This will be my final post on the 4-H Insider News Blog.

As many of you know, Patrick, Brandon and I are relocating to Central Illinois this summer. Monday, July 27, I will begin a new position as the communications manager for the Illinois Soybean Association in Bloomington. A week later, on Monday, Aug. 3, Patrick starts his veterinary pathology residency program at the University of Illinois in Urbana. Brandon just gets to hang out with his grandma and grandpa Meyer until after state fair when he will start attending his new daycare.

The last four years have been an amazing experience for me. I have truly enjoyed working with the 4-H program and getting to know each of you. I'm proud of everything that has been accommplished but even more pleased with the personal growth of each of our members. I learned a lot as a 4-H member and it has been my goal to pass along these experiences and skills to our members. It has been an honor to work with you and the 4-H program and it is an opportunity I will soon miss. However, I now look forward to becoming a 4-H volunteer. After all, Brandon is only a few years away from being a Cloverbud.

I also want to thank Calhoun-Jersey Extension staff for their support and growth of the 4-H program while I've been here. Things certainly couldn't have happened without Judy Benz's help and assistance. She has been a great teammate as we've worked to provide you with the best program possible. I'm confident the program will continue to thrive under her leadership. I also want to thank Linda Cook and Donna Renken for helping us with the data entry and other behind-the-scenes work that makes the program successful. Another thank you goes to Jennifer Russell for her excellent guidance of the Calhoun-Jersey Unit and for helping me with various other projects.

My final thank you is to all of our 4-H families, volunteers and community members. Thank you for making Patrick and I feel so welcome in this community and thank you for all of your support of Extension and 4-H.

-Amy

Thanks to all the clubs who participated in the 4-H Trash Can Competition. Your cans looked awesome and got lots of attention from fairgoers.

We collected a total of $79.79 in donations, which will be split up among participating clubs.

Here's a list of where each group placed:

1. Eastside Farmhands
2. East Side Kids
3. Green and Gold Clovers
4. Bits N Spurs
5. Lone Star
6. All-American Clovers
7. 4-H Ambassadors

Congratulations to all our Calhoun County 4-H members who exhibited projects during the Calhoun General Show Monday.

This year's state fair delegates are:
Anne Wieneke- animal sciences
Brandon Nolte- robotics
Gregory Nolte- woodworking

Best of Show winners were:
Gregory Nolte- mechanics and technology
Maria Wieneke- ag sciences
Anne Wieneke- home and family

Other 4-H members who participated in conference judging were Matthew Wieneke, Allison Klaas, Lucas Long and Ashley Kiel.

Great job everyone!

Congratulations to all our 4-H horse exhibitors. You did a great job in the ring.

Here's a summary of who won what:

Emily McAfee- Grand champion horse, second place senior showmanship

Greta Meisner- Reserve grand champion horse, senior showmanship champion, beginning walk and trot champion, barrel race second place, pole bending second place.

Tia Scheffel- Grand champion pony, champion junior showmanship, English equitation, hunter hack, barrel race, pole bending.

Aimee Pelletier- Second place junior showmanship and beginning walk and trot

Rachel Lahey- Reserve grand champion pony

Mallory Maag- First place horseless horsemanship

Maggie Maag- Second place horseless horsemanship

Congratulations to all our 4-H members who showed animals during the Jersey County 4-H Livestock Show. Here's a summary of the results.

Poultry (July 11)

Best of Show Poultry- Shelby Burton

Reserve Best of Show Poultry- Shelby Burton

Best of Show Waterfowl- TJ Burton

Reserve Best of Show Waterfowl- Madeleine Youngblood

Showmanship- Ryan Cassens

Rabbit (July 11)

Best of Show Rabbit- Lydia Stemmler

Grand Champion 4- Class Rabbit- Lydia Stemmler

Grand Champion 4-Class Opposite Sex- Lydia Stemmler

Grand Champion 6- Class Rabbit- Rachel Parsell

Grand Champion 6- Class Opposite Sex- Shelby Lahey

Jr. Showmanship- Maggie Collins

Sr. Showmanship- Natalie Stemmler

Breed Champions

Dutch- Lydia Stemmler

Lop- Shelby Lahey

Netherland Dwarf- Jacob Meisner

Rex/Mini- Rex- Lydia Stemmler

Californian- Rachel Parsell

Master Showmanship (July 12):

Jr Champion-Justin Wadlow

Jr. Reserve Champion- Laura Kirbach

Sr. Champion- Emily Moore

Sr. Reserve Champion- Emily McAfee

Goats (July 13):

Grand Champion Wether- Brandon Wock

Reserve Grand Champion Wether- Shelby Burton

Grand Champion Doe- Shelby Burton

Reserve Grand Champion Doe- Kelli Cassens

Jr. Showmanship- Tommy Wilson

Sr. Showmanship- Kelli Cassens

Champion Boer Goat Wether- Marshall Youngblood

Champion Milk Goat Wether- Shelby Burton

Champion Pygmy Goat Wether- Brandon Wock

Champion Boer Goat Doe- Kayla Meisner

Champion Milk Goat Doe- Shelby Burton

Champion Pygmy Goat Doe- Kelli Cassens

Sheep (July 13):

Grand Champion Ewe- Sarah Moore

Reserve Grand Champion Ewe- Sarah Moore

Grand Champion Wether- Tiffany Phillips

Reserve Grand Champion Wether- Terri Wendle

Jr. Showmanship- Samantha Burns

Sr. Showmanship- Sid Sarginson

Beef (July 13):

Grand Champion Heifer- Cody Torrey

Reserve Grand Champion Heifer- Emily Moore

Grand Champion Steer- Tye Barley

Reserve Grand Champion Steer- Hayden Geisler

Jr. Showmanship- Justin Wadlow

Int. Showmanship- Cody Torrey

Sr. Showmanship- Hayden Geisler

Heifer Breed Champions

Angus- Ethan Hanold

Hereford- Kaci McAfee

Shorthorn- Emily Moore

Simmental- Hanna Moore

AOB- Ashley Moore

Crossbred- Cody Torrey

Steer Breed Champions

Angus- Laura Kirbach

Hereford- Hayden Geisler

Shorthorn- Betsy Kirbach

Simmental- Dennis Hartman

Crossbred- Tye Barley

Swine (July 13):

Grand Champion Gilt- Kristen Springer

Reserve Grand Champion Gilt- Megan Rothe

Grand Champion Barrow- Dylan Torrey

Reserve Grand Champion Barrow- Kristen Springer

Jr. Showmanship- Jamie Moore

Sr. Showmanship- Cody Torrey

Congratulations to all our 4-H members who participated during the Jersey County General Project Show on Sunday, June 14. Your projects looked great and I learned so much just from viewing them.

Several members also were selected as Illinois State Fair delegates and alternates. They include:

Photography - Chelsea Nason, Morgan Nason, Rachel Parsell

Visual Arts - Jacob Meisner

Animal Science - Christian Duggan, Kristen Springer Alternate: Natalie Stemmler

Clothing & Textiles - Sarah Maag

Tractor - Cory Rowling

Woodworking - Kristen Springer

Other special awards were presented to:

Best of Show - Food, Nutrition and Health - Ross Speidel

Best of Show Mechanics & Technology - Kristen Springer

Best of Show Home & Family - Sarah Maag

Best of Show Ag Science - Christina Duggan

Outstanding Visual Arts - Jacob Meisner

Best Of Show Personal Development - Jacob Meisner

Outstanding Photography - Morgan Nason

Congratulations to Tye Barley on winning the Calhoun-Jersey 4-H Livestock Judging Contest. The top ten were:

1. Tye Barley
2. Brad Wock
3. Laura Kirbach, Chrisy Duggan
5. Val Tonsor
6. Jay Gibbons
7. Betsy Kirbach, Mitch Stockstill, Emily Moore
10. Tom Kirbach

For complete results and scores check out: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/calhounjersey/downloads/18143.pdf