Abbie 4-H

Alameda County, California

Project List
We are still in need of some Project Leaders Check at bottom
of page for more information

   
Abbie Projects 2009-2010

       
Beef

Raising a market steer. Animal must be owned at least 140 days prior to fair, although most are purchased by October while still small enough to work with. Purchase price is approx. $900 and up.  Ages 9+  Suzette & Breanne Maggy
bobmaggy@aol.com
925/426-2376
Lou Seever
925/820-5392 
Beginning 4H

Is it your first year of 4H? Or maybe it’s your second year, but you’re still looking for some guidance and fun activities to fill up your time? Well beginning 4H is the perfect project for you. In this project, you will learn all about 4H, make a project to enter into the Alameda County Fair, and meet lots of other kids just starting 4H. We will be meeting once per month and each month will include a different theme. The month of October will be “Getting to know 4H”.  Ages 9+  Nissa Nack
       
Candy Making Chocolate, chewy, fruity and sweet.  We'll try all
different kinds of candy making.  Our meetings
will be held on school holidays for 2-3 hours at a
time.  
Limit 8 members
9 years and older
Karen Brown
brown_fam@comcast.net
925/484-8470
Canning
So Easy To Preserve.....Announcing a fun, practical course for those wanting to learn more about home canning and preservation. Canning is an important and safe method of food preservation if practiced properly. We will cover: 
Introduction to Food Preservation
General Canning
Canning Acid Foods
Canning Low-Acid Foods 
Limit:   8-10 kids  l Cost $20. We will concentrate on fair entry items.  Project meetings will be held in Livermore.  Jim Bennett
 jbennett@montague-inc.com
925/449-0114
Cavies

We will start off our 4H Cavy project with a costume meeting. Kids can wear their Halloween Costumes and dress their cavies to mix-or-match. As always I will need a parent to volunteer their home – so exact time and date are not yet available. Cavy education will include health with a focus on diet and habitat. This project is suitable for kids with a single pet or responsible members who want to breed and show purebreds. We will have some 4-H project shows where members can both show and judge the animals, a booth at Small Animal Field Day, and both educational posters and a live cavy show at the Alameda County Fair.  Meetings will be primarily on weekends-aiming for Sundays when sports schedules are not a major conflict.

OPEN TO COUNTY
Jane Morehouse
Annjane2@earthlink.net
510/351-1174 
Companion Animals     Joelle Aguirre
Cookies Who doesn't love the taste of fresh baked cookies?  We'll make cookies for the holidays, cookies from around the world, as well as all time favorites.  We will meet monthly to try out and taste different recipes and techniques.  By fair time, you will have ideas for delicious entries.
Meetings will be held in Livermore.
Limit 8 members Shirley Behanna
shirleybehanna@yahoo.com
925/449-8695
Cooking

If you like to cook, like to try new foods and want to learn a little about nutrition then this is the project for you.  We will make entrees, side dishes and desserts.    Ages 10+
Limit:6-8 members
Meetings will be Thursday's at 4:30pm 
Susan Wacek
925/426-1769
rwacek@comcast.net
Cooking for Teens

This project will teach teens how to prepare some of their favorite meals. There will be an emphasis on preparing meals for themselves when at college or being home alone. Ages 13+
Limit:8-10 members
Cost $20.
Meetings will be 2nd Sunday of each month beginning in October at 5:00-6:30pm.  Meetings are held in Livermore
Diana Hock
dianahock@yahoo.com
925/449-7024 
Dairy Cattle We’ll learn about dairy cattle breeds and their milk production.  We’ll learn how to select calves, identify parts of dairy cattle, recognize desirable traits, and basic care and showing.  As members progress in the project, we’ll focus on housing, feed and keeping animals healthy.  Maybe even do some practice judging.  This project is open to all members, and you don’t need to own/buy a dairy cow to participate.
  Jan Bennett
jb6clan@yahoo.com
925/449-0114
Dairy Goats  Ownership 60 days prior to fair. Cost will vary; will need food and housing for the animal. We are putting together a junior Dairy Goat show for the Fair, so your animal can be shown at the Alameda County Fair.  Ages 9+

Limit: 10 members 
Karen Harper
cacheymom@comcast.net
925/846-5456
Digital
Photography
One meeting will be dedicated to learning the basics of photography.  The remaining meetings will be out in the field shooting pictures.  We will take several trips to various locations to take pictures of different subjects.  This will be a hands on project and you must have a digital camera. Ages 13+
Limit 6 members
Wesley Hock
wesleyhock@yahoo.com
925/209-3210
Dog Care and Training

 
Bring your own dog or one is provided. Dog care and grooming along with helping your dog through basic obedience training. Only cost would be for choke chain and leash if you do not have one.  Meetings begin after Christmas and
are usually held on Fridays.
Ages 10+ 
Eileen Silva
esilva@silmarflooring.com
925/846-6873
Entomolgy If you like creepy crawlers!  Learn all you ever wanted about BUGS!  Good ones, bad ones, pretty ones and ugly ones!   Jan Bennett
jb6clan@yahoo.com
925/449-0114
Gardening

In the gardening project be prepared to get your hands dirty! We will learn gardening terms, learn about our region and what grows best here, and plant some flowers or vegetables. Items can be entered in the fair. Gardening is a great way to get some fresh air and some exercise. There is no limit to what we can do in this project.    Karen Harper
Cacheymom@comcast.net
925/846-5456
Horse

Overall education about the horse as a species is stressed. This is NOT a live riding lesson project - riding lessons are not provided. Every attempt will be made to hold a mounted riding lesson-event meeting with a suitable local trainer Meetings will be primarily on weekends – aiming for Sundays when sports schedules are not a major conflict.
Open to horse-owners and those without live horses.



Ages 10+ 
Jane Morehouse
Annjane2@earthlink.net
510/351-1174 
International Cooking

We will be making food from many different countries around the world. French, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Japanese, Chinese…….. Our first meeting will be in December and we will make holiday desserts from around the world. The other menus will be determined by the members.  We will meet four times this year and the meetings will be all afternoon as we prepare and then eat our products.

7 th grade and above 
Jan Provan
provans@comcast.net
925/484-4971 
       
Leadership

This project is for all officers, Junior or Teen Leaders, chairpersons, and is also open to anyone in grade 6 or above who is interested! We’ll have 3 meetings (October, January, and April) as well as a community service activity we will chair. (got any great ideas?!)  Grade 6 and above  Jane Onojafe eonojafe@comcast.net
925/462-3573

Diana Hock
dianahock@yahoo.com
925/449-7024

Jan Bennett
jb6clan@yahoo.com
 925/449-0114
Life Skills 101 Goal: to learn some basic skills before they kick you out of the nest!  Each meeting will have a guest expert in the appropriate field, and all meetings will be hands-on activities, so be prepared to DO what you are learning!  We will have 4 meetings (on Saturdays and/or Sundays):
1.  Medical emergencies (we will probably do a
one day red cross class)
2.  Plumbing and Electrical
3.  TBD
Age: 15 and up Jane Onojafe
(925) 462-3573
 jonojafe@comcast.net
Market Goats

If you like raising a market animal, try goat! Goats are very intelligent, and rewarding to raise. (And easy to clean up after!) They require feeding twice a day. Ownership is 60 days prior to fair. Cost approx. $150-250.  Age 9+
Opened to County.  
Kathy Bottarini
kathybottarini@yahoo.com
925/462-2096
Angie Bottarini
Mini-Members  If you are too young to be an official 4-Her but you want to participate in some of the fun 4-H activities, then this is the project for you. We will be doing a different project each month, cooking, crafts, animals and more. We will take at least two field trips this year. This project is ran as a co-op with each member/parent leading one month. Ages 5-8  LEADER NEEDED!!!!
Model Horse

The model horse project instructs on the care, showing, display and storage of model horses of all media (ceramic, plastic, resin) with emphasis on plastic Breyer & Stone horses. Participants are given guidance and advice on developing their individual collections. Model horses are also used to teach various aspects of live horses such as breeds, breed identification, colors, markings, anatomy and conformation. Some projects are planned for the coming year that will require a modest outlay of money…approx. $30 to $40.  Model horse meetings are generally held on the same day as Horse & Cavy projects as many members are cross entered and it is convenient for all that way.

OPEN TO COUNTY
Ann Morehouse
Annjane2@earthlink.net
510/351-1174 
Movie Critic This is a new project that will be offered this year if enough interest exists and a family or families are willing to allow the use of their family room and large screen TV & DVD player for meetings.
The plan is for the group to view several films during the coming year & then discuss them as a group & critique the films.  Films chosen will be PG or G rated and we will try to cover several different genres such as Comedy, Adventure, Animation and Fantasy or Science Fiction.  We would like to find films that are old enough that the group may not have seen them.  We’d like to also find at least one Vintage film.
We would like to plan at least one field trip to see a movie in a local theatre, most likely during the Christmas Break when there should be some Holiday theme movies available.  Members and families are welcome to submit suggestions for movies for the group to critique. Discussions & critiques will include such subjects as simple as whether the film was liked or disliked and on to topics such as acting quality, bloopers, editing, story line, etc.  A movie critique will be offered for publication in the Abbie 4H News following each month we meet.
This project is new and different, offering a chance to
look at films with a new objective eye and new
opportunities for 4H Presentations and talks.
  Ann Morehouse
Co-Leader: Jane Morehouse
510/351-4859  Evenings (Let Ring!)
annjane@hotmail.com
Poultry  Did you know you can raise chickens with the city of Pleasanton?  You will learn how to raise poultry within the city limits.  We will be working towards showing your birds at the Alameda County Fair in July.  Open to ALL members.  Meetings will be held once a month on Sundays.    Stacy McMillan
925/484-8489 
Rabbits

Learn how to house, feed, nurture and prevent disease in pet and show rabbits. Learn about different breeds, body types, and fur qualities and how to select the right animal. Learn how to groom, pose and exhibit your rabbit at rabbit shows and the Fair. Showmanship is exciting, competitive, and lots of fun (you won’t need your own rabbit until March).  Ages 9+  Melba Jacobsen jakeattheranch@comcast.net
510/889-8050

Kayla Mueller
kkandm@comcast.net
 925-461-1093
Recordbook Project Tired of rushing to complete your record book before
the deadline?  Join this project and stay caught up
on your project report forms and PDR each month.
Will meet 1st Sunday
of each month.

Limit:  10 members.
Alicia Brown
brown_fam@comcast.net
925/484-8470

Karen Brown (adult advisor)
Rifles/Shooting

This project will follow the state 4H small-bore rifle guidelines, which is a marksmanship oriented curriculum. We will learn safety, operation, marksmanship, etc. on .22 caliber rifles (you don’t need to own one). I will touch on other firearms and topics if there in interest as well. We will have classroom meetings and range meetings monthly. Participation is at discretion of leader. Parents required to attend first meeting.  Age 12+
 Limit: 10
Project open to County.
Jane Onojafe eonojafe@comcast.net 925/462-3573
Robert Flock, 484-1942 (co-leader)
Scrapbooking

If you have pictures, then this is the project for you. Learn how to simply and quickly put together a scrapbook style photo album. Cost is dependent on the materials you already have, and instructor has all materials available to purchase. All scrapbooks will be entered in the fair.  Project will meet once per month, meetings will be on Thursdays from 4-6pm , beginning in November.
No age limit for this project 
Ellen Aguirre
photopups@sbcglobal.net
925/600-0236

       
Sheep

Raising a market lamb. (Lamb must be owned 60 days prior to fair.)  Age 9+  Ernie Jacobsen
jakeattheranch@comcast.net
510/889-8850

Sugar Kuhn
sugar_bullpen@yahoo.com
       
Swine

You will be responsible for selecting, raising and showing a market hog at fair. We will receive animals about mid-March and the project will be complete with the Livestock Auction the last day of fair in July. This is a large time commitment, including monthly meetings, daily feedings, and weekend weigh days. You will also be expected to spend most of the second week of the fair at the fairgrounds. Cash investment is approx. $300-$500 for each hog plus feed.  Ages 9+  Janice Decker
925/462-4751

Jan Bennett
Jb6clan@yahoo.com 925/449-0114

Gary (Bubba) Moore
samnbub@prodigy.net
707/678-8486

Craig Smith

County Wide Projects
The following are County Projects or open enrollment projects offered by other clubs.

Camp Academy

This project is for members who wish to apply for staff at 4H camp next summer. Put your leadership skills into practice and learn how to run a camp!  County Wide  Jim Bennett Jb6clan@yahoo.com 925/449-0114

Dion Hock dionhock@yahoo.com
925/449-7024  
Citizenship

Works with the five areas of citizenship: Personal, History, Environment, Current events and government. We have debates and discuss current events. We have a couple of simulations this year. Meets at Farm Bureau on 3 rd Tuesday from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. 7 th grade and up.  County Wide  Carol Crossett
510/639-1370 
Exploring the Valley

Come have fun, explore what the Valley has to offer and get exercise too.  County Wide  Bruce Patchin
925/829-5049
bepatchin@aol.com 
Guide Dogs

Meets 1 st & 3 rd Tuesdays at Fairgrounds. Meets 2 nd & 4 th Tuesdays at Proctor School.  County Wide  Diana Hirzel 
Square Dance

 
Learn basic square dancing and some western dancing. Returning members will learn more advanced calls and additional line dances. Meetings will be held on Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 pm at Del Valle High, 2253 5 th Street, Livermore. Cost is $10 monthly. New dancers will start October 27 th. Open to entire family.  County Wide  Margaret Miller
925/447-6980
Preston Miller-Silveira Teen Leader
925/447-6980 
State Exchange

Ages 13/14+  County Wide- Bayside Fremont Pat Colglazier
510/490-6655 
Teen Leadership

This will be an accelerated group which will gallop thru skill development and set their own limits for community/4H involvements.  County Wide  Carol Crossett
510/639-1370 

 

NOTE: YOU MUST WRITE THE CLUB NAME ON YOUR REGISTRATION FORM IF IT IS NOT ABBIE

We are still in need for project leaders for some very key projects. If you can help with either of these projects we would be very appreciative.

•  Beginning 4-H
•  Sports

We also have a wish list for other possible projects.

•  Small Engines
•  Any Food/Cooking
•  Crafts
•  Welding