Info from John

We want to welcome a new staff member to our Unit! Carissa Akpore is our new Youth Development Educator for Unit 16 and will focus on the traditional 4-H program. Carissa began her duties on April 1^st and looks forward to working with all our Logan County 4-H families. Look for her "Educator Corner" column in our 4-H newsletters!

Many summer activities are scheduled. Please register ASAP for those you wish to participate in (some will be open to the general public as well). Our 4-H Shows will also be starting soon. Please pay attention to entry deadlines! All major deadlines (Home and Family, Department W, Livestock) as well as STATE FAIR JR. LIVESTOCK (if brought into our office) are set for June 28 by 4:00 pm.

Best wishes for a successful summer and show season from the entire staff.

Logan County 4-H Entry Info

You will receive ALL 4-H entry forms in the mail again this year. KEEP THEM IN A SAFE PLACE & DO NOT LOSE THEM! Entry forms are addressed to the 4-H MEMBER and should arrive the last week of May. Entry forms WILL NOT be available at the 4-H Office. Your personalized entry forms (per department) will be mailed to you prior to June 1. These entry forms should be filled in and then returned in person to the 4-H Office by June 28th.

Please make sure you plan your 4-H entries around summer vacations, camps, and FFA conventions, etc. Entries will be accepted June 10-28th only — NO EXCEPTIONS!!

"X" Factor/Premium Info

Educator Corner

"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future. "Franklin Roosevelt

Hello, my name is Carissa Akpore and I am excited to be the new Unit 16 Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development serving the Counties of Logan, Menard and Sangamon.

As a 10-year member of Woodford County 4-H, I was involved in a variety of projects from foods and clothing to my favorite project, geology. Being involved in 4-H gave me a wide variety of opportunities from participating in Style Revue, Ambassadors, working in the lunch stand, 4-H camp, club activities and attending the Citizenship Washington Focus program.

I have worked in the 4-H Youth Development field for 8 plus years in a variety of areas including 4-H Program Coordinator work and ABC AmeriCorps 4-H Coordinator work. While working for the University of Minnesota I enjoyed creating positive youth development moments, seeing youth find their spark and promoting leadership opportunities for youth and volunteers.

My Masters in Youth Development Leadership and experience in the education field have taught me how to deliver quality programming in a timely manner and build healthy youth and volunteer relationships. Areas of interest include youth leadership, volunteer systems, cross age teaching and quality programming.

I look forward to meeting the 4-H youth, families, volunteers and leaders throughout Logan/Sangamon/Menard Counties. My office is located in Lincoln so I welcome a visit or questions at any time. Contact me at 217-732-8289 or akpore@illinois.edu

Upcoming 4-H Workshops

Fathers Day Workshop

A Father's Day workshop will be held on Thursday, June 13th from 3-4 pm. Come make something special for Dad, Grandpa, or a favorite male role model. Cost is $5.00 & can be paid that day. Call 732-8289 or register online at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=8315 by June 7th so we have enough supplies on hand. We need at least six registered to hold the workshop.

Cooking with Queen Dani

Logan County Fair Queen Dani Juilfs will host a cooking adventure & teach participants to make some super smoothies and a scrumptious snack on Monday, June 17 from 10—11:30 am. Cost is $4.00 (paid in advance) so ingredients can be purchased. Stop in at the 4-H office to fill out a registration form or print the form from our website (after May 6th) at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h Register ASAP as this is will be a workshop open to the general public. Maximum/20 participants.

Sensational Science

Welcome ages 8 and older to a series of science workshops to be held Monday, July 1, 8 & 22 from 1:00-2:30pm at the Logan County Extension Office. Cost is $6 per workshop (pay in advance). You may attend one or all of the sessions. Minimum of 8 participants needed for each session. Please go to http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h to register for a fun filled science summer (Fill out registration form available on the website and return to Extension Office with payment).

Mix It Up Science: Did you know that yeast was a living thing? Learn how it grows by making bread in a bag while doing exciting experiments and blowing things up in the kitchen! Join us on July 1^st from 1:00-2:30pm for a kitchen adventure you will never forget.

Gizmos & Gadgets: Have you ever wondered how electricity works? On July 8^th from 1:00-2:30pm you will learn just that while making a robot that will dance across the floor while drawing you a colorful picture.

Jump Into Space: Straw rockets, stomp rockets, bottle rockets – oh my! July 22^nd will launch you into a space that will let you build and launch multiple different rockets and jump into the subject of aerospace.

International Cooking Camp

An International Cooking "Camp" SPIN Club will be held on June 11-13 and June 18-20 (Tues-Thurs each week—total of six sessions) from 9:30 am —Noon each day. These classes are available for 4-H members ages 10-14. Cost of the International Cooking Camp will be $35 per participant for 4-H members ($45 fee for general public NON 4-H members). Tentative topics & cultures to be studied will include Germany, Caribbean, Greece, India, Australia & Spain. Authentic ethnic dishes will be prepared each day including a main dish and dessert. Different cooking methods & terms associated with each country will be studied daily.

A maximum of 10 participants will be accepted. Registration materials will be available at the 4-H Office on a first-come, first-served basis or can be printed from our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h and scrolling down the listing. Register ASAP if interested as this will also be open to the general public.

Herb-N-Kids Club

An Herb-N-Kids SPIN Club will be held this summer focusing on herb gardening on June 25, 26,27; July 1 & 2 from 10-11:30 am daily. Cost will be $25 for 4-H members (General public NON 4-H fee will be $35). Participants will learn more about the types of herbs that can be planted in their own home gardens as well as how herbs can be used to enhance the flavor of recipes you might make at home. A "salad garden" and "pizza herb garden" will be planted and pizza will be made using herbs as several of the ingredients! Activities will include games & puzzles about herbs, planting of herbs, and cooking with herbs. A maximum of 15 will be accepted and registration materials are available at the 4-H Office or can be printed from our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h Register ASAP if interested as this will also be open to general public.

"Gone Buggy" Mini Camp 2013

Have some fun this summer by attending and participating in our mini theme camp. This year's theme will be Bugs! You do not need to be a 4-H member to attend, so feel free to bring along a friend (8-12 years old).

WHEN: Friday, June 7, 2013, from 8:45 am — 11:00 am

WHERE: Kickapoo Creek Park, Lincoln (Large pavilion on hill) — off of old Route 66

COST: $8.00 per participant (NON-REFUNDABLE FEE)

Activities will consist of three bug-related workshops including making a doorhanger, bug catcher, and a butterfly craft. A snack will also be made that day. A maximum of 18 registrations will be accepted. Stop in at the 4-H office to fill out a registration form or print one from our website http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h to fill in and return. You must register by May 31 to attend.

4-H Shooting Sports/Shotgun Events

There are several upcoming shooting sports dates scheduled for shotgun. You must pre-register so that we have enough supplies for everyone! You may call the office to register (732-8289) or register online at the links listed below. Upcoming dates that have been scheduled are:

Saturday, May 25 @ 9:00 a.m. - follow link to register online

https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=8254

Saturday, June 29 @9:00 a.m. - follow link to register online

https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=8255

You are welcome to enroll in in Shooting Sports at any time throughout the year. Cost to enroll is $12 if a 4-H member and $22 if NON 4-H. All equipment is provided. If you would like to enroll for the 2012-2013 year, please stop by the 4-H office to complete paperwork or you may print the materials to fill out from our website (FOUR forms) at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h

To participate in Shotgun events you must be age 10 or older.

Please contact Amy at 732-8289 or amyhyde@illinois.edu if you have any questions!

4-H Cloverbud Camp

University of Illinois Extension in Logan County will be offering three-day mini camps for children ages 5—7. These camps will provide youth with a variety of activity-based learning opportunities. Some of the topic areas will be science/technology (wind & air/weather), plants & animals (ants & bugs), and personal development (valuing family), and many more!

Two sessions will be offered. You will need to choose which dates best fit your summer schedule. Each session will be held from 10:00—11:30 am and the dates available are July 16, 17, 18 and August 6, 7, 8. Cost for Cloverbud Camp will be $15.00 per participant.

Cloverbud Camps are limited to 12 youth each session and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To register your child for a Cloverbud Camp session, stop in at the Extension Office to obtain a registration form or print from our website at: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h Register ASAP as these sessions will also be open to the general public.

State Fair Dates & Eligibility

The dates for the Illinois State Fair are Friday, August 9 to Sunday, August 18. Logan County's Regional Exhibit Day for general project exhibits is Monday, August 12th.

For the 2013 Illinois State Fair, 4-H members must have been 10 years old as of 9/1/12 to be eligible to take an exhibit.

State 4-H Judging Contests

The 2013 Illinois State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest will be held Monday June 17th at the University of Illinois Stock Pavilion 1402 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, IL. Registration begins at 8 am.

Details for the 2013 Livestock Judging contests will be posted on the State 4-H website soon. If interesting in participating in these judging contests, visit the State 4-H Judging contest web page for further info: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/judgingcontest.cfm

Additional information on Dairy (8/17/13) & Poultry (8/6/13) Judging contests will be available at the Illinois 4-H Web Site page for State 4-H Judging contests as well. It can be found here: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/judgingcontest.cfm

If you have further questions after viewing the information on the web site, please contact Patty at the 4-H Office (732-8289). Take a look at what is there and register soon if interested as some registration deadlines are as early as June 1.

Expansion & Review Meeting

An Expansion & Review Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14^th from 6:00-7:30pm. Expansion & Review committees evaluate Logan County 4-H program offerings as well as look at ways to expand 4-H membership and reach new audiences. We will be discussing membership expansion, Fair promotion booth ideas, and 100 Years of Extension Celebration ideas. To see what has been discussed previously, you can find minutes from our January E & R meeting on the website: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h/

If you would like to be part of the Expansion & Review Committee, please call us at 732-8289 to let us know or register online at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=8316 and we will get you added to the list. This committee is for both Adults and youth and would look great on 4-H records!

Scramble Information - Wednesday July 31

Openings are available in ALL scrambles. You must sign up in person at the Extension Office. Parent/guardian permission is required.

PIG SCRAMBLE — participants must be 10 and not yet 15 as of July 31, 2013. Previous catchers may not participate again.

CALF SCRAMBLE — Participants must be 12 and not yet 18 as of July 31, 2013 and also have one year of large animal 4-H project experience.

GOAT SCRAMBLE — Participants must be 8 or 9 as of September 1, 2013. Previous catchers may not participate again.

CHICKEN SCRAMBLE — Participants must be 5 or 6 years old as of July 31, 2013. (If participated at age 5 you may NOT participate again at age 6)

New Member Fair Orientation

New members, along with their parents, are invited to attend a New Member's Fair Orientation on Tuesday, June 25th, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm at the Extension Building on the Fairgrounds. This orientation will provide new members with an opportunity to learn to fill out their 4-H show entry forms, get to know their way around the fairgrounds, see an example of the conference judging format, and learn the routine used to exhibit their projects during the 4-H shows.

Please call the 4-H Office (732-8289) by June 21st to register to attend. This will be a good opportunity for members to learn what to expect when exhibiting their 4-H projects for the first time. Bring all your questions to this New Member Fair Orientation. Hope to see you there!!

Summer Employment available with State Fair Jr. Dept.

The Jr. Dept. at the Illinois State Fair has various jobs available before & during the 2013 Illinois State Fair. Jobs include Set Up Crew, Project Staff, and Livestock Crew. Some jobs are available for as young as 14 years old. Most of these jobs pay $35 per day of working. Additional information and a 'fill in' application form are available on the Illinois State 4-H website: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/members/fairsandexhibits.cfm Contact Patty if you have further questions (732-8289) or phuffer@illinois.edu

4-H Great Debate May 17-18, 2013

Dates have been set for this year's 4-H Great Debate for May 17 & 18, 2013 in the Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois State Capital, Springfield, Illinois. The Great Debate is open to high school 4-H teens, ages 14-18 and provides an opportunity to debate mock bills in the Illinois House of Representatives. Teens sign up for a mock bill and research that bill prior to the conference. Once at the conference, each participant works in a group to make final preparations for the debate of their bill. Youth may also run for the office of Speaker of the House or Clerk of the House. Participants learn about the legislative process and how Illinois government works while debating in the House Chambers. Cost to participate is $75. Online registration is now open at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/greatdebate.cfm

Deadline for registration is May 2nd.

Illini Summer Academies

The Illini Summer Academies return this year to the U of I campus in Champaign and will be held Sunday, June 23 to Wednesday, June 26. High school students age 14-18 by 9/1/2013 are invited to attend this four day event.

U of I graduate students & professors will be teaching these Academies on the U of I campus. Attending the academies will provide teens with opportunities to learn and explore career options, explore the U of I campus and college life; visit Campustown; participate in community service; and meet youth from across the state.

Each Academy will offer 15 hours of interactive activity and study in a specific field of interest. The 2013 Illini Academies will include: Aerospace Engineering (no repeat attendees/Max 20—$360), Art & Design (Max 30/$335), Creative Writing (NEW) (Max 20/$260); Crop Sciences (No repeat attendees/Max 30—$180), Electrical & Computer Engineering (No repeat attendees/Max 20/$385), Landscape Architecture (No repeat attendees/Max 18-$300), Leadership (Max 50/$260), Molecular & Cellular Biology (No repeat attendees/Must have completed sophomore year in high school/Max 24-$285), Natural Resources & Environment (NEW) (Max 14/$265), and Veterinary Medicine (no repeat attendees/must have completed sophomore year in high school/Max 25-$340). Registration will accepted online only and the final registration deadline is May 22. Here is registration link: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/summeracademies.cfm

If you have further questions about the Illini Summer Academies, contact Patty at the 4-H Office—732-8289 or phuffer@illinois.edu

State Fair Horse Reminder

Please remember if you plan to show your horse at the State Fair that ownership/lease papers and photographs are due to the Extension Office by May 1 to be eligible to show at State Fair.

2013 State Fair Jr Livestock Books & Entries

For the 2013 Illinois State Fair, the Jr. Department books are available only on the web. Our office DOES NOT receive books. You will need to look up your classes and requirements on the web. Jr. Livestock animal entry forms will also need to be printed off the web (these can be filled IN online before printing). FOR 2013: You may mail and/or deliver your forms and fees directly to State Fair OR bring them in to our office as in past years (along with entry fees). If brought to our office, they MUST be turned in BY June 28.

Web address is: www.agr.state.il.us/isf/premium/

2013 Illinois State Fair - Junior Livestock Fees

All Junior Exhibitors will pay entry fees for any animal entered. Fees should be submitted with your mailed entry OR will be collected when entries are brought to our office (by June 28th deadline).

BEEF, DAIRY, HORSES—$10 per head

SHEEP, SWINE, GOATS—$2.50 per head

DOGS — $2.00 per dog

POULTRY, RABBITS — $1.00 per head

PQA Certification Clinic

Youth Pork Quality Assurance is required for any exhibitor showing Jr. Open, or Premiere BARROWS at the 2013 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR. Two trainings are left in Unit 16. A Pork Quality Assurance Clinic has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 7th at 6:30 pm at the Logan County Extension office and the LAST training in Unit 16 will be held on Wednesday, May 15 at 6:00 pm at the Sangamon County Extension Office. Exhibitors will need to have certification in their OWN name (not farm names). It is encouraged that youth 8-13 years of age be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the class. If you have questions about the certification process, please call the Extension Office at 732-8289. YOU MUST RECERTIFY FOR PQA ON AN ANNUAL BASIS!

Additional Training Dates available in nearby counties include:

May 8—7 pm—Dewitt County Extension (8425 Katie Rd., Clinton) - must preregister by calling 217/935-5764

May 9—6:30 pm —McLean County Extension (402 N. Hershey Rd., Bloomington)

Area Vets Request Appointments

Area vet clinics have requested you make appointments well in advance to take care of health certificates, blood testing, or other services such as hoof trimming. If you need any of these services for your animals, please call ahead to avoid the last minute rush. Greenhaven Animal Clinic phone number is (309)247-3231, and Timbercrest Veterinary Service is (217)648-5800 . Of course you may use any veterinarian you wish.

Swine Ear Notch/Barrow Weight Limit

This year swine exhibitors are to turn in their ear notch sheets by June 1 — Must submit ear notch sheets on barrows & commercial gilts to the 4-H Office by June 1 in order to be eligible to show your swine project at the Logan County 4-H Swine Show. Ear notch sheets are available at the 4-H office as well as on our website: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h/ and you will also receive a copy with your Entry Form in May.

BARROW weight limit set for 2013 State Fair is 300 lbs. Our Logan Co. 4-H Swine show will follow this limit. If barrows weigh OVER 300 lbs they will show in the Super Heavy Barrow class at our Logan Co. 4-H Swine Show.

Tattoos-Sheep/Meat Goat Wethers (state fair)

Tattooing sheep and meat goats will be done at centralized locations this year. NO TATTOOING WILL BE DONE BY LOGAN COUNTY EXTENSION. An electronic identification tag ($3 each) will be used on each animal. The owner will be charged for the tag. Date and location still available in our area: May 11 — 10—11:30 am; Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield. A complete list of tattoo locations can be found on our website: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h/ Animals that need to be tattooed include live and premiere wethers for the State Fair Jr. Show.

County Club News

BEASON AG—At a recent meeting we discussed items in the 4-H newsletter including upcoming workshops. We wrote letters to soldiers and set our next meeting date.

CLOVERDALE—At our March club meeting we had discussion of 4-H Foundation spaghetti meal, scramble sign ups and 4-H day with the Cardinals. Patty Huffer from the Extension office came and presented a hand washing program.

MIDDLETOWN 4-H'ERS— In March we held our Grandparent/Senior luncheon with 74 attending. We discussed 4-H Camp and workshop, ribeye sale, and May baskets. In April we discussed records, upcoming 4-H shows, and talked about Cloverbud judging at our next meeting.

TOPPER 4-H — Our club has recently passed out 4-H manuals, members gave talks and demonstrations and we made Easter eggs for the local nursing home.

WIDE-A-WAKE—At our meeting in April we discussed ideas for club t-shirts. We also had a program on herb gardening presented by Joe Stambaugh.

Home & Family/Food, Nutrition & Wellness Show Information

These shows will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2013 at the Extension Building. Deadline for entries is Friday, June 28, 2013 by 4:00 pm!

Please look over the showbook (available from your 4-H leader, the 4-H Office or on our website — http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4hshow/ for your project requirements. Clubs have been assigned specific times to register at the Food Show. Please be sure you are here at the time your club is assigned:

9:00—9:30 am — Atlanta Ag, Atlanta Town & Country, Beason Ag, Chester, Cloverdale, Enthusiastic Achievers, & Hartem Clovers clubs.

10:00—10:30 — Hollanders, Middletown 4-H'ers, The 4 Corner Clovers, The Pioneers, Topper 4-H, & Wide-A-Wake 4-H clubs.

If you are interested in a sample scoresheet for your Home & Family or Foods projects, please contact our office prior to showdate and we will try to get that sample to you. E-mail Patty (phuffer@illinois.edu) or Amy (amyhyde@illinois.edu) or call the office at 732-8289 to request a sample scoresheet.

Extension to Celebrate 100 years - looking for historical items!

Beginning May 1, 2013 and lasting through April 30, 2014 Extension will celebrate 100 Years! We would like to create a photo gallery of historical items from Extension. We are looking for items (photos, 4-H fair books, news articles highlighting 4-H or Extension. etc.) from the past in Logan County. We'd especially like to find things that are from the 1950's and older — so ask your grandparents to look around! You can email us a picture or drop these items by the 4-H office where we will take a digital photo of them to include in our "100 years of Extension/Logan County" Photo Gallery we plan to include on our website. A Pinterest board for Illinois Extension has already been created for "100 Years of Extension" and can be viewed here: http://pinterest.com/uiextension/100-years-of-extension/

Other events celebrating 100 Years of Extension are in the works as well. Watch the newsletter for additional planned activities.

Logan County Fair Queen Pageant Seeks Contestants

We are now seeking candidates for the 2013 Little Miss & Miss Logan County Fair Queen Pageant. If interested please refer to the website: www.logancountyfairqueen.com for a complete listing of Rules & Regulations and instructions on how to apply. For further questions, please contact Amy Cherry- Pageant Co-Director-Logan County Fair Association at 217-792-3314 or 217-737-7623.

2013 State Fair Ticket Reservations

Reduced price State Fair parking passes & admission tickets are available through the Extension Office on a pre-order/pre-pay system. If you are interested in ordering reduced price State Fair tickets in advance, please print out the form available on our website: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/logan4h/.

Reduct cost tickets are $4.00 for parking and $1.00 admission/ages 5-12 and $4.00 admission/ages 13-adult.