Thank you to Nancy Moses and Nancy Pals, we have dog obedience classes. They are meeting Wednesday Nights at 6:30 at the fairgrounds. The first couple classes have gone great. If you would like to get in on the classes, please contact Nancy Moses or the Extension office.

Every Saturday Starting

July 8th till Labor Day

From 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

On the Toledo Square.

This does not cost any thing to participate.

This might be a good fundraiser for your club. If you have any questions please contact the Extension Office

The 38th Annual 4-H BBQ has come and gone and what a way to kick off the summer. It was great to see all of the teamwork. The Extension office would like to thank each and everyone of you for your assistance and help before, during, and after the BBQ. Each and every contribution to the 4-H BBQ was very much appreciated.

This year, we served 1,100 meals. We have received several compliments about the BBQ – all the way from the chops, potatoes, and the applesauce. And the desserts were fantastic. The public appreciates your efforts.

All expenses are not in yet. However, it appears that the 2006 BBQ can be considered another great success!

BBQ TICKET SALES WINNERS:
1st Place– Lance and Zach Moses 119 tickets
2nd Place– Lindsay Vanatta 66 tickets

TOP SELLING CLUB
Cumberland County Clovers

4-H members, who are unable to show their project(s) this summer during the Miscellaneous and/or Foods Show due to work, death, or illness in family, school related activity or vacation should send the completed project with another member accompanied by a written summary of the exhibit. Projects not accompanied by a 4-H member and other required materials are listed as listed below will receive one grade lower. This is a county rule; see page 60, in newly revised 4-H Handbook.

RULE: Any 4-H member may receive an "A" rating if not attending in person* at the Cumberland County 4-H Miscellaneous Show and/or Foods show and be eligible for State Judging, (if of age) for the following reasons:

*If absence is due to work, death, or illness in family, school related activity or vacation.

Criteria for project when not present:

Project Goal Sheet for appropriate age.

Essay required:

Age 8–11–Minimum of one hand written page

Age 12–14–minimum of one typed page

Age 15–18–minimum of two typed pages

Must complete all project requirements

Leader must be contacted 48 hours in advance with reason of not attending and approve reason. Leader must contact Extension Office to inform of absence

Grade levels will automatically be lowered on letter is exhibit requirements are not followed.

Please consult the 4-H handbook for further information on Judging policy. If you are uncertain about a project requirement, don't hesitate to call you leader or the Extension Office.

Reminder:

For every project that you do you need to fill out the Cumberland County 4-H Project form. This form should accompany your project when you are at any of the shows with the NEW 2005-2006 Folder.

If you have livestock you still have to fill out the form BUT you do not have to fill out the back.

There is one form in this newsletter, if you need more please contact your leader or the office.

Do not leave these until the last minute. You cannot show until your records are completed.

If you have any questions or need help, call the office and we will help you!

The County Fair is almost here. It's time to think about conference judging. If you are new to the county fair this year, you may be asking yourself, what is conference judging? Conference judging is a learning experience. You will learn more about your project by thinking and answering questions from a judge. A project exhibit does not measure all that you have learned, but it is an example of what you have done. So a judge will ask you to talk about your project so that he or she may more effectively judge it. I am sorry to say that a judge will talk about your mistakes.

However, this year any person who has made no mistakes on a project will be taken from the fairgrounds by helicopter and flown to St. Louis where they will then be transported by private jet to Hollywood to star in their own weekly 4H Project Show on HGTV. I don't want to put any pressure on you but the job pays about $1,000,000.00 per episode. So remember, no mistakes!

That last paragraph was just a fantasy. Nobody is perfect, so be prepared to accept some criticism and learn from your mistakes. A judge will expect you to make some mistakes and learn from them. So let me repeat: be prepared to accept some criticism.

During conference judging, the judge will encourage you to talk about your project exhibit.

You might be asked:

• What did you do?
• How did you do it?
• Would you do it again? Why or why not?

Answer honestly and give the judge good eye contact and a loud and clear voice.

Also, listen carefully to the words your judge uses. If the judge says, "tell me everything about your project", you might spend a minute or two talking. If the judge says, "tell me a little about your project", you might sum up the main points in 10 to 30 seconds. This is just like giving a speech, so you might practice talking about your project with friends and family members. I realize that giving a speech is one of the biggest fears among people.

Make sure that you have read and followed the rules and requirements for your project.

Be a good sport. Congratulate others who have done a good job. Learn from other exhibitors and judges and make your project exhibit better next year.

Have fun!

1. Read your specific project exhibit requirements in the 4-H Handbook. You must follow the project requirements exactly.
2. Review your 4-H manual and be certain you have all the materials needed to complete your project.
3. Get help now! Call your leaders or the Extension Office if you have questions about exhibits requirements. Do not wait until the day before or of the show.
4. Be sure to write the date and time of your judging event on your family calendar.

Illinois regulations require that all goat and sheep exhibits require a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 30 days for any age changing ownership and 90 days for those being exhibited. The Scrapie Tags are available through the USDA at no charge by calling 1-866-USDA-Tag. All sheep and goats leaving the farm must be identified by an ear tattoo, tag or micro chip. This requirement is for Illinois only, 4-H'ers making out of state exhibitions should contact the visiting state for their individual state requirements.

Please set this day aside for this important task. Many energetic volunteers are needed during the pre-fair efforts to spruce up the 4-H areas at the fairgrounds. Among the many important jobs to do on the 5th are:

• Mowing and trimming
• Setting up pen areas
• Painting and repairing the show ring and wash rack areas
• Cleaning the Shake-Up stand area
• Giving the Miscellaneous Building a bath
• Anything else that needs to be done

This is an important task, so please volunteer. The appearance of the 4-H areas reflects and represents the entire 4-H program All help will be accepted! A "Club Clean-Up Award" will be presented at the 4-H Auction to the club with the most members/ volunteers working on Clean-Up day.

Wear you old cloths and bring your gloves, rakes, shovels, weed eaters, and lots of energy. A light lunch will be provided by the 4-H federation for those working.

We need your OLD projects, not this years' projects but the prior year's projects.

We need at least 13 projects from each club.

Please call the extension office with the projects that you would like to put in the display.

We need a variety of many different things, we cannot have anything that will spoil or that will melt.

Contact your leader or Tonya at the Extension Office with your ideas.

These projects need to be in the office by July 21.