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Apr 11 Chester County 4-H Market Steer Weigh-in

Apr 18 Paper Clover Campaign Begins

Apr 22 Livestock Leaders Council Meeting

Apr 22 County Council Meeting

Apr 26 4-H Hog Selection

May 3 Springton Manor Sheep and Wool Day

May 5 Paper Clover Campaign Ends

May 9 Chester County Dairy

-10 Weekend

May 14 Deadline for Entering Engineering Design Challenge Registration and Videos in ZSuite

May 16 Animal Science Camps -18

May 17 Champions Choice Lamb Camp

May 26 Memorial Day - Extension Office Closed

May 30 Market Lamb/Kid Weigh-in and Tagging

May 31 PA 4-H State Horse Bowl and Hippology Contests

Volunteers, parents, and members are encouraged to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay current on all upcoming opportunities and deadlines. Check updates on ZSuite too!

4-H Volunteer Updates

4-H Enrollment/Reenrollment

Thank you to all the volunteers who completed their enrollments by the State deadline. If you missed that deadline, please be sure to get reenrolled in ZSuite and get your records updated ASAP. As a reminder, you may not work with youth in 4-H unless you are enrolled AND current on your clearances and Reporting Suspected Child Abuse training.

Please also make sure that all of your members are enrolled and “Active” members in ZSuite. Members must be in the “Active” status to participate in 4-H activities. If families need help completing enrollments, please ask them to contact the Penn State Extension Chester County Office at 610-696-3500 or ChesterExt@psu.edu

Please make sure that the members who are enrolled in your clubs can meet club requirements.

Baker Scholarship

Please share this opportunity with any recent Alumni who are studying at Penn State, or high school seniors planning to study at Penn State next semester!

This annual scholarship was established to honor a father, Professor Allen L. Baker, and his son, Richard H. Baker, for their years of dedicated service to Penn State.

Online applications are being accepted now at Allen L. and Richard H. Baker 4-H Scholarship Programs and Opportunities Pennsylvania 4H. The entry deadline for the 2025 Baker 4-H Scholarship is May 15, 2025. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students at The Pennsylvania State University and current or former 4-H members in Pennsylvania.

4-H and Sheep and Wool Day Festivities

This year’s Springton Manor Sheep and Wool Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd. The events will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please contact Audrey at alr5762@psu.edu to reserve your club’s table for this year’s event. If your club is bringing animals as part of their exhibit, please include this in your email.

2025 PDA Animal Exhibition Guidelines Changes

Please be aware of the NEW PROTOCAL for CVI PAPERS.

Additional changes include:

• Contact Information

• Animal Exhibition Sanitation Act

• Disease and species-specific information

• Major changes for 2025

 Cattle ID requirements

 HPAI in dairy cattle

 Coggins testing requirement

 Poultry exhibition

Please visit the PDA website for complete information.

2025 PA 4-H Statewide Horse Camp

Dates: July 18, 2025 (4:00 PM) – July 20, 2025 (2:00 PM)

Location: Grange Fair Equine Park, Centre Hall, PA

Registration Deadline: June 15, 2025

Cost: $200 per 4-H member (must be enrolled in ZSuite in a horse or horseless project); $80 per stall (required for any member bringing a horse); free for adults

Camping: $105 flat fee per weekend

What to Expect: Hands-On Clinics & Workshops; up to six sessions daily tailored to all skill levels, including novice, intermediate, and experienced riders.

Special Topics Include: Showmanship, Equitation, Safe Handling, Emergency Vet Care, Equine Dentistry, Fitting & Clipping, Trailer Safety, and Horse Knowledge Contests

Live Demonstrations: Led by experienced professionals in the equine industry

Exclusive Parent/Volunteer Only Workshops

Southeast Regional 4-H Communications Contest

Congratulations to all the Chester County 4-H members who participated in the Southeast Regional 4-H Communications Contest! Their dedication and hard work in developing public speaking and presentation skills are truly commendable! We hope to see many Chester County 4-H members compete in the State Public Speaking Contest!

2025 PA 4-H State Presentation and Public Speaking Contests

Registration Open: 5/20/2025 through 7/1/2025

Please register at: https://4h.zsuite.org/events

These are two separate contests but will be offered on the same date. Youth may participate in both presentation and public speaking contests. Both contests have a junior and senior category. Junior contestants are youth between the 4-H ages of 8-12, and senior contestants between 4-H ages of 13-18.

The Presentations Contest is designed to challenge 4-Hers’ skills and knowledge of giving demonstrations and to recognize their abilities in giving public presentations. A presentation is on a project-related topic that is shared by teaching or physically demonstrating how to complete a certain phase of a project. Presentations can be given by an individual or a team of two members (in the same age division).

The Public Speaking Contest is designed to support the county public speaking program, challenge 4-Hers’ skills and knowledge in public speaking, instill an understanding of the need for communication skills, and improve speaking skills. Public speaking is a prepared speech with no props or visuals.

2025 PA 4-H Engineering Design Challenge

Join us for the 2025 Engineering Design Challenge. Turn simple machines into a whimsical contraption designed to complete an end task in a complicated way. Your challenge is to design and build a machine that can feed at least one animal. You can feed a pet or feed a livestock animal, that’s up to you. You may also water the animal but that is not a requirement.

There are two categories in which members may compete – individual or group. In addition, there are two age divisions -junior and senior. Any 4-H age youth (8-18 by January 1st of the current year) may participate in the Challenge and may choose to design and enter a machine individually or on a team comprised of two to four members. All entries must include a video of the machine in action as well as the engineering notebook.

Teams will submit videos of their machine in action with narration explaining their machine and the process, and a digital copy of their engineering notebook in ZSuite. The digital notebook can be a digital notebook, a scan of a paper notebook, or video of the pages in notebook with narration.

Teams must include members of the same age group: Junior – ages 8-13, or Senior – ages 14-18. Junior age youth are allowed to advance in age division and compete on a senior team if needed. Members competing as a team will be asked during the registration process to designate a team name. Each individual member of the team must register to participate within ZSuite by the May 14 registration deadline. There is no cost for participation.

Participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their machine during the Engineering Design Challenge Showcase, held virtually on May 28th at 6:00 p.m.

Machine Specifications (Please review the 2025 PA Engineering Design Challenge Handbook for a detailed list.):

• Show a connection to the theme, Feed Your Animal

• Be safe for participants and observers

• Have all steps documented in an engineering notebook – digital copies must be submitted

• Not include animals, hazardous, toxic, or explosive materials

• Not include air compressors or power cords

• Include between 5-20 steps or transfers of energy

More detailed information, including the Engineering Design Challenge Handbook, judging rubrics, and worksheets can be found in the 2025 Engineering Design Challenge cloverlink folder

2025 Chester County 4-H Summer Day Camps

Chester County 4-H is offering several summer day camps this year! Kids in the Kitchen and Candy Making are already scheduled. Details on an Expressive Arts Printing day camp, as well as a few STEM day camps are coming soon!

Animal Science Judging & Knowledge Contests

PA 4-H Animal Science Knowledge Contests (quiz bowl, skillathon, and judging competitions) will be here before we know it! Please read the following important information, including registration process changes.

WHAT: PA 4-H Animal Science Knowledge Contests

WHEN: Contests will be held on two dates.

 Bowl and Skillathon Day: Saturday, May 31, 2025. Event includes Avian Bowl, Canine Bowl and Skillathon, Dairy Bowl, Hippology (equine skillathon), Horse Bowl, Livestock Skillathon, and Rabbit/Cavy Bowl and Skillathon.

 Judging Contest Day: Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Event includes Dairy Judging, Horse Judging, Livestock Judging, and Poultry Judging.

*Meat Judging will not be offered in 2025 due to lack of specialist support. We anticipate this contest returning in 2026 when the new Extension Meat Specialist is on board.

WHERE: All contests will be held at University Park.

WHO: Contests are open to enrolled, approved youth who are 4-H ages 10 and older. Coaches must be current, enrolled, screened volunteers with valid Reporting Suspected Child Abuse certificates. (Youth competing as individuals may be chaperoned by their own unscreened parents/guardians.) NEW: There is NO limit on the number of teams each county can enter in each contest. There is also NO requirement that team members come from a single county.

HOW TO REGISTER: Registration for Knowledge Contests has CHANGED! This will be a three-step process.

 Step One: The county educator reaches out to coaches, volunteers, and families to ascertain who will be competing and in what contests. This will help to build accurate lists of teams and coaches. (The State 4-H Office will also send an email to volunteers explaining the new system and asking them to work with their educators.)

 Step Two: The county educator fills out one copy of the 4-H Animal Science Knowledge Contest Pre-Registration Form per team or individual. Forms are due no later than April 16 for Bowl and Skillathon entries and May 5 for Judging entries. Chester County will pay the registration fee.

 Step Three: The youth and coaches listed on each form will be sent the link to the contest registration. They will register individually for the contests.

Deadlines: Registration for Bowl and Skillathon Day will close on April 30. Registration for Judging Day will close on May 19. No late registrations can be accepted!

More Information: 2025 contest rules are housed in CloverLink: Animal Science Knowledge Contests 2025. Please be sure to take a look at the rules for a particular contest before filling out the pre-registration form! Here are some contest essentials (see complete rules for more):

 Seniors (age 14 and up) in most contests have the opportunity to qualify for national competition. Exceptions are noted below.

 Bowl contests are open to teams (no individuals allowed). Bowl team sizes range from a minimum of two youth (Avian Bowl) to four youth and two alternates (Dairy Bowl).

 Skillathons (including Hippology) are open to both individuals and teams of three or four.

 The combined-format bowl AND skillathon contests (Canine Bowl/Skillathon and Rabbit/Cavy Bowl/Skillathon) have more fluid participation requirements, as these contests do not advance to a national competition. Youth can enter as individuals or as teams (Rabbit/Cavy maximum four per team, no minimum; Canine two to four youth per team, plus one alternate)

 Judging contests are open to both individuals and teams of three or four.

 Divisions offered across contests are Junior (10-13) and Senior (14+). Exceptions: The Livestock Judging Junior Division is open to novice youth up to age 16 (with the caveat that they cannot qualify for the national competition while competing as juniors). Horse Judging also offers a Beginner Division (ages 10+) for novice youth (not eligible for national competition).

Have Knowledge Contest questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask!

Thank you for your support of these opportunities!

Chester County 4-H Air Pistol Club Offers

8-Week Summer Session

This program emphasizes safe handling of firearms equipment while fostering self-confidence and leadership skills in a supportive environment designed for Positive Youth Development. Participants must be enrolled in 4-H to participate.

Please contact Audrey Reith with any questions at 610696-3500 or alr5762@psu.edu

Invite PA 4-H State Council to Your Next Event!

State Council is available for visiting clubs and presenting at county events, virtually or in-person! Submit a request form here.

Paper Clover Campaign

The National 4-H Paper Clover campaign will run from April 18 to May 5, 2025.

Save the Date for the Chester County 4-H Fair!

The 2025 fair dates are August 4-9, 2025. The full schedule is set to be released on June 1st. Use this time to talk to your club members about project requirements!

Animal Ownership and Registration Deadlines for the Fair



Horse: Due June 1st to Audrey

Livestock: Due June 1st to Audrey

Rabbit: Due June 1st to Audrey

Dairy and Dairy Goat Lease Forms: Due June 1st to Toni

Dairy: Due July 1st to Toni

 Dairy Goat: Due July 1st to Toni

The 2025 Chester County 4-H Fair Exhibitor’s Guide will be available by June 1, 2025.

Chester County 4-H Looking for New Members for the Program Development Committee

Call or email the Penn State Extension Chester County Office at 610-696-3500 or ChesterExt@psu.edu to talk to Toni or Audrey about this opportunity!

2025 PA 4-H Wildlife and Forestry Events

The 2025 PA 4-H Wildlife and Forestry Field Day and Art & Photography Contest will both be held on May 10, 2025, at the Ag Progress Days Site. The Field Day is open to ALL youth in Pennsylvania, not just 4-H members, between the ages of 8 to 18. Current 4-H members and volunteers can register here: https://4h.zsuite.org/eventregistrations/37439. Non-4-H youth can register here: https://4h.zsuite.org/external-event-registration/37439.

The Art & Photography Contest is open to all PA 4-H club members. All members must be in the “active” status in ZSuite in order to be able to register for the Art & Photography Contest. Members can register here: https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/37438

The registration deadline for both events is April 16, 2025. More details are below and can also be found in the individual events in ZSuite.

Volunteer Request for Fern Hill Elementary School Family Picnic

Fern Hill Elementary School, home to over 400 students, has invited 4-H to participate in their free family picnic event on Saturday, May 31st. We are excited to create an 'Education Corner' with an animal theme and are seeking volunteers (both members and adults) from our 4-H clubs to help make this a success.

We will provide 4-H promotional materials and have planned engaging animal science activities. If you have families who are willing to promote 4-H, discuss their 4-H projects, and possibly bring animals, please contact Audrey at 610696-3500 or alr5762@psu.edu

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025 (Rain date: Saturday, June 7, 2025)

• Time: Noon - 3:00 p.m. (Set-up: 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.)

• Location: Fern Hill Elementary School, 915 Lincoln Avenue, West Chester, PA 19380

Your participation will enhance the experience for the families attending. Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our community and promote 4-H!

More is Happening for your Club Members to take part in Across the State!

Please encourage members to check out statewide events in ZSuite

 2025 Soak Up Science: Be a Stream Doctor Day Camp

Youth aged 8 to 12 are invited to join Penn State Extension to Soak up Science and Be a Stream Doctor at Penn State’s Southeast Agricultural Research Farm in Millheim, PA where they will learn how they can be Stream Doctors. The camp will follow the theme of Penn State Extension’s new children’s book, Brooke Meets a Stream Doctor, featuring Dr. Watt R Shedd.

 2025 PA 4-H Virtual Cooking Camp

Looking for something new to do this Summer? Join the statewide Pennsylvania 4-H Virtual Cooking Camp from the comfort of your own kitchen! The Food, Families, and Communities Educators will be leading this exciting 5-day (mornings only) camp. Youth will learn about food safety, nutrition, kitchen skills, and more! Participants will have the opportunity to make one recipe each day and participate in a cooking challenge on the final day. Adult supervision is required to work alongside youth during the camp. The camp meets virtually, July 21 - 25, 2025, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

 2025 Regional Fashion Revue & Textile Revue Contests

Regional 4-H Fashion & Textile Revue is a contest opportunity for 4-H members (ages 8-18 as of January 1, 2025) from the following counties: Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, Perry, Philadelphia, and York.

4-H Fashion Revue encourages 4-H members to exhibit their wearable 4-H clothing & textile projects and are evaluated on the appearance, fit, and design of their project, their sewing and construction skills, and their modeling and presentation skills.

4-H Textile Revue provides a culminating event for youth who create a non-wearable textile item in one of the following categories: Quilting, Knitting, Crocheting, Weaving, Spinning, Home Décor, etc. Participants will present their item to judges and both the presentation and the item itself will be evaluated. All work must be completed solely by the 4-H members including machine or hand quilting. 4-H members may enter both Fashion Revue and Textile Revue.

The cost to participate is $6 per member. The event will take place on Monday, July 14 from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Penn State University Berks Campus, 1800 Broadcasting Rd, Reading, PA 19610.

 2025 Animal Adventures Camp

Are your children interested in animals? Join Penn State Extension for this hands-on day camp for children ages 8-12! This camp will feature fun and engaging activities at the Snider Agriculture Arena and tours of the dairy, swine, equine, beef, and sheep barns. Kids will also get to tour the Penn State Creamery and eat ice cream from the Penn State dairy herd. Youth will learn about different poultry species and egg properties, and will also learn about dog safety and will receive an enriching toy for their dog. Kids will go home with a handmade craft that can be entered in their local fair. Animal Adventures Camp will be held on July 7th to 11th from 9:00 a.m. –4:00 p.m. at the Penn State Snider Agricultural Arena. Event drop-off will be held each day from 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. Participants are selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.

 2025 PA 4-H Grill

It Up Tuesdays

Building on the success of PA 4-H's Stir it Up Saturday events, the 4-H Camping and Healthy Living committees are offering Grill it Up Tuesdays. This multi-week hybrid event responds to interest in the 4-H Outdoor Curriculum. The first four weeks will focus on virtual learning, building a foundation in outdoor cooking. The final in-person cookout (separate registration) will highlight key goals of the curriculum. 4-H members ages 8-18 are eligible to participate, learning outdoor cooking skills, food safety, and nutrition. Participants will cook one recipe each week with adult supervision. Adults must join youth during each session. A shopping list for ingredients and equipment will be provided at least one week before each meeting. Participants can still join if they can't find all items, adjusting ingredients as needed. The curriculum is adaptable to most outdoor cooking devices. The first four weeks will be held virtually from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on July 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd The cost to participate is $20, which includes a materials kit that will be sent prior to the event. Volunteers are also encouraged to participate with the option to receive the materials kit ($20).

April 11

April 18

April 22

2025 Calendar of Events*

Chester County 4-H Market Steer Weigh-in, Chester County 4-H Center

Paper Clover Campaign Begins

Livestock Leaders Council, Chester County 4-H Center

County Council Meeting, Chester County Extension Office

April 26 4-H Hog Selection, Chester County 4-H Center

May 3

May 5

May 9-10

May 14

May 16-18

May 17

May 26

May 30

Springton Manor Sheep and Wool Day

Paper Clover Campaign Ends

Chester County Dairy Weekend, Chester County 4-H Center

Deadline for Entering Engineering Design Challenge Registration and Videos in ZSuite

Animal Science Camps, Penn State University Park Campus

Champions Choice Lamb Camp, Chester County 4-H Center

Memorial Day - Extension Office Closed

Market Lamb/Kid Weigh-in and Tagging, Chester County 4-H Center

May 31 PA 4-H State Horse Bowl and Hippology Contests – University Park Campus

June 1

June 3

June 12

June 14

June 17

June 18-20

June 19

June 28

June TBD

Livestock and Horse Project Animal Registrations Due

PA State Horse and Livestock Project Enrollment Deadline

Dairy and Dairy Goat Lease forms Due to Toni

Shooting Sports: Air Pistol Club Summer Session Meeting (every Tuesday through July 22), Chester County 4-H Center

Chester County Livestock Judging Contest, Chester County 4-H Center

Chester County Summer Beef Show & Showmanship Clinic

PA 4-H Animal Judging Contests, University Park Campus

PA 4-H Dressage Show and Horse Camp

Juneteenth – Extension Office Closed

Nottingham Country Fair, Nottingham County Park

Market Sheep/Goat Tagging, Chester County 4-H Center

Chester County Summer Beef Show

June TBD Virtual Communication Contest Entries Due

June/July TBA State Council Applications Due

July 1

July 4

Dairy and Dairy Goat Entry Forms Due to Toni

Independence Day - Extension Office Closed

July 7-11 4-H Camp Program - Camp Shehaqua- Hickory Run State Park

July 14

July 23

July 29

State Fashion Revue

Deadline for PA 4-H State Presentation and Public Speaking Contest Entries

Mandatory Fair Set-up for Beef, Sheep, Market Goat, and Swine Exhibitors, Chester County 4-H Center

July TBD Fair Entry Forms Due

August 4-9

August 6

August 12-14

August 23

September 1

September 27

September 30

September TBD

Chester County 4-H Fair, Chester County 4-H Center

Chester County 4-H Livestock Sale, Chester County 4-H Center

Ag Progress Days, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA

District Horse Show, Montgomery County Farm, Home, and 4-H Center

Deadline for PA 4-H Diamond Clover Award Year 2 Final Submissions

Labor Day – Extension Office Closed

Chester County 4-H Center Annual Auction and Fundraiser

Warwick Fall Festival, Warwick County Park

Clover Award Applications Deadline – Due in the Chester County Extension Office

Farm Credit Award Application Deadline

Livestock Record Books Deadline

PA Farm Show Jr Market Livestock Deadline

September TBD PA 4-H SLC Jr Conference

*Dates, events, and locations are subject to change.

Chester County Penn State Extension 4-H Team

Toni M. Stuetz, 4-H Extension Educator

Audrey Reith, 4-H Extension Educator

Bo Holobovich, 4-H Program Assistant

Kim Myers, Office Manager

Jen Cerimele, Administrative Support

Denine Chemnitz, Business Operations Manager

Amy Bradford, Client Relations Manager

Stay Connected

Penn State Extension, Chester County 601 Westtown Road, Suite 370 West Chester, PA 19382

http://extension.psu.edu/4-h/counties/chester

Chester County Penn State Extension https://extension.psu.edu/chester-county

Chester County 4-H

https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/counties/ chester

Pennsylvania 4-H http://extension.psu.edu/4-h

4-H Mall Catalog http://shop4-h.org

Club Officer Training Modules

http://extension.psu.edu/4-h/members/officertraining-modules

Building a Safe Penn State - Reporting Child Abuse Training http://lrn.psu.edu/

4-H Volunteer Course https://extension.psu.edu/4-h-volunteer-orientation

Reserve 4-H Romano Center Romano4hcenter@gmail.com

Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a non-formal educational youth-development program of the United States Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/ programs/4-h

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Pennsylvania State University encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the Penn State Extension Chester County Office at 610-696-3500 in advance of your participation or visit.

The University is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information, or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University's educational mission, and will not be tolerated. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Office, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901, Email: aao@psu.edu, Tel 814-863-0471.