DO IT NOW!

Join and Re-Join 4-H Today!

Re-enroll for the 2014 4-H year today. Please enroll if you have not done so by December 20. Get Your Goat members: even though you turned in your lease (and maybe fee) in September you still need to enroll in 4-H. All club and project leaders, and committee members also need to re-enroll.

You will enroll online. Electronic signatures will be valid. You will have access to the system and your information throughout the 4-H year to update information, add or drop projects, and register for events. The only drawback to the enrollment process is you will still need to bring payment in person or by mail to the Extension office.

Re-enrollment toolkit and access to 4H Online is located at gunnison.colostate.edu. The toolkit is also included at the end of this newsletter. Don’t hesitate to call if you need some help.

Please help club and project leaders out by getting your enrollments in. Some project help will start in January. Don’t lose out so enroll now.

CLUB AND MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES

Member and Club Retreat

What are you doing this Saturday? The annual officer training and club planning retreat will be this Saturday, December 7 at Wuanita Hot Springs from 10 to 4. Anyone who wants to make their club better should attend. Officers are strongly encouraged to attend. We will do the polar bear swim, have lunch and get your club started for a great new year. Most of the time will be spent on club goals and planning.

Swimming, lunch, and fun will be provided by 4-H Council. Carpools leave Fred Field Heritage Center at 9:30. Bring swim gear, warm clothes for after, and energy.

“Afterschool” Club Meets

4-H members who have participated in the afterschool project work will be getting an improved experience in 2014. Juniper Phillips will lead an afterschool club. First meeting or an orientation will take place Thursday, December 5 at 5:00 p.m. at the Extension office. Afterschool club welcomes any 4-H members and friends. This club will most likely be 4th -8th grade general project and small animal members. Project help happens afterschool so club meetings would be at 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. on a Thursday.

Juniper Phillips will be a project leader for Heritage Arts Crochet, Heritage Arts Knitting, and Visual Arts Drawing after school. Project help for Clothing Construction, Artistic Clothing, Foods, Leatherwork, Photography, and others as needed will also happen afterschool.

SOME NEW ACTIVITIES

4-H Ski and Ride Program Returns to Monarch

Active 4-H members, leaders, and family members (ages 8 and up) are eligible for discount lesson, lift, and rentals at Monarch Mountain. The program is offered only on Saturdays January 25, February 1, and February 8.

Monarch offers group lessons for levels 1-3 (never-ever through beginning lessons), and for Intermediate and Advanced Skiers/Riders, the offer is for discount lift tickets only. For those who want to learn how to ski or snowboard, the lesson packages include a 2 ½-hour group lesson, all-day lift ticket, and all-day equipment rentals.

Check out the details and all the specifics and paperwork at www.gunnison.colostate.edu or pick up the info in the Extension office.

4-H 500

Something new starts December 19 in the Mergelmen 4-H Building at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be provided. If you are in 8th through 12th grade and interested in “making the best better”–yourself or your club–then join us. We will work to develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and aspirations needed for effectiveness and success related to a variety characteristics including leadership effectiveness and achievement, communication skills, personal integrity, and much more. Contact Nadine for more information, 641-1260.

SOME TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Reserve Your Gingerbread House Now!

All 4-H members and Cloverbuds are invited to bring a friend to decorate a gingerbread house that they can share with their families this holiday season. In order to join the fun, call the Extension Office, 641-1260, by December 16 to reserve your house. All supplies and materials necessary to decorate a house will be provided, including gingerbread walls, mortar made of frosting, and all sorts of decorations. The festivities will begin at 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17 in the VanTuyle Room at the Fred Field Heritage Center. No cost to Cloverbuds (but you need to be enrolled for 2014), $2 for all other 4-H members, and $5 for non-members. Join the fun!

Upcoming Events

Leadership Development Conference January 25-27, 2014
LDC is for members ages 14-18 as of December 31, 2013. We will leave Gunnison in the morning on Saturday, January 25 and return on Monday, January 27. Transportation will be provided. The conference will be held at the Renaissance Denver Hotel. Conference lodging and registration will be $75. If you have any questions please contact Nadine at 641-1260.

Creative Cooks January 7, 2014
Come learn about Creative Cooks. If you like to bake, cook, make things, or plan parties this might be a fun activity for you. Creative Cooks is a program where 4-H members can be creative with meal planning. Participants learn about nutrition, food safety and food preparation in a fun and creative way. We will do some baking and learn about the Creative Cooks Contest.

NEW YEAR

4-H Celebrates Achievements and Successes

Congratulations to all who completed their projects and made contributions to their clubs and community. 2013 was a great 4-H year. Thank you to 4-H Council, clubs, advisors, leaders, and parents for all their hard work putting together the Achievement Banquet. Your help is greatly appreciated. Let’s applaud the following members, leaders, and clubs for their achievement.

Leader of the Year: Brett Redden, Horse Project Leader and Club Leader
Senior Member of the Year: Clara Cranor
Clubs of the Year: Future Fitters, Get Your Goat, Born for 4-H
Kisjan Harnish Master Horseman Award: Kelly Mundell
Supreme Goat Particpant: Annelise Pelletier, Champion; and Ivy Pelletier, R. Champion
Master Swine Producer: Kathryn Guerrieri, Champion; Calvin Sabrowski, R. Champion
Master Beef Producer: Tyler Haus, Champion; Calvin Sabrowski, R. Champion
Master Sheep Producer: Morgan Hamilton, Champion; Bunk Jackson, R. Champion
Master Goat Producer: Riley Roper, Champion; Haley Roper, R. Champion

Please thank our Friends for 4-H when you see them for all the support they provide to the program: Gunnison Feed and Supply, Daryl Davis, Tom Stoeber, Darby Sullivan, DVM, and Jess Taylor.

Congratulations to Lily Redden and Madaline Redden who achieved skill and knowledge at Level I Western, Level II Western, and Level II Working Ranch Horse in the Colorado 4-H Horse Levels Program.