Digital Mayhem Contest (win $100)

The 4-H programs in Illinois and northeast Missouri are inviting all youth, ages 8-18years old, to produce their own digital photography, digital audio, digital video or mixed media production that demonstrates their abilities with digital media of all kinds. Top entries may be used in various promotional products; $100 prizes will be awarded. Select your own theme and message. Show the world your imagination and creativity! Create some mayhem! Complete rules and more information are at http://www.4hdmc.org . The upcoming submission deadlines are January 30, 2008; April 30, 2008; and October 30, 2008.

Horse Club Kicks-off New Year

Video from the November 2007 Rutherford County 4-H Horse Club meeting.

BTBY Goes Geocaching

Members of Rutherford County 4-H BTBY after-school club braved cold weather and whipping wind to try their skills at geocaching. The group divided into two teams and raced against each other to find four Frisbees hidden in the tall grass. The rules were simple: be the first team to find five separate coordinates and collect the Frisbee hidden there.

"It was fun," said Alyss Masundire. "We got to run around and find Frisbees."

Seventh grader Kathryn Gerard agreed. "I definitely want to try it again, but I think I'll wait until the spring."

For more information on geocaching check out: http://www.geocashing.com/ or contact Mr. Michael at the Rutherford County Extension Office.

2007 Rutherford County 4-H Halloween Dog Show

Interview with Barbara Davenport, the extension educator for the 4-H dog club.



Interview with 4-H dog club member:

RCNN Cattle Judging Video Has Over 1,500 Views!

Our first video to have over 1,500 views!:

Top Four Mistakes to Avoid While Presenting Your 4-H Speech

National 4-H Commercial from CBS Weekends

Check out this commercial that is airing nationally on CBS. There are a few clips featuring Rutherford County 4-H Network News members!

Join Rutherford County 4-H News

Members of the Rutherford County 4-H News Club will be holding their first meeting of the 07-08 school year this week. The meeting will be held Tuesday, October 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in meeting room C of the Rutherford County Extension Office.

If you would like to be a part of this exciting club, please join us on Tuesday night. For more information or directions to the Extension Office, contact Mr. Michael at 615-898-7710 or e-mail him at mashirley@mail.ag.utk.edu

4-H Outdoor Meat Cookery Contest Winners

More than 120 youth participated in this year's 4-H Outdoor Meat Cookery Contest at the Tennessee State Fair in Nashville, Tennessee. The purpose of this 4-H activity is to safely prepare beef, poultry, lamb, and pork in an outdoor setting. The Franklin County Team did just that and more by bringing home victory. Overall the team placed 1st place in the Junior High Division of the Outdoor Meat Cookery Contest. John Winfield Garner placed first in the beef category, Forrest Duncan placed first in the poultry category, and Anthony Davis placed first in the pork category. The team won 1st place in the team presentation category with their use of the theme “Grillin’ Across Tennessee”.

Top Picture: John Winfield Garner, Anthony Davis, Britton Lewis, Forrest Duncan
Bottom Picture: Britton Lewis, Anthony Davis, John Winfield Garner, Forrest Duncan

To view a complete list of placings, visit:
http://www.utextension.utk.edu/central/4H/contestresults.htm

Mule Pull

RC 4-H Networke News reports from the mule pulling contest at the Tennessee State Fair. This is a great video that will help you understand what goes on at a mule pull.

TN Central Region Life Skills Competition

Teams from all across the Central Region came together at the Tennessee State Fair to compete in the Life Skills Contest. Watch the video below to see what the Life Skills Contest involved, and to meet the winning team.

Interview with US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns

Earlier this month, RC 4-H News was invited to the North Star Studios in Nashville, Tennessee to attend a special presentation of RFD-TV. "RFD-TV Live" host Orion Samuelson was going to talk with US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns about the 2007 Farm Bill. 4-H News Reporter Brooke Nowicki was able to speak with Sec. Johanns before the show about the 2007 Farm Bill and his involvement in 4-H.

Interview with Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen

RC 4-H Network News reporters Kylie Williams and Rachel Lee caught up with Governor Phil Bredesen at the TSU Small Farm Expo held recently on the TSU research farm in Cheatham County. Watch and listen as they ask Governor Bredesen about 4-H and the importance of agricultural field days.

UT Produces News Story about Video Camp

Below is a video produced by the University of Tennessee's Agricultural Marketing and Promotions department.

More Videos from RC 4-H Video Camp

Here are the rest of the videos from last week's RC 4-H Video Camp:

4-H Video Camp a Success

Rutherford County 4-H Network News' first ever video camp concluded yesterday with a private movie screening for the participants' family and friends. We all had a great time visiting and watching the four video stories that the 4-H'ers created. Below is one story about cats that are available for adoption at the local animal shelter.

Tennessee's 4-H Technology Camp was held earlier this month at Camp Ridley in Columbia, Tennessee. Campers learned how to use various types of new technology throughout the week. To highlight how technology can be used at an advanced level, the 4-H'ers were treated to a special event.

Two US Army Apache helicopters landed on the camp's athletic fields. The pilots talked to all the 4-H members about the different computer systems that are used for the operations of the aircraft.

Watch and listen as reporter Rachel Lee interviews Chief Warrant Officer IV Dale Miller about his Longbow Helicopter.

Week One of Video Camp a Success

Rutherford County 4-H Network News completed its first week of Video Camp Thursday by filming at the local animal shelter. Nine 4-H members ranging from the fourth to the seventh grade have learned several new things throughout the first week. Topics covered during the first ever video camp included: What makes a good story?, Script Writing, Creating a Story Board, and Basic Filming Techniques.

Members of video camp decided to create two different stories about the local animal shelter. One group will make a video highlighting a puppy and a kitten that are available for adoption. The other 4-H'ers are making a movie to show people how to become a volunteer at the shelter.

During week two of Video Camp, our team will learn how to edit their film footage as well as publish it to the Internet for the world to view! If you are interested in joining RC 4-H Network News, contact our agent Mr. Michael at 615-898-7710.

Problems Resolved

RC 4-H Network News has resolved the problems that we encountered over the past two weeks that kept us from posting our videos. We are sorry that we have been behind, but we hope to stay current from here on out! If you are interested in joining our team, please give our agent, Mr. Michael, a call at: 615-898-7710.

- RC 4-H Network News

Interview with National 4-H Program Leader Byron Garrett

4-H news reporter Rachel Lee interviews Byron Garrett, national 4-H program leader, about the importance of the National 4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology conference that was held in Lincoln, Nebraska June 5-7.

Rutherford County Dairy Kick-off

Watch the festivities that took place on the courthouse lawn as County Mayor Ernest Burgess declares June as "Dairy Month" in Rutherford County. Middle Tennessee State University brought a cow and calf to the Square for our Dairy month Kick-off. Mayor Burgess also read a proclamation declaring June as "Dairy Month."

Rutherford County Dairy Day

Join the Rutherford County Extension Office as we celebrate June Dairy Day. The event is free and open for the entire family. Beginning at 9:00 am at the old ag center at Old Fort Park (near KidsCastle), you can take a hayride through a cow's life. At the end of the hayride, you may sample MTSU's award winning chocolate milk, as well as free ice cream, yogurt, cheese, and other milk products. There will also be games and you might just have an opportunity to milk a real cow by hand!!! The event will end at 1:00 pm. We hope to see you there!!!!

National 4-H SET Conference

Approximately 40 states sent representatives to Lincoln, Nebraska last week to attend the National 4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology Conference. The goal of the conference was to increase their knowledge and skills for providing leadership in their state 4-H programs for designing and delivering high quality SET learning experiences to youth and adults. RC 4-H Network News sent Rachel Lee to cover the event and serve as one of Tennessee's liaisons.

Tennessee June Dairy Month Kick-Off

Join Rutherford County 4-H News reporter Rachel Lee as she takes us to the Tennessee June Dairy Month Kick-off held in Nashville. Rachel interviews the state winning junior dairy quizbowl team as well as the president of the American Dairy Association of Tennessee.

Interview with UT's Coach Tony Jones

4-H News reporter Rachel Lee interviews Tony Jones, The University of Tennessee's Associate Head Coach of Men's Basketball, about the importance of dairy products in an athlete's diet. Coach Jones helped to guide the UT Vols to the Sweet Sixteen in this year's NCAA Tournament.

Video highlights of the 2007 Goat Day held at the Bedford County Ag Center in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Watch as our 4-H Goat Project members judge goats, learn showmanship techniques, compete in the goat Olympics, and have a great time!

Interview with a "Chick Chain" Participant

Jacob, a 4th grader involved with the "Chick Chain," tells us a little about his responsibilities managing his small flock of pullets. Stay tuned to RC 4-H Network News for more videos about this exciting project group as we follow Jacob and the rest of the "Chick Chain" participants throughout the summer.

4-H Goat Project; Managment Presentation

Below is the PowerPoint presentation given to our Goat Project meeting presented by Dr. Jennifer Hatcher. Go pop some popcorn and pull up a chair. This is a must-see for all involved in the 4-H goat project.

Chick Chain Participants Say Chicks Growing Fast

On Friday, March 16, 13 4-H'ers from all across Rutherford County came to the Extension Office with one thing on their mind- chicken. They were not interested in a meal, but rather beginning a project that will last until August. These 4-H'ers are participating in the Rutherford County Chick Chain.

Each 4-H'er was given 25 baby female chicks. For the next five months, they will be responsible for feeding, watering, and general maintenance of their small flock of birds. At the end of the summer, each participant will choose five of their birds to show and sale at the County Poultry Show. The money that is raised from the sale will be used to buy the chicks for next year's project.

Check back with www.rc4-h.blogspot.com to see how these chicks grow throughout the summer.

Rutherford County 4-H Fundraiser

Join us for a
4-H Fundraiser
Dinner and Auction at Lane Agri-Park
Date: March 26, 2007
Time: 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices
$7 per person Or $25 for 4

Stay and enjoy your meal with us or get your meal to go!

Silent Auction
4:30 –7:00

Live Auction
5:30-6:30

All proceeds from this event will
benefit the 4-H program of Rutherford
County. We thank you for your support!

Menu
Barbeque Sandwich
Baked Beans
Potato Salad
Dessert
Drink
* catered by Whitt’s Barbeque*
Call us at 898-7710 for
tickets or more information!

State 4-H Poster Winners Announced

Judging has been completed for the State 4-H Poster Art Contest and the winners selected. The following members have state-winning entries.

Calamity Jane Coley, Macon County
Jordan Dunn, Sumner County
Storie Hardin, Maury County
John Harris, Hickman County
Marissa Howard, Obion County
Baxter McCurry, Marion County
Bryce Moore, McNairy County
Bethany Roberts, Monroe County
Brianna Tidwell, Dickson County
Evan Todd, Henry County

These ten posters will be on display during Tennessee 4-H Congress in Nashville, March 25-28. The contest is sponsored by the Former University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Workers Association. Each state winner will receive a rosette and $50 US savings bond. The winning posters may also be seen on the Congress Web site at http://4h.tennessee.edu/stcong/poster/stwin.htm.

Steve Sutton
Extension Specialist
4-H Youth Development

Livestock Judging - Beef Heifers

Join the Rutherford County Livestock Judging Team as we go over the basics of judging beef heifers. For more information about joining our team, call 615-898-7710.

Public Speaking Contests

The Central Region's Sub-regional 4-H Public Speaking Contest was held Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at Hermitage Elementary School in Davidson County. Rutherford County was represented in all grade levels.
All of the participants did a great job and represented Rutherford County well.






From left to right: Austin Duke, 7th grade, participation award; Rebecca Gibbs, 5th grade, 3rd place; Lorne Woods, 6th grade, participation award and Hannah Lee, 8th grade, 3rd place.



The Central Region's public speaking contest was held on Saturday, February 10th, at MTSU in Murfreesboro. Rutherford County was represented by three senior 4-H'ers. Each participant gave a prepared speech that lasted from five to seven minutes. They each also had to give an extemporaneous (spur-of-the-moment) speech. Rachel Lee won at the 10th grade level, and will represent Rutherford County at the Sate Public Speaking Contest held in Nashville during the annual State 4-H Congress. Congratulations to all our participants!L to R: Beth Henegar, 12th grade participant; Elizabeth Henry, 11th grade 3rd place; Rachel Lee, 10th grade, 1st place; Mary Beth Lee, Central Region All Star Scribe

Goat Judging Video

We are pleased to offer this training video of goat judging. Stay tuned for more helpful videos from Rutherford County 4-H Network News!