Illinois State Fair Junior Department Livestock entries are due in the Extension Office by June 22 for the authorized signature.

Again this year, there is a charge of $4 for parking passes purchased in advance for the State Fair. Parking passes are dated and must be used for the correct date. If purchased at the State Fair, parking will cost $7.

Gate admission passes are also available at a reduced rate if purchased in advance. Anyone age 5 -12 can purchase a pass for $1 (if purchased at the State Fair, it will cost $2). Anyone 13 and older can purchase a pass for $2 (if purchased at the State Fair, it will cost $5). Gate admission passes are good for any day of the fair, they are not dated.

The Extension Office must order these early and is required to send money with the order. If you wish to purchase any passes, please fill in the form located on the county website and return it to the Extension Office with payment no later than June 30^th.

You will be notified by phone when the passes arrive. They can either be picked up at our office before the Kankakee County Fair or out at the fairgrounds in the 4-H Forum during the fair.

4-H'ers, parents and main club leaders need to check the 4-H Club Display at the Mall on Saturday, July 25 or Sunday, July 26 to see who has been chosen as a delegate or alternate. Look for information packet with State Fair Delegate/ Alternate Form by the State Fair project. Return the completed form by Thursday, July 30 at the 4-H Forum Office at the fairgrounds or the Extension Office. Forms must be returned even if 4-H'er is not attending. If forms are not returned by July 30, Extension Staff will assume 4-H'er is not going to State Fair and the slot will be filled by an alternate.

The State 4-H Dog Show will be on Saturday, August 29 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Assistance is needed for the ring – Ring Stewards – standing for figure 8's, timing stays, etc. Approximately 12 people are needed that day. The state requests that individuals be a minimum age of 12, and must be able to stand still for periods of time. If interested, and not exhibiting, contact Superintendent Toni Frank at mafrank@wbsb.net.

This training is required to exhibit in beef, dairy, horse, sheep, swine, goats and poultry at the Illinois State Fair. It is done on-line and must be completed by June 8 for horse exhibitors and July 1 for all other livestock exhibitors. The QAEC can be found at http://qaec.extension.uiuc.edu. Exhibitors only have to do it one time. You must bring your Certification of Completion into the Extension Office for a signature.

The 2009 State Fair Premium Books have been posted on the State Fair website: http://www.illinoisstatefair.info/. Click on the photo by the premium book announcement and scroll down to the needed book/entry forms. Remember, all 4-H information is listed in the Jr. Livestock Premium book.

All entries must be signed by an Extension staff member before they are sent downstate. If you are a first-time exhibitor at the State Fair, you will need to take the state web-based Quality Assurance and Ethics Certification training.

Page 39 of the 4-H Fairbook has details about eligibility and the selection process for projects. Please read carefully so that you are informed about the process.

There will be no State Fair Information meeting this year. An informational handout will be available at the end of each judging opportunity. See Joyce Goodwin or call the Extension Office for questions.

This year at the Illinois State Fair there are County 4-H Exhibit Days. There will be conference judging for all 4-H exhibits. An individual 4-H'er may enter only one exhibit class in the 4-H Exhibit Division. Exhibit Day for Kankakee County is Sunday, August 23 unless 4-H'er has been chosen in these projects (Consumer Education, Robotics, Bicycle Rodeo, Electronics, Geospatial), then judging will be on Saturday, August 22.

State Fair premium checks are mailed to the Extension Office from the State 4-H Office shortly after the State Fair is over. We will mail them directly to the State Fair exhibitors as soon as we receive them and verify that all the information is correct.