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4-H

Reminder: GC 4-H now accepting applications for 2020 Youth Tractor Safety Program

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Program is now accepting registrations for the 2020 4-H Tractor Safety Program. The program is open to youth age 14 and over and covers farm safety, tractor safety, tractor operation and other related topics.

The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program is a certification program that allows youth age 14 and 15 to be certified to legally operate farm equipment for hire. After completing the training course, youth will need to pass a written knowledge test and driving test to receive the certification.

The program is scheduled to run Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., January through March at farm machinery dealerships throughout Genesee County. The fee for the program is $10 and youth must also be currently enrolled 4-H members.

Registrations are due Jan. 24.

To register for the program or receive more information, please contact the Genesee County 4-H Office atgenesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

GC 4-H now accepting applications for 2020 Youth Tractor Safety Program

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Program is now accepting registrations for the 2020 4-H Tractor Safety Program. It is open to youth age 14 and over and covers farm safety, tractor safety, tractor operation and other related topics.

The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program is a certification program that allows youth age 14 and 15 to be certified to legally operate farm equipment for hire. After completing the training course, youth will need to pass a written knowledge test and driving test to receive the certification.

The program is scheduled to run Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. January through March at farm machinery dealerships throughout Genesee County.

The fee for the program is $10 and youth must also be currently enrolled 4-H members. Registrations are due Jan. 24.

To register for the program or receive more information, please contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

GC 4-H Programs seeks new volunteers and 4-H Club members

By Billie Owens

Photo: 4-H Clover Drovers Club members with their pillow projects.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Program is seeking new volunteers and 4-H clubs! Volunteers are essential to our program and allow you to share your hobbies with interested youth.

Projects can be as varied as sewing, arts and crafts, cooking, animal science and more.   

You can start a 4-H Club in these five easy steps!

1.)  Complete the New 4-H Volunteer Enrollment Form (available at the 4-H office).

2.)  Attend an orientation meeting with 4-H staff.

3.)  Enroll five youths in your club (ages 5 to 18).

4.)  Have members choose a club name.

5.) Plan monthly club meetings and projects with club parents and members.

New members and volunteers are always welcome to join the 4-H program.

For more information on how to join or start a 4-H club, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

The 4-H office is located at Cornell Cooperative Extension, Genesee County, 420 E. Main St., Batavia.

Annual 4-H Achievement Night celebrated successful completion of another year

By Billie Owens

Above photo: Leadership County Medal Award recipients, from left: Eva Rhoads, Brooke Frega, Teagan Mathes, Clare Mathes, (not pictured: Caroline Pelton).

Submitted photos and press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Program celebrated the completion of the 4-H Program Year with its annual 4-H Achievement Night on Thursday, Sept. 26th. More than a hundred 4-H members and their families attended the event at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.  

Congratulations to all of the 4-H members and volunteers who received an award.

Highlights include:

  • Achievement County Medal: Ian Keberle, Maia Zerillo;
  • Community Service County Medal: Eva Rhoads;
  • Leadership County Medal: Brooke Frega, Clare Mathes, Teagan Mathes, Caroline Pelton, Eva Rhoads;
  • Outstanding First Year Member Award: Thomas Keele, Levi Miller, Riley Smith, Ellie Tanner;
  • Club Secretary of the Year: Alexandria Tarbell – ACES Club;
  • Club President of the Year: Karly Smith – Boots & Bling Club;
  • 4-H Spirit Award: Justin Deleo, Emma Haacke, Tyler Jirovec, Thomas Keele, Evan Winspear;
  • Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award: Maggie Winspear;
  • 4-H Member of the Year: Becky Kron;
  • 10 Year Volunteer Milestone Award: Melissa George, Tom Nesbitt, Hermann Weber;
  • 20 Year Volunteer Milestone Award: Dwight Kauppi;
  • 30 Year Volunteer Milestone Award: Kathy Winspear;
  • Outstanding Volunteer Awards: Debra Baris, Joy Brewer, Julie Ehrmentraut, Melissa George, Todd Hofheins, Amanda Hofheins, Denise Hull, Sue Johnson, Julie Keller, Jamey Pagels, Katie Rhoads, Lindsey Thurber, Kathy Winspear, Lauren Zuber.

Now is a great time to enroll in the Genesee County 4-H Program! New youth members and adult volunteers are always welcome to join.

For more information, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131. 

Below: Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award recipient Maggie Winspear.

Bottom photo: Outstanding Volunteer Award recipients, from left: Joy Brewer, Katie Rhoads, Melissa George, Denise Hull, Lauren Zuber, Jamey Pagels, Todd Hofheins, Kathy Winspear.

Hip hip hooray: GC 4-H horse members compete in NYS Fair Hippology Contest

By Billie Owens

Genesee County 4-H Hippology Contest Participants for 2019 -- Eva Rhoads, left, and Alexandria Tarbell.

Submitted photo and press release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who competed in the 4-H Hippology Contest at the New York State Fair.

Hippology is a contest that tests the participant’s equine knowledge through a variety of stations and written questions.

4-H members from across New York State competed in the contest on Sunday, Aug. 25th

The Genesee County 4-H Team placed fifth in the contest. In individual results, Eva Rhoads placed 11th and Alexandria Tarbell placed 15th

Congratulations to all of the 4-H’ers competing at the New York State Fair!

For more information on the Genesee County 4-H Program, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

Genesee County 4-H Dairy Club competes at New York State Fair

By Billie Owens

Top photo: Genesee Dairy Challenge Team – Genesee County 4-H Dairy Challenge Contest participants, from left: Bing Zuber, Wyatt Uberty, Chase Zuber, Otto Uberty, Renee Uberty.

Submitted photos and press release:

SYRACUSE -- Members of the Genesee County 4-H Dairy Club took their skills to the New York State Fair in Syracuse earlier this week.

4-H Dairy Challenge and Dairy Judging Contests were held to test the youth’s knowledge on judging skills, animal nutrition, agronomy, feed identification, farm safety, and business management.

Below are results from the contests that included more than 150 participants.

New York State Fair 4-H Dairy Challenge Contest:

Genesee Novice Team – Second-place Team. Team members were: Otto Uberty, Wyatt Uberty, Bing Zuber and Chase Zuber.

Individual Results – Bing Zuber -- third High Novice Individual; Renee Uberty -- 19th Junior Individual.

New York State Fair 4-H Dairy Judging Contest:

Genesee Novice Team AFourth Place. Team members and individual rankings were: Chloe Lamb -- 14th, Bing Zuber -- 16th, and Chase Zuber -- 18th.

Genesee Novice Team B – Third Place. Team members and individual rankings were: Evan Winspear -- third, Wyatt Uberty -- 17th, Otto Uberty -- 20th.

Genesee Junior Team – Fourth Place. Team members and individual rankings were: Maggie Winspear -- fifth, Jillian Brewer -- eighth, and Renee Uberty -- 36th.

Genesee Senior Team – 13th-place. Team members and individual rankings were: Carolyn Sybertz -- 23rd and Amelia Brewer -- 29th.

Congratulations to all of the 4-H’ers competing at the New York State Fair this week!  For more information on the Genesee County 4-H Program, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

Bottom photo: Genesee County 4-H Dairy Judging Contest participants, from left, back row: Amelia Brewer, Carolyn Sybertz, Jillian Brewer, Renee Uberty, Maggie Winspear. From left, front row: Wyatt Uberty, Evan Winspear, Chloe Lamb, Bing Zuber, Otto Uberty, and Chase Zuber.

Now is perfect time to start a 4-H Club, there are five easy steps to take

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Now is a great time to start a 4-H Club in the Genesee County 4-H Program. The new 4-H Club Year begins Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2020.

The 4-H Program teaches youth life skills through hands on activities in a variety of project areas. Youth ages 5 to 18 years are always welcome to join.  Adult volunteers and new 4-H Clubs are always welcome as well. 

Starting a 4-H Club is fun and easy. You can start a 4-H Club in five easy steps!

How to Start a 4-H Club in 5 Easy Steps:

1.  Complete the New 4-H Volunteer Enrollment Form.

2.  Attend an orientation meeting with 4-H Staff.

3.  Enroll 5 youth in your club (age 5 – 18).

4.  Have members choose a club name.

5.  Plan monthly club meetings and projects with parents and youth.

For more information on starting a 4-H Club or joining the 4-H Program, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

Young Batavia equestrian wins her division as Grand Champion in Dressage at State Fair

By Billie Owens

Photo and rider information submitted by reader Nancy Ewert.

SYRACUSE -- Katherine Ewert, 13, of Batavia, and her horse Seamus won Grand Champion for the Dressage Young Rider Division for both Training and First Level on Sunday at the New York State Fair.

This was a United States Dressage Federation Schooling Show.

Katherine has been competing in dressage for three years through Genesee County 4-H, two of them at the state level. Last year, she was Reserve Grand Champion in dressage at the NYS Fair.

The middle-schooler has been riding horses since age 10.

About Dressage

The word "dressage" is French, commonly translated to mean "training." It is a highly skilled form of horseback riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an "art" sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. In dressage, horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements.

At its best, the horse responds smoothly to a skilled rider's minimal aids. The rider is relaxed and appears effort-free while the horse willingly performs the requested movement.

Rules for it were first published in 1550 by Frederico Grisone, a thousand year after the first treatise "On Horsemanship" by Xenophone.

In modern dressage competition, successful training at the various levels is demonstrated through the performance of "tests" -- a prescribed series of movements ridden within a standard arena. Judges evaluate each movement on the basis of an objective standard appropriate to the level of the test and assign each movement a score from zero to 10.

To learn more about dressage, click here.

Genesee County 4-H members earn ribbons at the 2019 State Fair Dog Show

By Billie Owens

Photo from the 2019 State Fair Dog Show, from left: Corinne Rhoads, Essie, Eva Rhoads, Madison Harrington, Dexter. 

Submitted photo and press release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who participated in the 4-H Dog Show at the New York State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 17.

Representing Genesee County 4-H were: Madison Harrington and her dog Dexter; Eva Rhoads and Essie; Eva Rhoads and Avery; and Riley Smith and Cash. 

Madison and Dexter won Grand Champion Grooming and Handling A Senior. Eva and Essie won Reserve Grand Champion Grooming and Handling B Senior. 

For more information about the Genesee County 4-H Program, please contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or (585) 343-3040, ext. 131.

Genesee County Fair 4-H Livestock Show 2019 results announced

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who participated in the 4-H Livestock Shows at the 2019 Genesee County Fair.

4-H Beef Show

  • Senior Showmanship – Caleb Carlson
  • Junior Showmanship – Audrey Dorman
  • Novice Showmanship – Thomas Keele
  • Master Showman – Caleb Carlson
  • Supreme Female – Makayla Sugg
  • Reserve Supreme Female – Shianne Foss 
  • Champion Beef Steer – Autumn Mathisen
  • Reserve Champion Beef Steer – Shianne Foss
  • Champion Dairy Steer – Maggie Winspear
  • Reserve Champion Dairy Steer – Justin Deleo 

4-H Dairy Cattle Show

  • Novice Showmanship – Colton Walczak
  • Junior Showmanship – Jacob Beideck
  • Intermediate Showmanship – Maggie Winspear
  • Senior Showmanship – Amelia Brewer
  • Master Showman – Amelia Brewer
  • Champion Ayrshire – Amelia Brewer
  • Champion Grade – Annalise Sybertz
  • Champion Holstein – Bing Zuber
  • Champion Brown Swiss – Bing Zuber
  • Champion Jersey – Maggie Winspear
  • Supreme Champion – Bing Zuber
  • Reserve Supreme Champion – Bing Zuber
  • Best Bred and Owned – Jillian Brewer

4-H Dairy & Meat Goat Show

  • Novice Dairy Goat Showmanship – Levi Miller
  • Junior Dairy Goat Showmanship – Jade Winn
  • Senior Dairy Goat Showmanship – Gabe Winn
  • Master Dairy Goat Showman—Jade Winn
  • Best Udder—Gabe Winn
  • Best in Show Dairy Doe—Shane Coast
  • Novice Meat Goat Showmanship – Levi Miller
  • Junior Meat Goat Showmanship – Campbell Riley
  • Senior Meat Goat Showmanship – John Riley
  • Master Meat Goat Showman—John Riley
  • Champion Meat Goat Doe—Lily Haacke
  • Champion Boer Doe—John Riley

4-H Sheep Show

  • Senior Showmanship – Becky Kron
  • Junior Showmanship – Hunter McCabe
  • Novice Showmanship – Makayla Sugg
  • Master Showman—Becky Kron
  • Supreme Champion Ram – Becky Kron
  • Supreme Champion Ewe – Brendan Pimm
  • Champion Market Lamb – Makayla Sugg
  • Reserve Champion Market Lamb – Ben Kron

4-H Hog Show

  • Senior Showmanship – Dillon Weber
  • Junior Showmanship – Brendan Pimm
  • Novice Showmanship – Thomas Keele
  • Master Showman – Dillon Weber
  • Champion Market Hog – Makayla Sugg
  • Reserve Champion Market Hog – Thomas Keele
  • Supreme Champion Gilt – Thomas Keele
  • Reserve Supreme Gilt – Jillian Weaver

4-H Market Animal Auction Poultry Show 

  • Champion Pen of Chickens – Evan Winspear 
  • Reserve Pen of Chickens – Jillian Brewer
  • Master Showman – Teagan Mathes
  • Champion Project Pen of Chickens – Teagan Mathes
  • Reserve Project Pen of Chickens – Teagan Mathes

4-H Market Animal Auction Goat Show

  • Champion Market Goat – John Riley
  • Reserve Champion Market Goat – Riley Smith
  • Master Showman – John Riley
  • Champion Project Market Goat – Tyler Jirovec
  • Reserve Project Market Goat – Clare Mathes

4-H Market Animal Auction Lamb Show

  • Champion Market Lamb – Makayla Sugg
  • Reserve Champion Market Lamb – Madelynn Pimm
  • Master Showman – Brendan Pimm
  • Champion Project Market Lamb – Makayla Sugg
  • Reserve Project Market Lamb – Brendan Pimm

4-H Market Animal Auction Beef Show

  • Champion Beef Steer – Cole Carlson
  • Reserve Beef Steer – Caleb Carlson
  • Master Showman – Cole Carlson
  • Champion Project Beef Steer – Cole Carlson
  • Reserve Project Beef Steer – Shianne Foss

4-H Market Animal Auction Dairy Steer Show

  • Champion Dairy Steer – Bing Zuber
  • Reserve Dairy Steer – Chase Zuber
  • Master Showman – Carolyn Sybertz
  • Champion Project Dairy Steer – Bing Zuber
  • Reserve Project Dairy Steer – Chase Zuber

4-H Market Animal Auction Hog Show

  • Champion Market Hog – Becky Kron
  • Reserve Market Hog – Cody Carlson
  • Master Showman – Becky Kron
  • Champion Project Market Hog – Cody Carlson
  • Reserve Project Market Hog – Thomas Keele

For more information about the Genesee County 4-H Program, contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040, ext. 131. 

Winners announced for the 2019 Genesee County Fair 4-H Master Showman contests

By Billie Owens

Submitted photos and press release:

Congratulations to the Genesee County 4-H members who competed in the 4-H Master Showman Contests at the 2019 Genesee County Fair.

The 4-H Overall Livestock Master Showman Contest was held on Friday, July 19th, at the Genesee County Fair. The winners of the master showmanship classes in dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, poultry, cavies and rabbits qualified to compete in the contest.

At the contest, Maggie Winspear was named the 2019 Overall 4-H Livestock Master Showman. 

The 4-H Livestock Master Showman class winners were:

  • Cavy Master Showman – Maggie Winspear
  • Beef Cattle Master Showman – Caleb Carlson
  • Dairy Cattle Master Showman – Amelia Brewer
  • Meat & Dairy Goat Master Showman – Clare Mathes
  • Poultry Master Showman – Teagan Mathes
  • Rabbit Master Showman – Amelia Brewer
  • Sheep Master Showman – Becky Kron
  • Swine Master Showman – Dillon Weber

On Saturday, July 20th, the 4-H Market Animal Auction Master Showman Contest was held at the Genesee County Fair.

The master showmanship class winners of the Market Animal Auction Lamb, Goat, Hog, Poultry, Beef Steer and Dairy Steer Shows competed in the contest.

Becky Kron was named the 2019 4-H Market Animal Auction Master Showman.

The 4-H market animal auction master showman class winners were:

  • Beef Steer Master Showman – Cole Carlson
  • Dairy Steer Master Showman – Carolyn Sybertz
  • Market Goat Master Showman – Clare Mathes
  • Market Hog Master Showman – Becky Kron
  • Market Lamb Master Showman – Brendan Pimm
  • Market Poultry Master Showman – Teagan Mathes

For more information about the Genesee County 4-H Program, contact the 4-H Office at genesee4h@cornell.edu or 585-343-3040, ext. 131. 

Video: 4H Livestock Auction at the Genesee County Fair

By Howard B. Owens
Video Sponsor
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Here's the 4-H schedule for the Genesee County Fair July 13-20

By Billie Owens

Press release:

2019 Genesee County Fair 4-H Schedule

Remember to visit 4-H at the fair! The Genesee County Fair will be held July 13-20 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, 5056 E. Main Street Road, in Batavia.

For more information about the Genesee County Fair, click here

2019 Genesee County Fair 4-H Schedule

Saturday, July 13th 

4 p.m.                 4-H Poultry Show (Merton Building)

6 p.m.                 4-H Livestock Costume Contest (Main Show Ring)

Sunday, July 14th 

10 a.m.               4-H Beef Show (Main Show Ring)

4 p.m.                 4-H Rabbit Show (Merton Building)

Monday, July 15th 

9 a.m.                 4-H Market Auction Goat Show (Main Show Ring)

10 a.m.               4-H Cloverbud Poultry Show (Merton Building)

10 a.m.               4-H Dairy Cattle Fitting Clinic & Master Fitter Competition (4-H Dairy Barn)

10:30 a.m.          4-H Goat Agility Contest (Goat Barn Show Ring)

10:30 a.m.          4-H Market Auction Lamb Show (Main Show Ring)

4 p.m.                 4-H Market Auction Dairy Steer Show (Main Show Ring)

5 p.m.                 4-H Market Auction Beef Steer Show (Main Show Ring)

Tuesday, July 16th

10 a.m.               4-H Cloverbud Rabbit Show (Merton Building)

11 a.m.               4-H Dairy & Meat Goat Show (Main Show Ring)

1 p.m.                 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest (4-H Dairy Barn)

4 p.m.                 4-H Energy Bike Pedal Power Activity (Kennedy Building)

5 p.m.                 4-H Market Auction Hog Show (Main Show Ring)

7 p.m.                 Fair Barn Dance (Open Dairy Barn)

Wednesday, July 17th 

9 a.m.                 4-H Hog Show (Main Show Ring)

12 p.m.               4-H Sheep Show (Main Show Ring)

3 p.m.                 4-H Geocache Challenge (Kennedy Building)

6:30 p.m.            Fair Parade

Thursday, July 18th 

9 a.m.                 4-H Dairy Cattle Show (Main Show Ring)

9 a.m.                 4-H Horse Show – Western Division (Horse Arena)

6:45 p.m.            4-H Market Animal Auction Awards Ceremony (Main Show Ring)

7 p.m.                 4-H Market Animal Auction Sale Begins (Main Show Ring)

Friday, July 19th 

9 a.m.                 4-H Horse Show – English & Dressage Division (Horse Arena)

9 a.m.                 4-H Beef Team Fitting Competition (Main Show Ring)

12 p.m.               4-H Livestock Master Showman Contest (Main Show Ring)

1 p.m.                 4-H Dairy Club Butter Making Activity (Kennedy Building)

5:30 p.m.            4-H Tractor Driving Contest

Saturday, July 20th 

9 a.m.                 4-H Horse Show – Gymkhana Division (Horse Arena)

2 p.m.                 4-H Creative Soil Painting Activity (Kennedy Building)

4 p.m.                 4-H Market Auction Master Showman Contest (Main Show Ring)

The complete daily schedule of the Genesee County Fair is available here.

GC 4-H members to showcase hundreds of projects at fair, theme is 'Patriotic'

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Genesee County 4-H members will showcase hundreds of projects at the Genesee County Fair July 13-20, in Batavia. More than 250 local 4-H youth will exhibit projects and participate in activities throughout the duration of the fair.

The 4-H Kennedy Building will feature hundreds of projects in areas including horticulture, fine arts, hobby crafts, sewing, food and nutrition, posters and more.

On display in the 4-H Kennedy Building and throughout the 4-H Animal Barns will be displays made by more than 20 Genesee County 4-H Clubs. Displays will proudly feature the 2019 4-H fair theme “Patriotic.” 

Highlights of the 4-H schedule include the Livestock Costume Contest on Saturday, July 13th at 6 p.m. in the main show ring. 4-H members will compete with their project animals for awards such as Most Humorous Costume, Best Craftsmanship, and Overall Champion Costume. 

The annual fair parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17th. 4-H Clubs will showcase the highlights of their club year by competing with parade floats. 

The Livestock Master Showman Contest will be on Friday, July 19th, at noon in the main show ring. The winners of master showmanship in dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, poultry and rabbits will compete for the title of Overall Livestock Master Showman.

On Saturday, July 20th at 4 p.m. in the main show ring will be the Market Animal Auction Master Showman Contest. Master Showman winners of the Auction Division shows will compete for the title of Market Animal Auction Master Showman.

The Genesee County Fair will be held July 13-20 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds 5056 E. Main Street Road, in Batavia. For more information about the Genesee County Fair, click here.

GC 4-H's 49th annual Market Animal Auction is July 18 at the fairgrounds

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The 49th Annual Genesee County 4-H Market Animal Auction will be held Thursday, July 18, at the Genesee County Fair.

The auction will feature chickens, goats, lambs, beef steers, dairy steers and hogs raised by local 4-H members.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. in the 4-H Kennedy Building and the auction begins at 7 p.m. in the Main Show Ring at the fairgrounds, located at 5056 E. Main Street Road, Batavia. 

Animals will be auctioned by William Kent Inc. of Stafford. Special thanks to William Kent and family for 49 years of support of the 4-H Market Animal Auction!

For more information, please contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at 585-343-3040, ext. 131, or visit http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/.

GC 4-H ACES Club invites you to try beating their robot in 'Rock-Paper-Scissors' game at the fair

By Billie Owens
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Renee Chapell with the RaSPy poster. Photo by Alexandria Tarbell, 4-H ACES Club Photographer.

By Renee Chapell – Genesee County 4H ACES Club:

Play Rock-Paper-Scissors against this robot and prepare to lose! One, two, three!

Anyone who’s ever played a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors knows that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes you tie. That’s true if you’re playing against a human, but RaSPy will give you a challenge.

RaSPy is an autonomous robot that knows how to play rock-paper-scissors!

Come learn about building robots and challenge RaSPy to a round of Rock-Scissors-Paper. RaSPy, the challenging robot, will be debuting at Genesee County Fair July 13 – 20.

Can robots really beat me? They can indeed. With individually controllable motors and a bunch of sensors, RaSPy can play RPS just as quickly as you.

The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book delves into the complexities of the NXT programming language (NXT-G) and offers tips for designing and programming robots, using Bluetooth, creating an NXT remote control, troubleshooting, and much more.

The 4H ACES Club learned to build RaSPy from "The LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Idea Book."

The team learned that with RaSPy, coding is as simple as clicking and dragging blocks. RaSPy the Robot makes learning about programming, electronics, and mechanical engineering a fun, challenging and engaging process. Sure, there are a ton of other robots made for kids, but RaSPy is amazingly special!

Stop by the Kennedy building and see RaSPy and see if you can beat him! We hope to see you at the fair!

4-H ACES Club offers pedal-powered program to promote healthy lifestyle and renewable energy

By Billie Owens

Above, Charles Malone, Cornell Extension senior resource educator, with 4-H ACES Club members and a 4-H Energy Bike.

Submitted photo and press release:

Would you like to take “healthy living” to the next level? 4-H STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) specialist Charles Malone, along with the Genesee County 4-H ACES Club, created delicious, healthy smoothies using pedal power.

The Energy Bike can help tackle obesity by promoting healthy eating and lifestyles among youth and families. Charles Malone estimated that 12 hours of pedaling would total just 12 cents on a family’s electricity bill.

We learned that using the 4-H Energy Bike connected to a blender and a little pedal-power, you can mix delicious smoothies as you pedal. You just fill the blender with fruit and juice, hop on the bike and pedal for a short amount of time, a minute later you have delicious fruit smoothies for everyone! 

We all know that the key to healthy living is doing regular exercise, eating healthy food full of fruit and veggies, and of course trying to reduce our personal carbon footprint on the planet and promote renewable energy.

Bringing pedal-powered activities to our 4-H Club, which focuses on science and robotics, promotes renewable energy, biking, healthy eating, and teamwork, and puts everyone in an open, happy, and receptive state, ready to interact and learn. It’s green energy in action!

Learning about the energy bike taught us how to use our own muscle power and instantly achieve a delicious, healthy fruit smoothie. We also learned how to reserve, pack, unpack and transport the 4-H Energy Bike.

New York State 4-H currently has several energy bikes to help promote a healthy living program. A smoothie challenge is a good way to promote fun, health, and teamwork altogether.

The energy bike helps promote healthy living and STEM. 4-H’ers can learn to talk to visitors both about the way energy moves from muscle to bike to blender as well as about fruit smoothies as a healthy snack alternative. 

New York State 4-H Foundation, New York State Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County are a partnered program promoting the Energy Bike to 4-H camps, local 4-H clubs, schools and community youth programs.

If you want to learn more about the 4-H Energy Bike program, and perhaps host a fun event, and for more information contact Charles Malone, senior resource educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension, Genesee County at: cwm4@cornell.edu.

Photo by Alexandria Tarbell, 4-H ACES Club photographer.

GC 4-H Program seeks volunteer judges for this year's fair

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee County 4-H Program is seeking volunteer judges for the following events at this year’s Genesee County Fair:

  • Kennedy Building Exhibits: Judging times are Friday, July 12th, 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 13th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two-hour time slots are available on July 13th. Volunteer judges receive a fair parking pass and meal coupon. No experience is necessary! Exhibits may include: crafts, artwork, photography, sewing, baked goods, horticultural projects and more!
  • 4-H Livestock Costume Contest -- Saturday, July 13 at 6 p.m. 4-H’ers will be dressing their project animals up in fun costumes & accessories; help us decide who is the most creative, most humorous, has the best craftsmanship, the best team, and overall champion!

Interested in helping? Contact the 4-H Office for more details 343-3040, or email genesee4h@cornell.edu

GC 4-H member of youth team gets Third Place in statewide Horse Communications event

By Billie Owens

Submitted photo and press release:

Congratulations to the Genesee and Monroe County 4-H Youth Team that competed in the 2019 New York State 4-H Horse Communications Event at Cornell University in Ithaca on Saturday, May 11.

4-H youth from across New York State came together to compete in the NYS 4-H Horse Communications Contest, which is an event for qualifying youth (decided at the Regional Level) to compete and show off public speaking and communication skills.

The event is centered around the horse world, encompassing a wide variety of topics. The communications program offered by 4-H is one of the most beneficial programs, allowing youth to learn and practice public speaking skills that can be used in future.

Representing Genesee and Monroe counties 4-H in the Senior Team Presentation category were, Alexandria Tarbell, of Genesee County (pictured right), and Ella Bohn, of Monroe County. Their presentation was titled "A Bit About Bits" and the girls placed third out five senior team presentations.

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, and the NYS Horse Program are proud of all the youth who participated in this educational event. Congratulations ladies!

For more information regarding local opportunities in 4-H Youth Development call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County at 585-343-3040, ext. 101, or email genesee4h@cornell.edu

Double 4-H rabbit and cavy youth show is April 27 at GC fairgrounds

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Genesee County 4-H Fur and Feather Club along with Wyoming County 4-H Rabbit Ears Club are hosting a double rabbit and cavy youth show on Saturday, April 27, at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, 5056 E. Main Street Road, Batavia.

The show is open to all local youth ages 19 and younger (you don’t need to be a 4-H member). Showroom opens at 8 a.m., health checked by 9 a.m., judging promptly begins at 10 a.m.

Entry Fee is $3 per animal if postmarked by April 19; or fee is $4 day of show. Participants may enter in both shows.

For complete show rules and entry forms please visit here, or contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at 585-343-3040, ext. 101.

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