University of Illinois Extension serving Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline and White Counties

4-H Calendar

April

8 - Happy Easter!

14 - Swine Weigh-in, 1 pm, Fairgrounds

24 - Ponderosa Fundraiser for Arthritis, 5-7 pm, Ponderosa

28 - Lamb and Goat Weigh-Ins, 1 pm, Fairgrounds

28 - Horse & Pony Showmanship & Horsemanship Clinic,

2:00 pm, Darnell Arena, Galatia

28 - 4-H Horse & Pony Meeting, 2:30 pm, Darnell Arena, Galatia

30 - International Night, 6 pm, SIC Cafeteria, Set-up at 5 pm

May

1 - Last day to enroll in 4-H and in a project to show at one of the 2012 Saline County 4-H shows

1 - Horse Validation & Permission to Participate forms due

1 - 1st Dog Obedience class, 6 pm, behind Cheri White's shop - 616 W. Poplar - Harrisburg (Leave the dog at home, bring the shot records!)

8- Dog Obedience class, 6 pm, bring dogs, Cheri's shop

12 - Regional Sheep Weigh-in, 10 am-Noon, Ina

12 - 4-H Day with the Cardinals, 6:15 pm, Busch Stadium

15 - Dog Obedience class, 6 pm, Cheri's shop

15 - Livestock Registration forms due in to the Ext. office

22 - Dog Obedience class, 6 pm, Cheri's shop

28 - Extension office closed for Memorial Day

29 - Dog Obedience class, 6 pm, Cheri's shop

29 - 4-H Day w/ the So. IL Miners, 7 pm, Rent One Park, Marion

International Night

Saline County 4-H International Night will be held on Monday, April 30, 2012 in the SIC Cafeteria.

Doors open at 5 pm - Judging will begin at 6 pm.

Clubs study a country of interest, dress in costume, and prepare a table display and foods from that country. Clubs who wish to compete for a State Fair ribbon will then make a 5 - 10 minute oral presentation. (Presentations will be timed.) There are monetary prizes for the top 3 clubs making presentations.

Clubs not wishing to make an oral presentation may prepare a table display, foods, and dress in costume. These clubs will again be judged separately and certificates will be awarded.

We will wait to eat until all presentations are finished and the judges have been around to each display. Then everyone may sample the food while the judges are making their final decisions.

Each club needs to supply drinks, cups, and table service. Please bring enough so that all attending may sample your country's delicious foods.

Leaders, call the Extension office by April 16 with your club's country of choice, and let us know then if your club will be competing for State Fair honors.

Leader News

Leaders...please pick up copies of your 2011-2012 Saline County 4-H Handbook for your members at the Extension office. We are asking that you only distribute one copy per family.

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The last day to enroll in 4-H and in a project to show at the 2012 Saline County 4-H shows is MAY 1.

No Exceptions!

Leaders may continue to enroll members after May 1, but they will not be eligible to show this year.

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The last day for members to drop a project that they do not wish to complete is JUNE 1.

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Livestock Registration forms will be due in the Extension office by May 15. Members must declare a breed on the form to show in Purebred Heifer, Breeding Gilt, or Ewe Lamb classes.

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Youth PQA

State Fair Open and Jr. Barrow Shows will be non-terminal this year - that means you will bring the animal back home with you. However, PQA certification is still required.

We will hold a Pork Quality Assurance class if there are any youth planning to show barrows at the State Fair. Please contact the Extension office if you have anyone who needs to take this class.

The PQA certificate number must be included on the State Fair Entry form due July 1.

Swine Weigh-In

The Saline County 4-H Swine Weigh-In will be held on Saturday, April 14 at 1:00 pm at the Fairgrounds. 4-H members enrolled in Swine projects who want to participate in the Swine Rate of Gain Contest should plan to attend.

Lamb & Meat Goat Weigh-In

The Saline County 4-H Lamb and Meat Goat Weigh-Ins will be held on Saturday, April 28 at 1:00 pm at the Fairgrounds. 4-H members enrolled in Sheep projects or Meat Goat projects who want to participate in the Saline County Rate of Gain Contests should plan to attend.

State Fair Lamb & Meat Goat Tattoo Information

4-H members must weigh and tattoo sheep and meat goats that will possibly be shown at this year's Illinois State Fair at regional

weigh-ins. The closest weigh-in location to us is the Jefferson-Franklin Co. Fairgrounds in Ina on Saturday, May 12, from 10 am - Noon. There will be a $2.00 charge per electronic ID tag payable that day. Checks should be made to University of Illinois.

The contact person for this weigh-in is Teresa Steckler - (618) 695-4917.

Saline County 4-H members who want to take lambs and/or meat goats to State Fair and also enter them in our county show and Rate of Gain Contest will still have to weigh in on April 28 at 1 pm at the Saline County Fairgrounds.

QAEC

Quality Assurance and Ethics Certification (QAEC) is no longer mandatory for State Fair exhibition. However, the website is available for those who will be taking a livestock project to the Illinois State Fair in August and wish to take the training. The web address is: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/qaec/

All State Fair beef, sheep, swine, horse, dairy, meat goat and poultry exhibitors are encouraged but not required to complete QAEC via this site.

Saline Co. 4-H youth who have not taken this training are encouraged to visit the site and take advantage of the valuable information there.

Attention: Horse Exhibitors

We will be holding Horse & Pony Clinics this spring and summer to prepare you for the 4-H Horse & Pony Show on July 24.

The first Showmanship and Horsemanship clinic will be held on Saturday, April 28 at approximately 2:00 pm at Bonnie Darnell's arena outside Galatia.

Please call the Extension office for more information if you plan to attend.

Helmets are required for all 4-H Horse & Pony mounted exhibitors in or out of the show ring. If you need to borrow a helmet from the office, please call by May 1.

Horse & Pony Committee Meeting

Saline County 4-H Horse & Pony Committee will meet on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at approximately 2:30 pm at Bonnie Darnell's arena during the Showmanship Clinic.

We will be making plans for a Practice Horse Show/Clinic and the 4-H Horse & Pony Show on July 24.

Horse & Pony Validation Forms Due May 1

Saline County 4-H Horse & Pony Project Validation Forms (along with photos of your horse if you plan to show at State Fair) will be due in to the Extension office no later than May 1.

You will need to fill out one copy per horse that you may possibly bring to the show.

Permission to Participate Forms Due May 1

Permission to Participate forms for the 2012 Saline Co. 4-H Horse & Pony Show are due in to the Extension office no later than May 1. This form, required by the Illinois Equine Liability Act, must be signed by both the participant and a parent/guardian. Forms are available at the Extension office.

Dog Obedience & Agility Classes Begin

4-H Dog Obedience and Dog Agility classes will begin on Tuesday, May 1 at 6:00 p.m.

Classes will be held behind instructor Cheri White's Shop at 616 W. Poplar St. in Harrisburg

(just west of Hucks on Highway 13).

Classes will continue each Tuesday for 12 weeks, concluding on Tuesday, July 17.

The 4-H Dog Show will be held on Thursday, July 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the Fairgrounds.

The first session on May 1 is an introduction to the course. Participants are asked to attend without their dogs. Please bring your dog's shot records to this session.

Classes are free for 4-H youth. If you have questions about these classes, please call Cheri White at 926-0787.

Call the Extension office by Tuesday, April 17 to register.

Handbook Cover Contest Winner

Congratulations to Kayla DePriestof the Eagle Mountain Gang 4-H Club!

Kayla's Handbook Cover entry was chosen as the winner this year. Her design will be the cover of the 2011-2012 Saline County 4-H Handbook and she will receive recognition and a monetary prize at Achievement Night.

Entries by Alex Watkins of the Dungaree Dudes & Dolls Club and Autumn Sherwood of the Clovers and Cloverettes Club have each been chosen to receive an Honorable Mention. These designs will be featured on the inside back cover of the handbook.

4-H Federation News

The Saline County 4-H Federation officers and delegates will hold the next regular business meeting on Monday, April 16 at 6 pm at the Extension office.

We will be discussing upcoming events, including International Night, Public Presentations, and selling sodas at the summer 4-H shows. We will also try to plan some fun summer

workshops and talk about the HEA "Arts in the Park" event scheduled for June 2.

All Federation delegates should plan to attend.

Club News!

The Clovers & Cloverettes 4-H club and Harrisburg Ponderosa are teaming up for the Arthritis Foundation!

The club has formed a team for the upcoming Arthritis Walk! Encourage everyone you know to visit Harrisburg Ponderosa on Tuesday, April 24 between 5 pm and 7 pm. Ponderosa will donate 10% of their salesthat evening to the 4-H club for their Arthritis Walk Team Fund.

Stop in to have a delicious meal AND help a great cause!

Any clubs wishing to make a donation to the team fund can send them to:

Clovers & Cloverettes Arthritis Walk Team

c/o Amy Oxford

P.O. Box 602

Harrisburg, IL 62946

Call 926-3062 for more info.

Are You Interested in Shooting Sports?

The first meeting of the Shooting Stars 4-H club will be held on Saturday May 5th from 9 - 11 am. The meeting will be held at the home of Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports certified instructor Marty Canfranelli, near Karber's Ridge in Hardin County.

Illinois Shooting Sports offers three disciplines; Archery, Rifle, and Shotgun. The club will begin with the Archery discipline. This club in open to all youth ages 8 - 18 in Saline, Pope, Hardin and Gallatin counties. Do you have a friend who is not a current 4-H member but loves shooting sports? Bring them along and they can join the fun!

For more information or to RSVP to this meeting and receive directions, please call or email Melissa Wilson at 252-8391 or wilson08@illinois.edu. We can't wait to see you there!

Local 4-H Member Shines

Saline County 4-H member Brooke Crawford was recently recognized as part of the national Join the Revolution of Responsibility campaign.

Brooke is the founder of Prom Possible, an organization that

donates dresses, shoes, and accessories to girls for formal events.

Efforts through her organization have made prom a reality for over 50 girls across the country.

Melissa Bramlet Wilson, 4-H Youth Development Educator

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

Public Presentations Contest will be held on Monday, June 4 at 6 pm in the Faculty Dining Room at SIC.

This contest includes speeches - Formal, Extempore, Illustrated, Original Works, and Oral Interpretation - Demonstrations, Flower Arranging, and Food Demonstrations.

Participants need to call the Extension office by June 1 to let us know what type of speech or demonstration you will be performing.

Due Dates

Some important due dates for paperwork necessary for the 2012 4-H Shows and events.

Visual Arts forms and Fair Registrations will be due on June 1.

Small Pets forms and Auction letters will be due June 15.

4-H Records & County Medal Applications will be due Sept. 7.

Watch future newsletters for more information about these forms.

STATE FAIR

Our Saline County Day at the Illinois State Fair will be Saturday, August 11 for all exhibits.

Statewide Links