WITH AUSSIE CLINICIAN CLINTON ANDERSON

Click the link below to find out more about this free horsemanship safety DVD. http://www.weaverridesafely.com/

I have ordered one for the office. It will be here in about 6-8 weeks, but if you would like to have one of your own, go to the link above and order it. They are free.

Thank you to all of the clubs that participated in the Military boxes. We filled 10 Boxes. They were sent out on December 11, so hopefully they got them before Christmas.

This year we have a 4-H Family that is wanting to donate a goat to a exhibitor that is not currently enrolled in goats as a project.

Please read the rules below:

Rules for "Win a Goat" Contest

• Applicant must be a "bona fide" Cumberland County 4-H member by January 8th, not currently enrolled in a goat project or in possession of goats.
• Applicant must complete an application and include a statement of interest to be no less than 100 words in length.
• Applications will be reviewed by a committee of three to determine applicants to be interviewed.
• Those applicants chosen will be interviewed along with their parent and/or guardian.
• The winning applicant will be responsible for care and all costs incurred in the raising of this goat.
• This market goat is to be shown in the 4-H Market Wether Class at the Cumberland County 4-H Show.
• This goat will be sold at the Cumberland County 4-H Auction with the hope that the proceeds will be used to reinvest in a goat project for the next 4-H year.

Applications are available at the Extension Office by calling 217/849-3931.

Applications must be received no later than January 8, 2007.

We are working on our new community service this year and it is going to be Project Linus. We will be setting up a workshop date to meet with a Member of Project Linus and they are going to help us make blankets and collect them. Please look in your December newsletter for the workshop date. Below you can see what a Blanketeer is.

Be a Blanketeer -- How You Can Help

• It's easy to help Project Linus. Simply make a blanket and donate it to your local chapter of Project Linus. Your blanket will be given to a child in need.
• Our volunteers, known as "blanketeers," provide new, handmade, washable blankets to be given as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18. It is Project Linus' policy to accept blankets of all sizes, depending on the needs of the local chapters. All styles of blankets are welcome, including quilts, tied com forters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly colors.

If you have any questions please contact Tonya at the Extension Office.

The Illini Chapter of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids will be hosting its 3^rd "Training for Presenters" session.

The safety topics that have been selected are: All the Great Resources (An Overview), Food Safety, "Buckle Up or Eat Glass", and Electrical Safety.

It will be held at the Tony Noel Center on the Parkland campus on January 22^nd from 5:30 pm to 7pm. We will begin the evening in the Anderson Room. Pizza will be provided.

We hope that some of your members and leaders will be able to attend this training session to review and learn about the different materials that can be used to educate elementary students in their school districts and clubs.

Each year, approximately 104 children across the United States die in farm related accidents. Most of these incidents are predictable and preventable. Through proper education for farm children and their friends who visit farms, we have the opportunity to help children remain injury free.

Materials will be provided to the students who attend to use in the classrooms back at your school.

For more information, please feel free to contact Amy Hunter at 217-383-4606 or amy.hunter@carle.com.

This National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program , sponsored by University of Illinois Extension and the Carle Center for Rural Health and Farm Safety, is to prepare 14 and 15-year old prospective agricultural workers to safely operate farm machinery. If someone between the age of 14 and 15 years old works off his/her own farm, they must be certified under child labor laws. This program is also excellent training for any farm youth even if they do not plan to work off the family farm.

Employers may be fined and held liable if the employee is a non-certified 14-15 year old. Participants will receive a student notebook containing new nationally developed materials with weekly assignments. The class will meet four times for hands-on-activities and discussion. A written skills and driving test will be taken at the end of the course for certification and national course completion card.

The January 17 program will be held at the Champaign County Farm Bureau Auditorium from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and is open to interested students, parents and employers who would like to know about this national training program. For more information, please contact Amy Hunter at 217/383-4606 or Steve Ayers at 217/333-7672

Please note that the 4-H Federation is sponsoring a skating party. Sunday , January 14, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Silver Star Skate Center in Mattoon. Skate rental is $1.00 which will be paid by the Federation. You may also bring your own skates or roller blades.

Culture Kits will be available for the following months:

Poland – January
Sweden – February
Thailand mini – March
Argentina – April

If your club is interested in using any or all of these culture kits, please contact the Extension Office at 217/849-3931.

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 radio stations in such an event.

There is going to be Multi-County Livestock Camp at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds on June 10-12, 2007. We are in the making of this camp. The camp is going to talk about basics of Beef, Sheep, Swine and Goats. There will be more information to come. Please mark this on your calendar before it gets filled up.

All 4-H members that were in livestock last year will be receiving a questionnaire in the mail about this camp. Please return it back to the Extension Office by January 8th.

If you have any questions, suggestions or ideas please contact Tonya at the Extension Office.

Cumberland County 4-H Week will be March 5-10th. I would like every club to send me at least three Themes. Suggestions for the theme can be sent to the Extension Office and will be passed on to the 4-H Federation. The theme ideas will be voted on at the January 11th Federation meeting.

2945 - Liberty Hill Rangers
700 - Hurricane Hustlers
265 - Cumberland County Clovers
190 - Springpoint Rebels
0 - Roslyn Rangers
0 - Work and Play

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.

BEEF: Saturday, February 17, 2007 – Fairgrounds, Greenup 8 to 10 A.M.

SWINE: Saturday, April 21, 2007 – Fairgrounds, Greenup 8 to 10 A.M.

SHEEP: Saturday, April 21, 2007– Fairgrounds, Greenup 10 to 11 A.M.

All potential 2006-2007 4-H livestock exhibitors must have participated in a "Quality Assurance and Ethics Clinic" prior to exhibiting a livestock project at the Cumberland County Fair. All State Fair exhibitors must comply and attend the training yearly. Cumberland County members are required to attend training once in their tenure to compete at the county 4-H level.

Pork Quality Assurance - Time to TBA

Each year the 4-H Federation sponsors various 4-H workshops. The actual planning of the events is done month's in advance. If you have any ideas or suggestions for a workshop contact the Extension Office or let your club delegate know. We are seeking hands-on projects that can increase the participation levels in various project areas.

If you have a special talent, skill, or hobby that you would like to share with 4-H, give the office a call.

Leaders have received information about the 2007 Illinois 4-H Mexico exchange summer program. To find out more about experiencing life and culture 'south of the border,' contact the Extension office. Deadline for the first payment is January 1. There are also opportunities for exchanges in Australia, Japan and Finland.

Don't like to travel? There are summer host opportunities for 4-H families to invite Japanese students from other countries for a visit. Previous experience isn't necessary. Host families receive an orientation about the Japanese culture. More information is available at the Extension Office.

The Illinois 4-H Foundation has grant monies available for 4-H clubs to support community outreach efforts. The funding for these community related projects comes from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., and Country Insurance & Financial Services. Please note the following timeline:

• Club Grant Application Deadline: January 5, 2007
• Club Grant Application Announcement: February 2, 2007

Note: individual clubs may apply and be considered in both categories; however, each club can be awarded funds in only one of the two granting categories. While the Illinois 4-H Foundation recognizes that many clubs do multiple projects, they also hope to award the available monies to worthy projects in as many different clubs as possible. Applications are available at the Extension Office.

• An on-line course for 4-H Jr. Leaders that uses U of I WebCT course software.

What's in this for ME?

• Experience in navigating around a real on-line course
• New ideas about what I can do as a 4-H Jr. Leader
• A chance to practice leadership skills & make my 4-H club better.
• A certificate of completion and other recognition as a Jr. Leader.

If you do not have internet access, the office internet is available for your use. Just call Tonya and set up a time.

You can get an application from your Leader or the Extension Office.

Mark your calendars for June 10-14 – 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.