4-H, FFA ethics website now available <br>
URBANA, Ill. — A website that will allow 4-H and FFA members to complete the required Quality Assurance and Ethics Certification necessary to exhibit at the 2008 Illinois State Fair is available through University of Illinois Extension.<br>
The website (http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/qaec/) is an improved version of the previous site.<br>
“The new website allows exhibitors to move easily between the six different modules and does not require the downloading of any additional software,” said Dave Seibert, U of I Extension animal systems educator.<br>
Seibert noted that in 2007 goats were added as a new species requiring certification. This year, poultry has been added. All exhibitors planning to show in this category at the State Fair are required to complete the certification.<br>
“The State Fair Junior Horse Show exhibitors must complete certification prior to June 9,” he said. “Exhibitors in beef, sheep, swine, dairy, goats, and poultry must complete certification before July 1.<br>
“This website will be the only approved method in 2008 and future years as approved by the Illinois State Fair Junior Livestock Advisory Committee.”<br>
Participants are only required to take the training once for the Illinois State Fair. Those who have previously taken the training are maintained on the approved list and do not need to be re-certified.
Those with questions about the website and the certification process should contact Seibert at 309-694-7501, extension 224.<br>
Ft. Recovery FFA hosts tractor drive-in<br>
FT. RECOVERY, Ohio — To celebrate National FFA Week, the Ft. Recovery FFA Chapter hosted a truck and tractor drive-in to help promote agriculture and the National FFA Organization.<br>
32 FFA members drove in tractors to win the following: cleanest, biggest, smallest, most used, newest, and best restored. Chris Gehret won 1st in the cleanest category with his John Deere 7180 and Mark Post came in 2nd place with his John Deere 7820. Josh Overman placed 1st in the biggest category with a Case IH STX 450, and Craig Kaiser placed 2nd with a Case IH STX 375.  Caitlin Gehret won the smallest category with a 22 horsepower Kubota Bx2230 while Adam Rohrer placed 2nd with a 23 horsepower New Holland 224D.<br>
The best-restored award went to Kevin Jutte with an Allis-Chalmers WD45 and Val Fortkamp drove in the 2nd place tractor, which was a McCormick Super W-6.  <br>
The newest award went to Justin Alt with 6 hours and Dan Brackman drove in the 2nd newest tractor with 8.4 hours. Justin Schoenlein won 1st in the most used category with 565.6 hours per year and Nathan Fortkamp won 2nd with 481.9 hours per year.<br>
Thirty-three FFA members also drove in trucks to win the following: sharpest, dirtiest, cleanest, loudest, junkiest, and most used. First place in the cleanest truck category was awarded to
Matt Wendel with his Ford F150, and 2nd place went to Kelly Thien with her 2004 Ford F150. The junkiest category was awarded to Dave Osterholt with his 1986 Nissan for 1st place and 2nd to Jeremy Siegrist with his Chevy Scottsdale. First place in the dirtiest truck category was awarded to Joel Weitzel and second place went to Kelsey Brockman.<br>
Mitch Link won the sharpest category with his Ford F250 and Brad Jutte won second place with his Sterling Semi.  dam Pottkotter drove in the most used truck with 27,466 miles per year and Justin Alt came in second with his truck having 25,290 miles per year.
In the loudest category Cody Heitkamp won first place with his 2000 1500 Dodge and Beverly Lennartz came in second place with her 1979 Ford F250.<br>
All winners received a trophy at the close of FFA Week.
Congratulations to all winners and to all the members who participated.<br>
Nathan Frost Earns Junior Bronze & Silver Awards <br>
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Nathan Frost, Tallula, Ill., has earned the National Junior Angus Association’s (NJAA) Bronze and Silver Awards, according to James Fisher, director of junior activities for the American Angus Association.<br>
Frost, the 18-year-old son of Cimeron and Rachel Frost, is a recent graduate of Porta High School. He is active in the NJAA and the Illinois Junior Angus Associations. He has shown his Angus cattle and competed in showmanship contests at numerous shows on the local, state and national levels. He has entered the photography contest at the National Junior Angus Show. Frost has been a NJAA member since 1989.<br>
The Bronze and Silver Awards are the first two levels of the NJAA Recognition Program that began in 1972. Junior Angus breeders must apply for the awards and then meet point requirements in many areas of participation before receiving the honors. Applicants are evaluated in the areas of junior Angus association activities and leadership, participation in showmanship, contests and shows, using performance testing to improve their herd and their progress in producing and merchandising Angus cattle.<br>
The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle, while also providing leadership and self-development opportunities for nearly 11,000 members nationwide.<br>

To submit a "Spotlight on Youth" item for consideration, please e-mail or contact Meggie I. Foster, assistant editor, at mfoster@farmworldonline.com or by mail at 27 N. Jefferson St., Knightstown, IN 46148.