The RCE/4-H office will be closed Nov. 28-29 for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
The Newsletter will also be taking the week off.
Welcome to the new 4-H program year (2024-25)!
With this new year comes a new 4-H enrollment system, Zsuite.
The enrollment process for Club Members (youth) and Volunteers (adult club leaders) is similar. We’re excited with the options Zsuite will offer us in the office as well as to club leaders (more on this later).
To aid you in the process please use the following directions:
Youth Members: https://www.sussex4h.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Youth-Member-Enrollment_Zsuite_8-2024_ver1.pdf
Adult Volunteers: https://www.sussex4h.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Volunteer-Member-Enrollment_Zsuite_9-2024.pdf
If you need assistance, please contact the 4-H Office.
Sussex County Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market
Nov. 23 & Dec 14th
Attention all 4-H Clubs!!
There are two Sussex County Farmers and Crafters Market Days left- Nov. 23rd
and Dec 14th (is the Christmas Fair).
If any club would like to sell items at either event, tables are free to 4-H clubs. Take advantage of this opportunity for your club to make a little extra $.
Please email – Lori Day- at zoomomma1@gmail.com or 973-919-1748. Let Lori know asap so she can advertise that your club will be there.
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.
Monday, December 9, 4:30 to 6:30 pm – Help sweep up Conservatory and greenhouse
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/3Qa9LMoKMxgVw57L8
2024 NJ 4-H Cupcake Expo Registration
Open to the First 12 participants.
Discover the Leader in You Program
4-Hers in grades 6-8 are invited to this special leadership training opportunity on December 14th from 10 am to 3 pm at the Somerset County 4-H Center. To register visit http://tiny.cc/y1pqzz.
The registration fee of $35 covers all program supplies and lunch. Don’t miss out – register today!
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.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, each youth participant will receive a special 20th anniversary t-shirt (free); there will be a fun scavenger hunt with prizes; and several alumni will join for the day! Also new this year, we’ll collect non-perishable food, socks, mittens/gloves, and warm hats.
Applications for the 2025 National 4-H Conference trip are live now!
National 4-H Conference is the pinnacle experience in 4‑H civic engagement, providing the opportunity for young people to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, nation and world. The event is attended by approximately 250 young people from nearly all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Participants work in committees to identify issues and ideas that become part of a strategic plan for 4-H.
Potential delegates must be in grades 10-12 as of September 2024 and between 15 and 19 years old (as of January 1, 2025). New Jersey sends up to six (6) NJ 4-H members to this conference
Visit https://go.rutgers.edu/4HConference to find more information about the event and the application. 
All applications are due to the county 4-H office by December 11, 2024.
If you have questions about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, contact Abbie at the State 4-H Office at 848-932-3711 or nj4h@njaes.rutgers.edu.
Be a Hunger Hero
Join the NJ 4-H Global Food Security Coalition
New Jersey 4-H is recruiting a team of high school students to participate in the World Food Prize Research Project through our Global Food Security Coalition club. Youth members will work with a team to develop individual research projects addressing global food security issues. Participants will meet once a week with mentors and peers to learn about issues related to food security, locally and globally, and to prepare their research projects. Projects will be presented at the Rutgers University World Food Prize Youth Institute on March 7, 2025, at Rutgers University. During this day-long program, students get to learn about critical global issues, network with local leaders, engage in hands-on activities, and explore exciting ways to become effective change agents in their own communities, conscientious global citizens, and tomorrow’s scientific, humanitarian leaders.
Live Zoom sessions will run on Wednesdays, 7:00–8:00 pm, starting January 8th – February 5th, 2025. There will be an opportunity for youth to attend an in-person writing retreat session on January 18th at Rutgers, as well.
You can find the 2024 Info Session recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsvf5di5Awc&ab_channel=Monmouth4-H.
Ready to join? Register here: https://go.rutgers.edu/WFP2025.
Questions? Contact Jennie Thomas at jkt69@njaes.rutgers.edu.
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.
L.G. Cook 4-H Summer Camp Registration NOW Open.
It’s that time of year! Registration for 4-H Camp opens November 15th for both our classic overnight program, and our day camp, 4-H camp at Rutgers Gardens.
Register before December 31st during our Polar Bear registration period to get our lowest rate, and the first pick of classes for summer 2025.
More information can be found on our website at https://nj4hcamp.rutgers.edu/
Also check out our new overview video on or website at https://nj4hcamp.rutgers.edu/videos.html
Registration opens for both:
Still need more details Call 973-948-3550 to reach the Camp Office with any and all questions.
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.
Information and Programs for Our 4-H Leaders
Leaders – It’s that time again!
The Annual Rutgers Protection of Minors Training is Due
Leaders, this is a reminder that you must complete your Rutgers Protection of Minors Training annually. This is a requirement before the office can approve you in the enrollment system for the new program year.
Thank you to those that have already completed this requirement for this year.
You may have received an email from the Rutgers Protection of Minors with details or you can us the following link at any time: https://pom.ipo.rutgers.edu/.
The following are steps to complete this:
1. Click the link. You are taken to the Rutgers Protection of Minors training home page.
2. At the bottom, use the NON-NetID User option to request a PIN login.
2. Once you receive the PIN via email, use the link above again to gain access to the site and enter the training via the PIN Login.
You will need to use the email that the POM system has on file, If you are unsure please contact the 4-H Office.
3. Complete the training. There are 4 modules and quizzes you must complete. The last page you will see is:
The process should take less the 30 minutes. Once you get here, you are all done. We will be sent a notice when you complete the training.
If you have any issues please contact the 4-H Office for assistance.
The first episode of 4-H Volunteer Ventures is available on Spotify and other platforms. The 4-H Volunteer Ventures Facebook page is also available.
The 4-H Volunteer Ventures Podcast examines the fun, but sometimes confusing role of the 4-H volunteer. Each episode will explore a specific aspect or challenge volunteers face ad offer best practices to improve the experience. Join hosts, Kelly and Laura, as they discuss current trends, share resources, and offer tips and tricks learned from their own volunteer experiences.
Spotify link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/4hvolunteerventures
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558574791500
We want to hear from YOU! If you have any suggestions for volunteer-based topics you would like us to address, or something you would like to learn more about as a 4-H volunteer, let us know. We appreciate your input.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and add us to your favorites so you do not miss a post.
@SussexNJ4H
