Sherry

Looking forward to an EXCITING year ahead! I hope school is off to a good start for you. Check out upcoming workshops and other 4-H opportunities in this newsletter. Please make a special effort to invite a friend to your first 4-H meeting. Contact a family you think might be interested in joining 4-H. Additional adult volunteers are always needed, so please contact the Extension office, if you know of someone who would like to start a new club, serve as a 4-H leader or teach a workshop.

Sincerely,

Sherry Fulton, 4-H Youth Development Educator

New 4-H Year Needs

A new 4-Hyear began September 1. Leaders will have enrollment materials at club meetings. Complete the forms in their entirety then return them and your $20 4-H program fee to your leader.

In order to exhibit a project at the 2013 4-H fair you must be enrolled in that project by the April 1 add/drop deadline, and submit 4-H show entries to the office by June 1. You must also have attended at least one club meeting. SPIN club activity attendance does not count as meeting attendance for showing at the 4-H fair in other projects.

No individual will be denied participation in 4-H due to the inability to pay. The Extension office may be contacted for scholarship information or other payment assistance. Clubs and groups may choose to do fundraising or collect donations to offset the 4-H program fees for their members.

County 4-H Achievement Celebration

For the annual achievement program 4-H Federation will host a family gathering October 20 at the Clinton United Methodist Church. The meal will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the program to follow at 6:45. (Food will be served from 5:30 to 6:15 and pictures will be taken at 6:30.)

New members are welcome to attend. If you submitted your 4-H records you will be recognized at the celebration.

4-H Federation will supply everything so come for a relaxing evening. Call the office by October 10 to let us know how many to plan for.

New County Project - Be Green

This project you will either make a poster about recycling or make a display or item using just things you could recycle.

Cupcake Decorating Workshop

November 10; 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Extension Office; Minimum of 5 and maximum of 10

Cost: $5.00

Learn some techniques for decorating cupcakes using different cake decorating tips. You must register by November 1. Fee must be paid to register.

4-H SPIN Sewing Club

The sewing club will begin October 27 in Farmer City at 1:00 p.m. The club is open to anyone of 4-H age. If the member is under 12 an adult is asked to stay to assist the sewer. Members must bring a sewing machine that is in good working order.

Possible projects for the club may include ear warmers, drawstring backpack, fabric cuff bracelet, t-shirt skirt, scrappy square pillow, bow tie shirt made from an old t-shirt. Material will be supplied by member.

The club is seeking volunteers to assist. This could be older teens who want a leadership opportunity, retired individuals, or any adult who knows how to sew.

All correspondence for Sewing Sensations is done through email, so if anyone is interested in joining or more information contact Kim Kopp at kk4@dtnspeed.net.

4-H Federation

All 4-H members in sixth grade and above are welcome to join Federation. It is not meant to replace your 4-H club - it is an additional leadership opportunity to compliment the local club. Federation will meet four or five times throughout the year for activities to help support the 4-H program. Meetings will alternate between Farmer City and Clinton. We are also planning to have multi-county events.

If you are interested in joining Federation call the Extension office so we can put you on the mailing list. Federation's first event will be to help out at the county achievement night on October 20.

Our organizational meeting will be November 13, 6:30 p.m. at the Extension office. We will plan activities for the 2012/13 4-H year. Included in those plans will be some multi-county events with our Extension unit of DeWitt, Macon and Piatt counties. If you plan to attend this meeting you need to call the office to RSVP by November 6. If you can't make this meeting but want to join Federation let Kim know.

4-H Shooting Sports

We are starting a new 4-H year for shooting sports. If you are interested in shooting sports for the new year you must complete new enrollment forms and pay your activity fee before you will be able to shoot. Enroll early so we have you on the contact list. Forms are available at the Extension office (open from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.). You may not sign up for the shooting sports SPIN club in your community club meeting. There will be enrollment materials available at achievement night or at the first shoots.

Shooting sports is offered via a special interest (SPIN) club. The shooting sports program is comprised of rifle, shotgun and archery disciplines. You can participate in all three, or just one or two of these areas. Spin clubs do not count as a meeting attendance for showing at the 4-H fair in other projects. Cost for shooting sports will be the $20 enrollment fee plus $10 for one discipline, $20 for two disciplines, and $25 if you participate in all three areas. All fees must be paid when you enroll in the shooting sports. If you paid the $20 enrollment fee in another club you do not pay again in this club. The fee is good for as many clubs as you want to join that year. Shotgun will have an additional fee for ammunition. Will discuss at first shoot.

We will be using the newsletter to publish information about upcoming events for all disciplines. We will not send cards. Parents are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and stay with their 4-H'er during shooting events. See below for a schedule of upcoming events.

· Shotgun

• 2^nd Sunday; 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
• County Shooting Range or Extension Office
• October 14, November 11, December 9, January 13, February 10, March 10

· Archery

• 3^rd Wednesday; 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
• 4-H Fairgrounds, Clinton
• October 17, November 21, December 19, January 16, February 20, March 20

· Air Rifle

• 3^rd Saturday; 9:00 a.m. to noon
• 4-H Fairgrounds, Clinton
• October 20, November 17, December 15, January 19, February 16, March 16

If times, dates or locations is changed information will be sent out in the Chat, Mini Chat or by e-mail. If you do not have e-mail you may call the Extension Office the day before the shoot (Friday before 4:30 for Air Rifle and Shotgun)

2012 4-H Day with the Rams

4-H families, alumni and friends are invited to cheer on the St. Louis Rams at the 2012 4-H Day with the Rams event on December 2, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams are playing the San Franciso 49'ers in a noon game. Tickets are $45 each for upper terrace level and $90 for field level. The $45 package includes one upper level ticket, a $10 food and beverage voucher, and a Rams/4-H t-shirt. The $90 package includes the same but the ticket is a field level seat. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to 4-H and Extension program initiatives. Call or stop by the Extension office to pick up a ticket order form.

County Scholarship Rules

4-H scholarships – Policies for 4-H'ers who cancel participation at any event for which Federation, Foundation and/or Extension contributed any portion of the registration fees:

• · 4-H'ers are responsible for reimbursing the Federation, Foundation and/or Extension for their contributions if the member cancels registration after the event refund date.
• · With prior Extension staff approval, the 4-H'er may ask another member to attend in their place. The attending 4-H member will reimburse the original participant.

To be eligible to receive activity scholarships from 4-H Federation and/or Foundation you must be a registered 4-H member (enrolled in a traditional 4-H club, carrying at least one project and attending club meetings) by January 1, 2013. You must also have helped with the previous year's chicken barbecue. SPIN club member are not eligible for activity scholarships unless they are also members of a community club.

Extension Office and Fairgrounds Use

• · If your club needs to use the fairgrounds for an event you must call the Extension office to check availability. The water will be shut off from late October to April.
• · We need all of our 4-H clubs to clean up the office conference room after their meeting. We have several groups and meetings that use the room throughout the week and we have limited funds for cleaning. Please wipe down the tables, sweep (if necessary), check the bathrooms and take out your trash (if needed).

Illinois Farmers Help Grow Their Local 4-H Clubs

Farmers in DeWitt County have the opportunity to help their local 4-H clubs. Through America's Farmers Grow Communities^SM, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, farmers can win $2,500 for their favorite community nonprofit. The program is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund to invest in farm communities, in order to highlight the important contributions farmers make every day to our society. Farmers can apply online at www.growcommunities.com, or call 1-877-267-3332 to apply by phone.

Farmers, age 21 and over, who are actively engaged in farming a minimum of 250 acres of corn, cotton or soybeans, or 40 acres of open field vegetables, or at least 10 acres of tomatoes, peppers and/or cucumbers grown in protected culture are eligible. Farmers can enter now through Nov. 30, 2011. The program is open to all qualifying farmers and no purchase is necessary in order to enter or win. Farmers who meet the eligibility requirements may enter regardless of previous participation. One winner will be drawn from each of the participating counties. Monsanto Fund will announce winning farmers and recipient organizations in January 2013.

4-H received this award last year.

Leaders Notes

• If you have a special speaker or workshop in your club and you would like to invite other 4-H members, let the Extension office know.
• Be sure to invite your new members to achievement night. They can be in your club picture and will also be recognized during the program.

4-H Premium Checks

• Checks for the 2012 DeWitt County 4-H fair will not be written until we receive the money from the state. This should be some time in March or April. SPIN clubs are not eligible to receive premiums.
• State fair premium checks were mailed to those who received a superior rating.

2012 Illinois State Fair Results

• Brenna Allen -- Egg & Spoon 8^th; Pole Bending - 10^th; Pony Hunter Hack - 9^th
• Becca Anderson -- Pattern Riding - 6^th; Hunt Seat Equitation - 4^th; Hunter Showmanship - 1^st; Stock Type Hunter Under Saddle - 1^st; Conformation Stock Horse - 5^th; Western Horsemanship - 6^th
• Rayanna Anderson -- Paper - Award of Excellence
• Leanna Anderson -- Fashion Revue - Award of Excellence
• Brandon Atten -- Crossbred Barrow - 16^th; Premiere Barrow - 9th
• Greg Aughenbaugh -- Microwave Magic B - Superior
• Alyssa Barr -- Sewing & Textiles I - Award of Excellence
• William Blue -- Wood - Award of Excellence
• Rebecca Brown -- Vegetable Plate - Award of Excellence
• Sam Brumleve -- Angus Steer - 4^th; Simmental Steer - 5^th; AOB Steer - 3^rd; Shorthorn Heifer - 1^st; Illini Jr Beef Premiere - 14^th
• Trysta Carver -- Oral Interpretation - Award of Excellence
• Jeana Cheek -- AOB Milking Doe, 4 Yrs & Older - 2^nd; AOB Yearling 1-2 Years - 1^st; Jr Champion AOB; AOB Milking Doe, 4 Yrs & Older - 1^st; AOB Yearling - 1^st; Animal Science - Award of Excellence
• Grace Clark -- Shorthorn Heifer - 5^th; Shorthorn Heifer - 4^th; Chester White Barrow - 7^th; Crossbred Barrow - 13^th; Hampshire Gilt - 7^th
• Nathan Clark -- Angus Heifer - 3^rd; Low % Simmental Heifer - 1^st; Reserve Jr Champion Low % Simmental Heifer; Simmental Heifer - 3rd
• Gwyndalyn Danner-Duncan -- Fashion Revue - Superior
• Kristin Evans -- Photography 3 - Award of Excellence
• Jimmie Ferguson -- Premiere barrow - 11^th; Duroc Gilt - 6^th; Duroc Gilt - 7^th
• Whitney Ferguson-- Ewe Lamb - 7^th; Hampshire Wether - 12^th; Crossbred Wether - 11^th; Hampshire Wether - 8^th; Food Preservation - Superior
• Donald Hasler -- Woodworking III - Award of Excellence
• Elisabeth Hassinger -- Intercultural - Individual - Award of Excellence
• Wyatt Hawn -- Costume Class 8^th
• Mitchell Hinds -- Crossbred Barrow - 10^th; Duroc Barrow - 8^th; Spotted Barrow - 7^th
• Raeann Huffman -- Egg & Spoon - 2^nd; Hunter Showmanship - 5^th; Western Horsemanship - 9^th; Electricity I - Award of Excellence
• Abigail Jones -- Sewing & Textiles II - Award of Excellence
• Lydia Jones -- Chalk/Carbon/Pigment - Superior
• Sophia Jones -- Microwave Magic A - Superior
• Jacob Kopp -- Model Rocketry - Award of Excellence
• Aaron Kopp -- 4-H Cooking 301 - Superior
• Tennyson Kern -- Hunter Showmanship - 7^th; Stock Type Hunter Under Saddle - 7^th; Conformation Stock Horse - 3^rd;
• Tessa Lebre -- Suffolk Ewe Lamb - 2^nd, 6^th; Suffolk Ewe Lamb - 2^nd, Suffolk Ewe Lamb - 4^th; Woodworking I - Award of Excellence
• Betsy Lovett -- Glass/Plastic - Award of Excellence
• Anna Mills -- Crossbred Barrow - 5^th; Crossbred Barrow - 8^th; Crossbred Barrow - 6^th; Crossbred Gilt - 15^th; Hampshire Gilt - 1^st; Reserve Champion Hampshire Gilt
• Jake Moore -- Flag Race - 6^th; Pole Bending - 9^th
• Daniel Murphy -- Tractor III - Moving Out - Superior
• Echo Nord -- Barrel Race - 7^th
• Connor Peacock -- Robotics Platform 2 - Award of Excellence
• Ryan Peacock -- Stop Motion Video - Award of Excellence
• Gavin Raines II -- Sportsfishing I - Superior
• Logan Ridgeway -- Western Pleasure - 7^th
• Sarina Schenk -- Confomration Stock Horse - 10^th
• Dillon Smith -- Crossbred Barrow - 2^nd; Yorkshire Barrow - 3^rd; Chester White Gilt - 5^th; Spotted Gilt - 7^th; Yorkshire Gilt - 11^th
• Danae Spencer -- Leadership Skills III - Superior
• Autumn Stengel -- Keeping Fit I - First Aid - Award of Excellence
• Sierra Stengel -- Photography 1 - Award of Excellence
• Brianna Stengel -- Oral Interpretation - Award of Excellence
• Maggie Werts -- Photo Editing - Superior
• Brooke Whitlock -- Heritage Arts - Award of Excellence