Quality Assurance & Ethics Certification

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 9 for Horses and July 1 for all other livestock. All livestock includes Beef, Dairy, Poultry, Swine, Goats, Horses, Sheep, Rabbits and Dogs. (Rabbits and Dogs - There isn't a species category for these project categories so members are encouraged to select one of the species that is available to complete the ethics requirement). The site is up and running. Please visit at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mchenry/4hyouth483.html. Then, click on Quality Assurance and Ethics.

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 6 classes in an indoor arena along with a oral reason question.. Dress warm for the weather.

Regional Horse Bowl and Hippology Contest

Lake County will be hosting the 2009 Horse Quiz Bowl and Hippology Contest. Mark your calendar for March 28 at the University Center, 1200 University Center Drive, Grayslake.

Youth interested in attending must register with Susan Parker. This registration is good for both regional and state if all requirements are met.

Horse Weeknight Warm-Ups

WEEKNIGHT WARM-UPS

Weeknight sessions at the horse arena at the McHenry County Fairgrounds in Woodstock are offered to help riders and their horses become acquainted with the fair horse show site. 4-Hers intending to show in novice classes at the fair must attend one weeknight warm-up session in June or July 2009 WITH THEIR green-sheeted horse. These novice riders must check in with a committee member upon arrival that evening in order to receive credit for attendance. Weeknight warm-ups DO NOT count as approved clinics for 2009. Some of the sessions will have guest speakers that will offer tips on various topics.

Warmups will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 16, 23, 30 and July 7, 14 and 21. Gates open at 6 p.m.; be ready to ride at 6:30 p.m. Horses must be loaded by 8:30 p.m. and ready to leave. Cancellations due to weather may occur.

Guest speakers include:

June 16: Polly Hall, dressage

June 30: Tricia Banwort, horsemanship

July 7: Lisa Kurcharski and Emily Northup, showmanship July 14: Driving demonstration July 21: Suzanne Langan, patterns

In addition, 4-Hers can bring used tack and riding clothes for a "trunk sale" on June 23.

For information on weeknight warmups, call Joan Swanson, (815) 648-4576.

Horse Green Sheets

The McHenry County 4-H Horse Project Green Sheet packet for 2008/2009 year is now available on the Extension web site. Go to www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/mchenry

Showing Horses at the McHenry County Fair

4-H Horse project members must attend Two McHenry County 4-H Horse Committee approved clinics to be eligible to show at the 2009 4-H show at the McHenry County Fair. 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.

· Owner and Lease Agreements along with Participation forms due May 1, 2009 to the Extension Office with photos of your horse.

· Approved Horse Clinics-Horse project members must attend at least 2 horse approved clinics each year to be allowed to participate in the McHenry County 4-H Horse Show. Helmets are required for all riding classes.

Dog First Aid

The McHenry County 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 pm at the McHenry County Fairgrounds.

Dog Requirements

4-H animal exhibitors are required to complete a 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.

Sheep Weigh In

Mark your calendar for May 9 for this year's sheep weigh-in at the McHenry County Fairgrounds in the Sheep Barn.

The Illinois Southdown Sheep Breeders Association is sponsoring its 16^th annual essay contest and will be awarding a Southdown ewe lamb to the winner. The contest is open to Illinois 4-H or FFA members under the age of 16 and not currently raising Southdown sheep. The lamb, registered in the winners' name, will come from one of the quality Southdown flocks maintained in Illinois and have a $150-$250 value. The lamb will be presented to the essay winner at the Annual Illinois Southdown Experience held in Eureka, Illinois in June.

Southdowns are a popular 4-H and FFA project because of their pleasant disposition and ability to be kept on small acreage. In recent years their increased size and leanness has made them attractive to the commercial breeder. They continue to be an ideal sheep for a youth project, small farm flock or hobby. In past contests lambs have been donated by Kurt Shattuck, Keith Carson, Kenneth Clayton, Mark & Amy Johnson, Mike & Shirley McElvain, Gale Cole, Jami Meisenheimer-Bowman, Dave Fruendt, Mike Miller, the Jim Davis family and Brad & Rhonda Baer.

The essay should describe why the contestant would like a Southdown ewe lamb, future plans for the lamb and how they will care for it. Essays will be judged on their content and age appropriateness. Entries should be sent to Betsy Meisenheimer, 5734 Palmyra Rd, Palmyra, IL 62674 by May 1, 2009. Please include the entrants name, address, phone number, age and 4-H club or FFA chapter name.

Questions concerning the contest should be directed to Betsy Meisenheimer, Palmyra, IL, 217-436-2195 or meisen5@dtnspeed.net

HORSE CLINICS

All 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 at the clinic to receive credit for attending.

The remaining two clinics for 2009 are:

Natural Horsemanship clinic, 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at KarMik Acres, Crystal Lake. For directions, visit www.karmikacres.com and click on "Contact Us" for a Mapquest link.

Trail clinic, 2-5 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at Windswept Farm, 6406 Schultz Road, Harvard. Wayne Bredehorst, the judge for our trail classes at the fair, will have a trail course set up for 4-Hers and their horses. All horses must have a current negative Coggins certificate.