March 10 -- 4-H Beef Weigh-In
March 16-17 -- GPS Explorers Lock-In
March 19 -- 4-H Ambassador Meeting, 6 p.m., White County Extension Building
March 31 -- Sheep & Goats Showmanship Clinic
March 31 -- Southern Region Hippology Contest & Horse Event
April 6 -- 4-H Foundation Scholarship Application Deadline
April 7 (Note Date Change) -- Swine, Sheep & Goats Weigh-In
April 16 -- 4-H Foundation Meeting, 6 p.m.
April 24 -- 4-H Public Presentation/Food Demonstration Contest
May 5 -- 4-H Day with the St. Louis Cardinals
June 10-13 -- Southern IL 4-H Camp

We want to be sure to tell our legislators what great things 4-H is doing, so we're going to write personal letters to them at the next Ambassador meeting. We want EVERYONE to attend this special AMBASSADOR meeting.

Ambassadors include all 4-Hers from Hamilton, Wayne, White, Edwards, Wabash & Jefferson County. The meeting will be 6 p.m. Monday, March 19 at the White County Extension Office...............see you there!

Check out the full-page Wayne County 4-H Show Schedule that is located elsewhere in this newsletter. Be sure to post it where you can see it and keep it for future reference.

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 scheduled for Saturday, March 31. 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 was required by March 1. To participate only at the regional contest, registration will be accepted until March 29.

Illinois and Missouri 4-H members, parents, volunteers and alumni will gather at Busch Stadium on Saturday, May 5, for the sixth annual 4-H Day with the Cardinals. The Cardinals will be playing the central division rival, Houston Astros in a 12.10 p.m. game. Tickets for the game will be $18.00 each which includes a specially designed t-shirt featuring the 4-H Clover on the back and the Cardinals 2006 World Series Championship emblem on the front.

4-H members and leaders who purchase 4-H Day with the Cardinals tickets will have the opportunity to participate in a parade around the Busch Stadium outfield. Pre-game ceremonies will include a recitation of the 4-H pledge and ceremonial first pitches by an Illinois and Missouri 4-H member.

4-H Day with the Cardinals tickets must be ordered on the 4-H Day with the Cardinals order form. Ticket order forms are available at University of Illinois Extension offices, or on the web at www.4h.uiuc.edu. Ticket orders must be postmarked by March 26, 2007.

Call the office immediately at 842-3702 if you want a form. Last year, this sold out in 1 week and they're selling fast again this year!

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.

4-H members that received $75 scholarships from the Wayne County 4-H Foundation to attend this year's ILC are Emily Hatfield, Jenna Richardson, MaCallie Walker & Felicia Johnson. Clinton Hayes and Amy Lane are alternates.

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 7, 9 - 10 a.m., Wayne County Fairgrounds.

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

Tuesday, April 24
Public Presentations Contest/Food Demonstration Contest, 7 p.m., Extension Office

Saturday, July 7
Dog Obedience and Dog and Cat Show, 9 a.m.., Fairgrounds

Tuesday, July 10
Clothing Show, 10 a.m., Methodist Church

Wednesday, July 11
Fairgrounds Clean-up Day, 9 a.m., Fairgrounds

Thursday, July 12
Foods Show, 1 p.m., Geff Ruritan Building

Saturday, July 14
Horse Show, 5 p.m., Wayne County Saddle Club

Monday, July 16
General Projects Show, 8 a.m., Fairgrounds
Bicycle Rodeo & Tractor Driving Contest, 2 p.m., Fairgrounds
Beef weigh-in, 5 p.m., Fairgrounds
Sheep & Goat weigh-in and check-in, 6 p.m., Fairgrounds

Tuesday, July 17
Bucket Calf Show, 8:30 a.m., Fairgrounds
Beef Show, 9 a.m., Fairgrounds
Chicken BBQ Contest, 3 p.m., Fairgrounds
Swine weigh-in, 4 p.m., Fairgrounds
Sheep Show, 5 p.m., Fairgrounds
Goat Show, 6:30 p.m., Fairgrounds

Wednesday, July 18
Swine Show, 8 a.m., Fairgrounds
Poultry Show, 5:30 p.m., Fairgrounds
Rabbit Show, 7 p.m., Fairgrounds

Thursday, July 19
Carcass Show, 10 a.m., Farmer's Packing in Albion
Round Robin Showmanship Contest, 1 p.m., Fairgrounds
Little Pig Drive, 4:30 p.m., Fairgrounds
Awards Presentation, 5:00 p.m., Fairgrounds
Livestock Auction, 5:30 p.m., Fairgrounds

THIS SCHEDULE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

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/.

Stretching is important at any age but especially for children. An easy and fun way to stretch is to imitate animals and their actions. To stretch like an elephant, put your fingers together then bend over slowly from a standing position. With your back straight, swing your arms back and forth like an elephant's trunk as you walk.