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  \"I think it's wonderful that they've completed work to show off, that they've learned something through the year. They're proud of the work they've done,\" [Doris Braddock] said. \"By progressing through the manual they learn,\" Braddock said, \"sometimes they end up not liking their project, but other times they get excited about it, and they'll continue that project through the years.\" \"If you stop and talk to one of them, you will find that they excel in public speaking,\" Braddock said. \"Talk to them about 4-H and any questions you have, they're happy to answer.\"

\"In the aftermath of the storm, our University of Illinois Extension Unit learned of 4-H families in Woodford County who had lost their homes or farms in the storm,\" said Sandra Davis, director of University of Illinois Extension serving DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties. \"Both 4-H clubs and unit staff began to ask how they could help. We are touched by the outpouring of support from our Extension families and generous community partners. The experience truly brought the 4-H ideal of helping hands to life.\" \"Working with our Woodford County counterpart, we collected the first round of donated gift cards prior to Thanksgiving, and they were divided and delivered quickly to assist families as they relocate and rebuild,\" [Doris Braddock] said. \"In less than a week, our local unit's 4-H families donated more than $600 in gift cards.\"

\"This annual 4-H Fun Night welcomes interested families to come have fun and experience a little of what 4-H has to offer here in Kane County,\" said 4-H Program Coordinator Doris Braddock. \"Our Fun Night event will feature many clubs from around the county, and visitors can meet youth and current volunteers, as well as ask questions about 4-H.\" \"4-H provides youth an opportunity to explore many areas, from photography to horticulture and technology to animal science, just to name a few,\" Braddock said. \"4-H Youth Development programs provide hands-on learning, and focus on building leadership, citizenship and life skills.\"

\"It lets them show off what they know ... a lot of the kids have been dog training since March,\" [Doris Braddock] said. \"It's just like an exhibit opportunity for the children enrolled.\" \"There is a lot of excitement. They are competing first and foremost to get a blue, red or white ribbon,\" Braddock said. \"But if they get a certain amount of points, they can show their dog at the State Fair dog show.\"

  Brian Hill/ bhill@dailyherald.com Animals mingle during the swine judging Thursday at the Kane County Fair This weekend features music and more Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com Animals mingle during the swine judging Thursday at the Kane County Fair Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com Animals mingle during the swine judging at last year's Kane County Fair in St. Charles Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com Animals mingle during the swine judging at last year's Kane County Fair in St. Charles.Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com Chase Engel, 11, of Genoa shows his 4-H Grand Champion steer at the auction Sunday during the final day of the Kane County Fair in St. Charles The steer sold for $4.85 a pound -- about $6,500 in all Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com Eleven-year-old Chase Engel of Genoa shows his 4-H Grand Champion steer at the auction during the Kane County Fair in St. Charles Sunday Chase Engel, 11, of Genoa shows his 4-H Grand Champion steer at the auction Sunday during the final day of the Kane County Fair in St. Charles Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com Chase Engel, 11, of Genoa shows his 4-H Grand Champion steer at the auction during last year's Kane County Fair in St. Charles.

\"We thank these community residents for serving Kane County youth and helping them to grow into generous, independent and skilled young people,\" said Doris Braddock, 4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator. \"Our 4-H volunteers share their time and talents to lead community and special interest 4-H clubs, the annual county fair, and a variety of positive learning opportunities throughout the year. It is our volunteers, alumni and supporters who make our 4-H program a success.\" \"This year, we are recognizing the Elburn Lions Club for its support of the Kane County 4-H program through the 4-H Foundation Pork Chop dinner and the Blue Ribbon Sale Dinner,\" Braddock said. \"This community-focused group also provides Kane County 4-H'ers with exhibit opportunities during Elburn Days.\" Celebrating a silver anniversary as 4-H volunteers were: Marilyn Becker of Hampshire, Doris Braddock of St. Charles, Judy Dowling of Hampshire, Don Fidler of Sycamore and Al Lenkaitis Sr. of St. Charles. Extension also honored Paul Braddock of St. Charles, Larry Breon of Batavia, Pat Bunge of St. Charles, Anne Carson of Maple Park, Helen Feuerborn of St. Charles, Ann Keck of Elgin, and Kelly King of South Elgin for 20 years along with Kathleen Coffey of North Aurora for 15 years of service, and the following volunteers for 10 years: Gerry DeDina of Hampshire, Beth Gehrke of Elgin, Jennifer Haviland of Elgin, and Tim Metz of Burlington.

When [Andrew McCafferty] tells friends he's in a 4-H club, many have never heard of the group. \"They're like 'What, what?'\" he says. In Kane County, less than 10 percent of the 4-H kids live on a farm, which is why today's 4-H is about teaching \"life skills,\" said Doris Braddock, program coordinator for 4-H and youth development in the University of Illinois' DuPage-Kane-Kendall Extension office in St. Charles. \"My friends always ask what it (4-H) is, because they do not know what it really is,\" he said of 4-H. \"It's not just farming and vegetables.\"

When [Andrew McCafferty] tells friends he's in a 4-H club, many have never heard of the group. \"They're like 'What, what?'\" he says. In Kane County, less than 10 percent of the 4-H kids live on a farm, which is why today's 4-H is about teaching \"life skills,\" said Doris Braddock, program coordinator for 4-H and youth development in the University of Illinois' DuPage-Kane-Kendall Extension office in St. Charles. \"My friends always ask what it (4-H) is, because they do not know what it really is,\" he said of 4-H. \"It's not just farming and vegetables.\"

Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com Blake Sunderlage, 14, of Genoa gets ready to sell his 1265 lb steer during the 4-H auction on the final day of the 2011 Kane County Fair in St. Charles. Sunderlage sold his prize winning steer for $1.65 per pound. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com / Blake Sunderlage, 14, of Genoa gets ready to sell his 1,265-lb. steer during the 4-H auction on the final day of the 2011 Kane County Fair in St. Charles. Sunderlage sold his prize-winning steer for $1.65 per pound. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com, July 2011 / Blake Sunderlage, 14 of Genoa gets ready to sell his 1,265-pound steer during the 4-H auction on the final day of the 2011 Kane County Fair in St. Charles. Sunderlage sold his prizewinning steer for $1.65 per pound.

Courtesy of University of Illinois Extension 4-H'er [Marcos Marquez] of St. Charles earned a ticket to the state competition with his illustrated speech in the Kane County competition. Marquez spoke about physical training with both aerobic and anaerobic techniques.Courtesy of University of Illinois Extension [Emily Smeenge] of Rolling Meadows demonstrates crochet techniques during the Kane County 4-H Public Presentation and Demonstration Contest on May 9. She went on to win State Fair Delegate in the formal speech category.Courtesy of University of Illinois Extension Ely Greenfield of Elgin took home grand champion food demonstration honors with a how-to speech on baking biscuits. He mixed the batter and cooked the treats right in front of the audience. He said it was his grandmother's special recipe. Grand Champion Public Presentation honors went to Willem Vandermeij for the 8-12 age group and [Madde Klinkey] in the 13-18 age group. Reserve Grand Champions were [Gwen Klinkey] and Marcos Marquez. Ely Greenfeld of Elgin took home Grand Champion Food Demonstration honors.