4-H Summer Camp Dates Announced

There's a big change coming to the Madison 4-H calendar in 2011!!! 4-H Junior Camp will be held June 26-30, 2011, at the NOVA 4-H Center. We will be the third week of the camping season this year, not the first, so please keep this in mind as you make summer vacation plans. Other dates are not expected to change, such as counselor applications due January 31st and camper brochures available February 28th.

There will be a Cloverbud camp at the center for youth ages 5-8 June 12-16. This is a new summer program at the Center and we hope some Madison youth will take advantage of this opportunity. Cloverbud camp is smaller in size and will use only one dorm at the Center.

Finally, a 4-H District Camp will be held August 7-11. This is for youth ages 9-13 who couldn't get enough of camp for their cluster's week. So, yes, you CAN go to 4-H camp twice in one summer! District Camp serves 19 counties, so don't delay in letting the Center know you want to attend. Applications will be available on their website.

4-H Allstar Application Due Nov 15

If you're at least 15 years of age and would like to apply to be a 4-H All Star, this message is for you! Nomination forms are available online as is additional information about points calculation, induction requirements, etc. Being tapped as an All Star is the highest honor one can receive in Virginia 4-H and all Madison County members are strongly encouraged to apply. If you're too young to apply, start the process now because it takes a lot of record-keeping. If you don't have enough points yet, work with your leader and/or Extension Agent to develop a plan to help you earn enough points. You can DO THIS!!! Forms are due to the Extension Office for review on November 15th.

Honey Bee Essay Contest

The Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees is holding it's annual essay contest with a chance to win cash prizes statewide and nationally. The topic for this year's essay is "U.S. Honey: A Taste for Every Preference" and pertains to how regional plants affect the taste of honey. For more information on the contest go to http://honeybeepreservation.org/category/essay-contest.

VT Swine Education Weekend

Who: Youth and adults interested in swine and PQA-Plus Certification
What: Swine-related talks, activities, Youth and Adult PQA-Plus Certification, and fun!
Where: Alphin-Stuart Arena on Plantation Road, Blacksburg VA
When: February 26, 2011Why: If you are interested in raising or showing pigs, want to make friends who are interested in swine, or just learn more information about swine, join us for the 4th annual Youth Swine Education Day!Registration to follow in November/December.Questions or more informationContact: Ashley Kyle akyle@vt.edu

4-H Officer Training

4-H Officer Training will be held Saturday, November 6th from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Orange. All youth are welcome to attend, not just the officers, but all officers are expected to attend. The Boys & Girls Club is located at the Taylor Education Administration Complex, 200 Dailey Drive, (Old Prospect Heights Middle School).

4-H Achievement Night - Oct 9, 5:30 p.m.

Join Us of a celebration on 4-H! Our annual 4-H Awards night will be held on Saturday, Octover 9 at Waverly Yowell Elementary School. The evening will start with dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by awards. The theme is "4-H Remebers When". We will be celebrating 4-H past, present and future!! Club members are asked to represent one of the following decades:

• 40’s – Adventure Club
• 50’s –Menagerie Club
• 60’s – Centaurs Club
• 70’s – Livestock Club & Cloverbuds
  80’s Dairy Club & Goat Club
  90 ‘s Home Ec and Helping Hands Club

All 4-H members, parents, volunteers and supporters are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to the Madison Extension Office by Oct 6, 2010.

Aging Remarkably Essay Contest.

Aging Together invites 6th - 12th grade public school, private schools and homeschooled students living in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange or Rappahannock counties to tell us the story of one of the many remarkable seniors you know . You decide what’s remarkable. Maybe you have a grandparent who started a new sport or job after retirement. Maybe one of your neighbors now cares for a family member, just got his driver’s license or hiked a mountain or trail. Spend some time with them and write their story for us.
Essay Criteria: Student essays should be based on an interview with a local senior and describe an accomplishment or experience that occurred after the senior turned 65. The essay must be at least 750 words and can not exceed 1000 words. Essays will be judged on the quality of the writing, grammar, punctuation, and spelling, not how dramatic or exciting the senior’s story is. It’s all about how you write the story. All essays must be submitted with a completed registration form.
Judging: Essays will be judged by the Aging Together Communications Advisory Committee, which includes writers and other communications professionals. Essays will be judged in two grade groups: 6th ‐ 8th grades and 9th ‐ 12th grades. One winner and two honorable mentions will be selected for each grade group in each county.That’s a total of 2 winners and 4 honorable mentions in each county.
Prizes: The winners in each county will receive a $50 gift card and will have their essays published intheir local newspaper and on the Aging Together website. Those selected as honorable mentions will receive certificates and will have their essays published on the Aging Together website.
Deadline: The essay and completed registration form must be received in the Aging Together officeby 5:00 pm, December 15, 2010. Awards will be announced by April, 2011 and will be published during Older American’sMonth—May, 2011.