2021 Jefferson County Fair Dates & Theme
Jefferson County Nebraska 4-H Youth Development YouTube Channel
COVID-19 Update
In-person 4-H club meetings and workshops are currently permitted as everyone has made progress to lower our county into the “Yellow” on the COVID Risk Dial. 4-H clubs must put some planning into hosting an in-person reorganizational meeting.
To allow for proper social distancing, please arrange to have access to a large enough space to spread out, have attendees sit as families, and strongly encourage using sanitizer and wearing masks. Think about using a heated shop, or garage, instead of a more confined family dwelling to gather at. Treats and activities that encourage close face to face exposure should be avoided at the re-organization meeting.
4-H Online Enrollment is still Open!
Enrollment is open for 2020-2021 Jefferson County 4-H. NOTE AGE CHANGE: All 4-H youth (ages 8-18) as of January 1, 2021 are required to enroll online every year. We encourage all members to enroll using a computer and not your mobile device. Enrollment instructions for new members can be found at the Extension Office or online at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/jefferson/4-Hforms/ Call the office 402-729-3487 with any enrollment questions.
4-H Online Enrollment Link: https://ne.4honline.com/Login.aspx?403D4050364539525371705375593D
New 4-H Member Enrollment Instructions Link: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/jefferson/Steps%20to%20Enroll%20New%20Member.pdf
Re-Enrollment Instructions Link: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/jefferson/Reenrollment%20Returning%20Members.pdf
Clover Kid Enrollment Information
Enrollment Link:
https://ne.4honline.com/Login.aspx?403D4050364539525371705375593D
Volunteers, We Need You!
For 2021, all volunteers need to go through a screening to assist with 4-H related activities (including 4-H County Fair activities). There are two different types of volunteers, and screenings that go with these volunteers. You must fill out the form prior to volunteering.
- Direct Volunteers – All 4-H Volunteers who work directly with youth (examples include: ring personnel at livestock shows, room monitors for contests, etc)– must complete the Direct Volunteer Form (Printable or Electronic or through 4HOnline – still open for volunteer enrollment) & DHHS Background Check ($5 fee). Must be approved prior to completing the volunteer activity. If you have enrolled as a volunteer on 4HOnline, then you have already done this!
- Indirect Volunteers – Any person who provides support services for Youth Activities (examples include: opening gates, announcers, superintendents, 4-H Building host, weigh-in, etc.)– must complete the Indirect Volunteer Application (Printable or Electronic) and must be approved prior to completing the volunteer activity. If your volunteer has enrolled as a volunteer on 4HOnline or filled out the Direct Volunteer form, they do not need to fill out the Indirect Volunteer Application.
If you have a question regarding which of these volunteer roles you will be fulfilling, please contact the Extension Office (402) 729-3487.
3D Modeling via Zoom
Upon registration, please select the preferred date for attendance.
June 9: 10:00 – Noon
June 10: 10:00 – Noon
June 11: 10:00 – Noon
June 17: 10:00 – Noon
Registration Link: https://web.cvent.com/event/9b6ba154-8ce8-4f0b-8fb8-9458d82f7001/summary?locale=en-US&tm=3JJlV_lW_TjkDXq9kl4DO5hW7IsvLI_d4sIv632qlKs 
Code Camp via Zoom
If you can read, you can code! Youth must be at least 8 years old to participate.
Upon registration, please select your preferred class date.
June 9: 1-2
June 9: 3-4
June 17: 1-2
June 17: 3-4
Registration Link: https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/programs/code-camp-webinar.html 
Create Your Own Terrarium!
Citizen Washington D.C. Focus Trip Information
Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 and how long it will be a significant health threat, our Washington D.C. group of Gage, Jefferson and Saline counties has decided to postpone a trip until 2022. We just don’t want the youth to spend that kind of money and not be guaranteed even if we are able to go that we would get to see and do all the things we would like to do and have done in the past.
With that being said, this gives youth more time to fund-raise for the trip. If you have ideas or suggestions of new fundraising, please contact the office!
Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the new changes to the CWF trip program requirements, the payment plan, or fundraising opportunities. As always, we are open to suggestions, especially regarding fundraising!
Quality Assurance Training
Other trainings available in neighboring counties:
- Monday, May 24th at 1 pm in Wilber at Legion Building
2021 Animal ID Guidelines
Horse Advancement Levels Testing
Horse Advancement Level Testing
Winter months are a great time to work on Horse Advancement Levels. Information and study materials are found in the Horse Project Member Manual and Advancement Level Manual at the Extension Office. We also have the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show & Judging Guide available.
Website: https://4h.unl.edu/horse/advancement
Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program
Excited to announce a new opportunity for 4-H youth participating in livestock projects! The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership.
The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.
The program consists of two levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals. Each accomplishment is worth a specific number of points. Intermediates, ages 10-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence. Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence. The Plan and Reports, linked on the webpage, show examples of the project related accomplishments they can choose or they can identify their own with approval of their local educator.
Youth completing the achievement program and receiving member of excellence recognition in the various species will be recognized during the Parade of Champions, 4-H weekend at the Nebraska State Fair.
For more information, go to: Livestock Achievement Program | Nebraska 4-H (unl.edu)
Ashley Benes ashley.benes@unl.edu
Cole Meador cmeador2@unl.edu
Brett Kreifels brett.kreifels@unl.edu
New Opportunities for Nebraska State Fair 4-H Youth Livestock Exhibitors
Here’s what is NEW!
4-H BEEF
In our beef area, we will now be offering:
- a feeder calf show
- a junior breeding heifer class to all of our breeding classes
- 4-H members will now be eligible to show up to a total of five beef animals. A 4-H’er can exhibit up to two market beef, three breeding heifers and two feeder calves as long as the total number of entries does not exceed five beef animals.
4-H SWINE
In our swine area,
- We will be offering a breeding gilt show. This breeding gilt show will include 9 purebred classes as well as a crossbred class.
- In our market swine show, we will be creating a more diverse show by including 9 purebred classes.
- We will also be adding new “Farrowed and Owned Breeding and Market Swine” divisions. The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is an opportunity for youth interested in learning more about the swine industry and is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the swine industry. The goal of the Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is to enhance the educational value of the traditional 4-H swine projects by providing unique opportunities focusing on swine production as goal of the member’s project, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member.
- 4-H members will now be eligible to show up to a total of five swine projects. A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting three market hogs and two breeding gilts
4-H SHEEP
- 4-H members will now be eligible to show up to a total of five sheep maximum, if at least two are breeding ewes. In no case will a 4-H member exhibit more than three market lambs.
4-H GOAT
- 4-H members will now be eligible to show up to a total of five goats maximum, if at least two are breeding does. In no case will a 4-H member exhibit more than three market goats.
4-H Cat Club
A message for all cat interested youth:
Do you like cats? What about learning how to care for or show them? Maybe you have heard about the 4-H Cat Club in the past and wanted to join, but couldn't make the monthly meetings.
Do we have good news for you, or what? We are pleased to introduce this year's self-paced Cat Club! No more being bummed that you missed the hour long meeting every second Thursday. You will now have access to monthly lessons and activities that you can complete on your own time. The first lesson can be found here on September 5th: https://4h.unl.edu/companion-animal/cat-club
If you are interested, please stay tuned and register today!
Online Horticulture Contest
Do you know what it takes to pick the best fruit and vegetables out at the grocery store? Or do you know what judges are looking for when they judge your plants at the county fair? Have you ever wondered, what plant is that!?! We are excited to offer the opportunity to learn these and other important horticulture skills through the Online Horticulture Contest. The contest will be available June 4-21, 2021 at: https://go.unl.edu/21onlinehortcontest.
Horticulture judging contest consists of three parts. The first is identification of plant material. Participants identify the plants by common name from a plant list. Specimens may be alive or preserved plant parts like stems, twigs, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, bulbs, tubers, or plant products.
The second is a knowledge portion, usually in the form of a true/false or multiple choice quiz. Questions will test the contestant's knowledge of cultural practices for horticultural crops, plant science, pesticides, horticultural careers and other topics related to the production, processing and consumption of horticultural crops.
The last portion is judging or placings. This is where four different plants, plates of vegetables, or containers flowers are ranked from best to worst based on a set of criteria. Classes are judged on the basis of condition, quality, uniformity, true-to-type, and size.
More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/online-horticulture-judging-contest
Virtual Field Trips
There are also numerous field trips that have been archived to view at your convenience. Check them out. See the link below to view of all the tours available.
NEW 4-H Photography Showcase!
How Does It Work?
Each month, a new photo will be selected from the online submissions. Selections will be made based on creativity, timeliness, technical execution, originality, and appropriateness. The selected photo will be showcased across the Nebraska 4-H social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Youth photographers will be credited wherever and whenever their photo is shared or published.
This opportunity is open to all enrolled 4-H members. Photo recommendations, file specifications, rules, and guidelines for participation are available online at https://4h.unl.edu/photography-showcase.
Workshop Ideas
Nebraska Extension - Jefferson County
