Otoe County 4-H Wednesday What-Nots
April 21, 2021
Week of the Volunteer
The Week of the Volunteer is going on this week, and we're looking forward to celebrating our amazing 4-H volunteers! To celebrate we're hosting daily Lunch & Learn sessions from Monday, April 19 through Thursday, April 22, each from 12:00 -1:00 pm CST. Session topics include: Incorporating Positive Youth Development into Your Work, How to Keep the 4-H Experiences Fresh, Leading a Club that Works, and Confidence in Conflict Resolution. These are great for new and experienced volunteers as well as individuals interested in getting started. Each session will include 30 minutes of content followed by 30 minutes of discussion and networking time. Sign up to join us at go.unl.edu/lunch-learn.
National Volunteer Week
April 18th marks the beginning of National 4-H Volunteer Week. To get the celebration started, I would love it if 4-H’ers across Otoe County would consider submitting names and stories about their favorite 4-H volunteer. Without our volunteers, we would not have 4-H! So please take a few minutes to think about who has helped you become the best 4-H’er you can be, and nominate them so we can show them a little love. Your stories will be developed into videos that we will share on our social media platforms. Here’s the link to the nomination form. https://go.unl.edu/2021otoevolweek
Deb
Otoe County Fair
Thursday, Jul 22, 2021, 07:00 AM
Syracuse, NE, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
The 2021 Otoe County Fair 4-H Fair Book is now available at:
https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/otoe/2021%20Fair%20Book%20Final%20Copy.pdf
The 2021 Otoe County Fair FFA & Open Class Fairbook is now available at: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/otoe/Open%20Class%20%26%20FFA%20final%202021.pdf
State Fair Cattle Update
3D Modeling via Zoom
Youth must be at least 8 years old to participate. Cost of $20
Learn how a 3D printer works & create your own 3D printed design. Within this workshop, you will create an account and use free online software to learn basic computer aided design. Upon completion of your 3D model, you may email the instructor your file and the 3D print will be mailed to you at a later date. Offer is limited to residents of the continental United States and one 1-hr print per registered participant.
Upon registration, please select the preferred date for attendance.
June 9: 10:00 – Noon
June 10: 10:00 – Noon
June 11: 10:00 – Noon
June 17: 10:00 – Noon
Registration Link: https://web.cvent.com/event/9b6ba154-8ce8-4f0b-8fb8-9458d82f7001/summary?locale=en-US&tm=3JJlV_lW_TjkDXq9kl4DO5hW7IsvLI_d4sIv632qlKs
Code Camp via Zoom
Youth must be at least 8 years old to participate. $10 cost.
If you can read, you can code!
Upon registration, please select your preferred class date.
June 9: 1-2
June 9: 3-4
June 17: 1-2
June 17: 3-4
Registration Link: https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/programs/code-camp-webinar.html
4-H Cooking & Food Preservation Series Part 2
As 4-H families are enrolling in projects for this year, consider one of the many 4-H foods areas. There’s more to the 4-H Foods & Nutrition series than just cooking and baking. All youth enrolled in any 4-H Foods & Nutrition or Food Preservation project are welcome to create an entry for any of these four General Foods & Nutrition classes for County and State Fair:
Food Science Exploration – Show the connection between food and science as it relates to food preparation, food safety, food preservation, or food production. Exhibit may be a poster or foam core board (not to exceed 22” x 30”), computer based presentation printed off with notes pages, if needed, and displayed in a binder, an exhibit display, or a written report in a portfolio or notebook. Be creative!
Foods and Nutrition Poster, Scrapbook, or Photo Display – The project should involve a nutrition or food preparation technique or explore a career related to the food industry (caterer, restaurant owner, food scientist, registered dietitian, etc.). This might contain pictures, captions and/or a report to highlight the concept. Exhibit may be a poster or a foam core board (not to exceed 22” by 30”); a computer-based presentation printed off with notes pages (if needed) and displayed in a binder; an exhibit display; or a written report in a portfolio or notebook.
Physical Activity and Health Poster, Scrapbook, or Photo Display – The project should involve a physical activity or explore a career-related to physical activity or health (personal trainer, sports coach, physical therapist, etc.). This might contain pictures, captions and/or a report to highlight the concept. Exhibit may be a poster or a foam core board (not to exceed 22” by 30”), a computer based presentation printed off with notes pages, if needed, and displayed in a binder, an exhibit display, or a written report in a portfolio or notebook.
Cooking Basics Recipe File – A collection of 10 recipes from any source. Each recipe must accompany a complete menu in which the recipe is used. An additional 10 recipes may be added each year the 4-H’er is in the project, with year clearly marked on recipes. Display in a recipe file or binder. Be sure to include the number of servings or yield of each recipe. This may be a continued recipe file project from the previously used 4-H curriculum before 2018. Exhibits that include recipes with alcohol (wine, beer, rum, etc.) will be disqualified.
Please refer to the Otoe County fair book or contact the Otoe County Extension Office at 402-269-2301 for more information. This article is part 2 of a 3 part series.
Extension office will be closed on Friday, April 30th for Arbor Day - Plant A Tree!!!
FAFSA Priority Consideration Deadline Extended: May 1
Future Huskers are being given extra time to qualify for the Nebraska Promise financial aid program. The deadline has been extended until May 1, the priority consideration date by which students can file the 2021-22 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and qualify for the Nebraska Promise. This program guarantees that tuition will be covered for qualifying Nebraska students with a family income of $60,000 (AGI) or less.
If you have high school seniors in your region who have not yet completed their FAFSA, please let them know there is still time! Below are a couple of options that you can use for pushing information out to your youth by either email or e-newsletter.
OPTION 1:
Planning to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the fall? Submit your FAFSA by May 1 to maximize scholarship and need-based aid eligibility!
OPTION 2:
Reminder: the University of Nebraska-Lincoln extended the priority deadline to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to May 1. If you are a high school senior, there is still time to complete and submit your FAFSA by the May 1 priority consideration date. Also, this date extension allows students additional time to be considered for the Nebraska Promise program, the university’s financial aid program which guarantees Nebraska students with a family income of $60,000 (AGI) or less can attend tuition-free. Learn more about Nebraska Promise at admissions.unl.edu/promise. Here are a few easy steps to get started. Also, learn more about the FAFSA and how to submit at admissions.unl.edu/FAFSA. The website can assist you with the process or you may contact Husker Hub at 402-472-2030.
- Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID at www.studentaid.gov
- Complete and submit the FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov
- List Nebraska’s federal school code 002565 on your FAFSA application and your information will be sent directly to the university.
- Once your FAFSA is submitted watch your email for a link to your Student Aid Report (SAR).
Special Garden Seeds ready to pick up at the Extension Office
The Special Gardening Project is an opportunity for 4-H members to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens. Each year, a new plant is selected as the focus for all members enrolled in the project. Youth receive seeds which they plant and cultivate using project resources provided throughout the experience. Youth then have the opportunity to exhibit cut flowers or harvested vegetables or present their experience through a poster or report.
It’s 4-H Enrollment Time!
It’s time to enroll and re-enroll in 4-H! All youth and leaders will need to enroll and re-enroll in Otoe County 4-H through 4-HOnline at https://ne.4honline.com. 4-HOnline is the web-based enrollment system that allows families to enroll and re-enroll in 4-H on their personal computer or mobile device. You will complete all of the information necessary to join or re-enroll in 4-H online, including 4-H Code of Conduct forms. PLEASE NOTE: When signing up as an Independent 4-H member, you must have at least one parent enrolled as a 4-H leader.
You are strongly encouraged to re-enroll by May 1 or you may miss out on communications such as project specific letters, the monthly TIPS newsletter, Wednesday What-Nots, etc. New members and fair projects may be updated through June 15 according to new Nebraska State 4-H policy.
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA)
Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance certification through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). YQCA is a national multi-species quality assurance program focused on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development.
YQCA certification is required for all 4-H members enrolled in any of the following projects:
- Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market beef)
- Dairy Cattle
- Goat (breeding meat goat, dairy goat, meat goat)
- Poultry
- Rabbit
- Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)
- Swine
Nebraska 4-H members ages 8-18, who are enrolled in any of the livestock projects listed above are required to participate in an annual YQCA training. Annual training requirements may be satisfied by completing either an online web-based training course or a face-to-face instructor-led training course.
Web-based annual training is available through the YQCA learning management system. The online YQCA course costs $12 per individual regardless of age and in-person course costs $3 per individual. Please see the YQCA Login & Course Completion Instructions for more information.
The next in-person trainings will be held May 25th at 6:00 pm at the Otoe County Fair Center. The deadline to complete the annual YQCA training or to test out of annual training is June 15th.
4-H members who exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will need to have their YQCA training requirements also met by June 15th.
UNL College Students: Paid Summer Opportunities with the State for Nebraska 4-H
Do you know of a UNL College Student who is looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of young people this summer while getting paid? The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has launched the Husker Afterschool and Summer Learning Opportunities (HALO) program, which offers hands-on, youth-centered programs to school-age youth in Nebraska communities. HALO brings together UNL students to support local 4-H programs across Nebraska in developing and delivering educational experiences. Programs experiences (anything from leading virtual workshops to supervising programs at camp), locations (all the way from Scottsbluff to Omaha and everywhere in between), and content (biomedical engineering to environmental ed), are diverse! Learn more about working with Nebraska 4-H this summer at https://4h.unl.edu/pyd-student-opportunities and apply before April 18, 2021!
2021 4-H Project of the Year Featuring TEC Box Educational Kit
Nebraska 4-H is thrilled to announce the first-ever Project of the Year, focused upon Entrepreneurship and featuring the TEC Box Educational Kit! The Project of the Year provides the perfect 4-H Club project and is also a great way for new youth and families to get started in 4-H.
This year’s Educational Kit introduces youth to the exciting world of entrepreneurship through the TEC Box curriculum! The kit includes the curriculum and materials youth need to complete four hands-on activities. The activities help youth think for themselves, practice empathy and solve problems as they learn about entrepreneurship. Youth will invent their own product to make bicycles safer and develop a new game that can be enjoyed with family and friends. These activities and lessons lay the groundwork for a county and state fair eligible exhibit: Class F531006 - Entrepreneurship Challenge.
The TEC Box Educational Kit includes a printed facilitator guide and one youth workbook, inflatable 4-H kickball, sports cones, washi tape, felt, yarn, pipe cleaners, foam, and dice. Kits are only $25 plus shipping and may be ordered through the UNL Marketplace.
Ear Tags Available at the Extension Office
YQCA must be completed by June 15th to be eligible to show livestock at the Otoe County Fair for all 4-H’ers over 8 years old.
MANDATORY – a photo of the visual tag in the ear and the entire head of each of the animals identified on the ID sheet must be submitted before June 15th– photos can be emailed to otoe-county@unl.edu.
ID sheets can be picked up at the Extension Office or downloaded from https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/otoe/4h/.
Nebraska Extension in Otoe County
Deb Weitzenkamp, Unit Leader, Extension Educator, deb.weitzenkamp@unl.edu
Erin Steinhoff, Extension Assistant, erin.steinhoff@unl.edu
Cheryl Goff, Office Manager, cheryl.goff@unl.edu
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