Dear 4-H Families,
As we continue to work together to help slow the spread of the
coronavirus, Purdue University has made the difficult decision to cancel all face to face
activities through June 30, 2020. While this affects all of us involved with
Allen County 4-H, please remember that we are all in this together.
4-H Trips & Events in June
Many youth have been looking forward to camps and trips during the month of
June. The State 4-H office is sending an email to all 4-H families across the
state later today with opportunities for youth to participate in virtual events
such as 4-H Round-Up, 4-H Academy @ Purdue, State 4-H Junior Leader Conference,
and State 4-H Band & Chorus at no cost. Additionally, 4-H Youth Development
educators in Northeast Indiana are looking at the possibility for a weekend 4-H
camp for youth in 3rd-6th grades in the fall.
Livestock Projects
We will not be holding any more weigh-in events this year. Once Governor
Holcomb’s stay at home order is lifted, we will be sending information about
how to check-out tagging equipment from the office for families to tag their
animals. We will provide detailed instructions and videos that will help make
this as easy as possible for our families. 4-H is about education, and this
will be educational for many of our 4-H members and their families.
Non-Livestock Projects
The add/drop deadline has been changed to June 1. With the extra time we all
have at home, now is a great time to try a new project! A complete list of
Allen County projects with rules is located at https://extension.purdue.edu/allen/label/7.
Manuals may be requested and picked up after the Governor’s stay at home order
is lifted.
Plant Sale
The Executive Committee of the 4-H Board has made the difficult decision to
cancel the plant sale this year. Jean is working with Board members to contact
everyone who placed an order. While this is one of our best annual fundraisers,
the money we make from it isn’t worth anyone getting sick.
Jean and I are still available
for questions by email. Use sammjohnson@purdue.edu and jkendall@purdue.edu for
fastest response. We are looking forward to seeing you all in person once it is
safe to resume our 4-H activities! In the meantime, please stay at home as much
as possible, wash your hands often (for 20 seconds, which is the time it takes
to say the 4-H pledge twice), and don’t touch your face (where germs enter the
body).
Together, we are Allen County 4-H
Strong!
Samm
Johnson
Extension Educator
4-H Youth Development