4-H AllStars

Being tapped as a 4-H All Star is the highest honor you can receive in Virginia 4-H.  All Stars is reserved for the most engaged, most active 4-H members of strong character.  The All Star motto is SERVICE, and it is hoped that those who achieve All Star status will continue to be involved as a 4-H supporter for many years to come.

Congratulations to the Madison youth & volunteer who were tapped 
as 2013 4-H All Stars:  

• Caitlin Shilan
• Brooke Paramore
• Caleb Webb
• Denise Webb (Honorary All-Star) 

2014 All-Star applications are due Oct 15 to the Extension Office

All Stars are evaluated on a points system, and points are attained by participating in a variety of 4-H experiences.  Leadership, service, and participation all count, though different points are allotted for 4-H exchange programs versus completion of project record books (for example).  Competitions, workshops, county fairs, 4-H club projects, and awards are all examples of information collected on the nomination form. 
More information about 4-H All Stars is available online.  Don't forget!  If you plan to apply this fall, you need to contact Kaci ASAP so she can help you get started.

Required Statements Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disbility, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in any of these advertised activities, please contact the Madison Extension Office at 540-948-6881/TDD* during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. *TDD number is 800-828-1120

4-H Congress - The Path to Success

Five local youth represented Madison County at the 94th annual 4-H Congress at Virginia Tech in June.  The purposes of 4-H Congress is to provide a high-quality educational experience for 4-H youth ages 14-18.  While at Congress delegates participated in educational experiences during the Great Summer Showcase, Competition Workshops, a college fair and State Cabinet Elections. 

Madison Youth Delegates include:  (seated) Sarah W. , Chaperone, Becki, Brooke, (standing) Caitlin, Sarah, & Samantha.





Required Statements Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disbility, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in any of these advertised activities, please contact the Madison Extension Office at 540-948-6881/TDD* during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. *TDD number is 800-828-1120

State Fair Livestock Entries - DUE Aug 15th

The 2013 State Fair of Virginia Youth Livestock Show Entry System is open and entries are due by electronically by Thursday, August 15^th and must be signed by your extension agent/FFA Advisor and mailed with entry fees by Friday, August 16^th.  ALL ANIMALS, registered and market/commercial, must be entered through this system to be able to show at the 2013 State Fair of Virginia.  Please make sure that you take note of the instructions on the first page of the entry system. It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete the entry process. If you do not receive a form to print at the end, your entries were not recorded or received.  Entry fees are $5 per animal entered. Please make checks payable to the Virginia 4-H Foundation.

You can access the entry system on the State Fair page of the Youth Livestock web site at:

 http://www.4-h.ext.vt.edu/programs/anscience/livestock/events/state-fair-contests/index.html

The Livestock Show Entry System is located on the right side of the page. THE ENTRY SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE STATE FAIR OF VIRGINIA WEBSITE.

Please remember, entries into the system are due Thursday, August 15^th and must be signed and entry fees postmarked by Friday, August 16^th. Late entries are subject to an additional late fee.

In addition, this year, we are offering the youth an opportunity to purchase additional State Fair of Virginia exhibitor passes. This should be a separate check made payable to the State Fair of Virginia. Additional tickets are $10 per pass.

All rules and regulations have been posted to the Youth Livestock web site. The Youth Livestock Rules (only posted on the Youth Livestock page) apply in addition to the State Fair of Virginia General Rules and General Livestock Rules that are posted on the State Fair of Virginia web site.

Required Statements Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disbility, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in any of these advertised activities, please contact the Madison Extension Office at 540-948-6881/TDD* during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. *TDD number is 800-828-1120

How is it Wednesday already?

We have had a great week!  For those of you who couldn't come, we hope you can live vicariously through these photos of our experience! 

4-H is a community of young people learning citizenship, and one component of this is our daily flag ceremonies.  Here, members of the Owl pack help Romeo and Tarzan lower the flags for the evening.  

These volunteers help fold the flag.

After flags, it was time for the DANCE!!!  This is a big highlight of the week and a special event for the last night of camp.  The auditorium is ROCKIN' tonight!

The smiles say it all, and we have had a great week.  Thank you to all who participated!  In case we don't get time to blog tomorrow, we just want to let you know that we will know our 2014 camp dates by late September, and we welcome all kids in grades 3-8.

Also, both Orange and Madison 4-H offer summer workshops from next week until school starts.  Check with your local Extension office for options and pricing.  (Many are FREE!)

Required Statements Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disbility, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in any of these advertised activities, please contact the Madison Extension Office at 540-948-6881/TDD* during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. *TDD number is 800-828-1120

More Class and Afternoon Photos

We program from sun-up to past sundown around here.  More photos for you to enjoy!

The tie-dyed T-shirts are so vibrant.

Our counselors were good sports when the campers had to make beards for them Monday evening.  Has anyone seen Marrs Bar or Ninja???

The counselors work on new songs for the kids.  Little Red Caboose is an oldie, but goodie.  Choo-choo!

Play ball during afternoon rec.

 We are CRAZY for ga-ga over here.  New this year was a ga-ga tournament!!!  Which pack won?

See that big hill???  That's where the fourth "H" in 4-H comes from: Health to Better Living!

Friends are an important part of camp!

Our adult volunteers are priceless and we sure couldn't offer this experience without them!  Smylyn and Goldilocks guard the bank vault as campers choose how to spend their money on the last day.  Sorry, parents, but we don't think they're bringing too many dollars home.  (We know you're surprised!)

Look at these pool moves!

Sparky and a camper got decked out for the plaid spirit day.

Fun times hanging out in the "ool".  If you don't know, ask your camper why it's called the ool.

Woodworking students built 2'x2' gardening boxes. We can't wait to hear what they plant when they get home! 

Nightly campfires are special.  After a rainy Tuesday, we were happy for a clear Tuesday evening!

Required Statements Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disbility, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in any of these advertised activities, please contact the Madison Extension Office at 540-948-6881/TDD* during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. *TDD number is 800-828-1120

So What Do Campers Do in 4-H Camp Classes Anyway?

In case you have been wondering what happens in our 4-H camp classes, here are some snapshots!

Tie dying has been on the agenda for T-shirt Art class.

 The digital scrapbooking class learned to take photos with iPads and then created photo collages with their captures.

Rocketry campers had to study the directions in order to know how to build their rockets and pack the parachutes.

Canoeing was calm on the waters of Lake Culpeper.

Teamwork and communication were skills learned and practiced on the Low Ropes course.

To the top of the wall!  That's where campers in High Ropes went.

Required Statements Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disbility, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in any of these advertised activities, please contact the Madison Extension Office at 540-948-6881/TDD* during business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. *TDD number is 800-828-1120

Guest Blog by Olivia Camper

Good morning!  This post is brought to you by Olivia, one of our fabulous campers!

Hello, 4-H Camp! I was with Ms. Kaci and she asked me to be her guest and I said yes, so here we go! OK. So my favorite class if Riflery because I shot my first air rifle ever. I love Broadcast Journalism. It's all about getting over your fears, and I love this camp. Plus, did you know that Monkey and Chimp are sisters??? Plus, I wanted to give a loving shout-out to my mom, sister, dad, brother, NeNe, PaPa, Emmie, Reptar. I just wanted to say I love you guys. Please be reading this. I love you.