Record Book Reminder

 

Help Us Plan for the Upcoming 4-H Season!

 Hello 4-H Families,

Before we know it, the new season will be upon us! As we begin planning for the upcoming year, we would love your input to help us better understand what opportunities, activities, and programs our members are most interested in.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey linked below by June 15th. Your feedback will help us plan meetings, events, clinics, and other activities that best support our members and families.

Survey Link: [LINK HERE]

We appreciate your time and input as we work to make this upcoming season a successful and fun one for everyone involved!

Thank you,

Michelle- Community Club Leader 

Coming Together to Strengthen Our 4-H Club

 Dear 4-H Families,

I hope you are all doing well. I wanted to take a moment to reach out about something important for the future of our club.

First, I want to say thank you to all of the families, volunteers, and especially our project leaders who dedicate so much of their personal time to our members. Our leaders spend countless hours preparing lessons, organizing trainings, planning meetings, and creating hands-on learning opportunities so our youth can grow, learn, and succeed. Their commitment to our club does not go unnoticed.

Over the past several months, it has been discouraging and frustrating to see low attendance numbers at both project meetings and club meetings. We understand that families are busy and schedules can be challenging, but participation is an important part of what makes a 4-H club successful and meaningful for everyone involved.

I also want to acknowledge my part in this. At the beginning of the year, I should have done a better job communicating and reviewing our club bylaws and attendance expectations with all families. Moving forward, I believe it is important that we revisit our club constitution and bylaws together as a club community. We need to have open discussions regarding attendance requirements, member expectations, and any amendments that may need to be made so that our bylaws continue to reflect the needs and goals of our club.

A 4-H club should be about much more than simply attending fair or exhibiting projects. It should be about learning responsibility, leadership, teamwork, service, commitment, and building relationships within our community. It is about showing up, supporting one another, participating in projects, and helping create a positive experience for all members — especially our younger youth who look up to the older members as role models.

Our club is strongest when families, members, volunteers, and leaders work together toward a common goal. I truly believe we can continue building a positive and successful club environment, but it will take communication, participation, and commitment from all of us.

Here is a link to our current bylaws: Current By Laws

Please review the bylaws and submit any recommended changes or amendments to countrykickers4h@gmail.com no later than July 15th. All proposed changes will be reviewed and voted on during our August 20th Community Club Meeting.

Thank you for your continued support of our club and our youth. I look forward to having these conversations together and working as a team to strengthen our 4-H community.

Sincerely,

Michelle Weese 

Community Club Leader

2026-2027 Community Club Meeting Dates

 Hello 4-H Families, 

Here are the dates for our monthly community club meeting for 2026-2027 they all will be held at the Apache Junction Multi Gen Center from 6pm to 8pm. 

August 20 

September 17 

October 15

November 19 

December 17 

January 21

February 18 

We encouarge you to stay with your child during the meeting so that you are aware of club happenings and at times meetings do not take the entire alloted time. 

These community club meetings are the time that the entire club can get togehter to discuss any business needs, vote on items, special community service projects and any other important club items. 

Open enrollment for the new 4-H year will begin August 5, 2026 in ZSuites. 

At this time, we are able to confirm that we will offer the following projects: 

Horse ( Erika and Emily)

Market Swine (Michelle) 

Cloverbuds ( Possibly Brittany, because Tiffany's daughter Hayes is aging out of cloverbud) Need to confirm this. 

We are working on certifcations for the following projects: (or some of you have mentioned you might be interested) Please text me so we can stay on top of this!!! 

Small Stock - Possibly may have a leader

Market Lamb and Goat - Need some assistance here

Welding - parent is in certification process 

Holstein Calf - need a leader

Outdoor Adventures - leader in process (hoping to just offer a few hikes throughout the 4-H year)

If you have a skill and are wanting to become certifed we are always looking for volunteers. We would love to continue to grow our club and offer more projects. 

As project meetings become available we will have them added to the calendar. Here is a google link to our calender (save it and add to your calendar)  https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=Y291bnRyeWtpY2tlcnM0aEBnbWFpbC5jb20

We will still continue to use GROUP ME as our text communications. 

How can you help this year!? Here is what I am looking for for extra help this upcoming season: 

AJ Light Parade - First weekend in Dec. Need a committee to arrange truck/trailer/deco 

Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo - Would love for 2 parents to tag team this and attend the meetings put on by committee, be our voice at these meetings. Organize sign up for that weekend, and other items related to this volounteer time. 

Pinal County Fair Deco/Banners - looking for a volunteer to be in charge of knowing what the fair themes are, purchase deco with budget, hang deco at fair, take down deco at end of fair. Disturbute club banners to an adult in each species to hang over animal pens, then collect at fair. 

Pinal County Fair- Club Booth- looking for a committee to help plan the booth following the theme, set up and tear down

Community Service- looking for 1-2 people to team up together to help plan and execute at least two events this year. 

Record Book - Reminder

 Just a reminder that Record Books are due to the 4-H office by July 31st. Hard copies only! 

If you are a state horse show qualifier you would have received an email from the Pinal County Horse Advisory letting you know that you are required to turn this in so that you can partipate at the 2026 State Show!!  

 Arizona 4-H Member Record Evaluation Guidance 

Leadership (25%) Leadership means taking the lead in giving direction, planning and organizing. Leaders are resourceful, good problem solvers, promoters, idea-contributors and persons who exemplify positive attitudes. Leadership is evidenced by contributions you have made to the local club, county, state, regional or national level. Evidence of leadership can often be demonstrated through holding elected offices or leadership positions. Leadership can also be demonstrated by having other individuals take part while you serve as a mentor or tutor. 

Program or Project Accomplishments (25%) Excellence in project work should be evident in multiple areas of your Arizona 4-H Member’s Record and Arizona 4-H Project Record. 4-H members are working towards mastering skills in project work. Evidence of 4-H project mastery is demonstrated by highlighting project goals and accomplishments, gained knowledge, developed skills, acquired insights, and presentation of sophistication in the project and activities. Please show depth and breadth of participation, as well as development of skills you will use outside of 4-H project work.

 Communications (10%) Communication is the ability to effectively share your ideas and knowledge in visual, written, and spoken ways. Evidence of effectively using communication skills can be promoting 4- H, including public speaking, demonstrations, or podcasts. Evidence of ways you have used a variety of skills to communicate with others about 4-H and what the program can do for others illustrates your understanding of effective communication. 

Citizenship & Community Service (20%) Citizenship is demonstrated through an understanding of the importance of civic involvement as evidenced by a high regard for freedom, justice, equity, and democratic principles. Citizenship is exemplified by your ability to move beyond your individual self- interests and to be committed to the well-being of some larger group. Community service is providing voluntary service to members of the community—such as repairing park benches, cleaning up a roadside, working at a food bank. Service is done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit.

 4-H Story (15%) Follow the instructions in the Arizona 4-H Member’s Record with respect to writing your 4-H story. Your story should be an overview of your experiences in 4-H. Your story should be compelling and show introspection and reflection on what your 4-H experiences have meant to you and how they have impacted your life. Photos are worth a thousand words. The photos you share in your Arizona 4-H Member Record should show you in action. Use your photos to show what and how you have learned through your 4-H experience. 

 Overall (5%) Neatness and attention to detail in preparation demonstrate how you care about your 4-H experience. Proofread your document for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors before submittin