August 31 -- Wayne County 4-H Records Due
September 3 -- Office Closed for Labor Day Holiday
September 8 -- So. IL Horse Judging Contest, Jackson County
September 18 -- 4-H Records Grading
September 22 -- Goat Expo
September 27 -- Hamilton-Wayne-White 4-H Leaders Training
October 1 -- Wayne County 4-H Foundation Meeting
October 4-7 -- NASA Space Center Trip
October 6-8 -- Discover Chicago Trip
October 6-8 -- Southern IL Leadership Convention
October 7-13 -- National 4-H Week
October 23 -- 4-H Achievement Night
October 26 -- Haunted Trail at Dolan Lake
October 26-27 -- Pumpkin Festival

Happy New 4-H Year that is! September 1 signals the start of a new 4-H year. Now is the perfect time to encourage all your friends to join 4-H. Clubs will be reorganizing in the very near future. The new Illinois Clover and Enrollment Forms will be available soon. Let's work together to make this another great year!

Please note - There will be no 4-H Federation Meeting in September. A wiener roast will be held in October to kick off the new 4-H year. Be watching for more details.

Projects sent to State Fair have been returned to the Extension Office and ready for pick up.

Wayne County 4-Hers garnered the highest honors on six of the 47 projects exhibited at the Illinois State Fair.

Judges awarded superior ribbons to only the top 10% of the projects in each division. Earning superior ribbons from Wayne County were Emily Hatfield in Horticulture/Vegetable Plate, Hannah Lowe in Visual Arts Paper and Fashion Revue, Jenna Richardson in Photography, Hayley Spicer in Sewing & Textiles II, and Lian States in Intercultural.

Awards of excellence for outstanding work were earned by Bryan Bailey, Caleb Barnard, Katherine Barnard, Matthew Byars, Megan Byars, Isaac Etheridge, Jarod Fearn, Derek Greifzu, Emilee Hatcher, Billy Hatfield, Emily Hatfield, Kayla Howell, Shelby Johnson, Whitney Johnson, Ashlee Lambrich, Amy Lane, Katie Liston, Christopher Lowe, Aaron Maloy, Katlyn Maloy, Mariah Matthews, Krysta McKowen, Tyler McKowen, Tamara Murphy, Sara Musgrave, Andrea Nelson, Laurel Pennington, Sara Rogers, Emily Scarbrough, Hillary Scarbrough, Jentzi Schumm, Cody Simpson, Kali Smith, Ethan Spicer, Chelsie Walker, and MaCallie Walker.

Meg Keyser, member of the Enterprisers 4-H Club, was one of five junior swine exhibitors from across Illinois to be awarded a $1000 Superior Young Swine Producer scholarship at the Illinois State Fair. The competition involved meat evaluation and quality assurance, a skillathon, and a management test. Other participants from Wayne County were Ethan Keyser, Chris Lowe, Joe Meagher and Trenton Simpson.

These Wayne County 4-H members participated in the Illinois Junior Swine Show at the State Fair and placed as follows:

Joseph Meagher
Barrow - 13^th & 18^th place
Breeding Swine - 2^nd place

Ethan Keyser
Barrow - 9^th, 14^th, 16, & 17^th place

Meg Keyser
Breeding Swine - 15^th & 16^th place

Christopher Lowe
Barrow - 14^th & 15^th place

Trenton Simpson
Barrow - 18^th place

Special thanks to Greg & Kim Keyser and Spencer & Cindy Meagher for chaperoning the group.

Tamara Murphy and her Boxer named Allie represented Wayne County at the State 4-H Dog Show held Saturday, August 25 in Springfield.

Everyone likes recognition. Consider Wayne County 4-H Achievement night your opportunity to get recognized for all your hard work throughout the 4-H year.

Achievement Night is scheduled for Tuesday, October 23 at 6 p.m. at the Geff Ruritan Building. Several awards and scholarships will be presented. First year members, ten-year members, Cloverbuds, and state fair winners will also be recognized, as well as those who turned in end-of-the-year records. Premium money will be distributed.

Hope to see you there!

Hamilton-Wayne-White Extension will host a Haunted Trail at Dolan Lake State Park, October 26. This event is open to the public. Check out next month's newsletter for more information.

Approximately 250 people enjoyed a wonderful meal at the 4-H Foundation Pork Chop Dinner. A huge thanks to all 4-H Foundation members, 4-H leaders, 4-H members and parents for working to make this event a success! A special thank you to the Geff Ruritan Club for all of their time and effort. The Ruritans prepare and donate the baked beans, cole slaw, homemade rolls and drinks. 100% of the profit from this event is used for 4-H college scholarships, camp scholarships, fairground improvements, trophies and other forms of support for the Wayne County 4-H program.

Congratulations to the following 4-H members for working hard to be the top three ticket sellers:

First place- Jarod Fearn
Second place- Sara Buchanan
Third place- Jayden Hatcher

Wayne County 4-H'ers selected to represent 4-H at the DuQuoin State Fair by having their projects displayed in the Exhibition Building were:

Katherine Barnard -- Visual Arts
Hannah Lowe -- Visual Arts
Jenna Richardson --Photography
Hayley Spicer -- Sewing & Textiles
Lian States -- Leadership

Keith Reid, long-time Wayne County 4-H livestock auctioneer, was one of 44 new inductees into the 4-H Hall of Fame. Keith was nominated in recognition of his 25 plus years of volunteer service to the 4-H program in Wayne County. He will be presented his medallion at Achievement Night in October. Congratulations, Keith!

"4-H Cares" is the theme for this year's 4-H leaders training set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27 at the White County Extension Office in Carmi. All 4-H community club leaders from Hamilton, Wayne and White counties are invited to attend with an adult guest.

The evening will feature an inspirational speech from Carmi White County Varsity Basketball Coach and former Jefferson County 4-H Member Jerrod Newell, as well as help for leaders who want to add a little pizzazz into their 4-H club. The new slate of 4-H projects will be unveiled. A year's worth of successful programs will be offered to each leader, and there will be time for clubs to promote their own successful ideas.

Leaders are asked to call the White County Extension Office at 618-382-2662 by Sept. 24 to register. An evening meal will be provided. Recognition for leaders from the 2006-2007 4-H year will be held during each county's Achievement Night program.