The Morgan County Extension Office is closed to the public effective immediately. Our staff will still be working, just in a different format than usual. The best way to reach staff during this time is via email, however staff will check their voicemails regularly and return phone calls. Amy Kelley, Extension Director – 542-3545 – amy.kelley@colostate.edu Aimee Kanode, 4-H/Youth Development & Horticulture Agent – 542-3542 –

aimee.kanode@colostate.edu Marlin Eisenach, Livestock Agent – 542-3543 –

marlin.eisenach@colostate.edu Joanna Harris, Family Consumer Science Agent – 542-3544 –

Joanna.harris@colostate.edu Jamie Dixon, Administrative Assistant – 542-3540, ext 2010 –

coopext_morgan@mail.colostate.edu Wilma Trujillo, Area Agronomist/ Cropping Systems Agent – 542-3540,

ext 2002 – Wilma.trujillo@colostate.edu If you are just dropping off paperwork, including fundraiser forms and money in an envelope, please use our drop-box, located on the left as you face the front door. We are checking this regularly. All 4-H activities have been cancelled through May 15th. This effects all of Morgan County 4-H and includes all 4-H Meetings, 4-H Community Service Projects, 4-H Project Workshops, 4-H Events, etc. This includes activities hosted by 4-H Staff, as well as by 4-H Volunteers. 4-H Volunteers are expected to abide by these directives. We know that not having meetings for two months can be difficult for some clubs, and we are here to help facilitate solutions. Club meetings can be held virtually over zoom, with the ability to even do demonstrations through this manner. If you would like help setting up this option please let us know and we can work with you to get this done. Of course all of this is subject to change, if the situation worsens. If it does we will communicate with you all as quickly as we can to let you know.

Fair Book Cover Contest The Morgan County Fair Board will give the youth who draws the best illustration for the Fair Book Cover $50 cash. Entries must be hand drawn in dark pencil or ink, no color, on a white 8-1/2 X 11 inch piece of paper. You must include the date of the fair, “July 31 – August 6” and the words, “2020 Morgan County Fair” in your artwork. Place your name on the back. The deadline to submit your entry is Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

Morgan County 4-H Newsletter

Colorado State University Extension 4-H programs are available to all without discrimination.

Inside this issue:

4-H Information 1

4-H Activities 3

Virtual Learning 4

4-H Shooting Sports 5

Scholarship Information 6

Livestock Information 7

Livestock Information 9

2020 Fair Livestock Info 10

Extension News 11

Calendar of Events 12

To Make the Best Better

All 4-H families have a responsibility to read the 4-H newsletter and to understand the infor-mation and deadlines that apply to them.

Need help? Please check with your club leader or contact 4-H Agents at the Extension Office.

April 2020

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2020 State 4-H Conference is cancelled.

2019-2020 4-H State Community Service This year's state officer team decided we would like to do a year-round community service this year! We are asking you to collect pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald house located in Colorado Springs from now until June 19! You may drop them off at the Extension Office.

Manuals and Record Book Update If you have not received your manuals for projects, contact your club leader first as they received packets to distribute at the meetings. When you receive manuals/records, don’t set aside until summer. Take time to read the manual NOW and the records to see what you need to do. Most projects require activities to be completed over a period of several months. You want to do more than just the one thing for your exhibit. If you are uncertain of the exhibit requirement, check out this link: http://co4h.colostate.edu/statefair/StateFairExhibitReq.pdf. If you still have questions call the Extension Office so one of the Extension Agents can help you with information. In most projects, there are specific skills to learn and complete for the exhibit. If you believe you have enrolled in the wrong unit for what you wanted to learn, let us know ASAP. Deadline for adding or dropping projects or changing units is May 15.

2020 County Fair Dates Official fair dates are July 31 - August 6, 2020, BUT pre-fair activities will begin earlier in July including Interview Judging which is Wednesday, July 29th.

Display Boards and Record Covers The Extension Office has display boards (show boards) available for $5.50 each and green record book covers available for $3.50 each.

SENIOR MEMBERS, WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND NATIONAL 4-H CONGRESS. . . Senior 4-H members who receive a grand champion at the Colorado State Fair can receive a trip to National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, GA in November. There may be a project you’d like to learn about. Remember you can add or drop projects until May 15th. They are: 4-H Filmmaking, Artistic Clothing, Beekeeping, Cake Decorating, Cats, Ceramics, Clothing Construction (Units 1-2, 7-8), Computers, Electric, Entomology, Foods and Nutrition (Units 1-4), Food Preservation, Gardening, Global Citizenship, Heritage Arts, Home Design and Decor, Horseless Horse, Leadership, Leathercraft (Advanced Units 4-10), Model Rocketry, Outdoor Adventures, Photography, Robotics, Scrapbooking, Shooting Sports-Exhibit, Shooting Sports-Stand Alone, Small Engines, Specialty Foods (25, 30, & 35), Sportfishing, Veterinary Science, Visual Arts, Wildlife, and Woodworking.

Dog ID Forms All Dog ID Forms must be done on an annual basis through 4-H Online. If you identified a dog last year, you must activate each animal account. For the Dog ID, you will need to update and upload new vaccine information by May 1, 2020.

4-H Information

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4-H Information/Activities 4-H Project ADD/DROP Deadline The project add/drop deadline is May 15, 2020. To add or drop a project, login to your 4-H Online account, click edit by your name, click continue at the bottom of each page until you come to the project page. To drop a project, click edit next to the project and click delete. To add a project, select the project and click add project button. Let the Extension Office know if you need manuals for the added projects. Return any unused project manuals after dropping a project. Livestock projects the ADD/DROP deadline is the ID or primary care date.

Talent Jamboree

May 16, 2020 7:00 p.m. Northeastern Junior College, Sterling, CO All 4-H members are encouraged to polish up your talent and participate in the Talent Jamboree on Saturday, May 16. We are holding one talent contest for all of District One at one time on May 16. There will be (3) overall awards given; that will recognize the top performers (from all counties) in Junior, Intermediate and Senior Division. There are several divisions to participate in: vocal, instrumental, dance, skits, emceeing and as a soloist in these divisions or as an ensemble or with several members as in a group skit, etc.

2020 COLORADO 4-H FOUNDATION TRUCK RAFFLE Local Ford Dealers have made another generous donation to the Colorado 4-H program of a 2020 Ford F-150, 4x4 super crew pickup truck, raffle tickets will be sold by State 4-H Foundation board members, Extension Staff, 4-H Members and Leaders. The 4-H Foundation raffle returns $2.50 to the 4-H club for every $5 ticket sold. Great club fundraiser!! Tickets are $5 each

or 5 for $20. Tickets will be available at the Extension Office. https://co4hfoundation.extension.colostate.edu/fundraising/truck-raffle/

LAC Butter Braid and Pastry Puffin Fundraiser Update

With the current suspension of face-to-face 4-H programming as well as the Statewide Stay at Home order issued by the Governor, the Butter Braid and Pastry Puffin fundraiser has been postponed until further notice. It is our hopes to be able to complete the fundraiser sometime in late May, but please know there is a chance it could be later. For those of you that have already fundraised, you will need to reach out to your customers and let them know of this change. If you have already turned in orders, these will be placed as is, but not until the fundraiser is resumed. We will share the new fundraiser deadline and refund information should individuals want to cancel their order as soon as we can. Please contact Aimee at aimee.kanode@colostate.edu if you have any questions.

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Virtual Activities/Learning Communities That Care project to set up information on talking with teens about COVID-19, https://www.twelvetalks.com/covid-19

Welcome to 4-H STEM Lab! https://4-h.org/parents/stem-agriculture/youth-stem-activities/

Another resource from National 4-H, There are quite a few DIY home projects relating to robotics, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and technology here. https://4-h.org/parents/stem-agriculture/

Inspire Kids to Do: Inspiring STEM https://4-h.org/about/blog/inspire-kids-to-do-inspiring-stem/

Colorado 4-H Online Virtual Resources CSU Extension’s State Office has moved to working remotely as of Monday, March, 23. Please know that the State 4-H Leadership team will be here for you, virtually, to serve and support you. All face-to-face 4-H activity is suspended until May 15, 2020. Thanks to all of you for your commitment to Colorado youth and communities and to Making the Best Better in this most difficult time. http://co4h.colostate.edu/colorado-4-h-online-virtual-engagement-resources

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Mountain Chickadee (Cornell All About Birds)

Signing up for Shooting Sports There is a $10 fee for every youth enrolled in shooting sports. All youth must attend a mandatory safety training prior to their first practice. If you have any questions, please contact Aimee, 970-542-3542.

MORGAN COUNTY SHOOTING SPORTS COUNTY FAIR ELIGIBILITY 1. All participants must be 4–H members currently enrolled in the 4–H Shooting Sports Project. 2. Juniors: 8 - 13 years old as of 12/31/19 Seniors: 14 - 18 years old as of 12/31/19 3. All participants must attend a mandatory safety training prior to their first practice. 4. Appropriate safety equipment is the shooter’s responsibility. 5. All youth MUST complete record books and participate in interview judging and must receive at

least a Red Ribbon on their interview project for scores to count for participation at Colorado State Fair.

6. All youth must have a Hunter’s Safety Card to shoot at the County Fair Shoot. You must have participated in at least three (3) County *Certified shoots in each of the divisions en-tered to compete at the County Fair. For safety reasons, a shotgun shooter must shoot at least three (3) practices in each class they want to compete in. *Certified shoots are shoots shot in front of the contest superintendent or assistant superintendent of the discipline. *For emergency situations, the superintendent and shooting sports committee will take it under con-sideration for county only results. Youth not participating in county shoots will not be eligible for State Fair Shoot. *Guidelines for Classes and equipment will be same as the current rulebook. You may view the Colorado Shooting Sports Rule Book at: http://co4h.colostate.edu/program-areas/shooting-sports/. Click on rulebook, forms, and notices.

Practice dates and times will be updated in May.

2020 Colorado State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships

SAVE THE DATE: The tentative dates for the 2020 State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships are August 22-23 (Archery, Air Rifle , Air Pistol, .22 Rifle, Muzzleloader) & September 5-6 (.22 Pistol & Shotgun).

More information regarding the State Championships will be sent out in the near future.

Fair Youth Superintendents

We need the help of 4-H youth who would like to help with the 2020 Morgan County Fair events. This is a wonderful way to share your leadership and be part of the excitement of fair. Volunteer Application form is located on the Morgan County Website 4-H page or a hard copy will be available at the Ex-tension Office. We need help with interview judging, exhibit display, market-ing, and much, much more! Please fill out the application on page 13 of this newsletter and submit to the Extension Office by June 1, 2020.

2020 Shooting Sports

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Colorado 4-H Foundation Scholarships The Colorado 4-H Foundation will be offering scholarships for 2020. Applications need to be completed by April 1. Each applicant must have two references (other than your Extension Agent) and a recent/current photograph. The photograph will be used for media purposes. Go to: https://co4hfoundation.extension.colostate.edu/benefits/colorado-4-h-foundation-scholarships/ for more information. By submitting this one application form, students will be considered for all appropriate scholarships at the University level. The online application process is open. Take time during your vacation days to see what scholarships that you may be eligible for.

Additional Scholarships, all available at the Extension Office: Morgan County 4-H Foundation Scholarship Fort Morgan Young Farmers Education Foundation Scholarship Livestock Exchange LLC Scholarship Jonathan Marr 4-H Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Information

Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association Scholarship Two scholarships will be awarded by the Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association. The require-ments are that you must be a graduating high school senior and expected to enroll in an agricul-tural degree program at any accredited college or university. The amount of this scholarship is $500 granted for tuition for up to 4 years. Two Vocational/Trade School scholarships will be awarded to a graduating high school senior. The amount of this scholarship is $500. Pick up applications at the Extension Office. Application Deadline: April 15, 2020

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Animal ID Forms Forms may be emailed to coopext_morgan@mail.colostate.edu or dropped off at the Extension Office drop box by the deadlines listed below. Please feel free to turn these forms in early. Breeding Beef Form, due May 1, 2020 Dairy Cattle Form, due May 1, 2020 Market Goat and Lamb Form, due May 4, 2020 Market Swine Form, due May 4, 2020 Market Rabbit & Poultry Form, due June 25, 2020

Market Goat and Lamb Weigh-In/Tag-In With the fact to face restrictions, the Morgan County Market Goat and Lamb Weigh-In/Tag-In day is cancelled. However, youth must turn in an ID form by Monday, May 4, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. in order to participate in the 2020 Morgan County Fair. All goats and lambs must have a scrapies tag number from the breeder. Contact Marlin, marlin.eisenach@colostate.edu or 970-542-3543, if your animal does not have one. All market goats and market lambs must be ID'd to compete at the 2020 Morgan County Fair. Breeding goats and breeding lambs do not to be ID'd.

Many of you have been asking about buying junior livestock projects now and in the upcoming months. While nobody holds a crystal ball of what is to come, it sure helps to stay optimistic about the future! We cannot guarantee at this point that fairs will happen, but we are hoping that by the time fair season gets here, we will be past all this. Purchasing livestock projects is a personal decision that each of you will

have to make. Fairs will be making decisions based on information provided down the road, but most fairs are quite a ways off. We have to remember that every time 4-H and FFA members and their families purchase a livestock project, there is NEVER a guarantee that they will win the big prize, make a sale slot or even live for that matter. There is always some inherent risk and it is up to your individual family whether or not you 1) have the expendable funds to purchase livestock any given project year 2) if and how you want to proceed into the 2020 show season, given the nature of many unknowns. If you are going to farms to look at animals, be sure you are following the CDC recommendations as much as possible. https://www.cdc.gov/coron…/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html If you have any questions, contact me at 970-542-3543, and I'll do my best to answer them. ~Marlin Eisenach, Livestock Agent

Catch-It animals will only be distributed to those members that were enrolled and paid by the February 3, 2020 deadline. All dates are tentative at this time. Information will be sent out upon date confirmation. Participants, who feel they cannot fulfill their commitment, please notify Marlin immediately. All Catch-It distributions have been put on hold for now. You will receive your Catch-It animal at a later date. ID's will be taken care of for you.

Livestock

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Livestock Premises ID 4-H members with livestock projects (beef, dairy, goat, horse, sheep, swine, poultry, and rabbit) are strongly encouraged to obtain a Premises ID. It is re-quired to exhibit at the Morgan County Fair and Colorado State Fair. It is al-so required for other livestock shows. If you don’t already have a Premises ID, you can obtain one by calling Marlin 542-3543 or go online to Colorado Location Identification (LID) Registration Form at http://col.st/tzSZP.

Animal Care and Housing Form All 4-H members with animal projects will be required to have a completed, signed and approved ani-mal Care and Housing Form for Colorado 4-H Livestock Projects form on file at the Extension Office. If your animal project is housed at your place of residence you filled out this form while filling out your paperwork during the enrollment process online. If your animal project is not housed at your place of residence then you will need to go to our 4-H Website, print the Animal Care and Housing form and fill out both sides of that form. This gives us additional information about your specific situation and helps with the approval process. Please give us detailed information or we will send them back for you to adjust your comments. Talk to your club leader, or contact Marlin at 542-3543 if you have any questions.

Livestock Sale Information ...You may be receiving livestock sale(s) information in the mail

and wonder how you’ve gotten on this mailing list. We needed to let you know that the 4-H list is a protected list and we DO NOT give it to producers. However, if producers bring their sale information to the office, stamped and ready to mail, we will put your mailing label on the information to be sent. If you don’t want to receive this, please let us know.

Colorado State Fair Members with Beef, Lambs, Goats or Pigs that want to exhibit at the Colorado State Fair must have nomination forms turned in to Marlin by MAY 26. The tentative 2020 livestock schedule can be ac-cessed at their website: www.coloradostatefair.com. You are encouraged to visit the website for a com-plete listing of rules. More information regarding CSF small animal nominations coming soon.

Meat Quality Assurance Program

Colorado 4-H MQA assessment has been developed to use as an alternative to the in person face to face trainings to help deliver our 4-H MQA program during Covid-19 restrictions. This online as-sessment corresponds with the current Colorado 4-H MQA power point version of the train-ing. There are two versions of the assessment, one for Junior members and one for Intermediate & Senior members. These pdf versions contain a hyperlink to the assessment at the end of the materials in the presentation. The participants will see their assessment results upon completion and may take the assessment multiple times to achieve a score of 80% or higher. Also, upon completing the assessment members will be prompted to print the screen with their results and email a digital file showing their results to their County Agents. All new livestock members must attend. All youth 14 years old (4-H age) must complete. You will be notified at a later date to complete.

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Livestock

2020 Weld County Goat Extravaganza

CANCELLED

Colorado Dairy Youth Extravaganza The Colorado Dairy Youth Extrav-aganza will be held May 31-June 2, 2020 at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley. Event information and entry forms can be found

online at www.weldextension.com, then click on Colorado Dairy Youth Extravaganza. Entry dead-line is May 10th. For more information, please contact Keith at 970-400-2075.

Massey Lamb and Goat Camp Lambs-June 15-16, 2020 and/or Goats-June 17-18, 2020 Applications and registrations are done at: http://www.masseyshowlambcamp.com/registration.html This “hands-on” two day event with J.B. Massey will be held at the Morgan County Fair Grounds. This “hands-on” two day event with J.B. Massey will be held at the Morgan County Fair Grounds. We will be covering Feeding and Nutrition, Showmanship, Fitting and Clipping. Space is lim-ited, so registration today.

2020 HORSE ID’S

Due May 1, 2020 All Members with Horses are required to fill out ID’s in 4-H Online, yearly. Three views of Horse are required. If you identified a horse last year, you must activate each animal account. Primary Care of Horses begins May 1, 2020. This includes leased horses. Check with Marlin if you have questions.

2020 Organized 4-H Horse

Practice Schedule

Indoor and outdoor arena when weather

permits. Gates open and warm up 5:30 pm,

with practice 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

May 21, 28

June 4, 11, 18, 25

July 9, 16

Fair 4-H Horse Show, July 25 Fair 4-H Gymkhana, July 26 Fair 4-H Ranch Horse, July 28

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.

2020 Fair Board Livestock Fair Rules/Schedule

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Warmer Weather Brings Wasps Excerpt from the CO-Horts Blog

Yellow jackets are beginning their year, and to keep your yard from

the black and yellow bullies, the queens must die. In winter, yellow

jacket colonies die, leaving only queens survive. They emerge when

the weather warms in spring to begin colonization of our landscapes.

Waking up eager to feed and alone, they’re the ones out foraging for

food; by trapping her, you will prevent hundreds of her offspring

from harassing your family in fall.

Put out your wasp traps now, filled with heptyl butyrate, or design

your own with chunks of cantaloupe – all it takes is a 2-liter sized

pop bottle. Cut the top off the bottle at the shoulders, turn it around and slide it into to the lower part of

the bottle so the neck points inwards, and staple this together. Before you fit the top on, fill the bottle with

a small amount of cantaloupe. Some wasps prefer protein, so make another trap and put a bit of lunch

meat in it. Hang these away from your house.

Another wasp that’s becoming active is the European Paper Wasp, Polistes do-

minulus. This builds open-faced nests up in the eaves, inside sheds, and in other

spots located above ground. They aren’t aggressive unless you get too close to

the nest; if you do, then they may sting.

Paper wasps look a lot like yellow jackets but aren’t attracted to traps at all.

They’re predators, hunting the yard for soft-bodied insects. They, too, start the

spring with a single queen per colony, so if they bother you, wallop them with a

flyswatter.

While not all of the insects that will start to emerge with the warmer tempera-

tures are bad, being proactive with yellow jackets and wasps will help to save your family from them tak-

ing over your yard this fall.

Calling All Volunteers With 2020 Morgan County Fair just around the corner, we're always looking for

volunteers. There are lots of opportunities to share your time and have a commit-

ment to help make the fair a success. We are especially looking for additional vol-

unteers to help with the Open Class Divisions on August 1st – 3rd, but can also

use volunteers for other times during the fair. If you, or someone you know would

be interested, call the Extension Center at 542-3540.

Extension News

Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colo-rado counties cooperating. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No en-dorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned. © Colorado State University Exten-sion. 8/14. www.ext.colostate.edu

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Morgan County CSU Extension PO BOX 517 914 E Railroad Ave Fort Morgan, CO 8070 Phone: (970) 542-3540 Fax: (970) 542-3541 E-Mail: coopext_morgan@mail.colostate.edu Web Page: www.morgan.extension.colostate.edu/ Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. May be closed for lunch from 11:30-12:30.

Calendar of Events

APRIL

1 - State Fair Beef Primary Care 1 - State 4-H Scholarship applications due online 1 - Jonathan Marr Memorial Scholarship application due 15 - Morgan County 4-H Foundation Scholarship applications due 15 - Morgan County Cattleman’s Association Scholarship applications due 20 - Livestock Exchange Scholarship applications due

MAY

1 - Horse & Dog ID’s due, in 4-H Online 1 - Breeding Beef, Goats, Sheep and Dairy Cattle ID’s due to Ext. Off 4 - Market Sheep & Goat ID forms due, 4:00 pm, Extension Office 4 - Market Swine ID forms due, 4:00 pm, Extension Office 15 - 4-H Project Add/Drop Deadline in 4-H Online 18 - LAC Meeting 18 - 4-H Council Meeting 18-19 - MQA 4-6:30 pm 21 - Cake Decorating Workshop 22 - State Fair Nominations Beef, Goat, Sheep, & Swine due, Ext. Office 25 - Memorial Day Observance – Extension Office Closed 31-June 2 - Weld County Dairy Extravaganza

JUNE

1 - Youth Superintendent applications due 1 - Breeding Rabbit and Poultry, Primary Care Begins 1-2 - Colorado Dairy Youth Extravanganza, Island Grove Park, Greeley 14 - 4-H Exchange Final Meeting, 5:00 pm, Extension Office 15 - Leaders Advisory Committee Meeting, 5:30 pm, Ext Office 15 - 4-H Council Meeting, 6:45 pm, Extension Office 15-16 - Massey Lamb Camp, MCFG 17 - Cloverbud Workshop, 4:30 - 6:00 pm, Extension Office 17-18 - Massey Goat Camp, MCFG 27 - July 3 - Citizenship . . . Washington Focus 25 - Meat pen of Rabbits and Poultry ID’s Due, 4 pm, Ext Office

Extension Staff:

Amy Kelley-Morgan County Di-rector/4-H and Youth Agent

Jamie Dixon-Administrative Tech-nician

Marlin Eisenach-Livestock Agent

Joanna Harris-Family Consumer Science Agent

Aimee Kanode-4-H and Youth/Horticulture Agent

Wilma Trujillo-Area Agronomist/Cropping Systems Agent

Morgan County Fair Grounds (MCFG)

750 Ellsworth Brush, CO 80723

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Morgan County Fair Youth Volunteer Application

Complete ALL questions on this application.

Applications due June 1, 2020 to Morgan County Extension Center.

Name_____________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________

Phone_________________ Email ______________________________________________

Check your preferred shift to work during Interview Judging:

Morning (8:00 am – 2:00 pm) ______ Afternoon (3:00 pm – 9:00 pm) _______

Volunteer Position(s) Applying For: _____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Name and Phone Number of Two Non-Family References

1.________________________________________________________________________

2.________________________________________________________________________

Three reasons why you would like to have this volunteer job:

1._______________________________________________________________________

2._______________________________________________________________________

3._______________________________________________________________________

List any type of work or job experience you have_________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

What skills do you have which prepare you for this position? _______________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Signature____________________________________ Date ________________________

Volunteer Qualifications on website