Boundary C 4-H Club members started off their busiest month of the year as usual with practice day for the Rock Creek and Boundary Fall Fair on Sept. 5.
Members attended the fair work bee the following weekend; the week prior to fair, all members were busy washing, grooming and practicing with their projects. Friday afternoon every one arrived to help set up and then off to supper and bed.
4-H members competed both days, demonstrating what they learned throughout the year.
Families only had three days to do laundry and pack up again before heading to Provincial Winter Fair (PWF) in Barriere. Families arrived on Thursday afternoon to set up and look after the animals. Members competed all three days.
New this year was the “Boundary Dash.” This event was organized by the Boundary C club and sponsored by the Fossen, MacDonald and Hedlund families.
This event is very similar to the Fred Nichol and Twemlow events, which give the participants a chance to win money towards the purchase of next year’s beef or sheep project. In the Boundary Dash, competitors can win money towards any 4H-related purchases they choose, with the commitment to create an educational display on how they used it for the next PWF. These events are only open to members of senior age.
Unlike the Fed Nichol and Twemlow, which only allow beef or sheep members to compete, the Boundary Dash is meant for those who do not already qualify for the original events, for example horse and rabbit members. In the Boundary Dash, the participants race to put on a hockey jersey and a hat, fill a bucket with sawdust, hammer in a nail, rope a dummy, “milk” a towel in to bucket, sew a button on to a piece of fabric, wire a stay on to a fence, frame a picture, put a hay bale in a wheelbarrow and wheel it across the finish line.
Sunday evening there was a dinner, followed by awards and a dance. This year some Boundary C members organized a dance competition with categories for senior, junior, open and a club line dance which everyone seemed to enjoy.
Monday was the auction. Beef and sheep members sold their projects and photography members their auction pieces. Everyone was happy to be home Monday night.
Thank you to the Kettle Valley Golf Club for donating food to the club for breakfasts for the weekend in Barriere, and to Gerry Watson for cooking it. Many thanks to all of our buyers and sponsors who helped to make our year a success.
This July, four members went on an agricultural learning trip called “Food For Thought” where they learned about many different kinds of agriculture in B.C. There was also lots of fun and games to encourage all of the members to make new friends from different clubs.
Four Boundary C members were chosen to help out at the Mission Hill Winery during the Duke and Duchess’s visit to Kelowna on Sept. 27. The lucky members were Sarah MacDonald, Alec Elliot, Adele Fossen and Marijka van Kuik.
Also, because they needed six members, younger sisters Jade Fossen and Analia van Kuik also went.
Sewing and photography member Marijka van Kuik said that she would never have guessed in a million years that she would be meeting, shaking hands with and taking pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. “A very long day but totally worth it,” Marijka said.
Although the beef, sheep and photography projects are completed, ranch horse members are looking forward to a ride up Lind Creek Road next week. Also, sewing members who started their project year in December, 2015 and ended it in March, 2016, said it worked out well and they are planning to do it again.
Members will be finishing their record books to be handed in by Oct. 31. Awards night will be held near the end of November, the date of which has yet to be determined.
4-H involves a lot of time and commitment by both members and parents but you learn a lot and it can be a lot of fun. So if there is anyone who is interested in joining the club, please contact Greg or Jennifer MacDonald at 250-446-2189. You must be nine by Dec. 31.
