Bowman County Extension
Bowman County 4-H Bylaws
Updated 3-1-12
Bowman County 4-H General Policies
MEMBERSHIP
1. Members must be between the ages of 8 and 18. Youth who are 8 years old prior to September 1st, will be eligible to join 4-H for the club year. Any boy/girl who is 19 years of age prior to September 1st of the current 4-H year is not eligible for 4-H membership.
2. May 1st is the final date to enroll, add, or drop a 4-H project.
3. Cloverbuds-if a youth is 5 by Septmber 1st, they are eligible to participate in the Cloverbud program. Cloverbud is an introduction to the 4-H program without competition. Projects are limited to Cloverbud materials and participation ribbons will be given on projects entered in the fair. Cloverbuds are allowed to exhibit all livestock except beef, dairy and swine and must be 6 to exhibit a horse project. Cloverbuds will receive $1.00 premium for every participation ribbon received.
CLUB YEAR
1. The 4-H year begins September 1st and ends August 31st.
DUES
1. County Membership dues will be paid by the County 4-H Council.
COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
1. 4-H members must attend 6 club meetings by county fair time with the exception being college, special ed, armed forces, and prolonged illness. These members must attend 3 meetings. Club leaders will be responsible for monitoring eligibility in their respective clubs. The 6 meetings must be from September 1st to fair time and verification needs to be sent to the Extension Office and include meeting minutes, roll call, and a treasures report/balance.
2. The 6 meetings must be in the club in which club projects are carried.
3. If requirements are not met, members will forfeit any premium or awards that he or she is to receive, and will not be allowed to show/sell livestock and static exhibits.
4. Members forfeiting premiums, awards, and privilege to show at the fair can request an appeal before the executive board and their decision will be final.
5. 4-H members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting of 4-H at all 4-H activities.
6. Handle animals, operate machinery, vehicles, and other equipment in a safe and responsible manner.
REPORTS
1. 4-H enrollment, health, and conduct forms must be turned into the Extension Office by November 1st.
2. Club mid-year reports are due in the office by May 1st of the club year.
3. The club secretary is to send a report of each meeting to the Extension Office within one week of the meeting. Forms will be provided and reports must include a treasures report. Club reporters are encouraged to send articles to the newspaper.
POLICIES
1. The Bowman County 4-H Council and the executive board of that group will make 4-H policies as they relate to the operation of the county 4-H program. The county council shall consist of all 4-H leaders. The executive board consists of elected officers plus elected officers of the Jr. leaders Club.
2. A copy of the by-laws and policies will be sent to the club leaders and copies will be kept also by the club secretary.
3. Review of bylaws and dates of compliance at each annual meeting of the 4-H council.
4. An annual audit of treasures report will be conducted by the council – September 1st.
AGE REQUIREMENTS IN 4-H PROGRAM
COUNTY WILL FOLLOW STATE RULES FOR AGE DIVISION
Jr. Jr. 8-11 Jr. 12-14 Sr. 15-18 Exhibitor age before September 1st of the 4-H year.
1. The three age divisions apply to the livestock and horse show.
2. Jr. Leaders – members who have reached their 13th birthday by August 31st but have not reached their 19th birthday by August 31st.
3. Home Economics, demonstrations, public speaking contest: Pre-teen – 4-H members who are in the third grade to age 13 by September 1st. Teen Division – 4-H members 13-18 years of age by September 1st.
SCHEDULE FOR LIVESTOCK
1. Deadline for ownership and possession of market steers will adhere to State Fair rules (March 1st). All steers must be weighed at the same location on the same day to compete in the rate of gain contest.
2. Each member may have two steers, but both must be identified and weighed on the weigh date. If a steer can’t be shown due to death or major problem, a replacement steer may be purchased up to March 1st.
3. All sheep, pigs, steers, and goats in the market division must be identified and tagged by weigh in date to be eligible for the county fair show. All sheep and goats must have a scrapie tag. Goats may have a tattoo.
4. Each member will be allowed two market animals per species, but only one per species will be eligible for the sale. There will be no limit to the number of breeding animals exhibited.
5. Bowman County – if a member, due to injury, illness or major conflict is unable to show his or her animal, another active county 4-H member may show the animal.
6. In showmanship a member must show his/her own animal.
7. May 1st is the deadline for ownership or lease and possession of all species. Lease agreements must be signed in the office.
8. “Pen of 3” market lambs and market steers must be owned by the same 4-H club.
9. Divisions of livestock showmanship will follow the State Fair guidelines. Jr. Jr., Jr., and Sr. divisions will be eligible for round robin.
10. Breeding sheep will be required to be fitted and market lambs must be slick sheared for the county fair, however, fitted and slick sheared sheep may be shown in sheep showmanship.
11. White ribbon animals are not eligible for the market animal premium sale.
12. No limit on the number of animals sold in the sale, but only one animal per species.
13. Weigh-ins will be from 1-3 pm on Thursday of fair week.
14. Cloverbuds are only eligible to exhibit lambs, rabbits, chickens, goats, and pets. No beef, dairy or swine projects.
15. The market weight cut offs for each species to be in the market show and sale will be: Lambs will need to be 90 lbs.; pigs will need to be 210 lbs.; goats will need to be
40 lbs. and beef will need to be 1000 lbs.
STATIC EXHIBITS
1. Exhibits must be made for a 4-H project and not made for something else like a school project.
2. Members may exhibit 4 projects per class but only 1 per lot. Premiums will be paid on all four projects.
3. Projects exhibited by absentee forms are eligible to get Grand Champion.
INTERVIEW JUDGING
1. The 4-H Council has mandated that ALL 4-H PROJECTS be interview judged in order to receive premium. Completion of the project is at the leader’s discretion.
2. All members with an animal project must have a completed record book at interview judging.
DRESS CODE – FOLLOW THE STATE FAIR RULES
1. The dress code will be followed while interview judging and showing of livestock. Solid colored white, yellow, gray or green shirt/blouse with the 4-H emblem/chevron prominently displayed and securely fastened on the front. Exhibitors should wear dark jeans/slacks/skirts, and livestock exhibitors should wear boots or protective shoes for safety.
2. All horse exhibitors will be neatly dressed and must wear a long sleeved solid white shirt with a 4-H emblem on the front. In addition, exhibitors must wear ASTM-SEI approved helmets for all mounted events, (western hats are permitted for showmanship) western boots, blue or black jeans (dark color) and a belt.
CLUB SECRETARTY BOOKS
1. It is encouraged that each club secretary exhibits the minute’s book at the fair. Premiums of $3, $2, and $1 will be paid for blue, red, and white ribbons.
Awards
1. Rate of Gain: Steers initial weights from January will be used with final sale weight at the fair to calculate average daily gain. Pigs, Goats & Sheep initial weights from May will be used with final sale weight at the fair to calculate average daily gain.
2. A herdsmen award will be given in the beef, sheep, swine, goat, horse, and small animal (rabbit & poultry) divisions. This award will be based on 60% interview judging and 40% showmanship.
Steps to filing and resolving complaints:
1. A signed written complaint needs to be submitted to the Extension Office.
2. The Extension Agent will contact the involved individuals and facilitate a mediation meeting.
3. If the issue is not resolved the 4-H Council will be consulted.
4. The final step will be termination of the individual.
4-H CAMPS
1. The 4-H Council will pay 50% of 4-H camp registration fees for state wide camps. Applications need to be filled out before the camp.
