The horse project is doing community service. We are going to donate new toys to the 10,000 kids that have lost one or more parents because of what has happened on September Eleventh of Two Thousand and One. The horse project will be collecting new, unwrapped toys until the end of January. If you have any questions please call Raquel Brusher-Henry at 241-4492.

The dog obedience project had their first mtg. We learned how to stay on the correct side of our dogs, and we also learned

how to do an about turn. An about turn is where you stop, turn away from your dog, so you’re facing the opposite direction and then walk off fast. Your dog is supposed to catch up to you. If you have any questions please call Raquel Brusher-Henry at 241-4492.

There is a new project available to members that are 13 years old and up. Veterinary Science will be offered by the equine hospital of Humphrey, Giacoppuzzi and Cox. Their first meeting was Tuesday, November 27. The remaining meetings will be either the 2nd or 4th Tuesday of each month. Call Mrs. Stayton with any questions.

If you have any other general questions about the meetings or projects you can contact either Mrs. Kraus at (805) 491-0121 or Mrs. Stayton at (805) 491-2608.

Our "Holiday party" meeting is Dec 19th at 6 PM at Santa Rosa School.  Everyone wanting to play BINGO must bring a gift certificate valued at $10.00.  Also, please remember to bring your food donations, if you signed up last meeting. Hospitality folks – please bring 2 drink liters and 1 box of candy canes each.

Every month, Mrs. Kraus will be bringing you a little bit of the history of 4-H. Here’s her very first installment

DID YOU KNOW…

Throughout the nineteenth century, rural life set the social tone for America. Robust individualism, tempered only by obligations of neighborliness that had been so fiercely practiced in the western movement came under attack as a residue of the past. At best, the agrarian code depicted a romantic ideal; at worst, an authoritarian aloofness that had no place in the industrialized life of the twentieth century. Rural Americans, although still a majority of the population, saw their numbers declining along with their influence on the course national development.
In an atmosphere of economic prosperity darkened by nagging concern for the future of a generation of rural children, the movement that would be called 4-H began. Like most popular and enduring ideas, 4-H had no one beginning. It was not the idea of a recognized national leader, nor the result of a charismatic personality. In its beginnings, 4-H embodied those qualities that had characterized the movement of agriculture across the continent. Here and there, among farm families, agricultural scientists, school teachers, administrators and concerned citizens, the seeds of 4-H were scattered. Trivia question: "California has four 4-H sections, what are they?" While 4-H had diverse origins, a central theme was emerging. Rural people wished to instill in their children the same sense of purpose that had conditioned their own lives.

To be continued next month.

Missy Stayton 491-2608

Donna Kraus 491-0121

Arts & Crafts Becky Rockey 529-0113

Beef Joe Long 921-0908

Comm. Pride Nina Clark 491-0908

Dog Walt Hanlon 523-2734

Horse Carol Gibbons 491-3135

Horse Sharyn Henry 241-4492

Farm Equipment Joe Stayton 491-2608

Lamb Darlene Johnston 388-0493

Photography Bob Kraus 491-0121

Rabbits Karen Naylor 987-7262

Pygmy Goat Cheri Behringer 523-8217

Scrapbooking Donna Kraus 491-0121

Sheep Herding Pat Cane 523-1976

Swine Scott Toland 491-0091

Horseless Lisa Everett 491-3693

If you have any questions about the meetings or projects you can contact the appropriate leader. And don’t forget to thank them and we hope that everyone has a great 4-H year!

If this is your first year in 4-H or just need a new uniform call Lisa Cano at 491-2526.

…about those 4-H Record Books. Please bring them to every general meeting starting in January.

And PROJECT LEADERS -- please help your kids master the habit and fine art of filling out project reports routinely at each and every project meeting.

This isn’t necessarily a 4-H thing, but it’s important to those of us who live in and enjoy the Santa Rosa Valley. Please take a few minutes of your time to respond to two recent homeowner mailings. One came from the Pleasant Valley School District asking for community input on educational priorities. The second came from the Santa Rosa Valley Community Association regarding the proposed design for creating a merge lane at Moorpark Road onto Santa Rosa Road. Both require your immediate attention if you want to provide any influence on the impact each may end up having on our Valley.

For further info on the PVSD survey contact:

Kitty Beckmann 491-2832

For further info on the County intersection proposal contact:

and send emails with your opinions to:

By: Kevin Cannon (Natalie’s dad)