Help local 4-H celebrate centennial event March 21

Last week the information on the State 4-H Centennial Kickoff Bash was announced in the 4-H news for being February 21 at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington.  This week, I would like to announce the Washington County 4-H Centennial event will take place on Saturday, March 21 at the River of Life Church in Springfield.  The theme for the day will be “Come Home to Celebrate 100 years of 4-H at the County Fair.”  The celebration will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will feature both outdoor and indoor events similar to those you would find at county fairs.  

Washington County 4-H would like to invite both current and former 4-H members, volunteers and entire families to come and make this a special day to recognize what 4-H has meant to them and to the community.  Two events of the day that will place emphasis on the past or the family will be the 4-H Family History Contest and Display and the 4-H Project Contest and Display.  For both of these events, we are asking for pre-registration and then for the displays to be brought to the River of Life the morning of March 21.

The 4-H Family History Contest and Display will include the family writing a brief history of those family members that participated in 4-H, what projects they completed, awards won and perhaps how many generations were 4-H members. The family should take the history and any photos they have and paste them on a regular size poster board. Posters will be due the morning of March 21s, will receive a Washington County 4-H Centennial ribbon and be on display during the March 21 Centennial Celebration. Washington County 4-H is asking for each family to make an additional copy of their family history that can be included in the Washington County Centennial archives.

For the 4-H Project Contest and Display, former 4-Her’s can “dig” out of their attics, basements, drawers, etc. any 4-H projects they completed that are 10 years or more in age. There will be ribbons for all and special awards for the oldest, most unusual, the best preserved, the most outstanding and perhaps a few other categories.

Last week, I asked for past 4-H members and volunteers to bring in old photos for us to scan.  Photos are already coming in and many will be featured each week in The Springfield Sun.  Old photos will also run through PowerPoint during the March 21 celebration.  Please bring any 4-H photos you wish to share to the extension office as soon as possible.

The 4-H Variety Show has been a Washington County favorite for a large part of 4-H’s 100 years.  On March 21, current and past 4-H members will perform for those attending.  There will be indoor and outdoor games with prizes just like at a County Fair and all games and food items will be 25 cents.  The 50-year-old or more prices will certainly make the day affordable for the entire family!  Food items will include hot dogs, chips, popcorn and cotton candy.  

Current and past 4-H clubs will have special activities and exhibits and many of these will be announced in the coming weeks.  The day will culminate with a cake cutting and recognition of many of Washington County 4-H’s “hall of famer’s.”.

LAST WEEK’S PHOTO

Our office received numerous phone calls with the names of those listed in last week’s centennial feature photo.  The photo included members of St. Rose’s 4-H club and pictured were Betty Smith, Donna Foster, Rhonda Edelen, Mickey Wheatley, Eddie Carrico, Susan Mattingly and Tina Smith and their leader was Elmerita Wheatley.  Mrs. Wheatley was first to call in and she came by the office and picked up her Washington Co. 4-H Centennial pen and pencil.

This week we have included two photos representing two different schools.  We hope to hear from community members as we did last week.

The interview with our State Hall of Fame recipient was delayed, so watch next week for that announcement along with more information on registration for the special centennial events scheduled for March 21.

UPCOMING CLUB MEETINGS

Any youth interested in showing livestock or participating in livestock judging this year will need to participate in the 4-H Hooves and Horns Club.  The club’s next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m. at the extension office.  Youth must receive six hours of instruction before participating in any 4-H livestock activities during the 2009 year.  Livestock that youth will learn about includes beef cattle, swine, sheep and goats.  For more information on the Washington County livestock program, call 336-7741.  Membership in the 4-H Hooves and Horns is still open to any youth in the county.

The 4-H Sharpshooters will meet on Monday, Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m. at the Washington County Extension Office.  New membership for the Washington County shooting sports program is closed until October of 2009.