Thursday, February 18, 2010

South Carolina 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Project




MEAT GOAT PARTICIPANT SELECTION -- 2010


Due to the drought experienced since 2007 the number of does (mother goats) has been drastically reduced not only in South Carolina but across the Southeast. This, in turn, will lead to the reduction in the number of wether goats that will be available to purchase for the 2010 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Project. The Meat Goat Project Committee remains committed to providing as many quality wethers to as many young people as possible; however, the number of wethers the committee will be able to secure for 2010 may be smaller than in past years. Since reduced availability of wethers is such a strong possibility, the Committee is establishing guidelines for use in the selection of participants for 2010. The following criteria have been established and will be utilized in the selection of participants from the applicant pool should the committee not be able to secure a sufficient number of wether goats:
 Membership – Must be a bona fide member of 4-H or FFA
 Application Deadline – Those applications postmarked past the application deadline will be removed from project consideration
 Refunds – No refunds will be given after May 7, 2010.
 Level of Participation in the project in past years will be considered –
o Number of shows in which the application competed
o Completion of the Data (Record) Book
 Age of the Applicant – Youth between the ages of 5 and 16 years will be given priority over those youth 17 and up
New applicants must have a signed statement from their Extension Agent or Agriculture Teacher stating that this applicant is believed to be an individual who can care for the animal and will be an active participant in the project activities.
It is not the desire of the Meat Goat Project Committee to eliminate anyone from participating in the project; however, if needed, the committee will use these guidelines in the selection of participants.

The committee will make use of the guidelines in the order of:
(1) Membership,
(2) Application Deadline,
(3) Level of Participation, and
(4) Age of Applicant to make the selection of project participants.

All decisions made by the committee regarding the selection of project participants will be final.
Respectfully,
Meat Goat Advisory Committee


To receivc a South Carolina 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Project 2010 Application
please contact your local 4H County Extension Office
For Beaufort contact: Beverley Connelly-Brown
Email: Bconnel@clemson.edu
Fax # 843-470-3650
Address: PO Box 189 Beaufort, SC 29901

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* Kick Off is June 19, 2010 @ Newberry County Fairgrounds. Please watch for further details.
* All applications must include the $75 fee to register for the project.
* Applications must have a postmarked date by May 7, 2010
* No Applications will be accepted after May 7, 2010.
* There will be no refunds after May 7, 2010.
* All applications that are postmarked after May 7, 2010 or later will not be accepted.
* Make check payable to SC 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Project for the correct amount.
* Please DO NOT mail your application to your Extension Offices.
* Mail application to: Tonia Gibson, 1850 Hollywood Rd. Saluda, SC 29138
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Final Show Requirement: Each Participant will receive the Ad information at the Kick-Off.
Each participant will be required to sell $25 in Ads for the final show program booklet or pay an extra $25 entry fee to be eligible to participate in the final show.
_____ I agree to sell $25 in ads to benefit the final show. Ads are due by October 1, 2010.
_____ I agree to pay the extra $25 entry fee to benefit the final show, which is included with this application.

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South Carolina 4-H Media Policy and Release: The 4-H program routinely promotes activities through various media. This includes, but is not limited to newsletters, newspapers, brochures, and displays. In doing so, the names and photos of members may be included to help tell the 4-H story. However, South Carolina 4-H policy is that on web sites, youth in photos will not be identified by name(s).
_______No, do not use my individual picture for any purpose. I will make an effort to avoid opportunities to be in group shots.
_______No, do not use my name for any purpose.
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As a participant/parent/guardian of the above named 4-H/FFA member, I believe all the above information to be complete and correct. I further agree to support the SC Meat Goat Project to the best of my ability and I agree to abide by the policies, procedures, and standards of behavior set forth by the SC Meat Goat Advisory Committee and Clemson Extension. I also understand that participants will be selected based on the Wether Goat Participant Selection guidelines.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Services offers its program to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status, and is an equal opportunity employer.


South Carolina 4-H/FFA Meat Goat Project
Dear Applicant and Parent,
Each year we are asked how much this project will cost. We do have a few known costs; please do keep in mind prices on these items tend to fluctuate! It is also inevitable that some goats will incur a larger cost than others.
1. Entering the project $ 75.00
2. Feed from June-Oct $ 82.50
3. Hay $21.00
4. Vet Supplies- De-wormer, Minerals $30.00
5. Hoof Trimmers $15.00
$ 223.50
 We calculated the feed by this $ 8.25 x 10 bags = $ 82.50. This figure may be higher or lower for each goat. Your cost could be more or less, depending on what type of goat feed you decide to buy.
The above approximate cost does not include show supplies, housing (barn or shelter, fencing, etc.), feed buckets, or water buckets. There is also the question of what you will need for the shows. Take into account fuel for the trips, feed, feed buckets, water buckets, goat shampoo, water hose and nozzle, drying towels, goat leads, goat collars and show leads. We always recommend having more than 1 of everything; you never know when you just may need it!
Some of the Fairs are starting to charge for youth to show their goats. We do not know how much the fees will be or which shows will charge this year.

 We calculated the feed by this $ 8.25 x 10 bags = $ 82.50.
This figure may be higher or lower for each goat. Your cost could be more or less, depending on what type of goat feed you decide to buy.
This is only a calculation of some known variables; each person may experience different cost due to the health of a goat and the environment it is kept in.

We wish all participants the very best of luck with your goats!

4H Pullet Chain Orientation Meeting








It is time to begin the 4-H Pullet Chain Project for 2010. Poultry has been a favorite project for 4-H members for many years. Thank you for showing an interest in this project.

To participate in this year’s 4-H Pullet Chain Project, your child must attend the orientation meeting on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., in the Clemson Kitchen of the B. T. Deloach County Office Building located at 201 Jackson Avenue, West in Hampton, South Carolina.

The orientation meeting will give an overview of the project in its entirety.

The 4-H Pullet Chain Program is open to all youths ages 9 to 19 residing in Hampton, Allendale, Barnwell, Bamberg, Beaufort, Colleton, Jasper and surrounding counties. A parent or legal guardian must attend the orientation meeting with their child. No baby chicks will be given out at the orientation meeting.

If you plan to attend, please contact the Clemson University – Hampton County Extension Office at (803) 943-3427 Extension 0 by February 26, 2010.

Roy Hollingsworth, Ph.D.
Area County Extension Agent

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Fun at the Library!

Hello Homeschool Families
If you live on St. Helena Island as our family does or maybe you live nearby, you might be interested to know about programs the local library has to offer. There are story times, game nights, special programs and even socials. The library also has many new books, audio books, DVDs, video tapes, magazines and recordings. If you haven't visit your local library lately you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to use our facility, get to know the staff and interact with members of our community. Come on out and enjoy your local library!


Chess Anyone?
Are you interested in learning how to play chess or improving your present skills? Well, if you are or you’d like to come out and observe you are invited to come out to the St. Helena Island Public Library on Tuesday afternoons for free class on the basics of chess offered from 4 to 5 p.m. Children, teens and adults are welcome to learn chess or play chess.


Family Reading Night with Scavenger Hunt
Location: St. Helena Branch
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Family Reading Night will feature a Library Scavenger Hunt. For reservations, contact Ginny Marshall at 838-8304 or gmarshall@bcgov.net

ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH SERIES (OCTOBER)

October is Archaeology Month and the Beaufort County Library is co hosting several programs for the community. Homeschooling families will have the opportunity to explore this topic in conjunction with subjects like history, geography, and even literature. We hope you will plan to attend one of the remaining presentations.

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Submitted by Grace Cordial
You may recall that for the past 5 years or so, the Library and Beaufort County Planning have put together some programs on whatever the SCIAA Archaeology Month theme of the year happened to be. Thus, we've covered Military archaeology, Native American archaeology, the connection between the lowcountry and the Caribbean archaeology, etc. Well, we are at it again.
Ian Hill, Historic Preservationist, County Planning and I have teamed together with Historic Beaufort Foundation and USC-B to sponsor a series of 6 programs in observance of Archaeology Month 2009.

We're offering a variety of programs -- all free -- all designed to be enjoyable to anyone with an interest in archaeology, architecture, history, African-American culture, slave resistance or genealogy over the age of 12 years -- at various times of day -- on various days of the week -- and at 5 different venues -- to celebrate. Thus, you will have a hard time not coming to at least one of the offerings.

Note from CHSB::These are the remaining programs and they would be great for older homeschool students to attend.)

“My Family History Research in Black and White,” Barbara Carter Sat., Oct. 17, 1:00 - 2:00pm Beaufort District Collection, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, 2nd floor

“African-American Genealogy Workshop,” Grace Cordial Sun., Oct. 25, 2:00 - 4:00pm (RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: 757-1537) Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton

“Maroon Communities,” Dr. Timothy Lockley Tues., Oct. 27, 1:00 - 2:30pm Performing Arts Center, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Be Creative at Your Local Library













When is the last time you and your family visited your local library? Hopefully, it's not taking you long to answer that question. Certainly most homeschooling families visit the library quite often during the school year but what about during the summer break? Libraries across the nation, including our local Beaufort County Branches, are offering exciting reading contests, programs and activities designed to keep everyone reading, children, teens and adults, during the summer months.


The summer reading program this year is called, Be Creative, and you can still join in all the fun. This week the Beaufort County Branches are hosting a nature education program featuring, Low Country Naturalist, Tony Mills from the LowCountry Institute who brings with him a host of lowcountry animals and will talk about the Lowcountry Ecosystem. We caught the program this morning at the St. Helena Island Branch and had a great time along with a lot of other kids from local summer programs and their counselors, learning about animals that are indigenous to this area as well as some that are transplants and adapting here.
Thursday morning, cartoonist Dave McDonald will be at the St. Helena Branch showing the basics of drawing cartoons. Mr. McDonald, lives in Charlotte, NC and created a coming book character called Hamster Sam and he is becoming very popular. We are looking forward to gaining a few tips from Mr. McDonald on Thursday morning at 10:00 but you can also catch his presentation at the other branches as well. Visit the Beaufort County Library website for the calendar of events and see when more of these exciting presentations and activities are taking place at a library branch near you!