Jefferson County 4-H
March 2017
Newsletter Contents
- 4-H Highlights!
- Upcoming Workshops, Contests & Events
- Animal Information
- County Fair Updates
- Special Opportunities
- Calendar of Events
4-H Highlights!
4-H Enrollment Due April 1st!
2017 Project Resource Central is Available Now!
The 2017 Project Resource Central Download is now available at:
Diamond Clover Award Applications Due April 1st!
Clover Kids
Clover Kids is a 4-H program for children ages 5 to 7 years old. Children participate in hand-on activities designed to build lots of different life skills! Clover Kids also have their own section of the fair book with various projects they can bring to the fair!
The most important life skills for the 5 to 7 year-old age group are:
• Respecting Self
• Communicating with Others
• Solving Problems
• Thinking Critically
• Choosing Healthy Lifestyles
What do Clover Kids do?
• Explore science with simple science experiments
• Practice communication skills
• Strengthen motor skills through arts and crafts
• Make friends and learn to work with peers
• And much more!
State Fair Exhibits Left at Office
- Kacy Starck
- Thomas Hansmeyer
Upcoming Workshops, Contests & Events
Making Cents of It 4-H Workshop
Cake Decorating 4-H Workshop
4-H Public Speaking Contest
Developing 4-H’ers self-confidence and effective public speaking skills are two goals of the Nebraska 4-H public speaking contest. The local contest date has been set for Monday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. You must pre-register for the contest by Wednesday, April 12 by calling the office or sending an email to hayden.hemphill@unl.edu. Top three winners from each age division (except novice) will be selected to advance to the Regional Speech Contest at UNL East Campus in Lincoln on May 18. The top seniors in the Regional contests will advance to the State Contest held during the State Fair to compete for a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and a college scholarship. Resources to help you prepare for the Public Speaking Contest available at http://4h.unl.edu/publicspeakingrules.
We follow the same rules as the regional contest. Ages are as of January 1, 2017.State 4-H Camp Discounts Offered Until April 15th!
Summer 2017 is approaching fast! No summer is complete without a Nebraska 4-H Camp experience. Summer camps are open to everyone between the ages of 5 and 18. The full color brochure is now on our 4-H page at: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/jefferson/4-Hforms/ or you can pick one up at our office.
Nebraska State 4-H camps offer camps at these locations: Halsey and Gretna with more than 40 day and overnight camping programs and trips. Whether your child’s interest is in animals, robotics, nature and outdoor skills, tubing and kayaking, or just plain adventure, Nebraska 4-H camps provide the opportunities for all youth and all interests. You can save 10% on camp registration fees if you register for camp before April 15, 2017.
Animal Information
No Market Beef Weigh-In for 2017!
Any animals that want to be eligible for State Fair or AK-SAR-BEN, will need to have an EID tag and have a DNA sample on file by April 15, 2017. We have the EID tags and DNA envelopes here at the office. DNA samples are $6 each.
2017 Animal Identification Guidelines
Rock Creek Wranglers 4-H Club
The Rock Creek Wranglers will be holding their meetings the second Sunday of every month. For more information, contact Kevin Johnson at 402-729-7408
Youth Veterinary Feed Directive 2017
As of January 1, 2017, the new FDA regulation for the Veterinary Feed Directive went into effect. This regulation will effect all food producing animals no matter how large or small the operation and that includes youth livestock participants.
How does this affect 4-H and FFA participants?
There are a number of show feeds that contain feed grade antibiotics such as CTC (Chlortetracycline) or Tylosin. These type of products require youth to work with their Veterinarian to obtain a signed VFD order before purchasing and feeding these feeds. So young producers should look at the feed labels of products they intend to feed prior to having their livestock projects to determine if a VFD will be required to purchase their feed. If their feed is medicated with an antibiotic, they will need to establish a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship with Veterinarian licensed in Nebraska who will work them with their VFD requirements.
If you have questions on the VFD Regulation feel free to contact me at reirich2@unl.edu or at 308-632-1230. I also have a VFD resource page at: http://bqa.unl.edu/veterinary-feed-directive.
Source: Rob Eirich
2017 State Fair Livestock Fees
On December 9, the Nebraska State Fairboard voted to add a bedding fee onto the entry fee for all livestock exhibitors; the fee will be $15 for beef and dairy and $5 for sheep, goats, and swine. The Fairbaord also voted to add a $3 per head fee for 4-H & FFA market animals to help defray the costs of drug testing. These costs are in addition to the existing entry fees that will stay the same for 2017.
The Nebraska State Fair continues to be supportive of FFA and 4-H and values all that youth and families bring the Fair; however, escalating costs for bedding, bedding removal, etc. have forced them to reassess their fees. They are also aware that there are other costs for families including DNA sampling. While this does add a financial burden; hopefully, by knowing early, families can make appropriate decisions about nominating animals and their plans for exhibiting.
Source: Kathleen Lodl, State 4-H Office
County Fair updates
Date for 2017 Jefferson County Fair
Theme is: “Red, White and Blue This Fair Is For You”
4-H Achievement Program 2017
Special Opportunties
Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards Scholarship 2017
Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute
National 4-H Raise Your Hand Promotion
This spring, Nebraska 4-H is asking alumni to raise their hands!
We believe that every child deserves the chance to succeed. If you’re a 4-H alumni or know someone who is, we’re asking for your help in spreading the word. Together we can help 4-H provide the hands-on learning that empowers kids across America with the skills to handle what life throws at them.
It’s easy:
1) Raise Your Hand: Go to www.4-H.org/RaiseYourHand to show your pride as a 4-H alumni.
2) Compete for Your State: Raising your hand is a vote towards a $20,000, $10,000 or $5,000 award for the states with the most alumni hands raised. In Nebraska, this award will be used to reach more youth through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs.
3) Pay it Forward: Tweet, post and share your #4HGrown and #NE4H experience or support and tag fellow alumni asking them to raise their hands for their state at www.4-H.org/RaiseYourHand.
Help kids learn responsibility, compassion, respect and the value of hard work by supporting 4-H. Together we can grow the next generation of true leaders.
Workshop Ideas
Calendar of Events
March
10 - 4-H Making Cents of It Spring Break Workshop
April
1 - 4-H Enrollment Due
1 - Diamond Clover Applications Due
14 - Good Friday Cake Decorating 4-H Workshop
15 - Market Beef DNA Due for State Fair & AK-SAR-BEN
17 - Public Speaking Contest
28 - Arbor Day Office Closed
May
1 - 4-H Camp Renegade Camp Counselor Applications Due
18 - Regional 4-H Public Speaking Contest, UNL, Lincoln
23 - 4-H Camp Renegade Counselor Training, Fairbury
30 - STEM 4-H Workshop
June
6 - Project Bonanza 4-H Workshop
13 & 14 - Camp Renegade, Camp Jefferson
15 - ALL Fair Entries Due
15 - Livestock DNA & Breeding Nomination Cards Due
July
13-16 - Jefferson County Fair, Fairgrounds
Nebraska Extension - Jefferson County
Email: darci.pesek@unl.edu
Website: jefferson.unl.edu
Location: 517 F Street, Fairbury, NE, United States
Phone: 402-729-3487
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeffersoncountyext
Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United Sates Department of Agriculture.
Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
©2017