How do you like the look of the Newsletter? Do you like it this way or the other way? Let me know!! Email me or Call me 849-9391 or Tjeich@uiuc.edu

- Tonya Eich

·A huge Thank you to the Cumberland County Clovers for helping me decorate the 10 doors at the nursing home.

·Also big thanks to all the parents that helped at the Candy Making Workshop. We all had a great time making candy and especially EATING it.

Thank you
TJE

- Tonya Eich

Cumberland County 4-H Week will be March 5-10th. Your ideas need to be in the Office by January 19th. The theme ideas will be voted on at the January Federation meeting.

The Annual PROJECT WORKSHOP is in the planning stages. It will be held in March or April and we need your opinion. This workshop is for all 4-Hers. We want you to get involved because it will help to you see what projects you can enroll in while you are in 4-H. This workshop will give you a head start for the fair and exhibit times ahead.

Look in your clover for ideas and think about something new you would like to learn about. Also if you know someone that would like to help present please let us know.

I need your suggestions, please contact the office by January 25 with your ideas. Contact the office at 849-3931 or by E-mail tjeich@uiuc.edu

JLU is an on-line course designed for 4-H Jr. Leaders. There is an introductory lesson and three content lessons. Topics include: working with 4-H members, working with your 4-H club, and working with your county 4-H program. Our goal for you, as a 4-H Jr. Leader, is to complete this on-line course, gaining many new and exciting ideas. We hope that you will have a better understanding of the leadership you can provide to other 4-H members, your 4-H club, and your county 4-H program.

Benefits to YOU:

1. Develop leadership and communication skills.
2. Gain a sense of accomplishment
3. Share your knowledge and experience
4. Interact with peers, creating lasting friendships
5. Have FUN!

Benefits to your CLUB

1. Make a more complete club program available
2. Allow adult leaders to do more
3. Provide teen role models for younger members
4. Add variety and depth to club programming

Contact the Extension office or your Leader to sign up.

Zach Moses is recuperating at home after his second surgery . He is doing well and would appreciate your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. His address is below for anyone that would like to send him a card.

Zach Moses
% University of Illinois Extension
Jasper/Cumberland Extension Unit
P.O. Box 218
Toledo, IL 62468

The 2006 4-H Community Tree Planting Grant Program offers a limited number of youth grants in the amount of $500 to $1,750 to 4-H/Extension groups in local communities, in counties, and at the state level. This program provides opportunities for young people and adults to take action with ongoing community tree planting and/or reforestation projects or to stimulate new and creative youth-led projects. Youth are empowered to lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation process with minimal mentorship from adults. Youth will learn how their leadership can result in community collaborations that amplify the impact of their project.The application can be found at http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/GrantsTreePlanting.aspx on the bottom of the page under "Related Links." Completed applications are due on Wednesday, February 1, 2006. If you have any questions, email schaconas@fourhcouncil.edu. Funding provided by Deft, Inc

It's that time of year again. In the event that ANY SCHOOL that serves Cumberland County cancels or dismisses school early due to bad weather conditions, 4-H events will be canceled and rescheduled also. The Extension Office will try to notify all leaders and radio stations in such an event.

Club Leaders are reminded and encouraged to send the Extension Office a copy of your meeting locations, dates and times for the upcoming year as soon as they are finalized. When individuals contact the Extension Office interested in joining 4-H, a club program is a great item to have. Clubs also receive points on the Illinois 4-H Standards of Excellence award form for providing the Extension Office a club calendar.

Club Reporters are also reminded to send in club meeting minutes and activities for the monthly newsletter. The newsletter generally is printed and sent out the last week of each month for the upcoming month, not to mention it is a great way to share what your club is doing with the other 4-H clubs in the county.

E-Mail To tjeich@uiuc.edu

Got Sheep? Want Sheep? Get Free Sheep!

The American Polypay Sheep Association will again be giving away a starter flock to one young individual. The winner will receive the animals during the National Polypay Show and Sale in Springfield, Illinois on June 16, 17 & 18, 2006.

One winner will receive three registered Polypay ewes! One of these Polypay ewes will be a yearling (will have lambed by June 15) ewe, and two ewe ( fall or spring) lambs. The winner will also receive $100 dollars buying credit to use at the 2006 National Polypay Sale. One of these ewe lambs will be futurity nominated by the association, this futurity ewe can be brought back and shown as a futurity yearling ewe in the 2007 National Junior Show. This futurity class is one of the more popular classes in the Junior show.

This is how the Starter Flock process works. Any youth in the United States is eligible to apply for this starter flock as long as they meet the following requirements.

1. Be involved in 4-H or FFA
2. Between the ages of 8-19(as of March 1, 2006)
3. Attend the 2006 National Polypay Show and Sale weekend if chosen as winner.
4. Use a registered Polypay ram for first breeding.
5. Write a one page essay (questions on application).
6. Submit a letter of recommendation with application.

For an entry form contact:
Gordon Sammons
Sammons Polypay
17295 Hwy. 82
Geneseo, Il. 61254

sammons@theinter.com

309.944.3692

www.polypay.org

High school teens should start planning for an exciting, educational week in Washington, D.C., this summer with the 2006 Citizenship Washington Focus delegation! A bus full of Illinois teens is scheduled to travel to our nation's capitol and surrounding areas July 8-15, 2006. Details are still being finalized with bus companies in an effort to get the best possible rate; therefore we do not have a final registration fee yet. The registration fee will include transportation, lodging, most meals, program costs, dinner theater and more. Cost information, along with the registration packets for delegates (ages 15-18) and adult chaperones will be available at Extension offices by mid-December. Completed applications and the initial registration deposit are due in early spring.

Congratulations to Liberty Hill Rangers for winning the Pantry Scavenger Hunt.

Also a big thanks to all of the Clubs that participated in this. There are many families that are having a nice dinner just because of your support. The federation will make a decision at the next meeting of what prize to give to the winning club.

Liberty Hill Rangers - 3500 points
Cumberland County Clover - 505 points
Springpoint Rebels - 270 points
Hurricane Hustlers - 410 points

Cumberland County teens are invited to join youth from across East Central Illinois at Food, Fun and Not Boring, Take III! Not Your Normal Teen Conference slated for Saturday, March 25, on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign. The theme for the day will be Teamwork – Hollywood style. Conference participants will learn to develop leadership skills to work with their groups and organizations back home. The conference is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension East Central Region 4-H Youth Leadership Team and is open to all teens, ages 13 – 18. 4-H membership is not a requirement for attendance.

The schedule for the day-long conference includes activities and projects to build teamwork in your group. Conference participants will hear from our keynote speaker, Robert Reese, WCIA Meteorologist. In addition, participants will not just learn about teamwork, but they will also practice their skills by participating in a video scavenger hunt. As the name implies, the day will be filled with good food, good fun and no time for boredom!

Cost for the event is $8, which includes lunch, program materials and a conference t-shirt.

Registration Due March 10

Registration materials are available at the University of Illinois Extension, Cumberland County office. 217-849-3931.

The Summer 4-H exchange program involves Japanese youth (ages 12-16) living with a family for a mouth beginning July 23, 2006. Families have opportunities to learn about Japanese life and Culture and Share their own culture. The Japanese High School Exchange program provides an opportunity for Japanese students to spend a year attending a U.S. high school. Host families are need for the 2006-2007 school year. Japanese students arrive in late July and return in mid-June. For more information contact the Extension office.

We have a new Unit Youth Development Educator in the Jasper/Cumberland Extension Unit, Joel Brumley. Joel is to begin his duties on January 3rd. He is looking forward to working and meeting with everyone in the county. Stop by the office and say hello to our new staff member.

Welcome Joel Brumley