuts table, others took donuts across the street to sell at the park, while others were on hand to talk about 4-H. Don’t forget, fundraising is also a PR opportunity. Belmont club had a donation jar and a 4-H story board, all the while pushing the benefits and learning opportunities available through the 4-H club. Lastly, if you get a donation, be sure to take down the donors name and address so you can send a thank you card.

Hopefully this report has given you some ideas for your own 4-H fundraiser! Be sure to ask your Belmont 4-H friends about their fundraiser if you have questions!

Scholarships and Awards

• 2014 4-H Honey Bee Essay Contest
  Deadline: February 15
  Each year the Foundation sponsors an essay writing contest for active (fees paid) members of 4-H clubs across the country. There are cash prizes for the national winners: 1st Place - $750.00; 2nd Place - $500.00; 3rd Place - $250.00. National and state winners receive a book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey.All essays must be submitted electronically to Eric Mussen, ecmussen@ucdavis.edu, and are due on or before February 15, 2014. More info and rules: http://4h.ucanr.edu/files/176473.pdf
  
  
• Daisy/4-H Shooting Sports Scholarship
  Deadline: April 1
  Daisy Air Guns is offering two $500 scholarships for graduating seniors who meet the academic criteria and who have been active in 4-H Shooting Sports. Applications must be received by the State 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator by April 1, 2014. Apply here.
• 2014 Milano Scholarship
  Deadline: April 11
  This scholarship is intended for 4-H Members who are well-rounded and are implementing the life skills they have learned throughout their daily lives. Up to five $5,000 scholarships will be offered in 2014. Priority consideration will be given to youth enrolled in the Modoc County 4-H Program. However, youth enrolled in the Lassen or Siskiyou County 4-H Programs are encouraged to apply.

Dates and Deadlines

• Online Record Book Survey Awards – Due January 31^st

• 2014 California Camping Conference - March 21 – 23, 2014 – Early Registration Due February 1^st

• World Ag Expo - Feb 12, 2014

• Save the Date:  37^th Annual Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Field Day - March 7^th and 8^th 

• 30^th Annual California State 4-H Shooting Match - Entries must be postmarked by March 10, 2014

• 4-H Shooting Sports Workshop – Rifle Discipline - Saturday, March 15, 2014 – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. AND Sunday, March 16, 2014 – 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. - Auburn, CA - Registration is due Friday, February 22nd and space is limited.

• Save the Date: 2014 Ag Day: Contact spwatkins@ucanr.edu for information on participating. 
  

• Western Region Leaders’ Forum - March 27-30, Billings, MT.

• American Youth Leadership Program for the Western Region: Applications are due April 1^st. 

• California 4-H Uniform Contest - Proposals due April 18, 2014, 9pm - contact Jessica (jguild@ucanr.edu) for details on submitting a proposal. 

• Hosting a Qualifying show? Register your show here: http://ucanr.edu/qualifying-shows for it to be considered a qualifying show for the 2014 California Horse Classic. 

• Looking for a Qualifying Horse show for the 2014 California 4-H Horse Classic? Visit http://4h.ucanr.edu/Programs/Events/Horse_Classic/Equine_Qualifier_Events/ to find a Horse Show near you!

• Save the Date - State Field Day
  May 31, 2014
  8:00am-6:00pm
  UC Davis Campus-Wellman Hall 

• 2014 State Fashion Revue
  May 31, 2014

• Save the Date: 2014 State Fair 4-H Throwdown: July 22^nd and 24^th, three teams compete each round with a secret ingredient in each round! A panel of judges, yet to be named, will judge the 3 course creations! 

• State 4-H Leaders Forum 2014 - Nov. 7 - 9, 2014 in Sacramento, CA. 

Scholarships and Awards

• Disney Friends for Change Grant - Due February 18 - info here
• 2015 Clean Tech Competition - Entry Deadline: February 20 - Paper Submission Deadline: March 6 - More info here
• FAFSA Completion Commencement Video Challenge - Entry Deadline:  March 16, 2015 - more info here
• The Great American NO BULL Challenge - Deadline Extended: April 19 - info here
• Carton 2 Garden Contest - Entry Deadline:  April 22 - info here
• Sport-For-All Clinic Grants - Deadline rolling - more info here
• VolunTEEN Nation International Service Project Grants - Deadline rolling - more info here
• The Paradigm Challenge - Entry Deadline:  May 1 - more info here
• The Great American NO BULL Challenge - Deadline Extended: April 19 - info here

Dates and Deadlines 

• February 16, 2015 - State Ambassador Applications Due
• February 28, 2015 - 4-H Equine Field Day
• March 6-7, 2015 - 30th Annual Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Field Day
• March 9, 2015 - 31st Annual 4-H Shooting Match - Entries Due
• March 16, 2015 - 3rd Annual State Archery Match - Applications Due
• March 20, 2015 - 4-H Night at the Sacramento Kings
• April 11-18, 2015 - National 4-H Conference
• April 30, 2015 - State Leadership Conference - Registration Deadline
• May 27-19, 2015 - 4-H Animal Science Symposium 
• May 30, 2015 - State Field Day
• May 30, 2015 - State 4-H Fashion Revue
• June 19-23, 2015 - California Focus
• June 24-28, 2015 - 2015 Horse Classic
• June 28-July 7, 2015 - Citizenship Washington Focus
• July 14-18, 2015 - Leadership Washington Focus 
• July 23-26, 2015 - State Leadership Conference

View full State Office newsletter here