Merrick County 4-H Times
Update 4/19/17
Horse Judging School - UNL
Saturday, April 22, 9:30am-3:30pm
- UNL Animal Science Complex, East Campus Lincoln.
- $30 for youth, ages 10-18 years old.
- $40 for adults, ages 19 years and older.
- Please register at http://go.unl.edu/hyjc to reserve your spot.
- Checks payable to UNL Animal Science and mail to Kathy Anderson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, C204 Animal Science Complex, Lincoln, NE 68583-0908.
Aspiring horse show judges and exhibitors, or anyone who wants to learn how horses are judged can do so this spring. This horse show judges school is a must for current judges, aspiring judges, judging team coaches, and youth. UNL Extension Equine Specialist Kathy Anderson said the judges school is also perfect for exhibitors because it is the best way to learn how one is being judged, so exhibitors can do a better job when in the arena.
A great addition to this year’s school is not only will there will be classroom sessions, but there will be live classes in the arena to practice. Horsemanship, trail, ranch riding, halter, and how to conduct oral reasons the collegiate way will be the focus of this year’s school.
For more information, contact Kathy Anderson at 402-472-6414 or kanderson1@unl.edu or visit: http://animalscience.unl.edu/horse. For more information on the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show Judge Certification test, visit: http://animalscience.unl.edu/horse-judging-information#tab4.
Poultry Judging Clinic - UNL
Saturday, April 22, 10am-2pm
- UNL Animal Science Complex, Room D107, East Campus Lincoln.
- $10 for participants.
- The registration form can be found here: https://unl.app.box.com/s/7jg5fsf3dvmdrie1gve8uy6qjsrl8x8p
Tack swap
- Platter River Riders 4-H Horse Club Fundraiser!
- New & Used Tack, Western Wear, Western Decor & More!
- Vendors may reserve a booth space, contact Sherry 308-624-0011 or siwinski@hamilton.net
Whether you are looking for something fun and unusual or want to get rid of something, come check-out the Tack Swap and support this Merrick County 4-H Club!
Friday, April 28 - Extension Office Closed
Au Revoir old building
- Please REMOVE and TAKE HOME anything owned by you stored in the building by Friday, April 28 before the final demolition!
Stock Show U! - Hands on Beef Fitting Clinic
- Indoor Arena - 4-H Building, Central City.
- FREE!
- Bring your calf and equipment, maybe a generator!
- Register online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/central-city-ne-1-day-hands-on-clinic-tickets-32673347863
Take your Passion to the Next Level!
Each Stock Show University 1 Day Hands-On Program is a power packed event that is focused on intensive Clipping Practices, Fitting Techniques, and Daily Care/Feeding unlike any camp available to youth livestock exhibitors today. The best part it is FREE of charge!
Campers will receive an all-access pass to gain the hands-on training and knowledge from some of the best individuals in the country, to help take them to the next level.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to fit a beef animal? Well come check-out this event. If your calf isn't quit ready to leave home or you can't make the whole day, go ahead and register at the link above to audit, or watch the event.
AG SCIENCE EXPO - RAISING NEBRASKA
Sunday, April 29, 12:30-4:30pm
- Raising Nebraska, Nebraska Building, Grand Island
- FREE!
- Pre-registration preferred http://go.unl.edu/agscienceexpo
Sessions Include:
- 3-D Sand: Understand topography maps by playing in the sand.
- Nutrients for soil: Discover the nutrients that let plants grow.
- Electric Flower: Build a circuit to make your flower glow.
- Print your Fix: Design and print your solution to a problem.
- Laparoscopic Surgery: Complete the challenge by designing a tool and conducting surgery.
- Code Your Name: Use binary code to make a name bracelet.
Dog Project Practice
Wednesday, May 31, 6:30pm
- Education Room, 4-H Building, Central City.
- Contact Kim Stuhmer for more info 402-560-2619.
County Public Speaking & PSA Contest
Monday, May 1, 6:30pm
- For all 4-Her’s age 8-18 and Clover Kids age 5-7.
- Register your topic/title by noon, Monday, May 1st.
308-946-3848
merrick@unl.edu
DUE 5PM! MONDAY, MAY 1!
DUE! DISTRICT & STATE HORSE ID'S & ENTRY FEES - EXTENSION OFFICE
DUE! MERRICK 2017-2019 T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST ENTRIES - EXTENSION OFFICE
DUE! MERRICK COUNTY AMBASSADOR APPLICATIONS - EXTENSION OFFICE
DUE to the Extension Office by 5PM, Monday, May 1st!
DUE to the Extension Office by 5PM, Monday, May 1st!
DUE to the Extension Office by 5PM, Monday, May 1st!
Junior 4-H Camp
- Whispering Cedars Camp - Genoa, NE
- 4-H age 8-11 years old.
- Registration DUE to Extension Office Friday, May 12.
- If open spots are available registration will open for 4-H age 12.
- Registration DUE to Extension Office Friday, May 19.
Merrick County 4-H Council will pay 20% of Merrick County
4-H Member registration, making registration $60. Non 4-H members are also welcome at Jr. 4-H Camp for $75. All participants must complete the 4-H Participant Permission and Health Form in their 4hOnline enrollment. Non 4-H members will still need to fill out a hard copy Health Form. Camp begins with registration at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7th
and ends at 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 9th.
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.
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.
.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.
- Contest: Saturday, May 20, 8:30am and 10:30am, Sportsman's Club.
Shotgun Practice & Contest
- Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 4pm-6:30pm, Sportsman's Club, Central City.
- Practices will end May 2.
- 4-H age 11-18 years.
- Contest: Saturday, May 20, 1:30pm, Sportsman's Club.
Livestock Quality Assurance Options
Youth exhibiting livestock (Beef, Dairy, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Rabbits, 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!
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!
- LQA is being offered to clubs as a hands-on activity.
- 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.
- Please call the Extension Office to schedule a time for your club, 308-946-3843.
- FREE!
Hamilton County Face to Face Classes will be at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds 4-H Building.
April 9th at 4pm
April 30th at 2pm
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.