2024 Newsletters
Dear Dairy Feeder Calf Club Members, May 2024
Our next meeting is this Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 7:00pm in the Beef and Dairy Show Arena. Expect
demonstrations and explanations of showmanship, calf clipping, and tack box with gear to be presented.
Registration starts at 6:45pm.
Here is information for those needing/wanting EXTRA T-Shirts or other apparel. The signup link will be
open until Friday May 24th at www.MRIMarketing.us and click on TEAM SHOP. The product code is
DFCC23 for starting a new order. Player’s name and number should be filled in with N/A. Payment will
be collected via PAYPAL (A PAYPAL account is not required for payment). The order acknowledgement
sent to your email is your receipt. Please disregard payment status on the website. Ordered apparel
will be delivered to the June 20th meeting.
Calfé Signups are listed below. Thank you for your help filling 1 or more shifts throughout the week of
the fair.
Daily for Everyone
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D48ADAC23A4F58-49154858-dfccafe
Opening/Closing for Parents
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D48ADAC23A4F58-49154870-dfccafe
**Have you completed the mandatory Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Program for this year??? This
training NEEDS to be completed by EVERYONE by June 15, 2024. Training can only be completed online
at this time for a $12 fee. In-person training is now closed. Online training certificates must be turned
into Nancy Borkholder by emailing [email protected] or calling 574-533-0554 in the Purdue
Extension Office. You will not be able to show at the fair if you do not complete this training!!
**IMPORTANT CALF INFORMATION**
Don’t forget to register your calf information from the green sheet at https://v2.4honline.com by
Wednesday May 15th . Next be looking for an email from the Purdue Extension Office when FairEntry
opens around May 23rd . 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. Each member needs an entry for the calf as well as a separate entry for showmanship by grade
level completed. The entry for the calf is required, while the showmanship entry is optional, but highly
recommended.
SERVICE PROJECTS
Our last service project for this year is scheduled for June 15, 2024 (8:30-11am) at Loveway.
Remember to check out our website regularly! www.dairyfeedercalfclub.com
See you Thursday!
-Your DFC Leaders
Dear Dairy Feeder Calf Club Members, April 2024
Our next meeting is this Thursday, April 18, 2024 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 24th 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 June 15, 2024. 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 4, 2024 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 not be drawing auction numbers this year. The
auction committee will be assigning random numbers. 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, 2024. Envelopes for hair samples are
available at the scale upon request. 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 for the address where the calf is being kept. 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, 2024 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 27, 2024 (8:30am-11am) at the fairgrounds
and June 15, 2024 (8:30-11am) at Loveway.
Remember to check out our website regularly! www.dairyfeedercalfclub.com
See you Thursday!
-Your DFC Leaders
Dear DFC Families March 2024
Hello!! There are two meetings happening this month. The first meeting, for 1st and 2nd year members, is
this Thursday, March 14 th at 7:00pm. The 2 nd meeting, for everyone, is next week on Thursday March
21 st , 2024 at 7:00pm, with registration at 6:45pm. Both meetings will be meeting in the Home and Family
Arts building. Our speaker for the evening will be Mike Hertsel, a local nutritionist. The fair queen
contestant representing the Dairy Feeder Calf Club this year is Bridgette Stutsman
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 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 JUNE 15, 2024! You can either complete this online
($12) or in-person ($3). Contact the extension office to sign up for an 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 $18 each. Orders and money are due to Jodi Evans (PO Box 416, Bristol, IN 46507)
no later than April 1!! 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.)
All 1st 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 4th, 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. Auction numbers will be randomly assigned this
year by the auction committee.
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 27, 8:30-11:00am. The other service
project is at Loveway on June 15, 8:30-11:00am. Remember, you can participate in a service
project instead of writing an essay before fair.
Essay topics this year are split by age group. The topic for 3-7th graders is “Why is it important to keep
your calf clean and healthy?”. The topic for 8-12th graders is “What is the difference between raising
a 4-H calf vs a commercial calf?”.
See you Thursday!
-Your DFC Leaders
Dear DFC Families, February 2024
Hello! Our next meeting is this Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 7:00pm. We will meet in the
Mennonite/Showalter Room in the ECCC Building. We will start registration at 6:45pm. Program for the
evening will be presented by Emilie 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.
Remember the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Program that is required for completion of
your project? All 4-H members who are enrolled in Dairy Feeder have to complete the program every
year in order to show at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair and or the Indiana State Fair. There are several
dates and times to choose from. This training needs to be completed by June 15, 2024!!!! You can
either complete this online at http://yqca.org ($12) or In-person training ($3). Registrations for both
online and In-person training will need to be turned in to Nancy Borkholder at the extension office. You
must preregister to participate in the IN-Person training. If you have any questions on this, please
contact Nancy Borkholder in the extension office by emailing [email protected] or calling 574-533-
0554. In person training dates are: Feb. 20, March 21, April 8, April 27 and May 7.
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 $18/basket. Orders and money are due NO LATER
than April 1st to Jodi Evans (No Joke). Pickup of flowers is on April 24th 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 DFFC. Each member MUST sell one flat of geraniums (18 plants) for stall request forms to be
honored. See the attached “Flower Sale 2024 Flyer” on your email for more information and a handy
dandy order form to help you keep track of your orders.
Club Officers were elected at our January meeting. Your 2024 Club officers are: MaKayla Kingdon,
Raegan Kingdon, Natalee Lambright, Jayden Rassi, Logan Riegsecker, and Bridgette Stutsman.
Congratulationsl!!
Important Dates:
March 14: Q&A with Ken for 1st & 2nd year members in the Home & Family Arts Building
March 21: March Meeting in the Home & Family Arts Building
April 1: Geranium orders & money DUE to Jodi Evans
April 12: An Evening with: The Incredible Dr. Pol 7:00pm at the Beef and Dairy Arena
April 18: April Meeting in the Home & Family Arts Building
April 24: Geranium pick up at the fairgrounds 3-6:00pm
May 4: 7:00am – 10:30am Weigh In (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
See you Thursday!
Your DFC Leaders
January 2024
Dear 4-Her’s and DFC Families,
Welcome to 2024 and to another exciting year of 4-H!! Our first meeting is this Thursday, January 18,
2024 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. 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.
Every year each 4Her must either participate in one of our announced service projects or submit an
essay on an announced topic. More information will be available soon, stay tuned.
Adult 4-H Leaders:
Organizational Leader: Ken Metzler
Assistant Leaders: Lydell Troyer, Tim Stutsman, Dale Miller, Jodi Evans, Brandi Kitson,
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, Mindy Park, Jeff Hertsel, 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 18 th !
See you soon,
Your DFC Leaders
Mark your calendars:
2024 DFC Club Meeting Dates: All meetings begin at 7:00p.m., unless otherwise noted. Registration at
6:45pm.
January 18: Club Meeting - Home & Family Arts Building
February 15: Club Meeting - Home & Family Arts Building
March 14: Club Meeting – 1 st &2 nd year member Q&A
March 21: Club Meeting - Ag Hall
April 12: Dr. Pol
April 18: Club Meeting - Home & Family Arts Building
May 4: 7:00am-10:30am Weigh In & Auction Number Draw, DFC Barn
May 16: Club Meeting - Beef/Dairy Arena
June 20: Club Meeting - Worknight/Clean up Barn & Concession Stand
July 18: Club Meeting - Dairy Feeder Calf Barn, all paperwork due and passes handed out
July 11-27: 2024 Elkhart County 4-H Fair
Our next meeting is this Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 7:00pm in the Beef and Dairy Show Arena. Expect
demonstrations and explanations of showmanship, calf clipping, and tack box with gear to be presented.
Registration starts at 6:45pm.
Here is information for those needing/wanting EXTRA T-Shirts or other apparel. The signup link will be
open until Friday May 24th at www.MRIMarketing.us and click on TEAM SHOP. The product code is
DFCC23 for starting a new order. Player’s name and number should be filled in with N/A. Payment will
be collected via PAYPAL (A PAYPAL account is not required for payment). The order acknowledgement
sent to your email is your receipt. Please disregard payment status on the website. Ordered apparel
will be delivered to the June 20th meeting.
Calfé Signups are listed below. Thank you for your help filling 1 or more shifts throughout the week of
the fair.
Daily for Everyone
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D48ADAC23A4F58-49154858-dfccafe
Opening/Closing for Parents
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D48ADAC23A4F58-49154870-dfccafe
**Have you completed the mandatory Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Program for this year??? This
training NEEDS to be completed by EVERYONE by June 15, 2024. Training can only be completed online
at this time for a $12 fee. In-person training is now closed. Online training certificates must be turned
into Nancy Borkholder by emailing [email protected] or calling 574-533-0554 in the Purdue
Extension Office. You will not be able to show at the fair if you do not complete this training!!
**IMPORTANT CALF INFORMATION**
Don’t forget to register your calf information from the green sheet at https://v2.4honline.com by
Wednesday May 15th . Next be looking for an email from the Purdue Extension Office when FairEntry
opens around May 23rd . 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. Each member needs an entry for the calf as well as a separate entry for showmanship by grade
level completed. The entry for the calf is required, while the showmanship entry is optional, but highly
recommended.
SERVICE PROJECTS
Our last service project for this year is scheduled for June 15, 2024 (8:30-11am) at Loveway.
Remember to check out our website regularly! www.dairyfeedercalfclub.com
See you Thursday!
-Your DFC Leaders
Dear Dairy Feeder Calf Club Members, April 2024
Our next meeting is this Thursday, April 18, 2024 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 24th 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 June 15, 2024. 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 4, 2024 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 not be drawing auction numbers this year. The
auction committee will be assigning random numbers. 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, 2024. Envelopes for hair samples are
available at the scale upon request. 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 for the address where the calf is being kept. 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, 2024 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 27, 2024 (8:30am-11am) at the fairgrounds
and June 15, 2024 (8:30-11am) at Loveway.
Remember to check out our website regularly! www.dairyfeedercalfclub.com
See you Thursday!
-Your DFC Leaders
Dear DFC Families March 2024
Hello!! There are two meetings happening this month. The first meeting, for 1st and 2nd year members, is
this Thursday, March 14 th at 7:00pm. The 2 nd meeting, for everyone, is next week on Thursday March
21 st , 2024 at 7:00pm, with registration at 6:45pm. Both meetings will be meeting in the Home and Family
Arts building. Our speaker for the evening will be Mike Hertsel, a local nutritionist. The fair queen
contestant representing the Dairy Feeder Calf Club this year is Bridgette Stutsman
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 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 JUNE 15, 2024! You can either complete this online
($12) or in-person ($3). Contact the extension office to sign up for an 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 $18 each. Orders and money are due to Jodi Evans (PO Box 416, Bristol, IN 46507)
no later than April 1!! 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.)
All 1st 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 4th, 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. Auction numbers will be randomly assigned this
year by the auction committee.
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 27, 8:30-11:00am. The other service
project is at Loveway on June 15, 8:30-11:00am. Remember, you can participate in a service
project instead of writing an essay before fair.
Essay topics this year are split by age group. The topic for 3-7th graders is “Why is it important to keep
your calf clean and healthy?”. The topic for 8-12th graders is “What is the difference between raising
a 4-H calf vs a commercial calf?”.
See you Thursday!
-Your DFC Leaders
Dear DFC Families, February 2024
Hello! Our next meeting is this Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 7:00pm. We will meet in the
Mennonite/Showalter Room in the ECCC Building. We will start registration at 6:45pm. Program for the
evening will be presented by Emilie 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.
Remember the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Program that is required for completion of
your project? All 4-H members who are enrolled in Dairy Feeder have to complete the program every
year in order to show at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair and or the Indiana State Fair. There are several
dates and times to choose from. This training needs to be completed by June 15, 2024!!!! You can
either complete this online at http://yqca.org ($12) or In-person training ($3). Registrations for both
online and In-person training will need to be turned in to Nancy Borkholder at the extension office. You
must preregister to participate in the IN-Person training. If you have any questions on this, please
contact Nancy Borkholder in the extension office by emailing [email protected] or calling 574-533-
0554. In person training dates are: Feb. 20, March 21, April 8, April 27 and May 7.
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 $18/basket. Orders and money are due NO LATER
than April 1st to Jodi Evans (No Joke). Pickup of flowers is on April 24th 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 DFFC. Each member MUST sell one flat of geraniums (18 plants) for stall request forms to be
honored. See the attached “Flower Sale 2024 Flyer” on your email for more information and a handy
dandy order form to help you keep track of your orders.
Club Officers were elected at our January meeting. Your 2024 Club officers are: MaKayla Kingdon,
Raegan Kingdon, Natalee Lambright, Jayden Rassi, Logan Riegsecker, and Bridgette Stutsman.
Congratulationsl!!
Important Dates:
March 14: Q&A with Ken for 1st & 2nd year members in the Home & Family Arts Building
March 21: March Meeting in the Home & Family Arts Building
April 1: Geranium orders & money DUE to Jodi Evans
April 12: An Evening with: The Incredible Dr. Pol 7:00pm at the Beef and Dairy Arena
April 18: April Meeting in the Home & Family Arts Building
April 24: Geranium pick up at the fairgrounds 3-6:00pm
May 4: 7:00am – 10:30am Weigh In (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
See you Thursday!
Your DFC Leaders
January 2024
Dear 4-Her’s and DFC Families,
Welcome to 2024 and to another exciting year of 4-H!! Our first meeting is this Thursday, January 18,
2024 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. 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.
Every year each 4Her must either participate in one of our announced service projects or submit an
essay on an announced topic. More information will be available soon, stay tuned.
Adult 4-H Leaders:
Organizational Leader: Ken Metzler
Assistant Leaders: Lydell Troyer, Tim Stutsman, Dale Miller, Jodi Evans, Brandi Kitson,
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, Mindy Park, Jeff Hertsel, 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 18 th !
See you soon,
Your DFC Leaders
Mark your calendars:
2024 DFC Club Meeting Dates: All meetings begin at 7:00p.m., unless otherwise noted. Registration at
6:45pm.
January 18: Club Meeting - Home & Family Arts Building
February 15: Club Meeting - Home & Family Arts Building
March 14: Club Meeting – 1 st &2 nd year member Q&A
March 21: Club Meeting - Ag Hall
April 12: Dr. Pol
April 18: Club Meeting - Home & Family Arts Building
May 4: 7:00am-10:30am Weigh In & Auction Number Draw, DFC Barn
May 16: Club Meeting - Beef/Dairy Arena
June 20: Club Meeting - Worknight/Clean up Barn & Concession Stand
July 18: Club Meeting - Dairy Feeder Calf Barn, all paperwork due and passes handed out
July 11-27: 2024 Elkhart County 4-H Fair
