Dear 4-H Members and Families,

I hope that everyone is off to a great start with the 2009-2010 4-H year. You should have or will be getting your enrollment forms; please return these to your club leader in a timely manner. Also, please remember to turn in your 4-H program fee with your enrollment forms.

Thank you to all who helped make the 2009 Adams/Brown 4-H Achievement Day a success. If you received an award, please send a thank you to the sponsor of that award. We received a lot of great records and award applications this year, keep up the good work!

Again this year, leaders received a 4-H survey in the last Leaders Newsletter. This survey gives members and leaders the opportunity to help plan activities for the Adams/Brown 4-H program. Please complete the survey and return it to the office. We will review the surveys and will make every attempt to offer the things YOU want as a 4-H member.

Premium checks were given to leaders at Achievement Day. Please cash them as soon as possible, they are void if not cashed within 60 days of printing.

Christine Morey

4-H Program Coordinator cmorey@illinois.edu

4-H officer training is scheduled for Monday, November 23rd, 6:00 - 7:30 pm at the Quincy Extension office basement. If you are a newly elected officer in your club, then this is a fun and exciting training for you. You will gain tips on how to lead your club and ensure that all members are having a good time. In addition we will discuss the roles and duties of each officer, run a practice meeting, and share ideas on how to get everyone involved. Snacks will be provided. Club officers interested in attending MUST RSVP by November 16th to 223-8380 or cmorey @Illinois.edu.

Every fall, all 4-H members and leaders enroll in the 4-H program. Your leader has two forms for you to fill out.

Individual Enrollment Form

This form asks questions about you and where you live. The information remains in the Adams County office where it is entered in a 4-H database.

Project Enrollment Form

This form is a listing of all projects available to you. Most of the projects have project books that help you do activities to further your knowledge about that project. Next summer you can bring an exhibit to the fair based on your project selections.

Remember, project books should last 2-3 years before you move up to the next level. We recommend enrolling in 1 to 2 projects your first year. Your leader can help you with selecting the project that will be of interest to you.

When you turn in your enrollment forms, your 4-H program fee is also due. The 4-H program fee is $20 per child. This cost is discounted if there is more than one child in 4-H in a household.

PROJECTS INVOLVING ANIMALS

Anyone enrolling in: Beef, Dairy, Cats, Dogs, Goats, Poultry, Horses, Sheep, Rabbits, or Swine, your leader must have your completed forms turned into the office by 4:30 pm on Jan 5th. Please be kind to your leaders and have those papers turned in to them before the holidays, so they are not rushed to get them to the office. The Adams and Brown County offices are open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday. The Quincy office number is 223-8380 and the fax is 223-9368. In Mt. Sterling, our number is 773-3013 and the fax is 773-2614. Please don't hesitate to call. We're here to help you!

Entries are due in either office by January 15th at 4:30 pm!

Guidelines are:

- Design must not exceed 8"x8"

- Entries must be in black and white

- Entries can be computer generated or by hand and must include only the name, age, and club name of the 4-H member. DO NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER LETTERING.

- Remember the proper use of the 4-H clover guidelines.

Fairbooks will be available for the leaders to pick up at the February Leaders' Meeting.

Beef: February 7th 10 am –Noon, Coatsburg Sale Barn.

(Additional details will be mailed to members enrolled in beef project.)

Meat Goats: For the State Fair, wethers tattooed by May 15th, 2010 (more information in future editions).

Sheep: For the State Fair, all wethers must be nominated and tattooed between March 15 and May 15, 2010. Premier wethers must also be weighed. A schedule of locations will be mailed to project members as soon as it is available.

Swine: For the State Fair, Premier barrows must be nominated, ear notched, and tattooed before they are 35 days old. All Premier pigs must be tattooed by April 15, 2010.

The above information is based on rules from 2009; if changes are made, all project members will be personally notified

The 4-H Premier LCP Award is sponsored for older 4-H members in Illinois. The purpose of the award is to reward members exhibiting outstanding leadership, citizenship, cooperation, and professionalism during the past 4-H year. Although all members can apply, the program is designed to recognize and promote achievement in the agricultural industry. Applicants must be 4-H members who are at least 17 years of age by Dec. 1st, and cannot have reached their 19th birthday by Sept. 1st of the year they submit the application. Winners receive the opportunity to attend the Premier 20 Leadership Conference. Applications must be returned to either office by December 1st, 2009. For an application, contact your 4-H Leader or either office.

Make plans now for the New Member Party to be held on Wednesday, February 3rd. The party will begin at 6:30 in the basement of the U of I Extension office in Quincy. All new 4-H members ages 8 and over and their parents are invited to attend. New members must be enrolled by January 5th in order to receive a special invitation. Please RSVP by January 25th

July 10-17, 2010

Citizenship Washington Focus is a weeklong program that will provide you with many insights into the workings of our federal government. Through small group sessions at the National 4-H Center you'll learn about federal legislation, the political parties, the Bill of Rights, and how to make a positive impact in your community.

You'll have appointments to meet with some of our Illinois Congressmen and share information with them about 4-H and University of Illinois Extension.

You will also have the opportunity to see a theater performance and tour various locations around Washington DC including: Arlington National Cemetery, FDR Memorial, Iwo Jima, Jefferson Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Mt. Vernon, Smithsonian, US Capitol, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington National Cathedral and more!

Delegates must be 14-18 years of age by May 1, 2010. All delegate positions are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. If all slots are filled, applicants will be placed on a waiting list. The minimum cost will be $1,050. The final cost will be determined after the Dec. 15 deadline. The fee includes CWF program registration, room and board at the National 4-H Center, most meals, and bus transportation to, from and around Washington DC.

Online registrations are due by Dec. 15th. Online registration can be completed at: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=3650.

In order for you to exhibit animals at the Adams/Brown 4-H Shows (Beef, Cats, Dairy, Dogs, Goats, Horses, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, and Swine), you must own the animal by the following dates:

Beef:

Steers & Market Heifers Feb. 1, 2010

Breeding Heifers June 1, 2010

Cows Jan. 1, 2010

Cats: June 1, 2010

Dairy:

Calves & Heifers June 1, 2010

Cows Jan. 1, 2010

Dogs: Ownership or Lease June 1, 2010

Goats:

Dairy Milking Jan. 1, 2010

Dairy Goat Kid & Yearlings (not in milk)

& Pygmy Goats June 1, 2010

Meat Goats May 15, 2010

Horse & Pony: Ownership or Lease - May 1, 2010

Poultry & Rabbits:

Does June 1, 2010

All other-out of stock June 1, 2010

Sheep:

Wethers May 15, 2010

Breeding Sheep June 1, 2010

Swine:

Breeding Swine & Barrows June 1, 2010

(Gilts farrowed on or after Jan. 1)

State Fair - Barrows farrowed on or after Jan. 15

State Fair Premier - Barrows farrowed on or after Feb. 10

These are Ownership Dates.

Enrollment for an animal project must be in the office by Jan. 5th, 2010.