As chairperson of the Stephenson County 4-H and Extension Foundation and a member of the newly formed Fundraising Committee, I would like to thank you all for your support of the recent Pork Chop Dinner Fundraiser. This first-time effort was a great success and we plan to make it an annual fundraising event. The proceeds for this dinner equaled those of the former fundraiser, the frozen food sale, and we raising more money next year!

We appreciate all of your efforts in selling tickets, putting baskets for the silent auction together, and volunteering to help staff the event. It was truly a learning experience for all, and we took detailed notes on any shortcomings that occurred. We hope that those of you who volunteered or dined with us had a great family time on Sunday! We will be working on other fundraisers throughout the year and hope you will continue to support Foundation so we can keep our support of Extension at a high level.

With thanks, Jamie Holman, Chairperson, 4-H and Extension Foundation

As many of you know, University of Illinois Extension has spent the past month facing a severe budget crisis. I hope we have been able to continue to meet your needs and that you understand if a phone call went unanswered or a concern was overlooked. We have worked as a staff to determine ways to continue to do programming with less, and will actually be adopting some of those changes regardless of our financial situation. I hope you will be open to change and remain patient as we get back on track.

As I write this, good news coming from campus regarding restoration of Extension funding. We are, however, being cautious at this time. I would like to thank each of you for your support and actions you may have taken in support of U of I Extension-Stephenson County.

Margaret Larson, County Director, University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County

mklarson@uiuc.edu

Meals Served: Approximately 750

Funds Raised: Donation $50.00

50/50 Raffle $129.00

Donation Boxes $85.66

Basket Auction Proceeds to Foundation $779.25

Total Proceeds $4,552.26

Basket Auction Proceeds to Clubs $617.25

Winner of MP3 Player for Ticket Sales Sydney Hayunga, Freeport Fantastics

Winner of 50/50 Raffle Virginia Thompson, Freeport

Thanks to committee members: Denise Hayunga, Barb Curry, Jacki Sander, Karen Wilhelms, Mary Engelkins, Dianne Hadsacker, Jamie Holman, Candi Seffrood, Allison Floto, Jeri Neiman, and Margaret Larson

In early April we were told that $18 million was being withheld from the U of I Extension budget 3/4 of the way through the budget year. While we still have hopes that these funds might be released, we are planning for the worst, and hoping for the best. Unfortunately, future funding is sketchy as well.

This news is sad, heart-breaking, and frustrating to all in Extension and throughout our Extension Family. However, we are doing our best to keep a positive outlook, continue to move forward, and approach things in new ways.

We intend to do as many programs as we can feasibly continue to do, considering both staff time and cost. You will find that we will be charging for certain things that we may not have charged for in the past. We will keep the cost for events to the lowest amount possible, we don't intend to charge you right out of 4-H. We hope that all of you will keep in mind that the staff of the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County will do everything we can to assist you, but that it may at times, take a little longer for us to respond. Our intention to serve all of you in the most timely and efficient manner that we can. There will be some programs that will not happen due to these cuts and you will see a change in how we are doing things. For instance, this newsletter is VERY short, that is because we are trying to conserve finances. We will email and post on the web a more lengthy and more informative version. And at this time, we are still determining how many newsletters we will actually send each year. We will continue to keep you posted on any changes in the funding situation and 4-H programming as changes come.

Tim Bivins, State Senator

19 S. Chicago Ave.

Freeport, IL 61032

Phone: (815) 233-0037

Fax: (815) 232-0777

Jim Sacia, State Representative

19 S. Chicago Ave.

Freeport, IL 61032

Phone: (815) 232-0774

Fax: (815) 232-0777

Currently your 4-H Youth Development Staff include:

Kim Christman, 4-H Youth Development Educator

Pam Schingoethe, 4-H/Youth Program Coordinator

And as you all know, Lori McPeek just recently left her position as Secretary for the office. At this time, we do not intend on hiring Summer Assistants or replacing Lori's position due to the current budget situation. It is our hope that at some point funds will be restored and we can revisit these positions at that time. Because of our current lack of support staff, please contact us at our direct lines:

Kim at (815) 599-3523 and Pam at (815) 599-3526.

· Email us your email address so we can develop a 4-H email list. This WILL be how we send project and other info.

· Check your email regularly so you don't miss any important info.

· Let us know of any email changes.

· Check our website regularly at http://stephenson.extension.uiuc.edu and click on 4-H for more info regarding upcoming events and activities.

· Stick with us in this time of financial distress and chaos. Understand if we can't be right there, but know that we want to be and will help you as soon as we can!

· WRITE YOUR LEGISLATORS!! Tell them what 4-H means and has done for you! Let them know what kind of difference it has made in your life and why you think it's a valuable program. Tell them why U of I Extension is so valuable to your county. The more letters, the better chance we have of making an impact!

· Call us if you have questions! We are here to help you!

The State Judging Contests for Dairy, Livestock, and Poultry are on the following dates and at the listed locations:

Dairy, Livestock, Poultry Judging Event:

State Dairy Judging Contest: Tuesday, June 17; Champaign, IL

**For more information on any of these events, please call Pam at the Extension Office!

June is Dairy Month Window Displays should be in the windows from June 1 - 14. Windows will be judged throughout the week. Clubs leaders will be receiving a sign-up sheet in May and should be returned by May 28.

Mark your calendar for June 18, 2008, at 7 p.m., so you can take part in the Public Speaking and Demonstration Contest. Remember, you MUST be enrolled in Public Presentations in order to participate in this contest. This is a great opportunity to "stretch yourself" and get valuable experience. If you can get up in front of your club and give a talk or demonstration, then you have enough experience to participate in this contest! Try it--you'll have a great time, and improve your much need life-skills of talking in public! Don't forget that we've challenged each club to have at least one member at the contest!

The posters must include "Dairy Promotions". The poster size should be 11" x 14". There will be five age categories: Cloverbuds, 8-11 years old,

12-14 years old, 15-19 years old, and Leaders. ALL posters must include: name, age, address, and 4-H club on the back of the poster. Posters are due at the Extension Office by 4 p.m. on Friday, June 20. Posters will be judged by the public, at this year's Ag Breakfast. Posters will be judged on how they promote dairy products, their originality, neatness, readability, and audience appeal. Posters may be displayed at the Stephenson County Fair in your club booth. Again this year, the posters can be displayed in club windows and then brought to the Extension Office for judging. This is a great way to show off your artistic abilities!! Good Luck!!

The University of Illinois Extension Office will be closed on Monday, May 26, for the Memorial Day holiday.

Premises Registration is VOLUNTARY to exhibit livestock (beef, dairy, horses, swine, sheep, goats, poultry and rabbits) at the Illinois State Fair County Fair. Choosing to register your premises puts you on the frontline of controlling and preventing the spread of animal disease. A disease outbreak can't be predicted, but it can impact every segment of animal agriculture. Participation ensures that you have the information you need, when you need it most, to protect your animals and your investment. Registering a premise involves obtaining a seven-character alpha-numeric "identifier" for the farm, ranch veterinary clinic or other site where livestock or fowl are handled, housed, managed, or processed. If an exhibitor wants to register their animals an application form can be found on-line at www.agr.state.il.us/premiseid. Exhibitors who register on-line will receive a premises registration number immediately. An application can also be obtained by calling (866) 299-9256. If completing application and returning by mail, it may take up to 4 weeks to receive the number.

MAY:

3 Beef, Dairy, Poultry, & Rabbit Clinic

19 Federation Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

27 Leader's Meeting, 1:30 & 7 p.m.

27 Tech Team. 6 p.m.

JUNE:

9-13 4-H Camp

13 Entry Forms for July Shows due

18 Public Speaking & Demonstration Contest, 7 p.m.

16 Federation, 6:30 p.m.

23 Tech Team, 6 p.m.