To our 4-H families...

December is flying by and soon it will be 2012! Hard to believe that the year is coming to a close already! Thank you to all the club leaders and members that worked so hard to get your enrollment paperwork into the Extension office – we have finished entering the entire county's enrollment – YEAH!! We appreciate you being on-time, so that we are able to meet all the deadlines that the state has for the 4-H program. Our office will be closed beginning Friday, December 23rd at 12pm thru Tuesday, January 3rd. Please be sure to pay close attention to the workshop information that is included in this newsletter as well as checking our website – we are really trying to keep it up to date with information on upcoming events and registrations! We hope that all of you and your loved ones have a safe and wonderful holiday season! We will see you in 2012!

Happy Holidays!

Janine

Illinois 4-H Junior Leadership Conference

7th and 8th grade 4-H members (and you can bring a friend) are invited to attend the Jr. Leadership Conference February 25-26 in Urbana. This weekend event provides junior high delegates a look into leadership development and opportunities within the 4-H program. This conference is planned, implemented, and evaluated by the Illinois State 4-H youth Leadership Team. Great way to meet and interact with other youth from across the state! The theme this year is "Find the Clue to the Leader in U". Registration begins on November 15, 2011 – January 30, 2012. More information and registration is available at:

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/juniorleadership.cfm

Purchase an Illinois 4-H License Plate

Show your support of Illinois 4-H by purchasing your own 4-H license plate or purchase one to give as a gift. A portion of every license plate sold will go to support 4-H programming in all 102 Illinois counties!

Visit the website at www.4hfoundation.illinois.edu.

McHenry County Fair News

Next year's fair has been scheduled – the dates are Aug 1-5, 2012, at the fairgrounds in Woodstock. Please see the 2011-2012 calendar of events for more important dates regarding the fair and judging.

Illinois State Fair News

2012 Dates Announced

The dates for the 2012 Illinois State Fair have been set … Friday, August 10, through Sunday, August 19, 2012. The state fair junior horse show will be held July 24 through July 29. Mark your calendars and save the dates now!

Animal Possession Deadlines Listed

4-H livestock and other animal exhibitors must have owned and personally cared for their project from the latest starting date for the project. Listed below are the animals and their latest starting date.

Beef, Performance Cow January 1

Dairy, Cows January 1

Goats, Milking Doe January 1

Beef, Steer February 1

Goats, Kids & Yearling May 1

Horse & Pony May 1

Poultry May 1

Rabbits May 1

Sheep, Wethers May 15

Beef, Heifers June 1

Dairy, Calves June 1

Sheep, Breeding June 1

Swine, Barrows June 1

Swine, Breeding June 1

Swine, Gilts June 1

***4-H'ers must be enrolled in the appropriate project by no later than June 1, 2012, and have their animals in their own possession by the deadlines listed above. If you have questions, please contact the Extension Office.

Horse Committee News

4-H horse project members must attend TWO McHenry County 4-H Horse Committee-approved clinics to be eligible to show at the 2012 4-H horse show at the McHenry County Fair. You must sign the official sign-up sheet at the clinic to receive credit for attending.

Sewing Committee Meeting

A sewing/clothing committee meeting will be held at the Extension office on Tuesday, January 3rd. Please contact the office if you are not able to attend.

Save the date...Fashion Review Workshop

On April 21st at 9am at the Extension office, Mrs. Burke, one of our 4-H alumni and parent will be conducting a workshop to help 4-H members prepare for the Fashion Review portion of sewing judging. She will be covering the topics of pose, presentation, how to accessorize your outfit, and how to model. More information on the workshop will be coming out, but please keep the date in mind!

HELP WANTED...

Please contact Janine Heidtke or Kelly Sadowski at the Extension Office if you are interested…

#1

We are in need of project area superintendents for the following areas:

Aerospace

Chalk/Carbon/Pigment

Clay

Naturecraft

Robotics

#2

We are looking for 2 adult volunteers that would be interested in organizing and running the PROJECT DAY event for the youth on Saturday, March 3rd at 9am at the fairgrounds. If you have ideas of projects that you would like to see offered at the event, please contact Janine or Kelly at the extension office.

HORSE PROJECT ORIENTATION

The first clinic of 2012 will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Hooved Animal Humane Society auditorium, 10714 McConnell Road, Woodstock. 4-H horse project members should attend to receive information packets and green sheets (the official horse registration form for the 2012 horse show). You will also meet horse committee members and learn about upcoming clinics, contests and other horse events for 2012. This is a committee-approved clinic.

4-H Great Debate Scheduled

4-H Great Debate is an opportunity for high school aged 4-H members to participate in a mock debate in the Illinois House of Representatives Chambers. Participants will select up to three bills (predetermined by the committee) that they will debate either for or against during the debate. This is an excellent opportunity for youth interested in learning more about the Illinois legislative process and hands-on experience researching a particular topic of interest. During the event participants will hear from a legislative consultant and a current member of the Illinois House of Representatives. The event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday March 23-24, 2012. On-line registration materials will be available mid-January and we are planning to make direct contact with 4-H members in 9-12 grade via email and social media.

HIPPOLOGY CONTEST

The annual McHenry County Hippology Contest will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Extension Office, 1102 McConnell Road, Woodstock. The event tests a 4-Her's knowledge of horses, including breeds, colors, anatomy, nutrition, diseases, tack and more. Participants will take a short written test and visit "stations," looking at displays and answering questions. Ribbons will be awarded in three age divisions. This is a committee-approved clinic.

Poultry Clinic

January 14, 2011, from 1-3pm at the Extension Office. All 4-H members enrolled in Poultry should try to attend this clinic. Valuable information will be given to help you in your project area and provide help for showing/judging at fair. Please register at the McHenry County web site so that we know how many are in attendance so that we can plan accordingly.

4-H Foundation

The McHenry County 4-H Youth Foundation Cookbooks are still available to help support our 4-H Extension. Inside the cookbook are hundreds of wonderful prize winning and delicious recipes from McHenry County club members and friends. The Cookbooks cost $10 and are available at the Extension Office, 1102 McConnell Road. Bundles of 6 cookbooks are also available for a slight discount. Make checks out to the McHenry County 4-H Youth Foundation. Great holiday gifts!

The annual meeting of the McHenry County 4-H and Youth Foundation will be held on January 12, 2012, at 7:00 pm at the Extension Office followed by the monthly meeting. Funds generated by the Foundation are used to support the McHenry County 4-H and Youth Development Programs. Interested in learning more about the foundation and what they provide for the youth, please attend the annual meeting.

Ukranian Egg Workshop

On Saturday, January 28th, from 10am-12pm come to the Extension Office to learn the artistic skill of Ukranian Egg decorating. Please sign up and pay the $3 fee online on our website or at the Extension Office before the workshop. The fee covers the cost of eggs for the event.

A pysanka is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated using a wax-resist (batik) method. The word comes from the verb pysaty, "to write", as the designs are not painted on, but written with beeswax. Molten wax is applied to the raw egg with a stylus called a kystka. Once the egg is dipped in numerous dyes and covered with layers wax, the wax is removed and the brightly colored egg is revealed.

Beef Weigh-In Scheduled

Date: Saturday, February 4, 2012

Place: McHenry County Fair Grounds

Time: 8:00am to Noon

Snow date: Saturday, February 11, 2012

All beef animals and market heifers to be shown in the McHenry County Fair must weigh-in and receive tattoo.

Embryology

In the 4-H Incubation and Embryology Program, students ranging from kindergarten to high school seniors learn about embryonic development as they care for developing chicken eggs. During the twenty-one day incubation period, students learn not only the scientific facts of embryology; they learn that life involves care, nurturing, struggles, and joy.

Students study embryonic development by incubating eggs, hatching and caring for chicks, and developing exhibits that demonstrate what they have learned.

Fees and Deadlines for Embryology: 4-H and Extension offer Incubation and Embryology as a service to teachers and families at a fraction of its actual cost. Your participation fee helps to offset program costs and replace materials. You can register online with a credit card. Returning teachers may opt for "Eggs Only" participation (training every 3 years is still recommended).

Early Registration Deadline is January 2, 2012

Full participation/new or returning teachers = $25

"Eggs Only"(returning teachers - no training) = $18

Second Registration Deadline is January 30, 2012.

Full participation/new or returning teachers = $30

"Eggs Only"(returning teachers - no training)= $20

Beginning Training (required for first time participants): Thursday, February 23 from 4:30 - 7:30p in the Extension Auditorium

3 CPDU's offered. Advanced Training - will be offered in tandem with Extension in Lake County. Training will take place on March 1 in the Grayslake office at 100 South US Highway 45 (Phone: 847-223-8627).

Embryology Egg Pickup is scheduled for April 4, 2012, 7am-4pm, at the McHenry County Extension office (auditorium).

Register online at: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6191

Communication Mini Fair

One of the most important skills that 4-H members can learn is to speak in front of a group. In 4-H, members have many opportunities to practice this skill. Besides doing presentations at the club meetings, members have the opportunity to participate in the Public Presentation contest. This contest is open to all youth interested in presenting in the following categories: horse presentations, food demonstrations, formal speech, illustrated speech, oral interpretation, original work, speak of horticulture, horticulture demonstrations, artistic floral design.

McHenry County's Communications Mini-Fair will take place at the Extension Office on Saturday, February 18, 2012, beginning at 9:00am. Registration will soon be on line at the McHenry Extension web site.

Clothing/Sewing Workshops

Clothing/Sewing workshops will be back this year starting in January 2012. The first workshop of the year will be Tuesday, January 24th at 6:30pm at the McHenry Extension Office. Workshops will be held twice a month until fair time when youth are constructing fair projects and extra help is needed. Topics for workshops will be determined with the input from youth and parents on skills youth are interested in learning. Registration is on line for the first meeting on the McHenry County Extension web site.

Special Interest Clubs and Opportunities

Members and families of the Creative Quilter's SPIN group volunteered their time to make 24 blankets for young children in local hospitals. These children are sponsored through the McHenry County Project Linus program. The fleece was donated to the SPIN group and members had 2 weeks to complete the blankets so that children can receive warm blanket hugs this holiday!

Project Day will be held on March 3, 2012, at the McHenry County Fairground starting at 9:00am. Look for more information coming in January with a registration form. Please see the "Help Wanted" section of the newsletter to find out how you can get involved to volunteer.

Save the date for March 16, 2012, at 7:00pm in Building D on the McHenry County Fairgrounds. Clubs can start thinking about which country they would like to learn more about. Remember that the Extension Office has kits on many of the countries that could be of interest. The kits have information in them to help you learn about your country.

There will be a meeting at the Extension office for clubs participating in this event on January 19, 2012, at 7:00pm.

At least one member and one adult from each club need to be present at this meeting. Registration and choosing your club country is available online.

The 4-H knitting class will be starting on April 14, 2012. Youth wanting to participate can give feedback on what projects they want to do and what specifically they would like to learn.

They will continue for 5 more Saturdays: April 21, April 28, May 5, May 12th, and May 19th. The class runs from 9 am to 11:00 at the Extension Office. You do not have to attend every session, since we work on all levels of ability at each class. If you have to leave early, no problem!

The youth and parents (I encourage them to participate!) should bring size 8 needles (long or short, their preference) and solid color, light colored yarn, though we do have yarn available that has been donated to the program.

Please register online at the McHenry County 4-H website for the class. A $5.00 commitment fee is required for some supplies and to help cover cost of running program.

Rabbit Clinic on January 21, 2012 from 1pm - 3 @ the Extension Office. This Rabbit Clinic is hosted by Milk Center 4-H club. Some of the topics that we will be covering is how to care for your rabbit, different breeds, and information about breeding. Youth are welcome to bring their rabbits to practice "posing" for the fair. Please enroll online.

You are all invited to join us at the Jumping Jack-A-Thon which will be held on February 19, 2012 at the Woodstock Extension Office from 2pm - 4pm. This is a fundraiser for your local food pantry, and is hosted by Milk Center 4-H Club. 4-H members raise money by collecting pledges for every jumping jack accomplished. We will also have healthy snacks, games, and door prizes. This invite is to all McHenry County & Lake County 4-H Clubs. If you have any questions please call Dawn Bihlmaier @ 815-943-2858 leader for the Milk Center 4-H club.

4-H House Cooperative Sorority

4-H House Cooperative Sorority

Are you a female member of 4-H, interested in attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign next year? If so, 4-H House Cooperative Sorority could be the perfect home-away-from-home for you while attending college! 4-H House provides an economical, fun, relaxed living environment with other girls who, like you, have been active in 4-H related activities. If 4-H House sounds like it would be a great fit for you, do not hesitate to contact our Interviewing Chair, Hannah Henkel, at (217)344-4784 or by email at henkel1@illinois.edu. Also, check us out at www.4hhouse.com! We look forward to hearing from you!

The Great American-NO BULL Challenge

The Great American NO BULL Challenge is the first campaign to empower teens to take a stand against cyberbullying. Paige Logan, an Effingham County 4-H member is one of the National Campaign spokespeople. Paige credits the leadership skills she gained in 4-H with helping her deal with her own encounter with cyberbullying. Other Illinois 4-H teens can join this effort as they combine creativity with their technology skills to create a 3-5 minute video that lends their voice to ending cyberbullying! For more information, go to www.nobullchallenge.org for directions on how to get involved. Video's can be uploaded from January 15 – March 15, 2012. The public will have the opportunity to view and vote on the video that conveys the message best. Check out the website for contest rules, tips on making a video, and other ways to get involved in the Great American NO BULL Challenge. National 4-H is one of the official partners of the Great American NO BULL Challenge.

New Online 4-H Volunteer Course - Working with Committees

This new 4-H volunteer course provides 4-H leaders with basic information about committees, advantages to utilizing committees within the 4-H club, types of committees, how to select and orient committees, committee reporting procedures, and club action steps. The courses shares two videos that highlight examples of standing and special committees used by 4-H clubs. Related resources are also posted on the web site for use by leaders. A special thank you to the Peoria County Federation and Peoria Spirits 4-H Club for their assistance with the videos. To enroll in the course go to: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/4hc/.

4th Annual State 4-H Robotics Competition

4-H members interested in robotics that the 4th Annual State 4-H Robotics Competition that will be held April 21, 2012 at the University of Illinois campus in Champaign-Urbana. Free to all 4-H members, ages 9-14 for teams of at least three members. Details on the 2012 robotics team challenge will be released Feb. 1, 2012. Scholarships for winning teams! For information on last year's event, visit http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/4hroboticschallenge.cfm.

4-H Volunteer Training Topics

Offered Via Toll-Free Teleconference System in January – March

Illinois 4-H is offering six different volunteer training sessions via the Extension toll-free teleconferencing system. All 4-H volunteers are welcome to register and attend. Join with other volunteers from across the state for an evening of learning, idea sharing, and fun!

Positive Youth Development/BIGM – January 24

Communications within a 4-H Club – February 2

Behavior Management – February 8

Risk Management – February 13

Parental Involvement – February 28

Community Service – March 6

Sessions will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will last one hour. Participants may listen toll-free from their own home phones. Registration information will be available from your local Extension office in early December. Print materials for the sessions will be mailed directly to volunteers once they have registered for a specific topic and date. There will be no fee to register. Please contact Sheri Seibold at sseibold@illinois.edu or 217-333-0910 if you have additional questions. In addition, there are four online volunteer training courses that are available for 4-H leaders which can be accessed 24/7 on their own computer. These include Volunteer Orientation, Parliamentary Procedure, Program Planning, Public Presentations, and Working with Committees.

4-H Newsletter Guidelines

The McHenry County 4-H Newsletter is written every other month by the 4-H Community Worker including articles from committees, superintendents, special interest groups, and McHenry County Foundation. For 2012 we are also asking that your club reporter send us information on what the club is doing and participating in, providing us a fun overview of their activities.

Articles are to be received as they are to be printed.

Articles are to include writers name, email, and phone number. Articles should be sent to Janine Heidtke at jheidtke@illinois.edu

McHenry County 4-H Calendar 2011-2012

***Dates, times, and Locations are all subject to change…..Please watch for updates by email and on our website.

December

23 Office Closed at noon

26-30 Office Closed

January

2 Office Closed

3 Sewing Committee 7:00pm Extension Office

4 State Illinois Applications due State Office

12 Foundation Meeting 7:00pm Extension Office

14 Poultry Clinic 1-3 pm Extension Office

16 Office Closed

16 Ambassador meeting 7:00 pm Extension Office

19 4-H International Night Committee Meeting 7:00pm Extension Office

21 Rabbit Clinic by Milk Center 1-3pm Extension Office

21 Dog Orientation 10-12pm Fairgrounds

21 MCYTT 9:00 am Extension Office

23 Creative Quilters 6:30 pm Extension Office

24 Horse Orientation 7:00 pm HAAS Wdstk, IL

24 Clothing workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

28 Ukranian Egg Wkshp 10-12 Extension Office

31 Clothing workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

February

4 Beef Weigh In 8:00 am Fairgrounds

11 Snow Date Beef Weigh In 8:00 am Fairgrounds

18 Communication Mini Fair 9:00 am Extension Office

20 Ambassador s 7:00 pm Extension Office

20 Key Application Due 4:30 pm Extension Office

21 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

23 Embryology Training 4:30pm Extension Office

28 Horse Committee 7:00 pm Extension Office

25 MCYTT Meeting 9:00 am Extension Office

25 Horse Hippology Contest 1-3 pm Extension Office

TBA Jump-A-Jack-Thon Extension Office

TBA PQA

25-26 Jr Leadership Conference Urbana, IL

27 Creative Quilters 6:30 pm Extension Office

28 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

March

1 Dog Papers Due 4:30 pm Extension Office

2 Project Day Set Up 5:00 pm Fairgrounds

3 Project Day 9:00 am Fairgrounds

TBA PQA snow date 7:00 Fairgrounds

TBA Regional Horse Bowl &

Hippology Contest

16 4-H International Night 7:00 pm Fairgrounds

17 String Tie Event Union

19 Home Furnishings Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

20 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

24 MCYTT Meeting 9:00 am Extension Office

26 Creative Quilters 6:30 pm Extension Office

27 Horse Committee 7:00 pm Extension Office

27 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

30 Last day for add & drop projects

TBA Regional Horse Judging Contest

TBA Rabbit Clinic

TBA Northern Illinois Leadership Conference (Rockford, IL )

April

14 Dog Clinic – no dogs 3:00pm Fairgrounds, Bldg D

14 Knitting Class 9-11am Extension Office

16 Ambassador 7:00 pm Extension Office

17 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

21 Fashion Review 9:00am Extension Office

21 Knitting Class 9-11am Extension Office

23 Creative Quilters 6:30 pm Extension Office

24 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

24 Horse Committee 7:00 pm Extension Office

26 Leader Meeting-Fair 7:00 pm Extension Office

28 MCYTT Meeting 9:00 am Extension Office

28 Knitting Class 9-11am Extension Office

30 Horse Green Sheets Due 4:30 pm Extension Office

30 Home Furnishings Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

May

5 Sheep Weigh In 8:00 am Fairgrounds

5 Knitting Class 9-11am Extension Office

12 Knitting Class 9-11am Extension Office

18 Knitting Class 9-11am Extension Office

20 Ambassador Meeting 7:00 pm Extension Office

21 Home Furnishings Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

22 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

22 Horse Committee 7:00 pm Extension Office

26 MCYTT Meeting 9:00 am Extension Office

29 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

May/June Beef Workshop-fitting, showing, showmanship

1 Fair Enrollments Due

1 State Fair Horse Entries due

9 Last day for Horse Ethics Online

19 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

18 Grand Ambassador Interviews 7:00 pm Extension Office

23 MCYTT 9:00 am Extension Office

26 Sewing Workshop 6:30 pm Extension Office

26 Horse Committee 7:00 pm Extension Office

28 Unit 3 4-H events in Lake Cty TBA Lake County Fair

29 Unit 3 4-H events in Lake Cty TBA Lake County Fair

29 Livestock entry forms due Extension Office

30 Unit 3 4-H events in Lake Cty TBA Lake County Fair

14 Dog Fun Match TBA

15 Cat Show 2:00 pm Fairgrounds

15 Livestock Ethics Due Online

18 Clothing Judging 9:00 am Fairgrounds

20 Dog State Fair Entries Due4:30pm Extension Office

21 Dog Show TBA

26 Fair Set Up 9:00 am Fairgrounds

30 General Project Judging 9:00 am Fairgrounds

30 Visual Arts Judging 1:30 pm Fairgrounds

31 Foods/Crops/Horticultural 9:00 am Fairgrounds

31 Animal Check In

August

1 Fair Starts

2 4-H Night at Fair 7:30 pm Fairgrounds

4 Auction 12:00 pm Fairgrounds

5 Last Day of Fair

29 Records Due to Extension Office