Southern Plains 4-H
June Newsletter
NEWsletter Navigation
- 4-H Spotlight - where news worthy items are listed!
- Upcoming Workshops
- Animal Information
- Static Exhibits & Contests
- Special Opportunities
- Link to Printable Calendar of Events
- 4-H Council & Extension Board Meetings
- Contact Us!
4-H Spotlight!
2017 Fair Dates & Theme
Thayer Co. Fair: July 19-23, 2017
The 2017 Fair Theme is: 4-H... The Good Life. We ask 4-Hers to incorporate this theme into their fair exhibits for special recognition. We are incorporating Nebraska’s 150 year celebration, with 4-H. Be creative and original.
County Fair Announcements
- Click HERE to view the listing of clean-up duties for clubs to complete prior to the Fair.
- We will be having an Achievement & Leaders Party on August 6 at 5:00 p.m. to take place of the 4-H Night during the Fair - more details below.
- We will be sending out a list very soon for work times during the 4-H BBQ - keep an eye out for an email!
- County Fair Trophy winners remember to provide postage for your Thank You Notes!
- Just a Reminder! Penalty for missed deadline: All fair check-in deadlines, static and livestock, will be enforced with a $50.00 fine per project area, per exhibitor due to the 4-H Office before you're allowed to show or exhibit. Static exhibits or Livestock must be on the fairgrounds by 10:00 p.m. the day of check-in or you will not be allowed to show.The Graduating Senior 4-Hers will be showcased before the rodeo begins on Saturday Night in the Grand Stand.
- Clean-up & Pay Out has been moved to Tuesday, July 11th - Pay Out will begin at 6:00 p.m. New for 2017 - You will receive a "check-out card" that you will present the Superintendent of the Livestock Area or Extension Staff in the Static Exhibit Hall for them to OK that you cleaned-up your area. You will not receive your premiums until you turn in your check-out card to the 4-H Office.
Thayer County:
- Pre-entry forms were mailed out the first week of June, they are due July 1st!
- We will be sending out a listing of club clean-up duties very soon! Keep an eye out for an email!
- The Horse Judging Contest will no longer take place during the fair due to scheduling conflicts.
- County Fair Trophy winners remember to provide postage for your Thank You Notes!
Chain of Command for Issues during the Nuckolls or Thayer County Fair:
- Start with the Superintendent, they usually have the ability to resolve whatever problem there is if it is addressed immediately (within one hour after the show)
- If the Superintendent is unable to make a decision or solve the problem, the 4-H Council Committee responsible will be called to convene (for example, a livestock related issue would go before the Livestock Committee)
- If the Committee is unable to move forward, a full 4-H Council meeting will be called - at this point a grievance may be filed - see page 14 in the Fair Book for the details on filing a grievance.
- The 4-H Extension Educator or Assistant and/or Unit Leader will be the next point of contact.
- If no decision is made, a 'hearing' before the impartial Extension Board may be held.
A Note form the Extension Office:
County Fair is just around the corner, we would like to take a moment to reflect upon the upcoming fair. We believe fair is a time to highlight 4-H projects and to socialize with fellow 4-H families. Fair should be a time of learning and FUN. We would hope that you too share in our vision and practice. With that being said, we hope that everyone keeps a positive and cooperative attitude while being great role models for our youth during the fair. Good luck to everyone on your 4-H projects!
Parents, Leaders, and Volunteers: Encouragement and helping youth with their projects is part of the learning process in 4-H. Participation, competition, and the educational experiences are the reward and purpose of 4-H. Winning is secondary. Not everyone receives a champion or even a purple ribbon. This is one person’s opinion on a particular day, and that person is the judge. The judge is always right; please remember this. Disagreements with other adults at the fair teach our youth nothing. If you have a problem, please come to the 4-H Livestock Office, and we will try to help solve it.
County Fair Campsites
Thayer Co. Fair Campsites are available at the Deshler City Park and must be reserved by contacting the Deshler City Offices (402) 365-4260.
CONGRATULATIONS 4-Hers!
Participants were as follows:
Emma Brueggemann, "True Education", Purple, Medal Winner
Leah Schmidt, "PSA I hope you Dance", Purple, Medal Winner
Anna Brueggemann, Purple; Logan Schmidt, Blue; Lacey Schmidt, Blue; Ella Brueggemann, Purple.
Congrats to all participants in the Poultry Judging Contest!
Abbigail Knigge - 1st, Senior Division (Thayer County)
Kaylee Jo Dunlap - 1st, Intermediate Division (Thayer Co)
Emily Brhel - 1st, Junior Division (Clay County)
Other participants included: Kaylan Anderson, Trevon Anderson, Lacey Schmidt, Makinna Peterson, and Jacilyne Peterson (all Thayer County 4-Hers)
New Construction at the Thayer County Fairgrounds!
Thayer County T-Shirts
Please fill out the online ORDER FORM to order t-shirts. T-shirts must be ordered by June 15 by midnight.
Upcoming Workshops & Camps
STEAM Clothing Project Day
June 22, Thayer Co. Fairgrounds, Deshler
Pre-register by June 16; Cost $20 per session (STEAM Level & Beyond the Needle)
Need help kicking your 4-H Sewing projects into high gear? Come to our STEAM Clothing Sunday! We will be having 3, 1-hour sessions 4-H'ers can rotate to based upon their sewing skill level.
STEAM 1: FUN- damentals
- Clothing Portfolio
- Fabric Textile Scrapbook
- Simple Bottom (2 hours)
STEAM 2: Simply Sewing
- Clothing Portfolio
- Pressing Matters
- Upcycled Garment (2 hours)
Beyond the Needle
- Color Wheel
- Original Designed Fabric Yardage (will need to print yourself)
- Screen Printed T-shirt
- Tie Dye T-shirt (will need to designate t-shirt size when you pre-register)
Leopald Lawn Bench
June 29th - Kaye Mussman's Farm in Thayer County
Pre-register by June 26th; Cost $25 (must be paid prior to workshop)
When famed conservationist, Aldo Leopald wanted a place to sit down he built himself this simple bench with timeless appeal. We will be replicating this bench in our workshop at Kaye’s shop on the farm. We will be leaving from the courthouse on June 29 at 8:30 a.m. and hope to have the kids back at 12:00. Please call the Extension office at 402-768-7212 or email kaye.mussman@unl.edu to register.
Livestock Projects & Exhibits
Quality Assurance: A reminder that all 4-H'ers enrolled in hog, beef, sheep, dairy goat, dairy cattle, meat goat, rabbits and/or poultry must complete Livestock Quality Assurance prior to the fair.
There are two ways that you can complete Q.A.:
- Testing—Youth 12 years old and older may take a multiple choice test at the office. They must receive at least a 70% on the test but then they are certified for 3 years.
- Online YQCA Training - We are excited to announce that the new QA Curriculum called Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is now active. Anyone who has not registered for the LQA online course for 2017 should now navigate to the NEW online YQCA course at yqca.learngrow.io. You will use your FAMILY 4HOnline login and password information to access the courses for the ACTIVE youth in your family. Only ACTIVE members will show in the drop down menu for access to the course. All registration questions with YQCA should be directed to mailto:help@yqca.org. There will not be local support for the YQCA program. All 4-Hers need to use the 4-H tab and not the FFA tab even if they are members of both organizations. There is a button for families that have forgotten their password. 4-Hers that have started their QA training in the LQA site will be able to complete their modules and print off their certificate of completion and take it to their Extension Office. The YQCA site is user friendly and should make it easy for 4-H families to complete their QA training for this year.
Premises ID Required: This year, all 4-H and FFA MARKET animals carrying an EID tag are required to have a Premises ID. Exhibitors can obtain a Premises ID through the NE Dept. of Ag. For more info., refer to "Premises ID & My Youth Livestock Project." The Premises ID number will be reported to the County Extension Staff for input into 4-H Online for your animal to be eligible to show at the Nebraska State Fair.
AKSARBEN is moving to the State Fairgrounds in Grand Island in 2017! Dates for 2017 are: September 28 - October 1. The AKSARBEN schedule has changed a great deal, so you’ll want to review the 2017 Schedule which is available at http://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/p/events/359.
Clover Kid Showmanship will take place during the sheep, hog, goat, and beef (bucket calf only), rabbit, and poultry show with live animals and as always, the Clover Kid 'Pet' Show will take place during the Small Animal Show. Rules for all Clover Kid Showmanship events are as follows: Clover Kid Showmanship is a non-competitive event to allow youth to gain experience showing animals/livestock in a 4-H show setting. Clover Kids (any youth ages 5-8) or regular 4-H members not enrolled in the animal/livestock project may participate. All livestock shown must be under 250 lbs and participants must be accompanied by the 4-H member the animal belongs to, or an adult. Participants must wear hard-sole shoes, no flip flops or sandals permitted.
New Bucket Calf Record Book to use for the fair! All 4-H'ers exhibiting in FIRST and SECOND Year are required to fill out a record book and interview. Bucket Calf Record Books are due at 4-H'ers Interview time. An email with sign-up times will be sent out to first and second year bucket calf participants following the Pre-Fair Entry deadline.
Bucket Calf Interviews will take place:
Nuckolls Co. - July 7, 5 p.m. 4-H Office (Fairgrounds)
Thayer Co. - July 18, 3 p.m. 4-H Office (Fairgrounds)
Bucket calf interviews, and record books, and live placing will be scored, the scores will then be figured to determine the ribbon placings.
New for 2017! Thayer County Beef Fitting Contest - July 21st
Rules: Teams of 2 (two) to 4 (four) 4-H or FFA members enrolled in a Beef project? are formed by 4-H clubs [or independents] or FFA Chapters. Clubs or FFA Chapters can have as many teams as necessary as long as they meet the 2-4 member rule. Teams consisting of one or more Intermediate or Senior 4-H member are not allowed an adult adviser, but teams consisting of all Junior 4-H members are allowed 1 (one) adult advisor who is not permitted to touch the animal, they are only there for guidance. Teams must provide their own Beef to participate in the contest. Beef animals must have a 4-H or FFA ear tag or tattoo and have been identified on a livestock affidavit or breeding nomination card prior to June 15. Teams are allowed 30 minutes, 1 (one) blower, 1 (one) blocking chute, and 1 (one) set of clippers and accessories to complete a full-fit of the beef animal. The beef animals are to start clean and dry (completed by a 4-H member prior to the contest). Teams are scored on: 20 points for safe practices (youth, animal, chemical, and etc.); 20 points for technique; 20 points for use of time; and 40 points for teamwork and participation.
Thayer County Beef & Rabbit Show overlap during this year's fair. If you show both Beef and Rabbit, your beef have priority over your rabbits. Let both Superintendents know your situation, and they will accommodate you.
Fair Board would like to remind 4-H members and families that it is your responsibility to clean Tie-outs and surrounding areas.
Progress Shows & Clinics:
Lamb & Goat Progress Show - June 16
Horse Project & Events
Nuckolls County Horse Show Fairbook Additions:
- Age divisions will be Junior, Intermediate, and Senior for all Horse Performance Classes including English Pleasure and English Equitation
- A horse will be ineligible to compete in any event at the Nuckolls Co. 4-H Horse show if rode by anyone other than the 4-H member(s) who I.D. the horse until both horse and youth are done competing for the day.
Horse Shows & Clinics:
Small Animal Projects & Events
Quality Assurance: A reminder that all 4-H'ers enrolled in hog, beef, sheep, dairy goat, dairy cattle, meat goat, rabbits and poultry must complete Livestock Quality Assurance prior to the fair.
There are two ways that you can complete Q.A.:
- Testing—Youth 12 years old and older may take a multiple choice test at the office. They must receive at least a 70% on the test but then they are certified for 3 years.
- Online YQCA Training - We are excited to announce that the new QA Curriculum called Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is now active. Anyone who has not registered for the LQA online course for 2017 should now navigate to the NEW online YQCA course at yqca.learngrow.io. You will use your FAMILY 4HOnline login and password information to access the courses for the ACTIVE youth in your family. Only ACTIVE members will show in the drop down menu for access to the course. All registration questions with YQCA should be directed to mailto:help@yqca.org. There will not be local support for the YQCA program. All 4-Hers need to use the 4-H tab and not the FFA tab even if they are members of both organizations. There is a button for families that have forgotten their password. 4-Hers that have started their QA training in the LQA site will be able to complete their modules and print off their certificate of completion and take it to their Extension Office. The YQCA site is user friendly and should make it easy for 4-H families to complete their QA training for this year.
Opportunities & Events:
Static Exhibits & Contests
Horticulture Contest
The 2017 Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging contest is taking place RIGHT NOW! The contest is available from June 9th at 8:00 a.m. until June 19th at 8:00 a.m. It is composed of three parts; general knowledge questions, plant part and seed identification, as well as a judging portion. It is open to all 4-H youth, as well as adults, and even Extension individuals. No password needed, the link listed below will take you directly to the contest. Please do not use any study materials, phones, etc. when competing online.
You can study for this contest by going to the following links at: http://4h.unl.edu/fairbook/plant-science/horticulture-id and
http://njha.org/contests-projects-activities/horticulture-identification-judging-contest/
Give it a try and see how you do!
Southern Plains Fair Contests
Contests that take place on the Pre-Fair Contest/Clothing Day:
Nuckolls County - June 29; Thayer County - July 12
- Company's Coming - 4-H'ers plan a menu and table setting and talk with judge about the "event" that they planned, all items are provided - no need to bring anything! Pre-entry not required.
- Favorite Foods Show - 4-H's prepare their favorite food, a menu, and a table setting at home, set it up before the contest, and present it to the judge. Pre-entry not required.
- Presentation Contest: Includes 4-H Film Fest, Illustrated Presentations & Life Challenge. Participants must pre-enter in these contests.
- 4-H Film Fest - 4-H'ers direct and produce a short film and present them with a 1- minute oral presentation during the Presentation Contest
- Illustrated Presentations - 4-H'ers prepare a presentation that shows/tells others how to do something.
- Life Challenge - Teams of 2-4 members choose a challenge question from the following content areas: Foods & Nutrition, Child Development, Home Environment, Clothing & Textiles, and Personal Finance. Teams will have 45 minutes to prepare a solution and present this solution before the judge during the Presentation Contest. Pre-entry not required.
- Music/Performing Arts Contest - 4-H'ers can participate by themselves or in a group, sing, dance, play an instrument, act, or even mime! The Performing Arts Pre-Entry Form must be submitted to the Extension Office along with a copy of the sheet music (if applicable), by the Pre-Fair Entry Deadline. The Performing Arts Contest will take place during the Public Fashion Show. Pre-entry required.
Contests that take place during the Fair:
- Ice Cream Contest (before the fair in Nuckolls Co.) - 4-H'ers make their own ice cream in a can (4-H members) or in a bag (Clover Kids) using the Official Recipe and adding their own special ingredients. Clover Kid Recipe
- Teaching (Trade Show Exhibit) Presentations Contest - this contest takes place from 5-6 p.m. on Friday night of the fair in/outside of the 4-H Exhibit Hall. These presentations are live, interactive, trade show style presentation where youth continuously engage a constantly changing/moving audience for 30 minutes by showing and telling them how to do something while answering questions. Teaching Presentations should engage the audience and teach them about something the 4-H youth is learning about science, healthy living, citizenship, and agricultural literacy. Live animals may be used in the presentation, however, presenters are responsible for all stalling arrangements, care, and handling of the animals.
- Shooting Sports Contest (Nuckolls County Only) - Click HERE to view contest rules.
Fashion Show
Be sure to pre-enter for the Fashion Show by the Pre-Entry Date! Print out the Fashion Show Pre-Entry Form, fill it in with 4-Her's information and narration, and bring it into the Extension Office.
Nuckolls County - Fashion Show judging will take place on Pre-Fair/Clothing Day, June 29. Please be present and ready to model by 9:00 a.m.
Thayer County - New for 2017! Fashion Show judging will take place during the Public Fashion Show and Performing Arts Contest beginning at 7:00 p.m. on July 12. Participants should report to the Majestic Theatre in Hebron by 5:00 p.m. to prepare for the Fashion Show.
Projects & Events
Nuckolls Co. Pre-Fair Entries Due: June 15
Thayer Co. Pre-Fair Entries Due: July 1
Exhibiting School Projects at the Fair
Several projects 4-H members are completing at school can also be exhibited at the fair. Examples of these are family heritage books, bug collections, art projects and shop projects. Visit with the Extension Office Staff to make sure you are enrolled in the appropriate 4-H project and make sure you are following the 2017 Southern Plains Fairbook for your class entries.
Photography Unit 1 & 2 Theme is Capture rural living in your Nebraska County through the Camera's Lens. We also have Photography data tag labels (sticky back) available at the office. The labels have been updated a bit for the 2017 fair, so make sure you're using the new format found here: Unit 1 & 2, Unit 3 There is also a great resource available on how to prepare your photos to be exhibited at the county fair, you can find it HERE!
New for 2017! A Rocket Launching Contest will be held in Nuckolls County on June 24 (tentative) at the Superior Municipal Airport in Superior (also tentative). Participants must be 4-H'ers in Nuckolls or Thayer County and must be enrolled an Aerospace project. Contest will begin at noon.
Horticulture & Floriculture Exhibitors you will find that the rules for the Hort & Floriculture projects require you to include the cultivar or variety name on your entry tag. If you do not include the cultivar or variety name, your entry is dropped one ribbon placing. What is the cultivar or variety name and where do you find it? When you go to purchase your seeds and/or plants, the seed packet or container has a name on it.
Example: Tomato. There are hundreds of different cultivars or varieties of tomatoes. You need to look closely at the seed packet or plant container to see which variety or cultivar you have purchased: Beefsteak, Brandywine, Early Girl, Park’s Whopper, Celebrity, etc.
You will notice that variety and cultivar names are usually English words. If the seed packet or plant container does not include the variety or cultivar name, do not purchase it. (It is rare that this information is absent.) HINT: Save seed packets and plant container markers.
County Fair Trophy winners remember to provide postage for your Thank You Notes!\
Special Opportunities
Nuckolls County Leaders & Achievement Party
Awards formally given out at 4-H Night during the Fair will be presented this evening including: Supreme Market Awards, Rate of Gain Buckle, High Point Buckle, Trail Buckle, Senior Awards, and Ambassadors. 4-H Council will also be recognizing 4-H Leaders and Volunteers during the program.
Additionally, a cake raffle and silent auction will be held during the evening to raise money for 4-H'ers going on the Southern Plains Citizenship Trip. For more information regarding these fundraisers, please look at the SPCT Fundraising section below.
4-H Clover Chase: A Nebraska 150 Event
Nebraska 4-H, in partnership with the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, is celebrating the Nebraska Statehood 150 with the 4-H Clover Chase!
Between March 1 - August 15, 2017, Nebraska 4-H will be hosting a photo scavenger hunt for all 4-H members. Using an app, participants will complete challenges and submit photo entries on social media using #NE4HChase. After submitting photos and earning 150 points, participants will be eligible to receive a commemorative water bottle from their local Nebraska Extension Office and will be entered into a drawing to win a drone with video capability. The Nebraska Extension Office with the highest percentage of participation wins a free National Youth Science Day kit!
Complete details about the 4-H Clover Chase can be found at http://4h.unl.edu/clover-chase. Celebrate Nebraska’s Statehood, and Nebraska 4-H, by participating in this fun-filled opportunity with your friends, club, or family!
Raise Your Hand
- Raise Your Hand - complete the form to show your pride as a 4-H alumni
- Compete for your state - raising your hand is a vote towards a $20,000, $10,000 or $5,000 award for the states with the most alumni hands raised.
- Pay it Forward - Tweet, post and share your #4HGrown experience or support and tag fellow alumni asking them to raise their hands for their state at 4-H.org/raise-your-hand
Fun Events & Community Service Opportunities
Nebraska Mystery Foods Event - October 21, 2017 (Raising Nebraska - Grand Island, NE)
SPCT Fundraising Opportunities
- Meal for Nuckolls Co. Pre-Fair & Clothing Day - June 29 - Wyatt Brockman
- Meal for Nuckolls Co. Static Exhibit Judging Day - July 6 - Wyatt Brockman
- Meal for Thayer Co. Horse Show - July 15
- Meal for Thayer Co. Static Exhibit Judging Day - July 18 - Alexia Dick, Kelby Mumm
- Nuckolls County Achievement & Leaders Party Cake Raffle and Silent Auction - August 6, 5:00 p.m. - Bake and decorate a cake to be raffled off and/or put together a silent auction item/basket. Silent auction items can be any value, just know the higher value items tend to bring more money. Contact Jacie Milius (402) 984-7614 for more details.
THANK YOU 4-H COUNCIL!
Southern Plains 4-H & Extension
Next Meeting
Next Meeting
Next Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Thayer Co. Courthouse - Clubroom
Nuckolls County Extension Office
Email: nuckolls-county@unl.edu
Website: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/southernplains/
Location: 825 S Main St, Nelson, NE, United States
Phone: 402-225-2381
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernPlainsExt/
Thayer County Extension Office
Email: thayer-county@unl.edu
Website: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/southernplains/
Location: 225 N 4th St, Hebron, NE, United States
Phone: 402-768-7212
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernPlainsExt/