August 2012 - 4-H Ontario

Saturday July 21 4-H members, leaders, parents and guests gathered at Melbourne fairgrounds.Registration was to begin at 9:30 a.m. with time for members to do their quiz. At 10 a.m, we startedjudging the six lifeskills and livestock classes as well as the I.D. quiz. I want to thank Kim DeKlein forputting together the I.D. quiz. Does everyone know now what a Hampshire breed of sheep look like,Kim? We wrapped up the judging by 11:45 and then everyone gathered at the pavilion for the livestockofficial reasons before moving to the fairboard building to hear the official reasons for the lifeskillsclasses. Of the four classes, the seniors had the most members in attendance.Tube steak as well as chocolate milk, chips, cookies and freezes were on offer for lunch. We would nothave been able to feed these members without a generous donation from supporters of 4-H.Thanks to James at Mason’s No-Frill’s, Superstore Strathroy, and Gay Lea Foods Co-Operatives.We would like to thank the official judges who also helped as coaches for members who had neverjudged some of the commodities. These people who donated their time were Clark Boekhoven forswine, Pam Grant and Kim Merkingler with horse, Jeremy Tanner with beef, Stan Towers with dairy,and Viola McLean at lifeskills sewing and Laurie Farquharson with baking.When Viola and Pam were approached they were very willing to take part in something they had neverdone. With Kim coming along with Pam for support they were so comfortable doing this that all 3 wouldtake part again if offered the opportunity. Never too old to try something new!Also a big thank you to leaders and friends of 4-H who supplied the classes for the day. Linda Kaiserour leader for the Littlewood lifeskills club for supplying the members pillows, and Laurie McGill for thebaking. Samples were not large enough for some members. Thanks to Dave Dieleman for the class ofmarket hogs and to Matt Adema for delivery. Lucky for Matt he had his daughter Grace to keep thingsrunning smoothly. Thanks to Stan Towers and Wayne Campbell for dairy cattle, and to Murray McLeanfor the beef class. Horses were supplied by Becky Aitken, Kelly Felkar and Rob Hathaway.There is a group that are maybe never noticed for the countless time spent at the registration table,checking I.D quiz and the general quiz for correct answers, entering scores from judging classes andgiving reasons. These people spent their morning sitting at the tables tabulating your scores. Thanks toKim DeKlein, Kathryn Lambert, Laurie Farquharson, 4-H member volunteers Taylor McLean, LauraDeKlein, Samantha Farquharson . Friends of 4-H Donna Wakeling, and 4-H parent Gail Aitken.Also thanks to the volunteers who worked at the BBQ`s-- Tom Aitken and Chris and Vivian Crump.I know I likely missed someone, so much thanks for what you do forMiddlesex 4-H.Yours in 4-HMay Hollingsworth and Don May(Judging Competition results are on p.2)