2023 Newsletters

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2023 Newsletters

Dear Dairy Feeder Calf Club Members April 2023

Our next meeting is TONIGHT, April 20, 2023 at 7:00pm in the Home & Family Arts Bldg.
Registration starts at 6:45pm.
Do you have your calf yet? If you are having trouble locating a calf, don’t hesitate to call any of the
leaders. They would be glad to help.
We would like to give a big THANK YOU to all the members that sold geraniums this year!! If you sold
geraniums, don’t forget to pick them up at the fairgrounds on April 26th from 3-6pm. All flowers must
be picked up at this time.
Have you completed the mandatory Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Program for this year??? This
training NEEDS to be completed by EVERYONE by May 15, 2023. You can either complete this online
($12 fee) or in-person ($3 fee). You must register for the in-person training by contacting the extension
office. You will not be able to show at the fair if you do not complete this training!!
IMPORTANT WEIGH-IN INFORMATION
Our calf May weigh-in date is Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 7:00am-10:30am at the fairgrounds by the
dairy feeder calf barn. Because there are many activities going on at the fairgrounds that day, please
follow any posted directions that they may have regarding traffic flow. All DFC club members are
REQUIRED to bring their calves in on this date to be weighed and receive an ear tag. The maximum
weight at weigh-in is 250lbs. Any calves weighing 250lbs or less are in Group A. If your calf weighs over
250lbs, you are in Group B and you will show in the overweight class at the fair. HOWEVER, at the fair
weigh-in, if your Group B calf weighs less than the heaviest calf in Group A, you will be eligible to show
in a regular weight class. Each member can only tag two calves for the county fair. If your calf does not
already have a RFID tag, it will receive one. It is mandatory, and will cost $5.00 to receive one.
All club dues need to be paid by this time. We will be drawing auction numbers as well. Don’t forget to
draw yours. If your dues aren’t paid or you forget to draw your number, you will automatically be put at
the end of the auction order. We will have sign up sheets for the Café. Please sign up to work a shift or
two!
We will have three screeners at the weigh-in. They will be looking for crossbred calves. If they decide
your calf is a crossbred animal, you will need to talk with Ken Metzler. The screeners decision is final. If
this is the only calf you have, you are still allowed to bring your calf to the fair and show it in the
crossbred class. You will still be able to sell this calf in the auction as well. The only thing you will not be
able to participate in is the championship drive on show day.
If anyone is planning on showing at the State Fair, you may tag six calves total. You may show the same
calf at the county fair and state fair. If you do this, you are not allowed to sell that calf at the county fair.
You will need to declare two calves for the county fair at weigh-in. You will need to pull hair samples on
these calves and turn it into the extension office by May 15,2023. If not turned in by the deadline, you
will not be able to show at state fair. This is only a requirement for calves signed up for the State Fair.

Don’t forget, everyone will need a Premise ID number. You will need this number when you register
your calf on 4HOnline. You can register for one online at http://www.in.gov/boah/2700.htm. If you
have any questions about premise ID, go to http://www.in.gov/boah/files/4H_FAQs_3-2015.pdf.
AFTER WEIGH-IN** Remember to register your calves by May 15, 2023 on 4HOnline. For your animal
to be eligible to show at the county fair and/or the state fair, your animal MUST be identified into the
4HOnline database. This is the same database that you used to sign up for 4H. Everyone should have
received an email from the extension office explaining how to do this.
SERVICE PROJECTS
Our two service projects for this year are scheduled for April 29, 2023 (8:30am-11am) at the fairgrounds
and June 3, 2023 at Loveway.
Remember to check out our website regularly! www.dairyfeedercalfclub.com
See you tonight!
-Your DFC Leaders

Dear DFC Families, March 2023

Hello!! Our next meeting is Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 7:00pm, with registration at 6:45pm. We will
be meeting in the Ag Hall. Our speaker for the evening will be Tyler Funk, a local nutritionist. Along
with our program, we need to vote on our fair queen representative at this meeting. LADIES…..if you are
interested and are 16 years old or older, please come to the meeting. If you are unable to attend, simply
email us, contact a leader or fellow member and let us know you would like to have your name placed on
the ballot.
If you have yet to pay your dues, you can still take care of this on Thursday. Dues are now $11 per 4Her.
Please come prepared to take care of this. You will not be able to draw your auction number at the May
Weigh In until your dues are paid! You can pay by check, please make it payable to Dairy Feeder Calf
Club.
Now is a good time to get your calves if you don’t already have them. If you are having some difficulty
locating calves, you can give any of the leaders a call. They will be glad to help you if they can.
Purebred calves only. No crossbred or beef breeds allowed. Maximum weight at May weigh in is 250 lbs.
Minimum weight at fair is also 250 lbs. If you have any questions on this, please don’t be afraid to call
one of the leaders or advisory boards members.
Have you completed the mandatory Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) training?!?!?! This training
NEEDS to be completed by EVERYONE by MAY 15, 2023! You can either complete this online
($12) or in-person ($3). Contact the extension office to sign up for a in-person training.
Are you selling geraniums yet?!?! This is a great fundraiser for the club. Single geraniums are $1.50 each
or a flat of 18 plants for $27. Geraniums are available in red, pink and white. Also, available are hanging
flower baskets for $15 each. Orders and money are due to Jodi Evans (PO Box 416, Bristol, IN 46507)
no later than April 5!! Pick up date is April 26 from 3-6pm at the fairgrounds. If you are turning in a stall
request at the June meeting, you need to sell one flat of geraniums for the request to be honored. (Stall
request do not need to be filled out for immediate family.)
T-Shirt designs needed for this year’s show shirt!! Submit your t-shirt designs to Brandi Kitson at
[email protected]. Due date for this is our April meeting.
All 1 st year members will receive a free rope halter. Make sure to pick yours up at a meeting!
MAY WEIGH IN: Our May weigh in date is Saturday, May 6th, from 7:00am to 10:30am in the feeder
calf barn at the fairgrounds. EVERY calf must be brought in to be weighed and ear tagged. Calves are
required to have an RFID tag. Information on why you need to have a RFID tag before your animal
leaves the farm where it was born can be found at www.in.gov/boah/2645.htm. If your calf does not have
a RFID tag before weigh in, it will receive one for a fee of $5.00. Make sure you have your premise ID
number as well. If you have questions on RFID tags and premise ID numbers, please ask. A veterinarian
will be on hand to vaccinate. We are not offering to castrate or dehorn calves at weigh in. It is important
to have this done prior to weigh in or shortly after weigh in to give the calf time to fully heal by fair time.
Please come prepared to pay for these services if used. Also, we will be drawing auction numbers. Don’t
forget to draw yours!

If you have not signed up to receive important updates and information for the dairy feeder calf
club via text messages, you still can!! Here is the link to get signed up:
www.remind.com/join/dfcc17. Or you can text @dfcc17 to the number 81010.
Remember to check out our website regularly. www.dairyfeedercalfclub.com
Our next service project will be at the fairgrounds on April 29, 8:30-10:30am. Remember, you can
participate in a service project instead of writing an essay before fair.

See you Thursday!
-Your DFC Leaders

Dear DFC Families, February 2023

Hello! Our next meeting is this Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 7:00pm. We will meet in the Home &
Family Arts Building. We will start registration at 6:45pm. Program for the evening will be presented by
Dr. Emily Blough. If you have not paid your club dues yet, please come prepared to take care of this.
Dues are $10/member. It goes up $1.00 at the March meeting. If you wish to pay by check, please
make it payable to: Dairy Feeder Calf Club.
You should have received a mailing regarding the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Program
or the Indiana 4H Livestock Quality Care Classes. All 4-H members who are enrolled in Dairy Feeder
have to complete one of the programs in order to show at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair and or the Indiana
State Fair. This training needs to be completed by May 15, 2023!!!! You can either complete the
online option (YQCA) for $12 or you can participate in the In-person training (the new Indiana 4H
Livestock Quality Care class) for $3. You must preregister to participate in the IN-Person training. If you
have any questions on this, please contact Robert Kelly or Nancy Borkholder in the extension office. In
person training dates are: Feb. 23; March 6,20,21; April 18, 25, 29; and May 4 and 13. If you complete
the online option, don’t forget to email your completion certificate to Nancy at [email protected]
so you receive credit.
Are you selling geraniums?!?!?! This is an excellent fundraiser for the club and the 4-H program.
Geraniums are $1.50/plant and hanging baskets are $15/basket. Orders and money are due NO LATER
than April 5th to Jodi Evans. Pickup of flowers is on April 26th at the fairgrounds from 3-6pm. Mail all
orders and money to: Jodi Evans, PO Box 416, Bristol, IN 46507. Any checks need to be made out to
DFCC. Each member MUST sell one flat of geraniums (18 plants) for stall request forms to be honored.
You all should have received an email that has more information and a handy dandy order form to help
you keep track of your orders.
We still need TShirt design ideas!! Please get those to Brandi Kitson ASAP… [email protected]
Club Officers were elected at our January meeting. Your 2023 Club officers are: Riley Kitson, Jayden
Rassi, MaKayla Kingdon, Jessa Caffee, Bridgette Stutsman and Logan Riegsecker. Congratulations!!
Important Dates:
 February 25: Feed the Children Work Day
 March 9: 1 st Year Member meeting
 March 16: March meeting in the Ag Hall
 April 5: Geranium orders & money DUE to Jodi Evans
 April 20: April Meeting in the Home & Family Arts Building
 April 26: Geranium pick up at the fairgrounds 3-6:00pm
 April 29: Work Day @ Fairgrounds
 May 6: 7:00am – 10:30am Weigh In & auction number draw (all calves are required to be
brought to the fairgrounds) Dues must be paid.
As always, be sure to check out our website for more information. www.dairyfeedercalfclub.com

January 2023

Dear 4-Her’s and DFC Families,
Welcome to 2023 and to another exciting year of 4-H!! Our first meeting is this Thursday, January 19,
2023 at 7:00pm. We will be meeting in the Home & Family Arts Building at the fairgrounds. Registration
starts at 6:45pm. Check your email, text messages or the website for cancellation if the weather is bad.
The program for the evening will consist of basic club information and stations. The stations will be
cover crossbreds, feed/bedding, rules/updates, and health/vaccinations/what to look for. We also plan
to elect club officers. We will be electing our president, vice president, secretary, and treasure. If you
are interested or know someone that is interested in being an officer, please come to the meeting and
get your name on the ballot. Please contact a leader if for some reason, you are unable to make it to
the meeting, but would like to be added to the ballot.
Club dues are $10 per 4-Her if paid at the January or February meetings. (UNLESS, you took advantage of
our early bird registration special and enrolled by Dec 1, your dues will only be $5/member.) Dues go up
by $1 each month after February. Checks or cash only. Checks can be made out to DFC.
We are looking for new t-shirt designs for our club t-shirt!! You can email your t-shirt designs to Brandi
([email protected]) or bring them to a meeting.
Every year each 4Her must either participate in one of our announced service projects or submit an
essay on an announced topic. We have our first service project coming up soon on Feb 25 from 10am-
12pm with Feed the Children. Parents and 4H members (12yrs and older) are welcome. A signed waiver
form is needed for all volunteers. Click on this link to get more information and to get signed up….
https://feedthechildren.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/INCPAR
Adult 4-H Leaders:
Organizational Leader: Ken Metzler
Assistant Leaders: Lydell Troyer, Tim Stutsman, Dale Miller, Jodi Evans, Brandi Kitson,
Erica Brenneman, Bridget Hunter, John Rassi
Advisory Board Members:
President: Reba Goshert
Vice President: Leah Bigler
Recording Secretary: John Rassi
Treasurer: Jodi Evans
Members: Earl Yoder, Trever Riegsecker, Dustin Mattern, Chad Brew, Sara Lechlitner, Nick Brown, Krista
Kerns
We will be using the club website and our Facebook page to post important information throughout the
year. It will serve as a good tool to look up club information. Also, sign up to receive text alerts!
Facebook Page: Elkhart County 4H Dairy Feeder Calf Club
Website: www.dairyfeedercalfclub.com
Email Address: [email protected]

To receive DFC updates via text messages, text @dfcc17 to the number 81010.
If you receive this newsletter and you are not going to participate in the DFC club this year, PLEASE let us
know. Thank You and we hope to see everyone on the 19 th !
See you soon,
Your DFC Leaders

Mark your calendars:
2023 DFC Club Meeting Dates: All meetings begin at 7:00p.m., unless otherwise noted. Registration at
6:45pm.
January 19: Club Meeting - Home & Family Arts Building
February 16: Club Meeting - Home & Family Arts Building
February 25: Work Day @ Feed the Children 10-noon
March 16: Club Meeting - Ag Hall
April 20: Club Meeting - Home & Family Arts Building
April 29: Work Day @ Fairgrounds 8:30-11:00am
May 6: 7:00am-10:30am Weigh In & Auction Number Draw, DFC Barn
May 18: Club Meeting - Beef/Dairy Arena
June 3: Work Day @ Loveway
June 15: Club Meeting - Worknight/Clean up Barn & Concession Stand
July 18: Club Meeting - Dairy Feeder Calf Barn, all paperwork due and passes handed out
July 21-29: 2023 Elkhart County 4-H Fair
August 13: DFC Achievement Banquet @ Clinton Frame Church 5:30pm