Superior Young Dairy Producer Award – August 17

Eligibility: Any Illinois 4-H or FFA member who is a current dairy project member in their local
4-H club/FFA chapter and 14 years or older, as of September 1, 2012, is eligible to participate in the 2013 Illinois State Fair Superior Young Dairy Producer Award (SYDPA) program. Remember, you do not need to be a State Fair Jr. dairy exhibitor to participate.

Awards: The top five youth with the highest point scores in the total contest will receive a $1,000.00 scholarship and plaque. A plaque will also be presented to each of the "top three" phase winners in the individual phase competitions. All participants will be recognized and the overall winners will be announced on Saturday afternoon, August 17^th following the contest.

8:40 a.m. - Phase 1 - Management Test: A 25 question written test relating to any aspects of dairy management and related facts. Study resources include 4-H dairy project manuals and the dairy portions of Livestock E-Quiz (both dairy levels) located on the web site at: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/equiz/.

9:10 a.m. - Phase 2 - Skillathon: This will involve a series of three learning stations with specific tasks and questions for participants to answer, such as "identifying dairy feeds", "identifying dairy equipment", and "herd health" or "dairy management".

10:00 a.m. - Phase 3 - Dairy Judging: Six classes, of four animals each, will be placed by the participants based on type conformation. Oral reasons are not part of this contest.

This program is coordinated and conducted by Dave Fischer, U of I Extension Dairy Educator-Retired. Registration forms are available at your county Extension Office or your FFA Adviser or Dave Fischer via e-mail at dfischer@illinois.edu. Registrations are due to Dave Fischer, 901 Oak Hill St., Trenton, IL 62293 prior to the IL State Fair SYDPA contest

The Illinois 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest will be held on Saturday August 17, 2013 in the Livestock Center at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois. (Please Note: this is the State 4-H Contest and any 4-H member is welcome to participate. There will be no dairy judging contest held in June at University of Illinois dairy farm).

State Fair Passes: Check with your local Extension office to purchase advance fair passes and parking permits for entry into the fairgrounds.

Participation: All contestants must be current 4-H members and a record of their enrollment

must be on file in the respective Extension office. There is no limit on the number of participants

per county. Contestants need not be enrolled in a dairy project, however, this state 4-H dairy

judging event is used to support the county/club 4-H dairy curriculum.

Contest Information:

1. Contestant registration is to be made on the day of the contest at the site of the contest.

2. Registration will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. in the Livestock Center (open show ring) on the IL State Fairgrounds.

3. The contest will begin at 10:00 a.m. on August 17, 2013.

4. There will be six (6) classes of cows and heifers selected from various dairy breeds at the Illinois State Fair.

5. All 4-H contestants will be scored as a Jr. Division (13 years of age and younger as of January 1, 2013) or Sr. Division (14 years and older as of January 1, 2013) participant.

6. All participants will be invited to present oral reasons following the contest but it is not mandatory.

7. Contestants in the Jr. Division will be encouraged and offered the opportunity to give one set of written or oral reasons on a cow class. The Jr. contestants can read or recite from memory their reasons.

8. HOWEVER, contestants in the Sr. Division who will be considered for selection to the State 4-H Team will be required to give two sets of oral reasons on cow classes. Two (2) minutes will be allowed per class to give oral reasons to the judge.

9. Ten (10) minutes will be allowed for judging each class when no reasons are required; twenty (20) minutes will be allowed on reasons classes.

Illinois Team Selected for the National Contest

The state 4-H dairy cattle judging team will be selected from participants in this contest. To be eligible for selection, members must have been 14 years of age and not older than 18 years of age as of January 1, 2013. The selected 2013 Illinois 4-H Dairy Judging Team will participate at the National Contest in Madison, Wisconsin.

Results and Awards

The summary results from this dairy contest will be emailed within five (5) working days of the contest to the Unit/County Extension Office. Detailed results and ribbons will be mailed within 2 weeks of the contest. Individual contestants will be ranked in three groups with blue, red and white ribbons awarded. Team scores will not be a part of this contest and team ribbons will not be awarded.

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/members/fairsandexhibits.cfm.

It is that time of year again to order your electronic steer tags for the upcoming weighing, tagging, and tattooing of state fair steers in Jan and Feb.

This year I would ask that the 4-H Youth Development Educator in each unit email me with your tag number request for the counties you are responsible for.
We will mail them out to you for your distribution in your counties. This will prevent duplicate orders and mailings to individual counties. Please review the following check list before requesting EID tags:
In addition, there will be no charge for the EID tags this year. The State 4-H Office will be covering the cost of tags.

1 – I have attached an incomplete spreadsheet for you as a guideline as to what you have ordered and how many were used last year by unit and county. Click Here

2 – Please look for and use any tags left over from last year before figuring what you will request this year. Last year's tags can and should be used this year.

3 – Please coordinate your unit order between Youth Educator and Program Coordinators, and then place one order for your entire unit.

4 – Remember all state fair steers get weighed, tagged, and tattooed (with box K) this year.

5 – Send back any unused tags to the State 4-H Office immediately following your weigh ins.

6 – For nomination forms, rules, and procedures please review the attached documents in the portal. Click Here.

7 - When requesting tags via email please make sure your name and complete mailing address, and phone number are in your email as well as where you would like the tags sent if they are not going to the main office.

8 – Remember to make 3 copies of the nomination forms and keep one in your office, mail original to Dan Jennings, and mail one to the owner/exhibitor.

9 – Please give yourself plenty of time in making the request because tags can take up to a week or longer to receive in the mail due to bulk, weight, and postage delivery method (large padded envelopes or boxes).

10 – County steer weigh-ins this year need to take place from January 26^th to March 15^th (most usually occur the last weekend in Jan and the first two weekends in Feb).

11 – I plan to host a webinar on the procedures and paperwork of this as well as other livestock related items in January TBA.

12 – Return original copy of nomination forms to me at new address listed below:

Dan Jennings
University of Illinois Extension
1100 E. Warrenville Rd
Suite 170
Naperville, IL 60563

Thank You,

Dan Jennings
djjennin@illinois.edu
PH: 815-218-4358

2012 State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest Results

News
Aug. 25, 2012
Source: Dan Jennings – University of Illinois, State Livestock Specialist, 4-H
djjennin@illinois.edu

On August 18^th during the Illinois State Fair, the State 4-H Dairy Judging contest was held in the Junior Livestock Arena. This year's contest hosted thirty-eight individuals. Bond County took top honors in the senior team division compiling a score of 843 points. Team members include: Joshua Laesch, Brett Woker, and James Johnson. Second place senior team went to Logan County with a score of 817 points. Logan County team members are: Todd Irwin, Kaleb Hoerbert, and Jacob Stoll.

The Champion junior team this year was Stephenson County scoring 778 points. The high county junior team was comprised of: Andrea Willing, Bria Koester, and Jordan Oellerich.

The top 10 High Individuals in the senior division were:

1) Macy Wendling Effingham County
2) Joshua Laesch Bond County
3) Brett Woker Bond County
4) Andy Rice Iroquois County
5) Becca Spraque Boone County
6) Ashten Smithson Fayette County
7) Jessica Telgmann Shelby County
8) Ethan Gingerich Douglas County
9) Logan Kimmel McLean County
10) Todd Irwin Logan County

The top 10 Individuals in the junior division were:

1) Hadley Ehlers Randolph County
2) Andrea Willing Stephenson County
3) Olivia Telgmann Shelby County
4) Kristina Drendel Kane County
5) Lauren Robinson Bond County
6) Sadie Ropp Livingston County
7) Shana Lueking Clinton County
8) Brock Irwin Boone County
9) Bria Koester Stephenson County
10) Jordan Oellerich Stephenson County

Click here for full details and individual scores

Sixteenth Annual Horse Superior Young Producer Contest Results

Debra J. Hagstrom, M.S.

Youth Extension Specialist, horse

University of Illinois – Champaign/Urbana

On July 26, during the Illinois State Junior Horse Show, the sixteenth annual Superior Young Producer Award (SYPA) contest was held. Participants competed for five, $1,000 scholarships to the college or university of their choice. These scholarships have been generously sponsored this year by Archer-Daniel's-Midland (Decatur). The twenty-one youth horse enthusiasts who competed in this year's contest began the competition by judging two halter classes and two performance classes. Judging classes included Arabian halter, stock type mare conformation, saddleseat pleasure and stock type western pleasure. Contestants then took a written test and completed ten skillathon stations.

Plaques were given to the top three individuals in each event (judging, written exam, and stations). The top five individuals overall earned a $1,000 scholarship to the post-secondary education institution of their choice. To participate, these individuals were either a 4-H or FFA member in good standing, meeting all eligibility requirements. In addition, they were required to be between the ages of 14 and 19 according to 4-H or FFA rules.

The top 3 individuals earning plaques in the judging phase of the contest were:

1^st Andrew Mathis, Shelby County

2^nd Zoe Underwood, Knox County

3^rd Marissa Boster, Sangamon County

The top 3 individuals earning plaques in the written phase of the contest were:

1^st Rachael Webber, Monroe County

2^nd Zoe Underwood, Knox County

3^rd Laura Ganvik, McHenry County

The top 3 individuals earning plaques in the stations phase of the contest were:

1^st Marissa Boster, Sangamon County

2^nd Zoe Underwood, Knox County

3^rd Rachael Webber, Monroe County

The top 5 individuals overall who will receive a $1000 college scholarship in addition to a plaque were:

1^st Zoe Underwood, Knox County

2^nd Marissa Boster, Sangamon County

3^rd Rachael Webber, Monroe County

4^th Taylor Dashiell, Clark County

5^th Andrew Mathis, Shelby County

Congratulations to the scholarship recipients for doing an outstanding job of demonstrating their comprehensive horse knowledge. In addition, credit should be given to those who excelled in a particular phase of the contest. Furthermore, appreciate is extended to all of the Junior show exhibitors that volunteered to provide horses for the judging phase of the contest. This year we had some especially high quality judging classes. Finally, the scholarship sponsors are thanked for their generous support.

Click here for full article with color photo

August 24, 2012 Extension Dairy Educator, retired

618-224-7951

e-mail: dfischer@illinois.edu

2012 Superior Young Dairy Producer Award Winners

The 2012 Superior Young Dairy Producer Award (SYDPA) program was held August 18, at the Illinois State Fair. Twenty 4-H and FFA dairy project members from across Illinois took part in the event. The purpose of the contest is to create an educational activity that promotes youth development, career development, and personal growth through increased knowledge of the dairy industry. This three-phase competition, emphasizing the youth's knowledge of the dairy industry, awarded each of the top five overall participants with a $1,000 scholarship. The 2012 scholarship recipients were: Carol Baumann, Wyoming, IL (Stark County), Anna Folgate, Dakota, IL (Stephenson County), Kaleb Hoerbert, Delavan, IL (Logan County), Todd Irwin, Beason, IL (Logan County), and Daniel Obert, Orangeville, IL (Stephenson County).

The $5,000 in scholarships was sponsored by Archer Daniels Midland, Decatur, IL. Individual plaques were awarded to the "top 3" in each phase and the "top 5" overall winners. The Land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association and Illinois State Fair sponsored the plaques.

The first phase was a dairy management test relating to dairy nutrition, health, reproduction, milk marketing, and other dairy related information. Top three contestants for this phase were: Anna Folgate, Dakota, IL (Stephenson County), Daniel Obert, Orangeville, IL (Stephenson County), and Meredith Ziller, Huntley, IL (McHenry County).

The second phase was a three station skill-a-thon on various aspects of the dairy industry. Contestants had to identify dairy feeds, identify parts of the cow, and identify dairy equipment. The top three contestants in the skill-a-thon were: Carol Baumann, Wyoming, IL (Stark County), Kaleb Hoerbert, Delavan, IL (Logan County), and Joshua Laesch, Greenville, IL (Bond County).

The third phase of the Superior Young Dairy Producer Contest was a judging contest. The judging phase consisted of animal selection by placing four classes of dairy cows and two classes of heifers. The top three contestants for this phase were: Joshua Laesch, Greenville, IL (Bond County), Andrew Rice, Sheldon,IL (Iroquois, County), and Brett Woker, Greenville, IL (Bond County).

This year marked the 17^th consecutive year for the Superior Young Dairy Producer Award Program which has provided $85,000 in college scholarships to Illinois dairy youth since its inception. Participants must be 4-H or FFA dairy project members in Illinois. The program is developed and coordinated by Dave Fischer, University of Illinois Retired Extension Dairy Educator.

Click here for full article and color photo

August 22, 2012

Source: Dan Jennings

djjennin@illinois.edu

2012 Superior Young Sheep Producers Scholarship Winners

The 2012 Illinois Superior young Sheep Producers Award Contest was held on August 10^th in conjunction with the Illinois State Fair Junior Sheep Show. Twenty-five 4-H and FFA members from across Illinois competed in the event. This is a three phase competition challenging the young people's knowledge of sheep production. $1,000 scholarships are presented each year to the five, highest scoring individuals over all. The contest is sponsored by Archer Daniels Midland, Decatur, and the Illinois State fair. The land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association supplies the individual plaques presented to the scholarship and phase winners.

The five, $1,000 scholarship winners are: Aaron Wetzel of Franklin Grove; Amanda Wright of Eureka; Lori Woods of Baylis; Augusta Sandoval of Knoxville; and Sarah Deschepper of Altona, IL.

There are three phases involved in the contest. Plaques are given to the three highest scoring individuals in each. The three phases include a management test, Judging, and a skill-a-thon. The test phase was won by Wright, Sandoval, and Wetzel. Top honors in the skill-a-thon phase went to Wetzel, Woods, and Sandoval. The judging phase sorted out Wetzel, Mitch Holmes of Mohomet, and Jordan Schaal of Farina, IL.

This year marked the 16^th consecutive year for the Superior Young Sheep Producers Contest which has provided participating youth the opportunity to compete for $80,000 in college scholarships since its inception. The program is developed and coordinated by Richard Cobb, retired University of Illinois Extension Sheep and Meat Goat Specialist. The purpose of the contest is to create an educational activity that promotes youth development, career development, and personal growth through increased knowledge of the sheep industry.

Click here for full article with color photo

August 22, 2012

News Source: Daniel Jennings, 815-218-4358, djjennin@illinois.edu

2012 Superior Young Beef Producer Award winners announced

The 2012 Illinois Superior young Beef Producers Award Contest was held on August 8^th in conjunction with the Illinois State Fair. Twenty-four 4-H and FFA members from across Illinois competed in the event. This is a three phase competition challenging the young people's knowledge of beef production. $1,000 scholarships are presented each year to the five, highest scoring individuals over all. The contest is sponsored by Archer Daniels Midland, Decatur, and the Illinois State fair. The land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association supplies the individual plaques presented to the scholarship and phase winners.

The top five youth receiving $1,000 scholarships include: Joesph Ring of Oregon, Tyler Pokojski of Centralia, Kaylie Huizenga of Morrison, Rochelle Meteer of Blue Mound, and Sarah Moore of Jerseyville, IL

In the beef management test, Ring, Moore, and Pokojski sorted themselves to the top and received plaques for their achievements. In the skill-a-thon phase, Ring, Meteer, and Huizenga took home the highest honors. In the Judging competition, Kendi Sayre of Arenzville, Ring and Olivia Claire of Watseka made up the top three.

Dan Jennings, University of Illinois Extension Specialist 4-H Livestock, said, "This contest provides youth an opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the industry while competing for valuable scholarships to help them pursue their career goals."

This year marked the 16^th consecutive year for the Superior Young beef Producers Contest which has provided participating youth the opportunity to compete for $80,000 in college scholarships since its inception. The purpose of the contest is to create an educational activity that promotes youth development, career development, and personal growth through increased knowledge of the beef industry.

For full article and color photo click here.

August 22, 2012

News Source: Daniel Jennings, 815-218-4358, djjennin@illinois.edu

2012 Superior Young Swine Producer Award winners announced

The 2012 Illinois Superior young Swine Producers Award Contest was held on August 8^th in conjunction with the Illinois State Fair. Twenty-seven 4-H and FFA members from across Illinois competed in the event. This is a three phase competition challenging the young people's knowledge of swine production. $1,000 scholarships are presented each year to the five, highest scoring individuals over all. The contest is sponsored by Archer Daniels Midland, Decatur, and the Illinois State fair. The land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association supplies the individual plaques presented to the scholarship and phase winners.

The top five youth receiving $1,000 scholarships include: Maxwell Look of Mapleton, IL (Peoria County); Daniel Ammann of Highland, IL (Madison County); Deven Ammann of Highland, IL (Madison County); Anna Lucht of Milford, IL (Iroqouis County); and Kyle Jorstad of Morris, IL (Grundy County).

In the swine management test, Look, Daniel Ammann, and Lucht sorted themselves to the top and received plaques for their achievements. In the skill-a-thon phase, Look, Ammann, and Jorstad took home the highest honors. In the Judging competition, Christine Todd of Danverse, IL, Daniel Ammann, and Max Look made up the top three.

Dan Jennings, University of Illinois Extension Specialist 4-H Livestock, said, "This contest provides youth an opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the industry while competing for valuable scholarships to help them pursue their career goals."

This year marked the 16^th consecutive year for the Superior Young Swine Producers Contest which has provided participating youth the opportunity to compete for $80,000 in college scholarships since its inception. The purpose of the contest is to create an educational activity that promotes youth development, career development, and personal growth through increased knowledge of the swine industry.

Click here for full article with photo

Scholarships were provided by Archer Daniels Midland, Decator IL. Plaques were sponsored by Land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association and IL State Fair.

August 22, 2012

News source: Daniel J. Jennings, 815-218-4358, djjennin@illinois.edu

2012 Illinois State Fair Pork Premiere Show Results

URBANA –Bryson Gottschalk of Tazewell County exhibited the Champion Junior Pork Premiere at the 2012 Illinois State Fair Pork Premiere Carcass Show. Gottschalk's pig was also named Champion Premiere barrow in the open show.

"Bryson's crossbred barrow had a hot carcass weight of 205.5 pounds with 0.60 inches of backfat and a 9.8 square-inch loineye," said Dan Jennings, University of Illinois Extension 4-H livestock specialist. "With 117 days on test, this barrow had 0.859 pounds of lean gain per day which is the ultimate figure used in ranking the premiere hogs. His 272-pound crossbred barrow also scored well on qualitative measures such as color, marbling, firmness and pH."

The champion Land of Lincoln and second place hog in the Junior Premiere Show was exhibited by Meg Meeker of Logan County. Her 281-pound Duroc pig had a hot carcass weight of 225 pounds, 0.60 inches backfat, and a 10.0 square-inch loineye.

"Meg's barrow came in with 139 days on test which gives him 0.83 pounds of lean gain per day," Jennings explained. Meg's barrow was also named champion Land of Lincoln in the open Premiere carcass show.

Robert Batson of Grundy County captured the Reserve Land of Lincoln title in both the junior and open Premiere show with a 264-pound Yorkshire barrow that charted 0.79 pounds of lean gain per day on test.

Reserve Champion honors in the Open Premiere Show went to Mike Zehr of Tazewell County with a 261-pound crossbred barrow that sported a 9.5 square-inch loineye area with 0.6 inches of backfat and 0.852 pounds of lean gain per day.

"The Junior and Open Premiere Carcass shows for swine, beef and sheep rank as one of the more complete and educational livestock programs that youth can enter," Jennings said. "They incorporate live evaluation with production performance and carcass merit, which should be the bottom line in evaluating market animals."

Jennings collected and tabulated the carcass data to ascertain the 2012 alignment for these shows. Pigs were nominated and tattooed in the spring. The live and carcass data collected included breed, initial weight, live weight, average daily gain, hot carcass weight, length, 10^th rib backfat, and loineye area. These figures were used to calculate the pounds of lean gain per day for rankings. In addition, qualitative measurements were taken for loin color, marbling, firmness, and pH.

Behrmann's Packing Company assisted and helped coordinate the harvesting of the pigs.

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2012 State 4-H Poultry Judging Contest Results

News
Aug. 22^nd, 2012
Source: Dan Jennings – University of Illinois, State Livestock Specialist, 4-H
djjennin@illinois.edu

On August 9^th during the Illinois State Fair, the State 4-H Poultry Judging contest was held in the Orr building. This year's contest hosted thirty individuals. Marion County took top honors in the senior team division compiling a score of 2,978 points. Team members include: Kelsey Littrell, Rhiannon Branch, and Tyler Pokojski. Second place senior team went to Will County with a score of 2,676 points. Will County team members are: Stephanie Zimmer, Toni Oypt, and Allison Simms.

The Champion junior team this year was Jo Daviess County scoring 2,836 points. The high county team was comprised of: Colton Koester, Drew Groezinger, Rhett Geisz, and Brady Haring. Reserve Champion team honors in the junior division went to Will County with a score of 2,807 points. Team members are: Grace Simms, Lorraine Selucky, Ester Simms, and Ben Mills.

The top 10 High Individuals in the senior division were:

1) Kelsey Littrell Marion County
2) Rhiannon Branch Marion County
3) Tyler Pokojski Marion County
4) Stephanie Zimmer Will County
5) Toni Oypt Will County
6) Kaycee Roberts Fulton County
7) Joshua DeDina Kane County
8) Randi Shimmin Warren County
9) Jacob Roberts Fulton County
10) Allison Simms Will County

The top 10 Individuals in the junior division were:

1) Colten Koester Jo Daviess County
2) Grace Simms Will County
3) Drew Groezinger Jo Daviess County
4) David Kloppe Sangamon County
5) Lorraine Selucky Will County
6) Ester Simms Will County
7) Jarod Woodward Marion County
8) Renae Spannagel Moultrie-Douglas County
9) Rhett Geisz Jo Daviess County
10) Brady Haring Jo Daviess County

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You and your local 4-H families are invited to celebrate 4-H at the Illiniois State Fair on Saturday, August 11 from 4-6 PM! The event will be held on the Director of Agriculture's Lawn.

Come and enjoy free ice cream and help us honor the following individuals:
--2012 Hall of Fame Class
--The Joseph F. and Wilma Ratermann Family from Clinton County as the 2012 Family Spirit winners
--Legacy of Leadership Scholars
--Our Illinois 4-H Project Partners
--and new this year our State Fair Online winners

Click here to register! We hope to see you there!

A free will donation to support 4-H will be accepted.

Please promote this in your local county newsletters and Facebook pages!

We hope that many of your 4-H members are excited about the opportunity to share what they've learned in their project(s) by creating a short video for State Fair Online. Submissions are accepted until August 1st and winners will be announced at the Aug. 11th 4-H Family Event at State Fair in Springfield.

All the details for this year can be found at:
https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/4hstatefaironline/index.cfm

Please share this website with your members and remind them about this exciting opportunity! Multiple $10, $25 and $50 gift certificates will be awarded to top-scoring entries.

For questions, please contact Lisa Diaz (lbdiaz@illinois.edu)

Due to additional changes in some State Fair plans, we have changed the 4-H 101 Webinar on the 2012 State Fair to Wednesday, June 6 at 1:30 p.m. (It had been originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 30th.)

If you are already registered for this Webinar, you will still receive the information regarding codes, etc. If you still need to register for the session, please do so by Monday, June 4 so that we can get you the information.

State Fair has provided a correction to page 31 of the State Fair Jr. Premium Book - Admission to the Fairgrounds. The information that was posted on that page is incorrect at this time -- but please note that State Fair is working to get it corrected on the website. (I have no information about if the change will be made to any printed copies of the book.)

For our 4-H exhibitors and their families, we will again have discounted gate admission and auto pass pricing, however fees have increased since last year. This year, the fees are set at the following:
* Under 5 years of age - Free (same as last year)
* 5-12 years of age - $1.00 (same as last year)
* Age 13 and over - $4.00
* 4-H Parking/Auto Passes - $4.00 (same as last year)

We will provide an order form on the portal later this month for ordering passes from your office.

NOTE: We are trying to make arrangements for changes to our "usual" parking arrangements with our move of 4-H exhibits to the central and south ends of the fairgrounds. We will post more information on those arrangements as they become finalized. Please do not order auto parking passes until we have confirmed those arrangements! Thank you.

We received notification on Friday that the Illinois State Fair has posted all of their Premium Books on their website for the 2012 Illinois State Fair: http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/competition.html.

For new staff, all Junior Department classes (including the General 4-H Exhibits), are included in the Jr. Livestock Premium Book. Junior Department Livestock and Horse classes are open to 4-H and FFA members. The Dog Show and General 4-H Exhibit classes are open to 4-H members only.

You will notice in the General 4-H Exhibit Rules section under Premiums that starting in 2012, we will only be paying premiums to those members who achieve Superior or Best Action status on their project exhibits. State Fair management had approached the State 4-H Office with this item during discussions this winter. They had asked that we wait to announce it to you until they had provided us with a statement concerning the reason for the change. Unfortunately, we never received that statement, so we had not notified you of this major change. We were not expecting the books to be posted until we had been able to contact you first.

We apologize for the suddenness of this particular announcement and whatever questions and concerns that may arise from it. This change was made due to the continued high costs of printing and mailing checks for small amounts and makes sense during this time of state budget concerns. The premium amount for the youth receiving Superior and Best Action recognition will still be determined by an "x" factor, but will be higher than the previous amounts issued.

We will post the State Fair's statement as soon as we receive it. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

Please join the PQA and Quality Assurance and Ethics webinar planned for Thursday May 24th starting at 9:30 a.m. This presentation will outline both the PQA Plus and the Quality Assurance & Ethics programs. An introduction and overview of both programs will be shared as well as the requirements, logistics, and rules that pertain to each of these youth livestock programs. A question and answer session will follow each of the program overviews.

Click on the link below to register for this webinar.
https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6575

It is time to start promoting employment opportunities for the 2012 Illinois State Fair Junior Department! The REVISED State Fair Jr. Department Job Application and Job Listings have been posted on the Illinois 4-H website Fair & Exhibits page: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/members/fairsandexhibits.cfm. We have openings for youth ages 14-15 (limited); 16 and over (LOTS) and adults as judges, project assistants, livestock crew, superintendents, and set-up crew. Please assist us with promoting these opportunities to your members, parents, volunteers, and others who may be interested.

We have also updated the 2012 Fashion Revue Narrative Instructions; those are also posted on the Fairs & Exhibits page. Please make sure to either download the information for your members or direct them to the webpage following your Fashion Revue Contest this spring/summer. Information is due by August 1 for those counties who are not requesting late entry status. Information from counties who have late entry status is August 7.

As a reminder to all staff, entries for the General 4-H Exhibits will be due August 1 to Dan Horn (via the State Fair DMS program) UNLESS you have contacted Dan by July 15 regarding late entries. Late entries are permissible only for those counties who have late 4-H Shows (July 30 or later).

We are pleased to announce that the 2012 General 4-H Exhibit Rules for the State Fair have been posted on the portal, with changes marked in red for your convenience. (4-H Contacts = Events = Statewide = Illinois State Fair = SF 4-H General Exhibits = 2012 General 4-H Exhibit Rules - Changes Marked)

However, please note that the Premium Information has not been posted. We are waiting for a release of information from the Illinois State Fair, so that information is still 'to be determined" and we will provide that information to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience as we have been working through several issues related to this year's fair.

Staff have started requesting an overview of State Fair Online that they can include in their county fairbooks. The following can be used for this purpose, and also shared on your website or other communication with 4-H families. If you have any questions, please let me know! - Lisa

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2^nd Annual 4-H State Fair Online

An additional state-level judging opportunity and chance to share what you've learned in 4-H with the broader public!!!

• Contribute to a collection of videos and maps on the internet that show the broader public what 4-H youth are learning and doing in their communities
• Practice your technology skills and prepare to participate in a tech-infused workplace
• Qualify for exciting prizes! All participants will receive ribbons, as well as feedback and recognition on the 4-H State Fair Online website.

Who: Open to all Illinois 4-H members who meet state fair age requirements (at least 10 years of age by September 1, 2011). No county-level selection process is required.

When:

• All exhibits must be posted online by noon, August 1, 2012
• Exhibit judging will be conducted online through interactive website (Aug. 1-10th)
• Winners announced on Saturday, August 11^th, at the Illinois 4-H Family event on the fairgrounds in Springfield, IL.
• Entries will be made available for public viewing in the Exposition Building on a daily basis

Entries from the 2011 Illinois 4-H State Fair Online can be viewed at: https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/4hstatefaironline/ Updates on the 2012 event will be posted on this website later this spring. Details on 2012 entries can be found in the 2012 General 4-H Exhibit – Illinois State Fair guidelines. Related classes include My 4-H Project Video (#50295) and My 4-H Project Map (#50125).

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Additional Notes on Filmmaking Classes 50290-50294 - this same information is in the 2012 State Fair Exhibit guidelines:

• Enrollment in the video project is required
• Each county may submit two entries within this group of classes, however no more than one entry may be made in an individual class
• All exhibits must be posted for on-line judging on the "Illinois 4-H State Fair Online" website.
• Judges will be available for in-person feedback and recognition on regularly scheduled county judging days
• Entries will be made available for public viewing in the Exposition Building on a daily basis

The April-May issue of the Illinois Leader has now been posted to the Portal under Groups: 4-H Contacts: Volunteer Support: Illinois Leader. It has also been sent to our web folks to post on the Illinois 4-H web site under Volunteers: Volunteer Support: Illinois Leader. Please consider a variety of methods to share this information with your 4-H leaders: print copy in newsletter, link on your county 4-H web site, email file to leaders, distribute copies at face-to-face meetings.

Register for upcoming 4-H 101 webinars via the updated registration site.These training opportunites are appropriate for 4-H staff, office support staff and county directors since each staff role has a unique part in supporting the Illinois 4-H program.

Once completed, 4-H 101 Webinarrecordings, powerpoints with notepages, and related documentswill be archived on the Portal; 4-H Contacts; Staff Development; Webinars.

Registration is open for these upcoming webinars:

Monday, March 12, 2012 - 1:30 PM - Think Green
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - 1:30 PM - 4-H Fiscal Issues
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 10:30 AM - 4-H Shooting Sports
Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 10:00 AM - SPIN Clubs
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - 1:30 PM - State Fair Online
Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 1:30 PM - Recognition, Part II
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 1:30 PM - PYD BIG-M, Part I
Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 1:30 PM - PYD BIG-M, Part II
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 1:30 PM - State Fair Update


Click here for more information or to register: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6575
NOTE: A confirmation for each 4-H 101 Webinar will be sent to your email account when you register. Save all email confirmations so you do not duplicate your registration.

Be aware that webinar times and days of the week vary and note those dates and times on your calendar.You are encouraged to register at least five days prior to each webinar as topic-specific information may be shared with participants prior to some sessions.

Due to some miscommunications between State Fair, the Dog Show Superintendents and myself, we have had different dates posted for the State Fair 4-H Dog Show. Originally set for Sunday, August 26, the judges were hired for Saturday, August 25 and can no longer change their date.

So the 2012 Dog Show will be on SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 at the Exposition Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

My sincere apologies for earlier communications with the August 26th date and for all the confusion this may cause. Please inform your 4-H Dog exhibitors and trainers of the correct date. Thank you.

Register for any or all of the upcoming 4-H 101 webinars.

This is a training opportunity for 4-H staff, office support staff and county directors, since each staff role has a unique part in supporting the Illinois 4-H programs.

The following 4-H 101 Webinars have already been completed and the powerpoints with notepages and related documents are available on the Portal under Groups; 4-H Contacts; Staff Development; Webinars:

Registration is open for these upcoming webinars:

• Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - Starting New 4-H Clubs
• Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 10:00 a.m. - SPIN Clubs
• Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - 4-H Ag Premium Fund
• Monday, March 12, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - Think Green Initiative - DATE CHANGED
• Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - Recognition - Part I
• Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - 4-H Fiscal Issues
• Tuesday, April 3, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - State Fair Online
• Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - Recognition - Part II
• Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - PYD BIG-M, Part I - NEW ADDITION
• Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - PYD BIG-M, Part II - NEW ADDITION
• Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 1:30 p.m. - State Fair Update

Click here for more information or to register.

NOTE: A confirmation for each 4-H 101 Webinar is sent to your email account when you register. Please check for those email confirmations so you do not duplicate your registration.

Note that webinar times and days of the week vary. Please register at least 5 days prior to each webinar, as topic-specific info may be shared with participants before the sessions.

PQA email from Pork Board is coming soon! Please read it and save it!

Pork Quality Assurance advisor training/certification has been initiated via on-line notification this week. Many of you have been inquiring about getting this accomplished for the youth in your counties. 4-H youth educators and program support staff should be receiving an email from the National Pork Board next week which outlines how to get on-line and receive "Youth PQA PLUS" Advisor training and subsequent certification. This certification is good for three years and allows you access to the database in order to add and recertify the youth with swine projects in your counties after they have attended PQA training. This program can be completed on-line at your convenience.

This certification will involve you logging in, setting a password, and going through a narrated slide set. At the end you must complete a multiple choice quiz and score 90% or better. You can retake the quiz up to 3 times to get this score (have only ever had 2-3 people need to take it more than once). Hint – It is a good idea to have one of the PQA Plus Manuals in front of you when taking this, there should be one in every county.

Youth enrolled in swine projects must be PQA certified by attending the PQA training class every year to be eligible to show at State Fair as well as national shows and many county fairs. The teacher for this training can be anyone that feels comfortable doing it. Many counties will get a vet, Agricultural teacher, county swine supt., swine farmer, feed dealer, etc. to teach it (there is a slide set and a script for this). However, a PQA certified county 4-H extension employee must be there to verify the youth attended and later enter them into the PQA database.

Just knew we couldn't get by with just one "Corrections" post...it just doesn't happen. But we have gone through the General 4-H Exhibit classes (again) and are fairly sure that the following items are the final corrections to this section of the book.

SECTION VII - ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY; Sub-Section 5 - Filmmaking/Video
Documentary Class -- Class# should be 50294; NOT 50204

SECTION IX - NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT; Sub-Section 2 - Entomology
50603, Entomology, Other -- Should read.... that does not fit into Classes 50360 - 50362; NOT 50345-50347

SECTION X - PLANTS & SOILS; Sub-Section 1 - Crops
50381 Corn - Should read.... Popcorn and sweet corn should be exhibited in classes #50390 or #50391; NOT 50410 or #50411.

These changes will be made on the portal "clean" and "red" copies shortly! Remember, see the January 10th blog posting for Corrections #1!

We hope to have the General 4-H Rules pages posted soon, but are waiting on confirmation of details from State Fair. Again, thank you for your patience.

Check the myExtension portal for details on several important livestock-related deadlines and events. Of particular note:

• 2012 Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest (news release & entry forms)
• Livestock Premiere - changes in tattooing & tagging rules
• Livestock ownership deadlines

All of this info is on the portal under 4-H Contacts / Events / Statewide / Illinois State Fair.

We've discovered the first (and is it too much to hope for, the last??) errors in the 2012 State Fair General 4-H Exhibit Class changes. I will correct these on the portal copies, but in case you have already downloaded those, please make these changes to your notes:

Sub-Section 5 - CLOTHING & TEXTILES -- Should read Sub-Section 4

Sub-Section 6 - FASHION REVUE -- Should read Sub-Section 5

50181 Fashion Revue -- ...following projects: Clover Challenge -- Clothing & Textiles; Sewing & Textiles; Clothing Decisions; and/or Knitting..... (Clothing Decisions should NOT have been deleted from this class description!)


Also -- for further reference, the project areas that were deleted from State Fair exhibits this year (i.e. Clothing Decisions, Plants & Soils, etc.) are still state-wide 4-H projects listed in the Clover, so they are still eligible for premiums at your local 4-H shows.

I apologize for the errors above. If we find any others, we will notify you as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience.

The majority of changes for the 2012 Illinois State Fair General 4-H Exhibit Classes and County Date assignments have been posted to the portal (see links below). However, we are still working out some changes within the General 4-H Exhibit Rules, so those items will be forthcoming as soon as we get some final clarification.

Posted were the following:

* 2012 State Fair 4-H Exhibit Classes - Changes Noted -- all changes are noted in "red"

* 2012 General 4-H Exhibits - "Clean" Copy

* 2012 Major Changes in Exhibit Classes -- a summary of the major changes

We hope to have the final changes in General Rules to you by next week; we are waiting on some final confirmation from State Fair before we can finish this section.

We will be working on a "exhibit number summary" later and will get that posted as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience while we have tried to work through some major challenges with our 2012 State Fair plans.