The MD 4-H Hippology Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, 2012 at the Carroll County Extension Office in Westminster, MD. The objective of the Maryland 4-H Hippology Clinic is to provide an opportunity for Maryland 4-H youth, UME volunteers, and UME Educators to acquire skills and knowledge about horses and the hippology contest. Participants will hear talks from industry professionals with special breakout sessions for junior, intermediate, senior, and volunteer/coach tracks. All attendees will participate in a mock contest in the afternoon with a review session following. Participants will learn valuable information to make them better horsemen and prepare them for the 4-H State Hippology Contest. This clinic can also serve as a good educational event to help 4-H member learn the information needed to pass Horsemanship Standards Tests. Adults interested in coaching hippology teams are encouraged to enroll in the volunteer/coach track. Registration for the one-day clinic is $25.00, which includes lunch. Registration paperwork is due by Wednesday, February 29, 2012 and can be found on our website at http://www.4hhorse.umd.edu/activities/hippologyclinic.html Registrations submitted after the due date will be charged an additional $10. Pre-registration is required. Enrollment may be limited to 80 individuals.

State 4-H Communication Contest

Again as a part of the 2012 Maryland Day, Saturday, April 28^th, we will highlight our 4-H Youth Development by again bringing county/city Public Speaking Champions to campus to participate in our 2012 State 4-H Public Speaking Contest.

As you select your local champions � please encourage them to represent your unit at the State Event. The updated rules and transmittal forms are on the Faculty Staff section of our Human Science webpage. Remember 1 Champion from each age group in Radio Spots, Prepared Speeches, Interpretations and Extemporaneous Speeches is invited to participate. A total of 12 (twelve) champions from each county/city can give their speeches. Remember, last year�s State Champions are not eligible to compete in the same age group of the same category.

Reserve Champions are also invited to attend. We would like for them to serve as room monitors, announcers, helpers for the day. Ask them to bring their speech and IF the county/city champion in unable to come � we will allow the Reserve Champions to step in and give their speeches!!!

EACH COUNTY/CITY UNIT is asked to provide at least ONE Judge. We need approximately 30 judges � so please send corridon@umd.edu names of volunteers that you have recruited to judge that morning.

Help us showcase the confidence, the poise, the maturity and the ability to present their topic to an audience that our 4-H Youth possess. AND there are activities to entertain the entire family � so please encourage your speakers to attend the 2012 State Communications Contest.

Professional Development - Youth Gardening

The University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener (MG) program and Food Supplement Nutrition Education (FSNE) are partnering to conduct three youth gardening trainings in 2012. These trainings are intended for MGs and any Extension personnel seeking to work with youth in school gardens. There are spaces left at each location and could lead to some great partnerships/ideas/ programming for our youth development program. Can you picture a 4-H Club sponsoring a school garden, or a new afterschool club with gardening interests � going from growing to healthy food prep, or a new or existing 4-H group working at a nursing home?

See the web-based flyer --http://mastergardener.umd.edu/AdvancedTraining/YouthGard.cfm

Trainings (9:30am-3:30pm) will be offered in 3 locations:

Saturday 2/25/12 - Baltimore Co. Extension (Hunt Valley) (Snow date 3/17)

Friday 3/2/12 - Washington Co. Extension (Boonsboro) (Snow date 3/5)

Saturday 3/3/12 - Sheridan St. Garden (PG County- Riverdale) (Snow date 3/10)

The day starts with � Gardening Basics � starting the garden/safety issues/ etc. and ends with breakout sessions on cooking with kids, grow-lights, container gardening, etc. See if one of these dates fit into your schedule.

2012 National Health Observances

Need a Health �H� topic for 4-H Meetings � here is the list of National Health Observances for each month (They could provide a discussion/ project/ community activity to enhance your club meetings.)

January National Radon Action Month

February Heart Month

March National Nutrition Month

April National Distracted Driving Awareness

May Mental Health Month

June Home Safety Month

July UV Safety Month

August National Immunization Awareness

September Fruit and Veggies-More Matters Month, National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, National Farm Safety & Health Week, and Family Health & Fitness Day USA�

October Child Health Day

November American Diabetes Month

December Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Happy New Year Card Fundraiser: We mailed out 4,500 greeting cards at the beginning of the year. The national average response rate for direct mail is about 2% - 5% for non-profits. Our goal was for a 5% response rate and for an average donation of $20. The response has been overwhelming � donors have given just over $7,000 and have nearly doubled our expectations!

The Maryland 4-H Store is now open online! Now shop your favorite Maryland 4-H apparel in any size. New to the store: jackets, front zipper sweatshirts, shorts, polo shirts, hats, bags and more!

Go to www.mymaryland4Hfoundation.com today! Click on the Maryland 4-H Store button and have fun shopping.

Do you, a neighbor, or a friend have extra grain from the fall? Consider visiting Hostetter Grain or Nagel Farm Services to sell your grain today! Proceeds are 100% tax deductible. For more information check out our flyer.

Friday May 11, 2012 Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays 7:05pm

Plan a club outing! Bring your Friends & Family!

Tickets will be available soon! $13 each, available through the Maryland 4-H Foundation Office.

More information to follow!