To get a heads-up on life as a college freshman, join other high school seniors for College 101: The stuff they didn't teach you at school. This program, which was planned by Calhoun County 4-H member Steven Nolte, will be held Saturday, March 3 at Illinois College in Jacksonville. Registration is due Feb. 16, so don't delay.

For more information, visit http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/calhounjersey/4hyouth1561.html or call the Extension Office.

Are you ready to start talking about something you know about? Do you want to share your information with others? Do you want to learn more about public speaking? Consider participating in this year's NEW Public Speaking Program.

The Jersey County 4-H Foundation is sponsoring special awards this year to encourage more 4-H members to participate. Information and dates for the program are available at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/calhounjersey/4hyouth1598.html

Also, don't forget that our first public speaking workshop is coming up soon. The topic is demonstrations and the workshop will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 9-11 a.m. at the Jersey Community Hospital Womens Center. To sign up, just call the Extension Office.

Now, that's worth talking about.

The Calhoun-Jersey 4-H program is trying to form a livestock judging team to compete at the Illinois Beef Expo judging contest on Saturday, Feb. 24 in Springfield. If you are interested in participating in the contest, which also includes a livestock judging clinic, please contact Amy Roady or Judy Benz.

The registration fee is $15 per member, but scholarships will be offered for the first four 4-H members who contact the Extension office and attend the livestock judging contest. Other scholarships also may be available. Transportation will be provided for the contest.

For more information about the contest, check out the brochure at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/calhounjersey/4hyouth806.html

Also, on that page is a link to a livestock e-quiz. It's a fun way to find out how much you really know about livestock.

Is your 4-H club's community service project running out of gas? Are you for looking something new and different to try? University of Tennessee Extension has great ideas that are even related to different 4-H project areas.

For example, under companion animals I found the following idea:

To check this idea and others out visit:

http://www.utextension.utk.edu/4h/SOS/projectideas/index.htm