February 10
4-H Bowling Party, NuBowl Lanes in Mt. Vernon, 1-3 p.m.

February 17
Mid-Winter 4-H Rabbit Show

February 17
Fairfield Kiwanis 16^th Annual Pancake Day, 6:00 - 10:30 a.m.

February 24
Digital Photography Workshop

February 24
Horse Workshop

February 24-25
Junior Leadership Conference

February 26
4-H Foundation Meeting, 6 p.m.

March 1
Legacy of Leadership Scholarship application deadline

March 5
4-H Federation Meeting, 6 p.m.

March 10
4-H Beef Weigh-In

March 16-17
GPS Explorers Lock-In

March 31
Sheep & Goats Showmanship Clinic

March 31
Southern Region Hippology Contest & Horse Event

April 14
Swine, Sheep & Goats Weigh-In

May 5
4-H Day with the St. Louis Cardinals

June 10-13
Southern IL 4-H Camp

Looking for something fun to do in February? Why not make plans to attend the unit-wide bowling party for 4-H families and friends from Hamilton, Wayne and White Counties. This unit-wide activity is scheduled for Saturday, February 10, 1 - 3 p.m., at NuBowl Lanes in Mt. Vernon. A discounted fee of $5.50 will include two games and shoe rental. Please contact the office by February 9 to register.

4-H youth are welcome to attend the Midwinter Rabbit Show at 15039 4-H Center Lane, Mt Carmel on Saturday, Feb. 17. The Show begins at 10 a.m.

This will be a carrying cage show, all cages must be leak proof. There is an entry fee of $1.00, and all entry fees will be awarded as prize money, along with trophies. You may enter as many classes as you wish.

All rabbits must be in the building and entry forms filled out prior to 10 a.m. Doors open at 8 a.m. Wabash County 4-H Federation will be serving food all day long. There will be a raffle of some very nice rabbit supplies, and a vendor will be available selling cages and rabbit supplies. Mini workshops will also be conducted. For more information contact the Wabash County Extension office at 262-5725.

The 16 Annual Fairfield Kiwanis Pancake Day will be held Saturday, February 17 from 6:00 - 10:30 a.m. at the Community of Christ Church in Fairfield. Any 4-Her that would like to help with ticket sales should contact the Extension Office. Kiwanis will make a donation to 4-H for our help with sales.

Tom Ulrich, internationally known wildlife photographer and author, from West Glacier, Montana, in cooperation with the Geff Chatter's 4-H Club, will present a digital photography workshop on Saturday, February 24, 2007, from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. at Frontier Community College, Classroom Building West, room 104.

Many topics related to digital photography will be covered, including composition, lenses, flashes, close-up shots, saving and emailing photos, digital cameras, and many more topics too numerous to mention. Workshop participants are encouraged but not required to bring their digital cameras to the workshop.

Some of the books Tom has authored include Mammals of the Canadian Rockies, Birds of the Canadian Rockies, Mammals of the Northern Rockies, Birds of the Northern Rockies, Once Upon a Frame, Photo Pantanal, and Mt. Reynolds: The Story.

Tom conducts digital photography workshops nationwide and we are very fortunate to have him present in southern Illinois.

The workshop is open to all ages. The cost of the workshop is $30.00 and since space is limited, pre-registration is required. To pre-register contact Ted Davis at (618) 842-7741 or tdavis65@verizon.net

White County 4-H has issued an invitation for any interested Wayne County 4-Her to attend an upcoming workshop on Horses. And the best thing is, you don't even have to own a horse to participate!

Heather Lashley, a trained horseman and student at Southern Illinois University, is willing to prepare 4-Hers in a great event about horses, and participants don't have to own or ride horses. It's called HORSE HIPPOLOGY AND HORSE BOWL.

Basically, it's a whole lot like scholar bowls in school, but all the questions deal with horses. Now, don't fret that you don't know anything about horses. That's the beauty of this program.... There is a great, great website and written materials that help you train for the Hippology and Horse Bowl contest. And, Heather knows all about it!

We are so lucky to have Heather's help. She would like to meet with everyone who is interested at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 24 at the White County Extension Office in Carmi. Call 382-2662 to register so copies of the materials will be available.

There are three divisions to the contests, so everyone can compete at their own experience level.

Heather also has other interesting things planned for future meetings.

The 2007 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholarship application is available online at: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/events2.html. Illinois will be awarding four, $1,000 scholarships this summer to 4-H'ers finishing their senior year in high school or who are already attending an approved post-high school educational program (junior college, 4-year university, trade school, etc.). Members must have been enrolled in the 4-H program a minimum of five years. Completed applications are due postmarked no later than March 1.

There's treasure hidden and we need 4-Hers in grades 3-6 to find it! Come on out Friday, March 16 for a night of exploration as you go on a night GPS hunt. You'll be shown how to use GPS technology to find the cache of treasure. Along the way, you'll play games, have some pizza and sleep lock-in style (that means bring your sleeping bags and pillows). Then Saturday morning it's time to hunt down some more treasures!

Our tour guide will be Lisa Bouillion, state 4-H technology specialist. Renate Jobst, Steve Wagoner and Susan Hayden, youth educators, will also be assisting with the quest. High School 4-H'ers from the Hamilton-Wayne-White unit will also be on hand to help with the expedition (see article below).

Tentatively it is planned to take place at the Carlton Activity Center in McLeansboro (exact details such as where and what to bring will be publicized as soon as it is confirmed.) It will begin at 6 p.m. March 16 and conclude by 10 a.m. Saturday, March 17.

The cost is $10 and includes Friday night dinner and Saturday morning breakfast, as well as some surprises. Registration forms are available online at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/hww/4hyouth828.html or contact your Extension office. The forms are to be mailed to U of I Extension White County, 1715 College Avenue, Carmi, IL 62821. Fee and registration forms are due in the office on March 9. Space is limited. For more information, call the White County office at (618) 382-2662.

High School 4-H'ers (grades 9-12) – get leadership and have fun! We need you to help with the GPS Explorers lock-in. The lock-in will take place March 16 and 17, tentatively planned to take place at the Carlton Activity Center in McLeansboro (exact information will be publicized as soon as it is confirmed). We need 4-H'ers to assist younger 4-H'ers during their GPS quest. You do not have to have expertise in GPS, but you do need to be willing to learn and help younger 4-H'ers. This is really a lock-in for the younger 4-H'ers, but you will get to take part in the fun and games, while serving as a mentor for younger kids. It is open to younger 4-H'ers in the region, so it will be a regional event. This will look good for your 4-H records and job resumes!

You will be expected to come by 5 p.m. Friday, March 16 and stay until it concludes Saturday morning around 10 a.m. It is a lock-in, which means no one can leave so make sure your Friday night and Saturday morning schedule is clear. You will also be mailed information on the lock-in and an expected list of duties. Don't worry, it's not tough. It's basically helping out the younger 4-H'ers.

The cost is $10 and includes Friday night dinner and Saturday morning breakfast, as well as surprises. Registration forms are available online at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/hww/4hyouth828.html . Fee and registration forms are due in the office on March 9. For more information, call the White County office at (618) 382-2662.

4-Hers in Hamilton, Wayne, White, Edwards and Wabash will get hands-on training in grooming and showing sheep and goats at a workshop Saturday, March 31, from 10 a.m. to noon at the White County Fairgrounds in Carmi.

Donnie Seitz, veteran sheep showman and judge, will cover all the basic of grooming and exhibiting sheep. Beginners, as well as experienced 4-H showmen, will benefit from Mr. Seitz knowledge.

Kay Kimmel, long-time goat exhibitor and breeder, will help young 4-Hers learn to groom, care and exhibit goats also during the workshop. Both instructors will be able to help young 4-Hers find animals to purchase.

There is no cost to attend. Pre-registration is appreciated by calling 382-2662, but it is not necessary. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Raising goats and lambs is a great way to begin in the 4-H livestock project. Why not come out and see what these folks have to say. You never know when a great opportunity comes knocking on the door! Goats and lambs qualify for sale in the annual 4-H livestock auction.

4-H members, FFA members and other youth who are horse enthusiasts are invited to participate in this regional event. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. at the 4-H Building on the Washington County Fairgrounds. Look for a large 4-H Clover on the left side of the road.

The hippology contest gets underway at 10 a.m. Tentative plans include a horse judging contest or horse workshop in the afternoon, following the hippology contest. Youth may participate in either or both opportunities. There is a $3 fee per person.

The hippology contest has three age divisions (age as of September 1, 2006): Junior, ages 8-11; Intermediate, ages 12-14; and Senior, ages 15-18 (must not have turned 19 prior to Jan. 1, 2007).

Awards will be announced following the afternoon activity. Certificates will be awarded to the top 5 contestants in the hippology contest.

To be eligible for the state contest, pre-registration is required by March 1. Please contact the Extension Office for details and registration forms. To participate only the the regional contest, registration will be accepted until March 29.

The Extension Office has been notified of the date for the annual 4-H Day with the St. Louis Cardinals. It's May 5 when the Cardinals play the Houston Astros. The schedule calls for a noon start time. Check your calendar now and be prepared to act fast when the forms are released. We'll keep you up-to-date on registration information as it becomes available. If you'd like to pass along your email address, we'll forward the correspondence to you, which should cut down on actual mailing time.

Current Wayne County 4-H members are eligible to participate in a photo contest sponsored by Effingham Equity. Deadline for entries is August 1. The Extension Office has a complete list of rules, so request a copy if you are interested. Photos must have been taken during 2006 or 2007 and illustrate "Agriculture - Farm Life is the Best".

Are you running out of ideas for a program at your club meeting? Why not learn about a different country by using a Culture Kit? These kits contain articles, information, and insight to the country's lifestyle and geography. This year we have several kits available in our region. Call the office to reserve a kit and month. Kits available are: Botswana, Caribbean, China, Greece, Australia (mini), and Austria (mini).

The following 4-Hers were elected to serve as Federation Officers for 2007. Congratulations!

President - Jentzi Schumm
V. President -Katie Hatfield
Secretary - Lian States
Asst. Sec. - Hillary Scarbrough
Treasurer - Dianna Hatfield
Asst. Treas. - Emily Hatfield
Reporter - Billy Hatfield
Asst. Rep. - Jake Howell
Historian - Emily Scarbrough

The Extension Office has acquired three bags of rabbit food. The first three 4-Hers, enrolled in a rabbit project, to contact the Extension Office may request a bag. Arrangements to pick up the feed is up to the individual.

The 4-H Livestock Committee has set the following weigh-in and tagging dates for livestock exhibitors:

Beef Steers: Saturday, March 10, 9 - 10 a.m. at the IPLA Barn west of Fairfield
Swine Barrows, Sheep & Goats: Saturday, April 14^, 9 - 10 a.m., Wayne County Fairgrounds.

NOTE: Please call Matt if you plan to take an animal to the Illinois State Fair.

The State Fair Advisory Committees and the State 4-H Office have made changes for the 2007 Illinois State Fair Junior Department. Here are a few highlights:

• All Sheep lambs that need to be tattooed and weighed for the Illinois State Fair must be taken to one of the designated locations on the specific date noted for that procedure. 4-H'ers will be charged $2.00 per lamb for the electronic ear tags. There will be no other weigh-in opportunities allowed this year. All weigh-ins will be conducted in the morning hours; your local Extension office will have exact times.
• New exhibits have been announced in the following project areas: Service Learning (Individual); Que' Rico! (included with Intercultural exhibits); new Health projects; Consumer Savvy; Be the E!; Microwave Magic A-D; and Communications.
• Conference Judging Options exist in the following project areas: Clothing Decisions; Crops; Leadership; Photography; Sportsfishing; and two Visual Arts classes, Fiber and Paper.
• The following exhibit classes have been deleted: "old" Health classes; Walk in My Shoes (Club); Building Healthy Lifestyles; The Wonderful World of Microwaving; Master of Ceremonies; Leather; Theater Arts (Club); Model Aircraft; and Earth Trek: Soil Conservation.
• Club/Group Action Presentations will again be offered. Applications will be available in early February via the 4-H website: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/annual006.html. Applications will be due by April 16.
• State Fair Dog Show will be held Saturday, August 25 at the Exposition Building on the state fairgrounds.

It's time to start thinking about the Illinois Leadership Convention scheduled for June 28-30. There are several exciting changes to offer this year's attendees - the first being a move back to the U of I campus. Delegates will stay in college dormitories and experience a portion of college life during the event. Workshops for this year's event will focus on leadership skills that youth need to excel in their local community and school activities.

Registration materials will be available in late March from the Extension Office or on line at: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/annual004.html.

Beef

• Livestock Projects Rule 11-No bulls over the age of one year may be stalled in the 4-H Barns.

Swine

• Rate of Gain Class-A maximum weigh-in weight for barrows will be 85 pounds.

Goat

• Make two different weight brackets for wethers- Heavy 65 & under, Market 66 and over.

Rabbit

• Change show to Wednesday night after the poultry show.

Horse

• Riders may ride one horse for speed and one for pleasure. Overall points will be determined by one horse.
• -Points for the trophies will be calculated on the following system.
  1^st-10, 2^nd-8, 3^rd-6, 4^th-4, and 5^th-2
• Junior and Senior Showmanship will be determined by the judge at the end of the event. Junior Showmanship is open to anyone who is 13 and under and Senior Showmanship is open to anyone 14 and over. (Current 4-H Age)

Miscellaneous

• When animals are checked in, exhibitors should have their records checked and determine what classes they will show in.
• Eliminate Eligibility Requirements Rule 1A which states that a 4-H member may sell one animal without having a production project; then in future years, he/she must have a production animal of the same specie as a project and exhibit it in addition to his/her market animal in order to sell an animal in the auction.
• Eligibility Requirements Rule 1B -Change age of seller to 8 as of September 1 of the current 4-H year to sell at the 4-H auction.

Fun and effective 4-H meetings contain a balance between three important segments: group building, group decisions, and program or activity. The group building segment (15-20 minutes) includes recreation, refreshments, celebrations, and social time. The group decision segment (15-20 minutes) would include the business meeting and time for discussion and planning. Finally, the bulk of the time during a 4-H meeting should be devoted to a program or activity. Community service projects, tours, guest speakers, project work, and talks and demonstrations might comprise the club program. The "Club Meeting Wheel" highlighted in the Helping You Help Officers and Committees Packet (90410) can be ordered through your local Extension office. Helping members, officers, parents, and other leaders understand the importance of a balanced club meeting and its relationship to meeting the critical elements of positive development is a key role for club organizational leaders.

Do you have a great photo of 4-H volunteers and/or members in action? Please send them to the State 4-H Office to be considered for the 2007-08 Illinois Clover. Please send photos by April 1 to: State 4-H Office, Attn: The Illinois Clover, 302 E. John St. #1901, Champaign, IL 61820 or email to: natalieb@uiuc.edu. Details about photo requirements may be found at: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/clover.html.

True or False? Chocolate milk is loaded with sugar and caffeine? While chocolate milk does have some sugar and caffeine, it's only a small amount. In comparison to other sweet drinks, chocolate milk has 2 fewer teaspoons of sugar and 2 to 10 times less caffeine than the same amount of soda. So if the choice is chocolate milk or soda, go for the brown cow!

If you're an athlete, what you eat before a sports event is important. Choosing foods carefully can give you an extra boost. Follow these guidelines to get the most from your pre-game meal.

• Eat your meal at least three hours before the event. This gives your food time to digest.
• Choose foods that are high in starch, like pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, and cereal. They are easy to digest, and they help steady your level of blood sugar.
• Eat only moderate amounts of protein, and limit fats and oils. These foods take longer to digest than the high-starch foods.
• Limit sugary foods. They can cause rapid changes in your blood sugar levels, so you might have less energy during the event.
• Avoid foods and drinks that contain caffeine, because they can lead to dehydration.
• Drink plenty of fluids with your pre-game meal.

Recipe of the Month - Easy Cheesy Lasagna

Make this tasty dish the night before, and refrigerate a serving in a microwave-safe container. Then you can just heat and eat on game day!

8 oz. uncooked lasagna noodles
2 cups lowfat or nonfat cottage cheese
4 cups (32 oz.) spaghetti sauce
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 cups (8 oz.) part-skim mozzarella cheese
½ teaspoon garlic powder

1. In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, Parmesan, and garlic powder.
2. Pour 1½ cups spaghetti sauce into 13x9-inch baking pan; spread evenly over the bottom. Place 4 uncooked lasagna noodles over the spaghetti sauce; spread half of cottage cheese mixture over noodles. Sprinkle half of mozzarella cheese on top. Spoon 1 cup spaghetti sauce evenly over the cheese.
3. Make another layer with remaining lasagna noodles, then cottage cheese mixture, and then remaining spaghetti sauce. Be sure sauce completely covers noodles. Sprinkle rest of mozzarella cheese on top of sauce.
4. Bake the lasagna, uncovered, at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes.

Remove from oven and let set 10 minutes before cutting.

The Food Stamp Program provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact Department of Human Services at 618/842-2621

Wayne County 4-H activities and events may be cancelled in the event of bad weather. Please listen to WFIW radio 104.9 for 4-H cancellation announcements.

Why not make plans to attend the Illinois State Fair this year. It will run from August 10 - 19 in Springfield. Wayne County's 4-H exhibit day is Saturday, August 11. Check out the State Fair website for information on coming attractions at http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/.