July 10,2007
Flower Show - 10:00 a.m.
Food Show - 12:00 p.m.

July 12, 2007
Public Speaking - 7:00 p.m.

July 19, 2007
Miscellaneous Show - 9:00 am
Fashion Revue - 6:00 p.m.

July 21, 2007
Dog Show -9:00am

Saturday, August 4th

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 4th 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 clothes 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.

July 12 at 7:00 pm at the Toledo Village Hall

The Jackson Co. 4-H Program is partnering with a local girl scout troop to collect cancelled postage stamps. These stamps are then sold to collectors outside the U.S. and the funds raised are used to purchase school uniforms, school supplies, and textbooks for needy children in India.

Metered mail stamps won't work, but any and all regular cancelled postage stamps your office or 4-H clubs/families could save and send to Jackson Co. would be MUCH appreciated. This is an on-going project, so there are no deadlines to note.

Please send your stamps to the Extension Office and we will sent to them Jackson County, If you have any questions please contact Tonya.

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.

Deadline: November 1, 2007
The National Gardening Association has announced that Home Depot ( http://www.homedepot.com/ ) has returned as sponsor of its Youth Garden Grants program. For more than twenty years, the Youth Garden Grants program has helped youngsters reap rewards and life lessons from working in gardens and outdoor habitats.

NGA awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered, outdoor garden programs. In evaluating grant applications, priority will be given to programs that emphasize one or more of these
elements: educational focus and/or curricular ties (if applicant is a formal education program); nutrition or plant-to-food connections; environmental awareness/education; entrepreneurship; and social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support, and/or service-learning.

Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups throughout the United States are eligible to apply. Applicants must plan to garden in 2007 with at least fifteen children between the ages of 3 and 18.

Previous Youth Garden Grant winners who wish to reapply must wait one year and have significantly expanded their garden programs.

In 2008, 150 programs will receive gift cards from Home Depot for the purchase of gardening materials and supplies particular to the needs of their program, along with an activity package from NGA. The top fifty programs will receive gift cards valued at $500, and an additional one hundred programs will receive $250 gift cards.

Fifty grants will be awarded to start-up programs that are just beginning or have yet to break ground, while one hundred will be awarded to established programs that have completed one or more seasons of outdoor gardening. Both categories are eligible to receive top-level $500 grants.

Visit the NGA Web site for complete program details and application procedures.
RFP Link: http://assoc.garden.org/grants/ For additional RFPs in Children and Youth, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_childrent.jhtml

University of Illinois Extension – McLean County is hosting the State 4-H Tractor Driving Contest. This year's event will be held during the McLean County 4-H Fair on Saturday, August 4, at the Interstate Center, 2301 W. Market St., Bloomington, IL.

Pre-entry is required. Each county will be limited to one 4-H entry and each FFA chapter will be limited to one FFA entry. County 4-H/FFA Advisors should email their intention to send a contestant to the McLean Extension unit (bjely@uiuc.edu) by August 4, 2007, or by completing the online form at www.mcleanextension.org

A $10 entry fee for each participant will be collected on the day of the contest. Please make checks payable to University of IllinoisExtension – McLean County.

• Participants must be at least 14 years of age as of January 1, 2007.
• Premiums will be jackpot based.
• Registration will begin at 8:30AM
• The contest will begin at 9AM

The top 4-H participant will represent Illinois at the National 4-H Tractor Operator's Contest as a part of the National 4-H Engineering, Science and Leadership Event held at Purdue University in September 2007. Information about the National contest is available at http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/NAENGR/tractor.html. While the state contest is not identical to the National contest, this information will be helpful in preparing for the state contest. If you have questions regarding this event please contact Brian Lambert at blambert@uiuc.edu or 309-663-8306.

Forms are available at the Cumberland County Extension Office.

Opportunity for Youth to Experience Space Flight Simulation

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 2007 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 4-7, 2007, at the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. This trip is being offered through University of Illinois 4-H program.

The cost of this exciting experience is $350.00, which includes the Pathfinder program, housing in the Space Habitat, meals at the site, bus transportation, a T-shirt, and accommodations along the way. The only additional costs are meals while traveling and any souvenirs that the participant may want to purchase. A registration fee of $350 is due August 1.

If you want to find out more information about the Pathfinder program and other exciting information about Space Camp, check out the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's website for space camp at www.spacecamp.com

Stop by the Extension office or call for additional information and registration materials. Registration is due to the Extension office by August 1st. Don't delay–spaces are limited.

4-H JUDGING POLICY

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 and "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 for 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.

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

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!

Fair Week will soon be here! The following is the 4-H Shake-Up Stand work schedule. The beginning dates of the various schools has been taken into consideration as always. Please know that the Extension staff will help when possible. We are also looking for non-traditional volunteers (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, neighbors, etc.) and leaders to offer their day time help.

Leaders are asked to recruit and assign workers to their shift. Each shift should have at least one adult and three or four youth. Large entertainment nights will need more. If clubs have conflicts with the time scheduled, please contact another club leader for a possible shift trade and let the Extension Office know if a shift trade occurs. The club profit share arrangement will remain as 25% of the profit to be divided between the clubs that work.

Club Schedule

Monday, August 21
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Roslyn Rangers
5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Work & Play/Liberty Hill Rangers

Tuesday, August 22
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Work & Play/Liberty Hill Rangers
5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Springpoint Rebels

Wednesday, August 23
|11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cumberland County Clovers
5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m Hurricane Hustlers

Thursday, August 24 (4-H Auction 6 p.m.)
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hurricane Hustlers
5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Springpoint Rebels, Hurricane Hustlers, Roslyn Rangers

Friday, August 25
11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cumberland County Clovers
5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Roslyn Rangers

Saturday, August 26
11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Springpoint Rebels
5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Cumberland County Clovers

Flower Show 9:00
Food Demonstration Noon
Food show to Follow

At the Calvary Tabernacle Church in Toledo

July 21st at 9:00 am

Cumberland County Fairgrounds

Make sure that the dog has all of its shots and is well groomed.

July 12, 2007 At 7:00 p.m.

Toledo Village Hall

The requirements for Public Speaking Cumberland County 4-H Handbooks and Fairbook (green or black binder).

9-10 a.m
Work and Play
Roslyn Rangers

10-11 a.m.
Springpoint Rebels
Liberty Hill Rangers

11 - Noon
Cumberland County Clovers
Hurricane Hustlers

1-5 p.m.
Exhibits closed for State Fair and Champion selection

5-6 p.m.
Exhibits open to the public

6 p.m.
Clothing Style Show

Project not released until after the Clothing Style Show.

For 4-H Show Days, Call the Extension Office to Volunteer!

The 39th 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 1,000 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 2007 BBQ can be considered another great success!

BBQ TICKET SALES WINNERS:
1st Place– Lance and Zach Moses
2nd Place– Maxey Family

TOP SELLING CLUB
Cumberland County Clovers

Thank you to all of those who sold tickets or worked at the BBQ!