Hall County 4-H Newsletter
January 2022
In This Issue
- Enroll in Hall County 4-H
- Summer Camp
- Community Connectors
- Drone Workshop
- What is 4-H Age?
- Pick Your Project
- 4-H Club Resources
- Special Garden Project
- Special Agronomy Project
- Scholarships
- Shooting Sports
- Horse News
- Livestock Updates
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Statewide 4-H Events & Opportunities
- Calendar
It's Time to Enroll in 4-H!
We are excited to share that the NEW 4-H enrollment website is up & running! The website has a new look & has been upgraded with several new features. Please read “Tips for Completing Your
4-H Enrollment” before starting this process.
Join the Community Connectors Program!
Attention 10-12th Graders: We have a brand new 8-week program that is just for you! We invite you to join the Community Connectors program to develop real friendships while building connections and engaging in your community. You’ll connect with youth in the Tri-Cities area through this virtual and self-guided program while discovering more about yourself and your community. Through engaging hands-on activities, you’ll build your advocacy and leadership skills, grow in the agriculture/business arena, and enhance your resume by earning a Community Connector Certificate. Offered by Hall, Adams and Buffalo County 4-H, the program is open to teens in 10-12th grades. For more information, go to: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/join-the-community-connectors-program/. We encourage you to apply at https://go.unl.edu/s8az. Early-bird registration is $50 until January 20th; regular registration is $65 and open until January 28th. Feel free to reach out to D’Ette (d.scholtz@unl.edu) or Megan (m.knuth@unl.edu) if you have questions.
Drone Workshop
Save the Date! A Drone workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 from 9 am to 12 pm at the Hall County Extension Office. Drone certified Extension Educators will be presenting this workshop. You will learn about the drone certification process, tips for drone use, utilize a drone simulator, and visit a number of break-out sessions. The workshop is for teens 13-18 years of age with a registration fee of $10.
Please note that we have transitioned the Drone Workshop date to a school day and will invite local schools to attend. Individual youth may also register! We are happy to provide documentation to a school if you would like to attend. Questions about the workshop? Contact D’Ette at the office or email her at dscholtz2@unl.edu. A registration link will be sent out closer to the date of the workshop. We hope your teen will consider attending!
What is 4-H Age?
Often you hear about 4-H age for events and activities and sometimes it’s confusing. Here is how to determine 4-H age. 4-H is open to all youth between the ages of 5 and 18 (4-H age).
- 4-H Age: The age of the youth before January 1 of the current year.
- 4-H eligibility is determined based on 4-H age (the age of the member on December 31 of the previous year). If your birthday is on January 1, your 4-H age is the age you were on December 31. If you turn eight on January 1, your 4-H age is seven. If you turn nine on January 1, your 4-H age is eight.
- Clover Kid eligibility: The first year of eligibility is 4-H age five and the last year of eligibility is 4-H age seven.
- Regular 4-H eligibility: The first year of eligibility is 4-H age 8 and the last year of eligibility is 4-H age 18.
Pick Your Project
Pick Your Project (https://4hcurriculum.unl.edu) is an online project selection guide for finding both county-only and state fair eligible 4-H fair projects and their resources. Users can search by keywords or browse by curriculum area, knowledge level, and geographic level.
Explore over 150 Nebraska 4-H projects through the Nebraska 4-H Pick Your Project and find the 4-H projects that will help you grow throughout 2022!
4-H Club Resources:
Year-End 4-H Club Treasurer's Report
Club Leaders, it’s time to fill out the annual treasurer’s report. Even if your club does not handle money, the form still needs to be signed & turned in to the Extension office. Forms will be sent via email (and can be found here: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/4-H/Year%20End%20Treasurer%27s%20Report%202021%20fillable.pdf), and are due to the Extension office by January 31st. If you have any questions, call Joyce at (308) 385-5088 or email jkrolikowski2@unl.edu.
Have you been thinking of starting your own 4-H club?
It's easier than you might think! Contact Megan or D'Ette; we would be happy to answer any questions! We have the tools to help you get started! Call 308-385-5088 or email mknuth3@unl.edu. You can also check out this website: https://4h.unl.edu/clubs/start.
Project Spotlight:
2022 Special Garden Project - Rubenza Cosmos
The Special Gardening Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual flowers and vegetables. The project allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in this project area. This project is open to all youth of 4-H age, and it will give them the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting and exhibiting this unique flower. Deadline for ordering seeds is February 1.
For more information about this project & to order seeds, go to: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/announcing-the-2022-4-h-special-garden-project/.
(Photo courtesy of Johnny’s Select Seeds)
2022 Special Agronomy Project - Broomcorn Sorghum
The 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. Deadline for ordering seeds is February 15. For more information about this project, go to: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/special-agronomy-project.
(Photo courtesy of seedsavers.org)
Scholarships:
Nebraska 4-H Foundation Scholarships
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation supports 4-H in many ways, from scholarships and grants to 4-H clubs to offering programs such as the Nebraska 4-H Ambassador and 4-H Club of the Month programs.
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation provides 4-H members the opportunity to apply for scholarships. All scholarship applications must be submitted via the Annual Achievement Application and are due January 15, 2022. For guidelines and more information, go to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation website: www.ne4hfoundation.org/scholarships.
Hall County Sheriff's Posse Scholarships
The Hall County Sheriff’s Posse is offering three $250.00 scholarships to compassionate, community-minded students who submit an essay that captures his/her commitment to the Nebraska horse community. Students must be a member of the 2022 graduating class and must have participated in the Nebraska 4-H horse program. Applications are due February 1, 2022. Applications can be found here: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/4-H/Scholarships/HCSP%20Scholarship%20Application%202022.pdf.
Hall County 4-H Council Scholarships
The Hall County 4-H Council is sponsoring scholarships valued at $500 each! The scholarships are available to current Hall County 4-H members who are graduating seniors this year. Applications are due March 1st to the Hall County Extension Office at 3180 W Hwy 34, Grand Island, NE 68801 or cbeissenherz2@unl.edu. The application can be found at hall.unl.edu/4-h-member-resources/ or picked up at the Extension Office.
Shooting Sports:
Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshops/Updates
Horse News:
Upcoming 4-H Horse Advisory Meeting
All 4-H families interested in showing horses this year are welcome to attend this meeting on February 7th at 6 pm at the Extension office. The agenda includes setting a date for our July Ride-Night, discussing the show order and stalling. This meeting counts as one of the meetings for High Point requirements.
Horse High Point Requirements
Reminder: Two of the three spring/summer horse meetings MUST be attended to be eligible for the High Point award. These meetings are held in February, May, and July. The 4-H member will be required to attend at least one meeting themselves, and a representative (parent or club leader) may attend the other meeting.
Livestock Updates:
Market Beef Weigh-In
The 4-H Market Beef Weigh-In will be held Saturday, January 8th at Platte Valley Vet Clinic in Alda from 8-11 am. If you plan to show market beef at County Fair or State Fair, you need to weigh in at this time. In order for market beef to be eligible for State Fair, they must have an EID tag and DNA must be pulled at weigh-in. There are opportunities to weigh calves in surrounding counties; however, if you plan on showing animals at the Hall County Fair, we prefer that you weigh your animals at our weigh-in on the 8th.
- DNA cost is $7 per animal (paid during the online nominations at showstockmgr.com)
- The cost of the ear tags will be covered by Friends of 4-H.
Livestock Sale Cards will be available to pick up at the Market Beef Weigh-in, and at the office anytime!
Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort
Volunteer Opportunities:
Share Your Passion…Teach Youth a New Skill...Learn by Doing…Teach a Kids College Class!
Do you have a special skill or talent and would enjoy passing that on to youth in our community (or do you know someone who does)? If so, we need your help! We’re looking for adults/teens to lead workshops for our summer Kids College program.
Kids College workshops offer hands-on, learning opportunities for youth ages 5-18, and are held in the month of June. Need ideas? We can help! How about candy making, woodworking, jewelry making, metal working, rockets, bath bombs, or slime. Give us a call if you are interested in learning how to become a workshop instructor.
Workshop proposals are due to the Hall County Extension Office by Feb. 1. Contact Joyce at (308) 385-5088 or jkrolikowski2@unl.edu for more information.
Livestock Leadership Opportunities
Hall County 4-H is looking for someone to fill the roles of Poultry Superintendent and Goat Superintendent. The superintendents take the reins at the show, help answer questions, and are encouraged to attend meetings, if applicable. If you know someone who would be great at this role, or are interested in volunteering, contact Megan at mknuth3@unl.edu or 308-385-5088.
2022 Calendar - Upcoming Events
January 8 - Market Beef Weigh-In, 8-11 am at Platte Valley Vet Clinic in Alda.
January 17 - Martin Luther King Day; Extension office closed.
January 25 - 4-H Council Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Extension office.
February 2 - Extension Board Meeting, 4:30 pm at the Extension office.
February 7 - Horse advisory meeting, 6 pm at the Extension office.
February 21 - President's Day; Extension office closed.
March 16 - Drone Workshop, 9-12 at the Extension office.
May 2 - Horse advisory meeting, 6 pm at the Extension office.
May 23 - Sheep & Goat weigh-in, 5:30-7:30 pm at Fonner Park.
June 29 - Clothing Judging Day & 4-H Fashion Show
July 20-24 - Hall County Fair
D'Ette Scholtz
4-H Youth Development
Megan Knuth
4-H Youth Development
Crystal Beissenherz
Joyce Krolikowski
Nebraska Extension - Hall County
Email: hall-county@unl.edu
Website: hall.unl.edu
Location: 3180 W Hwy 34, College Park, Grand Island, Nebraska, USA
Phone: 308-385-5088
Facebook: facebook.com/HallCounty4HNebraska
Twitter: @4HHoopla