4 the Love of Horses 4-H Club News
Halloween at the Stables
By Kristine Miller
4-H Reporter
On Oct. 30, Cool Breeze Stables hosted a 4-H, For the Love of Horses, Halloween party for the community. After hours of preparation, all the Fort Defiance schools were invited to arrive though only younger kids were allowed from six to eight p.m. for face painting, trick-or-treating at decorated horse stalls, pony rides, games, and hay rides. Everyone older arrived after eight for a haunted forest where people’s screams could be heard a mile away.
All 4-Hers agreed that the night was a huge success. It was noticed that people outside of Fort Defiance had heard about the Halloween Party and had arrived too.
Besides being served heaps of candy, the children had grilled hot dogs and chocolate from a chocolate fountain that was set up and worked the entire time. Some 4-Hers hope that this party will be the start of a tradition.
On November 14, 4 the Love of Horses 4-H Club had its first meeting under their newly elected officers. The new President, Kaitlin Heavener, started the meeting at 5:05 PM. Following reports by the Treasurer and Secretary, Kaitlin discussed the following old business topics:
Oct. Halloween party was declared a success by all members that attended.
The End of Summer horse show raffle horse, Fancy, was sold back to the 4-H Club and has not yet been resold.
The trip to the Washington D.C. jump off was cancelled due to lack of members able to go.
A few members are still working on finding a company and the right price to make 4-H calendars.
On Nov. 1, newly elected officers went to officer training at the Augusta County Government Center.
Thank-you cards were sent out to all End of Summer horse show sponsors.
Members that signed up for Club T-shirts should receive their shirts at the next 4-H meeting.
Under new business:
The idea of giving money, gifts, or volunteering time to the SPCA and/or Ride With Pride as a community
service project. Members decided to research both organizations’ needs.
The Club will shop for families in need of Christmas Gifts at the Staunton Wal-Mart on Dec. 12 at 2 p.m.
Nov. 20 is achievement night. All 4-H members, volunteers, and families are invited.
A committee was created to plan for volunteering at a soup kitchen.
A few members and our leader plan to attend the next Augusta County Fair Board meeting.
Members discussed how TSC Clover Cards are chances to win gift cards for our club from Tractor Supply.
The website is www.tractorsupply.com/4-H and members can sign up or get more information.
Every member needs to bring the dish they signed up for as part of the Christmas party at the next meeting.
Food will be eaten before the meeting and games will be held after.
Members should bring a present to exchange as part of having a Chinese Christmas.
The next meeting will be on Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. at Cool Breeze Stables. The meeting was then adjourned.
Kristine Miller contributed to this report.
December Meeting
By Kristine Miller
4-H Reporter
The 4 the Love of Horses club held their December meeting on the fifth. Kaitlin Heavener, as the president, started the meeting at 5:11 p.m. before the Treasurer and Secretary gave their reports. Because the Christmas party was a large part of the meeting, the only business discussed was a reminder to go shopping for a family on December 12th at 2 p.m. in Staunton at Wal-Mart.
Every member brought a gift to exchange and a dish to share. Everyone had a great time opening presents and stacking their plates with delicious food. It was a great meeting to get into the holiday spirit.
Christmastime Caring
By Kristine Miller
4-H Reporter
On Dec. 12th at 2 p.m. 4 the Love of Horses 4-H group went to the Staunton Wal-Mart to go shopping for a family needing a better Christmas. Each member of the family made a list of what they needed and sent it to the club. When the club arrived at Wal-Mart they formed small groups, each group shopping for a member of the family.
Everyone zipped through the aisles of products making sure to find exactly what the family members wanted. Although our 4-H group collected a lot of toys and clothes, we also purchased canned goods and other long lasting foods so the family could make a nice Christmas meal. After the toys, clothing, and food were collected and paid for, the 4-Hers got back together to pack and wrap the gifts and finally adding a card wishing the family a very Merry Christmas.
February Meeting
By Kristine Miller
4-H Reporter
Kaitlyn Hevener, For the Love of Horses’ 4-H club president, started the February meeting on the twelfth at approximately five p.m. After the club said the Pledge of Allegiance and 4-H pledge, Jessica Arnold, the club’s secretary, did roll call, then Katie Kennedy, treasurer, announced the club’s profits and loss and total balance. After that, Jessica read the minutes from the last meeting. Kaitlyn then went through the following old and new business:
• The club was notified of a pilot program that is a set of requirements needed to be fulfilled if a 4-H member wants to enter the 4-H state show. It was asked if the club could test these requirements before they became enforced.
• VHC (Virginia Horse Council) was having an annual meeting and education seminar and asked the club if they could have some volunteers to bring and serve refreshments for a donation of $300.
• Because there was news of the state closing the county extension office, the club considered to write to senator Ed Hawks in attempt to stop that.
• Breanna Riley, a girl in the club who works with Ride With Pride was asked to find more information for when Ride With Pride would find it suitable for the club to help them.
• The club was asked to host the state show qualifier in May or June. They voted to do so and had a date set up for a committee to meet and discuss how to set up the show.
March Meeting
By Kristine Miller
4-H Reporter
For the Love of Horses’ 4-H club began its March meeting on the sixth by Kaitlyn Hevener, the club’s president. The club spoke both the Pledge of Allegiance and 4-H pledge before Jessica Arnold, secretary, went through roll call. Katie Kennedy, treasurer, announced the club’s balance, and Jessica reviewed the minutes from the club’s last meeting. A new 4-H leader from Rockingham county named Dara Booher greeted the club then explained that she had been invited to learn how typical meetings were run. After Dara was introduced to the members, Kaitlyn discussed the following news:
• Breanna Riley, a member who volunteers with Ride With Pride, explained to the club that Ride With Pride would appreciate help with its opening house on the twenty-sixth. The club agreed to be there to do so.
• The club was notified that state show declarations were due May first.
• The club learned that Kids Matter Day would be on May seventh at Gypsy Hill Park, yet it was left uncertain if the club would go or not.
• Kristine Miller, a club member and the club's reporter, was asked to write a letter to Senator Ed Hawkins about the club’s disagreement with the state closing the county extension office. Every member would sign the letter at the next meeting before it is sent.
Jennifer Mercer, who works with the county extension office, arrived to explain more of the pilot program and taught the club the different kinds of horse feeds and how they each help horses in different ways. She also brought in samples of the feeds and hay so the club members could remember and recognize them later on. When Jennifer finished, Kaitlyn Hevener said the next meeting would be on April third and then adjourned the meeting.
Ride With Pride Volunteering
By Kristine Miller
4-H Reporter
On March 26, 2011, the 4-H club, For the Love of Horses, went to Cedar Creek stables to assist Ride With Pride with its open house. The members began helping by sweeping floors, bringing the Ride With Pride horses in, and setting up a sock puppet area for kids. Members made examples of horse sock puppets then helped kids make their own. When it was time for Ride With Pride to start its demonstration, members prepared to bring in horses to the riding ring for the kids to see. After they brought the horses over they held them and let the kids greet and pet the horses. Lastly, the members put away the horses when the demonstration was over.
Ride With Pride managed to finish earlier than planned because of the members’ help. Despite the cold air that day, everyone had a good time.
On April 3, 2011, the 4-H club, For the Love of Horses, had their April meeting. Because of the beautiful, warm weather, Kaitlyn Hevener started the meeting outside for the first time this year. The club recited the Pledge of Allegiance and 4-H pledge then Dylan Kramer, the club’s vice president, told of last meeting’s minutes since the secretary was not present. Dylan also read the treasurer’s report because the treasurer was absent as well. When Dylan finished, Kaitlyn explained the following old and new business:
• The club’s committee decided to move the state horse show qualifier to Expoland and set the date to June 18.
• Classes for the show were decided then printed onto programs which were passed out to all the members.
• The club discovered that Jennifer Mercer, whose position dealt with all 4-Hs at the county’s extension office, was transferred.
• The members, members’ parents, and the club’s leader discussed their concern of how the lack of her position in the county extension office would affect the club.
• Everyone agreed to attend a board of supervisors meeting on April 20.
• A member volunteered to voice the club’s concern of Jennifer’s terminated position during the meeting.
• The club was reminded of Kids’ Matter Day at Gypsy Hill Park on May 7 and club members are to wear their 4-H shirts.
• For Kids’ Matter Day a member came up with the idea of horse painting for fun and the rest of the members agreed to plan to bring a horse, barrowed from Cool Breeze Stables, for use.
• Members were notified of a horse owner meeting sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Center and held at the Frontier Culture Museum in the dairy barn on April 28.
• Kristine Miller, who wrote a letter to Senator Emmet Hanger to have the funding in the county extension office saved, read the letter out loud to the club then had everyone sign it to later be sent.
• A friend to the club volunteered to attend Virginia Tech. training for horse emergency rescue then to come back with information to teach and demonstrate to the club. The club decided to fund him for his two day trip.
With business finished, Kaitlyn then gave out the Virginia 4-H Horse Project Record Booklets to any member that needed one to attend the 4-H state show. Afterwards, Kaitlyn ended the meeting. The next meeting will be held on May 8.
For the Love of Horses 4H Club met on November 6, 2011 at 5:00 PM at Cool Breeze Stables. We discussed our Halloween Party. We also talked about the Ride With Pride Benefit Trail Ride that we had went too. We also discussed our up-coming Chirstmas Party at our next meeting. We decided to do 5 community service projects this year. Collecting food for the food bank, donation to the SPCA, feed five families, care packages for a Platoon of soldiers, and donating our time at a local Soup Kitchen. We talked about our 4H Achievement Night. Our up-coming events are 4H Acheivement Night on December 3, 2011. We also have our Christmas Party on December 4, 2011. We had Courtney Pugh, a Vet Tech for Blue Ride Equine Clinic, come talk to us about her job. She gave us a lot of demonstrations about her job. We got to hear a horses heart beat, stick our hands in a horses mouth and feel there teeth, watch her draw a horses blood and take a horses temperature. Our next meeting will be on December 4, 2011 at 5:00 PM at Cool Breeze Stables.
Submitted by: Jyssica McCormick, Reporter
For The Love Of Horses met on January 8th, 2012 at Cool Breeze Stables. Kaitlyn Hevener proposed that the club donate $200 to two Chesterfield County 4-Hers that were injured in an automobile accident The teenagers have been very involved in 4-H and are 4-H All Stars. We talked about some of the other community service projects we would like to do. We signed up for our committees and set dates to meet. We had Courtney Pugh a Vet Tech from Blue Ride Equine Clinic come talk to us about chiropractic works that you can do with your horse. Such maneuvers include pulling the tail to stretch the spine and how to pull the leg forward to stretch the muscles. Our next meeting will be on February 5th, 2012 at Cool Breeze Stables.
Submitted By: Jyssica McCormick