The 4-H Update
March 5, 2021
New Information
Volunteer Recognition nominations are now open!
Nebraska 4-H is pleased to offer new recognition opportunities this year, including Outstanding Adult Volunteer Awards, an Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award, and a Multi-Generation Family Volunteer Award. Nominations are due April 1 and can be submitted by any 4-H member, family, or supporter. Know a deserving 4-H volunteer? Nominate them now at 4h.unl.edu/volunteer-recognition.
NASA 4-H Virtual Science Sessions
The NASA Space Grant 4-H Virtual Science Sessions project offers a unique set of packaged lending resources to support teachers as they explore earth and space science with their youth! These supplemental resources are free of charge.
The five exciting NASA lesson plans for activities that highlight resources from the NASA Science Mission Directorate and Human Exploration and Operation Mission Directorate that were selected to best align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Nebraska Science Standards for middle school. The middle school science curriculum in Nebraska has a particularly strong focus on guiding students to understanding space and earth systems.
Check it out at:
Scholarship Deadlines are THIS Sunday
Douglas-Sarpy 4-H Council College Scholarship
- Awarding four college scholarships to high school seniors.
- Application deadline is March 7.
- Find the application here.
4-H Council Camp Scholarship
- Attend 4-H Summer Camp with the help of a scholarship from the 4-H Council.
- Application deadline is March 7.
- Apply here.
Local Opportunities
Clover Kid Informational Meeting
Youth and adults are invited to attend a Clover Kid informational meeting on March 16 at 6:30 pm at the 4-H office, 8015 W. Center Road, Omaha.
There will be information for parents and a few fun hands on activities for kids. Learn about how our program can positively change your child’s life.
RSVP to Rachel at rwright4@unl.edu
4-H Sign Up
Sign up for 4-H here. Families that sign up between now and April 5 will be able got get an “I Belong” yard sign! Families that have signed up prior will be eligible to get a yard sign after April 5th. While Supplies Last. For information about the yard signs, please contact Tayler Wickham at tayler.wickham@unl.edu.
Sign up deadline is June 15, 2021.
Public Speaking Contest
Contest date: Tuesday, April 27 @ office
Entry Deadline: Friday, April 16
Informational Workshop: Tuesday, March 23 via Zoom
For more information, contact tayler.wickham@unl.edu
Animal Information
Douglas-Sarpy 4-H Poultry, Rabbit & Cavy Meeting April 8 - 6:30 pm
https://unl.zoom.us/j/94349246231
YQCA* Training
- Tuesday, June 01, 2021 5:00 PM-8:00 PM at 8015 W. Center Road, Omaha
- Tuesday, June 08, 2021 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at the Sarpy Fairgrounds.
- YQCA* can take the online course instead at http://yqca.org/ Online course is $12. Print off or screen shot completion certificates and mail or email them to the 4-H Office at this time.
DO NOT register for in person courses yet. More to come on In person courses. Stay tuned.
*Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. This is required for youth ages 8 and up who plan to show animals in the Douglas-Sarpy 4-H program.
Important Animal Deadlines:
District & State Horse Show Entries – May 7th
District & State Horse Show Level Testing Requirements Completed – May 7th
County, District & State Horse ID Sheets – May 7th
Sarpy County Fair Livestock, Rabbit & Cavy ID Sheets – June 15th
Nebraska State Fair Online Nominations – June 15th
Sarpy County Fair ONLY Horse Level Testing Requirements – July 15th
Sarpy County Fair Livestock, Horse, Poultry, Rabbit, and Cavy Entries due via ShoWorks – July 15th
Nebraska State Fair Entries Due via ShoWorks – August 10th
STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
4-H Rabbit Show, March 20
The 4-H Spring Rabbit Show will be held Saturday, March 20, 9 a.m. at the Lancaster Event Center Fairgrounds – Exhibit Hall. Open to all youth ages 8–18. This is a great opportunity for youth to talk to other 4-H’ers about where to purchase a good rabbit for a 4-H project! Learn more at https://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/companionanimal.
Learn more here.
2021 4-H STEM Reading Connections
This year’s 4-H STEM Reading Connections is Tails & Tales, following the Collaborate Summer Library Program theme and incorporating STEM programing.
The Nebraska 4-H STEM Reading Connections Resources are adaptable lessons & workshops. Check it out here.
State Fair Animal Update
2021 Nebraska State Fair! With the decision to shift 4-H and FFA livestock shows to the two different weekends, this provided the opportunity to offer new shows and programs for 4-H.
Here’s what is NEW!
4-H BEEF
In our beef area, we will now be offering:
- a feeder calf show,
- a junior breeding heifer class to all of our breeding classes, and
- 4-H members will now be eligible to show up to a total of five beef animals. A 4-H’er can exhibit up to two market beef, three breeding heifers and two feeder calves as long as the total number of entries does not exceed five beef animals.
4-H SWINE
In our swine area,
- We will be offering a breeding gilt show. This breeding gilt show will include 9 purebred classes as well as a crossbred class.
- In our market swine show, we will be creating a more diverse show by including 9 purebred classes.
- We will also be adding new “Farrowed and Owned Breeding and Market Swine” divisions. The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is an opportunity for youth interested in learning more about the swine industry and is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the swine industry. The goal of the Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is to enhance the educational value of the traditional 4-H swine projects by providing unique opportunities focusing on swine production as goal of the member’s project, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member.
- 4-H members will now be eligible to show up to a total of five swine projects. A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting three market hogs and two breeding gilts
4-H SHEEP
- 4-H members will now be eligible to show up to a total of five sheep maximum, if at least two are breeding ewes. In no case will a 4-H member exhibit more than three market lambs.
4-H GOAT
- 4-H members will now be eligible to show up to a total of five goats maximum, if at least two are breeding does. In no case will a 4-H member exhibit more than three market goats.
March 2021 Spotlight
Upcoming Events
- March 27, 2021 - 4-H Horse Stampede
- February-August Livestock Judging Circuit | Nebraska Great Plains
- April 20, 2021 at 6 pm - 4-H Cat and Small Pet show Informational Meeting. RSVP with your name and any questions to Mirissa mscholting2@unl.edu
- April 27 - Douglas-Sarpy Public Speaking Contest | Extension Office
- June 5 - Beef Progress Show | Loup City,
- June 7-11 2021Tractor Safety Training. Learn more here.
- June 24 - Deadline June 22 - Plant & Insect ID Contest | Columbus
- June 26 - Papio Valley 4-H Livestock Progress Show at the Sarpy Fairgrounds, more information coming.
- June 29 - Table Toppers Contest
WE HAVE MOVED!
The Papillion 4-H Extension office is once again on the move! We are now located at 1102 E. 1st Street, Papillion, NE 68046. We are at the intersection of 72nd and 1st in what was previously the Black Hills Energy building. Due to ongoing construction, we won't officially be open until May. If you are in need of anything from our staff, please contact the Omaha office at 402-444-7804.
Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties
Email: douglas-sarpy4h@unl.edu
Website: www.douglas-sarpy.unl.edu
Location: 8015 West Center Road, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 402-444-7804
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaExtensioninDouglasSarpyCounties/