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Saskatoon, Sask.- Thanks to the support of Corteva Agriscience, 4-H Saskatchewan will be able to develop new and improved resources for the field crops project. 4-H Saskatchewan has been working with 4-H Manitoba to create field crops materials to better educate future farmers about modern agricultural practices in a fun and engaging format. “As a company, we are thrilled to give back to Canadian communities and (we) have made outreach and education initiatives a priority,” Corteva Research Scientist Greg Gingera said. “We are excited to be working with 4-H to further support the growth of agriculture in Western Canada.” The new field crops project materials will be available in the 2020 growing season, for 4-H members in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They will also be available on the global 4-H resource sharing platform, 4-H LEARNS. Thanks to Corteva Agriscience, 4-H Saskatchewan will be able to help build agriculture leaders through the field crops project. “We are so appreciative to have Corteva’s support,” 4-H Saskatchewan Executive Director Cera Youngson said. “With their help, we will be able to help youth Learn To Do By Doing and develop their interests in field crops and agriculture.” -30- For more information about 4-H Saskatchewan or to set up an interview, please contact: Jodi Schellenberg Program and Communications Specialist 4-H Saskatchewan 306-933-6961 communications@4-h.sk.ca 
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The Canadian National 4-H & Youth judging Competition (CN4HYJ) was held on November 24-26, 2019 at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina SK. 42 competitors from across Canada participated, with eight of them on the 4-H Saskatchewan team. The following 4-H members made up our team: Kyle Kirzinger (Viscount 4-H Beef Club); Faith Stevens (Catherwood Beef & Sheep 4-H Club); Doug Sroka (Maidstone Gully Multiple 4-H Club); Justin Harcourt (Tisdale 4-H Beef Club); Leah Libke (Prime Cuts 4-H Club); Wyatt Dyck (Wymark Drylanders 4-H Club); Calvin Murphy (Whitewood 4-H Beef Club); Brock McGonigal (Rockglen Multiple 4-H Club). The competition commenced on Sunday November 24 at the Atlas Hotel in Regina. Competitors took part in a welcome, supper and competition orientation. Past 4-H member and CN4HYJ committee member, Catherine Lang, was a guest speaker for the evening. Competitors then judged three classes for the competition: Silage, Meat Cuts and Water Quality. Monday’s events took place at the Chevy GMC arena in the new International Trade Centre on the Agribition grounds. The morning consisted of the remaining judging classes, including: Alpaca, Light Horse, Heavy Horse, Dairy Cows, Charolais Calves, Prospect Steers, Speckle Park Calves, Angus Heifers, and Commercial Bulls. After a photo session and lunch, competitors finished off the competition by giving oral reasons on 8 of the previously judged classes. This year, oral reasons were given in the Queensbury Building, which was a new (and quieter!) location compared to previous years. After the intense competition, competitors then enjoyed supper, swimming and social time back at the hotel. Tuesday morning, the Awards Banquet was held, also in the Queensbury building. Competitors received a tasty breakfast and met the event sponsors, followed by the announcements of the final placings of this prestigious event. The results were as follows: Grand Aggregate ($2,500 Scholarship, CWA belt buckle and banner, & First Lady Classic Judging Position): Adam Smith, University of Guelph 2nd Place ($1,250 John Deere Limited Scholarship & CWA belt buckle & banner): Justin Harcourt, 4-H Saskatchewan 3rd Place ($750 John Deere Limited Scholarship & CWA belt buckle): Brandon Fraser, Summer Synergy 4th Place ($300 Cash Prize): Jayden Calvert, Summer Synergy 5th Place ($150 Cash Prize): Leah Libke, 4-H Saskatchewan Team Award - Top 4 Scores per team (Plaque on display at Provincial 4-H Office): 4-H Saskatchewan High point awards per class were listed as follows. Several recipients for these awards are past or present 4-H members!
Thank you to the team chaperones, Louise Sroka and Brittany Stepp. Event sponsors included TD Canada Trust and Federated Cooperatives. Congratulations to 4-H Saskatchewan’s amazing judging team! About 40 members and leaders gathered together at the Ramada Hotel in Regina for the 4-H Saskatchewan Leadership Conference on December 7-8. The conference was a two-day version of the one-day Leaderama events, which have been held in alternating regions the past two years. The weekend started off with a welcome by Cera Youngson, who also talked about some of the amazing 4-H opportunities for members and leaders both in the province and nationally, and a quick icebreaker where members and leaders presented their favorite leadership quotes. After lunch, the attendees enjoyed a plenary by John Bailey, CEO of the Regina Food Bank, who talked about food insecurity within Regina and Saskatchewan. Everyone had the chance to learn about how often the food banks are used, and how important these organizations are to the well being of our communities. The members and leaders then went to their first set of work shops. The leaders enjoyed “4-H is for Everyone” by SaskAbilities. This session talked about how to be inclusive and make it possible for people with disabilities to be involved in 4-H. The leaders then enjoyed 4-H 101, with Shelby Longworth and Melodi Hawkesford-Lee, which discussed everything you need to know about 4-H and gave leaders the opportunity to check out the new Club Resource Guide. The leaders then had the choice between “Recruitment & Retention” with Longworth, which introduced new ways to recruit new members or volunteers, as well as best practices for club engagement, or “Managing Your Multi Club” with Hawkesford-Lee, which discussed balancing the needs of several project groups, including best practices from real clubs. At the same time as these sessions, the members had their own exciting sessions to attend. Their first was “Personalities, Leadership & Teamwork” with Rob Chubb. He used the ColourSpectrums™ to look at personality styles and human dynamics. They also discussed the best ways to work with others in teams and leadership positions. After learning how to work together, the members then enjoyed “Self-Awareness & Reflection” with Tami Dovell. This was a session to discuss the importance of mental health and self-awareness, giving the members some tools to take back into every day life to help them deal with stress and negative emotions. The attendees then checked into heir hotel rooms, before loading up on a bus and heading to the Golden Mile Bowling Alley for supper and bowling. There were plenty of fun bowling games, food, and great conversations. The next morning, Youngson gave a quick morning greeting and then everyone headed to their respective workshop session. The leaders chose between “Conflict Management” with Hawkesford-Lee or “Risk Management” with Youngson and Longworth. The members attended a session called “Your Personal Brand” with Leighton Smith from RBC. They learned about how to build their brand and use it effectively throughout their career. Everyone then came back together for “Table Talks: Growing Our Leadership” where they had the opportunity to have short minute-roundtable mentoring sessions with some special guests, including: Kathleen Rae from International Rural Exchange; Ryder Lee, CEO of Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association; Shelley Jones, Manager of the Ag Knowledge Centre; the Honourable David Marit, Minister of Agriculture; Ray Orb, president of SARM; Jessica Gerrits, RBC Vice President of Commercial Financial Services; Leighton Smith, RBC Lumsden Branch Manager; Colleen Hawkesford, Regina Public Library; and Longworth, the North East Regional 4-H Specialist. After lunch, participants enjoyed a key note address from Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel about Positively Representing Agriculture. Following Jolly-Nagel was Share Fair, where members and leaders had the opportunity to discuss topics important to them. Some of the topics this year were: Provincial Programming, Multi-Club advice, How to Implement the Two Leader Rule in your 4-H Club, Recruitment and Engaging Volunteers, the NEW 4-H Record Books, Strategic Planning, and more. The weekend wrapped up with some closing remarks from the 4-H staff before everyone headed home. Thank you to our title sponsor Bayer CropScience for making this event a huge success! Also, thank you to RBC and the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation: G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation Fund, who also supported this event. It was an amazing Club Week this year, with 4-H’ers from across the province getting involved. This year, the Sustainability Initiative was to promote food security, where the 4-H office asked 4-H’ers to donate 3,000 pounds across the province collectively. By the time the numbers came in on December 6, the goal was met. “It was amazing to see so many clubs get involved in this giving back initiative,” said Cera Youngson, Executive Director of 4-H Saskatchewan. “We definitely hit the goal, which was about one pound per 4-H member.” Club Week was created in 2017 by 4-H Saskatchewan to give the clubs a week of celebration and community involvement and a way to launch an annual Sustainability Initiative. It was held from November 4-10, 2019 across the entire province. The provincial 4-H office asked 4-H clubs across the province to join together to donate food to their local food banks throughout November. Clubs were encouraged to hold a food drive, set up a donation area in their community or host an event where food donations would be accepted. A huge shout out to the Good Spirit 4-H Club, who donated 900 pounds! See their full story on page 47. In addition to the Sustainability Initiative, 4-H clubs were encouraged to show their 4-H spirit, by putting up displays in their community and dressing up in their 4-H colours for Show Your 4-H Colours Day on November 6. Thank you to the following clubs, districts and individuals, who participated in the 2019 Sustainability Initiative:
Press Release - G. MURRAY AND EDNA FORBES FOUNDATION FUND GRANT RECEIVED BY 4-H SASKATCHEWAN11/20/2019 Saskatoon, Sask.- 4-H Saskatchewan gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation Fund at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, which is a public foundation serving the people of South Saskatchewan. The SSCF builds permanently endowed charitable funds for the changing need and opportunities of the community and provides grants to eligible charitable organizations and qualified donees in Animal Welfare, Arts and Culture, Community Development, Education and Scholarships, Environment, Health, Social Services, Spiritual, and Sports and Recreation sectors. “This grant will help us reduce barriers to our membership wanting to attend our Leadership Conference this year,” said Cera Youngson, Executive Director of 4-H Saskatchewan. “We greatly appreciate the support of the G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation Fund at the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation.” The 4-H Saskatchewan Leadership Conference will be held in Regina on December 7-8. 4-H members and leaders from across the province will be in attendance, to learn about topics such as conflict management, preparing for the future, working in teams and leadership. -30- For more information, please contact:
Jodi Schellenberg Program and Communications Specialist 306-933-6961 communications@4-h.sk.ca Science was the passion of many 4-H members this fall. On October 11, about 40 4-H’ers from across the province came together at the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina for 4-H Science Day. The day started with a short presentation on upcoming events and opportunities, followed by some games led by Kalynne Martin and Melodi Hawkesford-Lee. The members then broke into two groups for activities. One activity had the 4-H members head to the basement of the science centre, where they learned about lasers, what they are used for and how they work. They then had the opportunity to build their own laser maze, using mirrors. The second activity was around how electricity and circuits work. The members then put together their own circuit houses to light up. The participants enjoyed a chicken finger lunch, provided by Skye Bistro, and had the opportunity to try out some of the interesting science activities in the outdoor playground. After lunch, the members broke into four groups, to work on making jujube and toothpick towers. They learned a little about engineering and strong shapes, so help them build the tallest and strongest tower possible. Once the towers were all tested, the 4-H members broke into four groups, based on age, and toured the science centre, with the help of the 4-H adult volunteers. They had the opportunity to try many of the hands-on activities offered, as well as answer some science-related questions on a 4-H scavenger hunt questionnaire. Following their tour of the science centre, the members all headed home, excited to bring their love of science to their clubs.  The inaugural Provincial-wide Archery Shoot, hosted by the Vanscoy Multiple 4-H Club, was held on July 27 at the Thunderhead Outdoor Archery Range. Twenty-five 4-H members registered in the five, 10 and 15 metre competitive shoot, as well as the fun shoot aspect of the event. All of the members were able to participate in 20-three arrow ends, with a lunch break after the first 10 ends. The weather for the event was a perfect semi overcast day – for an outdoor shoot this was ideal! There were prizes for the top thee competitors in each distance category, as well as participant package for all members who attended. 4-H Saskatchewan sends a big thank you to the Cabela Canada’s Outdoor Fund for being the title sponsor of the event. Another huge thank you goes out to the Vanscoy Multiple 4-H Club for organizing the first event of its kind in our province.  Advancing from six regional competitions held between April and July, 38 4-H members from all corners of the province met in Moosomin, on August 23-24, 2019 for the Saskatchewan 4-H Provincial Judging competition, presented by title sponsor: Viterra. Despite over two inches of rain pouring down, it didn’t dampen their spirits, and the weekend was a success. Participants learned a lot as they competed in seven different judging classes over the two days. Competitive judging is a great opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and to help train and educate future judges for the livestock industry! The program began on Friday evening with a supper, orientation, and the first judging class: Cheddar Cheese sponsored by Saputo. On Saturday, the majority of the competition was held at Second Wind Stables where our participants judged yearling beef bulls, market lambs, performance quarter horses, native pasture grasses, grain, and a mystery class: cut flowers. Participants also completed a quiz testing their knowledge on all of the categories. After the judging was complete, participants attended an awards banquet held at the Moosomin Legion Hall with a meal sponsored by Plains Midstream Canada. During the program, top judges in each category were recognized.
Finally, the top place competitors were announced (aggregate scores). The top eight finalists will form Team 4-H Saskatchewan. They will move on to compete against other provincial 4-H and collegiate teams at Canadian National 4-H & Youth Judging Competition during Agribition in November. Top Place Overall Competitors:
Alternates 9. Cadence Haaland, Hanley 4-H Beef Club 10. Kennedy Libke, Prime Cuts 4-H Beef Club 11. Shelby Robinson, Lomond 4-H Beef & Homecrafts Club 12. Erin Casey, Abbey-Lancer 4-H Beef Club  The top eight finalists will form Team 4-H Saskatchewan. They will move on to compete against other provincial 4-H and collegiate teams at Canadian National 4-H & Youth Judging Competition during Agribition in November. There were many people who made the weekend a success:
Lastly, thank you to SAASE (Saskatchewan Association of Agriculture Societies and Exhibitions) and the hosting committees in Swift Current, Saskatoon, Weyburn, Whitewood, Prince Albert and Lloydminster for partnering with 4-H to offer competitive judging events. Judging is a great way to develop critical thinking skill. All 4-H members are encouraged to attend regional judging in the spring/summer of 2020 for their chance to move on to provincials next year. Saskatoon, Sask.- The 23rd annual 4-H Saskatchewan draw was held on August 21 at 1 p.m. at the Provincial 4-H Office in Saskatoon. During the draw, Executive Director Cera Youngson had some exciting news about the lottery this year. “The lottery has raised $1 million in sales since it started in 1996,” Youngson said. “It is great to see so many people are supporting 4-H Saskatchewan and their local 4-H clubs in the province.” The 4-H Lottery is an annual fundraiser for the 4-H program in Saskatchewan, with all the proceeds directly supporting the 4-H movement in our province. This year, there were 7,638 individual tickets sold and 5,621 50/50 add-on tickets sold. The lottery raised $50,345, with $25,197.60 going directly back to the 28 clubs and District 4-H Councils, which participated by selling the lottery tickets. District #36 was the top seller with $5,504 in ticket sales. Congratulations to the Grand Prize winners: Shane Cadieux of Shaunavon won the Kubota Zero-Turn Mower, donated by Kubota Canada and participating Saskatchewan dealers, including Armstrong Implements (Swift Current), Redhead Equipment (Estevan), Earthworks Equipment (Saskatoon), Grain Bags Canada (Humboldt), GlenMor Equipment (Prince Albert), Logan Stevens Construction (Yorkton), Novlan Bros. (Lloydminster), Parkland Farm Equipment (North Battleford), Wheatbelt Sales (Wadena), Young’s Equipment (Regina) and Thompson Bearing (Luseland). This machine is the ultimate residential zero turn mower combining style, comfort and performance. It has a Kawasaki engine and a 42 inch cut that will be great for any acreage or farm owner and is valued at more than $5,500. With the motto is “For Earth, For Life”, Kubota is focused on initiatives which develop communities to build a better tomorrow that starts at home. Kubota is proud to support 4-H Saskatchewan in building the next generation of young agricultural and community leaders.
Susan McKennit of Carnduff won the Gazebo, built by the woodworking students at A.E. Peacock Collegiate, with building supplies donated by Yara Belle Plaine Inc. Yara has been a proud supporter of 4-H Saskatchewan since the 4-H lottery was first started. Their generous support includes supplying all necessary building materials for the construction of the playhouse, as well as covering other associated lottery costs. Thank you to Yara for continuing to recognize the value and allowing A.E. students to "Learn to Do by Doing" while building the grand prize lottery items, which in the past have included gardening sheds, multiple playhouses and an ice-fishing shack. Thank you to Peavey Mart Moose Jaw for providing display space.
Congratulations to all of our prize winners:
4-H Saskatchewan is grateful to have the support of all of our prize donors including: Kubota Canada and participating Saskatchewan dealers, Yara Belle Plaine Inc., A.E. Peacock Collegiate, The Western Producer, Staples, and Co-operative Hail Insurance. Plans are already underway for the 24th Annual 4-H Saskatchewan Lottery. Tickets will be available during the 2018/19 4-H membership year. To support 4-H, contact your local 4-H club or the provincial office for tickets. -30- For more information, please contact: Jodi Schellenberg Program and Communications Specialist 4-H Saskatchewan 306-933-6961 communications@4-h.sk.ca Saskatoon – Each year, 4-H Saskatchewan awards scholarships to outstanding senior 4-H members from across the province, to assist them in their post-secondary education. “As in previous years, we were impressed with the quality of applications we received,” Executive Director Cera Youngson said. “The 4-H Saskatchewan Scholarship Selection Committee had difficulties narrowing it down. Not only do these 4-H members excel academically, they are also leaders in their communities. We are excited to see what the future holds for each of them.” The scholarships are an important part of 4-H for the senior members and Youngson is thankful for the support the organization receives. “We are excited to have so many amazing sponsors, who have created scholarships for 4-H members pursuing post-secondary schooling,” she said. “This year, we were able to award more than $25,000 to our deserving members because of our supporters.” Congratulations to the following members, who were awarded a 4-H Saskatchewan Scholarship in 2019:
The Pro Farm Advancing Forward the Dairy Industry Award will be awarded later this year. In addition to awarding scholarships, the committee also awarded the Elgin Bracken Memorial 4-H Light Horse Award to Tatum Teal of Golburn Gallopers 4-H Club (Tisdale). -30- Many of the scholarship winners will be presented with their awards at upcoming achievement days and regional shows. If you are interested in talking to any of the scholarship winners, please contact: Jodi Schellenberg Program and Communications Specialist 306-933-6961 communications@4-h.sk.ca A full article about the scholarship winners, with photos, will be in the Fall Bits & Pieces.
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January 2020
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