Archuleta County 4-H fund-raiser underway — annual cookie dough sale

Posted

By Jim Smith

SUN Columnist

One of Archuleta County 4-H’s most successful fund-raisers is underway.

Local 4-H youth have started their annual cookie dough sale. Every 4-H members participates in selling $13 and $14 tubs of cookie dough to everyone in our community and beyond. All funds raised will be dispersed between the seven different 4-H community clubs and the 4-H Council. They will use it for sending 4-H members to educational programs such as: Youth Fest, Leadership Development Conference, Colorado 4-H State Conference, an overnight trip to the State Fair, Community Service projects, scholarships for 4-H member re-enrollment fees for next year, or other individual club projects.

4-H’ers will be selling these great flavors: Triple Chocolate with White and Dark Chips, Snicker Doodle, Monster Cookie, Peanut Butter with Chocolate Chunks, Chunky Chocolate Chip, Made with M&M’s, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar, and White Chocolate Macadamia. The cookie dough comes in three pound tubs (about 96 0.5 oz. cookies each) that can be refrigerated or stored in the freezer. The cookie dough can even be eaten raw because it is made with pasteurized eggs instead of raw eggs. If anyone would like cookie dough, contact the Archuleta County Extension Office at 264-5931 or any 4-H’er.

4-H is family and community-oriented. Parents play a critical role in volunteering with the program to support their children. A corps of more than 630,000 volunteer 4-H leaders share their time and talents to help 4-H’ers “learn by doing.” Work on projects takes place at home, in the yard or around the kitchen table, with guidance from a parent, an older brother or sister, or a neighbor. The 4-H member needs the support and encouragement of a family and growing together through 4-H strengthens the family. 4-H members devote time to community service in a wide variety of projects, ranging from helping the elderly and disabled, to restoring historic sites, to landscaping public buildings to helping preserve their environment. Archuleta County 4-H has 140 youth enrolled in projects this year. Their ages range from 5 to 19. Our local 4-H program is in need of leaders for a couple different project leaders: Vet Science, Rocketry, and Robotics. If you or someone you know would like to share your knowledge and also gain knowledge on these topics, please call the Extension office.

4-H is a publicly-supported informal education program. County, state and federal funds are combined in a unique partnership to support this educational youth development program. The curriculum is provided through your land-grant university, which in Colorado is Colorado State University. Private funds from individuals, businesses and organizations enhance the 4-H program by providing support for special events, awards, and recognition and support supplemental educational materials. For more information,contact the Extension Office at 264-5931.

Equine Herpesvirus 

The Colorado Department of Agriculture investigated one confirmed case of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) within the state. A quarantine was been placed on seven horses including the index case; a hold order was been placed on six additional horses who might have had direct contact.

The affected horse, a 6-year-old gelding from Texas, is part of the team of quarter horses used during the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) rodeo to pull a stagecoach during rodeo performances. The horse began showing clinical signs Jan. 27 and was transported to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for diagnosis and treatment. The diagnosis of Equine Herpesvirus was confirmed Jan. 28, the affected horse was isolated and in stable condition. The other horses from the team were under quarantine at the NWSS coliseum and hold orders were placed on other contact horses.

“The Department is taking quick and appropriate actions to investigate, control and mitigate this disease,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr. “We will continue to trace the potential contacts of this horse in order to protect Colorado’s equine industry.”

The affected horse was housed in the coliseum at the National Western from Jan. 7-28. Neither the gelding nor the rest of the team had any contact with horses being housed and shown in the Events Center and the Hall of Education. Horse owners who traveled to the NWSS and participated in events in the coliseum should monitor their horses for clinical signs and contact their veterinarian immediately if their horse becomes ill or has a fever. Owners who have horses with clinical signs consistent with neurological EHV-1 infection should consult their veterinarian.

Symptoms include fever, decreased coordination, nasal discharge, urine dribbling, loss of tail tone, hind limb weakness, leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance, lethargy, and the inability to rise. While there is no cure, the symptoms of the disease may be treatable.

EHV-1 is not transmissible to people; it can be a serious disease of horses that can cause respiratory, neurologic disease and death. The most common way for EHV-1 to spread is by direct horse-to-horse contact. The virus can also spread through the air, contaminated tack and equipment, clothing and hands.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian’s Office announced Feb. 8 that all quarantine and hold orders associated with the horse that tested positive.

The affected horse is part of the team of quarter horses used during the National Western Stock Show rodeo to pull a stagecoach during rodeo performances. The other horses from the team tested negative for EHV-1; subsequently, all quarantine and hold orders have been released.

The gelding was transported with special documentation and received directly back to his ranch of origin through collaboration with Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials. The TAHC will complete the observation and movement restrictions related to the affected gelding.

Additional resources:

• A Guide To Understanding the Neurologic Form of EHV Infection.

• USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Resources.

• American Assoc. of Equine Practitioners Fact Sheet.

Calendar

Feb.14 — Colorado Master Gardener Program, 9 a.m.

Feb 14 — Mountain View Homemakers meeting, noon.

Feb. 15 — 4-H Wolf Creek Wonders club meeting, 2 p.m.

Feb. 16 — 4-H Dog Obedience, 10 a.m.

Feb. 19 — 4-H Shooting Sports project meeting, 4 p.m.

Feb. 20 — 4-H Sports fishing project meeting, 4 p.m.

Feb. 21 — Colorado Master Gardener Program, 9 a.m.

Feb. 21 — 4-H Poultry project meeting, 4 p.m.

Feb. 22 — 4-H Cake Decorating project meeting, 2 p.m.

Feb. 22 — 4-H Cloverbud project meeting, 2 p.m.

Feb. 23 — 4-H Dog project meeting, 10 a.m.

Check out our webpage at www.archuleta.colostate.edu for calendar events and information.

Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Colorado counties cooperating. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.