4-H’ers to compete in Public Speaking Contest
Whiteside and Lee County 4-H’ers will gather together on Saturday, June 25 to give public speeches at Sauk Valley Community College. 4-H’ers have several different types of speeches to choose from, including, Formal and Illustrated speeches, Extempore speaking, Demonstrations, oral interpretations and original works. 4-H’ers can also give food demonstrations.
All 4-H’ers in Whiteside and Lee County can sign up to participate in the contest. They will need to preregister with their office by June 10. The public is welcome to attend and watch the competition at Sauk Valley Community College on June 25 at 9am.
The University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. For more information on University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development programs, contact the Lee County Extension Office at 815-857-3525 or kbook@illinois.edu
Whiteside County 4-H Show Summer 2016
The University of Illinois Extension, will be hosting their annual Whiteside County 4-H Show from Thursday, July 14th through Saturday, July 16th, 2016. Starting Thursday, we have our Horse and Pony, Dairy, Sheep/Goat, and Poultry shows. Friday we have our beef, cat and rabbit shows along with foods and sewing. Some Fun events going on: Friday July 15th Kids can participate in “Paint the 4-H Show” where they will have the chance to paint pictures on sidewalks of the fairgrounds related to 4-H. Also on Friday the Whiteside 4-H Federation will be hosting a Pork Chop BBQ dinner Friday July 15th at the Fairgrounds from 5:00-7:00p.m. tickets are $8.00 (One Chop Meal) and $10.00 (Two Chop Meal) Meals include Chop(s), chips, applesauce, baked beans, cookie and a drink. Tickets are available at the Extension office located 12923 Lawrence Rd. or through Whiteside county 4-H members. After the BBQ the Farm Bureau Young Farmers group will be hosting an AG Olympics starting at 7:30pm.
On Saturday July 16, from 9:00a.m.-2:00p.m. 4-H members will be showing off all their general projects they have been working on ranging from visual arts, computer science, electricity, filmmaking, woodworking and more! Also Saturday will be our swine and dog shows starting in the morning. Along with the projects the Farm Bureau Young Farmers group will be having a petting zoo for the community to enjoy. After the Project judging 4-H members, families and community members are invited to the lawn for a wrap up of the week’s 4-H Show and some special awards presentations. Come Support your local 4-H program.
The Whiteside 4-H program is always looking for new members and volunteers. Please contact Allie Lancaster at 815-632-3611 or at lancast@illinois.edu if you are interested in being a part of something amazing!
Fall Prevention Workshop Offered In Dixon
One-third for Americans age 65+ fall each year and every 14 seconds an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall. Falling is NOT an inevitable result of aging. The University of Illinois Extension will be offering a workshop titled “Take A Stand to Prevent Falls” on June 13th at 1:30 p.m. in Dixon. As part of a Wellness Series offered by Extension, this workshop is based on a University of Kentucky cooperative Extension Service program called A Matter of Balance.
According to Amy Hosier, Family Life Specialist with the University of Kentucky, “common age-related physical changes and medical conditions after the age of 65, including the medications taken to treat illness and disease, increase a persons’ risk of falling. While not all falls are serious, falls continue to remain the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among older adults in the United States. Some people let falls or the fear of falling rule their life. They stop being physically and socially active, they isolate themselves, or they become more dependent and less confident. Knowing the risks and being familiar with fall-prevention measures, falls and fall-related injuries can be prevented.”
“Take a Stand to Prevent Falls” will be offered on Monday, June 13th at 1:30 p.m. at the Post House Community Center, 100 West Second Street, in Dixon. This workshop is free and open to the public. To pre-register for the workshop or for more information, visit the University of Illinois Extension event calendar online at go.illinois.edu/2016dixonsummerseries or call 815-632-3611.
Workshop To Offer Strategies for Remembering Better
When you think about health, wellness, and fitness, most likely you will think about your physical health, exercise, or nutrition. It is certainly important to take care of our bodies physically as we get older. However, as we age, it is equally important to consider the health and fitness of our brain. You are never too young or old to start practicing brain “fitness.” The University of Illinois Extension will be offering “Hold That Thought,” a brain health workshop on Monday, June 20th at 10 a.m. at the Extension Whiteside County office, 12923 Lawrence Road, Sterling.
Everyone forgets things now and again and episodes of absentmindedness happen throughout life. Did you ever need to remind a child to hang up a coat or take out the garbage? Yes, memory does change as we age, but forgetfulness is common for people at all stages of life. This workshop will cover how researchers are examining the memory process, causes for why we forget, and strategies for remembering better!
The workshop series is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. To pre-register or for more information, visit the University of Illinois Extension event calendar online at go.illinois.edu/2016summerseries or call 815-632-3611.
Craniums and Geraniums: Workshop on Brain Health and Gardening
The University of Illinois Extension is pleased to offer “Craniums and Geraniums” on June 14 at 1:00 p.m. in Sterling. As part of a Gardening for Your Health series, this workshop will feature an overview of the connection between gardening and overall well-being. Participants will also create a take-home garden!
University of Illinois Extension offers programs create learning partnerships that put knowledge to work and aim to make life better, healthier, safer, and more profitable for individuals and their communities. Keeping your wits fit requires more than just doing crossword puzzles or word searches. There is increasing evidence that brain health is directly related to body health. Gardening, along with many other activities, can be classified as a physical activity and a source of exercise for the brain. This informative workshop will address the connection between health and gardening and will teach participants how to continue gardening into their golden years.
“Craniums and Geraniums” will be held on Tuesday, June 14th, at 1:00 p.m. at the Whiteside County Extension office, 12923 Lawrence Road, Sterling. Cost for the workshop is $5 to include all materials for the take-home garden. This workshop is open to the public. To pre-register for the workshop or for more information, visit go.illinois.edu/gardenforyourhealth or call 815-632-3611.
Toddler Tuesday’s Start at Andresen Nature Center
Bring your little one to Andresen Nature Center in Fulton on Tuesdays starting June 7th through July 12th from 9:30 – 10:30, and discover nature together! There is a whole world of creatures in the ground, in the trees, everywhere! The Earth is there home. Learn all about these wonderful creatures; what they eat, how they move and how they feel. Children ages 2 – 5, with a parent or guardian, will touch, and move like worms, birds and frogs. There is no fee for this program however, space is limited. You must be registered to attend. Register online one week prior to the date at go.illinois.edu/toddlertuesday.
(submitted by April Edwards-Eshelman)
