The Federation will host a Movie & Pizza Party on Monday, January 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the Extension Office. The movie "Walle" will be featured. A short business meeting will be conducted prior to the movie with officer elections being held at that time.

All Wayne County 4-Hers are welcome to attend any and all Federation meetings and activities. Come see what Federation is all about.

4-Hers from Illinois are invited to converge in Springfield to debate bills and learn about the legislative process. The Great 4-H Debate is for all high school age youth who are interested in learning about how Illinois state government works.

During the two-day event, youth will:

• Learn persuasive speaking
• Learn how to find information on the legislative process
• Develop an understanding of the legislative process
• Meet people from other areas of the state

Besides all the work, participants will meet youth from across the state and enjoy games and music on Friday night.

This conference is open to youth across Illinois. Conference registration fee is $60.

The deadline for registration is Jan 23, 2009. Lodging will be at Lake Springfield Christian Academy. Delegates need to bring bedding, towels, and toiletries in addition to clothing.

More details on the conference are available on the web at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/greatdebate/ . Registration forms are available online or at the county office.

While you're home from school over the Holiday break, take the time to look through your 4-H project manuals and recycle them by returning any that you don't plan to use to your club leader or the Extension Office.

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. Call the office to reserve a kit and month. Kits available are: Africa, Kenya, Ireland, Norway, Japan 3, Netherlands and Thailand.

Put "pledge their hands to larger service" into action this year by making the third "H" a priority. The Illinois 4-H Foundation is again supporting 4-H club outreach by funding community-related service projects supported through a donation from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., and Country Insurance and Financial Services. Areas of focus include community improvement projects OR health and safety related projects. Grant monies ranging from $50 to $250 per club are available. Applications may be requested from the Extension Office or are available on our website. Completed applications are due to the State 4-H Office by January 30, 2009 so plan ahead as the form requires an Extension staff member's signature.

Hamilton-Wayne-White Extension would like your input on whether or not to hold Team Matrix this year. In the past, this event has been for 7^th & 8^th grade students only. Or should it be expanded to include 9^th graders also? February 28, 2009 is the tentative date. The program would be similar to past years but would incorporate a different theme. If this event is something you would be interested in please let us know so we can proceed with the planning.

Who: 7th-8th grade 4-H members

When: February 21 -22, 2009

Where: Lake Williamson Conference & Retreat Center, Carlinville, IL

Early Bird Registration, $88 until 12/31/2008

Regular Registration, $95, 1/1 to 1/16/2009

Register online at:

https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/default.cfm?RegistrationID=2162

or contact your local Extension office for more information.

Chelsie Walker and Hayley Spicer were awarded partial scholarships to attend this event at Achievement Night from the Wayne County 4-H Foundation.

In addition, ten $25 state scholarships are available to 4-H members who will be first-time attendees. Deadline to apply for these scholarships is January 5.

Join other Illinois 4-H'ers for a weekend of active, hands-on workshops and lots of fun!

Looking for something fun to do this winter? 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, March 7, 2-4 p.m., at the Albion Bowling Alley. A discounted fee of $6.00 will include two games and shoe rental. Please contact the office by March 6 to register.

As your clubs begin to reorganize, here are just a few things to keep in mind:

• All leaders must have Volunteer Screening Forms on file at the Extension office.
• All clubs must turn in a slate of elected officers to the Extension office.
• Any spending of money from the club treasury must be voted on and approved by a majority of the members at a scheduled meeting.
• The best way to keep informed of upcoming 4-H events is to check the monthly newsletter, and possibly even reading it at your meetings.
• All enrollment forms are due to the Extension office no later than May 1.
• It is Wayne County 4-H policy that all 4-H members must attend at least 4 club meetings before the 2009 Wayne County 4-H Fair to be eligible to exhibit at any 2009 Wayne County 4-H Show or to sell an animal at the 2009 4-H Auction.

Please remember that 4-H is a special and unique educational program that allows youth to develop and explore individual talents, while making friends and always having fun.

I pledge my HEAD to give my child the information I can, to help him see things clearly and to make wise decisions.

I pledge my HEART to encourage and support my child, no matter whether he has successes or disappointments.

I pledge my HANDS to help my child's club. If I cannot be a leader, I can help in many equally important ways.

I pledge my HEALTH to keep my child strong and well for a better world through 4-H, for my child's club, our community, our country and our world.

Are you interested in a Swine, Goat or Rabbit project, but thought you'd never have the chance to show one? Well then this is the year for you! The Wayne County 4-H Livestock Committee has again agreed to organize the Donate-An-Animal project for 2009. There will be one goat, one swine and one rabbit (subject to availability) donated. Applications may be picked up at the Extension office. Preference will be given to non-livestock exhibitors. However, all are still encouraged to apply.

In addition to the application, the 4-H'er must write a short essay titled "Why I Would Like to Take a Swine/Goat/Rabbit Project to the Wayne County 4-H Fair." It must include how the 4-H'er plans to care for the animal, where they plan to keep it, what they will do with it after the fair, etc. Winners of the 2009 Donate-An-Animal MUST exhibit the animal that they win at the 2009 Wayne County 4-H Fair. A parent or guardian's signature must be included on the application.

Please remember that once the animal is turned over to the 4-Her, it becomes their complete responsibility. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to daily care, veterinary costs, feed costs, transportation to and from weigh-in and fair, etc. Failure to comply with any of the listed rules will result in turning the animal back over to the 4-H Livestock Committee in the exact condition it was in when they received it. Applications and essays are due to the Extension office by February 10, 2009.

For several years, 4-H members have received their 4-H project manuals at no cost to them. The cost of these publications has been covered by your local Extension office. Unfortunately, we are no longer able to provide them free of charge. Your club leaders will be talking to you about how these costs will be handled in your club. Please call the Extension office if you have any questions.

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.

At Achievement Night, it was mentioned that we will be collecting gifts to send to our 4-H Alumni who are serving our Country in the Armed Forces. We will kick off this community service project in February. Be on the lookout for more information on this activity in the next 4-H newsletter.

The Happy Hustlers 4-H Club is collecting Christmas trees that will be used for fish habitat at Sam Dale Lake. After you are done with your tree this year, simply take it to the Fairgrounds and unload it in the 4-H poultry/rabbit barn. Be sure to tell your friends and family about this community service project being conducted by Happy Hustlers.

Start off the New Year with a new way of looking at the foods you eat. Nearly every packaged food bought at the grocery store has a nutrition label that lists the serving size, calories, fat, protein, sugar, vitamins, and ingredients. But all of those words and numbers can be confusing if you don't know what they mean.

Here's a run-down on the basics:

• Serving Sizes. If the serving size is ½ cup, then the calories, fat, sugar, and all else listed are totals for a person eating one ½ cup serving. If you ate 1 cup, then you would double all of the numbers.
• Calories. The calories consumed each day are different for everyone. Active people need more calories, and less active people need fewer calories. Most of us need around 1,800 to 2,000 calories a day.
• Fats. When it comes to fat, remember that not all fats are the same. Choose foods with low amounts of saturated fats. Unsaturated fats are better for you. Also, stay away from trans fats.
• Sugar. Every 4 grams is equivalent to a teaspoon of sugar. Experts suggest you limit your sugar intake to 12 teaspoons a day for all food sources.

A simple way to eat healthier is to choose foods that do not contain high amounts of calories, sugar, or fat. For more information, check out www.mypyramid.gov.

Vegetable Pasta Soup

3 cups water

1 chicken bouillon cube, reduced salt

1 cup uncooked pasta

1 can (26 ounce) spaghetti sauce

8 ounces turkey bacon, cooked

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 Tablespoons onion, optional

1 pound frozen mixed vegetables

Directions

1. Bring water & bouillon to a boil. Add pasta, spaghetti sauce, bacon, garlic, and vegetables.
2. Return to boil, reduce heat, and cook until vegetables are tender.

December 24 - January 5

Extension Office closed for Christmas Holiday

December 29

4-H Find Out Party, Wayne City Municipal Building, 1-3 p.m. (see flyer in Newsletter that was mailed out)

January 5

4-H Federation Movie & Pizza Party, Extension Office, 6 p.m.

January 19

Extension Office closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 26

4-H Foundation Meeting, Extension Office, 6 p.m.

January 30

4-H Club Grant application deadline

February 10

Donate-An-Animal Application Deadline

February 13&14

Great 4-H Debate

February 21&22

Junior Leadership Conference

March 7

4-H Bowling Party, Albion Bowling Alley, 2-4 p.m.