4-H members, are you thinking about taking an animal to the Illinois State Fair this summer? Now you can find out which classes will be offered and when you'll be showing that prize-winning animal.

The 2007 State Fair Premium Books have been posted on the State Fair Web site at http://www.illinoisstatefair.info/ Click on the photo by the premium book announcement and scroll down to the needed book/entry forms. Later this spring, a limited number of books will be available at the Extension Office.

Now is the time to start thinking about applying for the 4-H VeterinaryScience Award program, which is sponsored by the Auxiliary to the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association. Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 18 (inclusive) by September 1, 2006 and must have been enrolled in the Vet Science project at least 3 years (including the current year). Applications must by postmarked no later than July 2, 2007. The state winner will receive a $100 cash award. The Auxiliary to ISVMA will contact the winner and make arrangements for presentation of the award this fall. For a copy of the application, please visit http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/staff/vetapp07.doc or contact the Extension Office at (618) 576-2293.

Dog obedience classes for Calhoun-Jersey 4-H members will be starting in a few weeks. An orientation meeting will be held Tuesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. in the Jerseyville Public Library's Board Room. Please do not bring your dogs to this meeting. It is best for them to stay at home.

Dog obedience classes will start Tuesday, April 10. They will be held every Tuesday from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Ag Pavillion on the Jersey County Fairgrounds. Dogs that come need to be current on their vaccinations.

For more information, contact Judy Benz, 4-H community worker, at 576-2293 or benz@uiuc.edu.

Do you want to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play and go on the field with other 4-H families from Illinois and Missouri?

Come join the fun on Saturday, May 5 during 4-H Day With the Cardinals. You'll watch the World Champion Cardinals play their NL Central Division rival, Houston Astros in beautiful Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Registration is due by March 26, so don't delay in ordering your tickets.

This year the Cardinals have allotted 4-H families and staff just 2,500 seats. The cost for this wonderful family outing is only $18 per ticket, and that includes the specially designed T-shirt featuring the World Championship emblem on the front and the 4-H Clover on the back. And as an added bonus, it will be Coca-Cola Bat Day, so all kids 15 and under will get a souvenir 18-inch bat that commemorates the Cardinals 10 World Championships. Members and leaders will again parade around the Busch Stadium outfield behind their county or club banner prior to the game. The Cardinals have provided more raffle prizes than ever before for the scholarship raffle. You can go to a Cardinal game anytime - but you only get a deal like this at 4-H Day With the Cardinals.

For more information and to download the form, please visit http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/event053cards.html or call the Calhoun-Jersey Extension Office at (618) 576-2293.

All 4-H members who are interested in learning about poultry are invited to attend a poultry workshop on April 28 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The clinic will run from noon to 4 p.m. It will feature Professor and Poultry Specialist Ken Koelkebeck and APA Master Exhibitor Bret Hitchings, as speakers. The topics to be covered include poultry care, breeding, and judging. An all new poultry photo/drawing contest will also be held. Participants should bring their matted or framed item with them to the event.

For more information contact the Sangamon-Menard Extension Office at (217) 782-4617 or cwanders@uiuc.edu.