Otoe County 4-H Wednesday What-Nots
December 23, 2020
Merry Christmas from Sarah and Erin!
4-H Club Meetings and Events
All 4-H activities, including club meetings, are to go virtual beginning November 30. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln announced November 24 new regulations for 4-H and Extension programming. In person gatherings are not allowed if the county or the state is in the red range on the COVID-19 risk dial.
This applies to all club meetings, fundraisers, council meetings, or other 4-H-related activities.
Clubs are still encouraged to meet virtually if possible. If your club needs help setting up a virtual meeting, the Extension Office is happy to help. Call (402) 269-2301 or email otoe-county@unl.edu for assistance.
New in Otoe County - Unified Showing 4-H Club!
Unified Showing 4-H Club Information
Unified Showing 4-H Club is in its second year of operation and this will be our first year in Otoe County! We started in Lancaster County and are super excited to be continuing this journey and growing our reach. Unified Showing 4-H Club empowers youth with special needs by pairing them with buddies who ensure the safety of the youth showman and lamb. For those of you who are interested in Unified Showing, there will be a selection process for both showmen and buddies and 12 people will be chosen in each county (6 showmen and 6 buddies).
The selected showmen would need to join 4-H and then our very own
4-H club. This club will house both the showmen, the buddies, and adult leaders. We will also try to have 4-H meetings and hangouts once a month to ensure everyone feels comfortable and can make connections with other members. Parents and siblings will also be invited in order to form bonds with people who can better understand their experiences.
During the summer, practices will be held at our farm in southwest Lincoln once a week. Youth will practice with their designated lamb that my family owns. These practices will be approximately an hour and will include the showmen having the opportunity to lead their animals around and bathe, feed, and learn about them. Buddies will be at the practices and will accompany the showmen into the show ring to ensure both the animal and child’s safety. Family members will also be given the option of staying on site with their child or returning at the end of the practices.
At the end of the summer, the showmen will be able to see their hard work pay off as they will have their own class at the Otoe County Fair. This will be when they lead their sheep around the ring with the help of their buddies. The judge will ask the youth questions about their lamb and themselves. At the end, they will be given a prize for participating and working so hard in Unified Showing.
The application process will begin January 1, 2021 and end at midnight February 14, 2021. The team will then be posted on the Unified Showing Facebook page on February 22, 2021.
If you have any questions about Unified Showing or to request an application form please contact me via Unified Showing Facebook group page or at my email address amnwalbrecht@ gmail.com.
Thank you future participants,
Allison Walbrecht
Unified Showing 4-H Club Project Leader
Upcoming Winter Camp Events
Hello Friends of 4-H Camp!
- We had so much fun at our Virtual December Days Camp that we decided to plan another online session over winter break! If you need some camp fun over the break then join us for WINTER BREAK VIRTUAL CAMP! We will do an art project, cooking and STEM activity! This Virtual session will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 29th from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm CT. Ages: 5-14
- We are also planning an IN-PERSON event at the Nebraska State 4-H Camp in Halsey, NE. This event will take place from Saturday, January 16th to Monday, January 18th. See the beautiful Nebraska National Forest during wintertime and have a blast at camp! We will enjoy sledding, snow-people, hot chocolate and more! Transportation option from Lincoln or Omaha is available! *All CDC recommendations will be followed including: social distancing, masks and enhanced sanitizing procedures. Ages: 8-14
For more information on either of these events and online registration please visit this site:https://4h.unl.edu/camps-centers/school-year-camps
Winter Fun Pack
Virtual Learning Experiences
4-H Clover Bag Kits
A new class has been added under the Clover Kid Just Outside the Door Project to include snowflakes for the 2021 Otoe County Fair!
Call the Extension Office to reserve your fun kit today before they're all gone!
LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime Kits
NEW LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime Kits are now available for check out!
4-H Cake Decorating Kits
Otoe County Beef Weigh-in Cancelled
· The 2021 Otoe County 4-H Market Beef Weigh-In/Tagging on Saturday, January 30th has been CANCELLED due to COVID-19.
· There will be no Beef Rate of Gain Contest in 2021.
· ID sheets, DNA envelopes and EID tags may be picked up at the Extension Office. There will be a $3.00 charge for each EID tag, one per head of beef.
· ID sheets are due to the Extension Office on June 15th. A picture of the market beef showing the tag, ear, and head is also required by June 15 to the Extension Office.
· Market Beef that want to show at STATE FAIR or AKSARBEN must have DNA samples. DNA envelopes can be picked up from the Extension Office but exhibitors are responsible for pulling their own DNA and nominating their own animal by June 15th online at: www.showstockmgr.com.
4-H Foundation Banquet Cancelled
The health and safety of our 4-H family throughout Otoe County and beyond is the utmost of importance to us. As a result, the Otoe County 4-H Foundation Board of Directors canceled the 2021 Otoe County 4-H Foundation Banquet normally scheduled in February due to the risks associated with COVID-19.
The foundation was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with the mission of enhancing 4-H programming, securing financial support for local 4-H programs, and developing area youth for future generations. We are proud of our 4-H youth and our community for helping us work towards our goals.
Help us to thank the businesses and individuals below for supporting the Otoe County 4-H Foundation for 2021.
Otoe County Senior Scholarships
The Otoe County 4-H Foundation Scholarship applications for high school seniors were mailed to Otoe County 4-H members in early December. They were also given to the guidance counselors at the four Otoe County high schools. The applications are due January 15, 2021 into the Nebraska Extension in Otoe County office. The Foundation will award up to five $1,500 scholarships.
The Otoe County 4-H Foundation Miyoshi Family Leadership Scholarship: Due to the generosity of the Miyoshi family, the Otoe County 4-H Foundation is offering one $1,000 scholarship to be given annually to a deserving high school senior who is currently an Otoe County 4-H member. Applications are due January 15th to the Extension Office.
Get your applications in!
4-H Horse Stampede
All contest entries, including Speech, Junior Horse Bowl, Senior Horse Bowl, Demonstration, and Art & Photography must be submitted to the Extension office by March 5th, 2021.
More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/horse/stampede.
Companion Animal Challenge
COVID-19 Jeopardy Game
Try this fun Jeopardy-style game at home or at your next virtual club meeting while learning more about COVID-19. This PowerPoint game was created by Nebraska 4-H staff. You must follow the instructions in order for the game to work properly.
More details at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/merrick/covid-19-jeopardy
Otoe County 4-H Council Is Part of AmazonSmile!
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Otoe County 4-H when you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available on your web browser at http://smile.amazon.com and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. Set up Nebraska 4-H Foundation Syracuse, NE as your current charity.
When you shop at http://smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Otoe County 4-H Council, which provides support for Otoe County 4-H. Thank you for helping support 4-H!
What to Know Wednesdays
Awards To Pick Up
December In-Person YQCA Courses Are Postponed!
2021 4-H Council Officers and Members
Vice Chair: Monty Lovelace
Secretary: Emily Van Meter
Treasurer: Julie Van Meter
The adult members are: Megan Brehm, Mendy Houghton, and Cara Morgan. The youth members are: Erin Chambers, Cody Damme, Emma Houghton, Katelynn Moser, and Sydney Parsons.
Animal Science: Inspiring Your Future Scholarship Contest
There's a new scholarship opportunity for high school seniors and transfer students who are admitted animal science majors looking to enroll in the Fall 2021 semester at UNL. This is the inaugural year for the Animal Science: Inspiring Your Future Scholarship Contest and we will be awarding ten $5000 scholarships. We want students to tell us their digital story about an individual or animal who has inspired them to pursue an education and career in animal science. This can be done via video, essay, pictures, a combination of those things, or really any medium that allows them to comfortably express themselves. The website link is below that lists out the contest details and link to apply and submit their digital story. All entries must be submitted by Noon on February 15th!
NEW: Special Agronomy Project
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.
To kick-off the inaugural year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore teosinte. The plant looks and is very similar to corn, in fact it is believed to be the wild ancestor of today's corn!
Teosinte produces stalks that produce several small ears with a cob and hard, trapezoidal kernels. Being related to corn, the care is very similar so we will plant and fertilize like corn. Plant the seeds 1-2 inches deep, 8 to 12 inches apart. Teosinte is a tropical grass, so wait till soils are warm before planting. Teosinte can take up to 180 days to mature but we can still admire it's similarities to corn! For more information, go to https://cropwatch.unl.edu/special-agronomy-project.
Companion Cat Science
2020 Achievement Celebration
2021 Otoe County Fair
NWSS Catch-A-Calf
The National Western Catch-A-Calf program has re-opened the 2021-22 NWSS CAC Application website and the new deadline is January 15, 2021. For details, go to: https://nationalwestern.com/catch-a-calf-program/?fbclid=IwAR3LBfau6HJKcroQJmU7Q9RlYClb-qVSWTzpwXh7LhgHHzhA_7amYd_B2N0.
Call for 4-H Photography
Submit your favorite 4-H photography for a chance to be showcased! The 4-H Photography Showcase offers a project exhibition opportunity beyond traditional print media. 4-H'er are invited to submit their favorite photos for a chance to have them showcased online by Nebraska 4-H. Selected photos will be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for thousands of 4-H fans to admire.
https://4h.unl.edu/photography-showcase?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email
NEW Companion Animal Webinar Series
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA)
Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance certification through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). YQCA is a national multi-species quality assurance program focused on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development.
YQCA certification is required for all 4-H members enrolled in any of the following projects:
- Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market beef)
- Dairy Cattle
- Goat (breeding meat goat, dairy goat, meat goat)
- Poultry
- Rabbit
- Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)
- Swine
Nebraska 4-H members ages 8-18, who are enrolled in any of the livestock projects listed above are required to participate in an annual YQCA training. Annual training requirements may be satisfied by completing either an online web-based training course or a face-to-face instructor-led training course.
Web-based annual training is available through the YQCA learning management system. The online YQCA course costs $12 per individual regardless of age. Please see the YQCA Login & Course Completion Instructions for more information.
The deadline to complete the annual YQCA training or to test out of annual training is June 15th.
4-H members who exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will need to have their YQCA training requirements also met by June 15th.
Nebraska Extension in Otoe County limited public access
In response to COVID-19, the Nebraska Extension in Otoe County Office is limiting public access. The extension office, located at 620 1st Street in Syracuse, remains operational and accessible to the public. To gain entrance to the office, please knock on the glass door or call the office at 402-269-2301. You can also contact us via email at otoe-county@unl.edu.
COVID-19 Information from Southeast District Health
Nebraska Extension in Otoe County
Sarah Purcell, Unit Leader, Extension Educator, spurcell2@unl.edu
Erin Steinhoff, Extension Assistant, erin.steinhoff@unl.edu
Email: Otoe-County@unl.edu
Website: www.otoe.unl.edu
Location: 620 1st Street, Syracuse, NE
Phone: (402)269-2301
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nebraska-Extension-in-Otoe-County