Back by popular demand is the Clay County 4-H Ski Trip. The trip will take place on Monday, January 18th. All area schools are closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Anyone is welcome to attend, this is NOT limited to 4-H members. More details are enclosed in this newsletter. This trip is booked on a fist-come, first-serve basis, so don't wait to register. After you pre-register you will be mailed the appropriate paperwork that must be completed, signed and returned (with payment) before your seat is reserved for the trip, so don't delay sign up today!!

It was brought up at our last leader meeting that some clubs would be interested in doing a county banner to be put on display in the 4-H building at the Illinois State Fair. We encourage anyone with ideas for the banner to submit them to the Extension Office before February. The banner must include "4-H" or the 4-H Clover and the County or Extension Unit name. I know State Fair seems like a long time away, but it will take some time to figure out the design, and have completed.

New project enrollment forms are available at the Extension Office or on the website. If you have old enrollment forms, please disregard, new year means new enrollment. There are a few changes from last year. If you are trying to decide which project is for you check out this website at www.n4hccs.org . This is a great tool for finding additional activities, games and links to other websites. New projects with new publications include:

Bicycle 1-Bicycling for Fun

Bicycle 2– Wheels in Motion

Leadership– Skills You Never Outgrow

Veterinary Science 1—From Airedales to Zebras

Veterinary Science 2– All Systems Go

Veterinary Science 3– On The Cutting Edge

4-H Cooking 301

Vegetable Gardening A– See Them Sprout

Vegetable Gardening B—Let's Get Growing

Vegetable Gardening C– Take Your Pick

Vegetable Gardening D– Growing Profits

Video-Filmmaking (only available online)

Wind Energy—Power of Wind

Vegetable Gardening D– Growing Profits

Teens from across Illinois are invited to converge in Springfield to debate bills and learn about the legislative process. The 4-H Great Debate is for all high school age youth interested in learning about how Illinois state government works. During the two-day event teens will, learn persuasive speaking, develop an understanding of the legislative process, and meet people from other areas of the state. Registration fee for the conference is $60. The deadline for registration is January 22, 2010. Lodging will be at Lake Springfield Christian Academy. Delegates will need to bring bedding, towels, and toiletries in addition to clothing. Watch for more details.

Steer Enrollment due January 4, 2010.

The 4-H LCP Award is for older 4-H members in Illinois and sponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau and Affiliates. The purpose of the award is to reward members exhibiting outstanding leadership, citizenship, cooperation ,and professionalism during the past 4-H program year. Although all members can apply, the program is designed to recognize and promote achievement in the agriculture industry. Applicants must be 4-H members who are at least 17 years of age by December 1, and cannot have reached their 19th birthday by September 1 of the year they submit the application. A maximum of two applicants per county may be submitted for the state competition. For more details and an application visit our website at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/clayfayette. The completed application, including the appropriate signatures and reference evaluations must be postmarked by December 15, 2009.

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all 4-H members, volunteers and the Federation Team for making the evening a big success and congratulations to all those who received awards. The following is a list of award winners.

Treasurer of the Year: Emma Pierce

Secretary of the Year: Jackie Kuenstler

Scrapbook of the Year: Katy Dehart

Best Kept Records

General Projects: Avery Booth

Beef: Rachael Lewis

Swine: Cassie Lybarger

Swine: Cassie Lybarger

Sheep: Parker Van Dyke

Goats: Justine Barnfield

Sheep: Parker Van Dyke

Goats: Justine Barnfield

Horse: Lauren Lybarger

Dog: Samantha Briscoe

Rabbits: Abigail Etchison

Alumni of the Year: Alex Fulk

Volunteers of the Year: Tina Briscoe & Cheryl Wathan

Business of the Year: Valbert's Feed Store

Outstanding 1st Year 4-H Member: Kyle McKnelly

Outstanding 4-H Member: Lindsey McKnelly

The Federation Team will be doing the "Thanksgiving Baskets" for needy families again this year. We will meet at the Clay County Health Department at 5:00 p.m. on November 23rd to assemble the baskets. On December 2nd we will meet at the Extension Office (Depot) at 6:00 p.m. to shop for the Operation Christmas Star family. After shopping at Wal-mart we will return to the depot to wrap the presents. The 4-H Federation Team will be doing a Country Rhodes fish fry on Friday, March 5th, and will be traveling to an Illini game on Saturday March 6th. Be sure to watch the upcoming newsletters for more details.

Horse Bowl & Hipplogy practieces will begin, starting the first Sunday in January at Lueking Horse Farm. Anyone is welcome to join and if interested in joining feel free to contact Jacquie Lueking or the Clay County Extension Office. We would like to thank Jacquie, for once again being the coach for these events.

Check out the new the Illinois 4-H web site. The site has recently been redone to make it more user friendly for members, parents, and leaders. The new address is http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state4h.

November

15 Clay County Odds N Ends meeting "Troop Project"

19 Santa's workshop 6-? at Flora Depot

23 4-H Federation meet at CCHD for "Thanksgiving Baskets"

26 Happy Thanksgiving (office closed)

27 Office closed for the holidays

December

2 4-H Federation shopping for "Operation Christmas Star"

at 6:00 p.m. @ Depot

13 Clay County Odds N Ends meeting "Cookie Decorating"

20 Panther Creek Pioneers Club Christmas Party

24-Jan 4 Office closed for the holiday

January

3 Horse Bowl/Hippolgy begins at Lueking Horse Farm

4 Steer Enrollment Deadline

18 Paoli Peaks Ski Trip

March

5 Country Rhodes Fish Fry

The 2010 Illinois State Fair Dates: August 13th-22nd