Annual 4-H Rally is right around the corner
Mark your calendars now for the annual Saline County 4-H Rally, 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 12, at the Eldorado Elementary School gym. All youth in the county and their families are invited to attend.
This is a Find-Out Party for our Saline County 4-H program. If you have ever wondered just what 4-H members do, how much fun they have, what kind of projects they show and what really happens at the Fair, come to the Rally to find out! Our 4-H members and leaders will be glad to answer your questions.
County 4-H Clubs will have booths set up with games to play and food to buy. Food for sale will include: caramel apples and bananas, popcorn, hot dogs, chili, pizza and baked goods, water sodas and lemonade.
You can help someone in or out of the 4-H Jail or play fun carnival games - Plinko, Basketball Shootout, Rubber Band Target Shoot, Ski Ball, Laser Tag, Cake Walk and Horseshoe Toss.
We will be collecting birthday party items such as cake mixes, canned icing, party plates and napkins, birthday candles and birthday cards. The Saline County 4-H Federation is putting together Birthday Bags for food pantries to give out to clients for their kids' special days. Please give generously.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please call (618) 252-8391.
See you at the 4-H Rally!
• Using your library to keep costs down
The following is from Sasha Grabenstetter, University of Illinois Extension consumer economics educator.
Many people don't utilize their libraries. According to a 2016 Study on Libraries by the Pew Research Center, "48 percent of those age 16 and older say they have visited a public library ... in person, in the prior year." That means that 52 percent of us haven't stepped into a library in a year or more. Libraries have a lot of options nowadays, and you'll be surprised by what you find!
• Books: If you're looking for a way to keep costs down and still be entertained, borrowing books may be the way to go. I'm currently reading a recently-released three-book series. In the past I probably would have ordered all three books online or through my Kindle. I checked them out from the library and saved $50.
Children's books can run anywhere from $5 to $10. By checking out 3-5 books each time we visit with my son, we've easily saved over $200 this year so far.
• Education: As an extension educator, I spend a lot of time in libraries putting on educational programs in personal finance. Libraries are the place to be if you want to learn more about a topic from an educator or find a new hobby. According to a 2017 PEW Research study, it found that "65 percent of Americans think libraries help them grow as people." Libraries are the hub where they can bring a new topic or idea to light with an educational program.
• Entertainment: Libraries have tons of free or low cost options, including but not limited to, movies, TV shows, music, and magazine rentals. Occasionally a library may offer a free movie event or fun workshop. Libraries have expanded their rentals to more than just books; you just have to get a library card to gain access.
• For our household, having the library helps to reduce costs on items we want. Reading, education and entertainment are all important, but by using the library, we save money.
Are you not sure what your library offers? Find out on their website or drop in and ask a librarian. Alternatively, get on their email list and see what events they are doing.