Do you want to enroll in more projects but do not know what to do. Come to project workshop and we will get you started on your new project!

The Annual PROJECT WORSHOP date is set on April 17 at the Calvary Tabernacle Church and now I need your help. 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 at 849-3931 or by E-mail tjeich@uiuc.edu

Excellence In Agriculture Scholarship Program from the Illinois State Treasure Judy Barr Tapinkia will be awarding five $2,500 Scholarships. These Scholarships are annually awarded to Illinois high school students who plain to enroll as full-time Students in Agriculture or agriculture related studies. You can pick these applications up the Cumberland County Extension office. These applications have to be post marked by April 12, 2006.

If you are planning on pursuing any

AG field this would be a Scholarship for you.!!!!!!!!!

Sponsored by The Auxiliary to the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association

Due to the State 4-H Office, postmarked NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2006

Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 18 (inclusive) by September 1, 2005; must be currently enrolled in the Vet Science project; and must have been enrolled in the Veterinary Science project at least three years (current year included). Once a 4-H member has received this award, they may not re-apply. The winner will receive a $100 cash award; how the award is to be presented has yet to be determined.

Current 4-H members who are high school seniors or in their last year of 4-H membership are encouraged to apply for the 2006 Legacy of Leadership Scholarship.

The application deadline for this merit-based award is March 1, 2006.

Scholarships may be used for exenses for further education programs, including trade schools, junior colleges, colleges, or universities.

Additional information and application forms may be found at the local University of Illinois Extension Office or at the U of I Extension 4-H website at http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/scholar.html.

The Governor's Green Youth Awards is an annual awards program handled through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency that recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of youth who are working on environmental and conservation projects.

The project must involve one or more of the following areas:
-waste reduction
-prevention or reduction of pollution in the air, water, or land
-restoration, preservation or enhancement of natural areas
-energy or water efficiency

Awards are given to individuals, classrooms, or clubs and are divided by grade level.

If you'd like to apply and share your 4-H activities in one of these areas for potential recognition, contact the extension office for more information.

The applications are due no later than March 10, 2006.

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:

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

Benefits to your CLUB:

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

Contact the Extension office or your Leader to sign up.

Sunday, April 2, 2006 8:00 a.m. Indiana State Fairgrounds Pepsi Coliseum

Time: 8:00 a.m. Judging begins. Registration starts at 7:00 a.m. in the south hallway of the Pepsi Coliseum. Report by 7:45 a.m. Please enter through doors on the north side of the Coliseum.

Purpose: To provide a learning opportunity for individuals interested in horse evaluation and oral reasons by gaining experience in a contest situation. The emphasis will be placed on education of participants, rather than on the winning of awards.

Grade is determined as of January 1, 2006.

Divisions:

• Junior Individuals
• Intermediate Individuals
• Senior Individuals

Grades:

• (3rd - 5th grade)
• (6th - 8th grade)
• (9th grade & above)

Entry Fees & Deadline: Registration is $12.00 if submitted electronically -LINK NOT AVAILABLE and $15/person for paper entry.

Entries are due by March 10, 2006. Entries are non-refundable. There is no limit on the number of individuals who may enter from each county, school or association.

All entries will be sent to: YDAE, HHF, Agricultural Administration Building Rm. 225, 615 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053, by March 10th.

Electronic identification options for sheep producers will be among the topics covered March 4 at the annual Sheep Industry Day sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. The event will be held in the U of I Stock Pavilion on Pennsylvania Avenue.

"The program will include things of interest to both adult and youth sheep producers," said Dick Cobb, U of I Extension sheep specialist. "In addition, the Illinois Lamb and Wool Producers will present awards to FFA producers from various areas of the state."

The program begins at 9 a.m. and registration is $10 per person and includes lunch. Youth participation and lunch are free.

The youth session will focus on the basics of sheep judging.

Topics for the adult sessions include internal parasites, electronic identification options, the genetics of scrapie, and reducing costs through practical feeding.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Jane Zeien of the Illinois Lamb and Wool Producers at (815) 544-1063, e-mail: jzcci@aol.com, or Cobb at (217) 333-7351, e-mail: arcobb@uiuc.edu

As the new Youth Educator at the Extension office, I am happy to share with you my life history. I was born in Lawrenceville where I stayed until the local school personnel had all of me they could take. In order to continue my quest of making the lives of teachers fulfilling, I then headed off to college. I first attended Vincennes University, a two year institution whose faculty and staff enjoyed my company for three years. Next, I took my knowledge to Carbondale.

While working on a degree in Speech Communication at SIU, I began to study Storytelling. I was stunned to learn that it was okay to write down tall tales and share them with people. All those years of perfecting my lying abilities in front of teachers, principals and my parents were finally starting to pay off. I was on my way to becoming a free-lance storyteller! However, I soon realized that being known as a storyteller could also be a liability. People would frequently question everything I would say – even when I told the truth. Therefore, I made a commitment to limiting my storytelling to around three days a week. The rest of the time I am honest. Sometimes though, I do get confused about which days are which. In addition, I cannot be held responsible for falsehoods stated in this newsletter article for I am unsure of the precise day that you will be reading it.

I spent several years ruining a landscaping business that I started. It took me nearly six years to go bankrupt. I have heard that some people can ruin a business a year or two, but I guess I am just a little slower than the average entrepreneur. While landscaping, I specialized in designing gardens using native plants and trees. I began my admiration of native plants and trees while I worked as a Resource Conservationist for the Crawford County Soil and Water Conservation District. I received my Master Gardener certification from Purdue University Extension in 1997.

In 2001, I moved to Tampa, Florida where I began to study for a career as a Lion Trainer with John and Mable Ringling in Sarasota. This career path was quickly abandoned when I discovered the more exciting and dangerous position of First Grade Teacher. After my hair turned white, I briefly dabbled in the field of Alligator Wrestling before fleeing the state altogether.

In my new position I am hoping to use my storytelling abilities, along with my teaching skills, to bring new and meaningful learning experiences to the lives of the students in Jasper and Cumberland counties. I am interested in working with teachers and students in the implementation of Story-Centered Curriculum, Storytelling, and Drama Programs to more fully develop positive character traits and communication skills. I am excited about the opportunity of assisting 4-H members with the many hands-on projects that are currently available.

I appreciate city living and have enjoyed a roof-top view of the Cubs when I lived in Chicago in 1990. My wife Susan, son Samuel and I recently moved to downtown Newton and are very thankful that the trains there do not operate as diligently as those in the Windy City.

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 Tonya at tjeich@uiuc.edu

4-H Project Workshops: Mastering Skills for Life:

Making the Connection - A Learning Experience for Adult & Teen Volunteers

In-depth exploration of one selected 4-H project area

All current and potential volunteers are invited:

• Organizational Leaders
• Project Leaders
• Teens
• Parents
• Junior Leaders
• Volunteers from Community/Businesses

Join Us for a Day of Active-Learning in Popular 4-H Project Areas

Registration Registration

Date: March 18
Location: Tuscola Middle School
Deadline: March 8
Fee: $10

Schedule

• 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee
• 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Introductions & Get Acquainted
• 10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Exploring Active Learning
• 11:45 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch
• 12:30 – 2:45 p.m. Exploring 4-H Projects Workshops
• 2:45 – 3:00 p.m. EvaluationDrawing for SMART Kits – one per project area (must be present to win)

Contact Cumberland County Extension for Registration & More Details

• Mondays & Wednesdays
• February 6, 8, 13, 15, 20 & 22
• 9:00 a.m. to Noon
• Clark County Extension Building
• Marshall, Illinois (1 mile south of Marshall on Route 1 )
• Cost $50

A mother's successful struggle with a changing and challenging agricultural economy has led her daughter to create an educational program now helping farm women in five midwestern states. "Annie's Project" has involved over 300 women in Illinois alone, according to Ruth Hambleton, University of Illinois Extension farm business management and marketing educator based in Mount Vernon.

"Annie's Project" is six sessions of general agricultural education, encompassing financial education, ownership issues like titles, joint and sole ownership and titles, risk management, life and property insurance, and the use of Excel spreadsheets.

"At the end of the Excel training, we train farm women to use Farm Analysis Solution Tools (FAST) and deal with what the financial figures mean by pointing out key ratios to watch," she said. For the final session, the women participants pick the topic, usually requesting a session on grain marketing or more on financial management.

"Being married to a farmer or being a woman in a male-dominated business has its challenges," said Hambleton. "Some women have learned to handle this responsibility very well and are valuable mentors to women who have not had it so easy. Others need the knowledge and skills that help them gain confidence.

"'Annie's Project' empowers farm women to be better business partners through networks and by managing and organizing critical information."

Those interested in enrolling or obtaining more information should contact the Clark County Extension Office at

217-826-5422 or

Ruth Hambleton at (618) 242-9310.

National Ag Day - March 20, 2006
National Ag Week - March 19-25, 2006

Celebrating Agriculture?
Don't Forget Your Ag Day Materials!

Just a reminder to order your Ag Day materials before they run out! Several items sold out last year, don't miss your chance to order the 2006 materials!

Materials Include:
Ag Day Planning Guide - The Planning Guide is filled with tools and tips to help make the most of your Ag Day celebrations. Inside the Guide, you'll find a number of helpful tools, such as: Fun and easy ideas for Ag Day events; tips from individuals and groups who have hosted past events; strategies for building support and awareness for your event; a sample press release, radio public service announcements and other tools to make your efforts easier.

Ag Day Poster - The 2006 Ag Day Poster, A Celebration of Agriculture, is the third in a series of five and features the South.

Ag Fact Cards - The Ag Fact Cards tell how agriculture impacts our lives by connecting it to something everyone can identify with... jeans, pizza and tortillas! The cards open to provide related agriculture production information, all in a compact business-card size.

Ag Day Lapel Pin - Show your support of agriculture and National Ag Day/Week, purchase the new Ag Day Lapel Pin. Lapel pins are $5.00 each and supplies are limited.

To order your Ag Day Materials, visit, https://nama.org/aca/onlineform.htm.

Ag Day Lesson Plan
In addition to the Ag Day materials, you can now download the "Let's Celebrate" lesson plan, courtesy of Project Food, Land & People, on the Ag Day web site, just visit, http://www.agday.org and click on the "Ag Day Education" button.

Agriculture Council of America
11020 King Street, Suite 205
Overland Park, KS 66210
PH: 913-491-1895
FX: 913-491-6502
Email: info@aday.org

HEY KIDS

The Cumberland County Clovers 4-H Club is hosting a Kid's Night Out.
WHO: Students from Kindergarten to 5^th Grade

• WHEN: Friday, March 17, 2006
• TIME: 6:00-8:30 p.m.
• WHERE: Cumberland High School Gym
• COST: $5.00 per child

Parents:
We are offering a safe evening of fun and games for your child. Some of the activities will include: basketball, volleyball, board games, puzzles, coloring, etc. Refreshments will be provided, but please make sure your child has had supper before they attend. Please be at the gym no later than 8:30 p.m. to pick up your child. Students wishing to leave with another party should bring a note indicating who will be picking them up. Please return the bottom section.

I __________________________________________ give my son/daughter,

___________________________________________________, permission to attend the "Kid's Night Out" at the

Cumberland High School. By signing, I am stating that I accept full responsibility for my child while at the

event. If there are any problems, I may be reached at ___________________________________________.

* Wear green and get your name entered for a digital camera.

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.

ESRI announces two grant options for the ESRI GIS Grant Program, designed for U.S. 4-H in cooperation with National 4-H Headquarters, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)/U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support its geospatial outreach, education, and community involvement efforts. The goal of this program is to foster and support the integration of geographic information system (GIS) software in U.S. 4-H clubs.

Grant categories include an introductory grant for 4-H clubs new to GIS and global positioning systems (GPS) and an intermediate grant for those 4-H clubs that received previous ESRI 4-H grants and completed the grant requirements.

Eligible Applicants: A U.S. 4-H community or in-school club, 4-H after-school program, 4-H special interest group, 4-H school enrichment group, 4-H camp, or similar 4-H unit that meets regularly and is recognized as an authorized 4-H group within its state's 4-H program.

Application Period: January 1–March 31, 2006

The 2006 4-H Grants are posted at and downloadable from: http://www.esri.com/grants/esri/06003_4-h_fy06.html

4-H Memorial Camp

Mark your calendars for June 11-15 – That's Cumberland County's week to attend
4-H Camp near Monticello.

Remember...

4-H Camp Scholarships are available from The Cumberland County 4-H Federation
You need to attend a Federation Meeting to Request Funding

Imagine experiencing the simulation of "walking on air"...being aboard a shuttle going to Mars...living in a space station environment. You can do all this and more when you register for the 4-H Missions in Space program.

Youth who will be enrolled in 7^th – 9^th grades in the fall of 2006 can experience these simulated space missions, learn about shuttle operations, and be part of a shuttle mission team by attending the 4-H Missions in Space Weekend Camp, October 5-8, 2006 at the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. This trip is being offered through University of Illinois 4-H program.

More details to come, if you are interested let the extension office know.

ExplorACES is a two-day event designed to acquaint prospective students and their families with the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Friday, March 10 or Saturday, March 11 in the College of ACES.

Exhibits will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, and from 10 to 2 on Saturday. Most of the lab tours and other special activities will take place between 10 and 2 on both days

The Illinois State Horse Judges Seminar has been scheduled for April 8, 2006 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Black Hawk College, East Campus Arena in Kewanee, Illinois. Registration and the first classroom instruction will begin in Building A, room 116. Later live classes will be held in the Ag Arena.

This seminar is open to all youth and open horse show judges, potential judges, exhibitors and spectators of horse events. It is designed to encourage uniform standards for judging and exhibiting horses at Illinois youth and open shows, and to yield a directory of judges for show committees. It will cover criteria for judging halter, showmanship, horsemanship, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, trail, Western pleasure, Western riding and over fences classes. Fees for this seminar are $15 for youth (under 18 years), $25 for adults and $40 for adults wishing to take the written and live judging exam for listing in the Illinois Horse Judge's Directory.

The Illinois State Horse Judges Seminar is sponsored by University of Illinois Extension, the UI Department of Animal Sciences and Black Hawk College.

Registration materials may be obtained from:

Kevin H. Kline
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
388 Animal Science Lab
1207 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801

E-mail: kkline@uiuc.edu

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

There is a new club in the making. If you are looking for a club or if you know someone that would like to join a club please contact the office and we will give you all of the information.

217/849-3937

June 23-25, 2006
Holiday Inn Select -- Decatur

What Is It?

This 3-day event is designed to provide Illinois teens different opportunities to develop their leadership skills. Our theme is What Box? We're Throwing Out the Box!. The focus of sessions and speakers will be on Team Building, Active Learning, Community Leadership, Real Life Situations, and Self-Improvement.

Who Can Come?

This event is open to ALL Illinois high school teens, including incoming freshmen for the fall of 2006. Youth must be 14 to 18 years of age (inclusive) by September 1, 2006 in order to participate. 4-H membership is NOT required – have your 4-H members invite other friends to come along. School and other teen community groups are also welcome to attend.

Contact the Extension office for more details.