Merrick County 4-H Times
Update 5/17/17
- If you have an exciting 4-H moment or your club has an announcement, fundraiser, etc. they would like published, please email the information to kwells5@unl.edu or merrick@unl.edu.
- Please check-out the FACEBOOK page for additional out-of-county opportunities.
- THE FULL SUMMER WORKSHOP LIST WILL BE COMING SOON!
- For a sneak peak check-out the calendars at the bottom.
Congratulations Public Speaking & PSA Contest Participants!
We wish the following much SUCCESS at the Southeast Regional Public Speaking Contest, Thursday, May 18!
- Junior Paul Johnson "4-H Archery is a Bullseye"
- Intermediate David Johnson "Pledge for a Better Life"
- Intermediate Raegan Ferraro PSA (Public Service Announcement)
Monday, May 1
- Clover Kid Anna Schmierer recited the 4-H Pledge
- Novice Garrett Schmierer "Showing and Caring for Sheep"
- Junior Paul Johnson "4-H Archery is a Bullseye"
- Junior Alexandra Bruning "A New Pet"
- Intermediate David Johnson "Pledge for a Better Life"
- Intermediate Raegan Ferraro "Bloom in 4-H" and PSA (Public Service Announcement)
4-h summer workshops open to all youth!!!
SIGN UP FOR SUMMER PROGRAMMING!
FAIR PROJECTs sign-up & Final ENROLLMENT IS DUE in 4honline.com NO LATER THAN JUNE 15TH or YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPETE AT THE STATE FAIR!
***NOTE: Age requirements for different workshops.
- Early registration and payment is encouraged. There are maximum class sizes. All registration fees are DUE 5 days before the workshop’s beginning date OR until full.
- The registration form link can be found at merrick.unl.edu; or in person at the Extension Office – Merrick County Fairgrounds.
- There are minimum class sizes. If the size is not reached, the class will be cancelled and the fee will be refunded.
- NO refunds will be given after the class supplies have been purchased. If you have an emergency, notify the office and we can try to fill your spot or get you the supplies from the class.
- If you are unable to come up with the cost(s) for the workshop(s), please contact us about scholarships! We may be able to help. Please know this information will remain confidential.
- Please bring the youth directly to class within 10 minutes prior to the start of class, and pick-up within 10 minutes of the ending time.
- Good Behavior IS required. Parents will be called if the youth needs assistance in following rules.
- The first cost listed is for Merrick Co. 4-H members, the second cost is for youth not enrolled in 4-H.
***Participants not currently enrolled as 4-H members are welcome. However, an additional form issued from UN-L to participate will need filled out. The form needs to be completed before the start of the workshop.
Online Summer Workshop Registration
Wildlife & Shooting Sports
- Tuesday-Thursday, May 23-25
- 9am-3pm
- Ages: 8 and up
- $20 4-Her's/$40 non 4-H
A 3-day event designed to teach youth more about fishing, outdoor cooking, wildlife, outdoor skills and shooting sports. To be located in different outdoor locations around Merrick and Hamilton Counties. All youth will need to meet at the 4-H Building @ 8:30am to transport to the day’s site.
Projects: Wildlife Conservation 1, 2, 3; Shooting Sports, Hunting Skills; Fishing For Adventure 1, 2.
Photography Level 1 & 2
- Friday, May 26 & Monday, June 5
- 9am-noon
- Ages: 8 and up
- 4-H Building—Conference Room
- $10 4-Her's/ $20 non 4-H
Learn the basics of photography including lighting and composition. The second workshop day in June will also cover proper photo display for county fair photography exhibits. Check with Ext. Office for a supply list.
Project: Photography
Photography Level 2 & 3
- Friday, May 26 & Monday, June 5
- 1pm-5pm
- Ages: 10 and up
- 4-H Building—Conference Room
- $10 4-Her's/ $20 non 4-H
Learn a little bit more about photography and advance your skill set even further. The second workshop day in June will also cover proper photo display for county fair photography exhibits. Check with the Ext. Office for a supply list.
Project: Photography
Flowers with Stuart's
- Tuesday, May 30
- 8am-noon
- Ages: 12 and up
- 4-H Building
- FREE!
Learn from the pros how to landscape a new flower bed. Then get your hands dirty and help plant the flower beds in front of the 4-H Building. Bring gloves, hat, sunscreen.
- 5pm-6pm
- Ages: 5 and up
- Stuart’s Flowers & Produce
- $5 4-Her's/$5 non 4-H
Bring a container no more than 10” in diameter and learn how to plant thrillers, spillers, and fillers. Then help plant a couple BIG flower pots for the NEW 4-H Building.
Projects: Landscaping, Citizenship, Floriculture
Babysitter boot camp
- Friday, June 2
- 8:30am-12pm
- 12:30pm-2pm Optional Friends & Family CPR ($5)
- Ages: 10 and up
- 4-H Building—Conference Room
- $10 4-Her's/$20 non 4-H
Have you thought about babysitting, but wondered how to start? Be better prepared to provide great child care by attending this class and learning what it takes to be a babysitter. Learn about different ages and stages of child development, be better prepared to handle emergencies, diapering and feeding. Create a couple children’s toys to take home!
Please bring a toy you might take to a babysitting job.
Optional: Friends & Family CPR from 12:30pm-2pm for an additional $5.
Projects: Human Development; Six Easy Bites; Safety
Small Animal Showmanship
- Monday, June 12
- 1pm-3pm
- Ages: 8 and up, Clover Kids (5-7) welcome
- 4-H Building—Education Room
- FREE!
Learn how to handle, show, and present a small animal to a judge with volunteer Molly Brandt. Please bring your small animal! (ex. cat, guinea pig, gerbil, snake, turtle, rabbit, chicken) This workshop is not for dogs.
Projects: Chicken; Rabbit; Companion Animal
Lap Quilt Sewing Camp
- Wednesday-Thursday, June 14-15
- 9am-3pm
- Ages: 10 and up
- 4-H Building—Conference Room
- $25 4-Her's/$50 non 4-H
Design a 60” x 60” quilt and piece all three layers together during this two day workshop. A year of sewing experience is needed. Check with the Ext. Office for a supply list. Bring a sack lunch both days!
Project: Quilt Quest
Beginning Sew for Fun
- Friday, June 16
- 9am-3pm
- Ages: 8 and up
- 4-H Building—Conference Room
- $10 4-Her's/$20 non 4-H
Learn the basics of a sewing machine and how to do a little sewing by hand. Make a pin cushion, needle book, and pillow case. Check with the Ext. Office for a supply list. Bring a sack lunch!
Project: Sew for Fun
Beginning Buttercream Cake Decorating
- Saturday, June 17
- 9am-11:30am
- Ages: 8 and up
- Central City Fire Barn
- $10 4-Her's/$20 non 4-H
Learn the basics of how to make the correct consistency of buttercream frosting and basic tip procedures. Practice your piping skills on cupcakes. Check with the Ext. Office for a supply list.
Project: Decorated Food Items
Beginning Fondant Cake Decorating
- Saturday, June 17
- Noon-2:30pm
- Ages: 8 and up
- Central City Fire Barn
- $10 4-Her's/$20 non 4-H
Learn the basics of how to make and decorate with fondant. Get creative practicing on forms. Check with the Ext. Office for a supply list.
Project: Decorated Food Items
Intermediate Sew For Fun
- Monday, June 19
- 9am-3pm
- Ages: 10 and up
- 4-H Building—Conference Room
- $15 4-Her's/$30 non 4-H
Learn how to make a lined tote bag and a clutch wallet. A year of sewing experience is needed and basic sewing machine knowledge. Check with the Ext. Office for a supply list. Bring a sack lunch!
Project: Sew for Fun; Beyond the Needle; Design Decisions
Clover Kid Camp - Ag
- Tuesday, June 20
- 9am-3pm
- Ages: Clover Kids 5-7 (or just completed kindergarten up to 2nd grade)
- 4-H Building—Conference Room
- $15 4-Her's/$30 non 4-H
Learn all about life on the farm and ag products including dairy and making homemade ice cream.
Project: Clover Kids
Design Decisions - String Art
- Friday, June 23
- 1pm-4pm
- Ages: 8 and up
- 4-H Building—Conference Room
- $10 4-Her's/$20 non 4-H
Let the creative juices flow! Design with nails to create string art on a board to hang on a wall. Check with Ext. Office for a supply list.
Project: Design Decisions
Nail! Hammer! Build!
- Friday, July 7
- 9am-3pm
- Ages: 8 and up
- 4-H Building—Education Room
- $10 4-Her's/$20 non 4-H
Learn about woodworking. How important it is to measure, measure, and maybe even measure one more time before cutting. Check with Ext. Office for a supply list. Bring a sack lunch!
Projects: Woodworking, Design Decisions
Spark Fun & Robotics
- Tuesday, July 11
- 9am-3pm
- Ages: 8 and up
- 4-H Building—Conference Room
- $10 4-Her's/$20 non 4-H
Learn electricity principles in the morning and discover robotics in the afternoon. Bring a sack lunch!
Projects: Electricity, Robotics
wake up and bake!
- Friday, July 14
- 9am-noon
- Ages: 8 and up
- 4-H Building—Kitchen
- $10 4-Her's/$20 non 4-H
Make muffins and quick breads, learning different techniques to make the recipes healthier. Check with Ext. Office for a supply list.
Project: Six Easy Bites
pie-riffic!
- Friday, July 14
- 1pm-4pm
- Ages: 10 and up
- 4-H Building—Kitchen
- $15 4-Her's/$30 non 4-H
Make two pies! One will be baked that afternoon to enjoy and one will be freezer ready to bake and enjoy later, or bake it and enter it in the fair! Check with Ext. Office for a supply list.
Project: Foodworks
SHOOTING SPORTS NEWS!
National Shooting Sports Bound June 25-30!
- Morgan Ekhoff - Recurve Archery
- Mason Weller - Shotgun
- Carl Nielson - Compound Archery
- Kaylee Hostler (not pictured) - Recurve Archery
Merrick County Shooting Sports
Remember: you need to have a minimum of 4 documented (signed-in) practices under a certified shooting sports instructor in that particular discipline before you can participate in the county contest.
.22 Rifle & Small-bore Pistol Practice & Contests
- Tuesday evenings, 6pm, Sportsman's Club, Central City.
- Practices will end May 16.
- 4-H age 11-18 years.
- Contests: Saturday, May 20, 8:30am and 10:30am, Sportsman's Club.
Shotgun Practice & Contest
- 4-H age 11-18 years.
- Contest: Saturday, May 20, 1:30pm, Sportsman's Club.
Outdoor Archery Practice & Contest
- Thursday evenings, 6:30pm, fairgrounds.
- Practices will end May 18.
- 4-H age 8-18 years.
- Contest: Thursday, May 25, 6pm, fairgrounds.
ANIMAL SCIENCE NEWS!
PASE (Preimere Animal Science Event)!
Events include:
- Meats Judging Contest
- Poultry Judging Contest
- Livestock Skill-a-thon
- Livestock Quiz Bowl
- Livestock Judging
The contests will be held at UN-L June 25-27. Please contact the Extension Office if your youth is interested or would like more information 308-946-3843. Or visit http://4h.unl.edu/pase
*Practices will begin soon for anyone interested in any of the above contests!
Nebraska Livestock Judging Classic
- Buffalo County Fairgrounds - Kearney
- Junior Division (ages 8-13) 3 sets of oral reasons
- Senior Division (ages 14-18) 4 sets of oral reasons
- Open Division
- 10 classes (five beef, two swine, two sheep, one goat class)
- $15 per person
Please contact the Extension Office if your youth is interested in judging or would like more information 308-946-3843.
Livestock Quality Assurance Options
Youth exhibiting livestock (Beef, Dairy, Swine, Sheep, Goat, Rabbit, and Poultry MUST pass QA every year (face to face or online) unless they have tested out in the Extension Office.
***LQA needs to be completed by JUNE 15, 2017 to show any of the above listed livestock at the county and/or state fair!
*Merrick County will host a Face to Face Class in the Conference Room.
- Monday, June 12 at 5:30pm.
- Register by calling the Ext. Office 308-946-3843!
- LQA is being offered to clubs as a hands-on activity.
- Please call the Extension Office to schedule a time for your club, 308-946-3843.
- For all 4-Her’s 8-18 years exhibiting: beef, dairy, sheep, goats, swine, rabbits, and poultry.
- Youth 8-12 years must have a parent attend.
- FREE!
**Hamilton County Face to Face Classes will be at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds 4-H Building.
- May 20th at 2pm
- June 10th at 2pm
Class will be 60-90 minutes
All Juniors ages 8-10 MUST be accompanied by an adult!
Please call the office to register as we need to know how many will be at each class! 402-694-6174
Test-Out Option
- Test must be completed at the Extension Office.
- Tests are available for large animals or small animals.
- Test-out options are only available to intermediates and seniors.
- To successfully test out of an age division, an individual must receive at least a 70% or better.
- FREE!
Online Option
YQCA IS NOW AVAILABLE
The new QA Curriculum - 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 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 2017 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.
additional county 4-h news!
SELECT 2017 4-H PROJECTS BY USING THE ONLINE SEARCH FEATURE!
All across Nebraska 4-H youth are beginning to select their 4-H projects for 2017! Let the Nebraska 4-H Pick Your Project help connect you with projects that fit your interests and skill levels!
The NEW interactive, web-based Nebraska 4-H Pick Your Project can be found online at http://nebraska4hprojects.com. This project selection guide is accessible trough the Nebraska 4-H website on the club, volunteer, and parents/youth resource pages. Using the Pick Your Project, youth, volunteers, and parents will be able to search for projects by keywords, project areas, curriculum areas, experience levels, and projects that contain State Fair and/or County Fair eligible entries.
As an added feature, the web-based Pick Your Project contains the same project codes that are shown in the 4HOnline Enrollment system, making it easier to match the exciting 4-H projects you are learning about in the Pick Your Project with the projects you are enrolling in through 4HOnline.
Explore over 150 Nebraska 4-H projects through the Nebraska 4-H Pick Your Project app and find the 4-H projects that will help you grow throughout 2017.
2017 Special Garden Project
Call the office to reserve and pick-up your seeds today!
308-946-3843 or merrick@unl.edu
Youth participating in this project will receive squash seeds, a newsletter and evaluation about planting and growing squash, squash problems, and insects, harvesting and using squash and how to exhibit squash. They will be able to enter their vegetable at County and State Fair.
Sunburst squash, also called Pattypan, has yellow, scalloped shaped fruits with bright green blossom ends. The plants are very productive and are an All-America Selection winner for its early fruit production and for producing a large number of fruits per plant. It takes about 52 days from seeding until squash is ready to harvest.
2017 County Bench Contest
- Clubs or Families may submit a bench.
- Must be sturdy enough to hold at least two adults.
- Must be able to be carried by two people.
- Must be one piece.
- Must be able to be left outside.
- Name(s) need to be attachd.
- Benches will be a donation to 4-H and not returned.
- Questions: call the Extension Office 308-946-3843 or merrick@unl.edu.
state wide 4-h news!
STATE CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!
Once again this year the Nebraska 4-H Foundation has graciously donated funds to allow us to provide camperships to individuals that would not be able to afford camp otherwise. Camperships are available in the amount of $100 and must be requested prior to registering for camp. Below is the information that I will need in order to award a campership to an individual.
To apply for a campership, please submit the following information to Lindsay Shearer by email or mail. Allow 7-10 business days for response to campership request. Please note that single day camp sessions are not eligible for Camperships. *Campership requests must be received and approved prior to registration for a camp session.
1. A request for campership support from the parent/guardian. Please be sure to include the name, age, and gender for each camper and the session each camper would like to attend.
2. A brief statement from the parent or from the camper expressing why they would like to attend camp this summer.
Once a request for a campership has been approved you will receive notification from Lindsay and receive an authorization code for registration that can be entered online or documented on a mail-in registration form. Following any campership support, we do ask that the camper send a thank-you note to donors sharing a highlight from their summer camp experience. Thank you notes can also be sent to Lindsay Shearer either by mail or email.
Request can be sent to:
Lindsay Shearer
State 4-H Office
114 Agricultural Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583
Or via email to:
lshearer2@unl.edu
Nebraska 4-H Summer Camps - http://4h.unl.edu/summer-camp
Volunteer at the state fair!
Do you want to spend a few hours at the state fair as an important part of the 4-H programming going on during the fair? We need your help! Nebraska 4-H is looking for volunteers to help with exhibit entry day, judging, and serving as 4-H exhibit building hosts. Volunteers will also be needed to serve as the Lil’ Green Mascot, take photographs of events as well as assist with all 4-H contests and events throughout the fair. State Fair 4-H volunteers will receive a gate pass for the day(s) they volunteer.
Volunteers can sign-up by completing the 4-H Volunteer Interest Form available online at http://go.unl.edu/2017statefair4-hvolunteer. If you have questions about being a 4-H volunteer at the Nebraska State Fair, please contact: Cathy Johnston, Extension Educator, cjohnston1@unl.edu or (402) 472-1762.
NEBRASKA 4-H FOUNDATION CLUB OF THE MONTH
UNL Extension Tractor Safety Classes Offered Across Nebraska
Nebraska Extension Tractor Safety & Hazardous Occupations Courses will take place at nine Nebraska locations this year. Teens 14 or 15 years of age who will work on a farm should plan to attend.
Federal law prohibits youth under 16 years of age from working on a farm for anyone other than parents or legal guardians. Certification received through this course grants an exemption to the law allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to drive a tractor and to do field work with specific mechanized equipment.
The most common cause of agricultural-related death in Nebraska is overturned tractors and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Extensive training on Tractor and ATV safety occurs during in-class lessons with hands-on activities. Instilling an attitude of ‘safety first’ and respect for agricultural equipment are primary goals of the course.
The course consists of two days of instruction plus homework assignments. The first day of classroom instruction includes hands-on demonstrations, concluding with a written test. Students are required to pass the test before taking the driving test on day two. Classroom instruction will cover the required elements of the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program. Students will complete homework assignments that will be due on day two. The second day will include a driving test, equipment operation, and ATV safety lessons. To receive certification, students must demonstrate competence in hitching and unhitching equipment and driving a tractor and trailer through a standardized course.
Two locations, Gordon and McCook, will offer online course instruction to replace the first day of the two-day course. Students complete this at their convenience before attending the driving component of the course on-site.
All on-site classes begin at 8:00 A.M. and end times will vary, depending on the number of participants. Dates, locations, and Site Coordinator phone numbers are as follows: May 30 & 31 - Kearney Fairgrounds (308) 236-1235; June 1 & 2 – Auburn Fairgrounds (402) 245-4324; June 6 & 7 – Valentine Fairgrounds (402) 376-1850; June 13 & 14 – North Platte West Central Research and Extension Center (308) 532-2683; June 15 & 16 – Gering Legacy Museum (308) 632-1480; June 19 & 20 – Wayne Fairgrounds (402) 584-2234; June 22 – Gordon Fairgrounds (308) 327-2312; June 23 – McCook Fairgrounds (308) 345-3390; July 10 & 11 – Grand Island College Park (308) 385-5088.
Participants must submit registration forms to the location they will attend at least one week before the course. The registration form is available online: kearney.unl.edu. Cost of the course is $60, which includes educational materials, instruction, supplies, and lunches. For more information, contact the Extension Office of the location where student will attend.
4-H Clover Chase!
An original event created just for those engaged in 4-H and the Nebraska 150 Celebration! Specific challenges will be made for each county and listed on the 4-H website and app click here! Participants can submit scavenger hunt findings for display in the 4-H building at the Nebraska State Fair, photos on social media using #NE4HChase (all photos entered will be put into a Storify story) and more! Contestants have 150 days to complete the “chase.” which means they must finish as many challenges as possible! The county with the most complete challenge wins a National Youth Science Day Kit!
This event will run from March 1, 2017 until August 1, 2017.
Raise Your Hand!
National 4-H “Raise Your Hand” Promotion focuses more upon attracting 4-H alumni back to the program as parents, volunteers, and donors. During this promotion, alumni are being asked to complete the following steps:
1) Raise Your Hand – Complete the form at http://4-h.org/raise-your-hand to show your pride as a 4‑H alum.
2) 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.
3) 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 http://4‑H.org/RaiseYourHand.