- Author: Olivia, Green Valley 4-H Reporter
Every year the Green Valley 4-H Club does several community service projects. During the holiday months, community service projects involve bell ringing for the Salvation Army, Giving Tree Gift Giving and providing food to a needy family.
At their November meeting, all members brought canned and dried goods to put together a giant food basket for a needy family in Sonoma County. The week of Thanksgiving they went on shopping trip to buy fresh items to include; such as a turkey, milk, butter and bread. Then they delivered all of the items to the family.
Club members also received Giving Tree hearts at the meeting. The Sonoma County Community Foundation organizes this activity and every year club members each take a heart to fulfill the wishes on the heart. Each heart represents a person and it lists their age and their wishes. Wrapped gifts are brought to the December meeting so that they can be distributed before Christmas.
The Green Valley 4-H will also be bell ringing at the Wal-Mart in Windsor on the weekends throughout the holiday season. Stop by and say hello.
- Author: Karen Giovannini
Did you know that in Sonoma County, more than 1,100 youth, ages 5-19, and 400 volunteers from the community are involved in 4‑H and over 6 million young people participate nationwide?!
National 4-H Week will be locally celebrated as a way to showcase the great things that 4-H offers young people and highlight the incredible 4-H youth in the community who take pride in making the community better. Look for Window Displays throughout the county. Our theme this year is “4-H, Join the Ride.”
4-H CLUB NAME |
BUSINESS NAME |
BUSINESS LOCATION |
ALEXANDER VALLEY |
HAUTHE'S FAMILY TAEKWONDO |
8465 OLD REDWOOD HWY #230, WINDSOR |
CANFIELD |
TOMBE REALTY |
127 N MAIN ST, SEBASTOPOL |
GOLD RIDGE |
BANK OF THE WEST |
100 S. MAIN STREET, SEBASTOPOL |
GOLDEN HILLS |
SOLE DESIRE STORE |
151 PETALUMA BLVD, SUITE 141, PETALUMA |
LIBERTY |
REX ACE HARDWARE |
313 B STREET, PETALUMA |
LYTTON SPRINGS |
BEAR REPUBLIC |
345 HEALDSBURG AVE, HEALDSBURG |
PENNGROVE |
PENNGORVE MARKET |
230 MAIN STREET, PENNGROVE |
SONOMA VALLEY |
THE TOY SHOP |
201 WEST NAPA STREET, SONOMA |
STEUBEN |
RABOBANK |
201 3RD STREET, SANTA ROSA |
TWO ROCK |
CHINATOWN RESTAURANT |
157 KENTUCKY STREET, PETALUMA |
WILD OAK |
IMWALLE GARDENS |
685 W 3RD STREET, SANTA ROSA |
Research has proven that participation in 4-H clubs and projects has a significant positive impact on young people. Recent findings from the Tufts University 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that, when compared to their non 4-H peers, young people in 4-H are:
- 4x's more likely to contribute to their communities,
- 2x's more likely to pursue healthy behaviors like, and
- 2x's more likely to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs in the out-of-school time.
Learn more about Sonoma County 4-H program.
- Author: Karen Giovannini
Fair time is also a great time to see 4-Hers in action! Visit the Livestock area and watch the kids show chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, swine, dairy and beef cattle. Showing livestock at the fair requires months of preparation for the market animals (sold at the auction) and years of work for the breeding projects (ongoing dairy and livestock projects).
Check the Livestock schedule and stop by to see the kids show while you are at the fair (look for Junior, Jr or Market on the schedule). The Large Animal Round Robin class on Sunday, August 3 starting at 1pm is where you can see the best showmen/women take their turn at showing all of the different large species: goats, sheep, swine, beef cattle, dairy cattle and horses. The winner is crowned top showman/woman of the fair.
The Junior Livestock Auctions:
- Lambs – 7/26, 9am
- Goats – 7/26, 1pm
- Rabbits – 7/26, 1:30pm
- Hogs – 8/1, 9am
- Poultry – 8/1, 1pm
- Beef – 8/2, 6pm
- Author: Chenoa and Denise Van Gerpen
“Fashion Fiesta” was this year's theme for the Sonoma County 4-H Fashion Revue. The event was held on April 19th, 2014 and was well attended. This year we had 9 different categories for the 4-H members to choose from, they were: Traditional, Upcycled, Wearable Arts (Embellished), Needle Arts, $40.00 Purchased, Textile (Quilted, Woven or Felted), 2 State Fashion Revue Challenges, Denim and Apron, and the most popular County Challenge.
Each member who participated at the event wore an outfit that they either sewed, purchased or created with knitting, crocheting or embellishments.
Modeling before the judges was first on the agenda, where each member would explain how they created their outfit. If they entered the Purchased category they needed to explain how much money they spent for the entire outfit including accessories, which had to be no more than $40.00, what the amount of money saved was and how versatile the outfit would be with the rest of their wardrobe. The Aprons that were sewed for Apron category, could only be made using either the McCalls patterns 6132 or 6476.
For this year's County Challenge category each member took home a pre-cut piece of dye-ready quilted fabric (that was generously donated to the event by Bella Notte Linens) in the shape of a Serape. They were then encouraged to make it uniquely their own, by dyeing the fabric, adding applique, or with other means of embellishment.
After a short break for lunch, family and friends were treated to a Fashion Show by the participants, which was then followed with Awards. 2014 Fashion Revue Results
This was a great day of clothing & fashion for everyone who attended.
- Author: Karen Giovannini
Hi! My name is Emily Eakins, I am a member of the Forestville 4-H club and Sonoma County's 2014-2015 All-Star. This year as the Sonoma County All-Star, I am looking forward to cultivating the All-Star program as well as building relationships and working together with the community.
Being the only All-Star I am looking forward to the challenges in the year ahead. My team and I, made up of the CCC and 4-H Office staff and 4-H Foundation members, are focusing on leadership, record books, and community relations.
My advisers and I have come up with a new position in our county, the Junior Ambassador, to assist the acting All-Star and learn about becoming an All-Star themselves. In the Jr. All-Star Ambassador program, youth will be able to get a glimpse of what it is like to be an All-Star. They will take on tasks that will be great learning experiences for their roles as leaders in their 4-H clubs and in our community.
Questions about the All-Star program, contact: Judy Ludovise Judy.Ludovise@sonoma-county.org