Otoe County 4-H Wednesday What-Nots
July 15, 2020
2020 Otoe County 4-H Modified Fair
Bring your chairs!
July 19th is Static & Clover Kid Entry Day!
· Static entries include: aerospace, agronomy, cake decorating, child development, citizenship, clothing, club news reports, club scrapbooks, Clover Kids, computers, conservation, crochet, entrepreneurship, floriculture, foods, heritage, home environment, horticulture, knitting, leadership, quilting, photography, posters, secretary’s books, SET, theater arts, wildlife, and woodworking entries – All 4-H entries that are usually displayed in the Exhibition Building.
· Static entry on Sunday, July 19 for 4-H members and Clover Kids is based on their last name. Times are as follows:
A – F: 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
G – K: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
l – S: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
T – Z: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Extra hour for those who could not make the above work
· One person from each family will bring the entries into the Fair Center.
· Entry tags need to be completed and attached before drop off in the Fair Center – no exceptions. Please contact the Extension Office for entry tags before Friday, July 17, 4:00 p.m.
· A building host will be on the outside of the building to monitor the number of people in the building and making sure entry tags are completed. There will be no check-in table to determine where items should be entered. The 4-H member/family will need to determine if the projects are entered correctly. Please contact the Extension Office for assistance before Friday, July 17.
· There will be no interview judging in 2020 for any static exhibits.
· 4-H static entries will not be displayed or open for viewing. Ribbons and score sheets will be attached to each entry.
· Release of exhibits will take place on Saturday, July 25.
· Floriculture – Each 4-H member is limited to 3 entries.
· Foods – Each 4-H member is limited to 3 entries to save on wasting food, which includes cake decorating. This limit does not include Food Preservation. No foods will be tasted. Foods will be judged on appearance and texture, but will not be tasted.
· Home Environment – Each 4-H member is limited to 3 entries. This includes projects in: Design My Place, Sketchbook Crossroads, Portfolio Pathways, Heirloom Treasurers/Family Keepsakes, and Design Decisions. Quilting is a separate area.
· Horticulture – Each 4-H member is limited to 3 entries to save on wasting produce.
· Any entry that requires two people to lift will not be accepted.
Hog Exhibitor Information
We will be weighing in all 4-H and FFA Market Hogs on Tuesday, July 21st from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. All hogs will stay on the fairgrounds overnight and can leave as soon as they are done showing. The hog show will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22nd.
- The Ag Society will have bedding available for purchase.
- All bedding must be cleaned up prior to leaving the fairgrounds after the show.
- Pens will not be assigned this year. Pens will follow social distancing guidelines.
- A limited amount of wash racks will be available due to social distancing guidelines.
- No awards or ribbons will be handed out in the show ring. Awards and ribbons can be picked up from the awards/ribbon table once youth are done showing. All awards/ribbons will be grouped by family unit.
- Backtags will not be worn this year.
- No programs will be available. Show order will be emailed to exhibitors late Tuesday night.
- Only the announcer and official record keeper will be allowed on the announcers stand.
- Masks must be worn while in the show ring.
- No handshaking or fist-bumping the judge.
- With no livestock auction this year, a direct ship option is available for those youth who would like to sell their pigs.
- Each family must complete the County Fair Livestock Health Statement prior to weighing-in hogs. This form can be found at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/otoe/4h/.
- All t-shirts must be purchased prior to Wednesday, July 22.
- The Extension Office is stilled closed to the public.
Performing Arts Contest
· Youth participating in the Performing Arts Contest will be videotaped using YouTube, then the video submitted via the Otoe County email to then be available for 4-H Performing Arts judge to evaluate.
· Videos must be submitted by Wednesday, July 22, 11:59 p.m.
· All rules from the fair book will be followed. Ribbons and awards will be given.
Here is the link for submitting your video: https://go.unl.edu/performingartscontest
Fair Clean-Up Saturday, July 18
8:00 a.m. – Clean up pig pens, set up pig gates, and cattle gates.
4-H Jr. Division Life Challenge Contest Results!
Otoe County 4-H members participated in the online version of the Junior Division 4-H Life Challenge Contest. Junior Division 4-H members ranked four placing classes and answered a 25 multiple-choice question quiz. The questions came from various beginning level 4-H project manuals.
Cosette Wagner of Nebraska City was named Champion. She received a $20 cash award sponsored by Valentino’s of Nebraska City.
Hayden Wellensiek of Cook was the Reserve Champion. He received a $20 award sponsored by Commercial State Bank of Nebraska City. The Champion and Reserve Champion each received a rosette.
Each contestant and the ribbon they received are listed below.
Purple: Hayden Wellensiek of Cook; Westleigh Santema of Lincoln; Justus Kreifels, ShayLeigh Morillo-Fox, and Cosette Wagner of Nebraska City; and Lauren Brehm of Talmage.
Blue: Emilia Bando, Jolie Kreifels, and Amber Schropfer of Nebraska City; Bryn Boitnott of Nehawka; Ryan Damme, Kirsten Knake, and Rilynn Whitney of Syracuse.
4-H State Speech Contest Results
The 4-H State Speech Contest was recently conducted virtually at the University of Nebraska−Lincoln. There were three Otoe County 4-H members who participated by submitting a video of them presenting their speech.
This contest was an opportunity for 4-H youth who advanced from the county level to give their speech and/or public service announcement (PSA) in state competition. Speech contest results are:
Intermediate Division Speech: Justus Kreifels of Nebraska City – “A No Stress Fair” – Purple. Daisa Smidt of Adams – “Into the Sunset” – Purple.
Senior Division Speech: Valerie Bennie of Nebraska City – “Learning Patience Through 4-H” – Purple.
4-H Presentation Contest Results
Otoe County 4-H members recently participated in the 4-H Presentation Contest at the Fair Center in Syracuse. These youth demonstrated a skill or presented information using visual aids.
Daisa Smidt, Adams, was the Senior Division Champion with her presentation “Preparing to Ride.” She received a plaque sponsored by the Nebraska City News-Press/Syracuse Journal-Democrat and a rosette.
Maci Smidt, Adams, was the Junior Division Champion for her presentation “The Perfect Cow.” She received a plaque sponsored by the Nebraska City News-Press/Syracuse Journal-Democrat and a rosette.
Also participating in the Junior Division were Diego Velazco, Syracuse, with his presentation “Horse Safety – Rules to Follow around Your Horse” and Cosette Wagner, Nebraska City, for her presentation “Speedy Doll Dress.” Both received purple ribbons.
Daisa Smidt and Diego Velazco earned the opportunity to represent Otoe County at the Nebraska State Fair. Both are age-eligible to participate in 4-H at the Nebraska State Fair, said Purcell.
Mary Ann Holland, Nebraska City, a retired Nebraska Extension Educator, served as the judge for this contest.
Clover Kids Showmanship
- In-person livestock showmanship for Clover Kids is replaced with a YouTube video. A flyer showing how to produce a YouTube video and submit it for review is included in this letter.
- This includes: Bucket Calf, Companion Animal, Dairy Goat, Dog, Hog, Meat Goat, Poultry, Rabbit, and Sheep Showmanship.
- Clover Kids may submit a YouTube video of them showing their animal. The video may be up to five (5) minutes long.
- The Clover Kid will need to answer the five (5) provided questions while showing their animal as they would if they were showing in person. The questions are:
- What is your name?
- What is your animal's name?
- What do you feed your animal?
- What was your favorite part about this project?
- What was one thing you learned while completing this project?
- Videos must be submitted by Sunday, July 19, 11:59 p.m.
- Please use this link to submit your Clover Kid Showmanship Video: https://go.unl.edu/cloverkidsshowmanship
- Clover Kid ribbons will be given.
Alerts & Schedule Updates for Nebraska State Fair
Poultry Showmanship
Below are links to four Poultry Showmanship Videos produced by Brett Kreifels, Nebraska Extension Educator. Watch these videos and learn how to compete in 4-H poultry showmanship.
Video 1: What is a Poultry Showmanship Presentation?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk7e2agO3bI
Video 2: Components of a Poultry Showmanship Presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lw8PZ-6vdM
Video 3: Examples of Poultry Showmanship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDmAuhLEb6g
Video 4: Examples of Poultry Showmanship 2
Nebraska 4-H Club Meetings
The health and safety of all 4-H members, parents, guests, and staff is the top priority of Nebraska 4-H.
To help reduce the risks associated with the spread of COVID-19, the following guidelines from the Nebraska Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) should be followed to protect yourself and others during 4-H Club meetings and other 4-H programs:
1. Stay home when sick and avoid contact with other people unless you need medical attention.
2. Follow common-sense steps such as washing your hands often and well; covering your coughs and sneezes; and cleaning and disinfecting.
3. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
5. Avoid close contact with people by staying at least 6 feet apart.
6. Wear cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
7. Wipe down all common surfaces as recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Common surfaces include tables, counters, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, chairs, etc.
At this time we recommend food or snacks not be provided as part of 4-H meetings. Families can bring their own snacks for themselves if necessary.
Additional guidelines for preparation before, during and following your 4-H meeting can be found at:
https://4h.unl.edu/documents/COVID4HMeetingGuidelinesMay2820201%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.pdf
By following the above best practices, Nebraska 4-H hopes to offer more opportunities for youth to interact face-to-face, within the parameters provided by your county health officials. If you have any questions, please contact the Nebraska Extension in Otoe County Office at 402-269-2301 or otoe-county@unl.edu.
Otoe County Fair Book can be found online!
Virtual Dog Club
2020 Census
Nebraska Extension in Otoe County limited public access
In response to COVID-19, the Nebraska Extension in Otoe County Office has limited public access until further notice. Our office, located at 620 1st Street in Syracuse, will remain operational and accessible to the public by request only until further notice. Please contact the office at 402-269-2301 or via email at otoe-county@unl.edu to set up a time to conduct any business that cannot be handled via phone, email, or regular mail. The doors will be locked and access will only be granted to those who have a scheduled appointment
COVID-19 Information from Southeast District Health
Nebraska Extension in Otoe County has connected with the Southeast District Health Department to amplify the work of our district health department. The mission of the Southeast District Health Department is to prevent diseases, promote good health and protect the welfare of all who live, work, and visit Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, and Richardson counties. Click on the following link to have access to the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, the coronavirus, to ensure the health and safety of yourself, your family, and our community. http://www.sedhd.org/index.html
2020 Otoe County Fair Theme
Nebraska Extension in Otoe County
Sarah Purcell, Unit Leader, Extension Educator, spurcell2@unl.edu
Erin Steinhoff, Extension Assistant, erin.steinhoff@unl.edu
Kelsey Ahrens, Office Manager, kahrens4@unl.edu
Emma Lanik, Summer Intern
Email: Otoe-County@unl.edu
Website: www.otoe.unl.edu
Location: 620 1st Street, Syracuse, NE
Phone: (402)269-2301
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nebraska-Extension-in-Otoe-County