Central Area Council continues to form.

Youth 9th – 12th grades can be part of the effort in forming a Central Area 4-H Council. An area council is like a county council but it is made up of 4-H youth from an area of seventeen central area counties.

To keep the momentum in forming an area council a fall retreat is planned at the State 4-H Camp near Madrid, November 8th – 9th , 1:00 p.m. – 11:00 a.m.. Since the area council is just getting organized you do not need to apply. However, if you are interested in being a part of an area council contact the Extension Office at 515-957-5771 for registration information.

Registration deadline is October 24th and cost $10. The registration fee covers lodging and meal. Once you are signed up a confirmation letter will be sent.

If you have questions feel free to contact Jeff Macomber, 4-H Youth Field Specialist, at 515/993-4281 or jmacombe@iastate.edu

An opportunity to have a Veterinary Student present to your 4-H club.

V-SMART, the Veterinary Student Mixed Animal Recruitment Team, is a student run organization started at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. V-SMART’s primary goal is to show students the opportunities available in veterinary medicine. V-SMART hopes to recruit, guide, and mentor students towards pursuing a career in veterinary medicine with and emphasis on agriculture and animal production, especially in Iowa.
V-SMART is looking for opportunities to present to students across the state. With our interactive presentation, our group outlines:
· Life as a mixed/food animal veterinarian
· The future outlook of the veterinary profession
· The education and prerequisites for applying to veterinary school
· The reasons why being a veterinarian is such a rewarding career
If you would be interested in having V-SMART give a presentation to your 4-H clubs, teen councils, animal science clubs, county fairs, or at any relevant event, please contact us at vsmart@iastate.edu or reply to this e-mail to schedule a presentation time. We are available to give presentations anywhere in the state and throughout the year; however, breaks in our semester, (such as early in the week of Thanksgiving, winter break, and spring break) are ideal times for our group to give presentations. V-SMART can also go to career fairs and other career-related activities your community may have.

Thank you,
Abbey Canon and Emily Meggers vsmart@iastate.edu

V-Smart Website: http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/vsmart/

4-H'er Wanted for part time Gardening Work

4-H'er in the SE Polk Area wanted for a few hours per week to do general gardening work. Interested parties should inquire with Monte Matthews at (515) 262-1481

***Polk County Extension does not make any guarantees or assumptions of responsibility for the vetting of help wanted adds. ***

New Polk County 4-H Cooking Project Club

Now recruiting for the Cookin' Clovers.

Club Leader, Kelle Sickerson, is looking for no more than a baker's dozen 4-H'ers who are interested in the Food & Nutrition project area for a monthly project meeting at the Polk County Extension Office in Altoona. Membership will be for limited to Juniors and Intermediates only. Meetings will be 3rd Tuesdays at 6:00 PM with possible field trips besides. The first meeting will be October 21st and will be an informational meeting with a small project, and the next meeting will see the election of officers and will begin a routine.

If you are interested please contact Kelle Sickerson at CookinClovers@gmail.com .

Horse Training Clinic to be Held in Adel

Horse Training Clinic
By Jim Orman
Saturday, October 11, 10am
Held at Two Notches Ranch 2579 330 St. Adel, Iowa

Indoor Facilities are Available; Event Will Be Held Rain or Shine

All proceeds will go to support the 2009 Dallas County 4-H Horse Project

Jim has over 15 years of experience recently been named the
2008 River Valley Lodge/SK Quarter Horses Colt Starting Challenge Champion
He will also be giving a colt starting demonstration during the clinic

Four horses will be accepted for this 6 hour hands on clinic

Registration Fee: $75 for horse and rider ($35 if a Dallas County 4-H’er)
A $25 deposit is required to hold registration slot. Registration is on a first come first serve basis.
Spectator Fee: $7 per adult; $3 9-18 years of age; Dallas County 4-H’ers are free
Lunch will be available for purchase

For Registration or Questions Please Contact Laura Rowe at LauraRowe_165@hotmail.com or call 515-249-1943

Thank You to Jim for donating his time and skills and to Two Notch Ranch for donating
their facilities. Without their support this event would not have been possible.

Boone County Cattle Selection to be held in Dallas County

Folks, Our 4-H beef committee has assembled a 4-H beef project selection clinic scheduled for very soon--- Sept 27. We are hoping to get a flyer to you via email this afternoon and ask that you share it as you see fit with your beef exhibitors and committee. This is a heads-up message- if you want to get prepared to get something in the mail asap. The clinic will actually be in Dallas County- just west of Perry.

I do realize the timeline is very tight- our committee completed the organizing late last night and this morning.

More to come later- I hope!

Thanks,

Rich Wrage
Boone County ISU Extension Education Director
603 Story Street
Boone, IA 50036
515-432-3882 ph 515-432-3883 fax
www.extension.iastate.edu/boone
rwrage@iastate.edu

National 4-H youth Science Day

On October 8, 2008 the 4-H Youth Development Program is launching the first annual 4-H National Youth Science Day to help build America's future science, engineering, and technology workforce. The National Science Experiment, the designated science activity of 4-H National Youth Science Day, will focus on the environment and will use science principles to teach youth across the country about the importance of water conservation. Click here to learn more about4-H National Youth Science Day and the National Science Experiment.

Bingo Caller Needed

Courtyard Estates, an assisted living community in Bondurant, is looking for a volunteer to serve as their Friday night Bingo Caller. They are looking for young energetic people who could help for one hour a week from 6-7 PM. Interested 4-H'ers can contact Maria Saycocie at 957-8399

Citizenship Washington Focus Trip

Citizenship Washington Focus Trip for 2009!
Dates have been secured for June 6-13th
CWF delegates will learn about the democratic process and their role as citizens while they experience our nation's capital.
Get the inside scoop about how government really works from prominent guest speakers.
Attend bill writing workshops, a national issues forum, mock elections and congressional sessions that prepare you for leadership now and in the future!
Did we forget to mention that you will have LOADS of fun and make new friends from all over the country?

To get the best possible priced tour for our 4-H youth, 4-H members will need to register and make their first payment by November 17th, 2008. Further discounts will be available for those who pay their registration fee early.

Cost: $1,327.50 by November 17th, 2008; $1,427.50 after November 17th

A full brochure will be out soon for promotional purposes. The registration form, a news release and payment options summary are attached.

Don’t let your 4-H families miss out on this great opportunity!

Marc Peterson
Youth Field Specialist, 4-H Youth Development
Iowa State University Extension, Polk County
1625 Adventureland Drive, Suite A
Altoona, IA 50009
Phone (515) 957-5780
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/polk/kidsteens.htm

4-H Discount Tickets

4-H Discount events
Don’t forget to check the Iowa 4-H Foundation website (www.iowa4hfoundation.org) to find 4-H discounts to events around the state. If your club is interested in attending events at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines or the Iowa State Center in Ames, look on the website for event dates and prices. The event schedule for the fall includes the 2008 World Gymnastics Tour, Walking With Dinosaurs and Celtic Thunder among many others.

State 4-H Horse Judging Contest

The State 4-H Horse Judging Contest that was originally scheduled in June, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1st at Jester Park in Granger.

For counties who registered teams back in June: Email me if you still are planning to attend, if the participants are still the same, and you can just re-submit your entry fee.

For other new counties wanting to enter a team, information, rules, and entry forms can be found in the Livestock Handbook, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4H/Agriculture/livestockhandbookhorse.htm

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Mike
Mike AndersonState 4-H Ag Program CoordinatorIowa 4-H Youth DevelopmentExtension 4-H Youth Building, ISUAmes, IA 50011-3630ph: (515) 294-8617fax: (515) 294-1047mikeande@iastate.eduwww.extension.iastate.edu/4H

Ukrainian 4-H Pen Pals?

From: Deborah Lake
International Programs Manager
Iowa Council for International Understanding

I enjoyed the Polk County Fair this year. I had a group here from Ukraine and we visited. I had someone who is in charge of her regions 4-H in Ukraine. They are interested in finding pen-pals with 4-H groups here in the US. If you know of anyone who may be interested in this type of project, please let me know and I’ll get you Anja’s contact information.
Thanks,

Deborah Lake

She has since sent the contact information for anyone interested in pursuing this opportunity. It is posted below.


Ganna Dmytrenko
President, Kherson regional “4H movement in Ukraine”
52, Rabochaya str., Kherson, Ukraine, 73001
Tel: 8 (0552) 49-40-48
e-mail: aniadmitrenko@rembler.ru
www.gromada.ks.ua

Suburban Spirits 4-H Club Open House

Suburban Spirits 4-H Club and Clover Kids Open House

Sunday, September 14th
4:30 p.m.
St. Augustine’s Parish Hall Basement
4200 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA

Park on the east side of the church (42 and Grand). Next to the parking lot is a garage which has steps to a basement. Take those steps to the basement of the parish hall. If you have trouble finding us, call my cell at 422-0449.

Horse Judging Contest

Host: John Finarty Quarter Horses
Date: Saturday, September 13
Sign up: 8:30-9:15 a.m.
Place: Clark County Fairgrounds, Osceola, Iowa
*Contest begins at 9:30 a.m.
4 classes of Quarter Horses
*Junior Division-up to 8th grade
1 set of questions will be asked
*Senior Division-9-12 grades
1 set of reasons to be given
This event will be held in conjunction with his production sale. The sale will start at 1:00.

Contact Allison Angle at:
Twin Cedars School-(641)-944-5243
Or
(641)-938-2111
aangle@twincedars.k12.ia.us
Please register to Mrs. Angle by Friday September 5th
Please bring your family and stay for the sale

Community Service Opportunity

FESTIVAL OF TREES AND LIGHTS
BOOK TREE
Thank you for helping us put books in the hands of every patient at Blank Children’s
Hospital!
¨ We accept donations of NEW, developmentally and culturally appropriate books.
¨ The primary need is for books for children from toddlers to middle school, although
books for older children are also needed.
¨ Please, no books about sensitive issues like divorce, abuse or death.
¨ Deliver the books to the dock at Capital Square on 5th Street between Walnut and
Locust Street in downtown Des Moines during business hours October 1-24.
Books must be received by October 24st to receive recognition during Festival and be
included in the Book Tree.

If you have questions, please call the Festival Office at 241-6494.
One book
can become a part of
One miracle
that can happen to
One child
of the more than 10,000 children
Blank Children’s Hospital serves every year!
The Festival of Trees and Lights is seeking
books for children who are patients at
Blank Children’s Hospital. Child Life
Specialists help young patients pass the
time by reading to them. In addition each
child chooses a book to take home and
enjoy!
Groups who donate at the 100 or more books will receive special recognition on
signage next to the Book Tree at the event.
Plan to attend the Festival of Trees and Lights, November 26-30, 2008, at the Polk
County Complex on 5th & Grand in Des Moines to see the 18 foot Book Tree!

Warren County Open Dog Agility Show

September 27, 2008
Warren County Fairgrounds

This fun-filled day will begin with two agility workshops for those who have never done agility before. There will also be a FUN agility show after the workshops. The schedule for the day is below:

8am Sign-up for the workshops
9-10am Agility workshop for 4-12 graders
10-11am Agility workshop for 18yrs. and older
10:30am Sign up for the agility show
11:30am Agility show begins

The fee is $15 for the day per dog and handler. Each additional dog is $2.
Please, no puppies under 6mo. old or dogs in heat. For questions please contact Cindy Gillenwater at 961-0162