4-H Updates Page
Wind Energy 101 for Landowners
“Wind Energy 101: From a Landowners Perspective” is scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2010 at the Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St. The workshop is designed to help landowners make informed decisions about wind energy developments and leases. Over the past year, the Illinois Wind Working Group (IWWG) and University of Illinois Extension, with assistance from other groups, have coordinated eight of the forums across the state.
Registration begins at 1:00 and the program will be from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. University educators and industry professionals will present a background overview of wind (economics, why wind, etc), timeline for a wind development, agricultural issues related to wind development, and lease and contract issues.
“Wind energy in Illinois is going to experience explosive growth,” says Dr. David Loomis, Director of the Center for Renewable Energy at Illinois State University. “Illinois recently surpassed the 1,000 MW mark for wind capacity in the state and I see no end to the projects that are coming on-line.”
“Landowners need to consider the long term implications before signing a contract with a developer,” according to Stanley Solomon, University of Illinois Engineering Technology Educator. “While there are definite benefits to wind energy, the impacts on agriculture and future development of the land should be part of the decision. Limitations on locations and construction of new buildings, aerial crop spray applications, and practical cultivation equipment sizes are among the issues that should be considered.” These and other issues will be discussed during the workshops.
The early-registration deadline is January 4th for the discount registration fee of $20. Late registration and at the door will be $25 based on available space. For more information or to register, please contact the University of Illinois-Stephenson County at 815-235-4125 or register online at http://stephenson.extension.uiuc.edu.
Local Kids Are Jammin Over Health
On September 22 and 23, 93 4th-6th graders from Lee, Ogle, and Stephenson Counties got a jump start on health at University of Illinois Extension’s 4-H Health Jam, held at Camp White Eagle in Leaf River and KSB Hospital in Dixon. The 4-H Health Jam teaches students about healthy lifestyles, best nutrition and fitness practices, and health-related careers. A partnership between U of I Extension, KSB Hospital, and the National Center for Rural Health Professionals annually plans and conducts the program.
Illinois 4-H was one of eight states that received a $50,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation through National 4-H Council to encourage young people to develop and maintain healthy, active lifestyles. The grant money sponsors five 4-H Health Jams throughout Illinois and helps rural communities tackle wellness issues that are a major health concern nationwide.
“The Walmart Foundation is committed to improving the lives of young people and the communities in which they live, “ says Margaret McKenna, President of the Walmart Foundation. “The Foundation is proud to support the inventive program Illinois developed for 4-H and the impact those programs will have on the health of both participants and their communities.”
During the two-day camp, healthcare professionals and health-professions students engaged the youth in hands-on learning activities. Health Jam participants “toured” the human heart; observed the digestive process; filled mock prescriptions; and brushed up on their dental hygiene skills. At KSB Hospital, they interpreted x-ray, ultrasound and CAT scan images; got the scoop on sleep lab assessments; tested their balance in physical therapy; saved a mock accident victim with EMS; and got a behind-the-scenes experience in the dietary department.
In the eight-weeks following 4-H Health Jam, students engage in classroom learning activities taught by Extension Youth Development Educators. During these activities, youth continue to explore the human body, healthy lifestyles, and the “Walk Across Illinois” fitness challenge.
Working in teams, students exercise thirty minutes daily for a weekly total of 210 minutes. Health Jam teams log their exercise time and convert it to miles walked using a simple formula. If team members complete 30 minutes of daily physical activity, at the end of the eight weeks the teams will have walked the length of Illinois from East Dubuque to Cairo—a total of 448 miles. Teams that complete this challenge receive “I Walked across Illinois” t-shirts.
Participating classrooms for Health Jam ’09 are St. Mary’s School in Dixon; Steward Elementary School; Etnyre Elementary School, Oregon; and St. Anne’s School, Freeport. 4-H Camp Counselors who volunteered their time to assist with overnight activities included: Rose Rogde, Steward; Anna Ohlwine and David Shuman, Polo; Jake Bettner and Jim Overmyer, Oregon; Riley Egan, Byron; Linda Zack, Rockford; Erin and Grant Ebbesmeyer, German Valley; Maggie Hooper, Freeport; and Rebecca Ryman, McConnel. Thanks goes to all of these individuals, and to the event nurse, Karen Hauser, Freeport; and photographer Pam Ryman, McConnel.
For more information about 4-H Health Jam or any 4-H programs, visit your local University of Illinois Extension office on-line at www.extension.uiuc.edu.
Autumn Joys – The Crafty Side of Gardening
Spend a morning with the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of Stephenson County at “Autumn Joys – The Crafty Side of Gardening: Make It-Take It.” Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport, will be the site of this interactive gardening event on Saturday, October 24, 2009. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with the opening session beginning at 8:15 a.m. The program will conclude at noon.
Barb Curry, Family Nutrition Program Coordinator, University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County is the keynote speaker and will present “Cooking with Fall Produce.” The keynote will be followed by two breakout sessions. Participants will have a choice between two classes for their first session “Dried Flowers” or “Scrapbooking Your Garden”. The second session is a choice between “Flower and Fall Vegetable Painting” or “Forcing Bulbs for Winter Containers”. Autumn Joys will also feature garden related door prizes. To register for Autumn Joys or for more information call the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at (815) 235-4125 or register on-line at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/stephenson . Registration is $20 and is limited to the first 30 participants.
Learn How Windbreaks can Save Energy on November 12th
Persons living in homes in rural areas that are constantly exposed to the wind could save money by installing a windbreak. In the winter, a dense multi-row windbreak can save 10 to 40 percent in heating the home. Energy used to cool homes in the summer can also be reduced by a windbreak.
Windbreaks can have other benefits too. Wildlife habitat, especially with the addition of shrubs can be created. Fruit trees or trees for fuel wood production can also be incorporated into a windbreak, providing food and fuel for heat.
Dave Shiley, University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources Management Educator will present a program regarding windbreak design, planting, and maintenance. Renovating old windbreaks will also be discussed. This statewide teleconference, which includes a presentation filled with windbreak images, is set for November 12th at the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport. The program which will be presented via teleconference runs from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Registration is requested by November 11. To register for this program or for more information call the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at 815-235-4125. Registration cost is $5.
In Honor of National 4-H Week on
October 4-10, 2009 we are proud to announce a “tasty opportunity” for everyone!!!
Fundraising Day at Papa Murphy’s
TUESDAY, October 6th, 2009
This can’t be any easier! All you have
to do is make a purchase at Papa
Murphy’s on this date and 10% of the
net sales automatically go to the Stephenson County
4-H Extension Foundation!! You don’t have to go door
to door, and you can enjoy a meal with your family and friends!
Please help support your local Stephenson County 4-H clubs by stopping by Papa Murphy’s and celebrating National 4-H Week too!
The following are 4-H stories submitted for National 4-H Week:
Memories of Favorite Recipes of Illinois 4-H
Former 4-H members may remember making a favorite 4-H recipe such as snickerdoodles, wheat bread, funny cake, or brownies. Many 4-H members learned food skills as part of their 4-H project work. Over the years, the memories remained, but the recipes were lost. A new cookbook, Favorite Recipes of Illinois 4-H Through the Years, includes all of the most requested recipes from the past 60 years and is available at the office of University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County.
Foods projects were part of many 4-H members’ experiences and the cookbook allows those fond memories to be shared with current and future generations. More than 150 recipes from 4-H foods project books such as You Learn to Bake, ABC’s of Food, Adventures in Cooking, It’s Fun to Cook, Milk and Eggs, Meat in Your Meals, Pastry in Your Meals, and Yeast Breads in Your Meals are included in the spiral bound cookbook. Recipes are listed by book, alphabetically, and by food category for easy reference.
Besides cherished memories, the cookbook can help teach youth. Illustrations from the Pastry in Your Meals book are included to show the different steps to make a pie crust. Also included are illustrations from the Yeast Breads in Your Meals book, which show how to knead bread and form different kinds of rolls.
The cookbook may be purchased for $15 at University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County, Freeport. Call 815-235-4125 for further information. Proceeds from the cookbook will be used to support current 4-H foods project resources and training for 4-H volunteers within the state of Illinois.
High School Students Teach and Portray Positive Character for
7th Grade Students
Based on the concept of a boomerang, an Australian hunting tool that is thrown and then comes back to you, 7th grade Dakota School District students will be participating in a character education program that encourages positive character behaviors with their schoolmates, which will then come back to them. The program, created by Iowa State University Extension, incorporates the Josephson Institute’s six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
Weekly character education lessons will be taught by the following High School Team Teachers for the 2009-10 school year: Cody Baker, Jenna Engelkens, Brandon Holliday, Brody Kaiser, Melissa Mennenga, Hannah Pieper, Kelsey Smith, Rachel Trumpy, and Satara Wenger.
These high school students have received extensive training on the Boomerang Program prior to teaching Dakota’s 7th grade students this fall and spring. These students have been nominated, interviewed, and chosen by Dakota High School staff. The Team Teachers will serve as role models for the 7th grade students and will work with the classes, not only to teach weekly character education lessons, but to help the classes plan and facilitate a community service project in their school or community. The 7th grade students, as well as the High School Team Teachers, will be expected to uphold and demonstrate positive character traits in their daily lives.
This program is being coordinated by University of Illinois Extension Youth Development Educator, Kim Christman and Dakota School District Social Worker, Donna Reel. The team is working together to establish a character-driven environment in the Dakota School District. The program’s historical success can be attributed to the opportunity for high school students to teach and serve as role models, while assisting students in the lower grades to develop character and carry it out throughout their school and community. For more information about this or other University of Illinois Extension Youth Development programs, please contact Kim Christman at 815-235-4125.