Countdown to the
2023 New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show
For more information about set-up/drop-off dates please see our
2023 Prepare for Fair Guide.
Shotwell-Building-Schedule
4-H Volunteer Opportunities at NJSF/SCF&HS
Reminder for those displaying in the Shotwell Building, if you are not participating/volunteering at the fair (by displaying an animal, working with Teen Council, etc) you must volunteer in one of the ways listed below or forfeit this year’s premiums and possible opportunity for a full-week fair pass next year.
4-H AMBASSADOR/INFORMATION TABLE REPRESENTATIVE
Act as an Ambassador for 4-H in the Shotwell Building. Be available to share information and answer questions about 4-H. In addition, share knowledge about the items and exhibits displayed. Help sell 4-H 50/50s* and help maintain the cleanliness of the building. Shifts are 2 hours.
*You must be 18 years of age or bring along an adult to help
Sign up online at: 4-H Ambassador/Information table sign up
4-H 50/50 SALES
Assist the Sussex County 4-H Advisory Council in the Sale of 50/50 tickets. Proceeds from the sale support 4-H programming, as well as, 4-H fair ribbons.
*Must be 18 years of age or older
Contact Tanya Patrie (patrie@njaes.rutgers.edu) or Dave Foord (foord@rce.rutgers.edu) for tickets.
AG DIVISION FOOD BOOTH
Help with food prep, serving, and other activities related to managing the Food Booth for the Agricultural Division of the Fair. Profits from the food booth are used to support animal project activities at the fair. This is a great opportunity to meet 4-H members from other clubs, as well as, gain work experience. Shifts are 10am-2pm, 2pm-6pm, 6pm-10pm daily.
*You must be 13 years of age or older to volunteer behind the counter (liability concerns)
Contact Nadine Olsen by email at olsenn@embarqmail.com to volunteer for a shift or sign up online.
AG DIVISION FARM FUN
Help with supervising the fun activities of Farm Fun in Barn 6.
For more information or to sign up contact Donna Meisinger at (862) 268-0805.
CLOVER, THE 4-H ROVER!
Dress up as the lovable, 4-H mascot Clover, the 4-H Rover. Walk around the Fair, greet, shake hands, and pose with fairgoers young and old. Requirements are that you can safely wear the costume and that someone must assist and accompany Clover while roving.
Due to health and safety concerns, we will have a disinfecting spray available for cleaning between appearances.
If interested please contact Tanya Patrie (patrie@njaes.rutgers.edu) or Dave Foord (foord@njaes.rutgers.edu).
SNOOK AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM
Supervising children while they use a corn sheller and corn grinder. Must be at least 14 years old. Working behind the counter of the old-time General Store. Sweepers for the porch and building.
For more information or to sign up contact Barbara Cashen at bcashen@ptd.net
4-H Representative Spotlight
4-H Poultry
Brooke Weiner
Clubs: Kicken’ Chickens, Regal Rabbits, Aim to Survive, Teen Council
Town: Lake Hopatcong
Years In Project: 5
Brooke has been an enthusiastic member of the Kicken’ Chickens for 5 years. She is our club´s vice president and was previously our club’s secretary. Brooke is always willing to lend a helping hand to our younger members and is very knowledgeable about chickens. One of our favorite memories of Brooke is when her black Silkie chicken hatched out a duck egg and she brought them to the fair, which prompted a lot of great conversations with visitors of the fair. Brooke is also very involved in a few other 4H clubs.
4-H Dairy
Rachel Teague
Clubs: Wantage Hustlers, Summer Blossoms, Krafty Krafters
Town from: Wantage
Years in Project: 5
“4-H is one of the most beautiful parts of my life. It helps you to work with different people, learn new things, and compete. It gives you valuable life lessons and endless opportunities. For the past 14 years, 4-H has helped me learn so many new things and has helped me become the person I am today. I am thankful for the amazing 4-H experience I have received from learning the parts of a cow to how to have a successful garden. As the years have flown passed my hope is that more kids will get involved in 4-H, as it is the one thing they can always count on to stay in their lives forever”
4-H Alpaca
Katrina Houben
Clubs: Awesome Alpaca Adventures
Town from: Wantage
Years in Project: 6
Call All Incoming 7-11 Grade Members
The 4-H Teen Council Invites you to join our Club.
Sussex County 4-H Teen Council membership has been open to Local teens for over 60 years.
Members take part in:
– community service projects,
– leadership activities,
– earn job experience,
– participate in fun trips and events.
Sussex County 4-H’s criteria is that in order to be considered a “member in good standing”, participants must attend 70% of their club’s meetings/activities. In addition to attendance, all Teen Council members are required to work a number of shifts in the Dairy Barn during fair week, as it is the main fundraiser for the year. Members must also do so in order to be eligible for officer positions and/or scholarships when they reach high school age. Most meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday or Friday of the month at the Fair Administration Office.
For more information or to sign up please reach out to Tanya Patrie (patrie@njaes.rutgers.edu).
2023 National 4-H Congress
Applications are now being accepted
National 4-H Congress is a unique opportunity for 4-H members in grades 10-12 to come together with youth from all 50 states, that focuses on leadership, youth empowerment, community service, career development, and cultural diversity. The event brings over 1,000 4-H members over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend (November 24-28) in Atlanta, Georgia.
More information about the program and the application form is available on the New Jersey 4-H website at: http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/leadership/nat4hcongress/
The deadline to submit applications to our Sussex 4-H office is Tuesday, July 18.
This is open to 4-H members in grades 10-13 as of September 2023.
Are you 16 years old or older and looking to make some extra money??
The NJSF/SCF&HS is looking for ticket takers. No experience is necessary.
If interested contact Harold Worths at hworts@njstatefair.org
Interested in Design, Media, Engineering, Writing, Speaking, Teamwork, Leadership, and working with NASA?
The 4-H Rocketry Club ResistoJets is looking for new members to participate in the next NASA Student Launch competition. This doesn’t just require rocket scientists. The project includes a lot of other aspects from writing the proposal and reviews to creating a media presence, leading STEM engagement projects, recruiting more team members, and also coding, design, rocket building, and robotics, of course.
This past year, our group of middle school and high school students was able to get into the finals of the NASA Student Launch and go to Huntsville, Alabama to fly their rocket along with the other selected college and university teams as well as a few middle and high school teams from all over the country. It was a very rewarding experience!
The team is open to any high school and older middle school students interested in this amazing opportunity and willing to offer their time and skills. The next season for this program starts in August and the team needs more members now!
Feel free to contact the club at resistojetrocketry@gmail.com
The club’s website is https://nj4h.space/ and the report of their launch in Alabama can be found on the Rutgers Newsroom: https://sebsnjaesnews.rutgers.edu/2023/05/morris-county-4-h-rocket-team-rocks-launch-week-in-alabama/ as well as the 4-H event report
All registered NJ 4-H members are invited to participate in 4-H Invitational Shows at the 104th Mercer County 4-H Fair,
July 29-30 at the beautiful Howell Living History Farm just south of Lambertville.
Goat Showmanship Contest, Saturday, July 29 at 10:00 a.m. (check-in from 8:30-9:30 a.m.)
Rabbit Show, Saturday, July 29 at 3:00 p.m. (check-in at 2:00 p.m.)
Poultry Show, Sunday, July 30 at 10:00 a.m. (check-in from 8:00-9:30 a.m.)
For more details and registration forms, visit their 4-H fair website. You will also see a schedule and map for all of their fair’s events – come for the animal shows and stay for the fair!
Host a High School Student with States’ 4-H!
States’ 4-H International is actively accepting applications to host international high school students from Japan and South Korea for the 2023-24 school year! Join our amazing community of year-long host families and bring the richness of the world to your home and community.
To learn more & apply, contact
Matthew Newman
(732) 431-7260
m.newman@njaes.rutgers.edu
Poetry x Hunger: Poetry Call from Middle and High School Youth
Do you want to help eliminate hunger and poverty through the power of your pen? NJ Arts 4-H is introducing Poetry X Hunger. Join in the Poetry X Hunger project promoted by Expressive Arts 4-H of Rutgers Cooperative Extension. If you would like to learn more about the many forms of poetry you can choose from, contact Ellen Williams, Expressive Arts 4-H Agent at williams@njaes.rutgers.edu.
For more information visit https://nj4h.rutgers.edu/comm/poetryxhunger/
Information and Programs For Our 4-H Parents and Leaders
Leaders – Please Complete the End of Project Year Survey
As your club begins to finish this project year and members look forward to exhibiting/displaying their hard work in August, the 4-H office is already looking further ahead to the 2023-24 4-H project year.
Please take this quick survey using the below link to help us update our county 4-H club roster and promotional material ahead of this year’s fair, as well as our office records.
https://forms.office.com/r/dRBSgpMhM1
Thank you in advance for your continued support of the Sussex 4-H program and its 4-H members.
Dave & Tanya
Attention 4-H alumni, parents, volunteers and stakeholders…
Mark Your Calendars! Here are the NJ 4-H State Association meeting dates for 2024. We are still looking for additional volunteers to help make the best better and join the association! Visit https://go.rutgers.edu/HelpNJ4H to be added to the mailing list or contact nj4h@njaes.rutgers.edu to learn more about the State Association!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and add us to your favorites so you do not miss a post.
@SussexNJ4H
