The Sussex County RCE/4-H Office will be closed Friday November 10 in honor of Veterans Day.


The Sussex County RCE/4-H Office will be closed Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24 in honor of Thanksgiving.

2023/2024 Program Year 4-H Online Re-Enrollment Closes January 1.

4H Online logo

Each year 4-H members and volunteers must renew their enrollment by January 1 to be considered in good 4-H standing. To do so, go to: https://v2.4honline.com/

Directions to assist you in the process can be found at the following link:
https://www.sussex4h.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4HMmbrRnrlmnt_8-29-23.pdf


If you have any questions, or experience difficulties with 4HOnline, please contact Dave or Tanya for assistance.

Orders due to the 4-H office today.
Please email or leave hard copies in bin outside the 4-H Office door.

Holiday Wreath Sale

The holidays are fast approaching and the Sussex County 4-H Foundation is again selling
wreaths through local 4-H clubs. There are two sizes and styles of wreaths being offered,
12 or 36 inch,which come plain or decorated.
(Decorated wreaths feature a festive red ribbon and pine cones.)

Funds raised by the Sussex County 4-H Foundation support activities by 4-H members such
as academic scholarships, financial assistance for members to attend national 4-H events
and sponsorship of 4-H programming in Sussex County.

Wreaths are priced at:

12-in Plain $18.00
12-in Decorated $20.00
36-in Plain $70.00
36-in Decorated $75.00

The deadline to order is Friday, November 10
Wreaths will be available for pick by 4-H club representatives
Saturday November 18

Families may download this Youth Sales Packet that includes a sales flyer and wreath order form. On the flyer, members may write in their club’s name and contact information, and distribute it. Wreath sales can be included on the order form.

Contact the 4-H office for more information or questions.

Congratulations to our 4-H Awardees and Volunteers

This past Saturday, November 4th, we held our 2023 Annual 4-H Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Dinner at the Stillwater Community Center.

We would like to congratulate the following on their Awards:
Sussex County 4-H Youth Development Award: Linda Keller
Sussex County 4-H Business Award: Hampton Tractor Supply
Sussex County 4-H Alumni Award: Karyn Kuter
Sussex County Friend of 4-H Award: Mark Hontz
Lois Chammings Community Service Award: Kicken Chickens 4-H Poultry Club

Vol heart

The following leaders were also recognized for the the following years of service:
1st Year of Service
Chris Bailey-Allons-Y
Ashley Cosh-Bunnies & Buddies/Aim to Survive
Richard Hrynowski-Whiskers and Squeals
Tonia Hrynowski-Whiskers and Squeals
Ben Jorritsma-4-H STEM
Joe Steinwand-Aim to Survive
Katie Swisshelm-All Star Rabbits/Hearts and Hooves
Chelsea VanderGroef-Kids in the Kitchen
3rd Year of Service
Trisha Furman-Leve-Dogs & Paws, Dinosaur Facts, Be the Change Lego club
5th Year of Service
Shelby Melhus-Teen Council
Megan O’Keeffe-Bunnies and Buddies/Regal Rabbits
Ashley Stahoski-Top O’ Jersey Beef
Christina Wolverton-S. C. Capricians
10th Year of Service
Janet Bossart-Sussex Squealers
Michelle Schadegg-Krafty Krafters
15th Year of Service
Joann Johnson Whisker & Squeals
Irene Zeberl Sussex Shepherds
20th Year of Service
Maureen Mitchell Teen Council
Melissa Teague Krafty Krafters
35th Year of Service
Clara ‘Sis’ Farber Cow Kids
Paula Russell Cow Kids
45th Year of Service
Sally Tomasino 4-H Advisory Council


Thank you to the Sussex County 4-H Foundation for sponsoring the event and to the Teen Council for providing the guest favors.

4-H Clubs Invited to Participate in the Annual Newton Holiday Parade

The annual Newton Holiday Parade is scheduled for November 25, 2023 at 10:00 AM. The parade can be viewed from Spring Street or Moran Street.

Newton invites your organization or group to participate in this traditional event by marching in the parade! If you would like to participate, please return this application by November 10, 2023. Application

Floats and vehicles such as antique cars are welcome to participate, too.

Please follow us on Facebook for Holiday Parade announcements.

More information about the event may be available on their website. Of course, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to them at office@greaternewtoncc.com or call (973) 300-0433.

In honor of National Career day on November 15th: 4-H Animal Science Career Night will be held hybrid on November 16th 6-8pm.

4-H Animal Science Career Night is a free hybrid event that offers a wide variety of animal science career exploration. These careers include Marine Biology, K9 Unit Dog Training, Veterinarian Science, Dog Daycare Handler and Zookeeping. 4-H Animal Science Career night will be held on November 16th 6-8pm for 4-H members grades 7th-13th. This event will be a hybrid format: in person at the Ted Blum Somerset County 4-H center located at 310 Milltown road Bridgewater NJ and/or register for a zoom link. 

The NJ State 4-H Cupcake Wars & Expo is back again!



Make, bake, and decorate cupcakes on December 2nd at the Ted Blum 4-H Center in Bridgewater (Somerset County). All registered 4-H members in grades K-13 are eligible to register for this free, fun event!

The Cupcake Expo is for members in grades K-3
Register for the Cupcake Expo here:
https://go.rutgers.edu/CupcakeExpo

The Cupcake Wars is for members in grades 4-13
Rules, schedule and registration for the Cupcake Wars can be found here:
https://go.rutgers.edu/CupcakeWars

Questions? Email Harry at hb479@njaes.rutgers.edu

NATIONAL 4-H CONFERENCE SET FOR APRIL

The 2024 National 4-H Conference will be held April 19 – April 24, 2024 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. This conference brings together youth and adults to help with strategic planning for the 4- H program nationally. Potential delegates must be in grades 10-12 as of September 2023 and between 15 and 19 years old (as of January 1, 2024). New Jersey sends up to six (6) NJ 4-H members to this conference

For more information or to download the application please go to http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/leadership/nat4hconference/.

All applications are due to the county 4-H office by December 8, 2023.

Second Annual 4-H Model Horse Show Clinic
December 3, 2023

From 12-4 PM at the Ocean County 4-H Office. Open to all 4-H members and their friends! Come learn the ins and outs of Model Horse Showing, how to customize your models, to create background scenes, tips and tricks to make your models look the best they can be, and even make some tack!  Workshop cost is $10 with an optional pizza lunch for only $5. Space is limited to 20 participants and is first-come first-served. Registration deadline is November 27th or when all spots are filled! Register here!

New Jersey 4-H members in grades 9-11 invited to participate the multi-level leadership program – NJ 4-H Leadership for Life Program.  

The next cohort for the NJ 4-H Leadership for Life Program will begin in January 2025 with Module 1, followed with Module 2 in February and Module 3 in March. The Leadership for Life Program is offered in three sequential modules, which focus on leadership skills such as planning, decision making, critical thinking, goal setting, problem solving and conducting a service-learning project.

Registration details can be found here: https://nj4h.rutgers.edu/leadership/leadership-for-life/

Questions about the Leadership for Life Program can be directed to Camden County 4-H Agent Sharon Kinsey (sbkinsey@njaes.rutgers.edu)

2025 New Jersey 4-H Goat Extravaganza – January 4, 2025

See the state 4-H goat website, http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/goats/extravaganza/, for all of the information you need to register for the NJ 4-H Goat Extravaganza (poster/presentation contest, skill-a-thon, quiz bowl, art show, workshop for parents and volunteers, and social) on Saturday, January 4 at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County in the Mercer County Office Park, 1440 Parkside Avenue, Ewing (our third year at this location). 
Simple and quick online registration is due by Wednesday, December 4

Interested in marine science? Have a passion for collecting data? Want to spend time living and working aboard a real-life research vessel?

If yes, consider applying for the NJ 4-H S.H.A.R.K. (Scientific Hands-on Applied Research Knowledge) program!!

Youth in grades 9-12th will meet once a week (virtually) to learn from marine scientists about actual research taking place, and will eventually take their knowledge gained and apply it during a practicum experience aboard the research vessel Garvin!

Participants will put together a project capturing their knowledge gained!

PROGRAM DATES:
Virtual sessions: THURSDAYS | MAR 21 – APR 11 | 7 PM – 8 PM
IN-PERSON PRACTICUM: APR 19-22 | BISCAYNE BAY, FLORIDA
Cost: $2,500 per person (estimate), all-inclusive

APPLICATIONS DUE DECEMBER 8TH, 2023
Packet available HERE

For more information, please contact Matthew Newman at m.newman@njaes.rutgers.edu

Join 4-H, Busch Gardens, and Missouri Extension for 4-H Zoo Apprentice Camp!

4-H members can discover, learn, laugh, and experience one-of-a-kind adventures with animals at the world’s largest zoological organization, Busch Gardens!

Registration due December 1, for ages 11-13. More info can be found at the following link: https://extension.missouri.edu/…/4-h-zoo-apprentice-camp

#4H#BuschGardens#Zoo#Animals

2024 4-H Legislative Leadership Experience

Registration deadline is February 1 and space is limited.
For more info click here.  Visit this site to register!

Calling All 5th Graders!

The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey annual Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest empowers fifth grade students to advocate for an endangered or threatened species from New Jersey through a well-researched, creative essay and original art piece.

The winners, one from each county, are honored at an awards ceremony, have their artwork exhibited at various venues around the state and featured in a calendar, and are invited on an eco-tour at Sedge Island in Barnegat Bay.

All educator materials, including detailed STEAM-based lessons (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), are included in the free contest kit. Kits can be found at www.conservewildlifenj.org. Entries due by February 9, 2024. Download your kit today!

4-H Animal Science Video Contest and Film Festival

New Jersey 4-H, in cooperation with the New Jersey Junior Breeder Symposium, is sponsoring the 4-H Animal Science Video Contest and Film Festival to include ALL 4-H animal project areas.

Youth may work individually or as a team to create short educational videos (3:30 minutes or less) about alpacas, cats, cattle (beef/dairy), dogs, goats, herpetology, horses, llamas, poultry, rabbits, sheep, small animals, and/or swine to enter in the 4-H Animal Science Video Contest.  Youth must upload their video and media release(s) by the end of March 3 (see website for details).  The videos will then be shared at the film festival in the Round House of the Rutgers Cook Campus Farm during an afternoon session of the Junior Animal Science Symposium on Saturday, March 29.  

Youth of the top scoring videos will receive awards, including gift cards.  Videos will be scored on educational value, creativity, clarity, pacing, and technical quality (sound, lighting, etc.) – 20 points each, total of 100.  A tip sheet and a description of the judging criteria are both available on the website, along with the top scoring videos from prior years. Youth are encouraged to have fun and be creative in designing their video entries!

Details are available on our website at http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/animals/film-festival

New Jersey 4-H Summer Camps Sign Up – Open Now
Sessions are Selling out!


Registration opens for both:
Our 74th summer at L.G. Cook 4-H Camp, New Jersey 4-H’s overnight summer camp in beautiful Stokes State Forest. Join our caring, tech-free community for a one-week sleepaway session in July or our BIG 18 day session in August … AND …

Our 2nd summer at 4-H Camp at Rutgers Gardens, our brand-new day camp program combining the social-emotional learning of 4-H Camp’s friendly, communal experience with the educational opportunities of Rutgers Gardens. 

More details and online registration at nj4hcamp.rutgers.edu! Call 973-948-3550 to reach the Camp Office with any and all questions.

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).

Stargazing anyone? 🌟

Join the Rutgers community at the Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory for their Public Open Nights this fall! Check their website at observatory.rutgers.edu for more information!

Poetry x Hunger: Poetry Call from Middle and High School Youth

For more information visit https://nj4h.rutgers.edu/comm/poetryxhunger/

Arbor Day 2024 Photo Contest

All levels of photographers are encouraged to submit your pictures, whether you take a picture on your phone, or a camera, all tree pictures are welcome! Age categories for entries are Grades K-8 (Elementary), Grades 9-12 (High School), and Adult (ages 18+).
Entries will be accepted from now until March 1, 2024

This year’s theme is “My Tree, My Place”. We want you to showcase a tree that is special to you or sparks your interest somewhere that you live, work, or spend a lot of time. Your photograph can reflect “My Tree, My School”, “My Tree, My Park”, “My Tree, My Office”, and so on!

The winning photographs will be featured on the Rutgers Urban Forestry website, by the NJ Shade Tree Federation, as well as NJ Department Of Environmental Protection Urban and Community Forestry Program.

For more information or to enter a photo go to:
Arbor Day 2024 Photo Contest – Urban Forestry Program


Information and Programs for Our 4-H Leaders

CLUB LEADERS WREATH SALE REMINDERS

Christmas wreath from fir, pine and spruce twigs with cones, berries and ribbon bow isolated on white background
  1. Orders must be returned by Wednesday, November 13th. They can be emailed to Dave or Tanya.
  2. All orders will be FINAL. NO additional wreaths may be added once your order is placed.
  3. Wreath pick-up will be Saturday, November 23rd at the Sussex County Fairgrounds –Board Of Ag. Farmers Market Building from 9:30 am to 11 am. Please sign up for a time slot https://signup.com/go/gAUeztP.
  4. Assign one individual to pick up the club’s order. Have your full payment ready to be turned in by cash/check. One check for the full amount, made out to the Sussex County 4-H Foundation for each club is preferred.
  5. Clubs will receive their bonus check from the Foundation at the time of wreath pick up. Your club will receive $1.00 for each 12-inch wreath sold and $5.00 for each 3-foot wreath sold.
  6. Supplies (cones, wires, and ribbons) will be provided for all decorated wreaths ordered. These will have to be divided among those decorating wreaths for their customers.
    For those new to the Wreath Sale, decorated means you receive supplies for decorating the wreaths your customers ordered.

Wreath Sales materials are available for download at, sussex4h.org/forms 


Fall Reminders for Our Leaders

  • If your 4H club meets at the fairgrounds, please use the following link to request dates:   https://forms.office.com/r/7FnVBfvWZ8.  We will work with the fairgrounds to confirm the dates requested and contact you with any conflicts or issues.
  • End of Year Paperwork (4-H Club Treasury Annual Review Form, End of Project Year Recognition Certificates and Pins, Project Medal Recommendation Form)
    The Treasury annual review was due by Nov 1.
    End-of-Year Recognition and Project Medal Recommendation forms are due by Nov. 15.

  • Annual 4-H Rutgers Protection of Minors Training and Tri-Annual Background Checks are due for the majority of our leaders. Please be on the lookout for emails for the following sources and complete the requests in an expedient manner.
    Protection of Minors Training (POM): pom@ipo.rutgers.edu or go to https://pom.ipo.rutgers.edu/ to complete it on your own.
    Tri-Annual Background: HireRight Customer Support noreply@hireright.com
  • NEW- Complete the Volunteer Leadership Online Training Course.
    When you are re-enrolling you must complete the Volunteer Leadership Online Training Course. The leadership orientation is a requirement for all leaders, new and veterans. The State 4-H office feels that it is a good refresher for everyone and will help align all trained volunteers in the state and that they may learn some things new to 4-H since their original orientation. Even if you are a veteran volunteer, the course is a good refresher; you may learn some things new to 4-H since your original orientation. Directions to complete this can be found here: Drctns_VlntrOrntnVideo_9-2023.pdf
  • Presentations/Speakers available for clubs who would like review ‘How to’ properly complete Record Books and ‘How to’ give a 4-H Public Presentations at a club meeting. If interested please contact Tanya or Dave.

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!


Make a DIFFERENCE in your community…become a Rutgers Environmental Steward – Classes start in January!
Additional information is on their website- https://envirostewards.rutgers.edu/

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and add us to your favorites so you do not miss a post. 
@SussexNJ4H

About the author