DOG ORIENTATION & REGISTRATION

You won't want to miss the Dog Obedience and Showmanship Orientation on Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 a.m. in the Auditorium at the Extension Office . Youth and parents will have the opportunity to meet the 4-H Dog Committee and learn what is expected of a 4-H member showing a dog at this year's McHenry County Fair. Dog packets will be available at this meeting and you will have a chance to sign up for obedience classes if proof of shots are available that day.

Doggone Safe will also be presented. This is a program which teaches youth how to be safe around dogs. We will also be introducing "Rally-O," a new class which is a non State Fair Class.

Youth are required to attend two dog clinics in order to show at the McHenry County Fair, This event will count as one committee approved clinic.

Dog First Aid

The 4-H Dog Committee will host a dog first aid class. You will learn what supplies are needed in a first aid kit for dogs and how to use the kit. This clinic will be taught on Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m. at the McHenry County Fairgrounds

DOG REQUIRMENTS

4-H Youth who are planning to show a dog at the McHenry County 4-H Fun Match or 4-H Show for the 2009 Fair must attend two approved clinics by the McHenry County 4-H Dog Committee. 4-H members are responsible to sign in on the official sign-in sheet and must stay at the clinic to receive credit for attending.

Beef Weigh-In

All beef animals and market heifers to be shown in the McHenry County 4-H show must weigh-in and receive a tattoo. If you are planning to take an animal to the Illinois State Fair you will also have an electronic ear tag put in their ear.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 7, 2009 at the McHenry County Fairgrounds in the beef area. Inclement weather date will be February 14. You will receive a letter in January stating your club's arrival time.

Watch your mail in January for a schedule of the club times for arrival. Help is always needed the Sunday before and the day of the event. If you could give a few hours please contact Frank Kearns to volunteer at 847-669-5704.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ETHICS

4-H animal exhibitors are required to complete an ethics training on line in order to show at the McHenry County Fair and the Illinois State Fair. Those who have previously taken the QAEC training are maintained on the approved list and will not need to be re-certified.

4-H and FFA members requiring Quality Assurance and Ethics certification will have the opportunity to complete this exhibit requirement after February 1 until June 1 for Horses and July 1 for all other livestock. You may participate in this training by visiting http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/qaec/.

PROJECT DAY

The planning committee has met and has created an outstanding program for this years Project Day. Youth will see many new areas along with some updated programs from the past. Letters will be mailed out at the end of January with all the details. Registration will be done on line. Mark your calendar now for March 7 at 9:00 a.m. at the McHenry County Fairgrounds.

McHenry County Animal Possession Deadlines

4-H livestock and other animal exhibitors must have owned and personally cared for their project from the latest starting date for the project listed below and enrollment deadline in order to show at the 2009 McHenry County 4-H Show.

Beef, Performance/Dairy Cow

Possession January 1, 2009

Enrollment December 18, 2008

Goats, Milking Doe

Possession January 1, 2009

Enrollment December 18, 2008

Beef, Steer

Possession January 1, 2009

Enrollment December 18, 2008

Horse/Pony, Goats, Meat, Kids & Yearling

Possession May 1, 2009

Enrollment April 1, 2009

Poultry, Rabbits

Possession May 1, 2009

Enrollment April 1, 2009

Sheep, Wethers

Possession May 15, 2009

Enrollment April 1, 2009

Beef, Heifers-Dairy Calves

Possession June 1, 2009

Enrollment April 1, 2009

Swine, Barrows, Breeding, Gilts

Possession June 1, 2009

Enrollment April 1, 2009

Sheep, Breeding, Ewes & Lambs

Possession June 1, 2009

Enrollment April 1, 2009

Dogs

Possession April 1, 2009

Enrollment April 1, 2009

Small Pets and Cats

Possession June 1, 2009

Horse Project Requirement

4-H horse project members must attend TWO McHenry County 4-H Horse Committee approved clinics to be eligible to show in the 2009 4-H horse show at the county fair. You must sign the official signup sheet and stay for the entire clinic to receive credit the clinic.

Horse Project Orientation Meeting

The first clinic of the year will be held on Tuesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. at the Hooved Animal Humane Society, 10714 McConnell Road in Woodstock. All 4-H Horse Project members should attend this meeting to receive information and green sheets - the official horse registration form for the 2009 horse show). You will also meet the 4-H Committee

members and learn about upcoming clinics and other horse events for 2009.

This is a committee-approved clinic.

Hippology Contest

The Horse Committee will host the McHenry County Hippology Contest on Saturday, February 21 from 1-3 p.m. at the Extension Office. This event tests knowledge of horses including breeds, color, anatomy, nutrition, diseases, tack and much more. Participants will take a short written test and complete questions at different stations.

Youth may study for this event by using their project manuals, the national web site, Horses & Horsemanship and Horse Science.

Youth will have the opportunity to participate in the regional contest in March to represent McHenry County at the State Contest in April.

This is a committee approved clinic.

Regional Horse Judging Contest

McHenry County will host this year's Regional Horse Judging Contest on Saturday, March 14 at the Fox Valley Saddle Club, 44W300 Rohrsen Road, Hampshire. 4-H members will have the opportunity to judge six classes in an indoor arena with a heated clubhouse attached. For information, call Sandy Kucharski, (815)568-6772.

This is a committee-approved clinic.

Regional Horse Bowl and Hippology Contest

The annual Regional Horse Bowl and Hippology Contest will be hosted by Lake County on Saturday, March 28th in Lake County. Further information will be coming.

This is a committee approved clinic.

Pork Quality Assurance - Febraury 11

In order to show or sell at the McHenry County Fair and the Illinois State Fair, youth are required to attend a Youth Pork Quality Assurance training each year. Please mark your calendar now for this years training seesion - Wednesday, February 11, 7 pm, Bldg. D at the McHenry County Fairgrounds.

Since budget cuts have taken place for the 2008/2009 program year there will be a nominal fee for this training seesion to cover travel expenses for the featured educator.

Cost at the door will be $2.00 per member or $5.00 for a family of 3 or more. Please make checks payable to McHenry County Extension.

In order to show or sell at the McHenry County Fair and Illinois State Faur, youth must attend a YOuth Pork Quality Assurance Training each year.

Mark your calendar now for Wednesday, February 11 at 7 pm at the McHenry County Fairgrounds, Building D.

Since we are experiencing budget cuts for 2008/09, we will be collecting $2.00 per member or $5.00 for a family of 3 or more. Cash or checks will be accepted.