Adults and junior 4-H leaders interested in assisting with 4-H show plans should contact the Extension Office. The next 4-H Fair Committee meeting has been set for:

Fair Planning Meeting – January 15

Farm Bureau Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Snow date: January 17.

Carroll County 4-H is inviting everyone to a multi-county dance. It will be held January 19, 2008 from 7-10 p.m. at the Naaman Diehl Auditorium in Mt. Carroll. The cost to attend will be a nonperishable food item(s) or a new baby item for the food pantry and a "Baby Item Drive." The theme is "Winter Wonderland." Get ready to dance the night away!

The Ogle County Fair Association is once again offering 4-H families the opportunity to earn special events passes for the Ogle County Fair by assisting at work days at the fairgrounds.

Workdays are set for: April 26, May 17, June 28, and July 19. Work days run from 9 a.m. to noon. Pre-registration is required by the Thursday before each date. Jobs are tailored to the ages and abilities of those participating. Check-in at the Fair Office upon arrival. Call the Extension office, 815-732-2191, to register.

Participate in as many of the workdays as you'd like. Participate in one; you'll earn a pass into one special event. Participate in two, and you'll earn passes for two special events. Participate in three of the four dates, and you'll earn passes good for all of the special events at the fair. Work every time – earn a VIP pass for the fair.

Each year, the 4-H Federation coordinates a county-wide Pizza Day fundraiser to generate funds to support county activities, cover club insurance, pay for camp and leadership scholarships, and most importantly provide for a $3000 grant to Extension to help with staffing, office supplies, program costs, promotion, etc.

Because dues are not required and fees for programs are kept at a minimum, 4-H families are asked to participate in this fundraiser as a way of supporting the overall organization and its future. Without your efforts, programs will cease to exist and clubs and members will be asked to start picking up more costs than ever before.

Pizza Day 2008 is February 9^th. While we have opted to work with the same company as in previous years – Chicago Pizza Works–we are offering a number of new products to choose from. They include Italian meatballs; calzones; deep dish, single-serving microwave, and stuffed pizzas; along with the usual thin crust pizzas. The deep dish and microwave pizzas are made by Chicago's famous Gino's East Pizza chain.

On Pizza Day, club pizza pick-up is scheduled for 9:00-9:30 a.m. in the Farm Bureau Auditorium. One person from your club will come and pick up the club order. They will then take the pizzas back to your club pick-up point. Check with your club pizza coordinator for place and time for your pizza pick up.

The family sales goal for this year is 15 items. Families who reach this goal will be entered into a drawing for a $25 cash prize. The three top-selling families will also receive $25 each.

Clubs will receive club competition points for their efforts in decreasing value based on profits generated. In addition, 35% of the profit generated by member sales will be given back to the local 4-H club.

4-Hers who plan to exhibit market heifers, steers, and carcass animals at the 2008 4-H Fair must have their animals weighed and tattooed on Saturday morning, February 9^th! Weigh-in will take place at the Ogle County Fairgrounds between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Please arrive early! Weigh-in ends at 9:30 a.m. If weather conditions are questionable, listen to WRHL radio station (AM 1060, FM 102.3) to see if the event has been cancelled. The snow date will be Saturday, February 16^th.

Upon arrival, please enter the north gate (which says "enter"). Stay straight. This will be the waiting line. The scale is located in the west end of the swine barn.

Call the 4-H Beef Superintendent, Brian Strite, 815-234-5989, if you have questions. Call Bill Lindenmier at 815/757-2981 if you have questions the morning of weigh-in.

The 2008 4-H Penny Carnival is set for March 8th, 5-8 p.m. at the Oregon Coliseum. This 4-H fun fair allows club members to work together to create original games that are shared with other 4-H families throughout the county. This year we will have the theme: "Down on the Farm". Clubs have opportunities to win cash awards in two categories: Most Entertaining and Most Creative. There may be two booths chosen in each category. Additionally, a cash door prize will be given to one 4-H club each hour.

The 2008 4-H Bowling Tournament is scheduled for February 23^rd and 24^th for Rochelle and Mt. Morris and March 1^st and 2^nd for Polo. 4-H club teams must consist of three individuals each, with at least two of the three being current Ogle County 4-Hers. Two bowling divisions will exist: Junior (ages 5-13 as of 9/1/07) and Senior (ages 14 and older as of 9/1/07). Club contact leaders have the complete tournament rules. Tournament participants will bowl two games. Cost for bowling will be $6 except at Polo Bowl where it will be $5. Bumper bowling is open to youth ages 5-8 by 9/1/07. Cost for shoes and one game is $3 at all houses except at Polo where it will be $2.75. All bowlers are asked to pay the 4-H House Coordinator at the door.

Registration forms are due in the Extension Office by 4:30 p.m. on February 8th. Contact your club leader to sign up.

4-H Camp '08 is set for June 9-13 at Camp White Eagle in Leaf River. This week of camp is open to all youth, ages 8-15, by the start of camp. The week is co-sponsored by Stephenson, Ogle, and Lee Counties. 4-H membership is not required.

Camp week will run from Monday to Friday this year and will feature all of the zany fun and adventure that a kid can handle. Be ready for rock climbing, archery, swimming, river walks, nature studies, arts and crafts, games, hiking, and crate stacking challenges that the camp staff can dish out. ...And anticipate fantastic counselor-planned evening activities, too!

Camp applications are now available. Previous camp families should have received applications by mail. New camp families may obtain theirs from the Extension office, on the Ogle County Extension website, or from club leaders. Camp spots are limited, so register early to insure that you'll get in! Plus, the sooner you sign-up, the cheaper camp is!

4-H Camp Counselor applications are being accepted at the Extension office until January 4^th at 4:30 p.m. Counselors must be 15-21 years of age by the start of camp. Applications and information are available on the website at www.extension.uiuc.edu/ogle.

If you are interested in the mysterious lives of butterflies and you'd like to share these mysteries with the 4-Hers (and Cloverbuds) in your local club, this workshop is for you! Come "Discover Butterflies" during a hands-on workshop on January 19 from 12:30-1:25 p.m. at the Jarrett Center in Byron. The workshop will be led by Debbie Moser and will feature activities included in the new 4-H curriculum: Scientific Inquiry With Butterflies." Cost for the workshop is $2.50 per participant. A minimum of 5 people are required for the class to be held. Register by calling the Extension office at 732-2191 or by emailing canders3@uiuc.edu by January 11th at 4:30 p.m.

This year's conference will be held March 8-9 at the Holiday Inn in Rockford, IL.

Attend to have an adventurous time and meet fellow 4-H treasure seekers from other counties. It's destined to be an action-packed expedition. This year's planning committee has foraged up fun activities, an anchor dropping speaker, not to mention the first class leadership workshops we have planned for you. This conference is open to Illinois 4-H'ers, 13 years and older. If you'd like to plunder this treasure filled event, or would like more information, please call the Extension office today. Registration must be postmarked by January 25^th. The workshops are first-come, first-serve, so pick up your brochure today!!!

The Illinois 4-H Jr. Leadership Conference is open to 4-H members in the 7^th and 8^th grades The conference will bring together young teens from across the state to have some fun, share experiences, and learn the basics of being a leader. This year's theme will be Green Means Go!

The conference is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, February 23-24, 2008 in Urbana. Youth will stay at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Urbana, attend workshops, meet new friends, and enjoy an outstanding speaker and great entertainment. Delegates will learn skills and information that can be shared with their clubs, county groups, and others when then return home.

Registration forms are available at the Extension Office. Registrations must be turned in to the Extension office by January 11^th. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, as space is limited.

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), invites you and your family to attend ExplorACES 2008. This event, created specifically for high school and community college students, their parents and friends, will take place from 9 AM to 3 PM on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The fourth annual ExplorACES is designed to showcase the successes and opportunities of the college.

ExplorACES provides a unique opportunity for prospective students to find out about life in the College of ACES. We encourage you to explore the diverse fields of study as demonstrated through five pathways. These pathways, including genetics, nutrition, bioenergy, community development and experiential learning, serve to encompass the many cutting edge developments researched throughout the College of ACES. Investigate each of these topics while at ExplorACES to find a major related to these fields that best relates to them!

To learn more visit the ExplorACES website at www.aces.uiuc.edu/ExplorACES/.

Youth around the world join together in April performing community service projects for the 20th Annual Global Youth Service Day. Spanning three days, April 25, 26 and 27, 2008, millions of young people across the world, with the help of mentors, parents, teachers, and volunteers will address community needs through service and service-learning projects addressing climate change, education, child obesity, urban decay, and many other issues. For more information about Global Youth Service Day and how to get involved, please go to: www.YSA.org.

The world's toughest cowboys and cowgirls return to the Rockford MetroCentre once again for the excitingDodge World's Toughest Bulls and Broncs ProRodeo Event January 18 and 19 @ 7:30!

With the purchase of a ticket to Friday's show, 4-H Members have the opportunity to go on our 'Behind the Chutes' Tour, an exclusive opportunity to go behind the scenes and get eye-ball to eye-ball with the bulls or attend our pre-rodeo session of 'Cowboy U' a great opportunity to learn more about our world-class cowboy and animal athletes.

"Behind the Chutes' and 'Cowboy U will take place on Friday, January 18 at 6:00PM.

Contact Kathryn Wade in the MetroCentre Group Sales Department at (815)968-5600 or kwade@centreevents.com for more information, or contact the extension office for a copy of the flyer!