Greetings 4-H Family,
As the curtain falls on Achievement Night and Volunteer Banquet, I would like to give one final thank you to everyone who helped make those events possible. On behalf of the Extension Office, I would like to congratulate all those who were recognized. You are all celebrities in your own right. Everyone, including 4-Hers, their families and friends, had a part in making both of these events an unstoppable show. I am so proud to be a part of this county filled with so many shining stars! You are all "So Bright, You Gotta Wear Shades! (I promise that will be the last time I use that phrase) The glitz, and glamour of these two major events have given us a new feeling of excitement as we gear up for the upcoming year.
I feel that Achievement Night and Volunteer Banquet, while an end to one year, are also a great beginning for the next. Achievement Night alone brings an excitement for what will happen in the upcoming year. From a top 1st year award to reaching the 12 year pin and achieving that project area goal to making it to National Congress, everyone has a milestone they can reach. I am looking forward to the upcoming year and even more to next year's Achievement Night and Volunteer Banquet! As a former

4-Her, I enjoy and looked forward to Achievement Night throughout the year, and now that I'm a 4-H staff member, I still do. These two events are an amazing culmination of a year in review.
As you gear for the upcoming year, keep in mind it doesn't take a lot of time to for you or your child to also be a part of Achievement Night. The best advice I can give is once a month (at your 4-H meeting or just after), take 10 minutes and write up a little bit of what you have done that month in 4-H, school, and the community. As the months go by, you'll find that when August and September roll around you will have your award forms almost done! Try it for a year and see how easy it can be! I hope that 4-Hers, young and old, keep shooting for the stars now and after your 4-H years! Have a safe holiday season and I hope to catch you at the next star-studded event!

~Pam

If you received an award at this year's 4-H Academy Awards should remember to send a thank you to the donor that made your award(s) possible. As many of you know, as our economy gets tighter and tighter, we are having a more difficult time getting sponsorship for awards such as these. So PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, send them a note to let them know that you appreciate their donation to our program. It may be the difference in whether or not they will sponsor again in the future.

The photos donated by Dave Busch will be available on the 4-H website on shortly. Please check out this glamorous star-studded event. The website is www.extension.uiuc.edu/stephenson . You can find the pictures by clicking on the 4-H program tab and look under the "Photo Galleries" tab on the right hand side. Small numbers of prints can be made at the Extension Office.

We would like to thank everyone for their support of the silent auction. The proceeds from the auction will go to the Lisa Woessner Science and Technology Grant. Results from the Achievement Night Auction include:

Ribbon Scarf donated by Ruth Auer – Barb Wire; Painted Stone donated by Ginger Willing – Margaret Larson; Decorated Cake donated by Mike Shore – Whitney Runkle; Gift Basket donated by Denise Hayunga – Marlene Daniel; Banana Bread donated by Sara Miller – Pennie Miller; Plate of Baked Goods donated by Sara Miller – Barb Wire; Jewelry donated by Candi Seffrood – Alex Brinkmeier; Peanut Brittle donated by Bev Haselhorst – Barb Wire; Relaxation Package donated by HCC Cosmetology – Margaret Larson; Ribbon Scarf donated by Ruth Auer – Shirley Williams ;

Peanut Brittle donated by Bev Haselhorst – Margaret Larson; Gift Certificate to Country Cheese donated by Country Cheese – Curt & William Miller; Shampoo, Cut, & Style donated by HCC Cosmetology – Dorothy Wire; Frozen Duck donated by Johnathon Campbell – Margaret Larson; Frozen Goose donated by Johnathon Campbell – The Curry Family; Avon Gift Basket donated by Rose Mielke – Jolene Moest; Baked Goods donated by Deb & Mandy Winning – Kathy Baumgartner; Gift Basket donated by Davis Rockets 4-H Club – Joe Werkheiser;

Photography Gift Basket donated by Brooke Doescher – Sara Earnest; 4-H Cookbook donated by the Lisa Woessner Family – Bonnie Campbell; Picture donated by Morgan Curry – Chet Brinkmeier

Basket donated by Val Curran – Pennie Miller; Chris Clover donated by Tina Barr – Diana Ethridge; Baked Goods donated by Deb & Mandy Winning – Morgan Curry; Flower Pot donated by Alex Brinkmeier – Grant Curry

Total Raised - $396.50

Watch next month's Focus for the results from the Volunteer Banquet Silent Auction and the grand total that we have raised in memory of Lisa!

Please remember that 4-H manuals are free to 4-H'ers because the Extension Office pays for them. If you have unused project manuals, or manuals that can be reused by someone else, we encourage you to recycle them. You can either trade them between other members in your club by turning them in to your leader, or bring them to the Extension Office. This way, instead of ordering a new one, and paying the additional shipping charges, we can just give the recycled manuals to other 4-H'ers to reuse them. It is something very simple that can make a big difference!!

Homemade gifts are always popular, especially those from the kitchen. The Freeport Public Library is offering a special gift making workshop just for kids during this holiday season. At the workshop, those attending will make samples of several different food gifts to take home. In addition, everyone will take home an idea sheet with recipes to make more gifts after the workshop.

During the session, Barb Curry, Coordinator of the Family Nutrition Program in Stephenson County, will lead participants in making several homemade cookie, soup, or casserole mixes, homemade play dough or cinnamon ornaments, dipped pretzels and more.

"Gifts from the Kitchen" will be offered on Tuesday, December 13, 2005, from 7:00–8:00 p.m. at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas Street. Adults are welcome to attend and will be needed to help at workshop stations. Please volunteer when registering.

Pre-registration for this program is necessary. Please contact the Library at 233-3000 to pre-register before Friday, December 9. There is no cost to attend.

Tune in to WFPS and WXXQ radio stations for bad weather cancellation notices regarding Extension and 4-H programs. In case of committee meetings, we will make every effort to personally contact each committee member. You may also call the Extension Office voice mail for info at 235-4125.

Office Closing

The Extension Office will close for the holidays Monday, December 26 and reopen on Tuesday, January 2, 2006. We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season with his or her family and loved ones.

By now most everyone should be through the 4-H re-enrollment process and moving full steam ahead with the 4-H year. Here are some tips for a successful 4-H year:

·Attend all of your club meetings

·Get involved with your club activities

·Carefully read each 4-H newsletter

·Start early on your 4-H projects

·Work on your 4-H records and award applications after each meeting

Remember that your 4-H leader and the Extension staff are happy to answer your questions. Don't hesitate to stop by the Extension Office or call 235-4125 with any questions or concerns that you may have.

Calling all 4-H'ers! It's time to come up with those creative Stephenson County 4-H Program Book cover ideas. The theme is "4-H... Take the Trip!" We are looking for interesting, exciting, and fun designs! You may use a computer to assist you in in your design. Please use the theme stated above when creating your design. Spend some time over Christmas Break working on your entry. The deadline for entries to the Extension Office is January 6, 2006. For reproduction reasons, all designs must be in one color, preferably black ink, very clean, free from wrinkles, and on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper. Please leave 1" margins on all sides. Your original will be used for reproduction. Please remember to place your name and club on the back of your entry. Do NOT use lined paper. Be creative!! We look forward to seeing many creative entries soon. Computers may be used to design entries, as long as the design and layout is the 4-H'ers own work. Parents, you may offer suggestions, but please don't do it for your child.

The annual 4-H Foundation Club's Choice Pizza Sales will start December 12^th and conclude on February 17^th. The pickup day is scheduled for Saturday, March 11^th in Cedarville at the Community Center. Start selling as soon as you get your order forms! With the holiday season quickly approaching, it might be a great idea to take your order forms with you to family functions. The money raised from this will go toward clinics, ribbons, judges, camp scholarships, and many more events!

Even though it's only December, it's time to start thinking about Super Saturday! The 2006 Super Saturday will be on March 18, 2006, at Highland Community College. We would like to have 4-H members 14 and older, parents, and volunteers start thinking about a variety of different sessions they would like to see provided at this year's clinic. The workshops should be hands-on and may not involve animals since the college does not allow animals on campus. We are looking at including a set of sessions for Cloverbuds to attend. We're looking for speakers for Super Saturday. If you are interested in teaching a session, or know someone who might, call the Extension Office by December 15. Please come share your talents with our county's 4-H'ers.

Dates for this year's camp at Camp White Eagle are June 25-29, 2006. The registration process is beginning!! If you enroll before January 30, you will save on enrollment fees. We don't have the final figures yet, but if you call the Extension Office, we'll send you an application as soon as we receive it. Campers do not need to be an active 4-H member, and 4-H'ers can bring their friends! Camp enrollment will fill up fast, so don't delay; contact the Extension Office TODAY if you are interested!

Prospective counselors must be at least 15 by June 25, 2006; we are looking for individuals who enjoy the great outdoors, enjoy working with kids, are able to be a responsible role model, and most of all reliable. If this fits you, then we've got a great opportunity for you! How about becoming a camp counselor? Now is the time to think about being a counselor for 4-H Camp. If you are interested in being a counselor, contact the Extension Office for an application. The deadline to apply is January 13, 2006. You do not need to be a

4-H member. Applications will be available by December 16, 2005 for any interested teen. Application does not guarantee acceptance.

Definitely, if you plan to participate! We plan many workshops and activities and it would be too bad for you to miss them if you didn't thoroughly read your newsletter and respond. Be sure to sign up for all workshops and clinics before the deadline. Deadlines are set for a reason. If we don't have enough registered by the deadline, we will cancel. If you did not sign up for a workshop or clinic, do not assume you can just show up. There probably won't be enough supplies or places set-up. If it was canceled, we will only notify those that have signed up, since we don't have any way of knowing who was thinking of coming!

Equine Day – All horse enthusiasts will want to mark down Saturday, January 28, 2006, on their calendar for the annual Tri-State Equine Day set for the Galena Convention Center.

The featured talk is "A Veterinarian's View – The Olympics and World Championships" by Mark Revenaugh, D.V.M. of the U.S. Equine Team. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a full schedule of optional educational sessions in addition to the featured talk. Breakout topics range from horse pasture and facilities management to grooming and tack fitting and veterinary care schedules.

A food stand will be available and an educational exhibitor fair will be open throughout the event. To obtain a program flyer, call University of Illinois Extension – Jo Daviess County, at 815/858-2273.

December:

12 Pizza Sales begin

13 State Award Applications due to Extension Office

14 Federation Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

26 Extension Office closed until Jan. 2nd

January:

1Ownership date for Beef Steers, Dairy Cows, Milking Goats, and Doe Rabbits

2 Program Book Cover Deadline

3 Bowling Party

4 Ski Trip

5 Office Closed

21 Poultry Clinic