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TENNESSEE 4-H IDEAS VOLUME 06 - Issue 16 IN THIS ISSUE Animal Handling Safety Satellite Conference UPCOMING EVENTS
April 22-25
April 27-28
May 1
May 1
May 1-3
May 2-3
May 12-14
May 19-21
May 23
May 23
May 25
May 25
May 30-31
June 1
June 1
June 5-9
June 6
June 10-17
June 13-16
June 14-17
June 15
June 15
June 20
June 20-24
June 27-30
Tennessee 4-H Home Page: 4h.tennessee.edu Online version of Ideas: 4h.tennessee.edu/ideas06 Ideas index: 4h.tennessee.edu/ideas06/06-index.htm ANIMAL HANDLING SAFETY SATELLITE CONFERENCE The entire nation-wide 4-H system is invited to join in an upcoming video-streamed/satellite broadcast from Washington State University which I think will be of interest to us all. Petting zoos, agricultural fairs and farm tours provide wonderful opportunities for the public to learn about animals and agriculture. However, lack of understanding of disease transmission can lead to illness among visitors, especially children, when visitors are exposed to animal exhibit settings. In 1999 and 2005 over 25 human disease outbreaks were associated with visitors to animal exhibits. Although eliminating all risk from animal contact is not achievable, this broadcast will provide standardized recommendations for minimizing disease risks. "Extension Engaged: Animal Handling Safety" will introduce viewers to the reality of disease outbreak risks associated with animal exhibits, the pathogens of greatest concern and recent research about hand washing and observation of fair goers and will provide a tool kit for organizing public animal exhibits. The one hour broadcast will take place on May 18th at 9:30 am Pacific Daylight Time. I realize that's way too early for us here on the East Coast so the live broadcast will be retained on Washington State Web site so you can view it at a future date. The video steam/satellite tuning information are available at caheinfo.wsu.edu/video/stream.html. If you have any questions, please contact Pat BoyEs, Director, 4-H Youth Development, Washington State University at 253-445-4649. Alice Ann Moore DEADLINE FOR PERFORMING ARTS TROUPE AUDITION TAPES EXTENDED The deadline for submitting audition tapes for the Performing Arts Troupe has been extended to April 28, 2006. Twelfth graders may not apply since they will have graduated prior to the summer workshop. Eight through eleventh graders may apply. Counties have had success using the troupe as a recruitment tool to get talented new Applicants may apply online at 4hperformers.tennessee.edu or may download a flyer at 4h.tennessee.edu/ideas06/attach/troupapp06.doc. Applications should be sent to the Central Region office at 5201 Marchant Drive, Nashville, TN 37211 to the attention of Pat Whitaker. Steve Sutton The University Outreach and Continuing Education’s Kids U 2006 Web site is now available at www.outreach.tennessee.edu/ppd/kidsu/. Kids U is a summer program offering 30 courses, 101 classes and 100 hours of fun for students going into the 4th grade and up. All types of kids from the curious and creative to the thoughtful and precise will be able to find something they are interested in. Registration begins Alice Ann Moore Tennessee 4-H livestock show season is fast approaching. As we start our youth livestock educational programs, let us be mindful of the purposes of the junior livestock programs. Some of the purposes listed in the Guidelines for Conducting Junior Beef And Sheep Shows In Tennessee (EC979) are to develop responsibility, ethical decision making, sportsmanship and provide humane care to produce a wholesome, high quality meat product. Recently at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, there was a breach of the junior livestock show principles. Acting upon a “tip,” show officials have found 18 of the top lambs had been illegally injected with an unknown substance. The grand and reserve grand champions were included in the tampered lambs. These injections caused bruising and tissue inflammation. Seventeen youth from four states have been implicated and their names have been released into the national media. They have forfeited their sale and prize money and their junior show eligibility is in jeopardy. Food safety, animal abuse, ethics and criminal acts are all issues in this situation. Keep quality assurance principles in mind as you develop your livestock educational program. Following the ownership rules and maintaining ownership during the project are very important. Keep in mind that the animal is the tool to teach life skills and purple ribbon youth is our goal. Remember, “Just do the right thing!” Dwight Loveday THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.
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