Thank you Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University recentley presented a grant to RC 4-H News for the purchase of a new 24 in. iMac computer complete with FinalCut Studio! This is a short video thanking them for the wonderful addition to our program! Thanks TSU

2009 Tennessee State 4-H Theme and Logo Unvieled

The 2008-09 State 4-H Council is pleased to announce the 2009 state 4-H theme, "Tennessee 4-H: Your Voice is the Driving Force." This theme will be used during the 2009 year in various ways, including the theme for State 4-H Congress and Tennessee 4-H Roundup and All Star Conference. The theme is also the topic for the Congress essay contest. A special thanks is extended to the State 4-H Council for their work in preparing this theme.

-Justin CroweExtension Specialist4-H Youth Development

Hatching Success

Members of the 2008 Rutherford County 4-H Chick Chain project group recently gathered at the Old Fort Park Agriculture Center for the annual 4-H Poultry Show and Sale. Twenty-one 4-H’ers from across the county gathered for what will be the final 4-H event held at the Old Fort Park location as construction will soon begin on a tennis complex that will replace the livestock center.
The Chick Chain project is one of the 4-H program’s most popular offerings. Participants received 25 baby chicks in March and were responsible for their care until the poultry show held the Saturday before school resumed. Each 4-H’er selected their five best birds and entered them into the show. After the awards were given out to the winners, all the birds were auctioned off one pen of five at a time. The proceeds from the auction paid the original purchase price of the birds. All profits that were left-over went directly back to the 4-H’ers that participated in the show.
Members were also responsible for turning in a record book of their expenses and receipts along with at least a one-page essay describing the Chick Chain experience. Extension Agents then judged these records while the 4-H’ers competed in a Skill-a-Thon which tested their understanding of proper care of their chickens. Scores from the record book, Skill-a-Thon, and essay of each 4-H’er were averaged together. Olivia Gum from Kittrell was awarded the Grand Champion Exhibitor trophy for having the highest average. For more information about the Chick Chain project, contact Michael Shirley at the Rutherford County Extension Office; 898-7710.

Grand Champion Exhibitor: Olivia Gum
Reserve Grand Champion: Shelby Hill
Champion Birds: Jacob Henry
Reserve Champion Birds: Rachel Elrod
Record Book Winner: Olivia Gum
Essay Winner: Brandon Taylor
Skill-a-Thon Winner: Mary Beth Wrather

Chick Chain Show and Sale

The annual 4-H Poultry Show and Sale will take place this Saturday August 9 at 10:00 am. This year, we will be selling Rhode Island Reds like the one pictured to the right. Call the Extension office at 615-898-7710 for more information.

County Success at the Regional Goat Show

Seven Rutherford County 4-H'ers competed in the Central Region 4-H Market Goat Show held at the Bedford County Fair on Saturday, July 26.

All together they brought home 10 blue ribbons (out of 35 classes)! They also accumulated four seconds, three thirds, four fourths, and two fifth place awards. Sara Beth Young was also chosen as the Reserve Champion in the Junior High Showmanship Class.

Pictured at the right are (from l to r) Catherine, Tristan, Emily, Hunter, Abigail, Sara Beth, and Tanner. They are exhibiting some of their show goats that won the "Best County Group of Five" award.

Congratulations to our goat club exhibitors!

4-H Livestock Show Season

Even though 4-H is more that "Cows, Plows, and Sows," livestock show have always been a major part of the 4-H history. Caring for and showing livestock teachs 4-H'ers many useful qualities like responsibility, dedication, and determination just to name a few.

Follow this link to see pictures from this year's Rutherford County 4-H livestock show as well as a few pictures from the 2008 TN 4-H Beef Expo. http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1AbOHDZw2ZMnHQ&emid=sharshar&linkid=link4

2008 TN Technology Camp Videos

Here are the rest of the videos submitted for the 2008 TN Technology Camp Video Awards:

The Cookie



Tech Camp vs Target SMART



The Snack Shack

2008 TN 4-H Technology Camp Video Awards

This year, more than 30 4-H'ers from across the state of Tennessee attended Technology Camp at Camp Ridley in Columbia, TN. While at tech camp, 4-H'ers learned about digital photography, GPS, rocketry, and digital video editing. Below are the short films that technology camp participants submitted for the Video Awards contest. All of these videos were shot with either a digital camera or a Flip or RCA Small Wonder digital camcorder and edited using MovieMaker.

Best Editing:The Worst Day at 4-H Camp



Best Screenplay: How to Clean Your Room



Best Picture: Camp Rules

One Million New Scientists One Million New Ideas

From 4-H Network News:

4-H Camp Talent Show

Here's a video of three of our counselors at last week's Junior 4-H Camp.

4-H Cooking Classes Offered

MURFREESBORO-The Rutherford County Extension office is offering 4-H Basic Cooking classes in July. There will be a class for 4th and 5th graders on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 and a class for 6th – 8th graders on Wednesday, July 30, 2008. These classes will cover the basics of measuring, baking and cooking terms. They will participate in cooking activities and will get to sample their dishes.

Both classes will be held from 9:30am to 1:00pm. They will be held at the Extension office at Lane-Agri Park, 315 John R. Rice Blvd., Murfreesboro. Each class is limited to ten youth. Cost is $5.00. Please call the Extension office at 898-7710 to register or for more information. Registration Deadline: July 8.

4-H Focus Radio Show

Listen below to our radio show announcing the partnership between RCNN and WGNS Radio.



You can listen to WGNS Radio on-line at www.wgnsradio.com

Selecting a 4-H Market Goat Prospect

Below is a video produced by RCNN about how to select a 4-H market goat prospect. The presentation is presented by University of Tennessee Extension Agent Mitchell Mote. If you would like a copy of the handouts that he mentions in his talk, contact Mr. Michael at 615-898-7710 or send him an e-mail.
SIDE NOTE: This video was filmed with a new 4-inch tall camcorder that RCNN just bought!

Part One: Aging and Stuctural Correctness



Part Two: Growth Potential



Part Three: Muscling



Part Four: Volume/Capacity



Part Five: Style and Balance

Bridges Academy Media Camp

Below are the videos produced by the young men from Bridges Academy in Nashville, TN during the Media Camp held at Tennessee State University during April.

4-H Goat Project

Here is this week's "4-H Focus" radio show. This week, we are highlighting the 4-H goat project. If you would like to join the goat club, call Mr. Michael at 615-898-7710.

4-H FACE for Wildlife

Listen to our story about the Food and Cover Enhancement for Wildlife contest. If you are interested in planting a FACE plot, contact Mr. Michael at 898-7710.

Rutherford County 4-H Fundraiser

It is almost time for our 2nd Annual Rutherford County 4-H Fundraiser. The fundraiser will be held on April 10 at our office at 315 John Rice Boulevard in Murfreesboro. We will be having a BBQ dinner catered by Whitt’s Barbeque. Dinner will include a BBQ sandwich, baked beans, potato salad, dessert and a drink. You can stay and eat with us or pickup you meal to go!

We will also be having both a live and silent auction.(See list below for auction items) Tickets to the fundraiser are $7 each or $25 for 4. You can purchase your tickets from the Extension office.

If you have questions about the fundraiser please call Ms. Amy or Mrs. Melissa at 898-7710.

Auction Items
Adventure Science Center – 2 family passes
Country Music Hall of Fame – 2 tickets
Creative Discovery Museum – 4 tickets
Dollywood – 2 one-day passes
Grand Ole Opry – 2 tickets
Mullin’s Jewelers – Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet w/ Free Engraving
Nashville Zoo – 2 tickets
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies – 2 passes
Ruby Falls – 1 Family pass
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom – 2 tickets
Southern Belle Riverboat – 2 tickets
Southwest Airlines – 2 round-trip tickets
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum – 6 tickets

Baskets
Rise and Shine Breakfast Basket
Pork Product Basket
TN Pork Producers Basket
Family Movie Night Basket
Dining on the Square (gift certificates to Maple St. Grill, Marina’s, City Café)
Gardening Basket – donated by Hooper’s Supply
Toy Basket – donated by HobbyTown USA
Nashville Predators – T-shirt, calendar, etc.

More items added daily!!!

4-H Technology Camp June 30- July 3

Tennessee 4-H has announced the dates for the 2008 4-H Technology camp. 4-H'ers interested in subjects such as GPS, Rocketry, Digital Video and Photography, Blogging, Podcasting, and other science, engineering, and technology areas should contact their local 4-H Extension Agent for more information. 4-H'ers in Rutherford County may call Mr. Michael at: 615-898-7710

We are now Podcasting!

Listen to our first Podcast below:
http://www.switchpod.com/users/rutherfordextension/mrmichael4hpsa.mp3

Chick Chain Time Again

Rutherford County 4-H is once again accepting applications for Chick Chain. Applications are due in our office no later than February 15, 2008. For more information, contact Mr. Michael at 615-898-7710.

You can also watch the video below for more information:



Here is a video from last year's Chick Chain:

4th Grade Public Speaking Contest Winners

More than 1,000 fourth graders from across Rutherford County gave speeches in their local 4-H school clubs. Of those participants, twenty competed in the county contest held on January 17, 2008. Below is a video of the top three winners in the county, as well as an interview with the first-place winner.