Sunday, March 4
7:00 Movie Night at Kristin and Houston's House

Monday, March 5
Window Judging
6:30 Dance at the Stockyards in Greenup

Thursday, March 8
7:00 Federation Meeting at Toledo Village Hall

Saturday, March 10
6:30 Volunteer Banquet at Richard's Farm in Casey.

It seems far too often we place too much emphasis on winning and losing at 4-H livestock shows. Unfortunately, many times adults consider 4-H livestock projects a failure if their son or daughter does not win. If our only goal at a livestock show is to win, maybe we need to make some adjustments in our goals and in understanding the benefits our youth are gaining from livestock shows.

Ideally, 4-H livestock projects should be a family affair. If the right percentages of time and energy are spent by youngsters and parents together, these projects can help our young people learn the basic life skills and eventually help them develop into better citizens. If the percentage gets our of hand, we see a group of spoiled kids whose parents are sore if they don't win, constantly criticizing the judge and trying and trick possible to win.

Very few 4-H livestock projects are economically sound. However, neither are having children, paying for band lessons, taking them to summer recreation programs, buying them bicycles and paying for other youth activities. If a parent's goal is for the child to make money, investing in a savings account is less risky than investing in a 4-H livestock project. However, if a parent's goal is to invest in the future and to help their son or daughter develop as a person, learn responsibility, set goals and gain some knowledge about livestock production, then 4-H livestock projects are a low cost investment.

Most likely we will have livestock shows as long as there are youngsters who have parents and grandparents. However, let's keep these shows in proper perspective. They are not beef, swine, sheep, dairy or horse shows but they are KIDS SHOWS! The animal is simply the ticket for the youngster to take part.

Through schools, the Extension Service and other educational units, we constantly hear of improved teaching tools to better equip our young people for life. As we analyze all the new and innovative ideas, many of which are quite sound and very excellent methods, we find 4-H livestock projects are one of the oldest and greatest teaching tools that we have to teach youth life skills.

Following are some life skills a 4-H'er can gain:

1. How to get along with people. A large number of people in society quit or lose their jobs because they cannot get along with others. 4-H'ers who show livestock are around people they have never met but have similar interests. They learn to communicate with these people.

2. Sportsmanship. At a livestock show, there is only one Grand Champion. However, there are many winners. Most 4-H'ers who show livestock for any period of time usually experience the extreme high feeling of an exceptional effort and the extreme disappointment of a project that didn't turn out as well as was expected. Normally, win or lose, the competitors in the show ring (the 4-H'ers) can be seen after the show talking and enjoying life together.

3. Responsibility. Feeding and daily chores in a 4-H livestock project teach responsibility. Top feeders follow the time clock in their daily efforts. This is a good habit to start at a young age and may reap substantial benefits in a career later in life.

4. Attend to details. Most young people take care of major items in a 4-H livestock project like feeding, etc. However, many times it's the little things that make a difference: keeping water tanks and feed troughs clean, working on grooming and showmanship several months before the show, keeping pens clean, and close observation for sickness and disease. Paying attention to details is beneficial in almost everything we do in life.

5. Decision making. Decision making is never easy at any point in our lives. 4-H livestock projects require several key decisions be made: selection of project animals, selection of feeding method, care and management decisions, grooming, etc.

6. Goal setting. For every successful 4-H livestock project, there is usually a good plan. Most details and plans for the project on selection, feeding, and management of the project has been planned well in advance. Goal setting is important for everyone regardless of future endeavors.

Are 4-H livestock projects successful? We may hear some negative things about them, but these projects are a long way ahead of whatever is in second place in helping teach our young people to adjust to life.

Next time you are at a livestock show, study the kids instead of the animals. You will notice that most classes have several winners, not just the one standing in first place.

- Kent Thiesse, MN State Fair 4-H Beef Show Coordinator

March 27, 2007

The annual Illinois 4-H Legislative Connection event will be held at the State Capitol Complex in Springfield on Tuesday, March 27. During this time both the House and Senate are scheduled to be in session; The date precedes some critical legislative deadlines; We will be the only group at the capitol, which provides greater visibility and opportunities to meet legislators and other government officials.

Who will be invited?

Next week, invitations to 4-H Legislative Connection XI will be mailed to all Illinois State Fair Superior Award winning exhibitors who have not previously attended the 4-H Legislative Connection event

So, if you are one the lucky ones that received an invitation, I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. If you are worried about travel we can work out travel when we know how many are going. If you have any questions about this, please contact Tonya at the Extension office.

Current 4-H members who are high school seniors or in their last year of 4-H membership are encouraged to apply for the 2007 Legacy of Leadership Scholarship. The application deadline for this merit-based award is March 1, 2007. Scholarships may be used for expenses 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.

Come Join us on March 31, 2007, at the Lillyville Church
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Jennifer from Project Linus will be helping us with this project.

Project Linus is used by DCFS. When children are place in protective custody each child receives one! They have also been use for intact family if there is a specific needs as not enough blankets in the household.
Vivian Hallett

Current 4-H members are eligible to enter one 8"X10" photo which illustrates the theme, "Agriculture-Farm Life is the Best." Photos must have been taken in 2006 or 2007. Deadline for entries is August 1, 2007. Eleven winners will be selected and receive $50. Photos will be displayed at the Effingham Equity Corporate office. Grand prize winner will receive $100. For contest details, contact the Extension office.

Horse bowl, hippology, and horse speech practices will start soon. If you are interested in taking part in any of the horse activities, please contact Theresa Boehm.

Theresa's contact information is available at the Cumberland County Extension Office.

You, your family, friends and everyone can help support 4-H in Illinois by buying tickets to see the new version of Charlotte's Web in theaters after December 15, 2006. For every ticket purchased through www.fourhcouncil.edu, Hollywood Movie Money will donate a $1 to 4-H to help support Illinois 4-H Youth Development Program. You must purchase your tickets to Charlotte's Web through the www.fourhcouncil.edu for 4-H and the Illinois 4-H Youth Development Program to receive this donation.

Steers (beef and dairy beef) and market heifers will be weighed and tattooed on February 17 2007 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds. NOTE: All steers must be castrated and all steers and market heifers must be tattooed at the county weigh-in on February 17. Ownership deadline for all steers and market heifers is February 17, 2007

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.

We are pleased to launch a new website for 4-H Memorial Camp and Conference Center. It includes general information about camp, the various summer and specialty programs, facility rental information, as well as information about applying to work at the camp.

Please visit the site at: http://4hmemorialcamp.extension.uiuc.edu/

Thank you to all of the family's that came out on a cold night. Everyone had a enjoyable time. There were over 125 people in attendance. Also thanks to Toni Bell for the treats.

We Like To Hear What's Happening!

Culture Kits will be available for the following months:

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.

4-Her's are invited to participate in the 4-H Livestock Camp, June 10-12 at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds, Sumner, IL.

This three-day overnight camp will offer hands on session ton Beef, Sheep, Swine and Goats. The camp will be open to all 4-H youth ages 8 and up.

This goal of the Camp is tech youth enrolled in livestock projects proper feeding, care and handling of their animals in order to have them ready to show by county fair time. The campers will receive basic livestock practices they can use throughout their career showing animals, as well as preparing them for a future in livestock production in a friendly and fun environment.

The registration fee for the camp is $50.00. It covers meals from dinner on June 10^th through dinner on June 12^th. Participates will also receive a t-shirt and Animal Resource Handbook.

Registration is due by May 15^th. There will be more information to come in the upcoming months.

Congratulations to Kaygan from the Cumberland County Clovers for being the winner of the Goat Giveaway .

Good Luck on your new project.

We will be looking forward to seeing you at the Fair with your new project.

Attention all beef producers the Illinois Beef Expo will be February 22 – 25 at the Livestock Exposition Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The event features a trade show, junior show, judging contest and livestock sales.

A FFA & 4-H Livestock judging contest will be Saturday, February 24, registration begins at 8:00 a.m. with clinic at 9:00 a.m. and the contest beginning at Noon. Entry fee for the contest is $15 per contestant. For further information concerning the contest call 800/233-5671.

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

What is Jr. Leader University (JLU)?

• 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.

Students in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois will be hosting the Second Annual "ExplorACES" on Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10, 2007, on the U of I campus in Urbana. It will coincide with the annual College of Engineering Open House.

This event is aimed primarily toward high school students and others who are already thinking about where they will attend college. In addition to visitors from downstate high schools, the organizers hope ExplorACES will draw potential students from urban and suburban areas–those who otherwise may not consider a college with the word "Agricultural" in its name. It will also be a great opportunity for teachers and school administrators to find out what's happening in the College of ACES.

ExplorACES will be geared toward showing people what college students are working on in their classes and club activities. ExplorACES will feature dozens of hands-on exhibits that are designed to show prospective students the kinds of learning opportunities they would have in the College of ACES. Visitors will have a chance to tour labs and classrooms, learn about internships and study-abroad programs, and talk with current students as well as faculty members. To learn more about ExplorACES, contact Kathy Rieser, 217-333-9445, rieser@uiuc.edu

Deal All 4-H Members,

I Just wanted to write you and say Thank You for the care package. I was able to used some of it, then I put the rest out on the picnic table. The "picnic table" is where everybody put's their surplus/unwanted items for everybody else to look at the and see if they can use any thing. With over 165 people in my unit, very little goes to waste. I can't tell you how much these care packages are appreciated and how good it is to have the support from "Back Home"

THANK YOU!

Sincerely,
Thomas L Montgomery

Cumberland County 4-H,

Thank you so much for the support and great package you sent my way. All enjoyed the packages goodies and I personally liked the Sunflower seeds. I have been flying the C-12 airplane over 100 hours a month here in Iraq, Thanks again and this card was made by my wife, Billi Lou! (www.walnutstreetcards.com)

Thank you,
Aaron Jansen

Have you checked out the Jasper/Cumberland Extension website lately? You might be surprised what you find.

We will be adding pictures from the awards night and other activities. We will add to the site with pictures of past events and pictures to highlight the Cumberland County 4-H members and their activities.

To get to the website the url is: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/jaspercumberland/ or search with University of Illinois Extension Cumberland County and it will get you to the site. E-mail addresses are also there to keep in touch with the Extension staff.

Along with the fun pictures you will find registration forms, project forms, current and past newsletters and information on all activities sponsored by the Cumberland County Extension.

Great news! We finally have the date for this years 4-H Day With the Cardinals celebration! The fun day in St. Louis is set for Saturday, May 5, 2007. The only other piece of information we know at this point is that tickets are $21.00 per person. Stay tuned for more information about the game, the schedule for the day, how many tickets we will have available this year, and how to register in the near future.

March 5th -10th, 2007

March 2 - 7, 2007 - Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield

Visit web site for complete information on clinicians, event schedules, hotels, advance ticket order forms, staff email contacts:

www.HorsemensCouncil.org

Monday February 19th

9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Calvary Tabernacle Church Toledo, IL
$5.00 Fee to Cover the Cost of Materials

9:00 - 11:00
Food and Nutrition S.M.A.R.T Kit
Would you like to take foods? Come learn about how to get it started!

11:00 - 12:00
LUNCH
Lunch will be served

12:00 - 2:00
Visual Arts

Are you running out of ideas or not sure where to start with your project. Come and get some new ideas.
We will be completing a Visual Arts project at the Workshop!!!!!