The 4-H program is a family based organization of volunteers and club members that support their local clubs. Earl Taft was a big part of this family based 4-H life, as a member, as a parent, and as a grandparent. Earl will be sadly missed by many, as can be attested by the number of memorial donations that have been made to the Sangamon County 4-H program on his behalf. The Taft family members have been good examples of the two main mottos in 4-H "Learn by Doing", and "Making the Best Better." Memorial funds will be used to help start two new awards this year. For the first time, local 4-H clubs are choosing their most outstanding community leader and their best 4-H project work winners. They will receive shirts that say Sangamon/Menard 4-H, Learning by Doing or To Make the Best Better as awards for their achievements. When you see a young 4-H member in your community wearing one of these shirts, know that 4-H is still going strong because people like Earl Taft believed in what 4-H stands for. Thanks to the Taft Family for their many years of support and know that Earl will be missed.

The Sangamon County 4-H Foundation Memorial Scholarship fund, and the Menard County 4-H Scholarship fund were established to provide a means of recognizing meritorious 4-H work and furthering the education of Sangamon County and Menard County 4-H Members. In Sangamon County two scholarships of $1000 and one scholarship of $750 are awarded annually to ten year 4-H members. In addition, one $500 scholarship is given annually to a 4-H member who has completed seven, eight, or nine years in the 4-H program. In Menard County a minimum of one $1000 and one $750 scholarship are awarded to 4-H members who have completed seven or more years in the 4-H program. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of: interest to pursue a higher education, 4-H background, scholastic record, leadership abilities, reference evaluations, and community involvement.

This year's winners in Sangamon County are: Ethan Krone, son of Toni & Randy Krone of Riverton and 11 year member of Tri-City 4-H club; Caitlin Maxheimer, daughter of Darrell & Denise Maxheimer of Rochester and 10 year member of Cooper Jets 4-H club; Simon Martin, son of Peter & Toni Martin of Springfield and 10 year member at Sugar Creek Pioneers 4-H club; and Jorden Seifert, daughter of Timothy & Roxanna Seifert of Auburn and 10 year member of Town and Country 4-H club. The winners in Menard County are; Sara Reichart, daughter of Mike and Janeen Reichart of Tallula and 11 year member of West Menarders 4-H club, and Rachel Brooks, daughter of Jerry and Nancy Brooks of Oakford and 10 year member of Oakford Pioneers 4-H club. Congratulations, and good luck in the future as you take on new leadership and community service roles. Scholarhip winners: Ethan Krone, Caitlin Maxheimer, Jorden Seifert, Sara Reichart, Simon Martin and Rachel Brooks.

November

1 Premiere LCP Award Applications Due

1 First round of 4-H project books in office.

2 Poultry Meeting 6:30-7:30pm

5 4-H Federation

7 4-H Club Leader and Officer Training

26 Thanksgiving – Offices Closed

27 Holiday - Offices Closed

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

9 Livestock Committee Meeting/Menard County - Petersburg

The first formal meeting of the Sangamon-Menard 4-H Federation is on Thursday, November 5, 7:00 p.m. at the U of I Extension Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds. The business meeting will consist of election of Federation Officers for the 2009-2010 4-H year, and discussion about the Federation fundraiser. Activities following the business meeting will focus on "Making Meetings Fun", giving participants the opportunity to have fun, as well as take back great ideas to spice up their own club meetings.

It is not too late to consider running for an officer position, but you must act fast! Candidates were to have completed a Federation Officer Candidate Information Form indicating their offices of interest and a brief background and submit the form to the Extension Office by November 3. Forms can be downloaded off our county website at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/sangamonmenard/4hyouth1157.html.

If you want to run for an office, but have not submitted your form, please call Sharon at 632-7491 to get you r name added to the ballot. Serving as an officer at the county level can be a lot of fun, as well as give members leadership experience to list on 4-H records, resumes, and scholarship applications.

Plans for the December 3 Federation meeting will be made at the November 5 meeting, and details will be shared in the December newsletter. Plan now to attend because I am sure the evenings activities will probably include FOOD and FUN of some sort!

As the summertime fair season came to an end and the school season starts to ramp up, it feels good to take a few minutes to look back. For some, the summer is a time of doing little, laying by a pool with an occasional trip to the movies or reading a good book in the air conditioning. While for others, summer is a busy time of countless hours of preparing for the fair. The excitement of meeting your friends in the livestock barn or talking about your homemade dress in the pageant, many 4-H'ers look forward to the excitement of competition at the fair. For me, it signifies the end result of a year's work in the 4-H program. At the Extension office, the year begins with a great deal of planning and meetings. We talk a lot about the members in 4-H, and what we can do to make things better for them. We create different opportunities and advertise the possibilities. During the year, I just kept feeling this huge void in what I was trying to accomplish. As the county fairs kept getting closer and closer life became a whirlwind of preparing for a lot in a short period of time. The fairs came and went and the void went with it. I realized what was missing. I finally could put smiles, excited faces, and loads of laughter with all the 4-H families that I work for. Thank you for a great fair season and for all the support you have given 4-H throughout the year. I can't wait to see you again at the next 4-H Fair.

Shirley Luers of "Equine R Us" has retired as a volunteer 4-H club leader after nine years. Over the years she has been a mentor to many youth interested in the horse programming area. Shirley developed a point system that she used as a motivator, which helped her 4-H members to achieve club goals. Shirley says she has lots of fond memories and will really miss the kids that she had in her club over the years. The last community service action taken by the club was to donate club funds to a horse charity called Brave Heart. The 4-H program wishes Shirley well in her retirement.

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 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, Swine and Dog 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, swine and dog projects are invited to come review project requirements, discuss project workshops and make livestock show suggestions.

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.

As we begin a new 4-H year, we have new members and families joining our program. We welcome all of you. The entire family is welcome at 4-H activities and events. Participation as a family is fun, plus it can help develop a sense of unity and improve family communication. If you have questions about the 4-H program, please call or stop by the Extension Office in Springfield or Petersburg.

If you are new to the program this year, and are not yet receiving the Sangamon-Menard Extension News in the mail each month, please contact ? This newsletter, as well as the Sangamon-Menard website, www.extension.uiuc.edu/sangamonmenard, and the Illinois State 4-H website, http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state4h/, are the resources that will provide you information you need to know and are great resources for 4-H families.

National 4-H Week was celebrated the week of October 4-10, 2009. Despite the fact that the weather hindered attendance at the annual National 4-H Week Roller Skating Party, 33 skaters and the spectators enjoyed the evening. Participants were generous with their food donations, which allowed us to make deliveries to food pantries in Williamsville, Loami, Auburn and Divernon. The donations were very much appreciated in all of the communities! Various prizes were awarded during the evening's activities, including a door prize of a stereo CD player with AM/FM radio dual alarm clock, which was won by Lacey Luke, a member of the Town & Country 4-H club in Auburn.

Nine 4-H clubs and one individual in the Sangamon-Menard Unit made entries in the National 4-H Week Marketing Contest, promoting the 4-H program in their communities. Prizes of $25 each will be awarded to the top six club entries. There were prizes available for the top three individual member entries, but only one entry was made. Prizes will be given to the 4-H clubs in their club achievement packets. Thank you to everyone who promoted 4-H during National 4-H Week.

National 4-H Week activities concluded on Friday with a drawing for the winner of the Menard County 4-H 50/50 raffle, held to raise funds to repair the roof on the 4-H food stand. Dennis Marsili of Amboy, Grandfather of a Menard County 4-H member, was the lucky winner of $420. Thank you to everyone that sold and bought tickets to support the cause! Pictured are Brett and Roger Ruppel, who assisted with the drawing.

In an effort to increase the number of youth recognized in front of their peers for their 4-H achievements, there have been some major changes for this year's recognition activities. Rather than there being one county-wide Achievement Night held, each 4-H club in Sangamon and Menard counties will hold their own achievement recognition event at either their November or December club meeting. Members and parents will notice that there have been changes to the category of awards offered as well as to the items being awarded. Our goals were to: recognize more youth for their participation and achievements in 4-H; give award items that might be more appealing to the youth; and to increase the awareness of the 4-H program by awarding affordable items that could help increase the awareness of 4-H in the community. Once your 4-H club achievement events have been held, we would welcome your feedback to help us evaluate the changes that have been made.

In October's Newsletter a name of a Sangamon-Menard 4-H exhibitor at the IL State Fair was accidentally omitted. Brynne Doherty, of Cooper Jets, received an Award of Excellence for her Consumer Savvy II exhibit. We apologize for the oversight and congratulate you on your accomplishments.

The newly forming Natural Resource club is going to have their Charter planning meeting held at the super cool Adams Wildlife Sanctuary & Home of the Illinois Audubon Society headquarters. The event will be held on December 2^nd at 6:00 PM, in this historic site at 2315 Clearlake Av., just 4 blocks west of Stevenson drive. This first meeting will be used to plan dates for events to be held for the rest of the 4-H year. Jo Skoglund is the Natural Resource Club volunteer leader. She is also the Naturalist at this Audubon site. If you have a special area in the natural resource field that you want to learn more about, let Jo know and she will help the group plan for a special workshop. If you would like to find out more about the Illinois Audubon Society call her at 544-2473.

Members must be enrolled in their projects by the dates listed below in order to be eligible for premiums on exhibits at the 2009-2010 Sangamon and Menard County 4-H Shows. Note: These are enrollment deadlines and not necessarily project animal ownership deadlines. Please refer to individual Project Activity and Exhibit Requirement Sheets for ownership dates.

Jan. 1: Beef Prod. Cows

Dairy Production

Goat Production

Feb. 1: Aerospace

Steers

Mar. 1: Beef Heifers( born before Sept. 1)

Dogs

Poultry

Sheep

Small Engines

Apr. 1: Cats

Horses

Entomology

Rabbits

May 1: Beef Heifers (born after Sept.1)

Swine

All other non-livestock 4-H projects

Accept the Challenge, and be the best person that you can be! The National 4-H Congress experience provides a great opportunity for 4-H Members from across the country to come together and learn about community involvement, cultural diversity, and service to others while meeting new friends. The Sangamon /Menard 4-H Unit and the Rochester based Cooper Jets 4-H club have a diplomat representing them at this year's National 4-H Congress being held in Atlanta, Georgia. Megan Ramsey, daughter of David and Karen Ramsey of Rochester will be attending this year's 2009 National 4-H Congress on November27 – December 1. Illinois will be represented by Megan Ramsey and 30 other award winning teens. Megan was awarded the delegates position when she won the Illinois 2008 State 4-H Award for Achievement. Congratulations to Megan Ramsey on an outstanding 4-H career.

The Sangamon-Menard Extension Council will have Dr. Denise Legvold, State 4-H Director, speak at the November 17^th Extension Council meeting. All council meetings are open to the public. Anyone, wishing to attend the council meeting in November to meet Dr. Legvold is more than welcome. Please let the office know if you plan to attend.

The Sangamon-Menard Extension Council meets the 3^rd Tuesday of the month at the University of Illinois building #30 on the state fairgrounds. Check the website for the start time of the November Council meeting since we have summer & winter hours.