There are several things coming up to mark on your calendar. 4-H week is March 3rd-8th. This years theme is "4-H, We see, We hear, We speak." During the week we will have a window displays, a dance and the leaders' Banquet. This year we are trying something new! We are adding theme days during the week to promote 4-H in the county. Look inside this newsletter for more information!

Can you believe it? The 4-H BBQ is only 4 months away! We are going to need everyone to help! So get June 14th marked on your calendar now.

This year we are making some changes to the project workshop Line-up. There will be a set of workshops offered in three different parts of the county. We will be offering workshops in Lillyville, Neoga and Toledo. Each one will offer different projects. Feel free to attend them even if they are outside of your area! Look inside this issue of the newsletter for more information.

The office will be working on new 4-H Fair Packets. There are several changes that will need to be made. Therefore we are developing a new set this year. Be looking for those by the end of March. There will be one packet per family provided by the office. Some of the changes reflect the return of conference judging at the Illinois State Fair. I know that I am excited about it and we hope that you are too!

Happy Valentines Day!

Sincerely,

This event will be held on
Friday March 7, 2008 at 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

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.

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

As you know, 4-H is a great opportunity for Cumberland County youth. Participation in 4-H will teach them life skills they will take throughout their lives. If you were a member or volunteer of the 4-H program, you are well aware of the friendship and skills that may be developed over a career in 4-H. That is why I am asking you to keep your ties to 4-H alive and well by considering the following proposal.

I would like to see a 4-H Alumni Association organization started in Cumberland County. An Alumni Association would provide greater resources to better utilize the 4-H program to its fullest potential. Some of the different things that might be asked of the Alumni include the following; helping during fair time, being a mentor to members, and secure funds for scholarships. Such an organization may strengthen Cumberland County's 4-H family. There are limitless amounts of things this organization could do for the 4H'ers, the community and themselves.

Also, if you know of anyone else that would be interested in becoming a part of the 4-H Alumni, please let me know their contact information so that I can contact them.

If you have any questions, concerns or would be interested in the Cumberland County Alumni feel free to contact me at the office at 217-849-3931 or by email at rstaley@uiuc.edu.

Bridgette Hatfill
February 4
Cumberland County Clovers Leader

Ryan Staley
February 5
Program Coordinator

Joshua Carlen
February 7
Cumberland County Clovers

Vivian Hallett
February 11
Liberty Hill Leader

Rosa Swingler
February 12
Springpoint Rebels

Jane Miller
February 12
Work & Play Leader

Ray Nippe
February 14
Cumberland County Clovers

Trisha Nippe
February 14
Cumberland County Clovers

Kendra Flood
February 15
Springpoint Rebels

Nick Walk
February 17
Roslyn Rangers

Jason Will
February 19
Springpoint Rebels

Harley Nippe
February 20
Cumberland County Clovers

Michael Baker
February 20
Roslyn Rangers

Erin Walk
February 26
Roslyn Rangers

When: Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 8:00-10:00 a.m.

Where: Cumberland County Fairgrounds

We will tattoo and weigh all market animals. This year to be nominated for the Illinois State Fair, beef must be electronically tagged at the weigh-in.

The cost for the tags are $3.00 each. This must be paid at weigh-in.

PREMISE ID'S MUST BE PRESENTED AT THE WEIGH-IN!

A new "4-H Parent Handbook" is now available to 4-H families. The booklet can help new 4-H families learn more about 4-H and how to help 4-H members have a positive experience in 4-H. The booklet contains a parent role description, facts about 4-H, where to get information about 4-H, what's expected in 4-H, 4-H projects and supporting events, and Illinois 4-H Glossary, resources to help 4-H families, and a map of the Extension Regions. The may also be used in conjunction with the "Welcome to 4-H" booklet. If you are interested in this great resource, contact the Extension office at 217-849-3931.

The summer 4-H program is looking for families to host Japanese youth (ages 12-16) to live with them for a month beginning July 23, 2008. You will have the opportunity to learn about Japanese life and culture. For more information this program and other hosting opportunities, please contact the Extension office.

February 7, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at the EXTENSION OFFICE

We will be making Valentines for the residents at the local Nursing Homes, so please come and help!

This will brighten the residents' day!

NOTE CHANGE IN LOCATION!

January 2008 Secretary's Notes

The January Federation meeting was called to order with Lance Moses doing the American Pledge and Presley Hatfill doing the 4-H Pledge. Roll Call was taken with 9 members present and 4 parents and guest present. The Secretary's Report was read with a motion made by Jodi Koester and seconded by Jaylyn Maxey. The Treasurer's Report was given with approval by Jason Koester and seconded by Zach Moses. Old Business was discussed, with new shirts being bought, 4-H theme decision, weigh-in dates, and other topics. Old business was closed with a motion made by Zach Moses and seconded by Jason Koester. New Business was opened with topics up for discussion including Federation Trip, Review of the constitution, 4-H week, a t-shirt contest, where the dance is to be held, and the leaders' banquet at Neoga Town & Country. Approval of the t-shirt contest was first by James Cox and seconded by Michelle Niebrugge. Approval of the new leaders' banquet location was first by Jodi Koester and seconded by Zach Moses. New business was closed with a motion by Jodi Koester and seconded by Presley Hatfill. The meeting was adjourn with a motion by Jaylyn Maxey and seconded by Presley Hatfill. Pizza was enjoyed and the next meeting is set for February 7^th at 7:00pm at the Toledo Village Hall.

- Michelle Niebrugge

The first session of the workshop was help on January 21, 2008 at the Toledo Christian Church. All of the sessions were condensed to this one workshop!

All the other sessions have been cancelled. The 4-H members that attended enjoyed a day filled with cooking education and friends! A HUGE thank you to Josh McKinney from the Health Dept. for coming and talking about food safety and the correct way to wash your hands. Thank you to those that attended!

Hey Cumberland County 4-H'ers, if you are in the Toledo area stop by the Extension office and say howdy or just hang out! We LOVE hearing from you and seeing you! Don't be afraid to call either. And leaders, this is a welcome call for you too! We hope to see you soon!

In addition to the 2008 Premise Identification Requirement for all animal exhibitors at the county, 4-H, and state fairs, the State Fair Jr. Department Livestock Advisory Committee has announced the following requirements for the 2008 State Fair:

• Poultry has been added to the required species for the Quality Assurance & Ethics Certifications. This is added to the beef, sheep, swine, horse, dairy and meat goat list that is required to complete this certification. It will be available February 1, 2008 and must be completed by June 9 for horses and July 1 for all other species. Refer to http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/qaec to complete this requirement.
• Sheep and Beef must be electronically tagged to be nominated for State Fair exhibition. Dates and locations of the sheep weigh-in's are still to be announced. Beef will be tagged at the Cumberland County weigh-in.
• All animal species will be charged an entry fee for the 2008 State Fair.
  • Beef, dairy, and horses will be $10.00 per animal
  • Sheep, swine and goats are $2.50 per animal
  • Dogs are $2.00 per animal
  • Poultry and Rabbits are $1.00 per animal
• The Jr. Market Lamb show is moved to Friday, August 8, 2008.
• The Jr. Breeding Sheep show is Sunday, August 10, 2008.

Don't forget to be registering for your Premise Identification Number! This is required to show at the county and state fairs. You may apply online or by mail. Animals that must have them are beef, sheep, swine, rabbits, poultry, dairy, goats and horses!

Dear Cumberland Co. 4-H Federation,

Thank you very much for the care package that you guys sent me. You have no idea how much it means to receive stuff like that, especially during the holidays. I apologize for taking so long to reply to you, we have been very busy getting ready for our upcoming deployments, in support of OIF as well as OEF. Its great knowing that people back home know and remember that us "country boys" are out taking care of business world wide. So thanks again for all your support.

- Andrew J. Wright, LCpl United States Marines

This summer the State 4-H office and colleges across the U of I campus will bring Illinois teens a new experience. The Illinois Summer Academies will spend time to help teens realize that is needed for classes and tools that are needed to explore careers and other opportunities. A Veterinary Science Academy & Leadership Academy have been set for 2008, but others are in the planning stages. The fees will vary from each academy, but will include U of I dormitory housing, meals, insurance, evening activities, speakers, and 15 hours of course work. More information will follow of a date and time of this event. This would be great for Sophomores and Juniors in High School to attend and get a feel for a career they are interested in!

At your February meetings, we need each club to decide on their nomination for king, queen, prince and princess candidates. The king and queen candidates should be High School aged and the prince and princess should be Jr. High to Grade School aged.

Once they are received, they will be voted on at the 4-H Dance held on March 3, 2008.

GOOD LUCK TO THE CANDIDATES!

If you are a college bound High School Senior and you are going to pursue a career in agriculture, Farm Credit Service of Illinois has just the thing for you! They are offering a "We Understand" scholarship that is worth $750. Applications are available online at www.usfarmcredit.com/AboutUs/CEILWelcomePage.asp.

Applications and information is also available at the Extension Office. The deadline for applying is March 31, 2008.

Are you interested in horses and want to compete? Cumberland County is looking to start a Horse Team and compete at the regional and state level competitions. We aren't horsing around! We really want to get this started! If you are interested, please contact the Extension office at 217-849-3931. If you are also interested in being a coach, please call the office.

4-H members requiring QA &EC will have the opportunity to complete it on the web. The website allows exhibitors to move easily between six different modules and will not require downloading software. The web certification is the only approved method for 2008 and future years as approved by the Illinois State Fair Jr. Livestock Advisory Committee. 4-H'ers are required to only take the training once for the State Fair.

You must complete this if you are showing beef, dairy, horses, sheep, swine, goats, poultry, cats and dogs! Not only is this a requirement for the State Fair but also for the Cumberland County Fair. The website is http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/qaec/. It will be available until June 9, 2008 for horses and July 1, 2008 for beef, dairy, sheep, swine, goats and poultry. If you have any questions, please call the Extension Office at 217-849-3931.

Don't forget to bring refreshments to the 4-H Dance on March 3, 2008 at the Stockyards in Greenup!

A quilting workshop series has been set to begin on Tuesday, March 4, from 6:00-9:00 p.m.. Local quilters will be teaching a basic quilting workshop. Dates for succeeding sessions will be set at the first class.

Pre-registration is needed by February 25. There will be a $5.00 fee to participate in the workshop plus a $15-20 fee for the first kit. This workshop will also be opened up to anyone, so call today to sign up.

Mark your calendars for March 1, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. at the Toledo Village Hall

This program will give you an opportunity to learn more about the process of the 4-H record books. Dana Homann of the Effingham 4-H Center will be conducting this training to give tips on how to encourage 4-H members to work on their records, how important the records are and much more! This is something that you shouldn't miss!

Please call the office by February 25, 2008 to register.

Animas must be in the possession of the 4-H'er by these dates!!

Market Animals

• Steers - January 1
• Wethers- April 12
• Regular Barrows - April 12
• Premiere Barrows - April 12
• Meat Goats (Kids & Yearlings) - May 15
• Rabbits (Meat Pen) J- uly 25

Breeding Animals

• Performance Cows - January 1
• Dairy Goats (Milking Doe) - January 1
• Heifers - June 1
• Gilts - June 1
• Ewes & Rams - June 25
• Dairy (Calves & Heifers) - June 1
• Dairy (Cows) January 1 Dogs - June 1
• Dairy Goats (Kids & Yearlings) - June 1
• Rabbits, Pygmy Goats & Poultry - June 1

Don't forget to register for this even that will give 4-H'ers important information about animals. Part one is at the Fairfield Inn at Effingham and Part two is at the Jasper County Fairgrounds. There will be local experts to discuss subjects such as selection, classification, breeds, space requirements and much more!

This camp is sure to be a great time!

Call the Extension Office if you need a registration form at 217-849-3931. Registration is due to the Cumberland Extension office by February 25, 2008!

This event is designed to provide 4-H members enrolled in the 4-H electricity project an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of electricity; efficient use of electricity; care, maintenance, and safety of electrical equipment; and electrical tools found on the farm and in the home. The skill-a-thon will cover information contained in the 4-H Electricity project manuals.

4-H members who are 14 years of age as of 1-1-2008 are eligible to participate. This event will be held on June 17, 2008. Delegates will be selected at this event for the 2008 National 4-H Engineering Competition.

For more information contact the Extension Office.

APPLICATIONS ARE IN! We now have our information for the camp.

The date for Cumberland County is June 8-12, 2008. This year's camp is filled with excited programs and events!

So call the office for your registration form! HURRY, the list will fill up fast!

There will be 3 different project parties planned this year! Each site will have two sessions on different 4-H projects that can be taken in Cumberland County.

PLEASE mark your calendars for these now to make sure that you will be able to attend! We will be working on projects that can be shown at the Miscellaneous Show!! These will be for youth of all ages! There is only a $3.00 fee for each one.

Be sure to watch next months newsletter for special details about March's Project Party!

Site # 1 - Register by March 31, 2008

• Saturday April 5, 2008
• 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
• Cake Decorating & Photography
• Calvary Tabernacle Church in Toledo

Site # 2 - Register by April 21, 2008

• April 26, 2008
• 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
• GPS with Cache & Electricity
• Lillyville Church Hall

Site # 3 - Register by May 5, 2008

• May 10, 2008
• 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
• Visual Arts & Natural Resources
• Neoga Municipal Building

Please call the Extension Office to register for each of these Project Parties!

On January 20, 2008, around 90 county 4-H members, parents and guests gathered at the Silver Star Skate Center in Mattoon. Amidst some bruises from falls, everyone enjoyed themselves and it was a hit!!

Thank you to all that were able to attend!

Sponsored by Clark County 4-H
Saturday, February 16, 2008
4:00 PM (doors opening at 3:00 PM)
At the Clark County University of Illinois Extension Office in Marshall, IL

New & Used Tack, Misc. Items

New Tack supplied by Ty Southerlin. Used tack consigned by Clark County 4-H members. Miscellaneous items donated by area businesses and individuals will be auctioned.

Concessions will include: Chili, BBQ, hotdogs, nachos, taco-in-a-bag, desserts & drinks.

Everyone get ready for the 2008 Show & Trail riding Season!

A silent auction & raffle will be held during the auction. You must be present to win! Proceeds go to benefit the Clark County 4-H Horse & Pony Program

Theme: "4-H, We See, We Hear, We Speak"

Saturday, March 1

• Window Display Assembling Day

Sunday, March 2

• Movie Night 6:30 p.m.Kristin & Houston Moses'

Monday, March 3

• Window Judging
• 6:30 p.m. Dance at the Stockyards in Greenup

Tuesday, March 4

• Tell your friends about 4-H day.

Wednesday, March 5

• Send your club leader a "Thank you" note for their hard work.

Thursday, March 6

• 7:00 p.m. Federation Meeting at Toledo Village Hall

Friday, March 7

• Wear your 4-H Apparel to School Day!

Saturday, March 8

• 6:30 p.m. Leaders Banquet at Town & Country in Neoga

Cumberland County clubs can apply for the Introductory Grant through ESRI. They are offering grants to clubs that will use the money to develop a program or activity that will benefit the community. If you are interested please contact the Extension Office to get more information and an application.

Applications must be completed by February 25, 2008.

Recipients of the previous GIS Grants for U.S. 4-H have agreed to meet the following provisions as part of their grant.

1. Institute or expand the use of GIS in their 4-H club activities.
2. Undertake at least one club community GIS service learning project aimed at any of the following: a local social or environmental issue, historical change, general community research, or community sustainability.
3. Participate in the ESRI Community Atlas Program.
4. Participate in GIS Day by hosting an informational event for local youth, community leaders, and the public.
5. Make at least one presentation to other 4-H clubs, youth, and leaders in their state during the grant period.

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

Mar. 1 - Club Window Display Setup
Mar. 1 - 9:00 AM Records Training at Toledo Village Hall
Mar. 2 - 6:30 PM - 4-H Movie Night at Kristin and Houston Moses'
Mar. 3 - Window Display Judging
Mar. 3 - 6:30 PM 4-H Dance at Stockyards in Greenup
Mar. 7-8 - Explore ACES at University of Illinois Campus
Mar. 8 - 6:30 PM Leaders' Banquet at Town & Country in Neoga & Northern IL Leadership Conference
Mar. 15 - Ultimate Project Challenge at Urbana
Mar. 28-29 - Multi County Livestock Camp at Fairfield Inn, Effingham

Apr. 5 - 9:00 AM Project Party at Calvary Tabernacle Church in Toledo
Apr. 12 - 8:00 AM-10:00 AM Swine Weigh-In at Cumberland Co. Fairgrounds
Apr. 12 - 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Sheep Weigh-In at Cumberland Co. Fairgrounds
Apr. 26 - 9:00 AM Project Party at Lillyville Church Hall