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Piatt County 4-H News
4-H August 2011
In This Issue
Notes from Susan
We did it!
It was so exciting to see all the projects. You all do such a great job every year. We would love to hear what everybody thought of the new location and format of the fair. We will be having a Fair Review Meeting in August to decide what worked well and what could change and would like as much input as we can get. Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered their time to judge projects, assist judges, and set up and clean the room. Thanks also to everyone who made such generous donations for the beautiful trophies. We hope that you had as much fun as we did! Let's start planning an even bigger and better fair next year!
4-H Shooting Sports
As a reminder, the next scheduled training for the Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program will be held Oct. 28-30, 2011 at the
4-H Memorial Camp, Monticello.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE – TBA.
The training is for adults aged 21 and older who wish to be trained in one of the following disciplines: Archery, Rifle, Shotgun and/or Coordinator.
Also if you would have an interest in serving on the State Advisory Committee for the
4-H Shooting Sports program, please contact me.
Dan Dawson
Youth Development Educator
State Coordinator IL 4-H Shooting Sports
University of Illinois Extension Springfield Center
PO Box 8199
Springfield, IL 62791-8199
dddawson@illinois.edu
phone 217.782.6515 fax 217.782.8886
Calendar of Events
August 12-21st-Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL
August 15th-Piatt County Day at the Illinois State Fair, Springfield
August 19th-Livestock open show at the fair.
August 16th-4-H Foundation meeting, Ext. office, 6:30 p.m.
August 25th-4-H Expansion and Review Meeting, Ext. office, 6:30 p.m.
August 25th-4-H Fair Review, Ext. office, 7:30 p.m.
Federation/Leader information
August 15th-Piatt County Day at the Illinois State Fair.
August 25th-4-H Fair Review, Ext. office, 7:30 p.m.
August 25th –4-H Expansion and Review meeting, Ext. office, 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Room Request
Extension Meeting Room Request
We are trying to encourage all of our 4-H clubs to clean up the meeting room after their meeting. We have several clubs, groups and meetings that use the meeting room throughout the week and we have limited funds for cleaning. Please consider wiping down the tables, vacuuming (if necessary), checking the bathrooms and taking out your trash. Also, once a year a donation of paper towels, toilet paper, hand soap, or napkins would be appreciated to offset the cost of supplies used throughout your 4-H year.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead…..
August 12-21st– Illinois State Fair.
August 15th– Piatt County Day at the Fair.
September 1st– 2011-12 4-H Year begins.
September 29th-4-H Open House 6:30-7:30 p.m.
September 29th –Leaders meeting 7:30 p.m.
Camp White-tail
Camp White-tail
A family-oriented program designed to introduce some basic skills of the Illinois outdoorsman and may obtain Illinois DNR Hunter Safety certification.
What Is Camp White-tail? An overnight weekend program tailored to adult-child "teams" who wish to be exposed to various skills practiced by outdoorsman in Central Illinois. Each adult may attend with up to three youth campers which must be at least 10 years of age.
What Would I Learn at Camp White-tail? During the weekend, participants will have the opportunity if they choose to earn Hunter Safety Certification as required by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources prior to obtaining a personal hunting license. Using the 4-H "learn-by-doing" philosophy, participants will learn skills associated with archery, riflery, shotgun, and watercraft safety. Experience issues involving wildlife conservation, tree stand safety, game care, wildlife calls, hunting dogs, and much more! This is more than a classroom event!
Where is Camp White-tail held? 4-H Memorial Camp near Monticello, Illinois is the site of Camp White-tail. Enjoy plenty of space at this 250 acre camp facility with lake, fields, and woods all secluded within the interior of Robert Allerton Park. Each adult/child "team" will be assigned their own private log cabin for sleeping accommodations.
When is Camp White-tail? 9am, Saturday, Oct. 22 – 6pm, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. Early arrival between 5pm-9pm on Friday, Oct. 21st to settle in is optional. The first meal served will be lunch on Saturday, the last meal served will be lunch on Sunday.
Fees and Registration:__________________________________________________________
A fee of only $49/person covers the complete cost of the program, equipment, supplies, lodging, and four hearty buffet-style meals. Space is limited, so pre-registration and payment is required.
To register, contact:
4-H Memorial Camp at 217-762-2741, or
Email Curt Sinclair at sinclair@illinois.edu; or
The Day Justin Went to Town
I grew up on a small farm in north central Illinois brimming with animals – pigs, cows, horses, cats and dogs. Our farmhouse was surrounded by low-slung pig sheds, a lopsided barn (which was later replaced with a more modern Morton building), and just across the fence, our neighbor's cattle farm stretched to the river bank, their six blue silos scraping the western sky. My sister, brother and I jumped that fence many times chasing a wayward horse or calf. My sister has the scar to prove it. A short sprint from the back door of our house laid our playground, acres of rolling wooded pasture cut in two by a rambling shallow stream.
My siblings and I are products of 4-H and FFA (FFA formerly known as the Future Farmers of America), youth organizations designed to teach leadership, responsibility and service through agriculture. One facet of those organizations is teaching youth how to raise, care for, and value every life. A recent posting on cnn.com's Eatocracy wrongly interprets this mission asking, "Does 4-H desensitize kids to killing?" Unfortunately, many people probably won't click on the link to the article that sparked this post – "Five Reasons to Buy From Your Local 4-H" – a terrific testimony from a "Top Chef" contestant on buying food locally, thus knowing the people who grew it and how it was raised.
Does 4-H desensitize kids to killing? The day Justin went to town was a sad, sad day on our farm. Justin was my very first 4-H project – a black crossbred calf with a white splash on his nose. I raised him from a bottle because his mother died at birth. Caring for him became my responsibility. Morning and night I fed him, filled the trough with clean water, alerted my dad when I suspected illness, and gave him more love than many people receive. I gave him baths, brushed his coat and spoke to him like a friend. At the 4-H fair I sat with him in his stall admiring the blue ribbon we received.
All this and at the age of 8, I knew his fate. The day Justin "went to town" (i.e. to market) I watched the trailer leave from my bedroom window and cried for hours. I think my dad cried too because the natural cycle of life on the farm had become very real for his little girl.
At a young age, farm kids learn the necessity of caring for life with upmost respect and dignity. We spend countless hours in rain, sleet and snow, with our animals ensuring the life they have is full, and we do this to provide for our family and your family. This summer visit a local 4-H fair and meet a 4-Her. Ask him/her how he/she feels about his/her animal. Their answers will assure you that no desensitizing is happening on the farm, just a great life education. Our fair is July 28-31 at the Lee Co. Fairgrounds near Amboy, IL. If you visit, please stop in and say 'hi.'
Katie Pratt
Grand Prairie Farms Source: Illinois Farm Family Blog
Multi County 4-H Project Day
Multi County
4-H Project Day
Join us on Sunday, October 2nd at 4-H Memorial Camp
from 2p.m. to 5 p.m. for a chance to try some
fun projects and get to know other
4-H Families throughout DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Counties
Power of Wind
Horticulture
Visual Arts
Make it Take it Snack
4-H Scavenger Hunt
Call Piatt at 217-762-2191, DeWitt at 217-935-5764 or Macon at 217-877-6042 to register by September 23rd.
University of Illinois U.S. Department of Agriculture Local Extension Councils Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact
Piatt, Dewitt or Macon County Extension Office.
August Birthdays
Cloverbuds
Jacob Wenke
D-W Daring Dragons
Liberty Wikoff
Happy Helpers
Rosa Robison
Lydia Burger
Michelle Moyer
MGMA
Elizabeth Nisly-Nagele
Prairie Kids
Lydia Burger
Michelle Moyer
Sangamon Valley Clovers
Macy Vogt
Savanna Lubbers
Connor Altan
Piatt County 4-H Fair Results
General Show Results
We had 86 projects registered to show
37 projects were presented
49 projects were not
86 Blue Ribbons
14 Red Ribbons
0 White Ribbons
12 Best of Show
38 Class Champion
20 Reserve Class Champion
8 State Fair Alternate
33 State Fair Delegates
Livestock Results
2 Best of Show
2 Class Champion
2 Grand Champion
2 Reserve Class Champion
2 Reserve Grand Champion
5 State Fair Delegate
Illinois State Fair
Illinois State Fair
August 12-21, 2011
Piatt County Day is Monday August 15, 2011
4-H Dog Obedience Show is Saturday, August 27, 2011
Jr. Department Premium book-http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/premium/junior.pdf
Livestock Premium book - http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/premium/livestock.pdf
4-H STATE FAIR ONLINE
A reminder that any enrolled 4-H member who is state-fair age eligible (at least 10 years of age by September 1, 2010) is eligible to submit a project to the State Fair Online. Videos or maps related to any 4-H project listed in the 2010-11 Clover are eligible. You do not need to be enrolled in 4-H Filmmaking/Video to participate in this event.
Your video or map exhibit should relate to one of the 4-H projects in which you are enrolled. The 4-H Jr. Show State Fair judge (s) for that project area (e.g. citizenship, clothing, dairy, etc.) will also judge the State Fair Online exhibits. Feedback will be posted on the website. Judging will not occur in person. Remember that the primary judging criteria is the accuracy and depth of knowledge of your enrolled project area, as displayed in your video or map exhibit. If you are enrolled in any project other than geospatial or filmmaking, the degree to which you effectively use technology to share your knowledge with others will be the secondary judging criteria.
You do not need to be selected at the County level to participate in the State Fair Online and you may submit videos or maps for as many projects as you are currently enrolled in. You must declare your intent to participate by August 1, 2011. The State Fair Online website is expected to go live by June 15th. My 4-H Project Video and Map exhibits (50125 and 50118) will be accepted anytime between June 15 and noon on August 12th.
State Fair Online gives you an opportunity to receive feedback from subject-matter experts and get ideas for what you can continue to explore in your project area
The State Fair Online interactive website will share your exhibit with others and give you an opportunity to see what others are doing around the state.
All State Fair Online exhibitors are eligible to attend a free awards luncheon and festival, August 20th at the Illinois State Fair. All participants will receive ribbons. For My 4-H Project Video and Map exhibit classes (50125 and 50118) an iPod Touch 8GB will be awarded as 1st prize and 2nd prize winners will receive an Ion Twin Video Camera.
For more information go to http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/statefaironline.cfm
2011 GENERAL PROJECT CHANGES
There have been several changes in requirements or wording – please check the State Fair 4-H General
Exhibit Division fair book for details about your project
Major changes include –
· COMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRONICS AND JOURNALISM exhibits are no longer eligible for State Fair selection. No State Fair class is
offered for these categories.
· FOODS – 4-H Cooking 401 has been added – exhibit options are
Focaccia bread, one baked pie shell – traditional, oil, or whole wheat (no graham cracker), golden sponge cake, or German rye bread.
· FOODS – Sports Nutrition, Exploring our Food Heritage and Foods with an International Flavor have been dropped as projects.
· LEADERSHIP – Requirements for Leadership I, II, III, and IV have been updated.
· PHOTOGRAPHY –
Photography I – Poster can be no larger than 15" x 22".
Photography II, III, IV and Photo Editing – Exhibit one 8 x 10 photo. (two 5 x 7" photos are no longer an option)
· ROBOTICS – All Robotic Class requirements have been updated
· NATIONAL 4-H ENGINEERING CHALLENGE – 2 4-H members from each Welding, Aerospace, Bicycle, Computer Science, Electricity, and Small Engines will be chosen to represent Illinois at the 2011 National 4-H Engineering Challenge. To be eligible for this national event, exhibitors must be 14 years of age as of 1/1/2011 and be willing to participate fully in the national event scheduled for September 25-27 at Purdue University.
· SHOOTING SPORTS – Exhibit any poster or display relating to the Shooting Sports project.
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