Dates to Remember:

July 11^th Piatt County 4-H General Show Forest Preserve Park, Show starts at 9:00 a.m.

July 12^th 4-H Foundation BBQ, First Christian Church 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

July 14^th Piatt County Nursing Home Federation Exhibition 2:00 p.m.

July 15^th Federation Meeting Extension Office 6:00 p.m.

July 15^th Deadline for State Fair Entries, Extension Office 4:30 p.m.

July 17^th Pool Party at the Monticello City Pool 7:30-9:30 p.m.

July 22 – 27^th State Jr. Horse Show, Springfield.

July 24^th Champaign/Piatt County Eastern Prairie 4-H Livestock Show, Champaign Fairgrounds Check in 7:30 a.m., Show begins at 8:30 a.m.

August 5^th Federation End of the Year Trip to Bloomington.

August 8^th – 17^th Illinois State Fair, Springfield.

August 10^th and August 15^th Piatt County Day's at the State Fair.

August 16^th 4-H Foundation Cook Out at County Market 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

August 19^th Federation Meeting, Extension Office 6:00 p.m.

Rabbit and Poultry Show Huge Success

We had a perfect day for the Show. There were a total of 24 Piatt County Rabbit entries. Great job 4-Hers! We would like to thank our volunteers Vicky Foster, Renee Brown, Karen Neumann and Carolyn Kleven. We couldn't have done it without you! A special shout out to Cindy Foster for her help as well.

Now it is your time to Shine like the Stars you are. The 4-H General Show is held once again at the Forest Preserve Park, Friday July 11^th. 4-Hers are to check in their projects at 8:00 a.m. for the morning show and at 12:00 p.m. for the afternoon show. Lunch stand will be available. From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Come one Come all to the 4-H Foundation Annual Barbeque at the First Christian Church in Monticello, Saturday, July 12^th. Dinner will be served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available for the leaders to pick up at the office and will also be sold at the door. Please encourage friends and family to come join the fun. This is a vital fundraiser for the Foundation to help support our 4-H program outreach and more! Sell 10 or more BBQ tickets and earn 1 Federation Point.

Sangamon Valley Clovers –Baking potatoes at the Monticello Methodist Church, (TBA)

Rus' Wranglers and 4-H Bement Wildcats – Set up at First Christian Church (3:30-4:30 p.m.)

Hammond 4-H Clover Kids and The Catalyst Kids –Serving Shift #1 (4:00 to 5:15 p.m.)

Prairie Kids and Range Riders – Serving Shift #2 (5:15 to 6:45 p.m.)

D-W Daring Dragons – Clean up (6:45)

A Federation point for working your club shift.

Bring your 4-H project to the Piatt County Nursing Home on Tuesday July 14, at 2:00 p.m. to show off your hard work. This is a Federation point opportunity.

State Fair entries are due at the Extension Office by 4:30 on July 15^th. See below for information on policy and project changes.

4-H State Policy and Project Changes

A major change at the state level will provide members the conference judging experience at the State Fair. If you are chosen at the county level to show your project at the Illinois State Fair, you will take your project to the fair, speak face to face with a judge, and bring your project home the same day after the release time. With these changes comes a little different process in the judging schedules.

If you are chosen to go to the State Fair with Public Speaking, Fashion Revue, or Demonstrations you will go Friday, August 8. All other exhibits (excluding livestock) will be judged on Piatt County's Dates August 10 & 15.

You will be able to order gate passes and admission tickets from the Extension Office after the county fair, but parking will be at a premium with all of the activities at the fair these days. The Illinois State 4-H revised their policies for show at the recommendations and suggestions from county staff, members and volunteers. Those of you who voiced your opinions were important to the changes made at the state level.

Another change this year…there will be no skill-a-thons. All of the food projects will have a display for the State Fair. Whatever you prepare for the county show will be the product taken to the State Fair.

You will also notice a change in the foods project books. You Learn to Bake, Tricks for Treats I and II, and Let's Start Cooking have all been replaced with 4-H Cooking 101.

The recipes for all food projects must be included with the display. The recipes should come from the project manuals; the only exceptions are Breads and Cereals, and Fruits and Vegetables.

There are new projects to consider this year. Geospatial, Robotics, and Tractor projects all have a new look and requirements. Floriculture is another new project which allows members to create varying floral arrangements using dried and fresh flowers and plants. Plant and Soil Sciences also have a new book with varying activities. Photography project books are new and exhibition requirements are a little different than in the past and includes an opportunity to enter an exhibit in Photo.

County requirements will follow state exhibition requirements and the appropriate changes will be made in the Piatt County Fair Book to be distributed early April.

Splash!!! Federation Pool Party is on Thursday, July 17^th at the City Pool. Call the Extension Office to sign up. A Federation point.

Hammond 4-H Clover Kids bring lemonade.

Prairie Kids, D-W Daring Dragons, Range Riders bring something sweet.

The Catalyst Club, Sangamon Valley Clovers, Rus' Wranglers bring something salty.

The 4-H Bement Wildcats bring cups and napkins.

Eastern Prairie Livestock show will be July 24^th at the Champaign Fairgrounds. This is a combined show with Piatt and Champaign Counties. Check in is at 7:30 a.m. at the Champaign Fairgrounds.

The Federation Trip to the Children's Discovery Museum and Grady's Family Fun Park in Bloomington-Normal will be

Tuesday, August 5^th. The cost will be $10.00 per 4-Her/Cloverbud and their Chaperone. All Cloverbuds need a Chaperone and everyone needs to bring a sack lunch. Monika Hammerschmidt and Doug Gucker or Laura McCleary will be your chaperones for the day. Call the office at 217-762-2191 if you have any questions or concerns. An organizational meeting will be scheduled after Federation Points are tallied.

The 2008 Illinois State Fair, August 8^th – 17^th. The theme this year is "A Family Tradition". Premium books are now available online at http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/premium/ Piatt County Day's are August 10^th and the 15^th at the Fair in Springfield, IL.

-Cynthia Foster of Sangamon Valley Clovers won Best of Show-

-Savannah Lubbers of Sangamon Valley Clovers won Best Light Weight Breed-

-Cynthia Foster of Sangamon Valley Clovers won Best Heavy Weight Breed-

-Madeleine Brown of Hammond 4-H Clover Kids won Junior Showmanship-

Other winners

Andrea McCollum

Isabelle Rund

Lauren Smith

Liberty Wikoff

Paul (Gabe) Wikoff

Congratulation to all! Great Show Everyone!

4-H Foundation County Market Cookout Fundraiser

Saturday, August 16, 2008

9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Shift 1- 9:30 to 10:30

Shift 2 -10:30 to 11:30

Shift 3 -11:30 to 12:30

Shift 4 -12:30 to 1:30

Shift 5 -1:30 to 2:30

We need one adult and four 4-Hers per shift.

1 Federation point will be earned for the upcoming 2008-09 4-H Year!

Call 217-762-2191 to sign up for a shift.