Volume 6, Issue 4

Preparing for the County 4-H Fair/Show – Cloverbud Style

As the 4-H summer season gears up, 4-H Cloverbud volunteers can assist their 4-H groups in getting ready for Cloverbud exhibits at the local county fair/show. Many counties do offer some type of exhibit opportunity for 4-H Cloverbud members. Often there is a separate display area for 4-H Cloverbud groups or a special “sharing time” for the group members as a part of the fair/show schedule.

Developmentally, children ages five to seven are not ready for competitive events. Instead 4-H Cloverbud exhibits are an opportunity for the group members to share examples of their completed activities with a caring adult. The whole group is encouraged to bring samples with them to the “sharing opportunity.”

Additionally by law, 4-H Cloverbud members are not eligible for Agriculture Premium Funds. However, many counties have provided a special participation or Cloverbud ribbon for every 4-H Cloverbud member. Again, because the exhibit is non-competitive, every child receives the same recognition item.

Prior to the 4-H fair/show, you may want to set aside time at one of your meetings to prepare your children for the “sharing” experience. Ask each member to bring an item that they have made and saved from previous 4-H Cloverbud meetings. Have all the children spend a few minutes talking about the item, what they learned as a result of the activity, and what else they would like to learn about that activity. This is a simple version of the “conference judging” concept that they will experience as older 4-H members in community clubs.

4-H Cloverbud volunteers may want to take advantage of the opportunity of the 4-H fair/show to take their members on a “mini-field trip” of the fair to show them what additional projects 4-H members may enroll in once they turn eight years of age.

Summer Safety Activity

Here is a summer safety activity you might conduct with your 4-H Cloverbud group. Write each of the following tips on a piece of paper and try to find a picture from a magazine to illustrate the tip. Create additional tips if you have more members in your group. Then have them pull the “safety tips” out of a large grocery bag that has the words “Safety First” written on the outside. Adults may need to help the 4-H Cloverbuds read the words. Then as a group, discuss each tip.

Be safe this summer and have fun!

Safety Tips

• Wear sunscreen when you go outside in the sun.
• Stay in the shade if possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the hot summer months.
• Be sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after physical activity.
• Never go near or in a swimming pool alone. Be sure you are with an adult at all times.
• Wear insect repellent when going outside, especially at dawn and dusk.
• Avoid areas where insects gather, such as pools of water and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
• Make sure metal sliding boards are cool to prevent your legs from getting burned.
• Be sure you wear a helmet whenever you ride your bicycle, skateboard, or scooter.
• Never ride your skateboard or scooter in or near traffic.

Get Up and Move!

Get Up and Move! was an initiative created this past year to help 4-H clubs, families, and youth address the issue of youth obesity. Materials were posted to the Illinois State 4-H web site monthly and contained a leader activity guide, an activity guide, a physical activity calendar, a nutritious snack or recipe, and supplemental materials. 4-H members were encouraged to record their daily physical activity minutes on the monthly calendar and turn them into their club leader each month. Feedback is currently being solicited from Extension staff, 4-H club leaders, and parents about this program. If you are interested in learning more about this initiative and how your group can be a part of the program, contact your local Extension office.

Camp Clover Open to Youth Ages 8 – 12

If you have 4-H Cloverbud members who are now eight years of age, they may be interested in participating in a Camp Clover program this summer (if offered by your county). Camp Clover is a summer day camp program typically offered four days a week for three hours each day. The campers participate in a social science, foods and nutrition, and physical science program each day. As a part of the foods lesson, they learn to prepare their own snack. Contact your local Extension office for more details.