Happy Friday 4-H Families!

These email updates will come to you every 2 weeks. You can always get these updates on the web at: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/

New! 4-H Enrollment Forms due May 1
Youth may join 4-H at any time; however, in order to exhibit at the McLean County Fair, 4-H enrollment forms must be turned in to the Extension Office or postmarked by May 1.

4-H Memorial Camp
Register by May 1 – only about 10 spaces still available!
June 10-14 will be McLean County's week at 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello. Registration forms are available at the Extension Office and online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/mclean4h/2120.html McLean County is allocated 80 registrations on a first come, first serve basis. If you are unable to attend during McLean County's week, you may register for another week by calling the camp office at 217-762-2741.

The full fee for 4-H Summer Camp for 2012 will be $175/camper. However, the fee for current year 4-Her's that register through their local Extension Office for their designated week will be discounted to $160/camper. 4-Her's that choose to attend camp outside their scheduled week (those that register directly with the 4-H Camp office) will be charged the full fee of $175. Any non-4-Her's that register either through the local Extension Office or register directly with the 4-H Camp office will be charged the full fee of $175. Fifteen dollar sibling discounts will again be continued for 2012.

New! Fair Book is online
If you can't wait to get a printed copy of the Fair Book, it is available online at: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/mclean4hfair/115.html

Oh, the Places You'll Go in 4-H! First Stop – Rescheduled for May 24 - 6:30-8:00 pm
Originally planned for April 26, the Second Stop is rescheduled for Thursday, May 24. Please register online.

Take the next step with 4-H records and see how the 4-H Project Report forms and My 4-H Activities forms can transition to the Illinois 4-H Award Application that is used to compete for County and State awards. Learn the difference between participation, leadership and community service. Get started on filling out the Illinois 4-H Award Application. Program will be held at the Extension Office.

New! Paper Clover Campaign
Again this year, Tractor Supply Company and 4-H will team up for the Paper Clover Campaign. The campaign will run from May 2 through May 13. Store customers will have an opportunity to purchase a paper clover with proceeds supporting 4-H at the national, state and county level. Funds coming back to McLean County will be used to help cover some of the expenses related to the fair. We are looking for clubs to host a table with some simple activities to promote 4-H during store hours on Saturday May 5, Sunday May 6, Saturday May 12 and Sunday May 13. We have plenty of 4-H promotional items (brochures, stickers) for your club to pass out. We know that more people are willing to make a donation if they see 4-H Club members at the store promoting the Paper Clover Campaign. Please help out! Two-hour shifts will be offered from 8 am-6 pm on Saturdays and 10 am-6 pm on Sundays. If your club is interested in taking a shift, please call the office or register your club online https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6757

New! Register for Air Rifle Workshops – May 5 – Level 1 at 9 am and Level 2 at 11:00 am
4-H members must attend Level 1 before they can attend Level 2. 4-H members typically attend Level 1 just once, but they are always welcome to attend a second time if they feel that would be helpful. 4-H members are encouraged to attend Beginner Air Rifle (Level 2 workshops) as often as possible to improve their skills. Level 3 will be offered later in the year. Register for the Mary 5 workshops at: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6564

Additional Air Rifle workshops will be offered on the following dates:
June 2 - Introduction to Air Rifle (Level 1 workshop) at 9:00 am, Beginner Air Rifle (Level 2 workshop) at 11:00 am
July 7 - Introduction to Air Rifle (Level 1 workshop) at 9:00 am, Beginner Air Rifle (Level 2 workshop) at 11:00 am
September 1 - Introduction to Air Rifle (Level 1 workshop) at 9:00 am, Beginner Air Rifle (Level 2 workshop) at 11:00 am
October 6 - Introduction to Air Rifle (Level 1 workshop) at 9:00 am, Beginner Air Rifle (Level 2 workshop) at 11:00 am
November 3 - Introduction to Air Rifle (Level 1 workshop) at 9:00 am, Beginner Air Rifle (Level 2 workshop) at 11:00 am

New! Statewide 4-H Surveys
This spring, we will be collecting data statewide to answer 3 critical questions:

(1) Are we incorporating the essential elements of positive youth development programming into our 4-H club experiences? We will be asking about 1/3 of our clubs to complete a survey and will analyze the data statewide.

(2) Have we positively influenced youth's aspirations and interest in 4-H Science? Youth attending science rich events for 4-H members are non-members will be asked to participate in the evaluation.

(3) As 4-H members graduate, we want to know how 4-H has influenced their career decisions. 4-H members 17 and 18 years of age will be asked to complete an online survey.

As a statewide team, we are very excited to have information we can share with our stakeholders. If you have any questions regarding the surveys, please contact me.

New! McLean County Pork Producers Scholarship
Any McLean County High School senior who has raised or shown hogs for at least 5 years and/or is a member of a family who are active members of the McLean County Pork Producers may apply for a scholarship. More information is available at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/42915.pdf Applications are available at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/42914.pdf and are due June 15.

New! 4-H Livestock Judging Contest
University of Illinois Extension - McLean County and the Agriculture Department at Illinois State University will host a Regional 4-H Livestock Judging Contest at the ISU Laboratory Farm located just north and west of Lexington, IL. The contest will be held on Friday, June 8^th starting at 8:45 a.m. For more information: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/42916.pdf

New! 2^nd Annual Go & Grow 5K Race and Family Fun Event
The IAA Foundation 5K Race and family fun event supports Illinois Ag in the Classroom, a program providing free resources to teachers in an effort to help students make the connection between food, fiber, fuel and farming. It would be great to see our 4-H clubs support this event! For more information: http://www.iaafoundation.org/iaaf/Events/growandgo.htm

To register: http://www.iaafoundation.org/iaafoundation/foundationforms/5k_form.asp

McLean County 4-H Horse Competition Preparation Clinics

CLICK HERE to view photos from last year's "Showmanship Clinic".

CLICK HERE to view photos of "Balanced and Controlled Riding 2011".

Get you and your horse ready for the 2012 Show Season!! Participate in ARENA ACTIVITIES or BARN ACTIVITIES. Both available each week!

Please read flier for more details!

Location: Interstate Center, Bloomington

Cost to participate with your horse in the Arena is $10.00* per week, payable at the door. There is a limit of 30 horses for most weeks' arena activities.

Fairgrounds Open 5:00-9:00 Clinics from 6:00-8:00pm

Arena Activities are limited to 30 horses*, so register EARLY!

AUDITING IS FREE! All are Welcome!! Open to all experience levels; pick and choose any or all six weeks.

Please click here to download a copy of the RULES for all participants in these clinics.

It is MANDATORY that All Manure and Trash must be hauled out with your horse.

***All 4-Hers MUST be ACCOMPAINED by a PARENT/ GUARDIAN/ TRAINER at ALL TIMES***
**Liability waivers must be signed upon entering the barn by a parent/guardian. You may download here..***

Proper barn attire required at ALL TIMES.

For Questions please contact Lisa Riddle jpines2388@speednet.com (309)530-7800 or Kate Rodriguez at k_rodrigo@comcast.net (309.261.0786).

Volunteers needed for the Barn Quilt Heritage Trail Project
Volunteers are needed to paint quilt blocks on 2 by 2 plywood pieces. The blocks will be put in business windows throughout McLean County to stimulate interest in the "Barn Quilt Heritage Trail – McLean County" project.

Many community organizations are supporting the project already, The Bloomington Downtown Association, The
Museum of History, The Town of Normal, the Hands All Around Quilt Guild, and many farm owners, to name just a few.

Volunteers will be supplied with paint, primedplywood boards cut to size, quilt patterns and paint supplies (and basic instructions only if you need them). Volunteers can choose the quilt pattern and paint colors they want to use.

Please call Karen Gottlieb, 663-4259 or GnWscout@aol.com for more information.

State Fair Employment Opportunities
The State Fair Jr. Department Job Application and Job Listings is posted on the Illinois 4-H website Fair & Exhibits page: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/members/fairsandexhibits.cfm. There are openings for youth ages 14-15 (limited); 16 and over (LOTS) and adults as judges, project assistants, livestock crew, superintendents, and set-up crew. If you are interested, check out the website.

State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest – June 18
The 2012 Illinois State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest will be held Monday June 18th at the University of Illinois Stock Pavilion 1402 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, IL. Participants must be checked in and registered between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. The contest will start at 10:00 a.m. There will be a $5.00 registration fee for each senior participant to cover his or her lunch.

All participants will evaluate 8 classes of livestock and answer questions on three sets of questions. Senior contestants will give 3 sets of oral reasons after lunch while the junior contestants are released. Each county may enter a total of three four-member teams plus three extra individuals. Those teams can be either two senior teams and one junior team or two junior teams and one senior team. This contest will decide the high county team which will represent Illinois 4-H at the American Royal Livestock Contest in Kansas City, MO. In addition, the top 20 overall seniors will be invited back to a special work out to select the State 4-H Livestock Judging Team. This team will represent Illinois 4-H in November by participating in the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, KY.

Click here for more detailed information on rules, eligibility, resources, and classes.
Click here for registration form.

State 4-H Poultry Judging Contest – August 9
The Illinois State 4-H Poultry Judging Contest will be held Thursday August 9th in conjunction with the Illinois State Fair Junior Poultry show. The contest will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Orr building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield Illinois.

A county may enter any number of 4-H participants. A county team may be made up of three or four individuals with no limit on the number or teams or individual contestants. The four highest senior 4-H'ers will be selected to participate on the Illinois State 4-H Poultry Judging Team which will represent Illinois in the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Judging Conference during the third week of November in Louisville. KY.

Click here for more detailed information on the contest classes and format.
Click here for registration information.

State 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest – August 18
The 2012 State 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest will be held Saturday August 18th, 2012 in conjunction with the
Illinois State Fair. The contest will take place in the Livestock Center at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield Illinois.

Registration is to be made on the day of the contest at the site of the contest. Registration will be from 8:30 am to 9:30 am with the contest starting at 10:00 am. To be eligible for selection, members must have been 14 years of age and not older than 18 years of age as of January 1, 2012. There is no limit on the number of participants per county.

The state 4-H dairy cattle judging team will be selected from participants in this contest. The selected State 4-H Dairy Team will participate at the National Dairy Judging Contest in Madison, Wisconsin. Click here for more contest information and rules.

State 4-H Horse Judging Contest
The State 4-H Horse Judging Contest will be held at Black Hawk College – East Campus Horse Arena on Saturday, May 5. Registration and contest start time are still TBA. Mark your calendar and watch for more information to come.

Youth LEADS
Youth LEADS is a leadership and community development program for High School Classes of 2013 and 2014 in McLean County. This program is brought to you by the McLean County Community Compact and University of Illinois Extension.

Youth LEADS is a 4-H Leadership SPIN Club that focuses on developing future leaders and fostering an awareness and understanding of important issues within the community. The program provides a forum in which future leaders have the opportunity to interact with local community, business, and government leaders and develop important life skills outside of the classroom.

All sessions will be held from 9:00 to 12:00 in June, 2012. More details and a registration form are available at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/mclean4h/3434.html

State 4-H Youth Leadership Team Looking for New Members
The Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team is starting to recruit older Illinois 4-H members and recent 4-H alumni to apply and interview for the 2012-2014 term. They are looking for 4-H teens that have demonstrated leadership abilities and are willing to step forward and assist with programming on the statewide level.

Information regarding the Youth Leadership Team and their activities, along with the YLT application, is available on the Youth Leadership Team page of the 4-H website: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/members/leadership_sylt.cfm. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age by September 1, 2012 (and no older than 19 by that date) in order to apply. They will be interviewing to fill 3-8 positions on the team from teens from across the state.

Applications are due at two times during the summer, depending on when the member wants to interview. Interviews at the Illini Summer Academies require applications be sent to the State 4-H Office no later than June 15. For interviews during State Fair (August 10-14), applications are due by August 1.

State Fair Lamb and Goat Tattoo and Weigh-in Locations
These are the only locations that 4-H members can weigh sheep and goats that will possibly be shown at this year's state fair. http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/42295.pdf Tattooing will be held at the McLean County Fairgrounds on May 5.

Dog Obedience/Agility Dates Set for 2012
For more information: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/42352.pdf
Location: Interstate Center
Training Dates: 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 6/4, 6/11, 6/18
Fee: $10 for 12 week class session
Must bring: Copy of current rabies vaccination for 4-H staff to keep.
Instructors: McLean County Fair Dog Superintendents

Shooting Sports Training Opportunity for Volunteers
The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program will be holding its first adult certification training for the 2012 calendar year, May 18-20 at the 4-H Memorial Camp, Monticello, Il. All 4-H Shooting Sports shooting activities must be directly supervised by an Illinois Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor. Certified Instructors must be a minimum age of 21 as of January 1 of the current year and must successfully complete an instructor training session administered by the State 4-H Shooting Sports Committee and demonstrate competency to instruct as determined through a written test, trainer observation and other screening used during the activity.

Instructors must have been approved as a current Illinois 4-H Leader through the local County Extension Office. If you are interested in becoming a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor, you may download the agenda for the training here: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/42045.pdf

And the registration here: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/42044.pdf

Before sending the registration to the State 4-H Office, you must contact the McLean County Extension office for approval.

GPS Spin Club
The GPS club meets on the 2^nd Monday from now through May.They are also planning some summer activities and a trip to the Illinois Surveyor's Museum in Springfield.The club is collaborating with the McLean County Farm Bureau to conduct a club project featuring numerous Historical Agricultural sites.The students research the site and then place the cache.The club is open to all 4-H'ers and non-4-H'ers in Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties. For more information contact Carolyn Hansen by sending her an email at cshansen@illinois.edu or calling the Extension Office.

Illini Summer Academy Registration is Open!
We are extremely excited to announce plans for the upcoming 2012 Illini Summer Academies (ISA). There will be 11 Academies this year - up 3 from last year and introducing 4 NEW Academies.

ISA is our summer teen "conference" that takes place on the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana campus. It is open to ALL Illinois high school teens - it is not limited to 4-H members. It will start on Sunday afternoon, June 24 and continue through Wednesday afternoon, June 27. High school teens from across the state will participate in 15-hours of college department Academies, exploring a college major and potential careers with hands-on work in labs, classrooms, and field trips. The Leadership Academy will focus on Youth and Adult Partnerships this year and encourage adult participation for one day of the 3-day Academy.

2012 ISA Academy Options include:
* Aerospace Engineering
* Agricultural & Biological Engineering
* Art & Design
* Bioengineering
* Crop Sciences
* Electrical & Computer Engineering
* Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning
* Leadership
* Molecular & Cellular Biology
* Physics
* Veterinary Medicine

Registration is open via the ISA website page: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/summeracademies.cfm. Registration MUST be completed on-line. Academies fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Some Academies do have grade restrictions because of needed high school class requirements and the nature of their Academy topics, however most are open to teens ages 14-18, as of 9/1/2012. Some Academies do not allow repeat attendees. Final registration will close May 23.

Free Chicks Available
The McLean County Ag in the Classroom will have lots of baby chicks looking for a good home on Friday, May 4. They will be WhiteLeghorn chicks.These chickens will be very good white egg layers and eat the smallest amount of feed per egg (feed conversion rate). They will have some black spots as they are a crossbreed. There will be about ½ males and ½ females. If you are interested in receiving some of the chicks, please contact Ag in the Classroom Coordinator, Terra Bertolini at tlberto@illinois.edu or call the Extension office.

Fish Camp - May 12-13
Fishing at its best. This fun filled weekend event, for adults and children, is packed with fishing action and instructional workshops for the beginning or intermediate fishing enthusiast. Learn to catch fish in the camp's 16-acre fishing paradise. Campers will be given lessons on fishing tips, bait, knots, gear, boating, fish behavior, fisheries management, and caring for your catch. The cost is $49 per person. Pre-registration and payment is required and camp does fill up fast! To register, contact 4-H Memorial Camp at 217-762-2741 or send an email to Curt Sinclair at sinclair@illinois.edu.

4-H Night with the Normal CornBelters – June 15
Mark Friday, June 15 on your calendar for 4-H Night with the CornBelters. Download a ticket order form at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/41837.pdf

Exhibit Opportunities for Shooting Sports
4-H Shooting Sports is a GROUP project, and therefore, members enrolled in one of the Shooting Sports projects (Archery, Air Rifle, Shotgun) must participate in at least one county workshop in order to exhibit at the fair. There are no project manuals for Shooting Sports. Members gain knowledge and skills by participating in the workshops conducted by certified instructors. Exhibit opportunities being planned include Rifle Exhibit (poster), Shotgun Exhibit (poster), Archery Exhibit (poster), Rifle Match, Shotgun Match, and Archery Match. The Rifle, Shotgun and Archery Matches will be held prior to the Fair and exhibitors will be awarded placings based on performance. For the discipline they are enrolled in, exhibitors will be able to choose to enter in either the Exhibit or Match, or may choose to enter in both classes. BE SURE TO INCLUDE SHOOTING SPORTS ON YOUR 4-H ENROLLMENT FORM DUE MAY 1.

GREEN Bloodlines in Your Family?
The Illinois 4-H Foundation welcomes nominations for the 2012 4-H Family Spirit Award which will be presented at the 4-H Family Picnic at the Illinois State Fair on August 11.

The Illinois 4-H Family Spirit Award recognizes a family with at least three generations and at least 15 different family members (including in-laws) that have either been 4-H members, leaders, or volunteers with at least 100 cumulative years of 4-H membership or volunteerism represented within the family. Selection is based on the total number of family members with 4-H connections, the total number of years of 4-H involvement, the diversity of experiences and recognitions earned by the 4-H members, and the collective impact that family members have made as advocates of their county and state 4-H programs. On-line applications are available at: http://4hfoundation.illinois.edu/awards/illinois_4h_family_spirit_award Nominations are due by May 1.

4-H Program Fee/Club Challenge Update
There is a statewide $20 Program Fee assessed for each 4-Her and Cloverbud. In McLean County, the McLean County Extension Foundation offers support to cover $10 of that fee. 4-H members are responsible for the remaining $10. Many of our clubs work together by doing fundraisers to collect these funds. Check with your club leader to see how your club will be handling the Program Fee.In June, 4-H clubs will be assessed fees for the number of club members they have for the year. Funds raised through the program fee pay for things like project manuals, accident insurance, training for leaders, and state and regional programs and initiatives. If you have more questions about the fee please contact Cathy Blunier at cblunier@illinois.edu.

Quality Assurance & Ethics Certification
This program is no longer mandatory for State Fair exhibition. However, the website should be available February 1, 2012. All State Fair beef, sheep, swine, horse, dairy, meat goat and poultry exhibitors are encouraged but not required to complete QA&E Certification via this site.

2nd Annual Illinois 4-H State Fair Online
It's not too early to remind members about the additional state judging opportunity that is made available through the 2nd Annual Illinois 4-H State Fair Online event. Members in all project areas are invited to make a video or map to share with a larger public to teach something they've learned in their 4-H project area. Entries are submitted online during the summer. Details on last year's event and entry examples can be viewed at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/4hstatefaironline/

Summer 2012 International Exchange Programs
While the State 4-H Office is no longer coordinating international 4-H youth exchanges, we still offer inbound and outbound opportunities through the States 4-H Exchange consortium (states4Hexchange.org).

So if you have 4-H'ers who may be interested in spending part of the summer in Japan, Australia or Norway, please point them to the information at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/members/international.cfm That's where they'll find application forms and the 2012 brochure with further details about the available programs.

Important! Enrollment Reminders
Please keep in mind that the 4-H Member/Leader Enrollment Form (aka WHITE SHEET) must be signed by the 4-Her, Parent and 4-H Leader. Also we MUST have a Project Enrollment Form (aka GREEN SHEET) turned in with the 4-H Member/Leader Enrollment Form for a 4-Her to be re-enrolled in the program. Remember, 4-Hers can add/drop projects ANYTIME between now and May 1. After May 1 they can no longer add projects for fair exhibition.

Here are links to the forms online:
White Sheet: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/40629.pdf
Green Sheet: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/40628.pdf

Save the dates:

June 10-14 – McLean County Week @ 4-H Memorial Camp

August 1-5 – McLean County Fair & 4-H Show

August 9-19 – Illinois State Fair

August 10 – McLean County Exhibit Day at State Fair

August 25 – State Fair Dog Show