Carol Hepner's niece, Madyson Hepner, contacted me wanting to volunteer as our club's new leader! Madyson is from Arthur and currently lives in Lexington. She will be contacting the Extension Office to start the leader application process and will be working on finding a new location in Downs to have club meetings. Madyson can be contacted at madyson.hepner626@gmail.com.

Our next club meeting will be Sunday, October 9 at 4:00 at the TVES Library. New officer elections and the installation will be held. If you are interested in running for an office for the 2022-2023 year, please read the Club Officer Duties & Requirements. If you want to run for an office, please attend the October meeting and be prepared to give a short speech with your name, years in 4-H, and qualifications for the position. If you cannot attend the meeting but want to run for an office, please email me the info.

We will have a business meeting and members are welcome to give a talk/demo. Clover Buds will have an activity but we will need a parent volunteer to run the activity.

Sunday, September 11 - Cancelled

Sunday, October 9 - 4:00 - TVES Library - last meeting at TVES

Sunday, November 13 - 4:00 - Location TBD

Sunday, December 11 - 4:00 - Location TBD

Sunday, January 8 - 4:00 - Location TBD

Sunday, February 12 - 4:00 - Location TBD

Sunday, March 12 - 4:00 - Location TBD

Sunday, April 16 - 4:00 - Location TBD

Saturday, May 6 - 2:30 - ?? Dooley Park - flower planting, weeding & park clean up service project ?? - Depends on TV Greenhouse Sale and Mrs. Myers's schedule

June - Field Trip TBD

July - Meeting TBD

Sunday Aug. 13 - 4:00 - Location TBD - New Officer Elections?

• IL Extension Website: https://extension.illinois.edu/global/4-h-youth-development
• McLean County Extension Website: https://extension.illinois.edu/lmw/4-h-mclean-county
• 4-H Online: https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in

• Children between the ages of 5-7 by Sept. 1 can join as a Clover Bud member.
• Children between the ages of 8-18 by Sept. 1 can join as a 4-H member.
• Online registration for the 2022-2023 year is open on the new Z Suites Platform. There is a $20 fee per child. The fee is waived if you enroll by Oct. 31, 2022.
• May 1st deadline for project enrollment as this pertains to the local 4-H shows and not 4-H enrollment. That deadline will be for all returning AND new members.
• Project choice info is HERE or view the new Project Spark sheets.
• The Extension Office is no longer providing project books. You can purchase project books online at the 4-H Shop.
• ???, 2023 is the last day to enroll for the 4-H Show in Fair Entry.

• For questions, please contact county 4-H staff at the McLean County Extension Office at (309) 663-8306.

In order to show at the fair:

• 4-H member MUST be enrolled in 4-H with projects selected by May 1, 2023, be enrolled in the project area that the member intends to exhibit at the summer 4-H Show.
• 4-H member MUST attend at least 3 club meetings or club/4-H events
• 4-H member MUST give a talk or demo at a club meeting

Fair Website: http://www.mcleancountyfair.org/

2022 4-H Fair Book:

https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2022_mclean_county_4-h_show_fair_book_final_0.pdf

2022 4-H Show Registration: https://fairentry.com/Fair/SignIn/16532

View 4-H project record forms on the McLean County Extension Office website.

View McLean County Records Overview Info Sheet

Each 4-H club member should sign up to give 1 talk or demonstration at a club meeting. This is a great opportunity to teach others about a project area you are learning about. Check out the Tips for Talks & Demos sheet to help plan your presentation or click on this link for additional resources.

These trainings are for members enrolled in an animal class being exhibited at the 4-H Show this summer. This includes animal science and animal poster projects.

All members exhibiting in an animal class will need to take the QAEC training. Only members exhibiting beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, and goats at the 4-H Show will need to also take YQCA.

The deadline to complete training is June 28.

Click here for the YQCA training link. This training is virtual and costs $12 and must be taken every year.
Click here for the QAEC training link. This training is virtual and is free and is only required once.

For more information or questions? Contact Sky Holland.

If you would like to apply for 4-H awards, click on the link for info and deadlines.

https://4h.extension.illinois.edu/members/awards

For more information on scholarships visit https://4h.extension.illinois.edu/members/scholarships

Federation is a great opportunity to increase the involvement of youth in county/unit programming efforts and developing camaraderie beyond the club level. Members as young as 8th grade can be involved in Federation. At this age, teens are expected to start taking on more leadership responsibilities, and involvement in a county/unit 4-H Federation can offer members the chance to explore planning and implementing events beyond the club level.

Meetings are held the 4th Monday of each month.

Congratulations to the following members who were elected as officers for the 2021-2022 4-H year (Sept. 2021 - Aug. 2022):

President - Jack Walker

VP - Aleia Baumann

Treasurer - Addison Zwilling

Secretary - Arabella Baumann

Reporter/Historian - Harper Knobloch

Recreation Committee - OPEN

Join the Downs Top Notchers Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1465437923550693/

Follow the Downs Top Notchers on Instagram:

@downstopnotchers

Join the Downs Top Notchers Remind Text Group:

Text @86h4fa to 81010

Madyson Hepner - 4-H Club Leader - 309-532-2489 - madyson.hepner626@gmail.com

McLean County Extension Office - 309-663-8306 or https://extension.illinois.edu/lmw/contact