Getting Presentation Ready?

Here are a few things to remember when preparing for County Presentations in March

• Be sure to include three main parts:
  • Introduction—the why, who you are and what you will be talking about;
  • Body—the show and tell portion, tell/show the audience what you know; and
  • Summary—the what of it, summarize what you talked about and thank them for listening, cite any source.

• Presentation Time requirements:
  • Cloverbud members 3-15 minutes. Regular members 5-15 minutes.
    Team Presentations 10-15 minutes.

• Be sure to dress neatly. No dirty jeans or sweatshirts preferred.

• If using a poster board- keep them simple. Use dark lettering and pictures large enough so that people in the back of the room can read and see them.

• Look at your audience and smile.

• Practice!

A complete guide to presentations is available for download; NJ 4H ‘How to Make a 4-H Public Presentation’. In addition, there is also a YouTube video with tips on how to give a public presentation. Both are great resources for those presenting for the first time, but also a great refresher for more seasoned presenters.   

If you have any question please reach out to Tanya. patrie@njaes.rutgers.edu

High School Seniors – 4-H Scholarship Deadlines are approaching fast!

Sussex County 4-H Foundation Fund Scholarship
Due April 1.

Applicants must be currently active in the 4-H program and for at least five (5) years, four (4) of which should be in high school. Applications are due to the 4-H Office, by emailed to foord@njaes.rutgers.edu or postmarked by April 1.

For the Application, go to:
https://www.sussex4h.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-SC4HFndtn-Schlrshp-App_forms_ue_1-17.pdf

Gladys “Beth” Pool Memorial Scholarship
Due April 1

Any high school senior who has participated in New Jersey 4-H or FFA, and is interested in pursuing a career in agriculture, are eligible for this $1000 Scholarship. Students interested must submit the completed application along with an essay on how agriculture “feeds your soul” and a letter of recommendation from a 4-H Leader or FFA Advisor.

The application, essay, and letter are due by April 1st. The Scholarship winner will be selected and notified by April 30th. Please email your application to traced444@gmail.com.  

For the Application, go to: https://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/ag_ed/ffa/scholarships/TheGladysBethPoolMemorialScholarshipApplication.docx

Ag. Division of the NJ State Fair/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show Scholarship
Due April 15

Agricultural Scholarships are presented each year by the Ag. Division of the NJ State Fair/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show and applications are now being accepted for any Sussex County graduating high school senior or college student currently enrolled in an agricultural program pursuing a two or four-year degree, or graduate studies in one of the many fields of Agriculture. 

The application can be found here: Agricultural Scholarship (sussexcountyfairgrounds.org)

Mail the application to the Ag. Scholarship Selection Committee, P.O Box 2456, Branchville, NJ 07826. 

Gracie’s Scholarship

Seldom in one’s life does one meet a truly dynamic personality. We all had the privilege of meeting such a spirited soul. That person was Grace Honigsberg. She was not just involved in Agriculture, Agriculture was her way of life, and her life’s passion. She was very active in Sussex County 4-H as a member in her youth and as a leader of several livestock clubs as an adult. She was the 2013 Sussex County Youth Agricultural Ambassador and a member of the Sussex County Board of Agriculture and received the Next Generation of Agriculture Award in 2015. She was a member of the NJ Farm Bureau and served as past president of the NJ Young Farmer’s and Ag Professionals. Her passion for agriculture led her to travel nationally, representing the state of NJ at several American Farm Bureau events, with a focus on accurate agriculture education.

It is in Gracie’s honor that the Sussex County Board of Agriculture announces the formation of a new yearly Agricultural Scholarship of $500 a year to any student focusing on her/his education in the field of Agriculture. If you are interested in continuing your Agriculture education this scholarship is open for you, college or technical school, student or adult. For more information and application, please contact your high school guidance counselor or Lori Space-Day.

Website: https://nj4h.rutgers.edu/smallanimals/junior-symposium/   
To officially register:  https://tinyurl.com/2025AnimalSymposium  

New opportunities available.

4-H NJSF/SCF&HS Community Service Sign up

The NJSF/SCF&HS is setting up Community Service days to enable 4-H members who would receive 4-day passes to have the opportunity to earn 8-day passes (or any part thereof) by participating in volunteer activities that help out at the Fairgrounds in the Fall and Spring.  Two hours of volunteering will earn one additional day pass.

The Fair believes engaging 4-H youth in volunteer activities at the fairgrounds will give members a perspective on how the Fair operates and create a better connection with the Fair Association. The hope is that some of these 4-H members will eventually become adult volunteers or directors.

Listed are current Community Service volunteer opportunities.  You may choose one or all.  Additional opportunities will be added/deleted as they become available.

Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 5-7pm – Assist with Spring Clean-up and mulching around the Antique Engine building and the Milky Way (white gravel path between Ag Arena and Snook Museum).
Saturday, May 10,2025, 10am – Assist the Vegetable Show with cleaning and planting
Wednesday June 4th, 2025, 4:30 to 6:30 pm – BOA Farmers Market Clean-up with Lori Space Day. 

To sign up for please use the following online form:
https://forms.gle/oLyGXtCzw6qvAz3T6

New 4-H Fair Pass Policy

The New Jersey State Fair is implementing a new 4-H fair pass policy that will primarily affect members who are only exhibiting projects in the Shotwell 4-H Building during the fair.

Those 4-H members with live animal exhibits that will be on the grounds for at least 4 days will receive a full 8 1/2-day Fair pass, as usual. This includes alpacas, cattle, goats, horses, poultry, sheep, and swine. The Fair will offer 4-H members entering static exhibits 4-day fair passes. These would include 4-H members who are only entering projects in the Shotwell Building or are not exhibiting animals at the fair for four or more days. Currently exceptions are being made for a few non-livestock 4-H clubs that provide over four or more days of member lead activities or service that engage the public.

4-H members who would receive 4-day passes will have the opportunity to earn 8-day passes (or any part thereof) if they choose to participate in volunteer community service activities that help out at the Fairgrounds in the Fall and Spring. The Fair believes engaging 4-H youth in volunteer activities at the fairgrounds will give members a perspective on how the Fair operates and create a better connection with the Fair Association. The hope is our 4-H members will eventually become adult volunteers or directors.

Those 4-H members receiving 4-day passes will be eligible for additional days based on hours of volunteer service prior to the Fair. Two hours of volunteering will earn one additional day pass. 

The 4-H Office will be notified of volunteer opportunities in advance and will provide the Fair office with the approximate number of 4-H’ers planning to participate. 4-H is responsible for providing supervision as required by 4-H policy and for recording attendance. A representative of the Fair will also sign off on attendance at each volunteer day.

Those who qualify for additional day passes based on volunteering prior to the fair will be listed as eligible when passes are issued in July. This is assuming these members fulfill other 4-H fair pass requirements (Record Book, Member in Good Standing with their club, etc.), they will receive additional day passes or a full 8 1/2-day pass.

4-H leaders and 4-H parents will all still receive full passes as it is expected that they will volunteer to help and supervise in the Shotwell Building or other areas during the Fair. As in the past, there will be a fee for parent passes.

This is a new policy, and we understand you may have questions, please let us know.

Volunteer Connections – Learning Opportunities for You!

Be sure to register for this series of virtual learning for volunteers.  https://tinyurl.com/4HNERV2025 

Find out more about these sessions here:
https://extension.umaine.edu/4h/volunteer-connections/