Have you received your new 4-H Clover, folder and enrollment forms? They are available from your leader or Extension Office. Be sure to check out the new projects which are italicized in the Clover. Reminder- 4-H members can enroll in as many as five projects before project book fees before project book fees will be assessed.

Have you cashed your 4-H and Jr. Fair checks? Please do so as soon as possible!!

Thanks to all the leaders and spouses who attended the Leader's Appreciation Dinner. Special thanks go to the Federation members for providing and assisting with the delicious meal. Each and every volunteer is very important to the success of 4-H in our county. Thanks very much!

Most of you have e-mail addresses. Please notify the office so we can use these addresses for special mailings.

If you or your club would be interested in a special workshop, let me know. If you know of someone willing to lead a workshop, please give me a call.

Don't forget the craft day on November 14 and the Recognition Program on November 15. Hope to see you there.

Linda Glick, Community Worker

As of this week, persons wishing to take pygmy goats as a 4-H project can do so by enrolling in "Meat Goats". Premiums will also be awarded for pygmy goats at the county fair. Pygmy goats will no longer be a county project. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Extension Office.

The next 4-H Federation meeting will be November 10 at 5:00 p.m. in the Extension Office. We will be making (cutting and gluing) gingerbread houses to be used at Craft Day. If you are interested in becoming a Federation delegate, please contact Linda as soon as possible.

Help Needed!!

4-H members and friends are encouraged to join the fun at the Annual 4-H Craft Day on November 14 at the 4-H Center. Volunteers are also needed. Pre-registration is needed prior to November 6. Check-in time on Craft Day will be from 8:15 to 8:40 a.m. The workshops will start at 8:45 and end at 11:30 a.m. $5.00 will be charged for all participants.

Several crafts will be made and gingerbread houses will be decorated. Everyone should bring candy and other "goodies" to be shared in making the gingerbread houses.

Please call the Extension Office (774-9546) if you can help in any way and also to register for the craft day.

Are you interested in raising, showing and selling a steer as a 4-H project? The Shelby County State Bank is once again offering this opportunity to Shelby County 4-H members. In order to participate in this program, the 4-H member must have been enrolled in 4-H at least one previous year. If you are interested in being a part of this program or for more details, please call the Extension Office at 774-9546 prior to November 12^th, 2009. Pick-up for the steers will be early December.

4-H members ages 17 and above by December 1, 2009, are invited to apply for a LCP (Leadership, Citizenship, and Professionalism) Award. The Illinois Farm Bureau and their Affiliate Companies sponsor the Awards. Ten 4-H members with the highest cumulative point totals receive state recognition at the Illini Summer Academies and ten 4-H members receive the opportunity to attend the IFB Premier 20 Leadership Conference in April. Applications are available at the Extension Office or via the Illinois 4-H web site. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2009.

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/shelby/downloads/19358.doc

Are you a 7th or 8th grade 4-H member? Perhaps the 2010 Leadership Conference will be the place to go and explore leadership abilities. The event will be held February 20-21, 2010 at Lake Williamson Camp & Conference Center near Carlinville, IL. For more details and registration information, check the new Illinois 4-H website – http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state4h.

Shelby County Extension Office will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The office will reopen on Monday, November 30 at 8:00 a.m. Have a safe Holiday!

1. Youth must be 8 years old (by September 1, 2009) or in third grade to be eligible to become a regular 4-H member. Membership eligibility for home schooled youth should be determined by age and not school grade. Cloverbuds are ages 5-7.
2. 4-H member MUST attend two local 4-H club meetings;
3. 4-H member MUST present a talk or demonstration at a club meeting (NOT on a farm tour); and
4. 4-H member MUST participate in a county activity.

A youth that enrolls in a 4-H club but fails to do ALL of the above will NOT be eligible to take part in county 4-H exhibitions, receive 4-H premiums or other awards and recognition.

The "Fit Kidz...avoid too much soda" can found on the Shelby County Extension website at this link: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/shelby/downloads/20032.pdf