News

On Monday January 9th the Essex County 4-H Association hosted its 75th Anniversary Year 'Awards Night' & 2012 Sign Up at the Royal Canadian Legion in Essex. An impressive crowd showed up to get registered and sign up for one or more of thirty-eight clubs being offered this year. Clubs range from the traditional Beef, Poultry, Swine, Sheep, Canning, and Farm Safety Clubs, to the new Geo Caching, Canoeing, Embroidery, Fitness, and Pasta Clubs, and everything else in-between Amanda Willemsma was our graduating member who received the Senior Member of the Year Award courtesy of Setterington’s Fertilizer. She has been in 4-H for 12 years, and has completed 82 clubs. This year she served as Youth Member on the board of directors.  Scotiabank Leamington generously donated a gift pack for our graduating member. 

The Essex 4-H Association Scholarship went out to Jonathon Tracey who is attending the University of Windsor.

Our Junior Member of the Year courtesy of the Robert Nelson Memorial Fund was Alexandra Lockley; who as a first year member received her 1^st, 6^th and 12^th project award, also took part in many 4-H Ontario opportunities and volunteered extensively at association fundraisers.

Proud recipient of the Gay Lea Foods Award of Achievement were Emma Anger, Samantha Grant, Kendess Mass, Jennifer Scherer, Jessica Scherer and Kaitlyn Wright. These young ladies have not only completed five years of 4-H but they have also each completed over 24 Clubs.

It will come as no surprise to those who faithfully read the 4-H press releases in their local newspapers that first year member Mikayla Nelson received the Press Reporter of the Year award sponsored by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

One of the highlights of the evening was a Volunteer Service award going out to Susan Brown for her 20^th Year of Volunteer Service to Essex 4-H.

Congratulations to all of our 2011 4-H members and volunteers for all of their hard work and ‘learn to do by doing’ spirit. To our graduating 4-H members we wish you every continued success and happiness, and to our new and returning members – it’s going to be a great year!

Just a reminder that registration remains open throughout the year ($65/person plus $15 late fee after January 9^th). Anyone interested in registering in or learning more about Essex 4-H should email the association at essex4-hontario@live.ca. Membership is open to boys and girls aged 9-21 as of Jan 1^st 2012.

Photo's that you can view in the 'photo' album on this site include...

• Rachel Balkwill and Abby Anger show off their 30th Project awards.
• Emma Anger poses with Beef Club Leaders Shawn Morris and Chris Pollard upon recieving the Beef Club Award.
• Press Reporter of the Year Mikayla Nelson.
• Gay Lea Award Winners Emma Anger, Samantha Grant, Kendess Mass, Jennifer Scherer, Jessica Scherer, and Kaitlyn Wright.
• Susan Brown recieves recognition for over 20years of Volunteering with her local 4-H Association by 4-H Ontario represntative Todd Stewart and local association President Anne Conrad.
• Senior Member of the Year Amanda Willemsma also served on the associations board of directors in 2011.

4-H Curling Club: “Our Curling Adventure”

By: Juliana Willemsma

The first meeting of the 4-H Curling Club was held on Feb 5^th at the Kingsville Curling Club.  First we learned some curling terms like button, house and hammer. We also learned that curling is the only sport where it is okay to steal points and throw rocks at houses.

Then we got ready to go onto the ice.  We dressed warmly. We had to wear clean shoes as even a tiny pebble will melt the ice and could cause a rock to pic. We put a piece of Teflon tape on our slider foot shoe to help us slide.

Once we were on the ice Andrew and Nic showed us how to slide, deliver a rock and sweep. We practiced those skills for about 45 minutes. Then we went upstairs for hot chocolate and to warm up. After our break we went back on the ice and played a four end game. Everybody played well.
We ended our meeting with more hot chocolate and cookies.

Our next meeting is on Feb 19^th at the Kingsville Curling Club. At this meeting we will elect our executive and choose a name for our club.
 
4-H Knitting & Crocheting Club

By: Juliana Willemsma

The first meeting of the 4-H Knitting and Crocheting Club was held on Monday, Feb 6th at the Essex Civic Center.  The meeting was called to order and then we said the 4-H pledge
Then our two youth leaders, Meghan and Jennifer lead us in a game where we each pulled a piece of yarn. The pieces were different lengths. We had to introduce ourselves. The longer the piece of yarn the more things you had to say about yourself.

The leaders told us what information we needed to keep in our books and what we needed to do to complete the club. Next we held our elections. Our president is Emma, our vice president is Maggie and our secretary is Jessica. Samantha is our treasurer and I am the press reporter. We will choose our club name at the next meeting so we can think of some good ideas this week.

We divided into our two groups.  Miss Carol and Miss Joan helped the members who are crocheting. Miss Mary helped the members who are knitting.

We adjourned our meeting at 9pm. And then had a yummy snack.  Our next meeting is on Monday, Feb 13th. Emma is brining our snack for the next meeting.

Essex4-H Annual General Meeting

The Essex County 4-H Leaders’ Association held its Annual General Meeting at Colosanti’s Tropical Garden’s in Ruthven on Wednesday, February 8^th. 4-H Volunteers were treated by the Essex 4-H Association to a buffet dinner prior to the AGM in appreciate of all of their hard work and dedication to our members over the past year; special thanks goes to the amazing staff at Colosanti’s for their wonderful hospitality. 4-H Region Six Specialist Todd Stewart was present to update volunteers on new renewal training programs being introduced by Ontario 4-H this year. Committee Reports were heard, and a hard copy of the financial report was reviewed. 

Elections were held and the returning members of the board (Anne Conrad, Kelli Kirkpatrick, Brenda Anger, Shawn Morris, and Shannon Willemsma), will be joined this year by newly elected members Susan Brown, Sue Morris, Kimberly Heaton, Jeff Stratichuk, Merrie Day, and acclaimed Youth Director Nic Willemsma. 

The Essex 4-H board will be holding its first meeting of the year on Monday, February 13^th 7:30pm at the United Communities Credit Union – Community Room in Essex. For more information about 4-H in Essex County please visit our website at http://www.4-hontario.ca/4h-in-my-area/essex.aspx.