4-H NEWS

Olin 4-H Club

     The Olin 4-H Club held its monthly meeting on Feb. 3, 2019. During our meeting, reports were read and committee group meetings took place with updates given from each group.

     We are going to be doing a community service project where each member will bring one food item and one household item to our April meeting and it will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House at St. Luke’s Hospital. We will also be collecting pop tabs for this. We will be hosting a taco/ potato bar on May 11 for our fundraiser. We will be participating in 4H basketball on March 2.

     Awards were handed out to members that earned them. Presentations were given by Aaron Bixler on how to make homemade buttermilk cornbread and by Seth Bixler on how to make homemade honey butter. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, March 3 where we will have a meeting and then spend the afternoon at Ski Snowstar.

– Nick Lehrman, Reporter

Jones County Central

     The Jones County Central 4-H Club held their regular monthly meeting on Sunday, January 6, 2019 at the Lawrence Community Center.

     Members put together thirty-six table centerpieces for the Anamosa Care Center before the meeting was started and the Care Center residents really enjoyed the centerpieces when they were received.

     The meeting was called to order at 5:40 p.m. by Marissa Recker. Halle Recker led the Pledge of Allegiance. Secretary’s Report was given by Grant Lubben. Koree Miller moved to approve the Secretary’s Report and Elizabeth Riniker seconded it. It passed by majority vote. Treasurer’s Report was given by Autumn Kirby. Lauren Oltmanns moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report and Brooklyn Stark seconded it. It passed by majority vote. No bills were presented.  Roll call was – “Name a favorite winter pastime.” It was answered by 17 members. There were three leaders and nine guests present.

     Old Business: The Christmas Tree Walk went really well and it was another year of a room full of beautiful trees. Our display received 2^nd place as well. The Community Service Project – Cookie Appreciation Platters were given to Legacy Lanes in Monticello, Monticello and Anamosa Vet Clinics, F&M Bank, Citizens State Bank, Ohnward Bank & Trust, Monticello Express, Anamosa Journal-Eureka, and Fidelity Bank and Trust in Monticello and Anamosa. Community Service Project – Christmas Care & Share Program HACAP were very appreciative of our club participating in this program. Community Service Project – Donations to Hospitals were sent to the three different hospitals which were: University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Blank Children’s Hospital, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The club received a letter from St. Jude Children’s Hospital thanking the club for all of the donations. Monticello Nursing Home – All club members present filled gift bags for the Care Center residents, which were then handed out Dec. 8 and they were greatly appreciated. Beef weigh-in – Halle Recker, Grace Lubben and Grant Lubben reported on this, saying that it went smoothly in both locations. All-Livestock Workshop – Elizabeth Riniker, Grant Lubben, Brooklyn Stark, Autumn Kirby and Zabrina Kirby all attended and said it was a good learning experience.

     New Business: T-Shirt orders were turned in and the bill will need to paid at the February meeting. 4-H Legislative Trip – this is for anyone in grades 7-12 and will be held Feb. 13. Cost is $50. Please register with the Extension Office by Feb. 5 if you are interested. The Winter Plunge Camp is Feb. 16-17 at Pictured Rocks. This is for fourth thru sixth graders with a cost of $50. Please register with the Extension Office by Feb. 5 if you are interested. 4-H basketball will be held March 2 at Midland Middle/High School in Wyoming; more information to follow at the next meeting. The 4-H program is going to a new Quality Assurance Program starting January 2019 known as YQCA. There will be no face-to-face meeting this year; everything will be done online. The YQCA is only good for one year and will cost $12 to take. The 4-H Clothing Event is scheduled for March 31; more information to come at the next meeting. 4-H Communication Day will be April 6, more information to come at the next meeting. It was announced that there will be a Horticulture Meeting on Monday, Jan. 28 to discuss the Thiesen’s Grant that Jones County received. The Edgewood Locker fundraiser will begin at the next meeting and we will sell through the month of February with delivery in April.

     There is a Citizenship Trip to Washington D.C. this summer for those interested. Contact the Extension Office for more information.

     A letter was read to the club from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital thanking the club for everything that was donated to the Hospital. All was greatly appreciated.

     Congratulations to Grace Lubben and Grant Lubben for receiving three bred heifers each through a state and county award program.

     The meeting was adjourned at 6:21 p.m. by Marissa Recker with the 4-H Pledge being led by Karli Recker. The next meeting will be Feb. 3, at 1 p.m. at the Lawrence Community Center in Anamosa.

 – Elizabeth Rinker, reporter