December 30, 2009

Barn Rules! Rules to live by!
Jessica and Rebekah from the BCK's and Addy from Careywood Eager Beavers with one of the clinician horses, "Peg."

Annette and Lenora talking with the showmanship clinician.


The Bonner County Clan, bundled up and ready to learn with paper and pencil in hand.



Showmanship do's and don'ts.


Today was a COLD day for some die hard 4-H kids and a few adult leaders! After rising early (7am!---I know, really??) and getting the chores completed, cell phones and digital camera batteries charged, we loaded the little red mini van with folding camping chairs, snacks, blankets, kids and adults, and went on our way. We stopped near the end of the road and picked up 2 more passengers, and all their gear. We were headed to Hayden Idaho for a Showmanship Clinic. What were we thinking?? It began snowing in earnest, but the chatter in the van over whelmed any nerves threatening to fray. We did pass a terrible accident on the south end of Granite Hill and we quickly said a prayer for all involved and thanked the Heavens for the grace of timing. The chatter picked up again and the printed directions were shoved into the capable hands of the front seat passenger. Soon we were executing a u-turn and going back to the barn that we thought must have been our destination the first time we passed it. They really should make the address numbers much larger on those barns. Anyway, we realized we were the guests at an amazing ranch. We were all completely awestruck with the shear beauty of the facility. Gail Silkwood of the Golden Go-4's 4-H club, organized an amazing day for all the Northern County 4-H clubs to attend, FREE of charge. The clinic, sponsored by a grant from the AQHA was held at Joy Richard's barn, 1221 Lacey Ave, Hayden Id. The facility was beautiful! The rider's lounge, where we assembled to sign in was well appointed with leather couches, beautiful artwork, a full kitchen and donuts and hot chocolate and coffee. We signed our group in and went to collect our chairs and blankets which we placed around the perimeter of the indoor, HEATED arena. The stalls on either side were amazing. Automatic waterers and feeders, beautiful runs....ahhhh, what a life! The arena floor was chopped up rubber, NO dust! The clinic began with an instructor teaching about showmanship from the very basics and on up. The kids learned tricks for training their horses how to square up (HOURS and HOURS of practice!) pivots, leading, increasing/decreasing your horse's speed and that showing your horse to the judge as best as your horse can look...clean, tidy, well mannered. The clinic then moved onto Horsemanship and what the judges are looking for. We learned some tricks to begin training for lead changes and a very key statement to take to heart, "Its not IF something is going to wrong in the show arena, its WHEN." and how important that makes it that your horse is listening and responding to you. Then we had a FREE lunch! Hot chili with all the fixins'. and sweet treats. Even though the barn was heated, it was still pretty darn chilly and the hot chili was welcomed with smiles and cupped hands. After lunch, two trail judges and instructors came out on their horses and taught the kids the fine points of trail. I am excited to try trail with my horse now! I only need to figure out how to let her know that the gate I am trying to open by pulling towards us is really not going to eat her! After trail was a short clinic on Western Pleasure riding. This class probably sparked the most conversation on the drive home, with the "draped rein" and the "peanut rollers" and the "4-beats" as we jokingly call them, and the pro's and cons of each characteristic of top Western Pleasure horses. All in all we had a terrific winter day immersed in the world of horses. Of course the husbands of the adult attendees now have to listen to the wishes of their wives for indoor arenas, automatic water and feeding systems and rubber footing for those non-existent indoor arenas.

December 11, 2009

Upcoming 4-H Calendar and News

It's been awhile and I apologise. I wanted to stick the 4-H calendar in here for January and February as well as update the 4-H community on news. I am busy, as I am sure most of you are, getting ready for the holidays but 4-H still goes on.

I had a great class of nine new leaders last night. I am always happy to see new leaders as they add spice to the mix. I hope they enjoyed the class. One suggestion came up. A FAQ list for new families or leaders. I need some help on this one. If you know of questions that are asked to yourself or your other families, please let me know. I will compile this question and answers for future use. The comment which brought this to light was "as a new leader or family, I didn't know the questions to ask". Good point and since I have been in the program so long, I forget that new families really are confused and have very simple questions, questions we all take for granted. So... if you can remember the questions you had as a new family or have been asked a number of the same questions, let me know.

There is a new 4-H group in the Gooby Rd area in Sandpoint. They are focusing on the goat projects. If you or anyone you know would like more information on this club, let me know and I will be sure to send you to Melanie, the Organizational Leader.

I am excited to say that the Bonner/Boundary 4-H Horse and Livestock leaders are hosting a Tack and Equipment swap in April at the Bonner County fairgrounds. The reason I'm excited about this event is that in this economy, which may get worse before it gets better for us, anytime we can reuse, recycle and make a little money, it's great. The sale will be in the Southwing of the Main Exhibit Building on Saturday, April 24, 2009. Anyone is welcome. We have not ironed out the logistics yet, such as times and fees, but it's on my Horse Leaders Council meeting agenda in January. Please mark your calendars and start a "I can get rid of this" pile that includes tack, livestock equipment, show clothes etc.

Many kudos to Adrianne Nelson, her family and all the Beaver Creek Kritters for their work on the Free Christmas. I am quite sure they helped a number of families. What a great feeling.

The Extension Office will be closed from December 24 to January 4, 2010. I will be checking my email so if you have to, contact me that way. Look for your 4-H Briefings newsletter shortly after the first of the year. You will find a printed copy of the 4-H calendar for the whole year. Make sure you pull it out and post it in your home.

JANUARY 2010
Dec. 31-Jan.1 New Years Day, Extension Office Closed
9 New Leader Training, 9-12 noon, Extension Office, must pre-register
11 Horse Leaders Council meeting, 6 p.m., Extension Office
13 Market Animal Livestock Committee meeting, 7 p.m., Extension Office
18 Martin Luther King Day, Extension Office Closed
FEBRUARY
1 4-H Club Enrollment Deadline
1 Deadline for New Leader Applications
1 American Beekeepers Federation Essays due State 4-H Office
4, 11, 18, 25 Leader Training Workshops (tentative)
13-15 Know Your Government Conference, Boise
15 Presidents’ Day, Extension Office Close
19 4-H Ski Night, Schweitzer, Tickets available at Extension Office and Schweitzer Conoco

December 5, 2009

Beaver Creek Kritters Free Christmas 2009, DONE!

Free Christmas 2009 is in the books!!! Great job by the Beaver Creek Kritters!

Grab yourself a cup of something hot drink and settle in for a heart warming read....



Little shopper's hands putting on the "to, from" sticker.... below





Lenora lookin' cute below and Payton asking the little one if they want to sign their name on the package (upper right) Galen picking out the right bow. (left)











Wrapping, wrapping and more wrapping!



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Beaver Creek Kritter Gang, pre- Free Christmas door opening. Don't they look calm??
Ali, Isaac, Abigail, Isabelle,Payton, Angelica, Keaton and Rebekah up front (littlest one)





Shoppers at Free Christmas 09

Our heavy laden tables











Well, our Third Annual Free Christmas is in the books! YAHOO! The 4-Hers did a great job, collecting donations, setting up the Free Christmas Store in the Sagle Senior Center, and then wrapping all the treasures for our shoppers. They also hung around for clean up and helped return the building back to its pre- Free Christmas state. I am sure proud of all those kids. What a great day we had! We had many families lined up at 9:30am, and our doors opened at 10am. We had some who had lost much in a fire, some who were there collecting for neighbors who were too shy to come in for themselves, some who just recently came out of surgery and were hobbling around the tables on crutches. We had quite a few kiddos come through and choose gifts for their families. It was and always is a heart touching day. We greeted everyone with a "Merry Christmas" and handed out candy canes to one and all. We had local neighbors bring us home made candy to sustain the gift wrappers, and bagels for those who stayed at the Sagle Senior Center all day Friday to collect donations. I LOVE our community! We had many awesome donations, a mountain bike, a TV and VCR, some beautiful side tables, lots of stuffed animals. Just a lot of wonderful gifts. Our kids were wrapping tornadoes! I tell ya, Santa's elves "ain't got nuttin' " on the Beaver Creek Kritter Kids! Thank you to all the other 4-H clubs and members who helped by donating, we REALLY appreciate you!

Merry Christmas!
Fa, la, la, la,
Adrienne