Jenny is Retiring!!
The Sioux County staff is excited to extend an invitation to Jenny Nixon’s retirement celebration. Please join us as we celebrate on Tuesday, May 9th with an Open House all day. The celebration will be at the Extension Office Her retirement date is June 2nd. Stop by throughout the day to wish her well!
Jenny Nixon has been a part of Nebraska Extension for more than 38 years. She graduated from UNL with a BS in Animal Science. Shortly afterward, she started as an Extension Assistant managing the 4-H youth development program in Scotts Bluff County. Soon after she moved to Sioux County as an Agriculture Educator and completed her MS in Range Management. Through the years she has maintained her home base as the Sioux County Extension office but has moved and changed positions as Nebraska Extension changed. She saw the move from Extension Agents to Educators, county based agents to EPU (Extension Programming Unit) faculty to serving a 15,000 square mile Accountability Region the size of four small states. Each change has brought new challenges and rewards. Most recently Jenny has served as a Rural Prosperity Nebraska Educator coaching rural communities to plan for the future and engage citizens to increase economic opportunity, attract new residents and improve quality of life. Jenny has appreciated the opportunity to grow and develop professionally and she has been privileged to work with many awesome faculty and colleagues over the years.
Cards may be mailed to Jenny at:
Jenny Nixon
104 Linn Street
Crawford, NE 69339
Sioux County Speech and Presentation Contest
This year the Sioux County Speech and Presentation Contest will be held on Friday, May 12th at 1 pm at the Harrison Fire Hall. Please register for this event by May 1st by completing the entry form below and sending it to the Sioux County Office or Melissa Mracek at mmracek2@unl.edu.
Summer Workshops Released
We have a lot of fun activities planned for this summer. Several workshops have registration deadlines of May 1st. We are excited to have a full summer planned.
Things to Remember:
- Participants do not have to be 4-H members to participate.
- Please register by the deadline in order to ensure adequate supplies.
- Families can apply for scholarships from the 4-H Council to help pay for the cost of the workshops, even if it is after they have attended! They can apply for several workshops in one scholarship application.
4-H Scholarships
The Council has revised their 4-H Scholarship applications. There is one application just for workshops. Multiple workshops can be included on this application. There is another one specifically for 4-H Camps. If a youth applies for the scholarship prior to the workshops, they will not need to pay for the workshops initially. However, if they apply for the scholarship after the workshop, then they would need to pay the day of the workshop and then be reimbursed.
4-H Camp scholarship application can be used to attend any 4-H camp. Families will have to provide a proof of registration for camps outside of the Northern Panhandle. See the applications below.
Families can complete the applications and email them to Melissa Mracek at mmracek2@unl.edu or turn them in at the Extension Office.
Progressive Ag Safety Day
Families can participate together in this event to learn more about safety practices on May 10th at the Sioux County Fairgrounds from 9 am until 2:30 pm. Sessions include Home Alone, Fire Safety, Animal Safety, PTO Safety, Internet Safety, ATV Safety, Water Safety, First Aid, and Roadway Safety. Families will receive a free t-shirt and goodie bag. Please register for the event by contacting the Extension Office at (308) 668-2428.
Sew Your Own
Bring a pair of jeans and upcycle them to create a new pair of bell bottoms. Utilize the Cricut machine to design your very own t-shirt as well as create a simple accessory.
Who: Youth ages 8 +
When: May 16, 9am to 2 pm
Where: Harrison Bible Church
Fee: $15
Projects: C221007, C222003, C221003
Registration Deadline: May 10
Items to Bring: sack lunch, pair of jeans, sewing machine and notions (if have them)
Chadron State Roping Clinic
Chadron State College Rodeo Coach Lane Day is willing to come to Harrison for a one day Calf Roping and Break-away Clinic for youth. This clinic will be open to anyone ages 8 and up wanting to strengthen their roping skills. The date for this workshop is May 24th at the Fairgrounds from 10 am to 4 pm. Lunch will be provided. The fee for the workshop is $10.
Western Livestock Challenge
Practice your livestock judging skills at this contest. This contest includes a meal and prizes. It is a part of the Great Plains Livestock Judging Circuit.
Who: Youth ages 8+
When: June 15, 9 am to 2 pm
Where: Box Butte Fairgrounds
Cost: $15
Registration Deadline: Register the Day of
Sioux County Fair Updates
There are a few new things to look for in the Sioux County Fairbook. The 4-H Council has decided to make a requirement to have dog and cat 4-H exhibitors complete a State 4-H required vaccination form with their veterinarian. This form will be listed on the website with this section of the Fairbook.
Some new project areas have also been added including the Culinary Challenge as well as Small Engines and Restored Vehicles. The Culinary Challenge has a team of youth that design a table setting and menu. They have to make one item on their menu and it must include the special ingredient for the year. The ingredient for 2023 is sunflowers. For more information about this contest visit the Contest section of the fairbook.
4-H Enrollment
The 2022-2023 4-H year on 4-H Online is now open! Youth wanting participate in Shooting Sports needs to get enrolled today!! Youth must be enrolled before practicing. Deadline for 4-H Enrollment will be June 15, 2023.
Note - 4HOnline has undergone a new update. The parent company behind the 4-H Online website has elected to add a banner ad for Auction Frogs that will appear when families log into 4-H Online. There is no way for Nebraska 4-H to opt out of the banner ad. This banner ad appears at the bottom of the Member List in the Family Profile. If you click "X" button the ad, the ad should not appear again in that browser.
Dog Leader Training
This is open to any adult and teen youth that wants to strengthen their 4-H Dog Program.
Please register online at https://go.unl.edu/Dog23 by Wednesday, April 19th at 1:00 pm. Cost is $20 with lunch included.
Big Red Camps
Through Big Red Camps, students have the opportunity to develop new skills, prepare for college, stand out in college applications, explore potential careers, and meet like-minded peers in a safe and structured environment. Registration is now open! Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/big-red-camps.
Summer Camps
Looking for a way to fit a break into your summer? At our Adventure Together 4-H Summer Camps, youth will disconnect from technology, develop social skills and friendships, learn new things, get active, and create lifelong memories in safe, structured, and supervised environments. Sessions are filling up! Register now at 4h.unl.edu/camps-summer.
Livestock Achievement Program
The Livestock Achievement Program is an advanced opportunity for youth interested in diving deeper into and expanding upon their current livestock project and establishing themselves as leaders in their project area. The program encourages youth to engage in a variety of activities related to their project and recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas. Applications are now open. Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/livestock-achievement.
Tractor Safety Training
Tractor and farm equipment safety courses are now open for registration! Teens ages 14- 15 who work on farms, or others who are interested in learning about tractor and farm equipment safety practices, can register for a safety training course offered at seven locations across Nebraska from May 22 through June 8. Learn more at go.unl.edu/2023tractorsafety.
4-H Youth Leadership Conference
Registration is now open for the 2023 4-H Youth Leadership Conference! High school students, ages 14-18, are invited to Camp Comeca in Cozad from June 19-21 to gain real-world leadership skills. The experience is open to all youth, not just 4-H members! Register by June 4 to claim your spot. Visit 4h.unl.edu/leadership-conference to get started.
UNL Livestock Judging Camp
Looking to level up your livestock evaluation and oral reason skills? Make plans to attend this year’s UNL Livestock Judging Camp on June 7-9 in Lincoln. Registration is $300 and is due by Monday, May 22. Learn more at go.unl.edu/judging-camp.
Nebraska Extension Sioux County Office
Email: mmracek2@unl.edu
Website: go.unl.edu/siouxcofair
Location: PO Box 277 Harrison, NE 69346
Phone: (308) 668-2428
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLSiouxCounty