Newton County Newsletter

4-H Youth Development

2026 4-H Youth for the Quality Care of Animals

All 4-H youth participating in the beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, meat goats, dairy goats, poultry and rabbit projects must complete the 4-H Quality Livestock Care program OR the online Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Program (YQCA) by July 3rd, 2026.

The cost for the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) training is $12 per participant. 

Use this link to complete the YQCA training: https://yqcaprogram.org

If you need instructions on how to register to complete the course, email Mercedes or call the Extension office at 219-285-8620.

Premise ID

Don’t remember your premise ID? Need to register your livestock premises? Go to www.in.gov/boah and select “Traceability & Premise ID” for more information on how to register a location or who to contact if you have lost your premise ID!

 

Fair Entry is Open from June 1-July 3

Beginning June 1-July 3rd you must go online to http://newtoncountyin.fairentry.com and enter your exhibit for each project in which you are enrolled. This includes ALL projects, breathing and non-breathing. No new profile is necessary, as you will use the same email and password that you use for your 4-H Online profile. 

Remember, this process is required for us to successfully accept your exhibit for all judging events and the auction. Failure to complete this process by July 3rd will result in a delay of entry on judging day.

 

Seeking 4-H Volunteers

We are currently looking for volunteers to support our 4-H programs!

Current Needs:

  • Assistant Ag Tractor Project Leader
  • Lawn and Garden Project Leader

If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please reach out. We would love to have you involved in supporting our 4-H youth!

 

Newton County Friend of 4-H Award

Who is the leader, Council member or community 4-H supporter who has had a positive effect on you or your 4-H member? Do you know an adult or business who has made a significant contribution in support of Newton County 4-H? Please take the time to thank this person by nominating them for the “Friend of 4-H Award.”

Previous winners include:

2019- Scott & Maureen Deno

2021- Sue Frischie

2022- Newton County Government

2023- Pam Latta

2024- Newton County Soil and Water

2025- Newton County Fair Association

Please enter the link https://forms.gle/v3cxZsd1JzoL7AKZ8 to submit a nomination. Physical forms can also be picked up at the Extension Office. This form needs to be completed by June 1.

Project Add/Drop Deadline

The last day to add or drop projects is July 3rd! Please call the Extension Office or email Mercedes to make those changes!!! This version of 4-H Online does let members make changes on their own, so you will need to contact the Extension Office so we can make the changes for you.

Barn Clean Up Dates

Horse and Pony Barn- June 28th, 1:00 PM

Sheep Barn- July 7th, 5:30 PM

Goat Barn- July 7th, 5:30 PM

Swine- July 8th, 6:00 PM

Poultry- July 8th, 6:30 PM

Beef and Dairy Barn- July 9th, 5:30 PM

Rabbit- July 9th, 5:00 PM

 

Graduating 4-H Members

Congratulations and best wishes to the Newton County 4-Hers who are graduating from high school this year: 

Arron Turner, Bailey LaFlech, Brandon Spiker, Brody Pass, Erin Hanen, Forest Nyberg, Hayden LaCosse, Landon Dugas, Livia Kollman, Macyn Dyer, Micah Bell, Tanner Sadowski, and Uriel Holloway!

What to Expect at 4-H Project Judging?

A 4-H project is one part of 4-H and only a part of the total learning experience. The exhibit is only one measure of success and achievement. Through judging, 4-Hers can experience self-satisfaction, and a feeling of success from learning about and completing a project. Judging may last several hours and can be a real learning experience.

  • You will hear the judge’s comments about what is done well and what could be improved about a project.
  • Be patient; bring snacks, books, activities if you wait.
  • Sometimes, judges are asked to judge more than 1 project: especially true when there 10 or fewer 4-Hers in a given project. Judging for several project may be listed at the same time on the schedule.

Animal Entry and Release Times

Sunday, July 12th

5:30 pm-7:00 pm – Goat, Poultry, Horse & Pony,  Dairy, Beef, and Sheep Check-In

Monday, July 13th

5:00 am - 9:00 am- Swine Check-In

8:00 am-10:00 am – Horse and Pony, Beef, Goat, and Dairy Check-In

10:00 am-4:00 pm- Rabbit Check-In

Thursday, July 16th

Lactating Dairy Cows may enter morning of the Dairy Show

Sunday, July 19th

6:00 am-12:00 pm- Release 4-H Building Exhibits & Animals/4-H Building Clean-Up

All animals must be in good general health and free of any communicable diseases. All animals must be properly identified. It is state law that all locations with cattle, sheep, goats, and swine have premise ID issued from the Board of Animal Health.

4-H Night at the Fair

Wednesday, July 15th at 6:00 pm

Swine Arena

Don’t miss out on freebies such as 4-H Merchandise! The 4-H Club with the highest percentage of members in attendance will win a pizza party! Graduating members will be recognized along with Outstanding 4-Her Awards, 4-H Volunteer Awards, and Farm Bureau Tenure Awards.

Stock the Trailer Contest

The Newton County Junior Leaders are excited to once again participate in the Stock the Trailer Contest, in partnership with Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st! This statewide program is a friendly competition that helps fight hunger by collecting food for local pantries—including those right here in Newton County.

Help us support families in need by contributing in one (or all!) of the following ways:

  1. Monetary donations – used to buy non-perishables (checks payable to NC Junior Leaders, mailed to 4117 S. 240 W., Suite 600, Morocco, IN 47963).
  2. Pie in the Face voting – donate at the Newton County Fair (July 13–18).
  3. Drop off food – at the Newton County 4-H Building (July 13–18).

Let’s work together to stock that trailer and support our neighbors in need!

4-H Periscope Cover Contest Rules

Contest Rules:

  • Designs may be submitted by a club, family, or individuals
  • Designs must be drawn/ created on a 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of plain paper, portrait (vertical) style. For a better copy, drawings should be done with a black felt tip pen.
  • You must include "2027 Newton County Periscope" and the 4-H Clover. The use of the 4-H name and clover are protected under federal law and must be used following specific guidelines. Please ask the Extension Office for these guidelines.
  • Designs must be submitted to the Extension Office on Thursday, July 2nd.
  • Designs will be posted in the 4-H Building and voted on by visitors to the building in a People’s Choice format. A winner will be selected and notified following the vote.
  • Once an individual has won, he or she must sit out for one year. Exception is that they may submit as a family and/or club.
  • The winner(s) will receive a plaque during 4-H Night at the Fair. The winner’s name will be added to the larger plaque that hangs on the wall in the Extension Office.
  • The 4-H Periscope Contest is sponsored by 4-H Council.

General 4-H Project Reminders and Information

Please reference the Periscope for further project requirements.

Posters are available at the Newton County Extension Office.

Foam Boards ($4.75)

Plastic Sleeve ($0.75)

Help Needed!!!

Help is needed to fill shifts monitoring the 4-H Building and helping with the Pork Chop Supper. Please call the Extension Office to sign up!

Grand Stand Clean-Up

Sat., July 11th-6:00 pm

Washington Wonders

Tues., July 14th-9:00 am

4 Paws

Wed., July 15th-9:00 am

North Newton Neighbors

Thurs., July 16th-9:00 am

Busy Beavers

Fri., July 17th-9:00 am

Dairy Barn

Sat., July 18th-9:00 am

Horse and Pony

Sun., July 19th-9:00 am

Rough Riders

Free Carnival Rides for 4-H Members

Thank you to the Newton County Government and Newton County Economic Development Commission for sponsoring the carnival rides for all Newton County 4-Hers at the 2026 Pun’kin Vine Fair! More details to come. Passes can be picked at the 4-H building during fair.

Thank you Notes

4-H is a volunteer driven organization, so without our volunteers and donors the activities and programs at the Newton County Pun’kin Vine Fair wouldn’t be possible. The donors for trophies or banners will be listed on your award. Please make sure to send them a thank you card!

 

Contact:

Mercedes Brunton

4-H Youth Development Extension Educator

brunton@purdue.edu

219-285-8620

Ag & Natural Resources

Purdue Extension Master Gardeners

 

 Come interact with out local Master Gardeners at the Pun'kin Vine Fair AND the State Fair! At various times throughout the week of the Pun'kin Vine Fair, Master Gardener Volunteers will be in the 4-H Building. Stop by to ask them your gardening questions or to see what fun activities they may have. If you make it down to the State Fair this year, stop by the Master Gardener Booth on August 8th from 8:30 AM-1:30 PM CT to see our local members representing Newton County on a statewide level!

Earth Night

Don’t forget this year’s Earth Night program, put on by Newton County SWCD. There will be creepy crawly goodies, information, and fun all around. The Extension/FSA booth will quiz your insect knowledge, so be prepared to learn something new about our favorite 6-legged friends.

  • July 15th, 2026
  • Sheep/Goat Barn @ Pun’kin Vine Fair. 

Pinney Purdue Field Day

The annual Pinney Purdue Ag Center Field Day is going to look a bit different this year. There will still be PARP points, CCH’s, and most importantly, free pork chops We are trying a new format where producers get to choose what and how many talks they attend. Details are still being confirmed but block off August 19th for this great program. Details will be shared via Facebook when they become available.

  • August 19th, 2026
  • 11402 S County Line Rd, Wanatah, IN 46390
  • Free

I am looking for one farmer who has previously or still relies on corn as a major cash crop but has diversified (organic, horticultural, agroforestry, livestock grazing, 3rd cash crops, perennial crops, etc.) and would be willing to have a tour of their farm for the Diverse Corn Belt Project later this summer. If this sounds like something that you’d be interested in, please reach out to our office or reed258@purdue.edu.

Featured Insect/Animal problem: nEW world Screwworm

 

New World Screw Worm (NWS) has officially been found in the United States as of June 3rd.

 

Identification: An adult NWS fly looks very similar to a house fly, if not slightly larger. They have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and 3 darks stripes on their back.

 

Symptoms: Maggots burrow into open wounds. These larvae cause extensive damage by tearing at the host tissue with sharp mouth hooks. Wounds often become larger and deeper as more maggots hatch and start feeding.  Look out for maggots, egg masses, depression, isolation, and unwillingness to eat. NWS infestations can cause secondary infections.

 

Contributing Factors: Flies spend most of their time in forests but will also seek host animals in pastures and fields if available. Open wounds attract the female flies and could be as small as a tick bite; nasal or eye openings, umbilical cords, or genitalia are other infestation sites.

 

Indiana Animal Movement Restrictions: Currently, these apply to all livestock and companion animals coming from an NWS Infested Zone. This means that if you take your dog with you on vacation this summer or decide to go to livestock shows out West, you must follow these requirements:

  • Be accompanied by an animal movement certificate approved by the state-of-origin and BOAH prior to shipment.
  • Be inspected by a veterinarian within 5 days of departure and obtain a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) issued within 5 days of movement to Indiana.
  • Be accompanied by a CVI documenting application of an effective treatment for NWS:
    • Livestock and poultry species: applied within 14 days of movement unless going directly to slaughter.
    • Cats and dogs: applied within 5 days of movement.

 

There are exceptions to these rules, so make sure to check the BOAH website if you have any concerns.

 

Link: www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/bro-new-world-screwworm.pdf

 

Contact:

Jamie Reed

ANR Extension Educator 

reed258@purdue.edu

219-285-8620

Extension Event Calendar

107th Newton County Pun'kin Vine Fair - July 13-18

For a schedule of events, visit https://newtoncountyfair.weebly.com

July 2026

3             Independence Day Observed, Extension Office closed

7             4-H Sheep and Goat Barn Clean-Up, 5:30 pm, Fairgrounds

8             4-H Swine Barn Clean-Up, 6:00 pm, Fairgrounds

               4-H Poultry Barn Clean-Up, 6:30 pm, Fairgrounds

9             4-H Rabbit Barn Clean-Up, 5:00 pm, Fairgrounds

               4-H Beef and Dairy Barn Clean-Up, 5:30 pm, Fairgrounds

10           4-H Project Entry, 5:00 pm-7:00 pm, 4-H Building, Fairgrounds  

               Mini 4-H Project Judging, 5:00 pm, 4-H Building, Fairgrounds

11           4-H Project Entry and Open Judging, 4-H Building, Fairgrounds

13-18     Newton County Pun'kin Vine Fair (see fair schedule for listing of events)

15          Earth Night, 4:00 pm-7:00 pm, Sheep Arena, Fairgrounds

              4-H Night at the Fair, 6:00 pm

19          Project Release, 6:00 am-12:00 pm, Fairgrounds

31          State Fair Projects due in Extension Office (except Foods & Garden), 4:00 pm, Extension Office, Morocco 

August 2026

 

5            Area Ag and Lawn & Garden Tractor Contests, Jasper County Fairgrounds

7-23       Indiana State Fair (closed Mondays)

10          State Fair Foods and Garden Projects due in Extension Office, 7:45 am, Extension Office, Morocco

19          Pinney Purdue Field Day, Wanatah

25          State Fair Projects available for pick-up, Extension Office, Morocco