The Illinois 4-H Foundation has chosen Jerry Hicks as the winner of the 2009 Illinois Friend of 4-H Award. He was presented the award at the ACES College Connection on the University of Illinois Campus on November 13^th. Jerry Hicks currently serves as the Extension Partners President. For 23 years his guidance and leadership enhanced the lives of 4-H youth as a club leader in Hare Raisers 4-H and as a member of Extension Council. Many 4-H members and leaders know Jerry for his passionate leadership in the 4-H Rabbit Project area. He has been a rabbit judge that believes that 4-H members truly become winners by learning more about their project through showing and participating. Jerry has dedicated and continues to dedicate his time to 4-H at the state and county levels. Those working in Extension and the field of Agriculture know Jerry Hicks as an outstanding leader, who works hard to address the concerns and issues. A Friend of 4-H is a good role model, is willing to help when asked to, and truly believes in what 4-H offers to our community. Congratulations, Jerry Hicks.

December

2 Natural Resource Group meets at Audubon Society Building

3 4-H Federation

4 Deadline for 4-H project book order

7 Livestock Committee Meeting /Sangamon County- Springfield

8 Horse Bowl/ Hippology/Horse Judging Practice

9 Livestock Committee Meeting/Menard County - Petersburg

22 Horse Bowl/Hippology/Horse Judging Practice

24-Jan. 1 Offices closed

January, 2010

1 Offices Closed

4 Offices Open

4 Deadline to turn in State 4-H Award Applications

5 Horse Bowl/Hippology/Horse Judging Practice

7 4-H Federation Meeting

12 Horse Bowl/Hippology/Horse Judging Practice

19 Horse Bowl/Hippology/Horse Judging Practice

22 Registration Deadline/4-H Great Debate

26 Horse Bowl/Hippology/Horse Judging Practice

Sangamon-Menard 4-H Club leaders and officers had the opportunity to attend training November 7 at the U of I Extension Building in Springfield. Eighteen participants learned: elements of a good 4-H meeting; basic parliamentary procedure; games they could incorporate into their own club meetings; and information to assist them in fulfilling their role as a 4-H club leader or officer. Two lucky attendees, one 4-H leader and one 4-H member, had their names drawn to receive 4-H jackets given as door prizes! Pictured left to right are prize winners Brett Ruppel, member of the Rock Creek 4-H club, and Char Goyke, 4-H leader with Pawnee Ag 4-H club.

Progress is being made towards needed repairs for the Menard County 4-H Food Stand roof. Thanks to generous donors and community participation in our 50/50 raffle fundraiser, the material has been ordered and delivered. A new support beam has been installed thanks to Steve Brady and his family who donated their time and the materials to install the support beam needed before the other repairs could be made safely.

We are in need of volunteers to help install the tin roof with guidance from the supplier. It is important that the tin gets installed as soon as possible, before more damage is done by the weather, causing the need for further repairs. If you are willing to help, and have not already volunteered, please call Sharon Lounsberry at 632-7491. As soon as we have enough volunteers available we will proceed.

Thank you to Steven's Implement for the use of their forklift to unload the tin when it arrived, to John Thurman who ran the fork lift, and to Cecil Oller and Roland Doom for coordinating the delivery and unloading of the materials. We appreciate everyone that made a donation as well as those who sold and/or bought 50/50 tickets for our raffle. A special thank you to the Menard County Farm Bureau and an anonymous donor, who each contributed $1000. Those donations made it possible for us to move forward with placing the order for the materials. Be sure to visit the Menard County 4-H Food Stand next Summer during the Menard County Fair

The Federation meeting was held on November 5, 2009 and we introduced ourselves with a B.I.N.G.O game led by Rebecca Luke. During the business meeting, we talked about the changes to the Achievement Night, decided on the type of fundraiser we are going to do; and discussed ideas for future meetings. The last item of business was officer elections. The new officers are as follows: Seth Martin – President; Samantha Haggerty – Vice President; Samantha Martin – Secretary; Steven Sanderlin – Treasurer; Laura Winkelmann – Reporter; Bernie Lutchman III – Photographer. Samantha Martin, Seth Martin, Kyle Allison and Quinton Paiva will serve as youth representatives on the Youth Development Action Group. Following the business meeting, we did a shoe game to get to know others better and Rebecca Luke presented other tips on Making Meetings Fun.

Our next meeting is Thursday, December 3, 2009 at the U of I Extension Building on the IL State Fairgrounds. All 4-H members age twelve and up are invited to participate. We will begin at 6:30 p.m. with pizza and drinks being provided. Participants are welcome to bring their favorite Christmas treat to share. Activities will include Christmas games, and making cards for a nursing home. Participants can bring an unwrapped gift suitable for a teenager, and they will be donated to Catholic Charities for their Christmas shop for underprivileged families. We will provide paper, markers, glue and scissors for making cards. If you have any other supplies you would like to bring, you are welcome to.

By: Laura Winkelmann, Reporter

This next year's 2010 Sangamon and Menard 4-H Scholarship applications will be due by May 1^st. Please note that this is an earlier deadline than in previous years. Normally, the 4-H Scholarship winners were announced at the November achievement awards. We will now announce the scholarship winners at the Sangamon 4-H Fair family fun night and the Menard 4-H Fair. This change was made in an effort to recognize recipients at 4-H events that take place prior to when recipients would be leaving for college. The 4-H Scholarship committee is in the process of making some minor changes to the scholarship applications. If you have questions on the application process you can call the Menard office at 632-7491, or the Sangamon County office at 782-8953.

This is the first year that the Illinois State 4-H Office has required counties to charge a $20 4-H Program Fee. Six dollars of that fee goes to the state 4-H office, and fourteen dollars stays in the county office to be used for 4-H program expenses. In the Sangamon-Menard Unit the first family member to enroll in the 4-H program must pay the $20 program fee. The Sangamon County 4-H Foundation will pay any additional family members fee if financial assistance is needed.

If a child joins more than one 4-H club during a program year, they are only required to pay one $20 program fee per 4-H year, whether that fee was paid by the 4-H family or covered through the assistance offered by the 4-H Foundation. For example, if a child joins a traditional 4-H club, the county poultry club, and the natural resources special interest club, they would only pay one $20 program fee for the 2009-2010 4-H year. A child does not have to be a member of a traditional 4-H club in order to join a special interest club, such as the Natural Resources club, but they would pay the $20 program fee to join that club.

The 4-H Great Debate is a conference for teens from across Illinois who converge in Springfield to debate bills and learn about the legislative process. The 4-H Great Debate is for all high school age youth who are interested in learning about how IL state government works.

During the two-day event, youth will:

· Learn persuasive speaking

· Learn how to find information on the legislative process

· Develop an understanding of the legislative process

· Meet people from other areas of the state

Besides all the work, participants will meet youth from across the state and enjoy games and music on Friday night.

This conference is open to high school age youth in Illinois. Registration fee for the conference is $60. This would be a great Christmas gift for your teen!

The deadline for registration is January 22, 2010. Lodging will be at Lake Springfield Christian Academy. Delegates need to bring bedding, towels, and toiletries in addition to clothing. More details on the conference are available on the web at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/mclean/greatdebate/. Registration forms are available online or through your local county Extension Office.

The Menard County 4-H Livestock/Sale Committee will meet Wednesday, December 9, 6:30 p.m. in the basement of the Menard Co. Farm Bureau building. 4-H members, families, and Fair Superintendents who have recommendations for 2009-2010 4-H livestock programs, including beef, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, goats and horses are invited to attend this meeting.

Sangamon 4-H Livestock Sale Committees will meet Monday, December 7, 6:30 p.m. at the U of I Extension Bldg. on the IL State Fairgrounds. Rabbit, poultry and goat members are also invited to participate in the 4-H Livestock Sale discussions.

Sangamon County 4-H Beef, Sheep, and Swine Committees will meet on Monday, December 7 at the U of I Extension Bldg. on the IL State Fairgrounds, beginning at 7:30 pm. 4-H members and parents interested in beef, sheep, and swine are invited to come review project requirements, discuss project workshops and make livestock show suggestions. The Dog committee will meet at a later date (to be announced when scheduled).

If attendance is not possible, recommendations may be shared by calling Woody Woodruff at 782-8953 or Sharon Lounsberry at 632-7491 prior to the meetings.

Is there a topic area you are interested in that excites you? Sangamon-Menard County 4-H is searching for individuals who have a talent, hobby, or skill they would be willing to share with the 4-H program. There are a couple of different avenues through which volunteers can customize their services to suit their availability and interests.

A new option in the 4-H program this year are Special Interest Clubs that require an adult volunteer, five or more members, meeting six or more times a year, and choosing their own topic area to focus on. The topic can relate to a traditional 4-H project area such as woodworking, photography etc., or can be something non-traditional such as self defense, chess, etc. Think outside the box! The format, topic, location, etc. are up to the organizational leader of the club. For example they can meet: once a month for six or more months; once a week for six or more weeks; twice a week for three weeks or more; or whatever works for them to accomplish their goals. One of the newer 4-H projects offered in the Science & Technology area is Robotics. If a volunteer is interested in leading a robotics club, the Sangamon-Menard Extension Unit owns three Lego Mindstorm NXT kits that could be used by a group.

The other option available for sharing your skills with 4-H youth is to instruct a workshop session/s in your field of skill or interest, at a location of your choosing within your community. This could include about anything, but some examples might be: electricity, small engines, woodworking, cake decorating, flower arranging, visual arts or sewing. This option requires the least amount of time commitment, yet gives you the gratification of sharing something you are passionate about with youth.

If you are interested in sharing a skill, talent or hobby through the 4-H program, please call the 4-H office in Petersburg at 632-7491 or the 4-H office in Springfield at 782-8953 to discuss what avenue of delivery would work best for you.

Does making a poster for the 4-H County Fair in the Sport Fishing project area not sound like much of a challenge? How about showing your skills in the 4-H County Fair at the Department of Natural Resources Demonstration Pond located next to the U of I Extension Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds? This year we will be partnering with DNR in coordinating this event, and hopefully others. If you have not signed up for Sport Fishing, but would like to participate in 4-H fishing activities coordinated in cooperation with DNR, please call the County 4-H office. If you would like to help in the planning of Sport Fishing events, please call 782-8953.

Check out the 2010 Illinois 4-H Junior Leadership Conference at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state4h/events/juniorleadership.cfm. If you do not have internet access, please contact the Extension office for details.