4-H and FFA exhibitors and their families are responsible for submitting all livestock entries online this year. 4-H Families are also responsible for entering in all contests and in person events. The following entries need to be made by August 10th:

• 4-H and FFA Livestock entries
• 4-H Fashion Show entries
• 4-H Presentation Contest entries
• 4-H Culinary Challenge entries

All entries must be submitted no later than 8:00 pm Central Time on August 10, 2021. A credit or debit card is required to submit entries. If you would like help with your entries, please come to the Extension Office and we are happy to help you complete them! Make sure to ask questions if you aren’t sure about something.

We do still have a few items left over from the 4-H Foodstand to purchase. We have some 20 ounce bottles of Sprite or Coke Zero, small bags of Doritos and bags of tortilla chips. Please contact the office if you are interested in any of these items.

It's time again to submit your 4-H Achievement Applications and Career Portfolios as the 4-H year nears completion. Last year was the first opportunity to use the Achievement Award Application, and was met with some hesitation from our 4-H families, so at the county level for selection of county awards only, 4-H members can choose to submit a Career Portfolio or the Achievement Application.

The Achievement Application will be used at the state level to selection winners for 4-H Congress, Conference, scholarships, and other leadership opportunities that arise statewide. By having one single form that more closely resembles the kinds of questions being asked on college applications and in resumes, 4-H’ers will be better prepared to be college and job ready while keeping a record of the achievements. This form was piloted last year and will be used as an alternative to the Career Portfolio. This form is much shorter and easier to use than the Career Portfolio.

The Nebraska 4-H Career Portfolio form can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/awards-recognition/career-portfolio.

All Achievement Applications and Career Portfolios are due in the office by Monday, November 1st! Let us know as you have questions.

Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 and how long it will be a significant health threat, our Washington D.C. group of Gage, Jefferson and Saline counties has decided to postpone a trip until 2022. We just don’t want the youth to spend that kind of money and not be guaranteed even if we are able to go that we would get to see and do all the things we would like to do and have done in the past.

With that being said, this gives youth more time to fund-raise for the trip. If you have ideas or suggestions of new fundraising, please contact the office!

Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the new changes to the CWF trip program requirements, the payment plan, or fundraising opportunities. As always, we are open to suggestions, especially regarding fundraising!

A message for all cat interested youth:

Do you like cats? What about learning how to care for or show them? Maybe you have heard about the 4-H Cat Club in the past and wanted to join, but couldn't make the monthly meetings.

Do we have good news for you, or what? We are pleased to introduce this year's self-paced Cat Club! No more being bummed that you missed the hour long meeting every second Thursday. You will now have access to monthly lessons and activities that you can complete on your own time. The first lesson can be found here on September 5th: https://4h.unl.edu/companion-animal/cat-club

If you are interested, please stay tuned and register today!

How Does It Work?

Each month, a new photo will be selected from the online submissions. Selections will be made based on creativity, timeliness, technical execution, originality, and appropriateness. The selected photo will be showcased across the Nebraska 4-H social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Youth photographers will be credited wherever and whenever their photo is shared or published.

This opportunity is open to all enrolled 4-H members. Photo recommendations, file specifications, rules, and guidelines for participation are available online at https://4h.unl.edu/photography-showcase.