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      Maryann's Memo      


Today is the day to show your UConn 4-H pride.
During this 36-hour campaign, let's go all paws in to support impactful programming
for our youth, our communities, and our world during UConn Gives!

Spread the word! UConnGives is back, March 8-9, 2023! Please support the UConn 4-H Program at s.uconn.edu/give4-H23 to provide youth with amazing leadership and civic education experiences. 



          In this Issue          



This Week

March 8-9: Support 4-H in the UConn Gives Campaign 
March 11: UConn 4-H Dairy and Beef Day, UConn Storrs campus

Coming Up 

March 18: UConn 4-H Expressive Arts Day, Litchfield County Extension 
March 25:  UConn 4-H Public Speaking Contest Finals, UConn Storrs campus


Announcements
UConn Extension Internship Opportunities
National 4-H Annual Index Survey
Tolland County 4-H Fair Ad Campaign Information

Opportunities

Fairboard Premium Book Cover Contest
Science/Agriscience Teacher Training
Scholarship Opportunities
4-H Essay Contest Opportunity
NRCA Conservation Ambassador Program
TAC Tack & Tag Sale
UConn 4-H Citizenship Day
Fairboard Meeting
4-H Beef Program Big E Information
UConn 4-H State Horse Contests
Alumni & UConn Student Survey
Job Opportunities


Volunteer Reminders
UConn Background Check Information
Minor Protection Training / Volunteer Agreement Reminder
UConn 4-H Virtual Volunteer Trainings
Volunteer Connection 

Other Information
Joann 4-H Campaign
Joining 4-H Information
Photos Needed
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Information
Avian Influenza Information
4-H Websites
Save the date: 2023 Tolland County 4-H Fair


Calendar
         Announcements          
    UConn Undergrads - Join Us This Summer!     

Check Out Our Summer Internship Opportunities

Read the 2022 Internship Spotlights


National 4-H Annual Index Survey
 
4-H teens in Connecticut between the ages of 13-18 and participating in 4-H in 2020-2021 will be receiving emails this week to the parent/guardian email inviting them to participate in a new National 4-H Evaluation study called the National 4-H Annual Index that will assess program impacts and the positive youth development experience.  The email will include a personalized link to participate in this study which should take about 15 minutes to complete.  Responses are combined with other youth responses from around the country and will help to ensure that UConn 4-H is successful in providing high quality youth development programming. 
 
We appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey.
TIME TO SELL SPONSORSHIPS! 

2023 Tolland County 4-H Fairboard Sponsorship Ad Campaign is happening now

Every 4-H'ers help is needed to raise our goal this year to raise funds for the annual fair!
Sponsorship Form
Sponsor Tally Sheet
2023 Sponsorship Ad Campaign Rules and Regulations 

Don't Forget, you can find all the sponsorship ad campaign information on our website. The 4-H office has sponsorship material packets available, please call the office or email tolland@uconn.edu if you would like to pick up material packets.
Opportunities
 

Agriscience and Secondary Science educators: Apply Now for research study providing 30-hours of professional development training at the UConn Storrs campus about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), receive training in a new curriculum and increase your laboratory skills to expand student understanding. Compensation of $600 will be provided to participants. Visit s.uconn.edu/applygmo to learn more!


Association of Connecticut of Fairs Scholarship
The Association of Connecticut Fairs, Inc. awards three (3) scholarships of $1,000.00 each to a graduating high school senior or a current college student to assist them with their education at an accredited institution of higher learning.

Applications due to 4-H Office by May 15th

----------------------------------

Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation
This scholarship is open to anyone pursuing Ag Education or furthering agriculture in CT.
Applications due June 1st
 
2023 4-H Essay Contest
Topic: The Importance of Beeswax
Submissions Due April 3rd

Do you want to enjoy the outdoors this summer and be a changemaker in your community? 
If yes, consider joining UConn’s Conservation Ambassador Program (CAP)! Get a glimpse of our program through our CAP flyer, and learn more at nrca.uconn.edu/cap/. Our online application (https://s.uconn.edu/cap-app) is now open until May 7th.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact laura.cisneros@uconn.edu or call 860-486-4917.

4-H clubs are welcome to have booths at no charge for their various fundraising items if they choose.  TAC is only asking clubs don’t sell water and snacks, as TAC is going to be selling those items as an additional fundraiser.  If a club wants to participate, fill out a contract and email it back to the TAC_Events@outlook.com.

The next Fairboard meeting is April 12, 2023 at 6:45pm.

Held at the Tolland County Extension Center

As a Tolland County 4-H member you are automatically a member of the county fair board. Everyone is welcomed to attend the fairboard meetings!
Your input helps us plan out a successful fair each year. Fairboard Meetings are the second Wednesday of every month at 6:45 pm

We want to see YOU and hear YOUR ideas at our monthly meetings.
 

Fairboard Meeting Calendar


2023 ESE 4-H Beef Program
 
It is that time of year again- tagging steers for the New England 4-H Beef program at the Big E! 
 
You can access the entry information by going to the website: www.thebige.com.  Look under “competitions”, then “4-H”, and finally “4-H Packets”.  The 4-H Beef entry information can be found there. 
 
Steers must be tagged and entered by February 1, 2023 to be eligible for the show. 
I am tagging Jan. 21 & 22. 
 
I contacted Eileen Smith and she will be coordinating tagging for club members steers in her group. Everyone else needs to coordinate with me. 
YOU MUST MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH ME.  
 
If weather is a problem, I will deal with it as necessary.  Let me know, as soon as you can, the number of steers you will be entering.
 
You can e-mail me at: laura.marek@uconn.edu with your information,or call me at the numbers listed at the end of this letter. 
 
Heifers do not need to be tagged.  The entry deadline for heifers is May 10, 2023 Of course, you can enter them at any time prior to May 10th. Once again there will be a class for commercial heifers, same rules and age breakdown as registered animals, just not registered. Please let me know by mid February, if you expect to have heifer entries submitted. Don't forget to check the rules for each show, especially ages and classes for heifers.  
 
 
Be sure to read all rules and regulations for this program.  Also be sure you are enrolled in 4-H and have your animal verification forms submitted on time to your local extension office.
Remember. In addition to entering on time, CT 4-H’ers are required to show the animals entered at their local 4-H Fair in order to qualify to participate in the ESE 4-H Beef program.  If you enter 3 animals in the ESE program, but only show one as your 4-H project at the fair, that is the only animal that qualifies.
 
 
Please be aware that rules for the 4-H Beef program at ESE will be adhered to.  Violators will be disqualified.  Keep in mind that when you check your animals in at the scales in September, you must submit your completed records at that time.   If not, you will be going home.  Once animals are checked in, they are the 4-H member’s responsibility and must be kept in the designated areas.
 
I still need the signature sheet filled out and sent to me:
 
Laura A. Marek
Litchfield County Extension Center
843 University Dr.
Torrington, CT  06790 
 
Any questions? Call me or text 860-305-4529.  
 
Please get this information to anyone interested in applying.  If a 4-H’er is not sure about going, apply anyway, as once the deadline is passed you cannot enter. (You can always choose not to go at a later date.)

2023 Big E Beef Packet Now Available

State 4-H Horse Program 2023 Contests


Entry Forms
Rules 

For more information contact Emily Alger, call 860-345-4511 or email emily.alger@uconn.edu. 


4-H Alumni Engagement Form


UConn 4-H is proud of everything you accomplished in our program and since then! We want to reconnect with you and learn more about how 4-H impacted your life. Please fill out this three-minute survey
4-H Alumni Survey
4-H Members at UConn

UConn 4-H is connecting with our current members and alumni that are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs at UConn. Please fill out the following form if you are a current UConn student and a 4-H'er.
4-H Member at UConn Survey
       Volunteer Information       
VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECK RENEWALS

As many of you know the 4-H background check renewal process has begun.  HR is reaching out to volunteers who were screened in December 2018 and will continue to conduct the re-checks on a staggered basis. Please look out for emails and/or text messages from UConnStorrs4HNRCA@screening.services . Renewal process only requires clicking the individualized link and completing the necessary information. No additional paper forms need to be submitted. 
 
Questions about the CBC link or email can sent directly to UConn HR email hr-cbc@uconn.edu.
Volunteers
 
Minor Protection Training can be taken through ZSuite under the Clover Academy link in the left menu bar.  Please note that you must be logged on to your volunteer account to access the training and it cannot be accessed from a mobile device.  Please be sure to follow the training all the way through to the end.  We need to see 100% completion in order to give you credit for the training.  This training must be completed annually and your enrollment will not be activated for the 2022/2023 year until this is complete. Instructions on how to complete the training here.
 
Volunteer Agreement - Please print, complete, sign and return the linked Volunteer Agreement form to tolland@uconn.edu. This form must be completed annually by all volunteers.  Your enrollment will not be activated for the 2022/2023 year until we have this form on file. 
 
We appreciate your help in completing the enrollment process in a timely fashion. You will not be approved in ZSuite unless the volunteer agreement and minor protection training are both completed. Leaders will need to be approved to view club information such as waivers, rosters, etc, so get all the steps done as soon as possible. 

If you have questions, please be sure to reach out to the 4-H office. We're here to help! 
Other Information

The JOANN 4-H point of sale campaign is happening right now and will run until May 1, 2023.  Customers can donate or round up at checkout in JOANN stores to support 4-H. Erupt your creative 4-H spark by visiting your local JOANN store and don't forget to support 4-H.

Do you know someone interested in joining 4-H?

Have them complete the form on the UConn 4-H website and the Tolland County 4-H office send them information regarding joining!

https://4-h.extension.uconn.edu/youth-opportunities/


If they have any questions email tolland@uconn.edu or call the office at (860) 875-3331

The CT Department of Agriculture Confirms Incidence of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus in CT

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease has been detected in Connecticut.  Please read the CT Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Agriculture information on this highly contagious disease and share this release with your 4-Hers!

HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA CONFIRMED IN BIRDS

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected In New Haven County Connecticut 

Owners of birds should avoid visiting other farms, homes or facilities that also have birds. Please keeps this in mind when planning 4-H club activities. 

There should be no live birds involved in 4-H meeting activities.


USDA has confirmed Avian Influenza in Connecticut.
USDA APHIS has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) across the country. Anyone involved with poultry – commercial or backyard flocks alike – should review their biosecurity plan and enhance their biosecurity practices to assure the health of their birds.

Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl. As part of our efforts to prevent the introduction of Avian Influenza into Connecticut poultry, the department conducts surveillance testing of birds throughout the state. Commercial and non-commercial flock owners are participating in our surveillance program. We have partnered with the Connecticut Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Connecticut to do low or no cost testing of birds for the Avian Influenza virus. We also have strict importation restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus in our state.

Bird owners need to be aware and report anything out of the ordinary. Anyone who may suspect a poultry on their farm may have died from unknown causes should call the State Veterinarian at 860-713-2505 or email ctstate.vet@ct.gov. Signs of Avian Influenza include depression, decreased feed and water consumption, decreased egg production, soft or misshapen eggs, and respiratory signs (coughing and sneezing). You can also find out more by visiting the Connecticut Department of Public Health's pandemic flu webpage or visit the USDA’s Bird Flu website.

Additional resources:
Most Recent Updates/Best Practices
CT Avian Influenza Information
CT Avian Influenza FAQ
Defend the Flock



4-H Websites
You can find forms, upcoming event information and other details online

Tolland County 4-H Website
UConn 4-H Program Website
Calendar

March 8-9: Support 4-H in the UConn Gives Campaign 

March 9 - March 13: Ignite by 4-H (formally National 4-H Summit)

March 11: UConn 4-H Dairy and Beef Day, UConn Storrs campus 

March 18: UConn 4-H Expressive Arts Day, Litchfield County Extension 

March 25:  UConn 4-H Public Speaking Contest Finals, UConn Storrs campus

April 12: Tolland County 4-H Fairboard Meeting at 6:45 pm (Tolland County Extension Center)

April 12: UConn 4-H Citizenship Day, State Capitol, Hartford, CT

April 14 - April 19: 4-H Conference. Crystal City, VA

April 22 - Ad Campaign Turn-in

April 26 - May 7:  Tractor Supply Clover Campaign

April 29: State 4-H Horse Program, Storrs Campus - Entry Deadline March 1st

May 1:  Cattle & Horse Verification Forms Due

May 6: New England 4-H Dog Clinic

May 10: Tolland County 4-H Fairboard Meeting at 6:45 pm (Tolland County Extension Center)

May 15:  Connecticut Ag Fair Scholarship Applications Due

June 1: All other animal Verification Forms Due 

June 14: Tolland County 4-H Fairboard Meeting at 6:45 pm (Tolland County Extension Center)

July 12: Tolland County 4-H Fairboard Meeting at 6:45 pm (Tolland County Extension Center)

July 26: Tolland County 4-H Fairboard Meeting at 6:45 pm (Tolland County Extension Center)

August 11-13: Tolland County 4-H Fair (Tolland Agricultural Center)

August 21: ESE 4-H Dog Program Orientation (Tolland County Extension Center)
Maryann J. Fusco-Rollins
UConn Extension Tolland County 4-H
Program Administrator
24 Hyde Avenue, Vernon CT 06066
Extension Office Phone: 860.875.3331
4-H Direct Phone: 860.870.6929
maryann.fusco@uconn.edu
Facebook
Website
Copyright © 2023 UConn Extension Tolland County 4-H, All rights reserved.


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