Phelps September 2023 Newsletter

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 States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

2. Congratulations State Fair Exhibitors

3. National 4-H Week

4. Shooting Sports

5. Achievement Banquet

6. County Fair Suggestions

7. 4-H Record Books

8. 4-H Awards

9. Nebraska State 4-H Awards

10. Sign Up to Judge in 2024

Find results at http://www.nebraska4hresults.com/

State Fair static exhibits will return to the Extension Office after State Fair. Please pick up your exhibit, ribbon, and judge’s score sheet between September 7 and 14. 4-H'ers who exhibited animals and static exhibits will also be able to pick up your premium checks during this time.

Coming soon National 4-H Week! That’s reason to celebrate. 4-H got its start in rural fields, but today it’s everywhere—from city streets and schools, to neighborhoods and universities. That’s why 4-H has stayed important for more than 100 years.

· Share your 4-H story online

· Share your 4-H story in your faith group

· Write an article for the paper

· Ask adults in your life to share their 4-H story

· Put 4-H posters or flyers around your community

· Ask for all 4-H members to stand and be recognized at the next home game

· Invite new youth to join your 4-H club or 4-H interest group

· Send a 4-H thank you to someone who supports 4-H

· Plan a project to give back to your community

· Ask the 4-H staff to give you more ideas!

Wear a 4-H shirt October 4!

Please take the opportunity to thank all of the organizations, businesses and individuals who helped create a wonderful 4-H experience for you. These include your trophy sponsors, auction buyers, t-shirt sponsor and other volunteers that helped during the year! You can stop by the Extension Office to pick up special 4-H Thank You cards. We can also look up sponsor addresses.

Remember to send a thank you to Farm Bureau for their generous donation of 4-H t-shirts and support of our local 4-H programs at: Farm Bureau, 411 Grant, Holdrege NE 68949.

For all the latest news from the Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Program visit

https://4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports

Sept 9 State 4-H Shotgun

Sept 16 4-H State Outdoor Archery

Oct 7 Leader Training Ashland NE

Oct 28 Leader Training in Buffalo County

Be watching for County Shooting Sports details coming later in the year!

Our 4-H Fall Celebration Banquet will be held on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. Watch for more information in the October Newsletter. Happy Fall!

4-H is looking for youth and adults members who are interested in serving as 4-H Council members.

If you are interested, contact the Extension Office by October 27 to be added to the ballot. Voting will be at the November 5th 4-H Banquet.

A suggestion form is included in this newsletter. We are always interested in your comments, ideas and suggestions. Share your thoughts and return the signed form to the Extension Office. We will forward your suggestion to the appropriate decision-making body for their consideration. Thank you!

4-H County Record Books Due October 2nd!

The 4-H record book tells others your story.

Don't miss the opportunity to tell YOUR 4-H story!

Let the 4-H Team help you understand the 4-H record book process. We are available to speak with your club or with individuals. Please call or email for an appointment.

End of the Year Reporting—Finish the year strong!

4-H’ers 11 years and younger (Not required for Clover Kids)

4-H’ers who are ages 8-11, 4-H age, are asked to turn in a 4-H story highlighting your 4-H year. The story will be used as your record book and used for award purposes. No other information or books are needed, unless you are applying for a county award. Then you will need to add the County Award Entry Form. Your story may be typed or written, please keep it under 4 pages. Photos are appreciated.

OR the Junior Achievement Application found at https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application or the Extension Office.

12 years and older

4-H’ers, age 12 and older, 4-H age, (your age on December 31, 2022) are asked to complete the age appropriate State Achievement Application OR answer the questions below in a written format. Photos are appreciated.

4-H’ers 8-14 years may complete the Junior Achievement Application found at https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application or the Extension Office.

4-H’ers 15-18 years may complete the Senior Achievement Application found at https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application or the Extension Office. This format is needed for State awards.

12 years and older

County only Record Books

Answer the following questions. Your story should be typed and keep it under 4 pages. Photos are appreciated. These are the basic questions found in the Achievement Application.

4-H EXPERIENCES

Part 1

Describe your collective 4-H experience.

· Identify the number of years in the program.

· Identify program experiences in which you engaged.

· What skills have you learned as a result of being a part of the 4-H program?

· What have you learned about yourself as a result of being a part of 4-H?

Part 2

Describe your 4-H experience within the last 4-H year.

· How will this past year influence your future (i.e., 4-H experience, classroom experience, career, etc.)?

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES

Part 1: 4-H Leadership Experiences

Describe your 4-H leadership experiences that have helped build your leadership skills.

· What type of leadership was it?

o For example: Roles (Club President), Activities (4-H Lend a Hand Day), Experiences (Being a Junior Ambassador for my county).

Part 2: Non 4-H Leadership Experiences

· What did you learn about leadership through these experiences?

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT/SERVICE LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Describe two times you were involved in volunteer service to others and/or the community through 4-H or other opportunities.

· What were duties, responsibilities, and skills you used to be successful?

· What did you learn in each of your experiences?

CAREER SPARK

Describe how your 4-H experiences have sparked your interest in a future career field.

· How has 4-H influenced how you see yourself in this future role?

4-H Record Book Tips

**County Record Books are Due October 2nd, 2023

**A 4-H Record Book is also called an Achievement Application

**County Achievement Applications may be emailed to lori.swanson@unl.edu or printed and brought to the County Extension office.

**Instructions are available in the office and sent with this newsletter.

**All ages refer to 4-H age, the age you are on Dec 31, 2022

**State award applications are only by Achievement Application https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application and submitted directly to the state regardless of age.

**Each youth may ask for a green 4-H binder for their record book. The first one is FREE! Ask at the office.

**More information about the Nebraska 4-H Achievement Application can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application

Many county awards are available for youth ages 8-18!

4-H County Project Award Pins

The Phelps County 4-H Council supports award pins for recognition of outstanding learning and performance in several areas. A youth may apply for three county pins per year. To qualify a youth must have been in the project for two or more years and may only win the award once as a junior and once as a senior.

· Fill out the County Awards Application form

· Place this County Awards Application in the front of your 4-H Yearbook! This is very important. If your award form is not seen, your record book will not be considered.

· The Achievement Application should reflect the excellence you have achieved in the project areas for which you are applying.

· Submit your 4-H Achievement Application (Record Book) and the application. Due by October 2, 2023.

4-H Camp Scholarships Available

The Phelps County 4-H Council will award scholarships for 4-H’ers to attend any in-state 4-H camp or statewide Conference. (4-H Foundation grants will still cover ¾ of the registration fee for state events and workshops.) To apply for a 4-H Council Camp Scholarship,

· Fill out the attached County Awards Application Form

· Place this County Awards Application in the front of your 4-H Yearbook! This is very important. If your award form is not seen, your record book will not be considered.

· Submit your 4-H End of Year Report and the application. Due by October 2, 2023.

Outstanding 4-H Member

Each year, the 4-H Awards Committee selects an Outstanding 4-H Member award. All 4-H’ers ages 16 years and up are eligible for this honor. A 4-H youth may be considered for this award by ...

· Nominate themselves or be nominated by a leader or other adult or youth.

· Complete the enclosed Application Form, Use the form!

· The nominee’s Individual 4-H Record Book MUST be submitted Due by October 2, 2023

to be considered for this award.

· Complete the application form and return it to the Extension Office by October 2, 2023

Volunteer Awards

· The Nebraska 4-H Foundation is pleased to continue two awards programs for 4-H Volunteers. Awards will be given to an Outstanding 4-H Alum and the Heart of 4-H Award. Nominations are being sought from 4-H clubs or from individuals for these special awards. To nominate a special person for one of these awards, please complete the application form and return it to the Extension Office by Due by October 2, 2023.

4-H Diamond Clover

· Completed Diamond Clovers forms Due by October 2, 2023

. The form is separate from the traditional 4-H record book. Please do not put the form in your green binder. https://4h.unl.edu/diamond-clover

4-H Dog Achievement

· Completed Dog Achievement forms should be Due by October 2, 2023.

. The form is separate from the traditional 4-H record book. Please do not put the form in your green binder. https://4h.unl.edu/dog-achievement-program Due by October 2, 2023.

Only Senior Achievement Applications (ages 15-18) are accepted for state-level awards and recognition. 4-H members ages 15-18 as of December 31 of the current year are eligible to participate in the state-level awards application process regardless of the delivery mode in which they participated.

Clubs of Excellence-Due October 2nd to the County Extension Office

The overall goal of 4-H Clubs is to develop enthusiastic young people who boldly take action to demonstrate life skills as capable, caring, competent kids of character thus contributing to the improvement of themselves, their family, their club, their community, and their world. One way clubs might choose to measure their success in meeting that goal is their ability to gain status as a Nebraska 4-H Club of Excellence. To receive the designation as a Nebraska 4-H Club of Excellence, clubs must meet a certain set of criteria and document how this criterion was met. Clubs meeting the requirements will initially receive a certificate. In subsequent years clubs successfully meeting the requirements will receive a special insignia to place on their certificate. Clubs must apply annually to receive this recognition. https://4h.unl.edu/clubs-excellence

Nebraska 4-H Foundation Scholarships

he Nebraska 4-H Foundation offers 4-H members the opportunity to apply for scholarships. The Nebraska 4-H Foundation awards up to $22,000 worth of scholarships each year to 4-H’ers from across the state. The Nebraska 4-H Foundation utilizes the Achievement Application for awarding scholarships. Youth interested in applying for these scholarships must make that designation on their application, as well as complete the additional section titled "Nebraska 4-H Foundation Scholarships." Additional materials are required for youth applying for scholarships, including a copy of current transcripts and ACT/SAT scores. These materials must be submitted digitally along with the completed Achievement Application. Scholarship applicants must follow the state-level completion and submission procedures below. For more information, please see Nebraska 4-H Foundation Recognition. The deadline is January 5.

Note for Scholarship Applicants only:

Only the application review committee will have access to transcripts and test scores.

National 4-H Conference & National 4-H Congress

Nebraska 4-H utilizes the Achievement Application to select delegates for National 4-H Congress and National 4-H Conference. To apply as a delegate to either national experience, youth must make that designation on their Achievement Application, as well as complete the additional section titled "Representing Nebraska 4-H." Delegate applicants must follow the state-level completion and submission procedures below.

Generally, delegate applicants should:

· Be age 15-19 during the calendar year in which the trip occurs in order to be considered.

· Not have been a delegate to the program they are applying to.

Be able to miss one full week of school and/or work to attend the program.

State-level applications must be emailed to 4HAchieves@unl.edu. The state-level application submission deadline is January 5.

Adults interested in judging county and state 4-H projects, including live animal shows, static exhibits, and contests, are invited to complete the Judges Sign Up Form. By completing the online process, you agree to be screened according to the 4-H Youth Safety Policy, verify your receipt of the UNL Activity Worker Guidelines, and sign the 4-H Code of Conduct. Once the screening process is complete, your information will be made available to county Extension offices and State Fair 4-H superintendents. Those interested in hiring you to judge will contact you directly.

Sign-up now to judge in 2024! The form closes on September 30, 2023.

Calvin DeVries, Extension Educator

calvin.devries@unl.edu

Lori Swanson, Extension Assistant

lori.swanson@unl.edu

Emily Shultz, Extension Assistant

emily.shultz@unl.edu

Noah Renken, Office Manager

noah.renken@unl.edu

OFFICE HOURS

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Monday-Friday

ADDRESS

1308 2nd St Holdrege, NE 68949

(308) 995-4222

WEBSITE

https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/phelps-gosper/