Feb 1 - Butter Braid Sales begin

Feb 8 - Joint 4-H Council Meeting

Feb 15 - Office Closed - President's Day

Mar 1 - Thurston 4-H & Volunteer Early Enrollment Incentive

Mar 8 - Thurston 4-H Council Meeting

Mar 15 - Butter Braid Order DUE

Mar 25 - Butter Braid Pick Up @ Extension Office

April 1 - 4-H Council Senior Scholarship DUE

April 5 - All Contest Registration DUE

April 10 - All Contest Day, Pender

April 12 - Joint 4-H Council Meeting

April 18-24 - National Volunteer Week

April 30 - Office Closed - Arbor Day

Visit ne.4honline.com to enroll for the 2020-2021 4-H year!

There is a $5 enrollment fee.

Cloverleaf Livestock: Pay Club

Rosalie Feeders, TC Roughriders, & Independent: Pay the Office Directly

NOTHING'S CHANGED!!! But since it's a new year we need you to re-enroll at ne.4honline.com. There are step by step sheets at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/4-h-enrollment. For both new families and families that already have profiles. If you already have a profile make sure you DO NOT make a new profile.

If you are a VOLUNTEER for our program we also need to you to re-enroll in our online database. Again step by step information can be found at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/4-h-enrollment. NEW Thurston County volunteers will need to do a background check before Volunteer Enrollment will be complete!

If anyone of you has questions please call the office and we'll do our best to work through any issues.

We know with all the COVID limitations being a 4-H Club like normal has been impossible. We just encourage you to do all you can to continue the great learning that happens within the traditional club setting. AND please reach out to the office you need help or suggestions. Let's problem solve together!

This is the 4-H Policy Handbook's definition of a club:

8.1 Definition of a Club:

Nebraska 4-H and 4-H National Headquarters define a 4-H Club as: an organized group of at least five youth from three different families who meet regularly with adult volunteers or staff for a long-term, progressive series of educational experiences and have enrolled in 4-H Online.

8.2 Structure of a 4-H Club:

4-H Clubs are to be structured as follows:

• Enrolls at least 5 youth members from at least 3 families.
• Is advised by adult staff or volunteers who have been screened and trained in accordance with the Nebraska 4-H Policy and Procedure Handbook.
• Conduct a minimum of 6 regular club meetings (virtual or face-to-face) per year, with many holding 9-12 regular meetings throughout most or all of the year, and often supplemented by project meetings, camps, fairs, and other 4-H learning activities.
• Selects youth officers or youth leaders to provide leadership to the club.
• Meets in any location — a home, community center, military installation, library, public housing site, school, afterschool program, and/or many other places.
• Helps youth and parents/guardians adapt in cases of mobility — linking them to 4-H programs in other counties and states. Meets interests and needs of youth in same-age or cross-age groupings and using single project or multiple project formats.

Our office takes care of making sure some of these policies are followed but this is requirement that needs to fulfilled to be considered a 4-H Club and therefore hold money in the name of 4-H, which all our clubs do. This doesn’t have to come solely from the club leader, please coordinate with the secretary of your club to get this information to the office in the following years.

If you have questions or concerns please let the office know.

What is a Butter Braid? A Butter Braid is a frozen pastry dough that you thaw, let rise, bake and frost. It is a mouth watering, delicious, homemade pastry.

Butter Braids are available in a variety of flavors. Thurston County 4-Hers will be taking orders from January 31-March 20, orders will be delivered to the 4-Hers on April 1st at 5 pm at the Thurston County Extension Office. Proceeds from this fundraiser help fun 4-H activities throughout the year.

Is there an individual or an animal that has inspired you to pursue an education and career in animal science?

Eligibility:

· Incoming freshman or transfer student for 2021-2022 academic year

· Must plan to enroll in the animal science program at UNL the Fall 2021 semester

· Must be an admitted animal science major

· Immediate families of UNL employees are not eligible to enter this competition

Contest Details:

1. Tell us who (animal or person) has inspired you to pursue an animal science degree through a digital story. Examples to create your submission include video, infographic, pictures, essay, or any other mediums that allows you to express yourself. All digital stories are accepted. Be creative!

2. Your submission may utilize any production techniques and artistic composition as long as it on topic, complies to the rules, and is appropriate. A submission may not contain offensive, libelous, sexually explicit, disparaging or altogether inappropriate content and may not defame or otherwise violate the rights, copyrights, trademarks, or rights of publicity, privacy, or reputation of any third party. A submission may not contain any material to promote sale of a product or service.

3. Maximum video length should be no more than 3 minutes and recommended length of essays is 2 pages.

4. Entrants must complete the online entry form and upload their digital story at the end of the form.

Ten winners will be selected and will receive:

$5,000 scholarship to be used for 2021-2022 academic year. This is a non-renewable scholarship. Students will receive $2,500 in the fall semester and $2,500 in the spring semester.

The competition will close at Noon on February 15, 2021.

Based on the success of last year’s inaugural Change Maker Competition, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be launching the scholarship competition for a second year! The competition closes on Friday, February 19, 2021 and videos/applications can be submitted at https://casnr.unl.edu/casnr-change-maker-competition.

The CASNR Change Maker Quick Pitch Competition asks current and prospective CASNR students to submit a two-minute video explaining an original, innovative way to address global issues such as food security, sustainability and water use. Two current CASNR students and eight incoming freshman and transfer students will be awarded full-tuition scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year based on their submitted videos. Winning students will be matched with a mentor to make their big idea a reality.

Additionally, eight $1,000 CASNR scholarships will be awarded to youth in the sixth through 11th grades.

Current and prospective students can apply online here. Videos should be no more than two minutes long and must focus on one or more of the following issues: feeding the world; water for the future; new energy; climate and the future; biodiversity, sustainability and the environment; health; engaging diverse communities; and developing tomorrow’s leaders.

The application period opened Jan. 18 and will close at noon Feb. 19. Winners will be announced in April, and winning videos will be shared on social media. The winner whose video receives the most likes will also receive a textbook scholarship.

Complete application guidelines and more information can be found online at the webpage above.

The Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be hosting their Animal Science Open House on February 25th from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. This is a great event for students to get to campus, if they haven’t done so already or want to take another look at the opportunities available to them as an animal science major. Our goal is to have a wide variety of areas highlighted throughout the facility so participants are able to see the facility and learn more about the different areas of animal science. In the past we have had demonstrations from the Husker Equestrian Team and livestock and horse judging teams along with stations set up educating participants more about animal nutrition, reproduction, meat science, poultry science, and anatomy, among others. Faculty, staff, and current students will be on hand to answer questions and visit with the guests. We will be following social distancing and University safety guidelines at this event and an RSVP is required for all guests. Once guests RSVP they will receive a confirmation email with parking details, COVID-19 safety precautions, and any other pertinent details.

Animal Science Open House

February 25th, 2021

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

RSVP here: go.unl.edu/asciopenhouse2021

The event will take place directly following the CASNR Experience the Power of Red Visit Day which ends at 12:30 p.m. on February 25th.

Applicant Criteria:

1. Applicant must be a current High School Senior.
2. Applicant must currently be an enrolled member of the Thurston County 4-H Program. And have been enrolled in 4-H for at least the past two years.
3. Applicant must have completed and turned in their 4-H Career Portfolio/Achievement Application for at least the past two years.
4. Application must be completed and returned to get proper signatures to the Club Leader by April 1st of the current calendar year. Club Leaders will then turn all collected applications to Nebraska Extension in Thurston County. After submission, applications will not be returned.

Scholarship Information:

1. One $150 will be awarded to all applicants who meet the criteria.
2. Scholarship will be awarded after receiving written notification of scholarship recipient’s second semester enrollment. For those students enlisting with the military, notification of basic training completion will be the equivalent.
3. Scholarship monies will be sent directly to the scholarship winner.

The intent of the scholarship is to assist women who live 3 or more hours drive from Lincoln but wish to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Applicant must reside in Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall on East Campus.

If you have questions email Gloria Turnbull at turnbull@inebraska.com.

Application deadline: postmarked no later than March 15, 2021.

Application can be found here: https://unl.box.com/s/dg5z1xjqqrhddyv3cqfo9hke7iw8jv6l

(One $500 Scholarship — Fall 2021/Spring 2022—non renewable)

Who is Eligible?

1. Female born high school graduate (or soon to be) OR a UN-L student who has not resided at Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall (LMH) OR an undergraduate transfer student from another college or university pursing any major for an undergraduate or graduate degree.

2. Applicant must be or been a member of 4-H or FCCLA or FFA (minimum of two years) or have taken a minimum of three semesters in Family & Consumer Sciences classes and live in or attend school in the following Nebraska counties: Antelope, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Cedar, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dakota, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dixon, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Knox, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Red Willow, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, Thomas, Thurston, Wayne, Wheeler. (Map on page 3)

3. Must have applied (minimum) or been accepted (preferred) to University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

4. Must have requested residency in Love Memorial Hall, a cooperative residence hall on East Campus. Residents rotate responsibilities for cleaning a portion of the Hall and planning/preparing meals (about 1 hour per week; more time during a week when responsible for food preparation). The cost of living in Love Memorial Hall is less than half of what is charged for all other traditional dorms. Over a four year period this amounts to a savings around $24,000. More information about Love Memorial Hall is found at: https://housing.unl.edu/love-memorial-hall Students may change housing preference by submitting a written request to the Housing Office.

For more information:

Web - https://housing.unl.edu;

Phone - (402) 472-3561; Switchboard—800-742-8800; Email: housing@unl.edu

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different.

To kick-off the inaugural year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore teosinte. The plant looks and is very similar to corn, in fact it is believed to be the wild ancestor of today's corn!

For youth to participate:

Enroll for the 2021 Special Agronomy Project by enrolling in any of the Field Crop Project levels through 4-H Online.

Contact your local Nebraska Extension Office and let them know how many seed packets you need. If you do not contact your local Extension Office, seeds might not be available for you. The county office will order seeds as a county unit then distribute them to the members.

Seeds will be sent to the County Extension Offices. Pick seeds up from your local county Extension office when the county tells you the seeds are available (should be around March or April).

4-H members enrolled in the Special Agronomy Project will:

• Receive a ‘packet’ of teosinte seeds (one packet per youth) in March/April
• Grow their seeds in their garden or pots
• Receive written resource materials AND virtual, live or recorded videos/field trips
• Be eligible to enter an exhibit at both the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy project area:

1. G750011 - Special Agronomy Project - Educational Exhibit (SF259)
2. G750012 Special Agronomy Project -Video Presentation
3. G750013 Special Agronomy Project (Freshly Harvested Crop)

Enroll for the 2021 Special Agronomy Project through 4-H Online by enrolling in ANY level of the field crop project area and contact your local Nebraska Extension Office to order packets of seeds BY FEBRUARY 12TH. The local Extension Office will order and distribute the seeds.

Contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu or 402.759.3712 or Aaron Nygren at anygren2@unl.edu or 402.352.3821

OR Aaron Nygren at anygren2@unl.edu or 402.352.3821.

The Nebraska Innovative Youth Corn Challenge is approaching its tenth-year engaging youth in crop science-based education. The Innovative Youth Corn Challenge (IYCC) was created as a partnership between the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Extension. Since the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge program’s inception in 2012, 74 teams have participated in the program with 37 teams successfully harvesting and analyzing their plot data. A total of 147 youth have participated.

This program continues to evolve and has exciting changes planned for the 2021 growing season with IYCC 2.0. A citizen scientist component will encourage youth to connect with researchers on a real problem facing corn growers and assist in collecting data or designing a tool to solve a real-world problem.

The IYCC 2.0 will also feature an agricultural literacy piece which will help others understand corn production practices and highlight teams’ efforts. This will allow youth to promote their own work through creative works such as a video or other multimedia tool. Nebraska Extension will execute this evolving, innovative and in-depth program in 2021, which will be the tenth year creating agricultural, science-informed graduates in the agricultural industry.

Prizes for participation in this project include 1st place - $1,000, 2nd place - $500, 3rd place -$250, “Extra Mile” Award $200, CORN Communications Award $200 and $50 for completion of the project. In addition, each team receives a crop scouting kit valued at over $200, plot sign and the opportunity to engage with UNL agronomic professionals through “ask an agronomist” sessions.

For more information about this program and to register, go to https://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/cornchallenge. Registration is due March 15th. Contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu or (402) 759-3712 for details about this program.

Whether it’s your favorite photo you’ve taken this fall or one you took to the county fair, we want to see it! Submit your favorite photo for a chance to be showcased. The 4-H photography showcase offers members a project exhibition opportunity beyond traditional print media. 4-H’ers are invited to submit their favorite photo they’ve taken for a chance to have it showcased online for thousands of 4-H fans to admire.

Link to more info: Nebraska 4-H Photography Showcase

It’s back with all new topics!

This short, online, course is designed for youth, adults, leaders, and extension personnel to gain knowledge and practice on horse hippology content. Or, if you’re a horse person and just want to learn more!

Content includes practice tests, slides, and digital stations in six areas in addition to twice weekly lectures. New lessons will be available starting on Monday for each of the 6 weeks. Once available, all content will be accessible 24/7 for the duration of your subscription!

The content will first become live on February 8 and be available for 6 months from that time (August 8) if you are in the Bronze level; and for 9 months from that time (November 8), if you are in the Silver level.

We are starting our Hippology Academy 2021 on February 8!

• Topics covered will be:
• Equipment and Riding Styles
• Stallion Reproductive Anatomy
• External Parasites
• Pasture Management
• Donkeys
• Equine Breeds

This course is targeted for older youth and adults.

Subscription levels:

• Bronze Level = $50. Access to content until August 8.
• Silver Level = $100. Includes 6-week access to instructors to ask questions, and access to content until November 8.
• If you are a Silver level subscriber, each week, the Professor of the Week who provided the material will be available to answer questions on their topic. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to 'pick the brains' of these national experts. You can upgrade from Bronze to Silver at any time.

Registration here: https://campus.extension.org/course/search.php?search=hippology

This is an online horse judging camp for anyone thinking about giving horse judging a try! The camp includes at-home assignments, reasons critique, 4 interactive virtual meetings, quizzes, and certificate of completion!

This camp is for anyone who may be thinking about being on or coaching a Horse Judging team.

Each session will have an assignment, live presentations, discussion of the class and class/runs to practice on and critiques. Also, there is an in-depth session on oral reasons presented by the Oklahoma State World Champion Horse Judging team.

Other presenters include:

• Dr. Steven Cooper (Oklahoma State University Judging team coach, AQHA, VRH judge)
• Taylor Fabus (Michigan State Horse Judging team coach)
• Dr. Kathy Anderson (University of Nebraska Judging team coach, AQHA, NSBA, APHA judge)

Assistance from:

• Dr. Colleen Brady (Purdue University Extension Horse Specialist
• Dr. Kris Hiney (Oklahoma State University)

Topics/classes covered include:

• Note-taking and reasons
• Halter
• Horsemanship
• Ranch Riding
• Oral reasons with feedback!

Dates: February 16, 18, 23 and 25

Time: 6 - 7:30pm Eastern time, 5 - 6:30pm Central time

The fee for this course is $30. To purchase and enroll in this course, go to: https://campus.extension.org/course/search.php?search=horse+judging+camp

Dates and topics:

• Tuesday February 16 Conformation/halter judging
• Thursday February 18 Oral reasons
• Tuesday February 23 Western Horse
• Thursday February 25 Ranch Riding

This Virtual Horse Judging camp is brought to you by:

• University of Nebraska (Dr. Kathy Anderson - kanderson1@unl.edu)
• Purdue University (Dr. Colleen Brady - bradyc@purdue.edu)
• Oklahoma State University (Dr. Kris Hiney - khiney@okstate.edu)
• Michigan State University (Taylor Fabus - tenlenta@msu.edu)

🐴HORSE ENTHUSIASTS! Check out this great opportunity in conjunction with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension!🐴

This clinic is open to anyone interested in learning more about horses, working towards their advancement levels, or 4-H leaders, parents, and extension personnel. We will be meeting virtually on Mondays, March 8, 15, 22, & 29 at 6:00pm CT.

Even better, all participants will also receive INTERACTIVE KITS! (Deadline to receive kits by the clinic date is February 12th)

👉t-shirt

👉stethoscope

👉equine thermometer

👉feed samples

👉weight tape

👉👉👉👉printed materials and MORE! Use the provided QR code and get signed up for only $40! (or use https://forms.gle/qW5R6rUXXXhjmbsr7)

March 27, 2021 at the UNL Animal Science Building

Cost: $10

Contests: Demonstration, Photography, Horse Bowl, Speech, Art

1. Entry Forms can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/horse/stampede

1. Art exhibits must be labeled with the youth's information (full name, age division, and county) on the back of the exhibit
2. Photography exhibits must have the proper matting along with their personal data tags attached to the back of the exhibit
3. Demonstration & Public Speaking contests are currently being planned for in person on March 27th,2021 BUT may be altered to a virtual option that will be held live over Zoom, March 27th depending on health restrictions and guidelines on UNL Campus. Youth will be emailed their scheduled time and their corresponding Zoom link.
4. Horse Bowl is currently being planned for in person on March 27, 2021 but may be postponed to a later date depending on UNL Campus health restrictions and guidelines.

Fee: $5

Contests: Demonstration, Photography, Dog Trivia, Cat Trivia, Essay, Art

We have made some changes to our 4-H Companion Animal Contest! It will now be VIRTUAL!

1. All entry forms are due April 2nd,2021 by 5:00pm to the online entry form: https://forms.gle/WqFQ9SD8moiXyJXe9
1. Entry fees should be mailed/postmarked by April 2nd WITH a copy of the online entry form.
2. Art, Photography, Essay, Demonstration entries/exhibits should be uploaded to the online entry form (only submitting 1 document/photo per entry)
3. Art entries must be saved/labeled as so:

Contest-FirstName-LastName-County-Age

Example: Art-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13

1. Photography entries should be labeled as so (with their Data Tag attached):

Contest-FirstName-LastName-County-Age

Example: Photography-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13

DataTag-Photography-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13

1. Demonstration entry files should be saved in the MP3 or MP4 format
1. Team demonstrations: each team member should submit the same video
2. Questions will be posted on the webpage that should be answered at the end of the demonstration
3. Demonstration entries should be labeled as so:

Contest-FirstName-LastName-County-Age

Example: Demonstration-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13

1. Essay entries entry files should be labeled as so (with statement of authenticity attached):

Contest-FirstName-LastName-County-Age

Example: Essay-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13

Statementofauthenticity- Essay-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13

1. Dog and Cat Trivia (brand new contest!)
1. Participants will be given a week’s time frame to finish the quizzes for their respective age groups
2. Participants will need to create a Quizizz account in order to participate

Ribbons and certificates will be mailed to exhibitors or sent to their county offices by April 30th

For information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/companion-animal/challenge

The program consists of levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. For each level, the Dog Achievement program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H youth choose their goals. The accomplishments increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. At the beginning of the 4-H year, participants plan what to accomplish and at the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Successful completion of a level's Plan & Report form results in a 4-H youth earning that level of the Dog Achievement program.

More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/dog-achievement-program

For any questions, contact Grace Kim at Grace.kim@unl.edu

It is recommended on the program page that Plan & Report Forms should be to county offices at least 1 month prior to the county awards night for youth to be recognized.