Besides the Performance Showcase (tapes are due to our office ASAP), there is another chance for talented 4-Hers to participate at the State Fair. 4-Hers from around the state are being recruited to create a song and dance musical group. They will appear on the Junior Home Ec building stage as part of the 4-H Clover Celebrations beginning Friday, August 10 through Saturday, August 18.

You do not need to make a nine-day commitment, only two to three days will be required as youth will rotate their responsibilities. One requirement is that you must be 14 years of age as of September 1, 2000. If you are interested, send a tape of your singing and/or dancing talents to the State 4-H Office by May 11. Some talents that are needed besides the previously mentioned include musical instrument playing, comedy, or other unique talents. Listing of any experiences in a talent show or school plays would be helpful.

Youth selected will receive $30 each day they perform. They will stay in the dormitory connected to the Jr. Home Ec building at no cost. Rehearsals will be held each day prior to performing. Each morning they will provide a "4-H Welcome" to youth as they arrive for project judging. And, of course, you will have lots of FUN!

Let's have some Champaign County 4-Hers in the new group called the Illinois Clovers.

Last year an Illinois 4-H Youth Leadership Team was created with membership from around the state. Their purpose is to be a voice for Illinois 4-Hers, provide guidance and information for county youth exchanges, work with the State 4-H staff to support Regional and Statewide events, and to provide leadership for Illinois 4-H public relations.

If you are interested in joining the team, an application is available at our Extension office. Applications are due June 20, 2001 to the State 4-H Office. It is a 2-year commitment. Those selected will be announced by August 1, 2001 with the new term beginning September 1. The group meets face-to-face three times per year and some telenet conference calls may be necessary.

It would be great to have Champaign County 4-Her apply!

Items of interest for 4-Hers enrolled in the Horse Project:

• You should have received a mailing in late March with information regarding leases and ownership papers. These are due to the Extension office May 1. Call today if you didn't receive these!
  
  
• If you have not taken the Animal Ethics training over the Internet, you should have received a mailing with information on how to complete this. This is a requirement you must do once in your 4-H career if you plan to exhibit at either the county or state 4-H Horse shows. Must be completed by June 1.
  
  
• Registration for exhibit classes is due June 1.
  
  
• Champaign County Horse Show is Wednesday, June 20 at Gordyville, USA. You must show here to compete at the State 4-H Junior Horse Show.
  
  
• Watch for mailings sent directly to all 4-H Horse project members about workshops to attend.

The Superior Young Producer Scholarship program is offering scholarship money to junior show participants at the State Fair. Members enrolled in beef, swine, dairy cattle, horses, and sheep are urged to compete. The program is designed to emphasize the educational aspects of raising and showing livestock. A young person may compete in only one area per year and must exhibit that species at the State Fair.

Five $1000 scholarships are available in each species. Champaign County has done well the last two years with three members from the Mahomet Prairie Partners winning scholarships. Charlie Myerscough was last year's winner from Champaign.

The contest format is a four phase competition including: skillathon, written management test, live animal judging, and showmanship demonstration. All phases of competition are held during the Illinois State Fair. Registration forms may be obtained from our office and are due July 1 to the appropriate coordinator.

Dog Project Workshop

Nearly 100 4-Hers and their families attended the Dog Project Workshop on Saturday, March 31. 4-Hers learned about dog care from Vet Technician Jean Fisher, Obedience Training from Doris Froman, Bob Adams taught a session on showmanship and the C-U Fly Ball Team entertained everyone during lunch. Several of the trained dogs also showed their agility skills as they ran through the special agility course.

Horticulture Workshop – June 5

Looking for something fun to do after school is out? Attend the annual horticulture workshop scheduled for Tuesday, June 5 beginning at noon. You'll learn lots, too!

The auditorium will be set up with displays of plants, seeds, branches, fruits, flowers and other plants. The first hour will be devoted to teaching you the names of the specimens and helping you to learn to identify them. Then we will scramble them and you will be asked to identify them by using the skills you learned. It's always a fun afternoon. Refreshments and prizes will be awarded.

We urge you then to attend the State Horticulture contest on Tuesday, June 19 on the U of I campus. Senior winners from that competition will compete this fall at the national contest in Kentucky.

Taste of 4-H Day Camps

So you can't attend the overnight camp at 4-H Memorial Camp, but would like to experience some fun 4-H activities this summer? Join other youth as they learn about 4-H by attending the Taste of 4-H Day Camps. In Rantoul, dates are from July 31 – August 3 for ages 7-11 and August 7-9 for those 12 and older. In Mahomet, dates are July 17-20. If you'd like to participate in these day camps, call our office for details.

Leader's Meeting - May 15

Plan to have at least one leader from your club attend this meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Extension auditorium. We will go over details for Club-O-Rama registration. It is IMPORTANT to learn to do your registrations correctly.

Livestock Entries

New this year, livestock show registration forms will be sent directly to the 4-Her. Each 4-Her will be responsible for completion and submission of his/her form(s) to the Extension office by July 5.

Model Rocket Launch

On Tuesday, June 19 at 11:30 a.m., plan to launch your rocket! The State judging contest will be held at the Stadium Terrace Playing Field (west side of Memorial Stadium) on campus, weather permitting. Call the office for registration information.

Food Demonstration Contest

The Food Demonstration contest will be held on Thursday, June 14, 7 p.m. in the Extension auditorium. All members enrolled in foods projects, except food science, may enter in the demonstration contest. The food demonstration should be 8-10 minutes in length. Demonstrations may be done by an individual or as a team of two members. This is an opportunity for youth to qualify for State Fair in a foods project. The winner of our county competition who attends State Fair in the foods demonstration exhibit will be awarded the Minnie Schlorff traveling tray at the Achievement Celebration. The winner's name will be engraved on the tray and he or she may keep the tray for a year. Please register by Monday, June 11.

Summer Shows Bulletin

All 4-Hers should watch for the special Summer Shows Bulletin to be sent in June. Details will be listed for all exhibit shows. Read the Club-O-Rama information carefully. There are many changes for Club-O-Rama, including exhibit judging, project location in the mall, and when projects should be displayed.

Schmidt Award Application

The application for livestock project members to compete for the Schmidt Award will be included in the Summer Shows Bulletin. The Schmidt Award is a traveling trophy presented to the outstanding livestock exhibitor at the County Livestock Show in beef, swine, dairy, sheep and goats.

State Fair Books and Sign-Up

Illinois State Fair books should be arriving soon. Call before you come to pick up. Deadlines are early again this year for the Junior Horse Show – June 1 to our office.

Deadline for livestock projects is June 25. There will be a registration help session on Thursday, June 21, from 4-7 p.m. in the Extension office. Staff will be available to help you complete the paper work for State Fair or the Champaign County 4-H Livestock Show.

4-H Camp

Time is running out to get your registration in for 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello. Deadlines are nearing and once the camp is full...that's it. No more will be allowed to attend. Don't delay.

Animal Ethics

Any 4-Her planning to show livestock at the Champaign County 4-H Livestock Show or at the Illinois State Fair who has not completed the Animal Ethics training in a prior year, must do so before July 1. The Website is http://qaec.outreach.uiuc.edu/

Public Presentations Contest

Thursday, May 10 beginning at 6 p.m. is the annual Public Presentations contest. Even if you didn't sign up to speak, come and watch your fellow 4-H members. You will get ideas to help you in the future. Sign up deadline is May 3.

May
1	Last Date to Tattoo Sheep
1	Horse/Pony Lease & Ownership Papers Due to Unit Office
1	State Fair Performance Showcase Tapes Due 5 p.m., Unit Office
4	Scholarship Applications for 4-H Camp & Summer Outings Due at 5 p.m. in Unit Office
10	Public Presentations Contest
13	4-H Memorial Camp Open House
14	Applications for Illinois Leadership Convention Due 5 p.m.
15	4-H Leader's Meeting, 7 p.m., Auditorium
21	Federation, 7 p.m., Auditorium
22	4-H and 4-H Mini-camp Registration Deadline, 5 p.m, Unit Office
16	Horse Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., Extension Conference Room
26	Carroll County Livestock and Dairy Judging Contests
28	Extension Office Closed – Memorial Day
29	4-H Youth Committee, 7 p.m., Extension Conference Room
June
1	Club-O-Rama Entries Due to Unit Office by 5 p.m.
1	Champaign County & State Horse Show entries due 5 p.m.
5	4-H Horticulture ID Workshop, Noon, Auditorium
14	Foods Demonstration Contest, 7 p.m., Auditorium
16	UI Meats Judging Contest, 10 a.m. Meat Science Lab, UI
17 - 21	Champaign County Week at 4-H Memorial Camp
18	Federation, 7 p.m., Auditorium
19	State 4-H Judging Contests
19	State 4-H Forestry Judging Contest, Illini Grove, Urbana, Noon
19	UI Poultry Judging Contest, Noon
20	Champaign County Horse Show, Gordyville
21	Livestock County/State Fair Entry Workshop, 4 - 7 p.m., Auditorium
22	State 4-H Dairy Quizbowl, UI Animal Sciences Lab, 11:45 a.m.
25	State Livestock Entries Due
26	4-H Youth Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., Unit Conference Room
28	Club-O-Rama Judges & Superintendents Training, 7 p.m., Auditorium
30	Rabbit Tattooing Deadline If Showing at State Fair
29 – July 1	Illinois 4-H Leadership Convention, at the Clarion, Champaign
July
1 - 3	4-H Mini-Camp, 4-H Memorial Camp, Monticello, IL
2	County Livestock Show Entries Due, 5 p.m. County Office
4	Office Closed, Holiday
10 – 12	Club-O-Rama, Market Place Mall
11 – 15	4-H State Horse Show, State Fair Grounds

On March 27, twelve 4-Hers and their families visited the Illinois State Capital at Springfield with over 2,000 other 4-H members and families. Those from Champaign County attending were: Katie Baker, Gifford; Rachel Bear-Brister, Urbana; Lori Berbaum, Ivesdale; Kate Bogner, Champaign; Alison Duden, Gifford; Janette Hays, Champaign; Sarah Hays, Champaign; Katie Mullins, Seymour; John Nelligan, Champaign; Janna Pflugmacher, Penfield; Erica Smith, Champaign; Ashley Stickels, St. Joseph; Anthony Stierwalt, Sadorus and Phillip Wood, Sadorus.

4-Hers met with local legislators and toured the Illinois State Museum, Capitol building, Lincoln's Home, and some even went to the Governor's Mansion. All 4-H members who receive a superior award at the Illinois State Fair in August are invited to attend this special event in Springfield. Use this as an incentive to do your very best in your 4-H projects this summer when you exhibit at Club-O-Rama so you'll be selected to exhibit at State Fair. Maybe you'll receive a special invitation next year.