Looking out my window, it seems possible that spring is coming – today it's beautiful and sunny but I think tomorrow we are going to get a blast of cold weather again! With springtime, comes a flurry of activities in the 4-H program. Please take a moment to skim the article titles in the newsletter and read those that pertain to you, your family, your 4-H projects or your 4-H club. If you are new to 4-H, please don't be afraid to ask – ask your 4-H leader, other families, or even the staff at the Extension Office. If you are a veteran 4-H family, take a moment to help your new families understand what's happening. Those of us involved with 4-H often forget that new families are overwhelmed during the first year and have lots of questions.

Of course, with springtime approaching, that means the fair time will soon be upon us. Hopefully, you have been working on your 4-H projects throughout the winter months. If not, plan to begin soon! That way you won't be so rushed in June and July to get your projects done. Refer to the fairbook to get ideas on what your project exhibit will be.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Extension Office. Our phone number is 630/584-6166. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. We may not be available when you call or know the answer to your question right away, but we will try to get back to you as soon as possible with the information you need.

Sincerely,

Deanna K. Roby

Unit Educator, 4-H Youth Development

We welcome the following youth and volunteers to the Kane County 4-H Family.Congratulations and thanks for joining the 4-H program! We wish you much success in your 4-H career and involvement.

4-H Academy

Haley Hudetz

Aabha Vyas*

Big Rock Cowhands

Amanda Harrison

Ben Harrison

Taylor Ruh

George Thompson

Molly Thompson

Blackberry Rangers

Maya Grango

Casey Green

Rebecca Richtman

Rebecca Roy

Burlington Ag

Erin Fidler*

Kyle Getzelman

Taylor Pry

Central Wranglers

Abbey Lee

Alyssa Mish

Kayla Mish*

Alec Petersdorf

Fabulous

4-Hers

Joey Leveille

Alyssa Zurow

Kiara Zurow

Fantastics

Cathryn Augustine

Kyla Augustine

Tess Bourbeau

Alexa Bullock

Nadine El-Sherif

Katie Fetter

Tessa Giamberdino

Devlyn McClelland

Liam McClelland

Sela McClelland

Courtney Morrison

Gia Nardini

Valerie Nardini

Francesca Neari

Brooke Nickell

Emily Nickell

Sydney Pezen

Jordan Poradek

Emily Schildmeyer

Devin Seymour

Emily Smith

Fox Valley Saddle N Spur

Benjamin Frew

Daniel Frew

Eric Frew

Joshua Frew

Sarah Olsen

Katherine Voght

Go-Getters

Andrew Kulisek*

Sarah Lew

Edward Swiderski*

Hampshire Jr. Farmers

Katie Remakel

Michael Remakel*

Kaneville Classics

Patrick Overmyer

Techno Troopers

Alexis Garcia

Brittany Garcia

Austin Seaton

The Challengers

Nathan Prenevost

*denotes Cloverbud member

Volunteers

Sabrina Martin

4-H Academy

Brad Lenschow

Timothy Metz

Blue Ribbon Committee

Sylvia Varhus

Extension Council

Anne Andersen

Lora Garceau

Jennifer Haviland

Fair Superintendents

Lynne Marucco

Fantastics

Gerry Dedina

Hampshire Jr. Farmers

Glenna Armesy

Jeffrey Armesy

Kaneville Classics

Dianna Yoakum

Mooseheart

Jane Boeckelmann

Colleen Lewis

The Challengers

Sarah Yakle

Marty Zack

General

Attention 4-H Members and Families: April 27 through May 3 is National Volunteer Week – a time to be especially thankful for all the volunteers who make 4-H happen in Kane County. Many hours go into everything from driving kids to meetings and providing refreshments to mountains of paperwork to see that everybody gets signed up for their projects and end up in the right place at the right time with all the right information. Please remember to say "Thank You" throughout the year, and plan to do something special during National Volunteer Week for those who care enough to see that your club continues – this even includes your own family.

Valuable is the work you do.

Outstanding is how you always come through.

Loyal, sincere and full of good cheer.

Untiring in your efforts throughout the year.

Notable are the contributions you make.

Trustworthy in every project you take.

Eager to reach your every goal.

Effective in the way you fulfill your role.

Ready with a smile like a shining star.

Special and wonderful – that's what you are!

-- author unknown

From the Extension Office staff, a SPECIAL THANKS to all of the wonderful volunteers involved with the Kane County 4-H Program – leaders, parents, committee members, superintendents, judges, special projects – we couldn't do it without you! Your time and support throughout the year are very important to us! Thank you for everything you do "To Make the Best Better."

The past couple of months have been super busy with events happening at the county level for 4-H. Below is a list of volunteers who have given freely of their time at a recent 4-H event.

Beef Weigh-in & Tattoo, 2/2/08

Rhett Byington

Anne Carson

Joe Fidler

Ron Fidler

Dave & Mary Lou Kearns

Lester Kleckner

Jim Konen

Darrin Ott

Project Day, 2/23/08

Marilyn Becker

Johnna Jennings

Nicole Groezinger

Kristen Henschen

Joan Horwitz

Bob & Ann Keck

McKellar Family

Kevin Huber

Beth Gehrke

Rosemarie & Tracy Krause

Kim & Jordan Repka

Ron Martin

Bonnie & Jennifer Kararo

Kathy Chwee

Kathy Carr

Dave Klussendorf

Deanna Fidler

Karen Sunderlage

Ruth Ann Seney

Pat Bunge

Kim Braddock

Haley Patzer

Ariel Parks

Carolyn Gehrke

JC Gillett

Betty Amery

Kelli DeDina

Alexis Fraser

Peggy Lee

Jodi Martin

Erika McClelland

Kendall Tokarski

Mary Byker

Ben Hankes

Meredith Koehl

Chassidy Mangers

Nicholas McCullough

Matthew McCullough

Lauren Ott

Dana Taylor

Government Day, 3/13/07

Kane County Board

Kane County Government Officials

Mike Kenyon

Barbara Wojnicki

Nick Hankes

We couldn't have made these events happen without the support of some wonderful volunteers! THANK YOU!

Congratulations to Carolyn Gehrke of the Westdel 4-H Club. She was selected as one of the top winners in the 2008 LCP Award sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau & Affiliates. As a winner of this award, Carolyn will attend this year's Premier 20 Leadership Conference. Special mention goes to Deidre Cwian of the Fantastics 4-H Club who was selected as an alternate for this award. Congratulations Ladies and GREAT JOB!

In order for a project to be eligible for exhibit in the 4-H portion of the 2008 Kane County Fair, youth must be enrolled in the appropriate project(s) by April 4, 2008. Of course, youth may add or drop projects after that date; however, if they add projects after April 4, they will not be able to enter those project exhibits in the 4-H portion of the 2008 Kane County Fair.

If you have questions about the above-mentioned deadline, please contact the Extension Office.

Recently, each 4-H member should have received a letter summarizing their project enrollment as of February 25, 2008. Please double check this information carefully in the letter and with your 4-H club leader. If you didn't get a letter, it means you are not currently enrolled in 4-H. If there were no projects listed in your letter, it means that we have no project choices for you.

Remember, you may not enroll in multiple levels of a project area (i.e. Woodworking I, Woodworking II, and Woodworking III). Pick the project level that best fits your age and abilities. Also, enrolling in projects is not the same as registering to participate in the 4-H portion of the 2008 Kane County Fair. You will receive a separate registration form at your May 4-H club meeting to register for the fair.

It may be wise to check with your 4-H leader prior to April 4 to make sure you are enrolled in the projects you wish to be. Remember: after April 4, projects added to your enrollment will not be eligible for exhibit in the 4-H show at the 2008 Kane County Fair.

For workshops and special programs, we establish registration deadlines. Registration deadlines are established so that presenters know how many to plan for. If by the registration deadline we don't have the required number pre-registered, we will cancel the event. When we cancel an event, we only call the individuals who have pre-registered. In addition, we will post a sign on the door of the building about the cancellation. We can't let you know if an event has been cancelled if we didn't know you were coming in the first place. We appreciate your cooperation in observing program registration deadlines.

One final note – we do not send confirmation or reminders of your registration. If you register, you should assume that you have made it in the class/workshop. Having said that though, please keep in mind that sometimes the U.S. Postal Service loses mail and we may not receive your registration. So, it's okay to call and verify that we received your registration. If a class/workshop has space limitations and you are not able to get into the session, we will call and let you know and return any fees.

This year's Performance Showcase is scheduled for Friday, April 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Baker Community Center, located at 101 S. Second Street in St. Charles. Even if you don't participate, please join us for an evening of fun!

Group and/or Solo acts may be entered. A 4-H'er may participate in one solo and one group act (5 or more members) in the talent category of his/her talents. Cloverbud members are allowed to participate in group acts only. Entry forms and rules for this event were available to 4-H leaders in January and are also available online at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/kane/index.html Click on the 4-H and Youth program and then scroll down to 4-H & Youth Resources and click on "General". Entry deadline is Wednesday, March 26. All entries should be sent to the Extension Office.

We are asking the families that attend to bring a dozen (or more) cookies to help defray the cost of refreshments. The office will furnish beverages.

The annual Public Presentations Contest will be held Friday, April 25, beginning at 6 p.m. (check-in begins at 5:30 p.m.) at the Extension Office in St. Charles. 4-H members are encouraged to participate in any of the following categories: Formal Speech, Illustrated Speech, Extempore Speaking, Demonstration, Oral Interpretation, Original Works, and Food Demonstration. 4-H'ers may give up to two different presentations in different categories. Presentation guidelines and registration information were mailed to 4-H members enrolled in the Public Presentations project as of March 12. They were also available to 4-H leaders in January and are available online at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/kane/index.html Click on the 4-H and Youth program and then scroll down to 4-H & Youth Resources and click on "General". Registrations for this contest are due by Friday, April 11. In order to participate in the Public Presentations contest, members must be enrolled in the Public Presentations project or appropriate food/nutrition project no later than April 4. Blue ribbon presentations of youth age 10 and older (as of September 1) are eligible for State Fair selection.

The next 4-H leader's meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. The content at both meetings will be the same. So, it is not necessary to have a club representative at each meeting. However, it is important to have someone from your club at one of the meetings to pick up materials. If no one from your club is able to attend, please make plans to pick up your club's materials after April 30. This meeting is open to all 4-H volunteers and parents. We hope to have fair registration materials available for distribution to clubs. If you have questions, contact Deanna at the Extension Office.

On Saturday, April 19, 4-H Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see will be hosting an Open House from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Parents and potential campers are invited to visit Camp Shaw and see the natural beauty – Limestone Canyon, Rock Creek, Hiking Trails, Open Meadows and Rolling Forest Lands. All facilities will be open for inspection – Dining Hall, Cabins, Crafts House, Nature Barn, Rec Center and Pool. Camp staff will be available to answer questions and accept registrations.

Early bird discount applies if registration and fees are received on or before the Open House. Sibling discounts are also available. Camp brochures are available in this newsletter.

For more information contact:

Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see

6641 N 6000 W Road

Manteno, IL 60950

(815) 933-3011

www.campshaw.org

We have received information on the following scholarships available for high school seniors and/or current college students. Please note the contact information and the application deadlines.

Kane County Fair Association Scholarship

The Kane County Fair Association recently announced that they will be offering three, $3,000 scholarships to current 4-H members who are high school seniors and planning to attend college. The application is available online at: http://www.kanecountyfair.com/visitors_2008_4Hscholarship.cfm

For questions regarding this scholarship, contact Chris Unger at 630/584-6926. Deadline for applications is April 1, 2008.

Pottawatomie Garden Club Scholarship

High school seniors and college students interested in college careers in botany, conservation, land management, ecology, forestry, agriculture, horticulture, environmental concerns, and/or related studies and that reside within St. Charles High School District 303 boundaries may apply for this scholarship. Scholarships are a minimum of $1,000. Youth may ask school counselors for an application form or visit their website at www.pottagardenclub.org Application deadline is April 4, 2008.

Kane County 4-H Foundation Scholarship

The Kane County 4-H Foundation has $3,000 in scholarship monies available and will be awarded, if merited. Eligible candidates must be present or past Kane County 4-H members, ages 17-21, who are planning on attending college or a technical school in the fall of 2008. An application and interview will be required. Scholarship applications are available in the 4-H office or online at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/kane/index.html Click on the 4-H & Youth picture and under that section scroll down to 4-H & Youth resources and click on the general category to find the application. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15. Applicants will be asked to schedule an interview with the selection committee on Thursday, April 24. For applicants attending college out of the area, teleconference interviews on April 24 can be arranged.

General Assembly Scholarship from Representative Ruth Munson

This program allows each member of the Illinois General Assembly to award scholarships

(a tuition waiver) for Illinois state universities. Awards are given to students who have demonstrated scholastic achievement, been active in public and civic affairs and who are in need of scholarship assistance. All applicants must live within the 43rd District, which includes portions of Elgin, East Dundee, Carpentersville and South Elgin. Applications sent to Rep. Munson's office will be evaluated by a committee consisting of local business and community leaders. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Students who wish to apply should write to General Assembly Scholarship Committee, State Representative Ruth Munson, 1146 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120 or call the district office at 847-622-1048 for an application and more details. Applications are also available for download or completion at Rep. Munson's website: http://www.ruthmunson.com.

Last summer, we offered summer day camps to youth in Elgin and Aurora. We will be doing this program again this summer. Therefore, we are looking for older 4-H members (18 or older), alumni, or adults to coordinate this program. This individual will provide leadership for summer educational programming in a day-camp type setting. This position is available from June to August, at an hourly rate, with no more than 7½ hours per day and 37½ hours per week. Camp Clover is a wonderful, hands-on opportunity for youth attending the camps to learn about 4-H, gain new skills, and have fun. Contact Deanna at the Extension Office for more details.

The Kane County Farm Bureau will again be offering this unique opportunity at their location on Randall Road in St. Charles. It is an opportunity to see modern and antique farm equipment up close and personal. This event will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. For more information, contact the Kane County Farm Bureau at 630/584-8660 or visit them online at www.kanecfb.com

Waubonsee Community College is sponsoring a volunteer development event on Saturday, April 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at their Sugar Grove campus. The day will feature a keynote speaker and workshops for participants. A continental breakfast and lunch is included. There is no cost to participate in this event. For a registration flyer, contact the Extension office. Registration for the event must be made by Friday, March 28.

These websites come to us through various sources. Extension related sites should be okay for youth and adults. Other sites may not be. We are not endorsing or promoting any of these sites, just relaying potential sources of information that are available. As with anything on the World Wide Web, please be cautious and use your best judgment.

Kane County 4-H/Extension:

http://kane.extension.uiuc.edu

U of I Extension Urban Programs:

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu

Illinois 4-H:

http://www.4-H.uiuc.edu

National 4-H Council:

http://www.fourhcouncil.edu

Tax Breaks for Higher Education:

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/taxbreaks/

Illinois Livestock Trail (BeefNet, DairyNet, HorseNet, PorkNet, PoultryNet, Sheep/GoatNet and PastureNet):

http://www.livestocktrail.uiuc.edu/