Shew! The holidays are over! Take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. I hope that everyone had a good holiday and enjoyed their family and friends.

Since we are beginning another calendar year, it will be getting busy! It is that time of year that project workshop ideas are needed. If you have fun or unusual things that you want to see, let me know! The 4-H week theme has been chosen by the Federation. This year it will be "4-H-We Hear, We See, We Speak!" I am looking for some creative ideas for 4-H week activities, so if you have any, send them my way. We are planning a "Cooking Extravaganza" workshop coming up! There are further details inside the newsletter.

Attention all 7th & 8th graders: get those applications in this month to attend the 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference. It will be a great time! I also want to remind everyone that the Peoria Riverman Hockey Team is having a "4-H Night"

Everyone is invited to the Federation Meeting January 10, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at Pank's Pizza in Greenup. The Federation is a great oppurtunity for 4-H members to get involved in planning events, meeting fellow county 4-H'ers and showing your support to 4-H. There will be a project workshop either in March or April. Watch for more details in upcoming newsletters. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

- Ryan Staley, Program Coordinator 4-H / Youth & Family

Don't forget to mark your calendars for Sunday January 20, 2008.

The 4-H Federation is sponsoring a skating party at the Silver Star Skate Center in Mattoon. The skate rental will be paid by the Federation. You may also bring your own skates.

Come visit other Cumberland County and Coles County 4-H'ers!

It is sure to be a good time!

If you love to cook or want to enjoy 3 days of cooking, this is the event for you!
There will be a 3 session "Cooking Extravaganza" workshop for boys and girls in 4-H!

The topics discussed will help you learn food safety, how to set a table correctly, and food preperation or interested in cooking! You shouldn't miss this workshop if you are enrolled in a foods project. A different food will be made at each session. At the end of each session, participants will be able to eat what they have made!!

Workshop Session 1
January 21, 2008
10:00 a.m.

Workshop Session 2
February 4, 2008
5:30 p.m.

Workshop Session 3
February 18, 2008
10:00 a.m.

The total cost of the workshops is $9.00
If you can only make it to a certain workshop it will be $5.00 per session.
All of the Workshops will be held at the Toledo First Christian Church.

Please Register By:
Workshop Session 1 -January 14, 2008
Workshop Session 2 - January 28, 2008
Workshop Session 3 - February 14, 2008

Don O. Frederick
January 1
Country Director

Christopher Walk
January 2
Rosyln Rangers

Seth Flach
January 4
Springpoint Rebels

Julie Wente
January 9
Springpoint Rebels

Kyle Wente
January 9
Springpoint Rebels

Kesia White
January 11
Cumberland County Clovers

Ashley Deters
January 13
Roslyn Rangers

Wayne Deters
January 20
Roslyn Rangers Leader

Penny Flood
January 20
Springpoint Rebels Cloverbud

The American Polypay Sheep Association will be giving away a starter flock this year! Three registered polypay ewes and a $100 buying credit are going to be given at the 2008 National Sale. Any 4-H member in the United States between the ages of 8-19 by March 15, 2008 is eligible to apply.

The Polypay breed is known as one of the premier production sheep breeds in the world. The breed is also well received in shows around the country. The traits that are measured are weaning weight maternal milk, milk and growth, post weaning weight, and numbers born. The association will waive the first year NSIP fee if recipeint enrolls in NSIP.

However, the recipent is not required to join. For more information pertaining to the Polypay breed go to their webiste www.polypay.org.

This would be an excellent way to start a flock for your 4-H project. Or you can even increase the size of your flock.

Call the Extension office at 217-849-3931 for more information!

Cumberland County 4-H Clubs worked hard to support the local food pantries.
I want to thank each club for helping the community out during the holiday season!
This truely shows how giving the Cumberland County 4-H family is!

Club Point Totals
Liberty Hill Rangers	3,560 points
Cumberland County Clovers	1,075 points
Hurricane Hustlers	1,015 points
Springpoint Rebels	55 points
Work and Play	0 points
Roslyn Rangers	0 points

The items collected were divided and sent to the food pantries in Neoga and Greenup. Liberty Hill Rangers are the winners of $25.00!

WAY TO GO 4-H'ers!

BEEF: Saturday, February 16, 2008 Fairgrounds, Greenup 8 to 10 A.M.

SWINE: Saturday, April 12, 2008 Fairgrounds, Greenup 8 to 10 A.M.

SHEEP: Saturday, April 12, 2008 Fairgrounds, Greenup 10 to 11 A.M.

All potential 2007-2008 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

January 10, 2008
7:00 p.m.
at Pank's Pizza in Greenup

The Extension Office in Cumberland County will be closed Monday January 21, 2008.

The 4-H Federation met December 13th at the Toledo Village Hall. The night was started off by saying the 4-H and American Pledges. The Secretary and Treasurer gave their reports and both were accepted by the members.

Old business was discussed with highlights of decorating the Nursing Home doors, the Candy/Craft/ Project Linus workshop, and the Pantry Scavenger Hunt. All members were reminded of the Skating Party on January 20th. Once everything was discussed, they moved on to new business. There were several things that were mentioned and voted on. They voted to order the newly elected officers shirts to match the incumbent officers. The members then voted on the 2008 4-H week theme. It was decided to use "4-H, We Hear, We See, We Speak!" They also brain stormed on new and creative ideas for the weeks activities. The weigh-in dates were announced along with times. Everyone is supposed to come up with a trip idea for the Federation members to take. It was voted that the next meeting be held at Pank's Pizza! The next order of business was voting on a scholarship that will be available to 7th & 8th graders going to the Jr. Leadership Conference. This meeting was devoted to a culture night theme.

There were 3 guest speakers to entertain. They were YeSong and Elyna from Korea and Claudia from Thailand. They enlightened the group with information from their countries. They did an excellent job, and everyone gained something from it!

The meeting was adjorned and refreshments were served. The next meeting was set for January 10, 2008. The Officers wish to invite everyone to join in on the fun at the next meeting!

This is open to all 7th & 8th grade 4-H members. We are ready to "GO" and have a good time with other county 4-H members and gain leadership skills!

The cost is $95, with a $25 scholarship available from the 4-H Federation for youth attending the conference. The Federation asks participants to speak at the meeting following the conference. You must have your registration turned in to the Extension Office by January 28, 2008.

If you have any questions, please contact the Extension Office at 217-849-3931

Mark your calendars for January 22, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Toledo Village Hall.

There are things that need to be discussed and reviewed at this meeting. A meal will be provided, so all you need to bring is yourself and some creative ideas!

This event will be held on March 7 & 8, 2008. If you are interested or might be thinking about attending the University of Illinois this is for you! This will be held at the U of I College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Department.

Activities include:

1. Talking with current students about the U of I and the oppurtunities in ACES.
2. Discover the college's classrooms, labs, programs and student organizations.
3. Learn more about the admissions process, housing and scholarships.
4. Meet faculty members involved in undergraduate education.

For more information log on to www.aces.uiuc.edu/ExplorACES.

Part One - March 28-29, 2008
Fairfield Inn, Effingham, IL

Part Two - June 19, 2008
Jasper County Fairground, Newton, IL

This event is designed for 4-Hers involved with livestock projects (beef, sheep, swine and goat) to study subjects that will help them be superior livestock producers. This event is open to 4-H Club members from Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper, Richland, Fayette, Shelby, Edgar and Lawrence Counties. All participants must be pre-registered .

On Friday March 28 campers will get moved into their rooms before group activities start. Group activities (starting at 7:30 p.m.) will include spending time getting to know each other while exploring 4-H theatre arts, games and late night pizza. Saturday morning will start with a continental breakfast from 7:00-8:00 a.m. Scheduled hands-on learning activities will start at 8:15 a.m. Although all details have yet to be confirmed, workshops will focus on specie Breeds, Parts of the animals, Conformation, Livestock Equipment, Identification, Feeds and Nutrition, Medications and livestock ethics.

Part two registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 19 with workshops starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. Lunch is included in fee. Although all details have yet to be confirmed, workshops will focus on Livestock Judging, Show Ring Ethics, Showmanship and Animal Handling.

Part One - The registration fee for this event is $40.00. This fee includes a one-night hotel stay (4 delegates per room), two meals and snacks, insurance and all programming. If registration fee is paid for the March event, registration to the June event is free. Part Two - If only attending the June 19 event, registration fee is $20.00.

All registrations and fees MUST be turned in to the Extension Office no later than February 25, 2008. If you have any questions about this event contact Ryan at 217-819-3931 or rstaley@uiuc.edu.

The official date for Cumberland County to attend the 4-H camp in Monticello is June 8-12, 2008. Don't forget that the Cumberland County 4-H Federation gives out scholarships to participants of the camp!

For the last two years the Cumberland County 4-H Federation Members have put boxes together for local troops. This year they put together and sent 12 boxes to troops overseas and ones stationed in the U.S. The Federation enjoys helping out the community and this is one way they are obtaining this goal. If you have a family member that is in the service, please contact the Extension Office. We would love to send notes to them throughout the year!

Federation Officers - Left to Right: Michelle Nieburgge, Houston Moses, Paige Hatfill, Lance Moses and Jaylynn Maxey, Not Pictured-James Cox & Presley Hatfill. They are pictured with one of the boxes that were sent out.

Picture is in the printed copy of the newsletter.

The Illinois State Museum is working on a new oral history of Illinois Agriculture. They want names of individuals who represent the states' agriculture industry. They are in need of people that are involved in the horse industry. 4-H members that are in Jr. High or High School ages who are considering careers in agriculture are also people of interest. The history project will include exhibits, both at the museum and on the internet and related educational materials. If you are interested or if you know of anyone that fits these requirements, please contact the Extension office!

January
1 - Office Closed
2 - Office Re-opens & 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference Scholarship App. Due
4 - Community and Health Improvement Grant App. Due
10 - Federation Meeting 7:00 p.m.
14 - Hockey Ticket Deadline
20 - Skating Party @ Silver Star Skating Center, Mattoon 5:30-7:30 p.m.
21 - Northern IL Leadership App. Due & "Cooking Extravaganza" Workshop
22 - Leaders Meeting 6:30 at the Toledo Village Hall
26 - Peoria Riverman Hockey Game "4-H Night" & Team Matrix in Hamilton Co.
28 - 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference App. Due

February
5 - Cumberland/Clark Ag Expo
8-9 - Got Game? Conference at Western IL University, Macomb, IL
15-16 - 4-H Great Debate in Springfield, IL
16 - Beef Weigh-In 8:00-10:00 a.m.
23-24 - 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference in Urbana, IL

March
1-8 - 4-H Week!!!
8-9 - Northern IL Leadership Conference
15 - Ultimate Project Challenge in Champaign
28-29 - Multi-County Livestock Camp