4-H Newsletter. Unit 12 Livingston-McLean-Woodford. September Contents. Exciting adventures are heading our way in Unit 12!

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1 Unit 12 Livingston-McLean-Woodford 4-H Newsletter September 2016 Contents State 4-H Office News Page 2 Unit 12 news Pages 3-4 Livingston County Pages 5-6 McLean County Page 7 Woodford County Page 8 Calendar Page 9 Staff Page 10 Exciting adventures are heading our way in Unit 12! It s September and that means it s time to start a new 4-H year in your club and here in Unit 12. What s new this year? Let s see There s a NEW ONLINE enrollment for 4-H. YES, NO MORE WRITING your 4-H information over and over register online as a family and your important information is saved! New 4-H Guinea Pig project New 4-H College and Career project New 4-H Beekeeping project New project manual for Computer Science using Scratch programming New project manuals for sewing that use STEAM Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math! New project manual for Communications New project manual for Public Speaking New project manual for Geology New project manual for Robotics There are new things for your clubs, too, including two new projects: WeConnect, which helps us understand other cultures, and Embryology. Select counties will be adding a new shooting sports discipline for Pistol. This will only be available in 20 counties where there will be trained and certified pistol instructors. We re excited that Livingston, McLean, and Woodford are among those with instructors going through the certification training! There s a NEW TEEN CONFERENCE coming in January. The conference will train youth in each of the six leadership roles: Planning, Promoting, Teaching, Mentoring, Advising and Advocating. There s a NEW group for 4-H alumni the Illinois 4-H Alumni Association so you never have to lose contact with all the things you love about 4-H. See, there s plenty to get excited about in 4-H today! University of Illinois * U.S. Department of Agriculture * Local Extension Councils Cooperating University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodations to attend these programs, contact the Extension office.

2 State 4-H Illinois theme for National 4-H Week is Adventures Await Everyone loves an adventure whether we re exploring new places, hanging with friends, or learning new things, Adventures Await in 4-H. National 4-H Week is Oct What will your club do? Put up a display in an area business window. Visit a local nursing home. Sponsor a new member rally. Raise money to help kids in your community. How will you 4-H? Bring the whole family to camp this fall Registrations are now being accepted for the Sept Family Camp Program at 4-H Memorial Camp! We hope you come out and enjoy all that camp has to offer! Come experience rock climbing, zip lining, archery, fishing, camp fires, crafts, cardboard boat racing, and many other fun activities. Special this year will be a Cooking Challenge where families can engage in a little friendly competition! Also, firefighters from the Mid Piatt Fire District will be doing demonstrations and letting participants try out their equipment! Let us manage the stress of planning a camping adventure while allowing you, your family and your friends the opportunity to enjoy a weekend together at camp! Your family will sleep in a cabin, have meals provided (starting Friday dinner and ending with Sunday Lunch), and enjoy A LOT of fun activities! Many of the same staff that run our summer camp programs volunteer to make this an enjoyable experience for your family. Expect to have fun, eat heartily, and make memories which will last a lifetime! What fun we had at the Illinois State Fair! More than 3,400 4-H members exhibited at the State Fair 4-H General Project Show this year. That s up 800 exhibitors over last year s fair. WOW! We took more than 800 photos during the fair chances are, we captured your photo or project. See them all and download what you go.illinois.edu/isf4h. Just a reminder that any premiums which are distributed from competitions at the Illinois State Fair come directly from the Department of Ag. With budget uncertainties, we do not know if or when that money might be released. Families are reminded of this general disclaimer we publish each year about the uncertainties of premium payment. The state office will notify county Extension office with any new information when it becomes available. "The Department of Agriculture shall use its best efforts to secure sufficient appropriations to fund premiums. In any year for which the General Assembly of the State of Illinois fails to make an appropriation sufficient to pay such premiums, premium amounts may not be accurately reflected in this Premium Book." PAGE 2 Your Guide to the New 4-H Year! Check out the edition of The Illinois Clover. There is a printing delay, so you can access it online at go.illinois.edu/4hclover. Get your lifetime membership to the Illinois 4-H Alumni Association Once a 4-H member; always a 4-H supporter. We know that 4-H alumni share a bond. We re all family, and we don t want to lose track of our family members. Now, you can register online as a 4-H alum (from any state) and tell your story. Click over to go.illinois.edu/4halumni. I PLEDGE... FOR MY CLUB,

3 Unit News PAGE 3 Experience Outdoor Adventures at the Annual Science Sleepover Embark on an adventure while we study the stars, hone our archery skills, explore nature and more at our annual Science Sleepover events. Youth in grades 4 through 6 are invited to participate in this exciting, hands-on adventure in the great outdoors. Girls Science Sleepover Boys Science Sleepover September September 30-October 1 Registration deadline is September 9 Registration deadline is September 16 Location: Farm Bureau Park in Eureka, IL Cost: $35 for 4-H members and $40 for non-members $5 discount for each additional sibling Activities include: Astronomy, botany, archery, entomology, geocaching and more! For more information and to register, visit the calendar of events on our website at web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw or call (309) Fly in the Sky during National Youth Science Day The H National Youth Science Day Challenge, Drone Discovery, will explore how remote sensing can be used to solve real world problems while learning concepts like flight dynamics, forces of flight, basic computer coding, as well as following federal regulations while operating drones. National Youth Science Day is officially Wednesday, Oct. 5, and each county in our Unit will host programs on the weekend. Want to get in on the fun? Come to one of the programs: Livingston County Saturday, October 8 10 to 11:30 a.m. Livingston County Extension Office 1412 S. Locust St. Pontiac McLean County Saturday, October 8 To Be Determined Woodford County Saturday, October 8 12 to 3 p.m. Roanoke Benson High School 208 W. High St. Roanoke

4 Unit News PAGE 4 New 4-H Online Registration System Opens September 1 Illinois 4-H is always looking for ways to make things easier for families and clubs. This year we are introducing a new enrollment process and it s all done ONLINE! Illinois 4-H families will now be able to enroll and select their 4-H projects online. The new system, 4-H Online, will allow families to create a family profile to enroll all members of their family at once. And, you can actually see your official 4-H information and edit that information all year long from your computer or mobile device. Life just got so much easier for everyone. Instead of repeating information several times on several forms, the information is entered once. 4-H families have been asking for an online enrollment system for years, and now we are able to honor that request for our busy, connected families. Leaders won t need to go hunting for missing forms. All changes are time-stamped by the person who made the change, so you can be sure your data is accurate and all your deadlines have been met. It will be easier to get in touch with you, too. There s an option you can mark to receive text messages so you re never out of the loop with last-minute changes. And, more than one household can receive information so everyone can be informed! Each of the counties in our unit will be hosting 4-H Online Help Sessions to assist clubs and individuals with the registration process. Dates for the help sessions will be announced. 4-H Window Display and Scarecrow Contest set for October 3 through 7 Gather your club and get your creative juices flowing for the annual 4-H window display contest coming up in early October. This year we will also have a Scarecrow contest. Create a club or individual entry for this seasonal expression of fun. a picture to your local extension office and we ll post it online. The scarecrow with the most Facebook likes will win a pizza party for their 4-H Club. Important Re-enrollment Change Deadline for current members to enroll in 4-H for the year is December 1. This is earlier than previous years. You will still have until April 15 to add projects. We all need a buddy! This fall, introduce your club members to a new mentoring opportunity to help new young people find their place in 4-H as a 4-H Buddy. One of the most important things that 4-H has to offer young people is a place of belonging finding a place where they are accepted and appreciated for who they are. But that sense of belonging doesn t just happen. Club members and leaders must plan how they can be welcoming to new members. A 4-H Buddy helps a new member feel welcome, meet new friends, and learn about 4-H activities and events. A 4-H Buddy helps a new club member discover all the things he/she can do and learn in 4-H. Being a 4-H Buddy is also a great way to start learning and practicing leadership in the 4-H club. As a mentor to new members, a 4-H Buddy must be a 4-H member for two or more years; be a good role model to other members; attend club meetings on a regular basis; and be approved by the 4-H club leader.

5 Livingston County PAGE 5 New Teen Teachers Program Starts in Livingston County Do you have an interest in Theatre Arts? What about teaching? If so, we have something exciting coming your way! Beginning this fall, we are starting a new leadership opportunity for our older youth 4-H Teen Teachers! The 4-H Teen Teachers program provides youth ages the opportunity to develop leadership and teaching skills as they plan and implement hands-on learning experiences for younger youth. 4-H Teen Teachers will also help teens expand their knowledge and develop new skills that will prepare them for the future. The focus of this fall s program is theatre arts, entitled Center Stage. Teens will be learn the skills necessary to teach, plan and prepare for the Center Stage experience. Although this is a 4-H sponsored program, teens are not required to be a 4-H member to join, but will become one upon joining so be sure to spread the word to those who may be interested but not currently involved with 4-H. Want to learn more? Check out the link below and watch a couple of short (1-2 minute) videos describing what the Teen Teachers program is all about. To apply to be a 4-H Teen Teacher, contact the Livingston County Extension Office. Applications are due by September 14. Things to do all the year through...check out the 4-H Program Guide This year, the 4-H staff is pleased to offer you an array of workshops and events throughout the year. Complete information of all Unit events will be included in the program guide as you are welcome to attend programs in other counties that are part of Unit 12 (Livingston, McLean, and Woodford). Here s a sneak peak of the fall workshops we are hosting in Livingston county: Cloverbud Workshops (Ages 5 to 7) Cowabunga! It s an ice cream extravaganza September 10 Fall Festival: A Harvest of Fun October 15 Digging Those Dinosaurs November 12 Christmas Around the World December 10 4-H Workshops Theatrical Makeup Workshop October 10 Popcorn and a Painting November 18 Livingston Enrollment Nights If you need help getting enrolled in 4-H for the coming year, mark your calendar and attend one of the 4-H enrollment nights. Extension staff will be available to help you navigate the new 4-H Online system and get you set up for the coming year. Monday October p.m. Tuesday October p.m. Monday November p.m. Sign up times will be available via the Signup Genius system and information will be sent out through soon. Gift making workshop December 10

6 Livingston County PAGE 6 A View from the Livingston County 4-H Show

7 McLean County Timeless Clovers Cook-out PAGE 7 Timeless Clovers McLean County 4-H Alumni Invites you to our annual Fall Cook-out! Come on out and have fun getting to know other 4-H advocates! Previous 4-H membership in McLean County is not a requirement of Timeless Clovers. Anyone interested in helping to make 4-H better is invited! The event will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 15 at the Ropp Jersey Cheese Farm (2676 Ropp Rd. Normal). Hot dogs, drinks and table service will be provided. Please bring a dish to share. We are excited to have the 4-H SPIN robotics club - Team MetalCow coming to showcase their robot! We are also going to have Lauren Lacey, Development Manager from the McLean County Historical Society, to share information on the Evergreen Cemetery Walk. Please register online! Help Sessions for 4H Online For some of you, transitioning to this platform will be easy and you will be able to enter the information easily. We also anticipate leaders wanting some additional training and support so that they can use the features and benefits of the program such as sending s straight from a family profile staff is really looking forward to having that functionality!! Listed below are dates for trainings that will be available in the McLean county office. It will be a collaborative effort in which we will use the Mondopad and Skype to help each other use the system. Computers will also be available for those families and leaders who do not have access to computers so they may enter their information. Please let Callie or Leah know to save a seat. Tuesday, September p.m. (primarily for leaders) Thursday, September p.m. (primarily for leaders) Monday, September p.m. (primarily for leaders) Saturday, September 24 9 a.m. 12 noon (open to all) Thursday, October p.m. Tuesday, October p.m. Monday, November p.m. Tuesday, November p.m.

8 Woodford County PAGE H Ambassadors Announced at the Woodford County 4-H Show Congratulations to our Woodford County 4-H Ambassadors, Rachel Casey and Liz Schirer! In August, several youth applied and interviewed for 4-H Ambassadors to represent Woodford County. All youth applicants each shared their personal style and 4-H experience. Choosing this year s ambassadors was a truly difficult decision, we have many talented and dedicated youth who represent Woodford County 4-H on a daily basis in their communities. A big thank you to the Woodford County 4-H Ambassadors, Abe Henkel and Chloe Thacker, for their hard work this past year. 4-H Federation is gearing up for the new 4-H Year! 4-H Federation is a club focused on leadership. Ever wondered who decides what games are played at the fair or what delicious food and drinks are coming to each 4-H Fair? That s the Federation Club! 4-H Federation goes beyond the fair. Federation is involved in many leadership opportunities to help build for the future. Any 4-H youth can join! Meetings are held on Monday evenings, bi-monthly, at the Extension Office in Eureka. Interested? Contact the Woodford County Extension office for more information at (309) Woodford County 4-H goes to the State Fair! Congratulations to all who exhibited at the State Fair this year! Woodford County had 44 youth attend the 2016 Illinois State Fair this year to exhibit their projects and livestock. Pictured here is Macie Hutchinson Modeling.

9 PAGE 9 Livingston-McLean-Woodford Unit Calendar of Events Sept 1 Sept 6 Sept 8 Sept 10 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept Sept 30-Oct 1 Oct 2-8 Oct 8 Nov 10 Nov 17 Nov 19 Nov Dec 1 Dec 3 Jan 6 Jan 6-7 Jan Jan 28 Feb 11 Feb New 4-H Year begins Leaders 4-H Online Help Session at county offices at 6 p.m. Leaders 4-H Online Help Sessions at county offices at 6 p.m. Livingston Cloverbud Workshop Cowabunga! It s an ice cream spectacular 10-11:30 a.m. Livingston Ambassadors meeting and information session 1 p.m. Livingston Teen Teachers applications due Livingston Records due to the Extension Office Girls Science Sleepover Boys Science Sleepover National 4-H Week 4-H National Youth Science Day Drone Discovery Events in each county Livingston County 4-H Achievement Night Livestock: National Poultry Judging Contest Celebrating Excellence Illinois 4-H Award Reception, Champaign National 4-H Congress, Atlanta, GA Deadline for continuing 4-H members to enroll Unit Wide Officer Training State Deadline for Illinois 4-H Award Applications, State 4-H Key Award Applications, 4-H LCP Award Applications, & State 4-H Veterinary Science Award Applications Teen Leadership Conference Citizenship Washington Focus Inauguration Program State 4-H Award Judging Learn & Fun Day Youth Livestock Conference

10 Livingston-McLean-Woodford Unit 12 Staff PAGE 10 Livingston County Sara Attig McLean County Callie K. Cummings Woodford County Rebecca Driver Cindy Kinate Office Support Staff Leah Street Paige Wood Office Support Staff Livingston County Office 1412 S Locust St. Pontiac, IL (815) Rosemarie Carter Office Support Staff rcarter1@illinois.edu McLean County Office 1615 Commerce Parkway Bloomington, IL (309) Woodford County Office 109 East Eureka Ave. Eureka, IL (309) UNITY Center Afiwa Mensanh 4-H Program Coodinator amensanh@illinois.edu 4-H Educators Alcha Corban Livingston and Woodford Counties acorban@illinois.edu Liz Repplinger pegg@illinois.edu Carolyn Hanson McLean County cshansen@illinois.edu Laura Holland laurarh3@illinois.edu UNITY Office 632 Orlando Ave. Normal, IL (309) County Director Bobbie Lewis-Sibley bjlewis@illinois.edu