401.1 REQUIREMENTS FOR PROJECT COMPLETION
A minimum of six hours of project instruction is required to complete a project. The County 4-H YDP staff must approve all county or unit requirements for project completion. If used, proficiency or other tests must be reviewed, evaluated, & approved by the 4-H YDP staff prior to implementation.
CALIFORNIA 4-H PROJECT LIST
| Citizenship and Civic Education | Personal Development and Leadership |
| Citizenship | All Star Leadership |
| Community Pride & Community Service | Beginning 4-H |
| Cultural Arts | Career Exploration |
| Domestic Exchanges | Group Determined |
| Economics & Marketing | Hi 4-H |
| Global Education | Leadership Development |
| International Exchanges | Record Keeping |
| Service Learning | Self Determined |
| Communications & Expressive Arts | Plants & Animals |
| Calligraphy | Angora Goats |
| Candle Making | Beef Cattle |
| Ceramics & Clay Arts | Bees |
| Communications | Cats |
| Creative Arts, Crafts & Hobbies | Cavies |
| Dance | Dairy Cattle |
| Drama | Dairy Goats |
| Graphic Arts | Dog Care & Training |
| Leathercraft | Embryology |
| Photography | Entomology |
| Presentations | Exotic Birds |
| Scrapbooking | Field Crops & Management |
| Sign Language | Forestry |
| Fruits, Nuts & Berries | |
| Consumer & Family Sciences | Horses & Ponies |
| Child Development & Care | Indoor & Mini Gardens |
| Clothing & Textiles | Livestock Judging |
| Consumer Education | Llamas & Alpacas |
| Fashion Revue | Meat Goats |
| Fiber Arts (Spinning, Knitting, Crochet, Needlecraft) | Nigerian Goats |
| Flower Arraning | Ornamental Horticulture |
| Home & Personal Management | Pack Goats |
| Home Arts & Furnishings | Pets & SMall Animals |
| Quilting | Poultry & Game Birds |
| Pygmy Goats | |
| Enviornmental Educations & Earth Sciences | Rabbits |
| 4-H Overnight Camp | Service Animals |
| Archery | Sheep |
| Astronomy | Sugarbeets |
| Camping, Hiking & Outdoor Adventure | Swine |
| Climatology | Therapeutic Animals |
| Energy Management | Vegetable Gardens & Crops |
| Enviornmental Stewardship | Veterinary Science |
| Fishing & Fly Tying | |
| Marine Biology | Science & Technology |
| Oceanography | Aerospace & Rocetry |
| Science Literacy | Automotive |
| Shooting Sports & Education | Bicycles |
| Soil & Water Conservation | Computers |
| Wildlife | Electricity & Electronics |
| Farm Machinery | |
| Healthy Lifestyle Education | General Engineering |
| Baking & Breadmaking | GIS/GPS |
| Cake Decorating | Metal Wroking |
| CPR & First Aid | Robotics |
| Food Preservation | Safety |
| Foods & Nutrition | Small Engines |
| Health & Physical Fitness | Woodworking |
| Individual & Group Sports |
POULTRY
For the latest information on poultry show dates go to http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/Avian/4HPoultry.htm
November 1, 2005
California chicken owners should be on the lookout for avian flu
This fall and winter, as migratory birds make their way down the Pacific Flyway, they may be packing avian flu, including the deadly and much-publicized H5N1 variant.
The University of California offers resources and information to help commercial-scale poultry producers, families with pet chickens and all poultry owners in between prevent infection, diagnose potential diseases and stop the spread should a severe bird illness be identified in the state.
Fortunately, avian flu fears need not threaten a cherished American tradition: the Thanksgiving turkey. Avian flu cannot be transmitted by handling store-bought turkey or other poultry nor from eating it.
"There is absolutely no risk in eating poultry," said UC Davis-based Cooperative Extension poultry specialist Francine Bradley.
Bradley also assures the public that there is no reason to get rid of chickens at this time. Bradley, herself a former chicken owner, says poultry can make amusing pets while providing families with some fresh eggs.
One such family is the Shapiros of Ahwahnee, a foothill community in rural Madera County. They have kept poultry for years - all three children have been active in 4-H poultry programs - but they no longer allow their 16 chickens and one turkey to run loose during the day, as they had in the past. Nevertheless, the Shaprios are committed to keeping their birds.
"Poultry are easy to take care of, cheap, fun and friendly," Carol Shapiro said. Her 14-year-old son Jacob has had great success in 4-H poultry judging competitions and will go to Kentucky in November for a national contest.
Ten-year-old Luke taught one chicken to jump over a stake. "They're smart and they have personality," Luke said as he stroked his chicken.
Carol Shapiro said she is not yet concerned about her children's close proximity to poultry. "In 4-H, the kids have learned how to protect chickens from diseases. We also went online to get information about avian flu," she said. "We've been watching our birds and listening for news."
Wild birds are most frequent source of avian flu virus
Avian influenza viruses occur all over the world. Free-flying aquatic birds have been the most frequent source of the virus. Ducks, geese, gulls and shorebirds are considered the principal reservoirs.
In poultry, avian flu ranges widely in severity. Some infected birds show no symptoms at all; others die suddenly. The variant making world headlines - H5N1 - is deadly to chickens and turkeys, but only sickens ducks, making them potentially very efficient at spreading the disease.
Most troubling, over the past two years, avian influenza H5N1 has sickened 121 people in Southeast Asia, and killed 62 of them, according to the World Health Organization. So far, almost all human cases have been identified in people who had contact with infected poultry. Some media outlets are reporting that human-to-human transmission is suspected in a few cases. Scientists fear the virus will mutate to allow rapid human-to-human transmission, a development that could cause a severe worldwide flu epidemic.
California susceptible to avian flu
California birds could play a significant role as the avian flu story unfolds in the coming weeks and months. Scientists believe migratory waterfowl who find hospitable wintering grounds in California may travel from as far away as Siberia, a location in Eastern Russia that has reported cases of H5N1 bird flu. The means of spreading the infection to birds on California farms and backyards is not hard to imagine. A wild bird with avian flu could touch down for a break on a poultry owner's premises or simply fly over and shed the virus in droppings.
Bradley said all backyard poultry in California are safest inside a flight pen with a small hen house attached.
"Make sure the roof of the pen has a solid cover to protect birds from virus that may drop from birds flying overhead," Bradley said.
Bradley recommends bird owners follow customary poultry biosecurity measures - techniques that protect pets and commercial animals from many diseases that threaten the health of poultry.
"We always tell people, don't let anyone near your birds who doesn't need to be there," Bradley said.
Personal sanitation is also important, she said.
"After visiting a park or lake, a neighbor's farm or anywhere birds are present, clean and disinfect shoes before returning to the poultry pen," Bradley said.
People who wish to allow the birds to run loose and free-range producers should keep all food and water under cover so they don't attract wild birds.
Free bird flu diagnostic services
Signs of avian flu are similar to flu symptoms in humans: coughing, sneezing, low productivity and depression. Immediately isolate sick animals from healthy ones, Bradley said. If the bird is a valued pet, take the animal to the veterinarian's office for testing. Bradley suggests finding an experienced poultry veterinarian.
Free diagnostic services are available to the public at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine's five California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratories, located in San Bernardino, Tulare, Fresno, Turlock and Davis. However, there are caveats.
"Once a bird is here, it doesn't leave the premises," said Rocio Crespo, a veterinary diagnostician at the Fresno laboratory. "If the owner is willing to have the bird euthanized, the service is free of charge. We conduct a necropsy and then incinerate all carcasses."
The laboratories also accept dead birds for testing. Crespo suggests keeping the bird refrigerated and delivering it to the laboratory within two days.
An option for bird owners who want to keep their birds alive but can't afford a veterinary visit involves some do-it-yourself sample collection. A small amount of the bird's blood may be drawn and delivered to the laboratory within 24 hours. Perhaps even easier, the owner may wipe a sterile swab in the bird's mouth and throat and then take another swab sample in the bird's backside where droppings come out. The sample swabs may be delivered to the laboratories in zipper-closed plastic bags. For an $8.25 fee for each swab, the lab will conduct tests to determine whether the bird has an H5 form of avian flu. (Addresses, driving directions and contact information for the five California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratories are here: http://cahfs.ucdavis.edu/show.php?id=200)
The UC Davis Department of Animal Science offers avian flu information on its Web page. http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/Avian/Web%20page%20AI%20hyperlinks.htm .
SWINE BRUCELLOSIS
Swine Brucellosis has been diagnosed in California. As a result fo this finding, the Animal Health & Food Safety Services has issued a letter and a Notice of Required Action Pursuant to Quarantine that states (in part): "Swine brucellosis, a zoonotic disease that may infect animals and humans, was recently diagnosed in a swine herd in the Central Valley of California. To protect the health of humans and the California swine industry, all breeding swine destined for exhibition in California now require a negative official brucellosis test within 60 days (amended 04/29/04) prior to the exhibition. Effective today and until further notification, all breeding swine to be exhibited in California must have a negative official brucellosis test within 60 days (amended 04/29/04) prior to being exhibited. This test requirement supersedes Swine Health Rules, item #1, on page 24 of the 2004 State Rules for California Fairs. All other Swine Health Rules shall remain in effect and full force. Exhibitors of breeding swine must have their veterinarian take the appropriate sample for testing. The AHFSS Laboratory System will process the test on the sample(s) at no charge. Documents confirming a negative test must accompany the breeding swine. For further information and contacts go to http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/fe/Exibits&Livestock.htm
COUNTY WIDE VET SCIENCE PROJECT
Animal Rescue 411
My dog ate chocolate...what should I do?
My cat was hit by a car...help?
There's a raccoon in my garage...will I get rabies?
I found a baby bird...now what?
My fair lamb is choking...help!
Would you know what to do if your pet was bit by a snake?
Could you help your pet if you found him bleeding? Have you ever wanted to give an immunization (shot)?
Join our very exciting County Wide Vet Science Project and learn how to handle all this and more!
We meet the second Thursday of every month from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
at the 4-H Office (1432 Abbot St. Salinas, CA 93901).
Any questions or if you would like to sign up,
please call Karen Ivey 455-2284
COUNTY WIDE FASHION REVUE PROJECT
The Buena Vista 4-H club is offering a county wide Fashion Revue project. You will learn about how to put together an outfit, sewing techniques, how to accessorize, and how to present yourself during a competition. Kids of all ages are welcome to join. Yes, boys love this project too! By the end of the 4-H year, you will have assembled an outfit ready to present at the County Presentation Night, Monterey County Fair, or go all the way to State Field Day at UC Davis held in May! Space is limited but our enthusiasm is not!
Dierdre O'Grady - Home phone (831) 455-9446
e-mail ogrady@ultimanet.com
Hana Ferguson - Home phone (831) 455-1585
e-mail hanaofthedead@gmail.com
MONTEREY COUNTY 4-H GUIDE DOG PUPPY RAISING
ould puppy raising be the project for you? The Service Animals Project is available to all Monterey County 4-H members. You can earn record book credit, hold office, be a Junior or Teen Leader, be a Committee Chair or Committee Member, give demonstrations and talks, earn community service hours, represent 4-H at schools and community events.
Not sure you can make the 12 – 18 month commitment? There are many ways to be involved in the Service Animals project. You can raise a starter or transfer puppy. This requires as little as an eight-week commitment. You can puppy sit. Raisers often need puppy sitters – sometimes just for a day, sometimes for several weeks. Can’t have a dog in your home? You can still be in the project. We can always use help running meetings, giving presentations, organizing outings, events and more.
Would you like to learn more? Please call Sandy Ferguson, at 455-1585 or e-mail pups4gdb@gmail.com. Guests are always welcome at our meetings and outings.
Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior. Outings are typically held on the third Saturday of the month – time and location varies.
Project Leader Wanted!
The Guide Dog Project is in need of a new 4-H leader. It is not as hard as you might think and the former leader will help you learn the ropes. If you are interested, please call Sandy Feguson at 455-1585 or email pups4gdb@gmail.com