Otoe County 4-H Wednesday What-Nots
December 2, 2020
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.
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.
Virtual December Days
Unfortunately, they have decided to cancel the in-person December Days event, however, we are NOT going to let Covid ruin our good time!!
We are now offering Virtual December Days! Sign up today! This is not school time… THIS IS CAMP! 😊
Read full description and register at 4h.unl.edu/camps-centers/school-year-camps
Details:
Lots of fun provided by NE 4-H Camps and Douglas Sarpy Extension!
December 12th
All youth ages 5-15 are welcome!
Time: 9am -12:30pm AND 2:00 - 4:00 pm (optional afternoon portion)
Cost: $30
Please email kzabel2@unl.edu or ktomlinson2@unl.edu with any questions!
Youth Masters of Beef Advocacy Learning Cohort
December 16 - January 6th, Youth ages 14 - 19
Applications due December 14th by 5:00 p.m. CST.
To register, go to the following link: MBA Cohort Registration. Once registered, you will get information about logging into both Zoom sessions and the MBA site. For questions, contact Brianna Buseman, Youth Meat Extension Educator, at brianna.buseman@unl.edu
Youth who join this statewide learning cohort will gain tools and resources for being a beef advocate, work as a group to become a strong ambassador for the beef community and be able to answer tough questions about beef and raising cattle. The group will meet initially on December 16th to introduce the program, get to know their cohort and learn more about the beef industry as a whole. During the cohort timeframe, youth will complete the Masters of Beef Advocacy program online through National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. In addition to completing the online program, youth will have the opportunity to continue discussion with their cohort through a series of discussion boards, additional learning resources and activities to help put what they learn into action. Youth will then log-in on January 6th for a celebration webinar to mark their completion of the program, learn more about beef in Nebraska and discuss careers in the beef industry.
Agenda for the MBA Learning Cohort:
Both zoom meetings will be recorded and distributed to those registered if unable to attend the live meeting.
- December 16, 6:30 pm: Zoom MBA Program Kickoff
- December 16-January 6: MBA program will be open and available for students to complete their training. During this time additional information, activities, and discussion prompts will be added to the Microsoft teams page for the cohort to interact with.
- January 6, 6:30 pm: Zoom MBA Program Wrap Up
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.
2021 Nebraska District & State 4-H Horse Show Dates Released
- June 14th - Scottsbluff
- June 15th - Burwell
- June 16th - Columbus
- June 17th - Lincoln
- June 18th - McCook
The 2021 Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Show will be held July 10th - 14th.
All District and State Horse Show entries must be turned into the Extension Office by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 7th. All level testing required for participating in District must be completed by this date as well.
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