Corey Richards and 30 other delegates and 15 planning committee members from 19 counties in the state of Illinois want to be prepared for their futures! They checked out a special leadership event for Illinois high school students and all other teens not yet 19 by September 1, 2009!

The third annual Southern Illinois Leadership Convention was October 10-12 at Touch of Nature Environmental Center just south of Carbondale, Illinois. In addition to fun outdoor events like trust walks, a dance, an auction, trivia night, two community service projects, and team games, the convention featured workshops on important topics such as cultural awareness and understanding, working effectively in groups and teams, stepping out of your comfort zone, dealing with peer pressure and standing up for your own beliefs, communicating and speaking in public, and developing a positive and happy spirit.

To find out more about the recent convention or to learn about other youth leadership opportunities, call the office, 643-3416, for details. 2010 convention dates are October 9-11!

The Hamilton County Homemakers Education Association or HEA will hold a style show and salad luncheon on Saturday, November 21, at the First Baptist Church Carlton Activity Center.

Holiday fashions from Simply Her and Maurice's of Fairfield will be modeled by Hamilton County HEA models.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. with show and luncheon starting at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $6.00 and can be purchased in advance or at the door! Hope to see you all there!

All 4-H members, family & friends are invited to attend this fun filled evening on Friday, October 30, at the new 4-H Livestock Barn on the Fairgrounds starting at 6:30 p.m. meat, drinks, and paper products provided.

Remember we are still collecting old cell phones. Just bring in your old phone and we will dispose of it for you!

Achievement Night Award Winners were:

County Blue Awards and Medals

Achievement / 1 Year & Career

Brandon Davis

Animal Science

Samantha Davis, Sarah Davis, *Clint Gwaltney, *Caleb Miller, *Chad Flannigan, *Eric Erkmann, * Chris Richards, *Lynn Anselment, *Lucas Anselment, *Brandon Davis

Community & Global Awareness

Lynn Anselment, *Alanah Hutchcraft

Environment & Natural Resources

Ethan Erwin

Food Nutrition & Health

Ethan Erwin, *Bryanna Martin, *Callie Webb, *Brandon Davis

Home & Family

Abbie Braden

Mechanics & Technology

Lucas Anselment, *Brandon Davis

Personal Development

Elizabeth Dykstra, Ethan Erwin, *Eric Erkmann, *Corey Webb, *Lynn Anselment, *Callie Jo Webb, *Lexi Karcher

Plants & Soils

Abbie Braden, *Eli Lueke, *Lucas Anslemnet

Victory Award Winners

8-9 Year Olds

Funny Farmers- Kaitlyn Martin

Happy Harvesters - Jared Rexing

Pioneer Country Kids - Elaine Miller & Alex Rapp

Piopolis Busy Bees - Matthew Gage

Silly Shamrocks - Lauren Burris

Trail Blazers - Lane Parker

10-11 Year Old

Bandits - Sarah Mead & Cord Webb

Funny Farmers - Bryanna Martin & Colton Carter

Happy Harvesters - River Braden

Pioneer Country Kids - Sarah Davis & Sawyer Lueke

Piopolis Busy Bees- Ethan Erwin

Silly Shamrocks - Adrianna Maxwell & James Stewart

Trail Blazers- Cord Webb

12-14 Year Olds

Bandits - Corey Webb

Funny Farmers - Abbie Braden

Happy Harvesters- Rachelle Rexing & Philip

Rexing

Pioneer Country Kids- Samantha Davis & Corey

Richards

Silly Shamrocks - Elizabeth Dykstra & Eric Erkmann

Trail Blazers - Corey Webb

15-18 Year Olds

Bandits - Callie Webb

Metcalf Hustlers - Lexi Karcher & Ben Scattone

Pioneer Country Kids - Lynn Anselment &

Chris Richards

Silly Shamrocks - Brandon Davis

Trail Blazers - Callie Jo Webb

Overall Victory Award Winners

8-9 Year Olds

Elaine Miller & Matthew Gage

10-11 Year Olds

Sarah Davis & Cord Webb

12-14 Year Olds

Samantha Davis & Corey Webb

15-19 Year Olds

Callie Jo Webb & Brandon Davis

Livestock Judging Team

Kaitlyn Flannigan, Samantha and Sarah Davis

Legislative Ambassador

Logan Karcher

CloverBuds

Kolby Darnell, Austin Carter, Isaac Evans, Kaylene Vineyard, Silas Vineyard, Landon Capps, Michaela Rexing, Hallie Braden, Sky Braden, Alexah Hutchcraft, Samuel Lueke, Kate Miller, Jack Aydt, Levi Erwin, Slayder Renshaw, Pat Wiechinger, Brianna Wilson, Leslie Davis, Maddie Maxwell, Kaylee Stewart, Alyssa Parker, Camryn Parker

Outstanding 1^st Year Members

Lauren Lowery, Kaitlyn Martin, Bobbie Pleasant, River Braden, Grace Futrell, Elaine Miller, Alex Rapp, Carrie Rapp, Matthew Gage, Lauren Burris, Anthony Mauser, James Stewart

Outstanding Junior High Award

Samantha Davis

Dairy Month Awards

1^st – Pioneer Country Kids

2^nd – Piopolis Busy Bees

Scrapbook Award

Funny Farmers

Outstanding Secretary's Book

Samantha Davis/Pioneer Country Kids & Clovers

Outstanding Treasurer's Book

Lucas Anselment/Pioneer Country Kids & Clovers

Illini Summer Academies & SILC Scholarships

Emily Lueke

Samantha Davis

1^st Alt. Elizabeth Dykstra

2^nd Alt. Corey Richards

3^rd Alt. Clint Gwaltney

4^th Alt. Jacob Burris

Junior High Leadership Conference Scholarships

Eli Lueke

Sawyer Lueke

NASA Space Camp Scholarships

Bryanna Martin

Sean Paul Trotter

1^st Alt. Eli Lueke

2^nd Alt. Sawyer Lueke

4-H Alumni Award

David Wilson

Citizenship Washington Focus Scholarship

Corey Richards

Alt. Clint Gwaltney

National 4-H Week Window Display Contest

1^st Place - $20.00 – Pioneer Country Kids & Clovers

2^nd Place -$15.00 – Bandits

3^rd Place - $10.00 – Silly Shamrocks

Trophy Winners

Aerospace - Jared Rexing

Animal Science - Samantha Davis

Beef - Samantha Davis

Bicycle - Brianna Martin

Cat - Sean Paul Trotter

Citizenship - Lynn Anselment

Clothing & Textiles - Bryanna Martin

Communications - Callie Webb

Crops - Nathan Anselment

Dogs - Corey Richards

Food & Nutrition - Brandon Davis

Geology - Conner Williams

Goat - Sarah Davis

Horse - Corey Webb

Horticulture - Lucas Anselment

Intercultural - Rachelle Rexing

Interior Design - Abbie Braden

Natural Resources - Adrianna Maxwell

Performing Arts - Elizabeth Dykstra

Photography - Lynn Anselment

Poultry - Brandon Davis

Rabbits - Cord Webb

Sheep - Kaitlyn Flannigan

Small Pets - Corey Richards

Swine - Eli Lueke

Tractor - Emily Lueke

Visual Arts - Ethan Erwin

Woodworking - Brandon Davis

Pork Chop Dinner Ticket Sales

1^st place / $25.00 Lynn & Lucas Anselment

2^nd place / $15.00 Chris & Corey Richards

3^rd place / $10.00 Alex Lewis

Intercultural Awards

Funny Farmers

Happy Harvesters

Discover Chicago

Laney Hutchcraft & Kaitlyn Flannigan

Club of the Year

Bandits Horse Club

Friend of 4-H

Cargill/Wheeler Creek Grain

4-H Alumni

Tillie Kaufman

4-H Hall of Fame

Louise Hish

As the new 4-H year begins, it is time for clubs to start planning workshops. Contact the office with ideas or dates, so they can be advertised. Maybe we could do some type of recycling workshop. Contact the office at 643-3416!

The November Federation meeting will be held November 4 at 3:30 p.m. in the courthouse basement. We will be discussing workshop ideas for the upcoming months! Everyone is invited to attend!

Each county has them – outstanding teens who help without complaint, believe in the leadership roles they can play, and serve as role models to others. How can we recognize them and thank them for what they have accomplished? How about encouraging them to apply for the 4-H Premier LCP Award?

Are your teens into LCP – Leadership, Citizenship, and Professionalism? The Illinois Farm Bureau and their Affiliate Companies offer a wonderful recognition opportunity for 4-H members ages 17 and above. The 4-H LCP Award provides several levels of recognition to applicants – two recipients per county; ten 4-H members with the highest cumulative point totals for state recognition at the Illini Summer Academies; and ten 4-H members who may attend the IFB Premier 20 Leadership Conference in April.

Applications are available through your local Extension office or via the web:

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state4h/members/recognition_awards.cfm. Each Extension unit determines how they select their two nominees for the state competition. Applicants must be 4-H members who are at least 17 years of age by December 1, 2009. Check with your local Extension office for the county deadline; the state deadline is postmarked by December 15, 2009.

Help motivate junior high 4-H members into:

- exploring their leadership abilities

- Encourage them to attend the 2010 Illinois 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference!

This event, designed for 7th and 8th grade 4-H'ers, is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, February 20-21, 2010. The Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team will again be hosting this event at the Lake Williamson Camp & Conference Center near Carlinville, Illinois. More details and registration information will be appearing on the new 4-H website at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state4h/

Vickie Allen from the WADI office has once again asked the 4-H clubs to help with a family fun event for their enrolled families. If you remember last time each club read a Dr. Seuss book and provided a snack. This time they would like either a craft or a messy mixture. This would be something like playdough, slime or goop! We are possible looking at February 16. I will confirm the date in a future newsletter. Have you club start thinking about what you would like to do! It would be nice if all clubs would participate.

Youth development is the number one goal of the 4-H shooting sports program. 4-H Shooting Sports are an excellent way to provide life-skill development and to establish a caring relationship with an adult mentor. Approximately two thirds of the homes in the United States have firearms, so teaching safe responsible use of firearms and archery equipment is vital to preventing accidents in the home or in the field. The University of Illinois Extension 4-H Shooting Sports Program provides the instruction in the safe handling of firearms and archery equipment. The Shooting Sports program will attract new audiences and enhance the traditional 4-H club program.

The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports Program will utilize the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program and Curriculum. All 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors will need to obtain 4-H Shooting Sports Program Instructor Certification prior to conducting 4-H shooting sports with youth and be screened as a 4-H volunteer through the U. of I. Extension 4-H youth Development Program.

The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program is a youth development education program that uses a prevention education model that strongly emphasizes positive youth-adult interaction and peer leadership. The program enhances family communications and quality time together. It creates an environment for a caring relationship between a young person and a significant adult, whether this is a family member, other adult or teen volunteer.

If you would be interested in serving as a Shooting Sports Instructor or Coordinator please contact the Hamilton County Extension office at 643-3416 for more information. Several adults have shown interest in being instructors but we are still in need of a coordinator. If you would interested in this position, please contact the office ASAP.

Soda is liquid candy. It's a sweet treat to be enjoyed occasionally, but many people drink a soda or two throughout the day.

A 20-ounce bottle contains as much as 16 teaspoons of sugar, which is more sugar than you should consume in one day.

Kids who drink soda on a regular basis take in more calories and are more likely to be overweight. Calories you drink don't seem to register as well as the calories you eat from solid food. So when you add a soda to your lunch, you probably won't make up for it later by eating fewer calories of solid food.

A healthier choice is to drink low-fat milk or 100% fruit juice with your meals. Milk and juice give your body important nutrients like calcium and vitamin C.

Twenty years ago, boys and girls drank twice as much milk as soda. Today, kids drink twice as much soda as milk.

Whole Grain Stuffing

1 cup diced celery

1 cup chopped onion

1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes

2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

1/2 teaspoon ground sage

11 slices whole wheat bread, cubed

3 cups oats (quick or old fashioned), uncooked

1 can (10-3/4 oz.) chicken broth

Instructions

Combine celery and onion in a large bowl. Sprinkle with parsley flakes, poultry seasoning, and sage. Stir until blended. Add bread cubes and oats, mix well. Add broth mixture. Mix until evenly moist. Place in greased, shallow casserole dish. Cover. Bake in 325 degree oven for about 1 hour.

Oct. 30 - 4-H Fall Family Fun Night @ new Livestock Barn, Fairgrounds

Nov. 4 - 3:30 p.m. - Federation meeting

Nov. 21 - 11 a.m. - HEA Style Show

Dec. 15 - LCP Application Deadline

Feb. 16 - 6 p.m. - WADI Fun Night

Feb. 20-21 - IL Jr. High Leadership Conference