Dakota County 4-H News
March 2023
Nebraska Extension - Dakota County
DAKOTA COUNTY OFFICE STAFF
Angela Abts—4-H & Youth aabts2@unl.edu
Julie Boyle—Food Nutrition and Health julie.boyle@unl.edu
Tammy Dunn—Office Manager tpeterson3@unl.edu
Brenda Sale—SNAP-ED bsale@unl.edu
Dakota County 4-H
Email: dakota-county@unl.edu
Website: https://dakota.unl.edu
Location: 1505 Broadway Street, Dakota City, NE, USA
Phone: 402-987-2140
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLDakotaCounty
Twitter: @NEDakota4HExt
Follow us On Facebook and Instagram!
Instagram: NE Extension Dakota County
Dates & Deadlines
MARCH
6 - Extension Board meeting
11 - 4-H Saturday (quilts)
25 - Rocket Launch (Haskell Ag Lab )
30 - Dakota County 4-H Senior Scholarship due
31 - Siouxland Garden Show, Marriot Hotel Center, South Sioux City, NE
APRIL
1 - Siouxland Garden Show, Marriot Hotel Center, South Sioux City, NE
1 - Entries due Virtual Companion Animal Challenge
1 - Corn Challenge sign-up deadline
3 - Extension Board
10 - Dakota & Thurston County Joint 4-H Council
7 - Ambassador Training @ UNL
9- Happy Easter
10 - Contest Day registration deadline
10-16 - Virtual Companion Animal Challenge
15 - Speech, Presentation, Music, Favorite Foods Contest, Pender
17-23 National volunteer Week
MEMBER INFORMATION
4-H Online 2.0 is Now Open for Enrollment
It's time to get enrolled in 4-H for the 2023 4-H year! Nebraska has transitioned to their new 4-H Online v2 platform. 4-H Online 2.0 is more user friendly and is compatible on cell phones. You will notice a new look! To enroll, visit https://v2.4honline.com/
For returning families: Do Not create a new account; rather use your existing log-in credentials from 4-H online as used in previous years. Find instructions at https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/returning-member
For new families, find instructions here: https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/new-member
All Contest Day - April 15, 2023
Dakota-Thurston County Speech, PSA, Presentations, and Music contests and Favorite Foods Revue will be held on Saturday, April 15th! All contests will take place at the United Church of Pender in Pender, NE. The tentative plan is to start at 9:30 AM.
You must be ENROLLED in 4-H Online to register and participate! Registrations are due by 12:00 PM on April 10th! Registration information will be coming soon!
Dakota~Thurston County Fair Schedule Changes!
Poultry show start time changed to 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 3rd
Bucket calf exhibitors: Interviews will be Thursday afternoon; the bucket calf show will be Friday, August 4th at 2:30 pm.
Goat Show changed start time to 8:00 AM on Saturday, August 5th.
4-H Horse Show changed time to 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 5th.
NEWS & INFORMATION
4-H Volunteer Awards
he Nebraska 4-H volunteer recognition program is designed to complement the tradition of recognizing outstanding volunteers and provide a standard and consistent approach to volunteer recognition across Nebraska. The purpose is to provide a base for Extension staff to sustain volunteers, build leadership potential, and offer recognition and praise for the great work of volunteers.
Please help us make sure our volunteers get the recognition they deserve! Nominate your favorite local 4-H volunteers for a Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Award at 4h.unl.edu/volunteer-recognition. Nominations are due March 15.
Diamond Clover
It’s time to work on those Diamond Clover plans! This program encourages youth to engage in a variety of age-appropriate experiences and rewards youth for trying new things, setting goals, and keeping records.
The program consists of six levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. For each level, the Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H youth choose their goals. The accomplishments increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. At the beginning of the 4-H year, participants plan what to accomplish and at the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Successful completion of a level's Plan & Report form results in a 4-H youth earning that level of the Diamond Clover program.
Learn more and find planning forms at 4h.unl.edu/diamond-clover.
Premier Communication Event
The Nebraska State 4-H Presentations Contest will partner with the State 4-H Public Speaking Contest to create a combined state-level communications event – this event will be called the Premier Communication Event and will be held on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus on Friday, June 23, 2023.
The Premier Communication Event will be structured similarly to the Premier Animal Science Event (PASE). The event will include contest classes, including the areas of prepared speech, radio public service announcements (PSA’s), illustrated presentations, impromptu speech, and video communication.
Eligibility for Premier Communication Event
• Youth must be currently enrolled in 4-H to participate in the Premier Communication Event.
• Eligibility requirements for the following contest classes include:
• Prepared Speech, Radio Public Service Announcement (PSA), and Illustrated Presentation:
• Youth must receive a purple ribbon at their County Contest and be selected to participate in the Premier Communication Event in these classes.
• Counties may select up to five (5) contestants in each age division.
• Impromptu Speech and Video Communication:
• Open to all youth enrolled in 4-H.
• If eligible, youth may participate in all contest classes.
• Pre-registration is required for all participants and is completed by County Extension Offices. There is a $10 fee per entry for Prepared Speech, Radio Public Service Announcement (PSA), and Illustrated Presentation participants; no entry fee is required for Impromptu Speech and Video Communication for 2023.
Age Divisions
• Intermediate: ages 10-13 as of January 1 of the current year
• Senior: ages 14-18 as of January 1 of the current year
Team Entries
• While most contest classes are only for individuals, team entries are allowed in the Illustrated Presentation contest class. If team members are not in the same age division, they must compete in the age division of the oldest team member.
Community Service Showcase
Did you or your club complete a service project for 4-H Month? We want to hear all about it! Submit your project at 4h.unl.edu/csps for a chance to see it showcased!
More information: https://4h.unl.edu/community-service-showcase
ANIMAL SCIENCE & AGRICULTURE
YQCA
All 4-H members enrolled in livestock projects are required to complete annual quality assurance training and certification through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program. This includes youth enrolled in beef, dairy cattle, goat, sheep, swine, poultry, and rabbit projects.
Youth may complete online training courses or attend in-person training workshops held by their county Extension office. Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/yqca.
Information about In-person YQCA training for Dakota-Thurston Co. members coming soon!!
Show Stock Manager Is Now Open
Families can now begin entering in their 2023 Nebraska State Fair 4-H/FFA livestock nominations.
Show Stock Manager Information (NOW Open for 2023!)
The 2023 Step-by-Step Nomination Instructions can be found on the public page: https://4h.unl.edu/livestock-id.
State Fair Livestock DNA Update
All livestock in contention to exhibit at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair and/or the Aksarben Stock Show will be required to submit a DNA nomination. All 4-H/FFA BREEDING livestock, market livestock and FEEDER CALVES will now be required to submit a DNA sample/envelope to be eligible to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair. DNA nominations for the Nebraska State Fair are due on June 15, 2023.
Requiring DNA on breeding stock will allow for flexibility of substitutions, allow exhibitors to have a better record of the animals they are nominating, sustain the integrity of exhibitors and ensure ownership of the livestock. As for the administrative side, this will help streamline the record keeping and validation process to assist our families as they are nominating their animal projects.
Any DNA nomination submitted through Show Stock Manager will also be eligible for exhibition at the Aksarben Stock Show. DNA nominations will remain at $7.00 per animal. With this update, animals will automatically be eligible for both breeding and market. Families who often paid to be eligible for both had been paying $9.00 ($7.00-Market and $2.00-Breeding) would no longer need to do that. All would pay $7.00.
Age Eligibilty Change
The age of eligibility at Nebraska State Fair is now 9 years of age before January 1 (of the current year) for all in-person events (livestock, contests, fashion shows).
Age Divisions are:
Intermediate (9-13)
Senior (14-18)
Entry Limits for Nebraska State Fair:
Poultry and Rabbit -- 5
Sheep and Goat -- 4
Swine -- 5
Beef -- 5
4-H will be awarding an Overall Registered Steer division during the Market Beef Show:
Champion and reserve champion from each breed (including AOB) will be in the drive for Overall Registered Steer.
4-H will be awarding an Overall Purebred Swine during the Market Swine Show:
Champion and reserve champion from each breed (including AOB) will be in the drive for Overall Purebred Swine.
Registration Papers for Breeding Livestock (NEW)
Registration papers must show the exhibitor's name or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor's family and is listed with the online nomination in Stock Show Manager.
State Fair Eligibility Update
With each new State Fair season, brings new possibilities and opportunities for 4-H families in Nebraska. The opportunity for 4-H to continue having its own weekend allows more flexibility for new events, entry limits, schedules and space. We want to continue to take advantage of that!
As part of that process, we continue to explore age eligibility requirements for State Fair participation. After garnering user input, researching data from other events/shows/states, and looking that overall impact on youth development, the decision has been made to change the age of eligibility in 2023 to be 9 years of age before January 1 (of the current year) for all in-person events (livestock, contests, fashion shows).
2023 Special Garden Project
Seed are available in the Extension Office
The 2023 Special Garden Project will focus on Mrs. Burns’ Lemon Basil. This herb can be used multiple ways. Lemon basil has a unique lemon flavor can be added to any recipe or used as a cut flower in arrangements to add scent and interest.
Youth should enroll for the Special Garden Project through 4-H Online. Once enrolled through 4-H Online, youth are then to call their local office to let them know they enrolled for the project. By enrolling through 4-H Online, youth will have access to the shared folder with the educational materials including the growing newsletter & evaluation.
The flyer and a letter including alternative ways to exhibit in this project are available on the website at https://4h.unl.edu/special-gardening-project.
2023 Special Agronomy Project
Seed are available in the Extension Office
The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different.
The focus of the 2023 Special Agronomy Project is Tepary Beans. Tepary beans can be used like dry edible beans, forage, or hay. To participate in the Special Agronomy Project, enroll in the project through 4-H Online or call your local extension office to reserve seed by February 15.
There are three ways to complete this at the county or state fair. First, an educational exhibit that can be in a poster format can include what you learned. Secondly, let your creativity go wild and create a video-type presentation explaining what you have learned, showing the growing process, etc. Finally, you can enter the crop itself. To do this, cut 6 stalks at the ground level and bound-together with supporting information about the project. For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules.
EVENTS
Virtual Companion Animal Challenge
The Virtual Companion Animal Challenge offers a variety of 4-H companion animal contests that don't require live animals, including a demonstration, essay, art, and photography contests, as well as cat trivia, and dog trivia. Youth have the opportunity to display their companion animal knowledge through these contests both as individuals.
Online entry forms are due by 5:00 PM on April 1st. Entry fees are $5 per entry and a one-time $5 office fee per exhibitor. Checks should be made out to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Please make sure to include the name of the youth participant when submitting entry fees. No refunds will be given. Exhibitors will be charged a $25 fee if checks come back with insufficient funds. Entry fees must be postmarked by April 1st and mailed to:
Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Program
A Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop and Ambassador Workshop is scheduled for early April in Ord. It will be held April 1-2 at the Valley County Fairgrounds in Ord. The early bird deadline to register for the workshop is March 22nd.
A Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Update Session is scheduled for late April. It will be held Saturday, April 22nd at the Dawes County Fairgrounds in Chadron. The early bird deadline to register for the Chadron training is April 12th.
A Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop is scheduled for late April in Chadron. It will be held April 22-23 at the Dawes County Fairgrounds in Chadron. The early bird deadline to register for the workshop is April 12th.
For More informations: https://4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports
Come Learn with Carla Clinics
Carla has been an AQHA & NSBA judge for 36 years and NRHA judge for 28 years. She has held many great titles such as teaching and coaching at St. Andrews University in NC, has coached 2 National Champion IHSA teams, and is currently a committee member for AQHA and NSBA judges and an IHSA board member. She is excited to come back to Nebraska and teach across our great state!
Our clinic dates will be held:
- June 2nd - Central City, NE - Merrick County Fairgrounds
- June 3rd - Lincoln, NE - Lancaster Event Center
- June 4th - Albion, NE - Boone County Fairgrounds
Clinic Pricing
- 4-H Enrolled Youth (8-18 years old) - $40
- Non-4-H youth (8-18 years old) - $80
- Adult (19+) - $80
Please note you must complete a separate registration for each participant.
Deadline for all registrations will be May 5th
- A copy of your registration will be emailed to you after submission. You MUST mail printed registration along with a check to complete your registration.
- All registrations and fees must be postmarked by MAY 5th
- Registration will be on a first come first serve basis.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: https://go.unl.edu/carlaclinics
For further questions please contact Grace Kim at grace.kim@unl.edu
Hippology Academy
Hippology Academy is back for 2023!! One of our most popular online course offerings will start on February 6. This course offers six topics, taught by Extension Horse Experts from all over the country. If you select the Silver option, you have access to a forum to have conversations, ask your questions of the Professor of the Week. Topics this time around: Colors and Markings, Digestive Anatomy, Respiratory and Cardiac Anatomy, Evaluating Pastures, Hoof Anatomy, and Pasture Related Diseases. Experts are from Universities of Florida, Purdue, Rutgers, Texas A&M. and Penn State University. Hoping you can join us.
https://catalog.extension.org/product?catalog=HippologyBronze
https://catalog.extension.org/product?catalog=HippologySilver
SOARS (Showmanship-Obedience-Agility-Rally Series)
The SOAR Workshop Series provides youth and their canine companion with an opportunity to develop and practice Showmanship, Obedience, Agility, and Rally skills under the guidance of experienced clinicians. Along with building skills with their dog, youth also learn about dog-related activities, events, and organizations they can participate in. The series includes 3 to 4 sessions throughout the spring and summer months. Handlers will benefit from participating in each workshop. Each session provides action steps for youth to move forward and builds upon the skills learned from previous sessions. However, youth are encouraged to join any of the workshops even if they cannot attend them all.
SOAR Workshops are presented in partnership with the Platte Valley Kennel Club.
4-H Horse stampede
The Nebraska 4-H Horse Stampede offers a variety of 4-H horse contests that do not require live animals, including public speaking, demonstration, quiz bowl, art, and photography contests. Youth have the opportunity to display their equine knowledge through these contests both as an individual and as part of a team. The 4-H Horse Stampede is held annually at the UNL Animal Science Complex in Lincoln, Nebraska. This year's event will be held Saturday, March 25, 2023.
There is a $10 entry fee per participant and $10 office fee per exhibitor. Event shirts are also available for pre-order. All orders, fees, and entry forms must be submitted online by March 6, 2023.
Nebraska 4-H Horse show dress code is required for all in-person contests. Please see pages 23-24 of the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide for details. Exception: No hats or headgear are permitted.
Adventure Together 4-H Summer Camp
Registration is open for the Adventure Together 4-H Summer Camp series! A limited number of spots are available, and we recommend registering as early as possible to reserve yours. You can explore all the sessions and register at 4h.unl.edu/camps-summer.
Livestock Information Series
The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Information Series is a resource for 4-H members, leaders, and parents to gain knowledge in various livestock-related topic areas. Each session, a new topic is covered with experts joining to share their experience and expertise. Extended learning opportunities and supporting documents are also available for each topic.
Agronomy Youth Field Day
Annual Agronomy Youth Field Day, June 27, 2023 in Curtis, NE at the NCTA campus.
Open statewide to ALL youth ages 9-18 and adults. More details to follow after the first of the year.