Calendar of Events

FEBRUARY

4 – Steer Weigh-In

11 – 4-H Night With the Rivermen

15 – Dairy Bowl Registration Deadline

MARCH

1 – 1^st Farm Credit Services Community Improvement

Grant Deadline

1- 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship app due

1- IL 4-H Livestock Scholarship app due

3 - SFI4-H

3 – 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl

10 – 4-H Skating Party

23-24th Great 4-H Debate

LOOKING AHEAD

April 23-First year Dog Project meeting

May 12 – 4-H Day With The Cardinals

June 15 – 4-H Day With The Cornbelters

June 16 – Horse and Pony Clinic

July 16-19 – Livingston County 4-H Fair

August 10 – Livingston County

Day at the State Fair

Nancy's Note

Hi Everyone,

I hope all of you have gotten your enrollment form to your 4-H Leader and that you are looking forward to working on all of your projects. This is quite a long newsletter and has some great information on what is coming up in 4-H and what we have been doing this past month.

Learn and Fun Day was a great day with over 200 4-H members from Livingston, McLean and Woodford counties attending at Heartland College in Normal. Be sure and talk to some of the members from your club who attended or to one of the

4-H Ambassadors helped teach what 4-H is all about to new 4-H members. Ambassadors also helped with science experiments during lunch breaks.

4-H TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY IS COMING!

SEE THE ARTICLE IN THIS NEWSLETTER!

Illinois 4-H License Plates

Illinois 4-H License Plates

The Illinois 4-H Foundation working with the Illinois Secretary of State's Office had legislation signed to create a new Illinois 4-H License Plate. Now they must secure 1,500 commitments before production can begin. Help the Illinois 4-H Foundation secure commitments by filling out the Specialty License Plate Registration form found at www.4hfoundation.illinois.edu or from your local Extension office. Include a check for $25.00 made out to the Secretary of State. This is non-refundable and will go to the Illinois 4-H Program. Once 1,500 commitments have been made, production will begin. More information is available through your local Extension office.

Horse and Pony Clinic

Horse and Pony Clinic

The 2012 Livingston County Agriculture Fair Horse & Pony Clinic will be on June 16^th at the 4-H Fair Grounds. 4H members and Clover Buds (and any other affiliated group) that plans on showing a horse or pony at the fair can participate. If you are not planning to show at the fair this year, but are a clover bud or plan on showing in 2013, you are still encouraged to participate.

First Year Member Dog Clinic

First Year Member Dog Clinic

If this is your first year for dog obedience training for 4-H, Jeannie Moore has set the first meeting date for April 23, 2012 at the Extension Office at 6:30. DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG to this first meeting. Dates for dog training at the 4-H Park will be announced at this meeting. If you have any questions, please call Jeannie at 815-822-2243.

Livestock Judging SPIN Club

Livestock Judging Spin Club

February is the start of the Livestock Judging Spin Club. Meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings, starting on Feb 7^th at 6:00 pm at the PTHS Ag Shop. Please call Christine Stark at 815-832-4014 for more information on meeting dates, times and judging schedules.

QAEC

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.

4-H Technology Academy

4-H Technology Academy

Would you like to learn more about aerospace, electricity, or robotics for example? 4-H technology Academy has the answers you are looking for. The date is Saturday, March 3, 2012, the place is at the Workforce Development Center, Heartland Community College, Normal and the time is 9 am-3 pm. Cost is $10 per participant and all of the information on what classes are offered and to register for the day can be found at web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw. Or by calling the Extension office.

4-H Skating Party

4-H Skating Party – March 10

All 4-H members from Livingston, McLean, and Woodford Counties are invited to the 4-H Skate and Glow Party on Saturday, March 5^th from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at Skate-N-Place, 1704 Morris Avenue, Bloomington. Admission is $6 and skate rental is $1. Bring a Glow Stick and come joins us for a fun and safe evening of skating. The University of Illinois Extension Office has reserved the entire facility JUST for Livingston, McLean, and Woodford County 4-H Members, Cloverbuds, Alumni and parents to skate. Each 4-H member may bring one non-4-H friend. Wear a 4-H shirt or your 4-H club shirt.

4-H Night with the Rivermen

4-H Night with the Peoria Rivermen

The Peoria Rivermen are hosting a 4-H Night on February 11^th. All 4-Hers and their families are invited to attend. Game time is 7 pm and the Rivermen will be playing the Charlotte Checkers. There is also a free Hockey 101 Clinic prior to the game (5:30) for all 4-Hers and their friends. Tickets are $10 for Upper Bowl and $15 for Lower Bowl. Ticket order deadline is February 3^rd. Tickets are sold directly thru the Rivermen Office at 309-680-3791.

4-H Night with the Cornbelters

Hold the date for 4-H Night with the Cornbelters

Mark Friday, June 15 on your calendar for 4-H Night with the Cornbelters. Ticket information will be coming soon.

4-H Day with the Cardinals

2012 4-H Day with the Cardinals

After negotiations with the St. Louis Cardinals Organization a date has been set for Saturday, May 12th, with a 6:15 p.m. start time for the game. The World Series Champion Cardinals are facing the Braves that evening, and with a 6:15 start time, 4-H families should plan to arrive at Busch Stadium by 4:00-4:45 p.m. for the pre-game celebration! (cont. pg. 5) (cont. from pg. 4) This is Mother's Day weekend. 4-H families planning to attend the 4-H promotional event should make hotel reservations immediately and plan a special weekend outing with Mom in St. Louis, MO! As a special note, 2012 is to be the 11th year for the annual 4-H event, and thanks to your help in spreading the word, 24,103 people have attended the event since the 4-H Centennial in 2002. That's an average of 2,410 annual attendees, and Illinois has had 12,385 participating baseball 4-H enthusiasts! The event has raised $45,750 through its $1 raffle program over the years! Let's work together to keep the party going in 2012!

Community Improvement Grant Program

Community Improvement Grant Program

1^st Farm Credit Services has released information for their Community Improvement Grant program. The deadline for Community Improvement Grant applications is March 1, 2012.

In addition to accessing the Community Improvement Grant information directly from the 1^st Farm Credit Services website 4-H club members and volunteers can also access the information from the Illinois 4-H website at Volunteers, Volunteer Support, and 4-H Club Grants: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/volunteers/support_clubgrants.cfm.

Community Improvement Grant Program

Community Improvement Grant Program

1^st Farm Credit Services has released information for their Community Improvement Grant program. The deadline for Community Improvement Grant applications is March 1, 2012.

In addition to accessing the Community Improvement Grant information directly from the 1^st Farm Credit Services website 4-H club members and volunteers can also access the information from the Illinois 4-H website at Volunteers, Volunteer Support, and 4-H Club Grants: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/volunteers/support_clubgrants.cfm.

Money Week Writing Contest

Money Week Writing Contest

Do you like to talk and write about money? Well, then we have a contest for you! The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and its partner organizations present the Money Smart Kid Essay Contest. Students in grades 6-8 are invited to answer the Money Smart Question with an essay of 500 words or less. Five finalists will be selected to attend the Money Smart Kick-Off Event in April, and one student will be named this year's Money Smart Kid. The winner will be a $2,000 scholarship sponsored by CEFCU, and the runner-ups will each receive recognition and prizes. Click http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/downloads/41460.pdf to learn more about this contest and a chance to win big money!

4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl

2012 Illinois 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl - March 3

The State 4-H Dairy Quiz bowl contest will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the Chateau Hotel and Conference Center, 1601 Jumer Drive, Bloomington, Illinois 61704. The Chateau Hotel and Conference Center is located on the corner of Veteran's Parkway and Jumer Drive, across from the Shoppes at College Hills. Phone: (309) 662-2020.

The State 4-H contest will be held in conjunction with the IL Jr. Holstein Association "Spring Thing" workshop. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the dairy bowl contest will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the test. All 4-H members interested in participating are invited to attend. 4-H members do not need to be a dairy project member to be eligible. Extension Units may register any number of 4-H'ers who are interested. Teams will be made-up of 4 individuals per team and can be from one unit or will be assigned a team at the contest.

Contest registration deadline is February 15, 2012 and should be sent to: Dave Fischer, Retired Extension Educator, 901 Oak Hill St., Trenton, IL 62293 OR e-mail at: dfischer@illinois.edu. For further information or questions contact Dave Fischer via e-mail or call 618-224-7951.

International Exchange Programs

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.

Speaking for Illinois 4-H

Speaking for Illinois 4-H (S4I4-H)

Interested in giving back to the Illinois 4-H program? Do you want to share your experiences and benefits of 4-H with county board members and state legislators? We are seeking older 4-H members age 14-19 to SPEAK OUT for the 4-H program. Speaking for Illinois 4-H (SFI4-H) is an opportunity for advance training in public presentations, with focus on volunteer recruitment; speaking to civic groups; soliciting donations from local groups, businesses, or individuals; and getting the word out about 4-H to elected officials on the local, state, and federal level. We are currently looking to schedule two dates for the first half of 2012 – one in southwestern Illinois (early 2012) and one in the northeastern part of the state (April/May). Please check for dates and registration information to be posted soon http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/members/leadership_sfi4h.cfm. The registration fee for training is $10 and includes lunch. Encourage your older 4-H members to join us!

4-H Key Award

University of Illinois Extension 4-H Key Award

This state recognition is for older 4-H members and rewards those who exhibit outstanding 4-H leadership, community service, and service as a mentor. A member may receive this recognition once during their 4-H career.

Applicants must be 4-H members, 16 to 18 years of age by September 1 of the 4-H year in which they are applying. (Members must be 16-18 years of age by the previous September 1). Each Extension unit may submit a maximum of three applications for award consideration each year. A maximum of 30 4-H members will receive the Illinois 4-H Key Award annually. Awards are presented at the Illini Summer Academies in June. The Livingston County deadline for this application is February 15 – not March 1!!! Application: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/launcher.cfm?ID=18255

Leadership Conference

2012 Jr. Leadership Conference

The 2012 Jr. Leadership Conference registration is up and running. The State 4-H Youth Leadership Team has a great program planned for 7th and 8th graders! Find the Clue to the Leader in U is the theme. Participants will search for the aspects of becoming a great teen leader, explore skills in forensic and food sciences, and find the actor in themselves. JLC is scheduled for February 25-26 at the Holiday Inn in Urbana. And they can bring a non-4-H friend along if they wish (in an effort to recruit them as members, of course)! Delegates will come away with new skills that they can use immediately in their 4-H projects and your club programming. Mixers, team-building, and just plain fun is being built in so they can meet new friends from across the state. Registration deadline is January 30, 2012. Promotional information, scholarship application, and registration info can be found on the Illinois 4-H website http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/juniorleadership.cfm. Payment and final paperwork must be postmarked by February 1. Cost of the weekend is $125 – that includes hotel, 3 meals, insurance, and all programming. A limited number of 4-H scholarships are available for 1st time 4-H attendees.

Women Changing the Face of Agriculture

2012 "Women Changing the Face of Agriculture"

The career fair is open to high school and college age female students with an interest in a career in Agriculture, as well as their teachers, school counselors, or group leaders/advisors. The event will be held March 9th, 2012, at the Hilton Garden-Inn Conference Center in Champaign, IL. We expect around 400 attendees, and over 100 female representatives from numerous agricultural-related businesses and groups to share information, network, and interact with students. Several community colleges and universities will also have representation at the event.

For more information and to register, please see our website at www.womenchangingthefaceofagriculture.com

NO BULL Challenge

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.

4-H House

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!

4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship

Illinois 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship

The Illinois 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship, sponsored by the Illinois 4-H Foundation, offers six, $1,000 scholarships each year. Currently enrolled 4-H members who are seniors in high school or already college age may apply. Five years of 4-H members are required. Applications are due March 1.

Illinois 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship Application (Revised 11/2011)

4-H Livestock Scholarship

Illinois 4-H Livestock Scholarship

The Illinois 4-H Livestock Scholarship, sponsored by the Illinois 4-H Foundation, offers $1,000 scholarships. Currently enrolled 4-H members who are seniors in high school or already college age may apply. Three years of 4-H enrollment in 4-H livestock projects and focus on an agricultural degree and career are required. Applications are due postmarked by March 1 of the year applying.

Illinois 4-H Livestock Scholarship Application (Revised 11/2011)

Arvetta M. Lewis Scholarship

Arvetta M. Lewis Scholarship

The Arvetta M. Lewis Scholarship is available to any graduating high school senior that resides in Ford or Livingston counties and plan to attend the University of Illinois majoring in an agricultural field. Applications may be picked up at First Financial Bank.

IL State Fair Online

2nd Annual Illinois 4-H State Fair Online

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/