Rebecca Luke of Divernon joined more than 1,100 4-H delegates from across the nation in Atlanta, Georgia for the National 4-H Congress from November 25-29. Rebecca, a member of the Town & Country 4-H Club, was one of 30 teens that represented Illinois. She was awarded the trip in the area of Environment and Natural Resources.

National 4-H Congress offers states an opportunity to send outstanding 4-H youth to this event and provide them with an expanded educational experience through seminars, community service projects, and tours sponsored by local and national 4-H program donors. Highlighting this year's event were presentations by the dynamic Dan Thurman and Miss America 2005, Miss Deidre Downs. All Congress delegates participated in a special cultural program at the Atlanta History Center. Many youth also participated in tours of CNN, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Atlanta Zoo, the World of Coca-Cola and more. Other educational experiences included workshops focusing on cultural differences, team leadership development, and the power of youth.

Attending National Conference is a goal for many 4-H members, though it is only achieved by a few. Congratulations to Rebecca on her distinguished accomplishment!

December

3 Club Officer Workshop, 9 am-12 pm

12 Gingerbread House Workshop

20 4-H Federation Meeting

24 – Jan. 2 Offices Closed

January, 2006

2 Offices Closed

3 Offices Open

3 Deadline for 4-H State Award Applications

9 Sangamon County Livestock Sale Committee – 7 pm

9 Sangamon Beef, Sheep and Swine Committees – 8 pm

10 Youth Development Action Group

17 4-H Federation Meeting

28 Clover Clinic

4-H members and parents interested in beef, sheep, and swine projects are invited to attend meetings to review project requirements, discuss project workshops and make livestock show suggestions. The meetings are as follows.

Sangamon 4-H Livestock Sale Committee will meet Monday, January 9th, 7:00 pm p.m. at the U of I Extension Bldg. on the IL State Fairgrounds. Rabbit, poultry and goat members are also invited to participate in the 4-H Livestock Sale discussions.

Sangamon County 4-H Beef, Sheep, and Swine Committees will meet on Monday, January 9th at the U of I Extension Bldg. on the IL State Fairgrounds, beginning at 8:00 pm.

On December 20, the 4-H Federation will go Christmas caroling at St. John's Hospital, departing from the Extension office at 6:00 p.m. Afterwards, they will return to the Extension office for a short business meeting, games and refreshments.

This past year a new style of jacket was awarded at the 4-H Achievement Night to recipients of the "Sangamon-Menard Jacket Award". The 4-H Federation voted to allow past winners of the "Jacket Award" and 4-H leaders and parents the option of buying one of the new style jackets if they are interested. The cost is $26 for sizes S-XL; XXL is $28.

4-H Leaders, parents, and past winners of the Jacket Award who are interested in ordering one of the new style jackets may contact the Extension office at 782-4617 or 632-7491 to receive an order blank. Jackets are available to view and try on for size at the Extension Offices. Order blanks along with payment are due to the Extension office by January 28th.

Circle Saturday, January 28 on your calendar and plan to attend the 2006 Sangamon-Menard 4-H Clover Clinic. The Clover Clinic will feature a variety of fun, 1-hour project workshops. Watch the January newsletter for complete details.

4-H members ages 12 to 14 have the opportunity to participate in a fun and educational conference February 10 & 11 on the campus of Western Illinois University. This will be an overnight conference, running from 5:30 p.m. Friday evening until 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Participants will experience the "Welcome to the Real World" simulation, which takes them through a month of receiving their salary, budgeting, saving, paying living expenses, as well as other life skills. Some great speakers are being lined up, along with fun activities, workshops, door prizes and more. The cost is $55, and Federation will pay half, making your cost $27.50. Please call the Extension Office if you are interested in registering or need more details. This is a popular regional event, so register early. Registration deadline is January 27.

Sangamon-Menard 4-H Clubs and other groups will be able to borrow two different culture kits this winter. The Caribbean Culture kit will be available to check out during January and the Poland Culture Kit will be available to check out during February.

The Culture Kits will help your group explore a wide range of information through activities on: the way people live, the languages they speak, the clothes they wear, and the foods they eat. Cultures can be very different, yet very similar. Cultural differences are not limited to race or ethnic background. The kits will help your 4-H families learn about other cultures and perhaps gain a better understanding of their own culture.

Call the Extension office at 782-4617 or 632-7491 to reserve your dates today.

Sangamon-Menard 4-H members are invited to participate in a Gingerbread House Workshop on Monday, December 12, 6:00 pm at the U of I Extension Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds. Participants will make their own gingerbread house for the holidays. The registration fee is $3.00. Call the Extension Office at 782-4617 to sign up.

The 4-H "Get Up and Move!" campaign is continuing for the 2005-2006 4-H year. We are encouraging 4-H clubs/groups to adopt healthy living and physical activity as a theme for the 2005-2006 year. Suggested program activities, recreation ideas, healthy snack recipes for club meeting refreshments, monthly calendars for recording physical activity, and other supporting resources are available on the Illinois 4-H web site at http://www.4-h.uiuc/opps/move. New resources will be posted each month.

Trends today show that diets are falling short of the mark, desirable physical activity levels are not being met, the incidence of overweight youth and adults are skyrocketing, and adult diseases are showing up in children. Children are consuming higher percentages of calories from high fat foods and sodas. According to the Cigna Corp., children spend 14 hours per week watching television and children ages 12 – 14 average 7 hours per week playing video games.

Now more than ever, initiatives like "Get Up and Move!" to help children eat healthier and increase daily physical activities are important. This is a perfect time to focus on the fourth H of the 4-H Pledge "I pledge...my health to better living". We hope you will join us and "get up and move!"

The 2006 Illinois 4-H Junior Leadership Conference is February 18-19 in Decatur. The conference is open to Illinois 4-H members who are currently in 7th or 8th grade. Participants go to a variety of workshops - focusing on building delegates' skills and knowledge as young leaders in their local 4-H clubs and county 4-H programs. Special entertainment, speakers, a dance, and loads of fun will keep you smiling and motivated to go home and try all the things you learned!

Registration is limited, so register early! A limited number of $25 scholarships for first-time participants are available from the State 4-H Office to help cover the $90 registration fee. Application for the $25 scholarships are due to the State 4-H Office by Dec. 23. All Sangamon-Menard 4-H members are eligible for a half fee scholarship through the Extension Office. Registration and scholarship applications are available at the Extension office. Registration will be taken until full or January 13.

Adult chaperones are needed as well. Parents or 4-H leaders are welcome to chaperone as space allows, but must have completed the University of Illinois Extension Volunteer Screening procedures before registering.

Sangamon-Menard 4-H members who excelled during the 2004-2005 4-H year were recognized at Achievement Night held Friday, November 18, at the IL Building Auditorium on the IL State Fairgrounds. Listed below are recipients of some of the awards presented during the program.

Key Club:

Patrice Baumhardt

Mark Beard

Rachel Ealey

Paul Elders

Austen Etherton

Joshua Frank

Michael Hamilton

Zach Holliday

Caitlin Johnson

Anna King

Katie King

Krista Kniery

Nick Morrison

Rebba Omer

Ashley Phillips

Erin Puls

Sara Reichart

Jeanine Sellman

Brian Vorst

Wes Walbaum

Jackets:

Kristin Aaron

Charlie Arentzen

Kristina Barbee

Clare Arentzen

Ann Bartolozzi

Samantha Bartolozzi

Cori Bowman

Victoria Brennan

Justin Brooks

Elizabeth Brown

Zach Burtle

Lauren Cannedy

Ashley Cantrall

Evan Carls

Natalie Detmer

Julie Ealey

Phillip Foor

Katrina Fricke

Jackie Graves

Katie Graves

Marcus Gruwell

Carole Guffey

Katie Guffey

John Hagemann

Samantha Haggarty

Michael Hamilton

Hannah Hedinger

Andrew Hermes

Molly Hood

Jennifer Jurgens

Emmett Kilhoffer

Jake Kniery

Ellie Krone

Megan Kruse

Jessica Larson

Jenna McHenry

Krystal Marshall

Seth Martin

Kallie Mizeur

Katie Montgomery

Emily Morgan

Jeremy Morman

Lucas Morrison

Quinton Paiva

Grant Puls

Katie Rockwood

Bart Rovey

Brandon Rovey

Elena Sanguedolce

Justin Skinner

Brianne Smith

Brittany Smith

Kaitlyn Tarr

Joe VanDeveer

Sami Wagy

Cole Weatherby

Catherine Weitzel

Chelsea Wilson

I Dare You:

Erica Agrall

Jason Baker

Mark Beard

Victoria Brennan

Rachel Ealey

Clay Godar

Michael Hamilton

Caitlin Johnson

Charlotte Kane

Katie King

Danielle Marbold

Nick Morrison

Ashley Phillips

Erin Puls

Nicole Schuster

Amy Waters

Brad Weber

Sangamon County 4-H Scholarship

Jessica Hendrickson, Cooper Jets

Klay Butcher, Illiopolis 4-H

Wade Stremsterfer, Pleasant Plains Clovers

Laura Burtle, Town & Country 4-H

Menard County 4-H Scholarship

Jacob Teegarden, Rock Creek

Ryan Yutzy, Athens Prairieland Ag

Luke J. Gaule Memorial - Outstanding First Year Member, Sangamon County

Carly Spurlock, Cooper Jets

Menard County First Year Member Award

Charles Mayfield, Athens Prairieland Ag

Top Leadership Award – Menard County

Megan Kruse, West Menarder's Ag

Top Leadership Award – Sangamon

Jason Baker, Cooper Jets

Outstanding Electricity Award

Brandon Rovey, Sugar Creek Pioneers

Sangamon County 4-H Horse Project High Points Award

Rachel Ealey - 1st place

Hollie Bracco – 2nd place

Julie Ealey – 3rd place

Ten Year Members:

Klay Butcher

Whitney Davidson

Emily Dorsey

Michael Earles

Ross Howard

Rachel Jameson

Whitney Paulsmeyer

Devin Sexton

Mychal Solomon

Jacob Teegarden

Megan Tibbs

2004-2005 Club Group Awards:

Cooper Jets – Community Involvement & Global Awareness

Island Grove – Agriculture

Standards of Excellence

Cooper Jets 4-H

Island Grove 4-H

North Sangamon 4-H

Poultry Pals

Sangamon City West

Sugar Creek Pioneers

Club Window Displays:

Menard County

1st – Athens Prairieland Ag

Sangamon County

1st – Illiopolis

2nd – Cooper Jets

3rd - Island Grove

Top Individual Posters:

Sangamon – Samantha Brown, Illiopolis 4-H

Menard – Katie Schimm, Athens Prairieland Ag

A complete list of winners is available from the Sangamon-Menard Extension Office.