The 4-H Fair Evaluation will be held August 9^th from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Farm Bureau Building Auditorium. Joys and concerns from the 2007 fair may be shared at this time. Additionally, the 2008 department and overall superintendents and assistants will be elected. New committee members and guests will be welcome! This committee meets 3 times per year.

Animal Department set-up is scheduled for Monday evening, July 30^th. 4-Hers interested in assisting with set-up of a particular area should contact the appropriate superintendent to confirm when the committee plans to be at the fairgrounds. 4-H Fair committees are not required to set-up the evening of July 30^th, though many will.

The Officials for the 2007 4-H Fair Departments are:

Beef – Tom Patterson, 946-2011

Cat – Pam Floto, 734-4959

Dairy – Tom Snodgrass, 734-4307

Dog – Rita Dauphin, 946-2195

Meat/Dairy Goat – Linda Burr, 734-7298

Pygmy Goat – Cheryl Price, 734-6711

Horse – Pam Wright, 732-2548

Quality Meats – Dan Deuth, 946-3234

Rabbit/Poultry – Earl Hagemeyer, 393-4523

Sheep – Terry Reeverts, 234-2343

Swine – Pat O'Brien, 946-3301

Clothing – Marta Poppen, 938-3452

Food – Thelma Meeks, 938-2323

Exhibit Building – Rosemary Hall, 393-4203

If you are enrolled in a 4-H project that gets judged in the Exhibit Building, you've got a neat experience ahead! You will have the opportunity to participate in "conference judging." This unique type of judging gives you the chance to talk with the judge so he/she can find out what you've learned! The judge considers what you've told him/her when assigning your rating ribbon and choosing champions! Here are some things to remember as you prepare:

Ø Your exhibit offers a display of what you are capable of doing.

Ø The judges will be looking for positive learning. Tell them about your exhibit and other things you have done and learned in your project this year.

Ø The judge will be evaluating your exhibit and what you've learned – not YOU as a person. Your project will be evaluated against the blue ribbon standard. You won't be competing with others for your blue, red, or white rating ribbon. Competition is only involved when the champion, reserve champion, and state fair winners are selected. Your first biggest competitor is YOU!

Ø Read the rules and guidelines in your fair book. Be certain you've followed the established rules for the class you've entered.

Questions the judge may ask you...

Ø Did you enjoy working on this project? Why?

Ø What was the easiest (or hardest) thing you did?

Ø Why did you choose this exhibit?

Ø Who assisted you with this project?

Ø Tell me about the kinds of materials you used.

Ø How did you do the exhibit?

Ø What part of the exhibit do you feel you could improve? Why?

Ø

If you prepare a neat and creative exhibit, you're ready to tell the judges lots, and you've followed the rules in your fair book, you have nothing to worry about. Conference judging will be a fun learning experience for you!

Cloverbuds judging will be done conference-style as it is with the older members. However, unlike judging in other areas, the Cloverbuds will not be competing with each other. Everyone will receive the same fabulous participation rosette! So, judging is more like a show-and-tell opportunity to prepare for the judging procedures that happen down the road.

Cloverbud judging will be on Saturday, August 4^th from 9 - 11 a.m. A special Cloverbud Party will be held from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. that day. Refer to the Cloverbud Party info in this newsletter for details. We'd like to see lots of Cloverbud families at the party.

The 4-H Federation is once again hosting a Children's Farm during fair week. If you have animals you would like to share with others, please contact the Children's Farm Supervisor Mary Beth Overmyer at 815-234-2360 or email her at: moes1182@hotmail.com. Animals must follow exhibition health requirements as printed in the 4-H fair book. Animals will be placed on a first call, first reserve basis.

Children's Farm animals should be checked in between 5 p.m. on July 31 (Tues.) and 3 p.m. on August 1 (Wed.). They must be checked out from 9-9:15 p.m. on August 4 (Sat.).

Animal exhibitors are required to wear special "show numbers" while exhibiting their animals. Show numbers will be distributed at the rate of one per exhibitor. Exhibitors will need to keep their numbers for any and all of the animal shows they are registered for.

Show numbers may be picked up in the 4-H Office on the south side of the fairgrounds (next to the horse arena) beginning at 3 p.m. on July 30 (Mon.). Exhibitors showing in ONLY Dogs and/or horses can pick up their show numbers the day of the show. Animal exhibitors who are participating ONLY in the Cat Show will not need to pick up show numbers.

When you're completely done exhibiting animals, please return your show numbers for recycling in the appropriately marked container at the exhibit building information center or drop them off back at the green 4-H Fair Office.

If you win a bond at the Ogle County 4-H Fair this year and you did not put your social security number on your fair entry form, you will need to contact Cathy at the Extension Office. Otherwise you just need to be patient. We will pull together the list after the fair, and have the bonds ordered. Just be aware it does take a little time. If you think you should be receiving a bond and have not received it by the end of October, call the Extension office and we will check on it for you.

The fair is like many other events we participate in... we spend a lot of time preparing for it, and participating in it. Then, we are ready to relax when it's over. Unfortunately, there is a need to do some serious clean-up afterwards.

Adults and older 4-H members (junior high and high school age) are encouraged to help with fair clean-up at the fairgrounds on August 6. Tasks to be accomplished that day will include: cleaning out the barns, sweeping the exhibit building, taking down stalls, cleaning under the grandstands, cleaning the shelter, washing picnic tables, collecting and washing garbage barrels. For clean–up day, you can just show up. No pre-registration is necessary.

This is not a suitable service opportunity for younger children. There will be a lot of moving machinery and traffic making the environment somewhat dangerous.