After many months of talking, the 4-H centennial year is here! Plans are in the making for several opportunities to celebrate the 100th birthday of 4-H. The float committee will meet again in January to develop an idea to be used in parades this summer. Other events include celebrations at all 4-H exhibit shows. Plus, the Achievement Celebration will be special. Volunteers are needed to plan activities for all these events. 4-Hers, parents, and 4-H alums can volunteer by calling the Extension office.

We are excited about the 2002 4-H calendar for celebrating our 100th birthday. Twelve different 4-H Alums are featured with their pictures and information about their 4-H involvement. We think you'll be surprised as you recognize persons who have or are making an impact in our world both locally and nationally. Leaders will pick these up for your club at the January 10 meeting.

 

You are doing a terrific job signing up new 4-H members. We are over half way to our goal of 100, with 76 new traditional 4-Hers enrolling and 24 new Cloverbud members. Keep on signing up those new young people…we still have t-shirts to give.

The new process for volunteer screening was reviewed at the November 4-H Leaders' Meeting. If you are volunteering to become a leader or project leader, DO NOT use forms given to you prior to this fall. We must use only the new forms. Previously screened leaders are "grandfathered in." However, when the five-year cycle comes up, you will have to comply with the new requirements which include a copy of your driver's license and proof of vehicle insurance. This year, a police check is being piloted. 4-H is just getting up-to-speed on some of these issues. Many youth volunteer organizations have been requiring this information for some time. If you have questions, please call Alison or Fran.

 

We are accepting 4-H member enrollments to exhibit at summer shows until April 1. All members and leaders must re-enroll from year to year. Adults sometimes tell us they didn't realize they needed to complete the enrollment form each year. We don't want to miss counting the number of years you serve.

Some livestock enrollments were completed by January 2, including those with steers for tattooing.

Saturday, February 2 is scheduled for tattoing of steers who will be in the rate-of-gain classes at the county 4-H show or State Fair. Tattooing will be held at the U of I Large Animal Clinic on South Lincoln Avenue in Urbana, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Animals needing to be tattooed should arrive no later than 10:00 a.m. Also, animals' ears should be cleaned and they should be halter broke. The safety of our volunteers who are helping with tattooing is a major concern. The Livestock Committee may refuse to tattoo an animal, if the situation is unsafe.

4-Hers: You must bring your Social Security number and home address. In case of bad weather, listen to WDWS or WIXY for cancellation notification. Saturday, February 9 is the alternative date.

The popular bowling event is scheduled for February 16. We have some 4-Hers who have offered to assist with this. If you are in 7th grade or older and would like to help facilitate the event that day, give us a call.

Applications for this the semi-annual CWF trip are due to our office by January 15. The cost is $950, but two $750 scholarships are available from the Champaign County Extension Education Foundation. We encourage teens aged 15 and over to apply. Applications are available at our office.

The trip will be July 13-20. The youth will travel by bus and stay at the National 4-H Center. Through small group sessions, 4-Hers will learn about federal legislation, political parties, the Bill of Rights, and how to make a positive impact on your community. Plus youth will tour many of the historical sights of Washington D.C. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Two $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to Illinois high school seniors who plan to enroll as full-time students in agriculture related studies and be committed to pursuing a career in agriculture or an ag related field. Visit http://www.state.il.us/treas/Programs/excellence.htm

Since September 11 understanding other cultures has become more important to all of us. The Peace Corps has a wonderful website with activities for all grades to help teach understanding. I especially like the activity comparing people to an iceberg…what you see vs. what is hidden.

Our Extension staff is offering a special workshop on bullying, to be held at our office on Friday, February 1 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. You will receive a great deal of information and many suggestions to help the bully, help the victim, and to prevent bullying from starting. Credit for five CPDUs will be offered for re-certification. Cost is $20 and includes lunch and all handouts.

University of Illinois Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology, Dorothy L. Espelage, Ph.D. will begin the morning session by sharing her research on bullying in the Midwest. Besides having her findings widely published in professional journals, she has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, CBS Evening News, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. We are excited about having her join us to share her expertise.

Activities will be incorporated throughout the in-service that can be used in the classroom to prevent bullying. Also, you will receive the activity and fact filled book, The Bullying Free Classroom by Dr. Allan L. Beane.

Popular press is certainly bringing bullying to the forefront. But rumors and myths should not be a part of our educational base. Attend the in-service and find out the facts and strategies for handling bullying. If you didn't receive a registration form, call our office today.

This workshop will focus on the needs of school teachers, but other adults or student teachers interested in the subject are invited to attend. Call the Extension office for a registration brochure.

The Junior Master Gardener program, our third and final teacher in-service this winter, is scheduled for Wednesday, February 20 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at our office.

I often promote the work of Dr. James Garbarino from Cornell University who has researched difficult youth for many years. His new book, published this fall, Parents Under Siege is a must. After the Littleton shootings and interviewing the parents of one of the troubled teens, Dr. Garbarino and his wife chose to write a book to help parents understand their sons and daughters.

The background is to help parents and others understand that just because a youth does something wrong doesn't mean the parents are bad parents. How often do we hear that term when talking about troubled youth? Garbarino points out all the other factors in today's youth that contribute to troubled youth from video games, lack of supervision, both parents working, consumerism of teens, and peers.

He speaks to parent's concerns about overcoming these obstacles by not being judgmental; but by listening, showing unconditional love, modeling good character, and teaching compassion by showing compassion. It's a book that all parents and educators should read.

In 1907 or 1908 the first emblem used nationally for 4-H was designed by O.H. Benson as a three-leaf clover. It stood for head, heart, and hands.In 1911, Benson suggested that the fourth H be added to stand for "hustle," and the 4-H design was adopted.

Later O.B. Martin suggested that health replace hustle. The 4-H emblem has stood for Head, Heart, Hands and Health ever since!

Those of you who received a Superior rating at the Illinois State Fair in August, 2001 are waiting your invitation to attend the annual Legislative Connection in March at the State Capitol. Due to security issues, this event may not take place this year. As we receive updates, we'll keep you informed.

On November 8—11, 2001 Marilyn Whalen, Ruby Hunt, Myrtle Ali, and Alison Donoho attended the 2001 North Central Region Volunteer Forum in Des Moines, Iowa. The North Central Region consists of twelve states and three Canadian provinces. This forum gave 4-H leaders a chance to meet many people, exchange ideas, and have fun. Throughout the four days at the forum each delegate got the opportunity to attend four workshops. The workshop topics ranged from personal development to club improvement. One fun-filled workshop was Recreation Makes Meetings Fun. In this workshop, the participants enjoyed playing many fun games and received ideas from the workshop leader and the other workshop participants. The nights were filled with great speakers and entertainment including a night at the State of Iowa Historical Building. Mark your calendars now for next year's forum in St. Louis, Missouri, October 17-20, 2002. In 2003 the forum is in Peoria, Illinois!!

On November 2, 2001, we held the Champaign County Conversation on Youth Development in the 21st Century. Twenty-three youth and thirteen adults representing many youth organizations attended this event. We asked the participants to answer the question: "Within the next three to five years, what are the most important actions we can take to create the future we want for youth in our community?" The group generated 36 ideas and voted on the top five. The five topics are:

• Recognize other youth actions — not just those bringing in money, such as sports. Invest as much time on youth services in communities as economic development, etc.
• Involve youth membership in community groups and government.
• Initiate a program on sex education.
• Create youth and adult partnerships involving community service projects.
• Develop internship opportunities, mentoring, and job shadowing and organize a job share and youth organization fair.

The local conversation was the first level of the three level process. At the second level, more than 150 youth, volunteers, and staff members from youth development organizations across Illinois met in Tinley Park to discuss issues that concern youth and to develop state-level recommendations designed to have greater impact in the lives of youth. Some of the Champaign County participants represented the ideas from our local meeting. Delegates reviewed action steps from county conversations and condensed and refined suggestions for state-level actions.

Greater opportunities for community involvement and education on basic living skills, tolerance, youth leadership and service projects were identified as state recommendations to improve the future for Illinois youth during the conversation. State delegates shared the need for youth leadership opportunities in their communities, parenting programs for parents and their children, and education in basic living skills. The recommendations will be forwarded on to a national conversation in the spring for a final report to be presented to President George Bush and Congress.

Elizabeth Bruns was an IFYE delegate to Poland. She recently returned to Illinois and is available to give a presentation about her stay in Poland. Your club or group my contact her after January 6 at 384-2976 or ebruns@uiuc.edu.

Elizabeth is a former 4-Her from Hancock County and would enjoy sharing her IFYE experiences with you.

Recent revision of the 2001 farm income projection is now available. Farm revenue is determined by using National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimated yields and prices. The yields and prices are applied to 1,032 Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) farms that have historical financial records.

The 1,032 FBFM farms are grain farms with average size of 840 total acres and 617 operator acres. The price assumption used for the corn is a year-end inventory price of $1.95/bu with an estimated LDP of $.17 /bu. and an estimated total price of $2.12/bu. For the soybean price it is a year-end inventory price of $4.40/bu with an estimated LDP of $1.25/bu and an estimated total price of $5.65/bu. For the wheat price, the year-end inventory price is $2.30/bu with an estimated LDP of $.34/bu and an estimated total price of $2.64/bu. The estimated corn yield is 153 bu, soybeans is 48 bu.

The 2000 financial data is adjusted for 2001 by using some expense assumptions. Crop expenses are increased three percent (nitrogen cost); fuel and oil expenses are decreased 15 percent; other expenses are increased one percent and interest expense is decreased one percent (i.e. interest expense and not rate).

In 2001, the projected net farm income is $31,109. This compares to the 2000 net farm income of $52,168, the 1999 farm income of $32,256 and the 1998 farm income of $12,894. The net farm income does not include any operator labor/family withdrawals, nonfarm income or income taxes.

Government payments are a significant importance. The average government payment for these farms is $51,441. Deducting the payment from the average net farm income of $31,109 gives ($20,232) net farm income. In order to get a $31,109 net farm income without any government payments the crop prices would need to be $2.40 for corn, $6.39 for soybeans and $2.83 for wheat.

The projection for the change in net worth for 2001 is ($309). The assumptions for net worth in 2001 include a 1.5 percent increase in land values and no change in machinery values. The negative net worth is shown below.

Net Income	$31,109
Family Living	(49,148)
Nonfarm Income	22,853
Income Taxes	(11,130)
Valuation Change	6,007
Change from 2000	($309)

The Corn & Soybean Classic program is of special interest to farm operators, farm owners, crop advisors and agri-businessmen. It is planned to cover current multidisciplinary agricultural topics. This year there are two panel discussions as well as the following scheduled topics and speakers.

• Soil Sampling for Conventional and Site-Specific Management Systems by Don Bullock
• Taming the Two Giants by Christy Sprague
• Persistent Problems with Pesky Pigweeds by Aaron Hager
• Keeping Up with the Changes in SCN Management Recommendations by Terry Niblack
• Foiling the Foliar and Stem Disease by Dean Malick
• A Look at New Grain Pricing by Darrel Good
• Getting Plant Population Right by Emerson Nafziger
• Insect Management Challenges in 2001: Will 2002 Be Different? By Michael Gray and Kevin Steffey
• The New Illinois N Soil Test by Robert Hoeft

The nearest location for the day-long is January 15 at Holiday Inn in Urbana. Five other locations are available; call for information.

Registration is at 8:15 am with the program beginning at 8:45 am. The cost includes a meal and program materials. The registration cost before January 5, 2002 is $35; thereafter it is $40. Registration can be paid by check or by credit card. Call 333-4424 for program or registration questions.

Good alfalfa management practices result in large benefits to dairy and beef producers as well as to commercial alfalfa growers. Many times farm operators place alfalfa management second to growing corn and soybeans. Thereafter, they may suffer low yields and quality in addition to possibly shortening the life of the stand.

The In-Depth Alfalfa Production Workshop will provide information of basic fertility, pest management and harvest strategies. Speakers are U of I and Purdue Extension educators and specialists as well as an alfalfa producer. The topics include:

• Fertilizing Alfalfa for Profit
• Alfalfa as a Cash Crop
• Score Card to Becoming a Successful Alfalfa Producer
• Herbicides Options for Alfalfa Weed Control
• Calendar for Insect Control in Alfalfa
• Reducing Alfalfa Harvesting and Storage Losses
• Using PEAQ to Determine Harvest Schedule and Alfalfa Quality

The workshop is on January 18, 2002 in the Extension auditorium, beginning at 9:45 a.m. The fee for the workshop is $10 and includes lunch. Registration is required before January 11. Call the Champaign Unit at 333-7672 to register.

Agricultural producers must annually evaluate crop insurance premiums, yields and other variables. The Champaign Unit is hosting a program that provides current information on crop insurance alternatives. Gary Schnitkey, associate professor of agricultural and consumer economics, will provide objective crop insurance issues that you need to consider before making your crop insurance decision.

The program starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5 in Extension auditorium. The program is free and registration is required before February 4. Call the unit at 333-7672.