The Cooperative Extension Service   
of Henry County, Kentucky

4-H / Youth Development

This is a chance in a lifetime to discover our nations capitol along with over 120 peers from all over the United States. If you are interested call Cathy Toole at 845-2811 for more details.

If a parent would like to get in on the fun there may be a space available if you would like to share in the adventure.

While everyone is spending more time indoors now is the perfect time to begin working on speeches and demonstrations. The date for the Communications Day usually toward the end of February.  If you have never given a speech or demonstration we have excellent publications in the office that will take you through the process step by step.

By using these forms of communications you will gain skills that will include: researching a subject, organizing your thoughts, expressing yourself clearly, and teaching others about your topic.

If you think you need another person to help write your speech that is okay as long as you are the one delivering it. In giving a demonstration you could use the team approach. Both team members should participate equally in both the speaking and the demonstration part.

If you think you would like to give a speech you may have already written a paper for school that you could modify into a very interesting speech. Teachers have told me in the past how creative many of you are in your writing styles. Why not share the hard work you have already done with an interested group of listeners.

Speeches are judged according to age. There will be a winner chosen from those that are : 9,10,11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16-18.  The time limit for 9-13 years old is three to five minutes. The time limit for ages 14-18 year olds is five to seven minutes. 4-H'ers should not use visual aids when giving talks.

There are seven categories for demonstrations for members age 9-13:

1. Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources: To include agronomy, crops, soils, small engines, horticulture, electricity, agriculture engineering, agricultural sciences, forestry, geology, water, air and wildlife.
2. Animal Science: All animals, except Horse.
3. Food Preservation/Nutrition: Dairy foods, other foods, breads and food safety.
4. Human Environmental Sciences: Clothing, home environment/management, health and babysitting.
5. Crafts/Hobbies: Photography, arts & crafts, fine arts, collectibles and hobbies.
6. Safety: Farm, vehicle, gun, home, personal and first aid.
7. General: Anything else.

There are (18) categories for Senior Members:

The time limit for Senior Demonstrations is fifteen (15) minutes except for Breads, which is twenty (20) minutes. A Senior can enter only one demonstration, 4-H'ers may compete in the Talk Meet.

So many of you have learned how to do really neat things this past year. I would suggest you start there looking for ideas, such as: showing animals, basket making, quilting, tractor safety, gun safety, how to sew a garment, lawnmower safety, and leaf identification just to name a few.

Getting bored?  Here is your chance to express yourself in your own way, get busy!

Each year the Postal Service gets about 40,000 such requests. Only 30-35 commemorative stamps are issued each year. Twelve members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee evaluate applications and indications of support, and make recommendations for subjects to the Postmaster General.

THE MORE PUBLIC SUPPORT, THE MORE LIKELY THE SUBJECT WILL BE CHOSEN. MASSIVE PUBLIC SUPPORT WILL BE NECESSARY.

To make the 4-H Centennial stamp application stand out from all the others! We are asking 4-H members, 4-H Leaders, 4-H Alumni, parents and elected officials to send letters of support for the issuance of the 4-H Centennial Stamp in 2002.

Please write to:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
c/o Stamp Development
U.S. Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW,
Room 4474E
Washington, D.C. 20260-2437

Please explain why you think a 4-H Centennial Stamp should be issued in 2002. Tell how you are (or were) involved in 4-H, and how 4-H has impacted your life, or why it is special to you. With your help we can make this happen!

"We're extremely pleased with this partnership and believe by joining forces we can better educate the nation's young people about hunter education, gun safety, conservation, and ethics," said Dr. Diane Smathers, Cochairman of the National Shooting Sports Committee. "The purpose of the 4-H program is to teach life skills, and we feel there is no better way to teach citizenship, leadership, responsibility, and decision making than through the shooting sports."

Over the next 10 years, the NWTF will provide $100,000 a year to the 4-H Shooting Sports program: $50,000 will go directly to the 4-H Shooting Sports Foundation and the other $50,000 will be facilitated through the Wild Turkey Super Fund. Money sent directly to the foundation will be used for training 4-H volunteers, and, according to the needs of local 4-H events, dollars spent through the Super Fund will be used, for example, to purchase equipment, improve facilities, and fund participant awards. NWTF local chapters will also provide manpower and volunteer support for local shooting events.

Each year, more than 300,000 young people particiapate in 4-H Shooting Sports Program events, which range from competitions and camps to weekend retreats. The NWTF's commitment to the 4-H shooting program is just one way to ensure youth are given the opportunity to learn about shooting sports in an atmosphere that fosters citizenship, emphasizes safety, and develops leadership.

If you are interested in participating in the Henry County 4-H Shooting Sports Program as a 4-Her or as a volunteer leader please call the Extension office for more information at 845-28ll.

Few plants offer such a vivid display of color as the poinsettia. But the bright red, pink, white, or variegated structures that are so attractive are not actually the flowers. These structures are modified leaves called bracts and the collection of bracts on a stem is called an involucre.  The actual flowers are present but not very showy. To find the flowers look for one or more cup- shaped structures called cyathia near the center of the involucre. Within the cyathia are the actual flowers and these are far from showy. The flowers are either female, containing a single pistil, or male, containing a single anther. And that's about it, they have no sepals or petals which are the parts that provide the showy color on most plant. The fact that the attractive part is not a true flower is an advantage. Most flowers are relatively short-lived while the poinsettia bracts are very long lasting and may provide a nice decorative plant for the ever-extending holiday season.

Poinsettia toxicity

Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not considered poisonous. Research at several institutions has shown that poinsettia foliage is not toxic. In fact, one source indicated that a 50 pound child would have to ingest over a pound of poinsettia vegetation to exceed experimental doses that were considered non toxic. That's roughly 500 leaves or flower bracts, and even at that level no toxicity was observed. Rest assured, the poinsettia is the most widely tested plant in commercial trade.

Even though they are non toxic, poinsettias are still considered non-edible. As with all plants, some people have reported skin sensitivities when exposed to poinsettias. Individuals may be especially sensitive to the white milky sap called latex that poinsettias bleed when a leaf or flower is injured. Such individuals may experience some discomfort if a leaf or flower bract was accidentally ingested. Curious cats may choke on poinsettia foliage because of its fibrous nature. And of course, active children are apt to put anything in their mouth. A good practice is to put all non-edible materials, including poinsettias, out of reach.

Caring for poinsettias at home.

Poinsettias are not difficult plants to keep going indoors. Try to give the plant as much light as possible like under a skylight or near an east or south facing window. If possible, try to expose the leaves to one or more hours of direct sunlight each day. Drafty areas near radiators or ceiling fans should be avoided and it is never a good idea to set plants of any kind on a television or other electronic equipment. Water the plant as needed but don't over water. Poinsettias are susceptible to several soil-borne diseases and wet soils can cause the plants to succumb rather quickly. To determine if it's time to water, stick your finger down into the soil at least to your middle knuckle. If you can feel moisture, wait another day and check again before watering. Never let the plant stand in water. Pour off water that may accumulate in a saucer or dish under the pot and remove the pot from the cellophane pot cover when watering. You can fertilize the plant every couple of weeks with ordinary house plant food. A well cared for poinsettia can last for several weeks after the holiday season.