We had a great night for Evening of Excellence. It was good to see a nice crowd there. I hope you are proud of all your accomplishments. And the skits were all great! Your leaders have extra copies of the program booklet and many of the winners are listed inside this newsletter.

Well, it has been quite a month, hasn't it! First we had National 4-H Week and you did some great window displays. Then we had Corn Day. Then we had the Kids Helping Kids Walk and right on to skit practices for Awards Night. THANK YOU for making 4-H a priority in your life last month. It is a great way to spend time together as a family.

Our big event for November is the county-wide Christmas celebration! 4-H is sponsoring the children's Christmas concert and helping with the Christmas Parade. Plus, we have a tree entered in the Festival of Trees.

Check inside to see how you can help! This newsletter covers both November and December activities. The next newsletter will be mailed early January.

Judy Mae Bingman
Community Worker—4-H, Youth, Family

A craft you can eat!

Youth are invited to a fun workshop on Saturday, Nov. 14.

Part of the White County Christmas celebration is a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest! Lots of cash will be awarded as prizes.

Workshop participants will design their own house from a kit. Cost of the workshop is $12.50. The workshop will run from 1—4 PM on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Extension Office. The workshop is open to youth seven years and older.

So far I have the following members registered:

• Olivia Bohleber
• Hailey Trout
• Abbie Bryant
• Brianna Ditterline
• Brandon Skaggs
• Brooklyn Yon
• Ethan Whetstone
• Claudia Whetstone
• Eva Nelson-Ochs
• Hannah Templeton

If someone else wants to attend, call me immediately so I can purchase a kit for you. All houses MUST be entered in the Contest and you could win $50!

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

During the two-day event, teens will:

• Learn persuasive speaking
• Develop an understanding of the legislative process
• Meet people from other areas of the state
• Enjoy games and music on Friday night.

Sponsorship of bills will be on a first come first serve basis.

Register early to get your first choice! Five $15 local scholarships are available to the first five White County applicants.

Registration fee for the conference is $60. The deadline for registration is Jan. 22, 2010. Lodging will be at Lake Springfield Christian Academy. Delegates will 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 will be available after Nov.18 online or through your local county Extension Office.

Become a Fan of The 4-H Great Debate on FaceBook.

Local 4-H member Brooke Crawford is on the planning committee for this event!

Windows Display Were Super

There were several excellent window displays. Congratulations on working with the theme CELEBRATE 4-H. The Mad Hatters 4-H Club received first place and received $25. The '76 Clovers received $15 for second place and the Crossville Prizewinners received $10 for third place. Other clubs putting up displays included the Lucky Clovers, Centerville Ripsnorters, Enfield Blue Ribbon and Yee Haws.

Skits were clever and funny!

Hats off to all the clubs for some very cute and clever skits presented at the 4-H Evening of Excellence. The Mad Hatters and the Lucky Clovers tied for first place. Congratulations also goes out to Enfield Blue Ribbon and '76 Clovers members for great presentations.

Nutrition was tasty!

Every club participated in the potluck meal held prior to the Evening of Excellence Awards Show, and their nutritional displays were all excellent. Congratulations to the Yee Haws for winning the top club display that evening.

We were proud to crown the 2009 4-H Corn Day Queen & King during the annual Kiwanis Corn Day Festivities.

2009 Queen Christine South
2009 King Cole Fechtig

Attendants
Shalene Musgraves, Molly Musgraves, Brooke Crawford, Kailey Blazier, Mallory Hammell and Bryce Williams.

Retiring Queen Amber South
Retiring King Andrew McKinney

Victory Award

Age 8-9
'76 Clovers of NC—Riley Price
Mad Hatters—Abigail Bryant
Lucky Clovers--Eva Nelson-Ochs
Crossville Prizewinners-Branden Hoy
Yee-Haws—Olivia Bohleber
Overall Winner—Riley Price

Age 10-11
'76 Clovers of NC—Taylor Colbert
Crossville Prizewinners—Aaron Harrington
Lucky Clovers—Adrian Lamp
Mad Hatters - Hannah Templeton
Overall Winner—Hannah Templeton

Age 12
'76 Clovers of NC—Dylan Price
Crossville Prizewinners-Timothy Hardy
Overall Winner—Dylan Price

Health Award

Age 8-12
First – Claudia Whetstone
Second —Taylor Colbert
Third–Dylan Price

Age 13-19
First – John McKinney
Second – Cole Fechtig

Young Homemaker Award

Age 8-12 Adrian Lamp
Age 13-18 Cole Fechtig

Washington Focus

Kailey Blazier
Brooke Crawford

Community involvement

Age 8-12
First – Dylan Price
Second – Aaron Harrington
Third — Abigail Bryant

Age 13-19
First – Wil Bingman
Second – Bethany Harl
Third – Luke Marsh

Ken Korte Safety Award

Age 8-12
First – Dylan Price
Second—Aaron Harrington

Age 13-18
First– Andrew McKinney
Second – Cole Fechtig

Outstanding First Year Members

Olivia Bohleber
Lacey Cobb
Mattie Colbert

I Dare You Award

Christine South
Molly Musgraves
Cole Fechtig
Mallory Hammell

NOLAN Encouragement Award

Hannah Templeton
Alexa Campbell
Bryson Sageser
Katarina Nix
Richie Brinkley

COUNTY Medals of Honor

Achievement - Bethany Harl; Elizabeth Harrington
Animal Sciences - Keaton Baldwin; Olivia Bohleber; Eva Nelson-Ochs
Community Involvement & Global Awareness - Jacob Hubele; Peyton Roedder; Claudia Whetstone
Environment/Natural Resources - Eva Nelson-Ochs; Dylan Price
Food/Nutrition/Health - Adrian Lamp; Riley Price
Home & Family - Adrian Lamp; Claudia Whetstone
Engineering & Technology - Cole Fechtig
Personal Development - Crystal Blazier; Aaron Harrington

Club Officer Awards

Best President - Andrew McKinney, Enfield Blue Ribbon
Best Secretary - Crystal Blazier, Crossville Prizewinners
Best Treasurer - Kailey Blazier, Centerville Ripsnorters
Best Office Reporter - Gena Johnson, '76 Clovers
Best News Reporter - Dylan Price, '76 Clovers
Club Scrapbook - Crossville Prizewinners

Club of the Year

Mad Hatters 4-H Club

Volunteer awards

Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame - Ranelle Hubele
White County 4-H Alumni - Maria Ackerman & Debbie Walsh Whetstone
White County Friend of 4-H - S & H Performance Horses & Hale Body Shop

Join in all the fun...It's a White County Christmas

Bag Decorating & Packing

4-H is giving all the participants in the Christmas Concert a treat bag filled with goodies, fruit & cookies. The committee will be packing those bag on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. after the Federation Meeting at the Extension office. We can always use more help.

Cookie-Making Workshop

4-H will be making about 75 dozen cookies for this year's "It's a White County Christmas" celebration. Come learn to make wonderful Christmas cookies while you're helping out a great cause! There are two work periods on

• Thursday, Nov. 19—4 - 5:30 at the Extension office.
• Thursday, Nov. 19—6 - 7:30 at the Extension office.

Please call 382-2662 to let us know you're coming to help. Parents & leaders are also REALLY NEEDED to attend.

Float & Elves Needed for Christmas Parade!

We hope to have a 4-H float in the "It's a White County Christmas Parade," but we need a volunteer to head up the making of the float. . . And we need you fast!!!! We also need 4-H members who will dress up as elves for the parade and the concert.

DAR Festival of Trees Needs 4-H Tree

Wabash Chapter DAR has invited 4-H to have their own tree in the Festival of Trees again this year, but we need help! Did you like to decorate trees? Do you have a spare ALL WHITE tree we could use? Please contact Judy immediately if you want to be involved. The tree will need to be put up Friday, Nov. 20 and be on display all day Saturday, Nov. 21.

Gingerbread Houses on Display!

All the houses made during the 4-H Gingerbread workshop Nov. 14 will be on display at Hart's Shoe Store on Nov. 16-21. Go see if any of our creations won the contest!

Children's Concert a 4-H Sponsored Event!

We will need lots of adult and teen workers at the Joint county Children's Christmas Concert Saturday, Nov. 21. The concert begins at 2 p.m., but workers will need to arrive by 11 AM at the middle school to get things set up. Please let me know who I can count on to be there! And don't forget to attend this SPECTACULAR EVENT when 125 children all join together in song!

Mark your calendars now for "It's a White County Christmas" Nov. 20-21

The University of Illinois Extension Agriculture Program and the White County Gun Club will be offering Hunter Education classes in September. The classes will be:

Tuesday, Jan. 5 6-8 PM
Thursday, Jan. 7, 6-8 PM
Saturday, Jan. 9, 9 AM—3 PM.

Please call 382-2662 to register!!!!!!

Participants must attend all 10 hours of instruction and pass a test to receive their Hunter Certification Card. You must have this card before you can buy a hunting license. You must be at least 9 years of age to attend. Adults are also welcome to take the class. Classes will be held at the White County Extension Office in Carmi.

Are you creative? Do you like designing on the computer? Do you want to win $15? Do you want participation points on your record? Then we want you to enter the contest to design the 2010 4-H Guidebook & Showbook.

Please follow these rules:

1. Hand drawing or computer print must be in black ink only.
2. Must include the words "2010 White County 4-H Showbook & Guidebook."
3. Entries are due Feb. 2, 2010. Be sure to put your name on the back of your entry.
4. If you want to use a clover in your design, you must use the official 4-H clover as found on the cover of the newsletter.

National 4-H Conference is a working conference. Delegates attend workshops and discuss issues in teams to suggest future programming for 4-H on a national, state, and local basis. Delegates meet with federal legislators on Capitol Hill to discuss the impact of 4-H & Extension programs.

Sightseeing is limited during the actual conference. The trip will be March 20-26, 2010.4-H members must be at least 15.

Once the Illinois delegation returns home, delegates and adults are expected to report to the State 4-H Staff and Youth Leadership Team on the conference AND commit to one year of work on a special project. This project may be a carry-over project from previous years or may be a new project of the delegates' design.

Delegates pay:

• $350 participant fee*
• Ground transportation in Illinois & Washington, D.C.
• 3 meals during Conference + 3-4 others
• Expenses for sightseeing**
• Own incidentals

Deadline is December 3 and payment is due in January. Contact your Extension office for an application.

High School Seniors! Applications for the state 4-H Legacy of Leadership $1,000 scholarships are available on line. Deadline is March 1. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Don't think it's impossible to win. I will be glad to help you!

This scholarship is also open to 4-H members in college.

The White County Federation is the work group of the county 4-H program. Members of all ages are welcome to attend. We learn to be better leaders at federation meetings. Plus, leadership and teaching assignments are handed out during the meetings. Join us for the next meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Extension office.

County 4-H Federation Christmas Party

The 2009 Federation Christmas Party on Tuesday, Dec. 1, beginning at 6:45 PM at the Extension Office. Please call the office by Nov. 25 to register. The party is open to everyone in 4-H. This is a good chance to get to know 4-H members from other clubs.

When: February 20-21, 2010
Who: 7th-8th grade 4-H members
Where: Lake Williamson Conference & Retreat Center, Carlinville, IL

Registration opens late November. Additional details should be available later. Call the office.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Ten $25 state scholarships are available to 4-H members who will be first-time attendees. Deadline: Jan. 5.
$25 local Support Committee scholarships are available to the first five White County members who apply.

The office will be closed for the holidays on the following days:

Nov. 26 & 27
Dec. 24—Jan. 4

Please enjoy the holidays with your family ... AND START WORKING ON YOUR 4-H PROJECTS!

$5,000 Raised to Help Area Children

With your hard work, White County 4-H Kids Helping Kids raised nearly $5,000 to help area children.

Hannah Templeton raised the most money: $1,175.
Second place was Andrew McKinney: $450.
Third place was Jace Carter: $255.

The club totals were:

• Mad Hatters $1,670.50
• Crossville Prizewinners $877.25
• Enfield Blue Ribbon $825.
• Centerville Ripsnorters $615.
• Lucky Clovers $450.
• '76 Clovers $285.
• Green Leaf Shakers $243.

Mason Williams was the lucky member who had her name drawn out for the $25 cash prize winner!

You should be very proud of what you accomplished that day. If you know of children in need, stop by the office for an application form to request a project for funding or download at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/hww/4hyouth1405.html

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.

Recipe of the Month

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.

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 618-382-4685.

Nov. 17 --Cloverbuds
Nov. 17 --Federation
Nov. 17 --Bag Stuffing
Nov. 18 --Carmi Afterschool
Nov. 19 --Cookie Making
Nov. 20-21 --County Christmas
Dec. 1 --Federation Christmas
Dec. 1 --Cloverbuds
Dec. 15 --Cloverbuds
Dec. 23 --Last day office open for 2009