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Warrick County brought me notebooks entered by six 4-H members in the Genealogy Project for me to judge for the county fair. This was last Friday, but I still have about 2 hours to finish evaluating the last ones to judge. Today Gibson County delivered ten 4-H'ers exhibit notebooks to be judged. The entry for Division 5 in Gibson County looks very nice and has six 3-inch notebooks! It takes about 30 minutes on average to judge one exhibitor's notebooks... it will take me 4-8 hours to go through the Gibson County exhibits. But, believe me, judging these exhibits is a labor of love!
I have been judging county exhibits for the last 30 or so years and the Indiana State Fair exhibits for Div. 3 over the last five years. Having the opportunity to judge at the State Fair is like a super big honor! I have been involved with 4-H since I was a new first-year member at age 10 about 55 years ago. It is a great youth organization and I am glad there is a 4-H Genealogy Project. I served as the Vanderburgh County 4-H Genealogy Project Superintendent for about 25 years. For the Tri-State Genealogical Society, I serve as the 4-H Coordinator and present awards in four counties in southwest Indiana for 4-H'ers enrolled in the genealogy project. For the Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution, I serve as the State Chair of the 4-H Youth Awards.
I can still remember how I felt as a ten-year-old going to the 4-H County Fair for the first time and at age 65 this is always an exciting time of the year!
- Written by JGWest
Showing posts with label County 4-H Fair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label County 4-H Fair. Show all posts
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair 2011
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2011 County 4-H Fair
The Vanderburgh County Fair 25 July - 30 July 2011
The following are some photos I took at the fair with my cell phone, that did not turn out well, but will give everyone a little peek at a few exhibits.
Above are 6 of the 4-H Genealogy Project Notebook exhibits and below are 2 of the 3 champions that will go on to the State Fair next week.
The 4-H Americana project always have some of the most incredible exhibits. This one is a collection of a family member's Civil War jacket, sword, etc.
The 4-H Woodcraft exhibits are always very nice. This piece of the covered bridge below got Honorable Mention. The piece is completly flat, but the road appears to just come up & out at the viewer. Notice the squirrel on the road.
- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest
2011 County 4-H Fair
The Vanderburgh County Fair 25 July - 30 July 2011
The following are some photos I took at the fair with my cell phone, that did not turn out well, but will give everyone a little peek at a few exhibits.
Above are 6 of the 4-H Genealogy Project Notebook exhibits and below are 2 of the 3 champions that will go on to the State Fair next week.
The 4-H Americana project always have some of the most incredible exhibits. This one is a collection of a family member's Civil War jacket, sword, etc.
The 4-H Woodcraft exhibits are always very nice. This piece of the covered bridge below got Honorable Mention. The piece is completly flat, but the road appears to just come up & out at the viewer. Notice the squirrel on the road.
- Photos taken & submitted by JGWestSaturday, June 25, 2011
4-H Genealogy Project
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4-H Genealogy Project
About 30 years ago, I got involved with the 4-H Family History projects in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. I had no idea that I would still be working with 4-H members and their families discovering their family heritage. The age of 4-H members are about 8 to 18; and, often most or all of their grandparents are still living... perhaps even some older relatives are still around to tell stories and give some important clues to go back further in researching the family of long ago.
The Indiana 4-H Genealogy project is structured with project requirements that adhere to strict genealogical standards. This includes citing sources for the information they list on generation charts & family group sheets. The county fair exhibit notebooks include photocopies of documents and photographs to back up their research. A nice section is having a sheet for each person on the generation charts called "Additional Information Sheet" that calls for all sorts of interesting data about schools attended, occupations, residences, health, hobbies, community service and more. The 4-H member can take the project each year and advances in Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4 & Advance. The Advance Division requires the 4-H'er to complete as much as possible of their 8th. generation with all of the documentation, additional information family group sheets, etc. As you might suspect after 3 years, the exhibit becomes larger and often has two or more notebooks. Advance entries often have 3 or more 4" notebooks with hundreds of pages in each notebook!!! Lots of wills, deeds, certificates, cemetery records, census data, old photographs... all of those things genealogists hold dear!
When I got involved I was appointed the Superintendent of the Vanderburgh County 4-H Genealogy Project (it was originally called "Family Tree"). Carol Lantaff was named the Assistant Superintendent who was a very important part of the project's success. Carol served with me for about 15 years or so. I served as Superintendent for 25 years. I also began judging county fair exhibits in surrounding counties and have done so for nearly 30 years and the last 4 years as one of the Indiana State Fair judges for this project. I have conducted at least 30-40 workshops to explain the project and how to research the family.
Yesterday, I had been working on judging some of the Warrick County 4-H exhibits at home when I got some more to judge from Gibson County. I spend an average of about half an hour going through each exhibit to ensure it meets project guidelines and includes the required information. So, instead of spending 8 to 12 hours judging at the fair grounds, the 4-H officials get the exhibits to me about one week to 10 days before the fair to allow me more time to judge the exhibits in the comfort of my home. It is a lot of work and I do spend a lot of time each year judging these exhibits, but I enjoy it and it is worthwhile to get these young 4-H'ers started in a great life-time hobby researching their family histories... especially while many older family members are still alive to help.
What prompted me to write about this was that Becky & I went to the Golden Corral to eat last night and Carol Lantaff showed up with many of her out-of-state cousins! Seeing Carol brought back many very fond memories of working with these young 4-H'ers and their families last night as I was going through some of the exhibits!
- Written by JGWest
4-H Genealogy Project
About 30 years ago, I got involved with the 4-H Family History projects in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. I had no idea that I would still be working with 4-H members and their families discovering their family heritage. The age of 4-H members are about 8 to 18; and, often most or all of their grandparents are still living... perhaps even some older relatives are still around to tell stories and give some important clues to go back further in researching the family of long ago.
The Indiana 4-H Genealogy project is structured with project requirements that adhere to strict genealogical standards. This includes citing sources for the information they list on generation charts & family group sheets. The county fair exhibit notebooks include photocopies of documents and photographs to back up their research. A nice section is having a sheet for each person on the generation charts called "Additional Information Sheet" that calls for all sorts of interesting data about schools attended, occupations, residences, health, hobbies, community service and more. The 4-H member can take the project each year and advances in Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4 & Advance. The Advance Division requires the 4-H'er to complete as much as possible of their 8th. generation with all of the documentation, additional information family group sheets, etc. As you might suspect after 3 years, the exhibit becomes larger and often has two or more notebooks. Advance entries often have 3 or more 4" notebooks with hundreds of pages in each notebook!!! Lots of wills, deeds, certificates, cemetery records, census data, old photographs... all of those things genealogists hold dear!
When I got involved I was appointed the Superintendent of the Vanderburgh County 4-H Genealogy Project (it was originally called "Family Tree"). Carol Lantaff was named the Assistant Superintendent who was a very important part of the project's success. Carol served with me for about 15 years or so. I served as Superintendent for 25 years. I also began judging county fair exhibits in surrounding counties and have done so for nearly 30 years and the last 4 years as one of the Indiana State Fair judges for this project. I have conducted at least 30-40 workshops to explain the project and how to research the family.
Yesterday, I had been working on judging some of the Warrick County 4-H exhibits at home when I got some more to judge from Gibson County. I spend an average of about half an hour going through each exhibit to ensure it meets project guidelines and includes the required information. So, instead of spending 8 to 12 hours judging at the fair grounds, the 4-H officials get the exhibits to me about one week to 10 days before the fair to allow me more time to judge the exhibits in the comfort of my home. It is a lot of work and I do spend a lot of time each year judging these exhibits, but I enjoy it and it is worthwhile to get these young 4-H'ers started in a great life-time hobby researching their family histories... especially while many older family members are still alive to help.
What prompted me to write about this was that Becky & I went to the Golden Corral to eat last night and Carol Lantaff showed up with many of her out-of-state cousins! Seeing Carol brought back many very fond memories of working with these young 4-H'ers and their families last night as I was going through some of the exhibits!
- Written by JGWest
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
4-H Genealogy Project
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I am currently judging 4-H exhibits for area county fairs... something I have done now for almost 30 years and enjoy doing. It is an honor for me to contribute to 4-H Youth by judging the 4-H Genealogy Fair Notebooks for 3-5 local counties each year and for the last 3 years at the Indiana State Fair.
Over 30 years ago, I asked the Tri-State Genealogical Society to sponsor an Achievement Award for the Genealogy Project. The Executive Board agreed to sponsor the award. Edna Kasper was working at a print shop and she helped me to design a very nice 4-H Certificate and we created the TSGS Certificates of Appreciation, as well. Over the years, I have re-designed the 4-H Certificate. Marti Williams, at one point, after Glenda Trapp's death, suggested that we make the Certificate a Memorial to her. So, now we have the Glenda Trapp Memorial Award Certificate for 4-H Youth.
County 4-H Fairs will be popping up all over the tri-state, in fact several are going on right now. I have found links to the dates for county fairs in the three states of IL, IN & KY if you would like to attend one of the local county fairs... many will have genealogy fair exhibits on display. Check them out and let me know what you find. Not all states or even counties have the 4-H genealogy project... each state's projects vary. If your local 4-H program has the genealogy project, see what you can do to help.
Here are those fair lists:
http://www.agr.state.il.us/fair/countyfairssched.php
http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/downloads/new/10%20County%20Fairs.pdf
http://www.kyagr.com/marketing/fair/lclagfairs.htm
- Compiled by JGWest
I am currently judging 4-H exhibits for area county fairs... something I have done now for almost 30 years and enjoy doing. It is an honor for me to contribute to 4-H Youth by judging the 4-H Genealogy Fair Notebooks for 3-5 local counties each year and for the last 3 years at the Indiana State Fair.
Over 30 years ago, I asked the Tri-State Genealogical Society to sponsor an Achievement Award for the Genealogy Project. The Executive Board agreed to sponsor the award. Edna Kasper was working at a print shop and she helped me to design a very nice 4-H Certificate and we created the TSGS Certificates of Appreciation, as well. Over the years, I have re-designed the 4-H Certificate. Marti Williams, at one point, after Glenda Trapp's death, suggested that we make the Certificate a Memorial to her. So, now we have the Glenda Trapp Memorial Award Certificate for 4-H Youth.
County 4-H Fairs will be popping up all over the tri-state, in fact several are going on right now. I have found links to the dates for county fairs in the three states of IL, IN & KY if you would like to attend one of the local county fairs... many will have genealogy fair exhibits on display. Check them out and let me know what you find. Not all states or even counties have the 4-H genealogy project... each state's projects vary. If your local 4-H program has the genealogy project, see what you can do to help.
Here are those fair lists:
http://www.agr.state.il.us/fair/countyfairssched.php
http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/downloads/new/10%20County%20Fairs.pdf
http://www.kyagr.com/marketing/fair/lclagfairs.htm
- Compiled by JGWest
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER -
Research Tips
Global Positioning System (GPS)
The idea for this blog came from a family working on their 4-H Genealogy Project for the upcoming county fair. The mother of the 4-H member was asking me a few questions on how to cite their documentation for the notebook exhibit. She mentioned that her cousin used GPS to mark locations of ancestors' property once it was found.
I have known a lot of people who have used GPS cooridinates to designate where cemeteries were located (including graves), but really did not think of using this for locations concerning family sites of importance. You can easily identify all of your genealogical locations!
GPS definition from Whatis.com: The GPS (Global Positioning System) is a "constellation" of 24 well-spaced satellites that orbit the Earth and make it possible for people with ground receivers to pinpoint their geographic location. The location accuracy is anywhere from 100 to 10 meters for most equipment. Accuracy can be pinpointed to within one (1) meter with special military-approved equipment. GPS equipment is widely used in science and has now become sufficiently low-cost so that almost anyone can own a GPS receiver.
Use this map to look for this house where Gum Street in Evansville, IN stops at College Highway ~ 37 degrees, 58 minutes, 2.18 seconds Latitude & -87 degrees, 32 minutes, 25.14 seconds Longitude. This home is a long time dream house for my wife & I.
- Submitted by Sheila of Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Saturday, April 11, 2009
From the FIRST MATE's
PHOTO ALBUM...
Fruit & Vegetable Sculpture
4-H member Henry Maurer sculptured this Hawaiian scene for the Energetics 4-H Club's entry for the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair "Picnic Contest" in 2001.
- Photo taken and submitted by JGWest
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