I'm back!! After spending one and a half years completing my Masters degree, I have returned to the Jo Daviess County office. I am excited to be back in the county, and am looking forward to a new 4-H year that has just started.

However, with a new 4-H year comes some new challenges, and there is one in particular I feel should be addressed starting off this newsletter. As you may or may not be aware, at the Stephenson County fairboard's July meeting, they decided to move their county fair to July 13-19, 2009. This leaves us with a very interesting situation, as this has typically been the week of the Jo Daviess County 4-H Fair and the Elizabeth Community Fair. Because of issues with entertainment being unable to move for this year, the Elizabeth Community fairboard decided to stay with their fair on July 17-19, 2009.

We are in the process of going through several possible options of fair dates and the impact these would have on 4-Hers, 4-H families, and the 4-H program as a whole.

Sept/Oct 2008 Issue

We are asking for active participation in the discussions of these options. The leaders have received these options in the mail recently, and hopefully they will be discussing these with you and allowing you to have your questions, concerns, comments, and opinions be made known. Please talk to your leaders and your Federation delegates as to what those comments are, and they will be brought back to the next Federation meeting on October 6.

Please be active in this process so everyone has their chance to be heard. Remember, this is YOUR 4-H Fair!!

Aside from this topic, there are also several events coming up, and much planning is ongoing for additional activities by the Federation and the Extension Office. Please read your newsletter and check the website to keep up with the activities and events in this county.

With everyone's help, we will continue to make this program one of the best in the state of Illinois!

- Peter Morhardt

September 1 is the date for determining eligible ages to enroll in 4-H.

To be eligible the youth must be 8 years old or in 3^rd grade by Sept. 1, 2008 and no older than 18.

Cloverbuds must be 5 years old by September 1, 2008

October

4 – State-to-State Fundraiser

9:00 am (Note Date/Time Change!)

5-11 – National 4-H Week!!

6 – 4-H Federation Meeting 7:00

Elizabeth Community Building

9 – Window Display Judging

18 – TENTATIVE Date for Federation Haunted House Trip

26 – Achievement Program 2:00 p.m.

Elizabeth Community Building

November

6 – Officer Training Workshop, 6:30

February

21-22 – Illinois 4-H Junior Leadership Conference

Achievement Program:

Once again Federation needs your help the afternoon of the Achievement Program.

They are in need of:

2 4-H'ers to lead the pledge

3 dozen cookies or bars from each club

4-H'ers to help serve the cookies and punch

Remember, each of these are very important, and can be an item to add to next year's records!! Please call the office and let me know if any 4-H'ers want to help.

The theme for National 4-H Week is "Keeping it Green" which shows how 4-H is bridging old and new ideas to teach youth environmental stewardship and connect youth to science-related issues. The green theme also showcases 4-H pride and is a direct connection to our well known brand emblem.

Consider getting involved by planning an environmental-themed club activity for this week: use GIS or paper maps to locate natural resources in your community, participate in the 4-H National Science Experiment on water conservation, encourage youth to share their knowledge with others by teaching the importance of caring for our environment, or organize a trash pickup or recycling day in your community.

Additionally, window display judging will be held on Thursday, October 9th. The window displays should stick to the theme. Federation is sponsoring cash prizes to the clubs that participate.

As part of National 4-H Week, youth from across the country are invited to participate in the first ever 4-H National Science Experiment Day on October 8. In the experiment "Helpful Hydrogels", youth will examine the properties of water-absorbing polymers, which are long chains of molecules that can be used in environmental applications such as agriculture, erosion control, soil management, and environmental clean-ups. Youth of all ages will test the effectiveness of polymers in an easy-to-administer soil and water experiment and then post their findings online to engage in dialogue with fellow youth nationwide. Information about the experiment and how to share results with others can be found at www.4-H.org. Additional interactive activities will be available online during National 4-H Week. This will be the springboard for the new 4-H public service campaign "One Million New Scientists. One Million New Ideas.™"

The VALUED Volunteer Program is expanding again this year. New and less tenured volunteers who are interested in the orientation program should contact their local Extension office to enroll by Sept. 30. The six one-hour orientation modules are offered through face-to-face meetings, teleconference sessions, and web-based or self-study sessions. Participants are asked to complete evaluation forms for each module. Recognition is provided for those leaders who complete all six modules during the 4-H year. Topics include volunteer roles in 4-H, club organization, club program planning, and communications within the 4-H club, positive youth development, and experiential learning. New and experienced volunteers are welcome to enroll.

4-H leaders will be passing out the Illinois Clover to your family soon. Re-enrollment and enrollment for new members will be taking place at your next club meeting. Be sure to attend or contact your leader to get these re-enrollment materials. Please take note of the following dates:

Re-enrollment date for existing 4-H members is January 1, 2009

New member Enrollment is April 1, 2009

Some times it's hard to decide which projects to take. There are more than 200 to choose from.

When choosing your projects consider:

• Choose a topic that interests you.
• Some projects have different levels. Choose the level that best fits your knowledge of that subject. Choose 1 if you don't know very much about the subject. Choose 3 if you know a little, but want to learn more.
• Take projects that are recommended for your age.
• You can take animal projects even if you don't own an animal.
• Talk to other 4-H members to find out more about some projects.
• Check out the Illinois Clover. It will give you a general idea of what the project book covers.

There are SEVERAL extra 4-H folders, calendars, and IL Clovers from the 2007-2008 4-H Year. If anyone wants an extra one/couple, feel free to stop by the office and pick them up, otherwise they will be thrown out. They work great for records!

When? Sunday, October 26^th

Starting at 2:00 p.m.

Where? Elizabeth Community Building

What? To recognize all your hard work this year during 4-H

and at the fair.

Awards will be given for:

Cloverbuds 1^st Year Members

Jr. Leaders 4-H Fair County Awards

Records Awards Standards of Excellence Awards

Club Awards 4-H Congress Recipients

"I Dare You" Award Outstanding 4-H'er Award

Completion Members 4-H Club of the Year

An Event the Whole Family Will Enjoy!

Thursday, November 6,2008 6:30 p.m.

Naaman Diehl Auditorium, Mt. Carroll

This evening will be open to ALL 4-Hers, whether you are an officer or just want to learn more about an office!

More information will be coming in the November newsletter, so please watch for it!!

Every year there are new people that join

4-H. More than likely one of them will be in your club. Make sure you take the time at your next club meeting to introduce yourself to those new club members. They may have some questions you will be able to answer.

The Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) and their Affiliate Companies offer a wonderful opportunity for 4-H members ages 17 and above to be recognized for their involvement in the 4-H program. The 4-H Premier LCP Award provides several levels of recognition to applicants. Each county may submit two entries. Ten 4-H members with the highest cumulative point totals receive state recognition at the Illini Summer Academies and ten 4-H members receive the opportunity to attend the IFB Premier 20 Leadership Conference in April.

Applications are now available through the Extension office. Applicants must be 4-H members who are at least 17 years of age by December 1, 2008. Applications will be due by December 1, 2008 to the Extension office.

There is a project from this year's 4-H fair that is still at the office unclaimed. It is a picture of a cardinal in a tree, in a black frame. If this is your project, please stop by the office and pick it up.

There is still time to sign up for the State-to-State trip with Colorado. The dates we will be hosting youth from Colorado are June 24-July 1, 2009. We will be going to Colorado in 2010, possibly in late June or early July. The next fundraiser/meeting is on October 4 at 9:00 a.m. at Blackwater Training Facility. If you are interested in joining in this wonderful opportunity, please contact the Extension office immediately!!

Any 7th or 8th graders interested in attending this conference, please reserve February 21-22, 2009. More information will be in the November newsletter.

The Federation inducted the new officers. They had a discussion on when the best time would be for the 4-H Fair keeping in mind the FFA Fair and the Elizabeth Fair situations. This discussion was conducted in a calm manner with the pros and cons discussed in an open forum. If you have any thoughts, ideas, or concerns, please talk to your leaders so that we can make a decision based off of everyone's concerns instead of just a few peoples' thoughts. The fair date is not final so far, so please share your ideas with your fellow 4-H members and/or others. The Constitution committee will meet on September 14 to see if changes need to be made. October Federation meeting is on the 6th, and the refreshments will be provided by the Shooting Stars 4-H Club.

- Valerie Girot

Austin Wachter called meeting to order at 7:00 at Thorsen's Pond. Pledges were lead by Rhett Geisz and Garrison Trueblood. Corey Wachter gave roll call and the secretary's report. Motion by Lauren Haas was made and 2^nd by Jamie Nobis. Treasurer's report was the same. There was one bill that had to be paid. Bill was voted on and passed. The fair board thanked us for the restrooms improvements. There were many compliments. Thank you to Carl Albrecht for building the loft.

Old business- fair

New business- the camp-out will be Labor Day weekend

- Records are due sooooooooooon!

- State fair changes

Talks- Garrison on air space

Spot light on you by Codie Geisz

Meeting dismissed, we went swimming some more.

The next meeting is the Camp out more information will be coming out soon.

- Codie Geisz