Jefferson County 4-H
April 2015
4-H ELIGIBILITY & ENROLLMENT SHEETS AVAILABLE
Youth who are 8 years of age before January 1, current year and do not exceed the upper age limit of 19 during the current calendar year are eligible to be traditional 4-H members and can participate in all 4-H events. We welcome all youth and encourage you to invite your friends to join 4-H. 4-H Enrollment forms are available at the office or online. You can download the form online at http://jefferson.unl.edu/4-Hforms. Enrollment forms are due in the office on or before April 1st. They can be returned via mail, e-mail, in person, or by fax.
DIAMOND CLOVER AWARD APPLICATIONS DUE APRIL 1ST
The program is designed to encourage 4-H youth to engage in a variety of projects and activities that will enable members to acquire the life skills necessary to lead successful lives as competent, caring and contributing citizens. The goal is to provide 4-H members a rich and diverse learning experience. The program includes six levels and is designed for participants to progress at one level a year. Each level includes a set of goals that must be achieved before the 4-H’er can move on. Guidelines & forms: http://4h.unl.edu/diamondclover. Forms are due in the office on April 1st and then will be returned to the 4-H member to fill out during the 4-H year.
Clover Kids
Clover Kids is a 4-H program for children ages 5 to 7 years old. Children participate in hand-on activities designed to build lots of different life skills! Clover Kids also have their own section of the fair book with various projects they can bring to the fair!
The most important life skills for the 5 to 7 year-old age group are:
• Respecting Self
• Communicating with Others
• Solving Problems
• Thinking Critically
• Choosing Healthy Lifestyles
What do Clover Kids do?
• Explore science with simple science experiments
• Practice communication skills
• Strengthen motor skills through arts and crafts
• Make friends and learn to work with peers
• And much more!
Make sure to contact Darci with any questions about the program and Clover Kids will use the same enrollment sheet & deadline as the traditional 4-H program members. Enrollment forms are due April 1st.
Congratulations to 4-H Congress Winners!
Cory Engelman - Plant Science
Paige Arnold - Family & Consumer Science
Zach Rash - Animal Science
2014 Outstanding Club Award
CAREER PORTFOLIO BOOKS PICKUP
Career Portfolios are available to be picked up at the Extension Office at any time.
4-H ACHIEVEMENT DAY AWARDS at Extension Office
We have many awards left from 4-H Achievement Day that need to be picked up at the Extension office. Please contact the office to see if you received an award this year.
4-H Workshops & Events
Sewing Workshop
Sew for Fun, Monday, April 6, 9 am – Noon, Extension Office – This is for 4-H’ers with no sewing experience and those who have participated just one year. First year 4H’ers will make a pillow case and second year participants will make a patch work pillow.
You will receive a list of supplies to bring when you register for the class. Registration fee is $3. Get a head start on your sewing projects now. You will not be sewing, but getting prepared so you are ready for the sewing classes when school is out. Registration deadline for this sewing class is Friday, April 3rd.
***If you are in Clothing level 1 or above and would like help picking a pattern or fabric, you can come anytime after 10 am to get help with your questions.
Animal Science Day Camp
We will be holding an animal science day camp at the fairgrounds on Wednesday, June 10th from 9:00 am—4:00 pm.
Youth will learn about animal science careers, diagnosing symptoms, vet science project, feeds/body condition scoring, biosecurity, cardiovascular system, reproduction and record keeping.
Make sure to sign up by Wednesday, June 3rd and the registration fee is $20 which includes supplies and snacks.
rainbow garden
All youth who are interested in learning more about flower gardening and helping with a community service project are encouraged to sign-up for Rainbow Garden. Rainbow Garden is the flower garden located at Heritage Care Center that was started by 4-H and local Master Gardeners assist with the project. The group will
begin meeting around the third week in May and more details will be available soon! Rainbow Garden also needs adult leaders or volunteers to help so please let the office know if you are interested in helping!
Rabbit Clinic - April 3rd
- Proper feeding and nutrition
- Grooming
- Showing techniques
Youth may bring their rabbits along to get hands-on suggestions and assistance, but it is not required to attend the workshop.
Please register at the Extension office by Wednesday, April 1st.
Top Dog 4-H Club Meeting
4-H Public Speaking Contest
Developing 4-H’ers self-confidence and effective public speaking skills are two goals of the Nebraska 4-H public speaking contest. The local contest date has been set for Monday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Fairbury. You must pre-register for the contest by Wednesday, April 1 by calling the office or sending an email to hayden.hemphill@unl.edu. Top three winners from each age division (except novice) will be selected to advance to the Regional Speech Contest at UNL East Campus in Lincoln on May 21st. The top seniors in the Regional contests will advance to the State Contest held during the State Fair to compete for a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and a college scholarship. Resources to help you prepare for the Public Speaking Contest available at http://4h.unl.edu/publicspeakingrules.
We follow the same rules as the regional contest. Ages are as of January 1, 2015.
STATE 4-H CAMP DISCOUNTS OFFERED UNTIL APRIL 15TH
Summer 2015 is approaching fast! No summer is complete without a Nebraska 4-H Camp experience. Summer camps are open to everyone between the ages of 5 and 18. The full color brochure is now on our 4-H page at: http://jefferson.unl.edu/4-Hforms or you can pick one up at our office.
Nebraska State 4-H camps offer camps at these locations: Halsey and Gretna with more than 40 day and overnight camping programs and trips. Whether your child’s interest is in animals, robotics, nature and outdoor skills, tubing and kayaking, or just plain adventure, Nebraska 4-H camps provide the opportunities for all youth and all interests. You can save 10% on camp registration fees if you register for camp before April 15, 2015.
Fair Information
2015 Jefferson County Fair
This year's theme: Country Pride Jefferson County Wide
FAIR ENTRIES DUE JUNE 15
All fair entries and livestock ID sheets are due on Monday, June 15th. This includes entry forms for foods, clothing, livestock and all static exhibits. Livestock ID sheets are also due on this day. We want to try to make less trips to the office for all of you so we are having everything due on the same day! Forms will be available at the office and on our website so please contact us with any questions. We are also making some how-to videos to help you fill out your forms!
MARKET BROILER CLASS AT COUNTY FAIR
In an effort to provide more 4-Hers with the opportunity to show poultry at the fair, Farmers Cooperative has generously agreed to again provide broiler chicks for any 4-H or FFA member that would like to show them in the market broiler class at the county fair. Exhibitors will be responsible for all expenses related to raising the chicks and bringing them to the fair.
Chicks will be mailed to the Extension Office on Thursday, May 28th and will need to be picked up that day as soon as possible. If you are interested in ordering some broiler chicks orders must be turned into the Extension Office by Monday, April 27th! Please call the office with any questions!
4-H Foodstand Sign-Up
Please keep an eye out in your mailbox and e-mail for the sign-up sheet for the 4-H foodstand at the fair. We are going to staff the foodstand again this year by family so pick your three best times and submit them to the office. Please have the
form turned in by Friday, May 1, 2015.
Quality Assurance Training
4-Her’s can now complete their Livestock Quality Assurance requirement online! All 4-Her’s enrolled in swine, beef, sheep, dairy goat, dairy cattle, meat goat, rabbits or poultry need to complete Livestock Quality Assurance. 4-Her’s completing their quality assurance requirement online must complete three modules and present their three certificates to their local county extension office prior to June 15th. There will be a $5 fee that each participant must pay before they will have access to course.
The course is divided into three levels: Junior (ages 8-10), Intermediate (ages 11-14), Senior (15-18). Each year youth are required to complete three modules within their age level. Each youth needs to have an e-mail address that they can use to log onto the website. Youth may work ahead and complete as many modules as possible in order to maximize the $5 course fee. Intermediate and Senior age youth also have the option to test out of Quality Assurance training at no charge. Contact the office for more information.
For more information about registering and using the online system, go to http://jefferson.unl.edu/animalresources or http://4h.unl.edu/qualityassurance for more information.
New County Fair Livestock Policy
DISTRICT & STATE HORSE SHOW INFO
Information and registrations for the District and State 4-H Horse show is available at the office or on line at http://animalscience.unl.edu/anscdistrict4hhorseshowsinformation. Registrations are due May 8.
HORSE LEVELS TESTING
All exhibitors (including those who may only do halter classes) must pass 4-H Advancement Level 1 to be eligible to exhibit at the county fair horse show. The exam must be completed by June 15th of the current year. (Different deadline dates apply for district and state competition.) All participants who have not passed the 4-H Advancements Level 1 are not eligible to exhibit in the fair. State 4-H horse rules will be followed (refer to manual 373, 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide).
PHOTOGRAPHY THEMES FOR 2015
UNIT II: NEBRASKA PHOTOGRAPHY CAREER EXHIBIT PRINT: Explore a career as an editorial photographer. Editorial photographers take pictures that highlight the topics being written about in books, magazines, and newspapers. Editorial photos should be creative, powerful images that tell an intriguing story. Let’s tell a story about why we love our Nebraska communities. Capture editorial photos that tell a story about your Nebraska Community.
UNIT III: NEBRASKA PHOTOGRAPHY CAREER EXHIBIT PRINT: Explore a career as a commercial pho-tographer. Commercial photographers take pictures that are used for promotional purposes. Commercial pho-tographs are often used in print and online communication materials (advertisements, brochures, flyers, web sites, social media banners, direct email messages, etc.). Capture commercial photos that tell the story of 4-H in your Nebraska community; photos should show the Nebraska 4-H Program in action. Photos may be used to promote the UNL Extension 4-H Youth Development Program.
TRAILER PARKING AT COUNTY FAIR
The Fairboard requires that ALL livestock trailers be parked across the PWF road in the south parking lot during the 2015 Jefferson County Fair. This will help alleviate the congestion along the roads by the livestock barns and allow for more vehicle parking. Please let them know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
Other Opportunities
nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute
The 2015 Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute will be held July 6-10 in Lincoln. NAYI is a weeklong experience for high school juniors and seniors from all across Nebraska to learn about career opportunities within agriculture. This FREE conference features workshops, agricultural education, networking with peers and industry leaders, professional development, leadership experience, fun and new friends! NAYI is an unique conference in that it is the longest running of its kind. Applications are due April 15 and are available at http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi/index.html
NRD CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
The Little Blue NRD is offering camp scholarship to 4-H members in their district. If you’d like to apply for the scholarships, stop the office for the applications. Applications are due May 1st.
National Festival of Breads
For more information including the schedule of events, please contact the office and we will get you all the details!
Calendar of Events
April
1 - Enrollment Sheets due
1 - Diamond Clover applications due
3 - Rabbit Clinic, Fairgrounds
6 - Sewing Workshop 9am - 12 pm, Extension Office, Fairbury
6 - Public Speaking Contest, First Baptist Church
May
1 - Camp Renegade Counselor applications due
8 - District & State Horse Show entires due
21 - District Speech Contest, UNL Animal Science Complex, Lincoln, 1-7 pm
26 - Project Bonanza Day, Fairbury
June
8 - Clover Kid Camp, Fairbury
10 - Animal Science Day Camp, Fairbury
15 - Livestock IDs & Pre-Fair Entries Due
18 - District 4-H Horse Show, Seward
23 - 24 Camp Renegade, Camp Jefferson, Fairbury
29 - 30 PASE/Life Challenge, UNL East Campus, Lincoln
July
16 - 19 Jefferson County Fair, Fairgrounds
August
28 - Sept 7 Nebraska State Fair, Grand Island
Nebraska Extension - Jefferson County
Email: darci.pesek@unl.edu
Website: jefferson.unl.edu
Location: 517 F Street, Fairbury, NE, United States
Phone: 402-729-3487
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeffersoncountyext