Each year we look for additional plaque and award sponsors for the 4-H Fair. The sponsors could be anyone - an individual, a club, an organization, a business, etc. If you know of anyone or have suggestions of sponsors, please let us know. We appreciate your help.

Congratulations to Victoria Kronenberg of the Milledgeville Hotshots for submitting the winning fair book cover entry! Second place went to Randi Marie Kleckler, Milledgeville Hotshots, whose entry will be on the back cover of the fair book.

Other entries were submitted by Alexandra Kronenberg, Nadia Bull, Rebecca Alexander, Emily Kleckler, Kathryn Kronenberg & Ethan Nash. Thank you to everyone that sent in entries. Keep up the good work!!

We are still in need of volunteers to serve as superintendents for our 4-H Fair project areas. If you have a knack for or an interest in a project area such as child care, home furnishings, any of the general projects or food, visual arts, or any of the animal area and would be willing to help out, contact the Extension Office. It's a low-key commitment with the busy time being at the 4-H Fair.

Will be done on a limited basis. Each county will be allowed optional conference judging in several areas on our assigned county exhibit day, which is Sunday, August 12. The six areas in which each county can send a conference judging 4-H member are: Clothing Decisions, Crops, Leadership, Photography, Sportsfishing and two classes in Visual arts - Fiber & Paper.

The State 4-H Dog Show is scheduled for Saturday, August 25.

The swine show is a terminal show. Any 4-H'er planning on showing swine at the Illinois State Fair must be PQA III certified for the 2007 Fair.

All youth must be certified every year instead of every two years.

The 2007 job descriptions and work dates are in for the Illinois State Fair Jr. Department. For job descriptions and work dates please contact the Extension Office.

Food Skill-a-thons will be done in the following areas: Let's Start Cooking, You Learn To Bake, Dairy Foods, Sports Nutrition, S'Mores & More: 4-H Outdoor Cooking, Fruits & Vegetables.

New exhibits have been announced in the following project areas: Service Learning (Individual); Que' Rico! (included with Intercultural exhibits); new Health projects; Consumer Savvy; Be the E!; Microwave Magic A-D; Communications

The following exhibit classes have been deleted: old Health classes; Walk In My Shoes (Club); Building Healthy Lifestyles; The Wonderful World of Microwave; Master of Ceremonies; Leather; Theater Arts (Club); Model Aircraft; Earth Trek: Soil Conservation

Club/Group Action Presentations will again be offered. Applications are available on the 4-H website at www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/annual006.html Applications are due April 16.

the State Fair is seeking 4-H clubs of all sizes to help promote 4-H and it's educational programs at the State Fair. Clubs are needed to spend one or more days at the Fair teaching the general public skills they learned through 4-H. Clubs accepted for this opportunity will receive a $100/day premium, providing they meet required presentation criteria. Presentation times are available Friday, August 10 through Sunday, August 19. For an application and more details check with the Extension Office or the 4-H website at: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/07fair/07ActionPresent.doc. Applications must be submitted through the Extension Office and are due in the State 4-H Office by May 1.

The State Fair is seeking 4-H clubs of all sizes to help promote 4-H and it's educational programs at the State Fair. Clubs are needed to spend one or more days at the Fair teaching the general public skills they learned through 4-H. Clubs accepted for this opportunity will receive a $100/day premium, providing they meet required presentation criteria. Presentation times are available Friday, August 10 through Sunday, August 19. For an application and more details check with the Extension Office or the 4-H website at: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu/events/07fair/07ActionPresent.doc. Applications must be submitted through the Extension Office and are due in the State 4-H Office by May 1.

All 4-H'ers have the opportunity to submit an audition tape to the State 4-H Office to be considered for the Performance Showcase at State Fair. The Showcase is an invitational Variety Show that is held in the Illinois Building.

Act ideas are: dance, theatrical, vocal, instrumental, jazz dance, ballet, clogging, baton, acrobatics, monologues, skits, puppets, magic. They may be individual or group. Individuals must be 10 years old (4-H age). For more information contact the office. Deadline for submission is May 15 to the State Office.

If you are 10 years old, 4-H age and planning to show at State Fair in livestock or horses you need to complete the ethics certification if you have not already done so. The website is http://qaec.extension.uiuc.edu/ If you have questions, call the office.