Sussex County 4-H

2020 NJ State 4-H Animal Science Contest and Film Festival
2019-12-31 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Youth may work individually or as a team to create and enter educational videos about alpacas, cats, cattle (beef/dairy), dogs, goats, herpetology, horses, llamas, poultry, rabbits, sheep, small animals, or swine in the NJ 4‑H State Animal Science Video Contest. A selection of videos will be shared at the film festival during the final session of the Junior Breeder Livestock Symposium. The youth of the top three scoring videos will receive awards. Videos will be scored on educational value, creativity, clarity, pacing, and technical quality (sound, lighting, etc.). Youth are encouraged to have fun and be creative in designing their video entries! To enter your video in the contest, email Erika Kaufman, ekaufman@mercercounty.org, by March 2 for a link to use to upload your video, entry form, and media release form(s).
Entries must be uploaded by March 9, 2020.

More information and registration can be found at https://nj4h.rutgers.edu/animals/film-festival/

National 4-H Congress
2019-11-27 - 2019-12-01
National 4‑H Congress is a unique leadership opportunity for 4‑H members from all 50 states. The event focuses on leadership, youth empowerment, community service, career development, and cultural diversity. The event brings over 1000 4‑H members to Atlanta over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The planning committee takes advantage of Atlanta’s standing as an international city and exposes delegates to as many venues in the city as possible including the Centennial Olympic Park, the World of Coke-A-Cola, CNN Center, Carter Presidential Library and the Martin Luther King Center. There are many outstanding workshops along with keynote addresses that round out the experience. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for 4‑H members.
New Jersey sends approximately 20 4‑H members and two adult chaperones to the event each year. One to three delegates are nominated from each county and then final delegates are selected through a state interview process. The cost of the event is approximately $950-$1,000 and includes air transportation, registration, lodging, and most meals. All interested 4‑H members must be in the grades 10-12 at the time applications are due (April); complete an application and go through a county and state selection process. Participants can only attend this event one time during their 4‑H career.

Sussex 4-H Horse Knowledge Sessions
2019-11-26 18:30 - 20:30, 2019-11-19 18:30 - 20:30, 2019-11-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2019-11-05 18:30 - 20:30 | Visions Federal Credit Union, Community Room, 47 US-206, Augusta, NJ, 07822, United States
Horse Knowledge Sessions are educational programs set up to teach and assist 4-H horse members planning to participate in the State 4-H competitions of Horse Bowl, Horse Judging, and Hippology. You do not have to participate in the state events to attend these sessions. There is lots of good information to be learned about horses and the instructors, Michelle Teitsma and Tabitha Higgins make it fun!

Sussex County 4-H Wreath Pickup
2019-11-23 09:00 - 11:00 | Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ, 07822, United States
The 4-H Foundation will be distributing wreaths on Saturday, November 23 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.
The exact location will be determined based on the weather. Assuming no precipitation, wreaths will be distributed from the parking lot of the Administration Building.
In the event of bad weather (snow, sleet, rain, etc), distribution will be out of Barn 5.

Small Scale Animal Production Series: Small Ruminants
2019-11-14 18:30 - 20:30 | Warren Grange, 101 Asbury Broadway Road, Washington, 07882, United States
Topics Include:

New Identification Regulations
Scrapie Program
Biosecurity
FAMACHA Method

Presenters Include Experts from:

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment
Station

Ideal Farms Maker Festival
2019-10-26 10:00 - 2019-10-27 17:00 | Ideal Farm and Garden Center, 222 Route 15, Lafayette, NJ, 07848, United States
This October 26th and 27th, Ideal Farms will be hosting the fourth annual Ideal Farms Maker Festival. Come join us for a weekend of STEM, Art, and DIY culture.
This year, we’re looking to expand the selection of events. Any Science Fair project, STEM Club, Art and Craft Club are welcome to participate. There’ll be many professional engineers and researchers attending. This is a good opportunity to get technical advice on improving current projects or designing future ones.

Close Encounters with Birds of Prey
2019-10-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Brandwein Nature Learning Preserve, 391 Minisink Turnpike, Greenville, NY, 12771, United States
Raptors are birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, falcons or owls. Their innate abilities to survive can teach us about adaptations and the critical role raptors play in our environment. As predators at the top of the food chain, raptor populations are sensitive to environmental changes; their fate is linked directly with human actions.
Funds would support a program led by the Avian Wildlife Center (Sussex, NJ) featuring live birds /raptors from their rehabilitation program. The presenter would relate how raptors behave in the environs of Stokes State Forest where the LG Cook 4-H Camp is situated. Youth will learn about raptors unique features: hooked beak, strong feet with sharp talons, keen eyesight, and a carnivorous diet.

Halloween Happenings 2019
2019-10-19 17:00 - 20:00 | Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ, 07822, United States
Please join us for an evening of fun-filled activities including pumpkin decorating, face painting, a child-friendly hayride, costume parade, and trick-or-treating!
Clubs and 4-H Families are invited to join in the fun too! We need 4-H clubs and volunteers to host trick or treating booths, run and supervise our crafts and activities areas, and provide baked foods. We also need help with soliciting supplies, setting up, parking, and cleaning up. If you have other ideas for participation, please let us know.
We will also be holding a Pumpkin Decorating Contest. 4-H clubs or 4-H families/members can enter pumpkins. These may be carved or painted, but all must be completed upon arrival. All entries need to be checked-in by 5:30 pm to be eligible. Judging will take place between 6:00-7:00 pm, with the winner announced around 7:30 pm.
Please encourage families to join us! The event is open to all; you don’t have to be in 4-H. Bring along friends who may be interested in 4-H. The more the merrier!
This year there will be a $5 suggested donation and/or a bag of candy per car. This applies to guests as well as 4-H members/families attending—but not participating in—the event.

Fall 4-H Volunteer Orientation
2019-10-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Sussex County RCE/4-H Office, 130 Morris Turnpike, Newton, NJ, 07860, United States
This will be a two-hour orientation to the Sussex County 4-H program for adult volunteers completing the volunteer appointment process.
Those interested in becoming appointed 4-H volunteers should review and complete the other steps included in Becoming a 4-H Volunteer in Sussex County

Volunteer Appreciation & Recognition Social
2019-10-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ, 07822, United States
Please join us so that we may show our appreciation to you, our dedicated leaders and volunteers. It will be a wonderful opportunity for you to meet, get to know, and share ideas with other 4-H volunteers in a relaxed setting. The 4-H office will also be highlighting events that may be of interest to your club, as well as, a few club housekeeping reminders.
The social will be held in the Administration Building at the Fairgrounds.
Light appetizers, desserts, and beverages will be served. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the evening.
4-H staff will offer the Rutgers Protection of Minors (POM) training after the social. The training takes less than 30 minutes and is required annually for all 4-H volunteers.

Fall Paper Clover Fundraiser
2019-10-09 - 2019-10-20 | Sussex Tractor Supply Company, 775 RTE 23, Sussex, New Jersey, 07461, United States
October 9-20, 2019 Sussex Tractor Supply customers can participate in the 2019 Fall Paper Clover campaign by purchasing paper clovers for $1 or more at checkout. The funds raised will be awarded as scholarships to individual Sussex County 4-H members wishing to attend 4-H camps and leadership conferences across the country. The number of scholarships distributed to students following the fall campaign will be determined based on the total amount raised.

Learn Geocaching at Brandwein Preserve
2019-10-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Brandwein Nature Learning Preserve, 391 Minisink Turnpike, Greenville, NY, 12771, United States
Join us for a fun-filled, but relaxing day of geocaching at the Brandwein Nature Learning Preserve in Greenville, New York (approx. 7 miles over the Sussex County border) on Sunday, October 6 from 1-3 pm.
Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.
GPS units will be provided at the Brandwein Nature Learning Preserve, but you’ll learn how to continue playing using a smartphone.
Join Kevin DeVizia (aka “Captain Math”) for a fun-filled afternoon of geocaching at the Preserve. The program will show those new to geocaching how to get started. Experienced cachers will have the chance to learn new strategies for solving and setting caches.
To learn more about geocaching, check out this video.
The Brandwein Nature Learning Preserve offers a unique experience for photographers, students, educators and naturalists. A perfect site for birding and observing nature, enhanced by Rutgers Creek and featuring a diversity of habitat, the Brandwein Nature Learning Preserve experience has been designed to provide ease of access and features well maintained trails.
Reservations recommended:
https://waiver.fr/p-muyr2

Brandwein Family Citizen Science Workshop
2019-09-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Brandwein Nature Learning Preserve, 391 Minisink Turnpike, Greenville, NY, 12771, United States
Citizen Science is a new approach to scientific research. Instead of using just highly educated professional scientists, Citizen Science invites everybody (citizens) to collect information/data that can be evaluated and used by scientists/experts.
Everyday people can observe, document and share scientific data with free software using their smartphones. With lots of groups involved, a crowd of data can be transmitted to the Cloud for scientists. Fieldwork that once depended on a few students can now be undertaken by any number of individuals—and families. More information can be collected and shared faster than ever before. This can accelerate the pace of science and improve understanding of our world.
The Brandwein Institute is hosting workshops for parents and their children as well as community groups (i.e. 4-H, scouts, science teachers, and clubs) this Sunday, 9/22, 12-4:00 pm. You can learn first-hand how to become a citizen scientist, experiencing how science is done. Participants will not only learn how to collect and transmit data, they’ll learn how scientists use this information. It’s an opportunity to learn and be part of science!
Specifically, participants will learn how to measure and collect data on:
1. trees, seasonal phenology dates, and assess the general health of a forest.
2. local bird migration and invasive species through a “BioBlitz” protocol.
All the data collected will be shared with GLOBE and iNaturalist scientists.
Advance Registration Recommended:
https://waiver.fr/p-WF4J8

2019 New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show
2019-08-01 - 2019-08-11 | Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ, 07822, United States
In partnership with NJSF/SCFHS, Sussex County 4-H participates in New Jersey’s largest agricultural fair! 4-H members participate in animal shows and costume contests as well as displaying art, crafts, photography and other exhibits in the Shotwell 4-H Building.

Shotwell Building Setup for Fair
2019-07-20 09:00 - 15:00 | Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ, 07822, United States
We will be setting up the Shotwell Building for the 2019 New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show. To accomplish this, we need your help! The work involves unpacking and assembling the platforms, risers and club booths for 4-H exhibits.
