University of Illinois Extension serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell Counties

Dear 4-H Families & Friends

Happy New Year! We had a great year in 2011 and look forward to an even better one in 2012. Once again we have several fun and exciting 4-H events coming up such as the 4-H Lock-In at Landmark Recreation Center, Clover Clinic at I.C.C., 4-H Night with the Peoria Rivermen, Junior Leader Conference, 4-H Camp and much more. I encourage everyone to choose an activity and participate. Be sure to check out the rest of the newsletter for more information and registration deadlines.

4-H Lock-In / February 3 & 4

Reminder that the deadline for the Lock-In is Friday, January 27. Sign up now and ask a friend to come along. We must have at least 40 participants registered or the event will be cancelled. (in the event of bad weather on the day of the Clover Clinic participants should check our website and/or check their TV news for cancellation notice.) Leaders and parents that would like to help chaperone this fun event - there is no registration fee to participate but you will have to pay the small fee to see the movie. All chaperones are required to have completed volunteer forms on file at the Extension Office and have completed the overnight chaperone training. The chaperone training can only be done on-line and can be found at: web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hchaperone Don't wait to complete these forms because they take a couple weeks to process. DEADLINE for signing up for the Lock-In is Friday, January 27!! Registration form is included in newsletter.

Bad Weather Alert

It's that time of year where the weather can turn for the worse. If a program is scheduled and the weather is bad, please call ahead to see if the meeting has been cancelled. We'll make every effort to contact people, but we want to make sure we don't miss anyone.

2012 Clover Clinic

Mark your calendars now for the 2012 4-H Clover Clinic. This fun filled day of exciting workshops for 4-H'ers will be held on Saturday, February 18 at the ICC Main Campus in East Peoria. Registration forms and class information is posted on the Peoria County Website. Act fast, classes fill quickly. Registration deadline is January 27. Be sure to print out the Risk Mgmt. form to be sent in with your registration.

Federation News

The December meeting for the Peoria County 4-H Federation was held on Dec. 17 at Monicals Pizza in the Willow Knolls Shopping Plaza. Before the meeting members enjoyed pizza and visiting with each other. After the meeting everyone went bowling at the Peoria Christian Center. The next meeting will be Tuesday, January 24, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Kickapoo Township Hall. All 4-H members age 12 and older are invited to attend.

National Radon Poster Contest

Students ages 9 to 14 are eligible to enter the annual National Radon Poster Contest. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can reach dangerous levels in buildings. The contest aims to raise awareness so that families can protect themselves. The winning poster will be distributed during National Radon Action Month in January 2013. The 1^st place winner in the nation will receive $1000. There are additional cash prizes for national and Illinois winners.

Posters are due to Cindy Ladage at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency on or before March 1, 2012. For more information, visit http://takeactiononradon.illinois.edu/resources/contest, e-mail cindy.ladage@illinois.gov or call 800-325-1245. The University of Illinois Extension radon web site includes rules, submission forms and fact sheets on radon to educate students.

Jr. Leader Conference

The Jr. Leader Conference is up and running. The State 4-H Youth Leadership Team has a great program planned for 7th and 8th graders! "Find the Clue to the Leader in U" is the theme. Participants will search for the aspects of becoming a great teen leader, explore skills in forensic and food sciences, and find the actor in themselves.

JLC is scheduled for February 25-26 at the Holiday Inn in Urbana. And they can bring a non- 4-H friend along if they wish. Delegates will come away with new skills that they can use immediately in their 4-H projects and your club programming. Mixers, team-building, and just plain fun is being built in so they can meet new friends from across the state.

Registration deadline is January 30, 2012. Information, scholarship application, and registration info can be found on the Illinois 4-H website

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/juniorleadership.cfm. Payment and final paperwork must be postmarked by February 1. cost of the weekend is $125 that includes hotel, 3 meals, insurance, and all programming. A limited number of 4-H scholarships are available for first time 4-H attendees. The county also has scholarships available also.

Projects Online

If you have not explored the 4-H CCS Project Online Website, plan to check out this resource. There are additional activities, interactive games, background information and links to other websites for many project areas. Go to www.n4hccs.org and click on "Project Online". You'll find many new and exciting ideas for making 4-H project work fun and hands-on.

Show Book Cover Design Contest

Can you believe it! It's time to start thinking about the County 4-H Show and be working on updating the show book. So, we are asking 4-H members to come up with a creative design for the 2012 Peoria County Show Book cover.

These are the guidelines that must be followed in order for your entry to be considered.

Your entry must contain the following information: 2012 Peoria County 4-H Show Book. It can be placed anywhere on the entry.
Submit your entry on an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of white paper.
Your finished copy should be "photocopy" ready. That means keep it neat. Use black marker or pen. You may use stencils or computer lettering.
Place your name, age, club and address on the back of your entry.
No cartoon type characters, such as Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, etc. or sports team or trade marked logos will be accepted.
Entries must be in the Extension Office by April 2, 2012.

Shooting Sports

Are you interested in a 4-H Shooting Sports Program in Peoria County? 4-H Shooting Sports include Archery, Rifle and Shotgun. Peoria County has one volunteer that participated in the Rifle training this past fall but are still in need of a Shooting Sports Coordinator and instructors for Archery and Shotgun. Two training sessions have been scheduled for 2012. The dates are May 18-20 and September 28-30. You only need to attend one weekend session to be certified. If you are interested in becoming a Peoria County 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator or instructor for Archery or Shotgun, please contact the Extension Office for more information.

Upcoming Dates

· March 2-4 / Illinois 4-H Horse Fair
· March 23-24 / 4-H Great Debate
· March 27 / 4-H Livestock Supt./Auction Committee Meeting
· May 1 / Horse Ownership/Lease Papers due in Extension Office w/photos
· May 1 / Other livestock lease forms due in Extension Office
· May 12 / 4-H Day with the Cardinals
· July 14-18 / Peoria County 4-H Camp Week, Monticello
· July 21 / Peoria County 4-H Horse Show
· July 24-29 / Jr. State 4-H Horse Show
· August 1-3 / Peoria County 4-H Show
· August 10-19 / Illinois State Fair
· August 11 / Peoria County Day at State Fair

Beef Weigh-In

The beef weigh-in has been scheduled for Saturday, January 28 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. It will be held once again at the Wyoming Sale Barn. Anyone planning on showing steers at the Illinois State Fair and/or participating in the Rate of Gain contest at the County Show must have them weighed at the weigh-in. If you have any questions, please contact the Extension Office.

Rabbit Clinic

A rabbit clinic will be held on the afternoon of March 17 at the Tazewell Co. Farm Bureau Building, 1505 Valle Vista, Pekin. It is free for youth and adults.

Speakers from the Rabbit Breeders Association will present information about several different breeds. You are welcome to bring one rabbit, but it is not required. For more information contact Larry Bachman at larrysrabbits@hotmail.com or 309-348-3118

Montadale Sheep Essay Contest

The Illinois Montadale Sheep Breeders Association is sponsoring its 1^st annual essay contest and will be awarding a Montadale ewe lamb to the winner. The contest is open to Illinois 4-H or FFA members under the age of 18 and not currently raising Montadale sheep. The lamb will be presented to the essay winner at the annual Illinois Montadale Breeders picnic held in June. The winning essay will also be published in the spring edition of the 2012 "Montadale Momentum" magazine.

The essay should describe why the contestant would like a Montadale ewe lamb, future plans for the lamb, and how they will care for it. Essays will be judged on their content and age appropriateness. The winner will be expected to exhibit the lamb at the 2012 Illinois State Fair Jr show.

Entries should be sent to John Coers, P.O. Box 78, New Holland, IL 62671 by February 1, 2012. Please include the entrants name, address, phone number, age and 4-H club or FFA chapter name.

Contacts are:

John Coers Chad Marshall

PH: 217-737-5674 217-637-2199

jcoers@mschsi.com marsh4408@yahoo.com

Parents, You are Wanted!

4-H parents are a very important part of the 4-H program. Here are some tips for parents:

Take an interest in 4-H.
Encourage and support 4-H'ers and leaders.
Serve as a "helper" to your child.
Don't do the work for the child, but instead, guide and assist them.
Encourage record keeping.
Attend most or all 4-H meetings with your child.
Read the 4-H mail/emails that come to your family. This will help you stay up-to-date on what's happening in your county.
Share a hobby or interest with your child's club or give a talk about your job/career.
Keep in mind that the most important goal of 4-H is personal growth of the young person, not winning the most blue ribbons.
Phone the leader if there are any questions or problems, so the situation can be clarified.
Encourage your 4-H'er when they succeed and even more when they aren't as successful as planned. Help them to see progress, not just results.
Make 4-H a family activity and have fun!!
Become a 4-H volunteer. Ask your club leader for an enrollment packet so you can get started right away!

Junior Leaders

Jr. Leaders play an important role in 4-H clubs. Here are a few examples of what a Jr. Leader could do.

Model good demonstrations & talks in your club.
Train demonstrators or public speakers to represent your club at the county contest.
Help members with their goal sheets, award applications, etc.
Help officers understand their jobs, particularly the younger, new officers
Help recruit new members & make them feel welcome at meetings.
Arrange a project-oriented clinic.
Help plan a club picnic, tour, public exhibit, float or skit.
Attend & participate in county leader meetings.
Help recycle 4-H project manuals in the club.
Serve as a "big buddy" to a new club member.
Teach a younger members how to lead his/her animal & how to groom the animal.
Assist the leaders with award applications for club awards.
See that the club is represented at county level events & contests.
Help members plan & prepare exhibits
Organize a clean-up committee to clean up a community center, school, or church grounds.
Be creative - try new things - get involved!

Websites for Kids

U of I Extension has developed a number of fun, interactive, and...YES educational websites just for kids! These can be excellent tools for enhancing project work. They include:

The Adventures of Herman (vermiculture)
The great corn Adventure
Shake, Rattle and Slide
Forever Friends
Out on a Limb
And many more…

Websites for Teens and Adults

U of I Extension offers a number of web resources for teens and adults. These websites are packed full of very helpful information that can be used as project support or to provide lessons for younger members. Sites include:

Animals: Past & Present
My First Garden
Walk in the Woods
Character Development
And much more.

Visit web.extension.uiuc.edu/state/schools.html to get started.

Statewide Links