Dec 15 - NWSS Catch-A-Calf Applications Due

Dec 15 - Thurston County 4-H Council Nominations Due

Dec 24 - Office Closed - Christmas Holiday

Dec 31 - Office Closed - Happy New Year!

Jan 10 - Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting

Jan 17 - Office Closed - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan 24 - Special Seed Project Orders due to Office

Feb 14 - Joint Dakota-Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting (@ Pender)

Feb 21 - Office Closed - President's Day

TBD - Dakota-Thurston County Weigh Day

TBD - Thurston County 4-H Kickoff Party

We are in need of nominations for names of those wishing to serve on 4-H Council!

Please submit your nominations to our office by Wednesday, December 15th.

We are still learning how the NEW online enrollment site for 4-H online will operate. Please DO NOT try and access either the old enrollment site or the new site as data is being transferred. We will let you know when we are ready to have you enroll and/or re-enroll your family members for 2022.

Thanks for your patience!

Looking for fun, hands-on activities suitable for the winter season? Find the perfect activities to spark curiosity for youth all season long at

4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/holiday-2021

Big Red Summer Camps will be held June 12-17, 2022. Registration will open around February 1, 2022.

Watch for more details coming soon!

The Special Garden 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. This project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables and flowers. 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.

The focus of the 2022 project is the Rubenza Cosmos. The flowers of the Rubenza are unique, the petals change color as they age. Pollinators and beneficial insects are attracted to the blooms all summer long. These cosmos make great cut flowers. Be sure to enjoy a bouquet of Rubenza indoors.

Be sure to visit https://4h.unl.edu/special-garden-project to learn more about the project. Seed orders are due to our Extension Office by Monday, January 24, 2022!

Nebraska Extension is pleased to announce the second year of the Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program. This additional opportunity for enrolled livestock project youth is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership.

The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.

The program consists of two levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals. Each accomplishment is worth a specific number of points. Intermediates, ages 10-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence. Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence. The Plan and Reports, linked on the webpage, show examples of the project related accomplishments they can choose, or they can identify their own with approval of their local educator.

Applications/Sign up are due June 15th through the application form link on the website. Plan and Reports, as well as Project Records will be due August 10 via the completion form on the website. Youth completing the achievement program and receiving member of excellence recognition in the various species will be recognized during the Parade of Champions, 4-H weekend at the Nebraska State Fair. For more information or to apply, go to: Nebraska 4-H / Livestock Achievement Program

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

Eligibility:

1. Incoming freshman or transfer student for 2022-2023 academic year.
2. Must plan to enroll in the animal science program at UNL the Fall 2022 semester. Scholarship cannot be used at NCTA, UNO, or UNK.
3. Must be an admitted animal science major. Pre-vet majors are not eligible.
4. Immediate families of University of Nebraska employees or those living in the same household as a University of Nebraska employee 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, double-spaced, size 12 font.
4. Entrants must complete the online entry form and upload their digital story at the end.

Ten winners will be selected and will receive:

$5,000 scholarship to be used for 2022-2023 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 Midnight on January 7, 2022.