4-H Friday News Blast!
January 4, 2018 ... Happy New Year!
New & Revised Awards & Recognition Opportunities Available!
Cass County Club Leaders and 4-Hers: As you make your plans for your 2019 4-H year, look first at the recently revised awards and recognition opportunities before us! Incorporate some of the things you do in 4-H into the awards program (i.e. "4-H Gives Back," "Clubs of Excellence," and "Diamond Clover"), and just see where it will take you!!!
Notes from the State 4-H Alerts Newsroom: Major revisions were made to the Diamond Clover program. New opportunities include the Nebraska 4-H Gives Back award and Programs of Excellence recognition. Check out these and all the other statewide 4-H awards and recognition opportunities. Click here to visit the new state website.
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Introducing the 2019 4-H Council:
Last week's News Blast had one misprint. Jenny Schroll is on the 4-H Council this year (not Cindy Penke; her term ended in December.) Our sincere apologizes, ladies, for this misprint. See corrected list below:
Adult members include: Heather Ackman, Bryan Freel, Teresa Hawks, Dennis Heim, Brandi Lambert, Diane Mills, Jenny Schroll, Stephanie Schafer, and Doug Wehrbein
Youth members include: Courtney Bockman, Lily Korytowski, Trey Lamkins, Morgan Mills, Jenna Muntz, Lexi Penke, Alison Uhe, Shay Uhe, and Kate Zakaras.
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Community Service Projects
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Nebraska State 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor UPDATE!!!
From Steve M Pritchard, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln:
PURPOSE:
As has been discussed and in our state policy, the time has come when we feel a need to provide an update for all Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors who received their training in 2013 or before.
Our first instructor training utilizing the National 4-H Shooting Sports Curriculum was conducted in 1994. There are instructors still teaching today who were trained as early as that year. Over the years there have been numerous curriculum changes, updates and additions, with some major curriculum adjustments in the last few years. That said, our State 4-H Shooting Sports Committee has scheduled the first instructor update for Friday, April 5th. Additional instructor update opportunities will be made available in 2019-2020, with the expectations that all Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors receive an update by the end of 2020.
State Instructors are eager to share the updated curriculum and techniques with all of you who do such a great job of implementing and growing this 4-H educational program.
WHO: Adult or Apprentice 4-H volunteers who have previously attended 4-H instructor training workshop in 2013 or prior years.
THIS IS AN UPDATE FOR EXISTING INSTRUCTORS, NOT A TRAINING FOR NEW INSTRUCTORS. YOU MUST BE A CURRENTLY ENROLLED NEBRASKA 4-H VOLUNTEER IN YOUR COUNTY. You could complete updates for up to 2 disciplines in the one day. (YOU WILL NEED TO BRING YOUR INSTRUCTOR NOTEBOOK FOR YOUR DISCIPLINE WHICH YOU WERE PROVIDED WHEN YOU ATTENDED PREVIOUS TRAINING WORKSHOP)
WHEN: Friday, April 5, 2019, check-in, 8-9 am, First Discipline, 9 am to noon
WHAT: Discipline Updates Offered: archery, shotgun, rifle, hunting skills, muzzle loading
WHERE: Merrick County Fairgrounds, Central City, NE
More details will be coming.
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Special Garden Project - Red Pod Okra called Carmine Splendor - Deadline to order seeds is January 31st
This year the Special Gardening Project is focused on the unique, Carmine Splendor Okra. Carmine Splendor Okra is as unique as it is tasty. This plant is high yielding and produces uniform, red pods. The stout 5-pointed pods are deep red when small and at the best eating quality. The tropical-looking, pinkish flowers are also edible and have a sweet, mild flavor. The mature seed pods also give a fun twist for winter interest in a container.
Everything you'll need to know about this Special Garden Project can be found on this website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/cass/special-garden-project-2017/
Needing and desire gardening resources ... go to: https://4hcurriculum.unl.edu/index.php/main/program_project/176 . There are Youth materials, leader materials, forms and references.
If you are interested in participating in this special garden project in 2019, you have to do two things:
- Enroll in the Special Garden Project (select it from the drop down list of projects in 4HOnline)
- Pre-order the seeds through the Cass County Extension Office by January 31st. (One packet per 4-Her). Email or call the office to let us know. We'll need your name and your club's name.
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Communication is so Important!
If you need to look up past articles for information you know you've read before, all News Blasts have an index on the website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/cass/4-h-friday-news-blast-0/ This makes it easier for you to find past news.
Always feel free to email or call the Extension Office if you have questions. 402-267-2205
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NAYI - Nebraska Ag Youth Institute - July 8-12, 2019
The purpose of the Institute is to expose over 200 young adults from across the state of Nebraska to the opportunities available in the agriculture industry and to provide a networking opportunity for students as they reach the end of their high school career. NAYI is a five day program, held July 8-12.
The NAYI website is: http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi/nayi
A brochure is posted on-line at http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi/docs/nayi2019-brochure.pdf
Applications for NAYI are due April 15th.
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Clubs with Clover Kids
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New - three calendars below ...
Upcoming Countywide Reminders
Jan 21 - 4-H Council Meeting (supper provided)
Jan 31 - Deadline for ordering seeds for the 2019 Special Garden Project
Mar 15 - Deadline to re-enroll for 4-H at https://ne.4HOnline.com, Enrollment Instruction, Pick Your Project
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Upcoming Statewide Events
Jan 10 - Cat Club
Jan 12 - 4-H Club of the Month applications due
Jan 12-13 - Shooting Sports Leader Certification
Jan 12 - FIRST LEGO League Jr. Showcase
Jan 12 - FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament
Jan 15 - Application period opens for Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship
Jan 19 - FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament
Jan 19 - FIRST LEGO League Jr Showcase
Jan 25-26 - State 4-H Indoor Archery Championships
Jan 26 - FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament
Feb 1 - AKSARBEN Lamb Challenge Applications Due Online
Feb 2 - FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournament
Mar 30 - Companion Animal Event at UNL
Apr 15 - Early bird registration due date for Summer 4-H Camp
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Ag Information and Opportunities outside of 4-H, in and around Cass County ...
- Master Gardener Application Deadline Nears ... by Sarah Browning
- Successful Farmer Series ... Every Friday from Jan 4 - Feb 8, held at Lancaster County Extension Office
- Put Your Christmas Tree to Good Use ... December 21st article by Sarah Browning
- Hort Update ... from Nebraska Extension for December 26, 2018
- Ag-Line Newsletter ... January 2019
- Ag Estate Planning Workshop ... January 8 in Syracuse
- Great Plains Growers Conference ... January 10-12 at Missouri Western State University
- Nebraska Master Gardener Volunteer ... application due by January 18, 2019
- Introductory (Year 1) Beekeeping ... January 19 - Held at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center
- Nebraska Insight ... Winter Edition
- Private Pesticide Applicator's Training ... March 7, 2019, meetings in Weeping Water, 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. For more information go to the UNL Pesticide website is: https://pested.unl.edu/
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Nebraska Extension Cass County
Katie Kreuser, Extension Educator, Interim Unit Leader, katie.kreuser@unl.edu
Tracy Ensor, Extension Assistant, tracy.ensor@unl.edu
Sondra Buell, Office Manager, sondra.buell@unl.edu
General Mailbox, cass-county@unl.edu
Email: cass-county@unl.edu
Website: www.cass.unl.edu
Location: 8400 144th Street, Weeping Water, NE, 68463
Phone: 402-267-2205
Facebook: facebook.com/UniversityofNebraskaLincolnExtensionCassCounty
Twitter: @UNLCassCounty