Dear 4-H Family

Wow – what a busy month it has been! Thanks for your wonderful support of the 4-H Carnival! We had some very creative booths this year. Winners included Hustlers for the Prettiest, Moriah Go-Getters for the Most Fun, and Triple T for the Most Original. A special CONGRATULATIONS goes to King - Jared Hargis of Clarksville Co-eds, Queen – Emily O'Rourke of Clarksville Co-eds, Prince – Fox Angus of Triple T, and Princess – Juliena Price of Golden Star.

We also had a great turn out at the 9^th Annual 4-H Horse and Pony Tack Auction this past month. Thanks so much to all our 4-H'ers, parents, businesses and individuals who helped make our auction another HUGE success!!

We have lots of important info in this newsletter including :

SPIN CLUBS – Quilting, 4-H Jazz Band, Shooting Sports, Electricity Workshop, Horse Bowl & Hippology Contests, Dog Obedience, Skating Party

Sincerely,

Cartha Gustafson

4-H Program Coordinator

Clark County

cgustafs@illinois.edu

Federation Footnotes

WOW – What great attendance at our Federation meetings! Thank you all for being a part of this group and we look forward to you helping with the Volunteer Banquet.

¨ Federation members will prepare, serve and entertain our many volunteers on Saturday, March 10^th, at the VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION BANQUET. Any Federation member who has not signed up to help and would like to do so, give us a call as soon as possible. Federation members should be at the Extension Office by 2:00 PM to start food and decorating preparations.

¨ Our next Federation Meeting will be held Monday, March 26, 6:00 PM at Los Tres Caminos. We'll be celebrating all of our hard work over the past couple of months. The meal will be dutch treat and will be followed by a short meeting at the Extension Office. All 8^th grade and High School 4-H'ers are welcome to attend. It'll be F-U-N!

Job Shadowing

JOB SHADOWING OFFERED - Attention, high school students! You have the opportunity to participate in a unique learning opportunity – the JOB SHADOWING program. The program allows 4-H'ers to spend one-half or a full day with a professional in the career area you plan to pursue.

Members participating in the past have shadowed many careers. 4-H'ers interested in participating request who they would like to shadow and Cartha will then make arrangements with the business or individual. 4-H'ers are responsible for providing their own transportation. The Job Shadowing program will be held during Easter break (April 2-6) or on an alternate day if arrangements can be made. If interested pre-register by calling the office by MARCH 14^th.

Public Speaking Contest

4-H SKATING PARTY

Come and join other 4-H'ers and family members for our annual 4-H Skating Party set for Thursday, March 22, 6:30 – 8:30 PM (IL time) at the Terre Haute Skate World. It is located past the Tennis Bubble on Honey Creek Drive, near Honey Creek Mall. There will be a $2.00 charge for anyone renting regular skates ($3 for speed skates and $4 for rollerblades). The party is open to ALL 4-H'ers, Cloverbud members and their families.

CLARK COUNTY ANTIQUE POWER CLUB SCHOLARSHIP

The Antique Power Club will be offering a $1000 scholarship to any Clark County senior who will be studying in an agricultural field and has a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Contact Donna Norton at 826-6089 for an application. The deadline is April 2, 2012.

DOG OBEDIENCE CLASSES TO BE OFFERED

The Clark County 4-H program will be offering Dog Obedience classes. An organizational meeting will be held Monday, March 26, 6:30 PM at the Clark County Extension Office. The classes will last 10 weeks and will help both the handler and the dog to become better trained.

Cost for the class will be $15.00 for 4-H'ers and $20.00 for non-members. Dogs should not be brought to the first meeting but participants should bring their dog's health papers. Dates for future sessions will be set at this meeting. The following sessions will be held at the Clark Co. Fairgrounds and 4-H volunteers Karen Hutchens and Hillary Deckard will once again be leading the sessions.

4TH ANNUAL STATE 4-H ROBOTICS CHALLENGE

APRIL 14 - Take the FarmBot Challenge! Teams of 3 or more 4-H members (ages 9-18) are invited to compete in this year's statewide robotics challenge. The FarmBot objective is to collect two crops from the "field" and sort/deposit into separate bins. Each team that registers will receive ten (10) 1-inch wooden blocks free of cost to prepare for this challenge. The Challenge will be held April 14, 2012 from 1:00-5:00pm (Noon registration) at the MP6 Gym, Athletics Recreation Center on UIUC campus. For registration forms and more information on the FarmBot Challenge: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/4hroboticschallenge.cfm. For questions, contact Lisa Diaz lbdiaz@illinois.edu or 217-333-0910.

ExplorACES OPEN HOUSE

U of I College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) will be hosting the ExplorACES on Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10, 2012 on the U of I campus. The Open House will feature dozens of hands-on exhibits that are designed to show students the kinds of learning opportunities available at the College of ACES. Exhibits will be open from 9 am to 3 pm on Friday, and from 10 am – 2 pm on Saturday.

For more info, go to http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/ExplorACES. Any 8^th grade 4-H'ers interested in attending the Open House on Friday, March 9^th should call the Extension Office by Friday, March 2^nd.

THE GREAT DEBATE – FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Mark your calendar now! High school age 4-H'ers from across Illinois are invited to come to the "Great 4-H Debate" to be held March 23 and 24 in Springfield. Registration is now open at: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6384.

During the two-day event, youth will experience the passage of bills while sitting in the chambers of the Illinois House of Representatives. Registration fee is $85 per participant, Clark Co. 4-H'ers will receive a $40 scholarship, and is accepted on a first come first serve basis for the first 90 completed registrations received. Registrations are almost full!

4-H DAY WITH THE CARDINALS – MAY 12

The St. Louis Cardinals will be hosting a 4-H Day for Illinois and Missouri 4-H'ers on Saturday, May 12. The Cardinals will be taking on the Atlanta Braves in a 6:15 pm game. Cost of the tickets are $24 for seats and includes a t-shirt. A collector's St. Louis Cardinals 2011 World Champions lapel pin will also be given to all fans.

Ticket orders must be postmarked by April 2 (usually tickets sell out quickly, so we recommend you send them in ASAP.) Anyone wanting to sit together at the game should order their tickets together. A ticket order form is included in this newsletter or on our website http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cce/ .

FISH CAMP

The ever-popular, 4-H Fish Camp is set for May 7 and 8 at 4-H Memorial Camp. There will be fishing action and instructional workshops for the beginning or intermediate fishing enthusiast. Set for adult-children teams, the camp provides lots of good information and interaction for participants. Learn how to catch bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish at Memorial Camp's 16-acre lake. Cost of this camp is $49 per person with a $10 scholarship available to 4-H'ers. Pre-registration and payment is required. Registration fills up quickly, so contact 4-H Memorial Camp directly at 217-762-2741 or for more information go to the website at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hmemorialcamp.

SUMMER 4-H CAMP

Register now for 4-H Camp at Monticello! Clark County's week to camp is June 17-21 and Mini-Camp is set for July 1-3. Any youth, 4-H'er or non 4-H'er, 8 - 16 is welcome to attend camp. Mini-Camp, a shorter version of the week-long camp is held especially for youth 8 – 12 years old. Camping spots are filling up quickly ~ the first individuals to turn in their form and fees will be put on the camp list.

Mini-Camp registrations will be mailed directly to 4-H Camp, cost is $105 ($85 for Clark Co. 4-H members.) Cost of week-long camp is $160 ($130 for Clark Co. 4-H'ers) with the sibling cost being $140 ($110 for Clark Co. 4-H'ers). For non-4-H'ers or for any 4-H'er registering directly with 4-H camp, the fee will be $175. Registration materials are available at the office and at our website: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cce/ .

SUMMER ACADEMIES

The 2012 4-H Illinois Summer Academies will be held June 24 – 27 at U of I Campus. The 4-day event provides Illinois teens new opportunities to explore the U of I campus, study potential careers and build their leadership skills. It is also a great opportunity to meet youth from across the state. The program is open to teens 14 – 18.

Participate in one of the following academies: Aerospace Engineering, Agricultural & Biological Engineering: Technical Systems Management, Art & Design, Bioengineering, Crop Sciences, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning, Leadership, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Physics, and Veterinary Medicine.

Registration opens March 1 and the early bird fee discount is available until April 15. Final details and cost will be available at the on-line registration at: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/summeracademies.cfm.

Livestock News

LAKELAND COLLEGE LIVESTOCK JUDGING CONTEST – Clark County 4-H'ers are invited to take part in the Lakeland Livestock Judging Contest on Saturday, March 24 in Mattoon. Registration will be from 8:00 – 8:45 AM with the contest to begin at 9:00 AM. Anyone interested in attending should call the Extension Office at 826-5422 or Angie Vanatta. The Clark Co. 4-H Livestock Judging Team will plan to attend.

SWINE & SHEEP WEIGH-IN – Swine and Sheep I.D. Day will be held together on Saturday, April 21. Members who will be showing market animals at the 2012 Clark Co. 4-H Fair will need to weigh-in their livestock that day. Swine weigh-in will begin at 7:30 AM with Sheep following at approximately 8:30 AM.

STATE FAIR SWINE EXHIBITORS – All IL State Fair Swine exhibitors MUST take the required Pork Quality Assurance Training and a Premises ID number will be required for each participant to be eligible to show at the ISF. PQA training will be offered at the Extension Office in early June.

Regular Barrows – Must be farrowed on or after February 10, 2012, no weighing or tattooing is required but must submit ear notches when making entry for ISF.

Premiere Barrows – Must be farrowed on or after February 10, 2012, weighed and tattooed February 10-April 15 and tattooed within 35 days of birth and not weigh more than 1.0 lbs/day. Junior exhibitors can purchase nominated barrows.

STATE FAIR LAMB & MEAT GOAT EXHIBITORS – All Lamb and Meat Goat wether exhibitors planning to show at the IL State Fair MUST have their wethers tattooed and electronically tagged at a designated location. The closest location will be at Coles Co. Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 5, 10:30-12:00 PM. There is a $2 fee per animal being tagged, to be paid that day. Please call us if this location or date will not be convenient for you and we can give you another location across the state.

Both Premiere & Live Show Lamb Wethers must be lambed on or after January 1, 2012 and must be weighed, tattooed, and tagged before May 15, 2012.

Meat Goat Wethers must be born on or after October 1, 2011, weighed, tattooed, and tagged before May 15, 2012 and registered in the name of the exhibitor ONLY. Ownership dates for Kids & Yearlings not in milk is May 15, 2012.

YOUTH PORK QUALITY ASSURANCE – There will be a PQA training set for early June for all 4-H'ers exhibiting junior barrows, open barrows, and/or Premiere barrows at the 2012 Illinois State Fair. The Illinois State Fair mandates this certification for its exhibitors in these swine classes. Annual proof of PQA Certification will be part of the Illinois State Fair entry forms due on July 1 each year.

This is not a required training for showing at the Clark County 4-H Fair, but you are welcome and encouraged to attend.

QUALITY ASSURANCE & ETHICS NO LONGER MANDATORY...

4-H members are NOT required to complete the QA & Ethics certification this year in order to exhibit livestock at the IL State Fair. The below web site will still be open between February 1 and July 1 and we encourage you to go ahead and complete this certification. The web site is http://web.extension.illinois.edu/qaec/.

Reminder ~ the Clark Co. QA&E is STILL required to show at the Clark Co. 4-H Fair, it's a one-time training for 1^st and 2^nd year showmen held every other year. The county training will be offered in 2013.

4-H GOAT SALE IN OBLONG -

There will be an annual 4-H Goat Sale on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the 4-H Barn/Sale Ring at the Oblong Fairgrounds. The time and details are yet to be set. SAVE THE DATE and watch for more details in the April Newsletter. If you have goats to sell on this day or would like more information, please contact Eric Wells, Crawford County 4-H Goat Superintendent at 618-554-2476. This will be a great opportunity to purchase your 4-H Fair Goat!

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS…

ALL Jr. Livestock Exhibitors to the 2012 ISF are responsible for sending their own Entry forms before the deadline to the ISF! The website for the forms is

http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/premium/ . Please call the Extension Office if you do not have access to a computer. In the past entry deadlines have been June 9 for Horses and June 30 for all other livestock.

Come join a SPIN Club

Do you have an interest in a SPIN Club – that's a Special Interest Club?

Here are a few GREAT opportunities for you to explore! SPIN Clubs are free to 4-H'ers who have already paid their 4-H Enrollment fee or open to any other youth who will need to pay a 4-H Enrollment fee of $20 to join. Call the Extension Office at 826-5422 for information on any of these SPIN clubs!

4-H QUILTING CLUB – Quilting classes will be offered once again by Rose Switzer of Marshall beginning March 6^th and continuing through March 8, 13, 15, 19 & 22, after-school to 5 PM at the Clark Co. Extension Office. Each participant will make a scrap quilt to take home at the end of the sessions. Those wishing to participate should bring a sewing machine, cutting mat, rotary cutter, black or white thread, scissors, and scrap fabrics if you have them. Some fabric will be donated for your use. If you do not have some of these supplies, don't worry ~ we'll have extras. If you don't have a sewing machine, just let us know so we might have a couple of extras available. A parent is ENCOURAGED to attend with you to assist with this project. Other expenses will include the materials needed as you progress in your project. Call the Extension office to sign up by Monday, March 5^th!

4-H JAZZ BAND – Calling all jazz musicians… Any 8^th grade through high school musician playing trumpet, trombone, saxophone, drum set, keyboard, bass, and guitar are welcome to join. The first rehearsal will be held on Sunday, March 18, 2:00 PM at the Marshall High School Band room (future dates will be set after the first meeting). Dick and Cartha Gustafson will be leading this club. Don't miss this opportunity to play in the Clark Co. 4-H Jazz Band! Call Dick and Cartha if you have any questions at 826-3174.

4-H SHOOTING SPORTS – The Clark Co. Shooting Sports program is up and running and meeting the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of each month at 6:00 PM at the Extension Office. This club is led by Lori and Bill Rhoads, certified coordinator and instructors. There is still room left if any avid shooters are interested!

Any youth 10 years and older by January 1 is welcome to participate in the club. If you would like to be a part of this club, please call the Extension Office at 826-5422 or Lori Rhoads at 889-2442.

Horse Happenings

HORSE COMMITTEE MEETING – The Horse Committee will be meeting on Thursday, March 8, 6:30 PM at the Clark County Farm Bureau Office, Martinsville in the basement. All 4-H horse youth, parents, and volunteers are encouraged to attend. We'll be making plans for our upcoming activities!

OWNERSHIP / LEASE PAPERS - Any horse, pony, mule, or donkey showing at the 2012 4-H Fair must have a current Ownership/Lease paper on file along with 2 photos of your animal, one left side and one right side. Deadline is May 1, 2012. Ownership/Lease papers will be mailed to all horse project members or are available at the Extension Office. This is also a requirement for those planning to show at the Illinois State Fair.

HORSE BOWL & HIPPOLOGY – Ten team members will be hitting the road for Lake Land College, Mattoon on March 31 for the East Central & West Central Region Horse Bowl and Hippology Contest. Those eligible will advance to the State competition on April 14-15 in Champaign. Members have been meeting each Monday since October to get ready for these competitions. Good luck to those members and Coaches Ruth Stewart and Susan Shotts!

C-C-E News

Joint 4-H Events in Clark, Crawford and Edgar Counties

4-H ELECTRICITY WORKSHOP – There will be a 4-H Electricity Workshop on Thursday, March 15, 6:30 PM, at the Edgar County Extension Office. This workshop will be a great way to learn some basics of electricity while making a small circuit board and an Extension Cord. Cost to attend the workshop is $10 and registration will be limited to the first 15 to register. Call the Edgar County office at 465-8585 for more info.

SOIL TESTING FOR YOUR GARDEN – Need your soil tested for your garden? Call the Extension Office at 826-5422 to get instructions on the proper way to dig for samples. Samples may be brought into the Extension Office between March 26-30. The cost is $6.00 per sample tested. Gardening time is just around the corner!

Cartha's Corner

v CLARK COUNTY 4-H HORSE & PONY TACK AUCTION – The 9^th annual 4-H Tack Auction was held on February 18 at the Clark County Extension Office. Wow – over $6300 was raised to support the 4-H Horse and Pony activities! Horse project members, parents, and volunteers did a wonderful job getting in those donations from businesses and individuals; 4-H families also provided concessions. There was a raffle running in conjunction with the tack auction that was a HUGE success too! A special thank you goes to the many 4-H'ers and families for helping us put this all together and working hard!

v ALL-YOUTH HORSE JUDGING TRIALS – 6 Clark County 4-H'ers and parents will travel to Springfield on March 2-3 to participate in the All-Youth Horse Judging Trials to be held in conjunction with the IL Horse Fair. Good luck team!!

v NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO SET GOALS FOR YOUR PROJECTS! Remember each 4-H'er should set goals to accomplish in each project they are taking. Now is a great time of year to do that if you have not done so! Dig into your project manuals and decide what you want to accomplish this year.

v Summer is quickly approaching and we're already making preparations for the 2012 4-H Fair. Each year we ask businesses and individuals in the community to donate plaques and trophies for the livestock award winners. This year we are asking for additional support from donors who would like to donate to our Senior Showmanship awards. If you would be interested and are not on our list, please let us know. We greatly appreciate the support of the Clark County community!

v 2012-2013 4-H Handbook - The 2012-2013 4-H Handbook will soon be printed and available for our 4-H families by the first of April.

CLARK COUNTY 4-H FAIR

JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER ~ The Clark County 4-H Fair will begin on Saturday, July 21^st at the Martinsville Fairgrounds for general project judging and barn set-up and continue through July 25^th with the Livestock Auction.

Don't Forget

Don't forget – The last date to enroll, drop or add a project is May 1, 2012

Remember Our Clark Co. 4-H Attendance Policy!

HEY, 4-H'ERS……REMEMBER OUR CLARK CO.

4-H ATTENDANCE POLICY!

· Youth that enroll in a 4-H Club must attend three club meetings, club tours or club activities before July 1 to be eligible to take part in the 4-H exhibitions at the Clark County 4-H Fair, receive 4-H premiums, 4-H Auction or other 4-H awards or recognitions.

· 4-H members enrolled in college must attend at least one club meeting, tours or club activity.