Thurston County 4-H News
March 2019
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Stacey Keys, Extension Assistant, stacey.keys@unl.edu
Rebekah Potter, Office Assistant, rpotter25@unl.edu
Email: thurston-county@unl.edu
Website: thurston.unl.edu
Location: 415 Main Street, P.O. Box 665, Pender, NE 68787
Phone: 402-385-6041
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLExtensionThurston/
Twitter: @UNLThurstonCty
Upcoming Dates
March 11-Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting
March 15- All Contest Day Registration DUE
March 23 - All Contest Day @ St. Lukes, Emerson (9:30am)
March 26 - Butter Braid Sales orders DUE @ Extension Office
March 30 - Horse Stampede @ UNL- East Campus
April 1 - 4-H Council Senior Scholarship DUE
April 5-6- Siouxland Garden Show@ Sioux City
April 7-13 - National Volunteer Week
April 8- Joint 4-H Council Meeting @ Dakota City (7:00 pm)
April 11 - Butter Braids pick up @ Extension Office ( 5:00 pm)
April 15 Ak-Sar-Ben Market Beef DNA Nominations DUE
April 15- Nebraska 4-H Camp Early Bird Registration DUE
April 26- Office Closed- Arbor Day
Need to Know
Busy Programming - Out of the Office
Days we know that we'll both be out of the office are:
March: 8
March: 20
March: 22
March: 28-29
Summer Internship!
The Thurston County Extension Office will be accepting applications for a part time, with potential to be full time, temporary, summer 4-H position from approximately June 3 through July 26. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have experience working with school age youth, and feel comfortable leading workshops and camps. Background knowledge of the Nebraska 4-H program is helpful but not required. Send cover letter, resume, and references to the Thurston County Extension Office 415 Main St., PO Box 665, Pender, NE 68047. Application deadline is March 22, 2019. For a complete list of job requirements and responsibilities visit https://go.unl.edu/ofrb.
For addition questions contact Nebraska Extension Educator, Jennifer Hansen at 402-385-6041.
Member Info
Butter Braid Sales
What is a Butter Braid? A Butter Braid is a frozen pastry dough that you thaw, let rise, bake and frost. It is a mouth watering, delicious, homemade pastry.
Butter Braids are available in a variety of flavors. Thurston County 4-Hers will be taking orders from Feburary 25-March 26, orders will be delivered to the 4-Hers on April 11th at 5 pm at the Thurston County Extension Office. Proceeds from this fundraiser help fun 4-H activities throughout the year.
All Contest Day
Tractor Safety certification
Because Federal law prohibits youth under 16 years of age from using specific equipment on a farm unless parents or legal guardians own the farm, Nebraska Extension is teaming up with Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health to offer Tractor Safety & Hazardous Occupations Courses at 12 Nebraska locations this summer. June 20 & 21, Wayne Fairgrounds 402-375-3310
To read the article about Tractor Safety certification and get a flier/registration form online, visit Kearney.unl.edu. Please post fliers at your office, schools, churches, community businesses, or anywhere else a teen’s parent may see them. A letter describing the course and locations is going out to all teachers in Nebraska via an ESU listserv. We will also have a press release to all media, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have extra mentions by you at the local level!
Thank you for keeping our youth safe.
Ideas for 4-H Workshops
Club of the Month
N|150 Celebration - Flat Herbie Tour the Town
Flat Herbie is here to celebrate this milestone. Cut out Herbie and make him part of your community by taking him on a tour of your town. Snap a picture of him at local events, favorite landmarks, or 4-H activities. Upload the pictures to your social media channels with #N150Herbie or email us at nebraska4h@unl.edu. We encourage everyone (students, faculty, staff, 4-H families, and alumni) to get in on the fun with Flat Herbie throughout 2019!
The first 12 individuals to participate and tag #thurston4h will receive a N|150 Lighted Bouncy Ball.
County Fair
N|150 Stepping Stone Showcase
4-H members are invited to show their creativity and University of Nebraska pride by creating a stepping stone that represents the N|150 milestone. Stepping stones will be exhibited at local counties fairs, and one stepping stone from each county will be chosen to be displayed at the Nebraska State Fair at the Raising Nebraska landscape.
- Stepping stones may be made out of any materials. Keep in mind that fairgoers may step on the stones while on display, therefore, they should be durable.
- Stepping stones should be 8 inches by 8-inch squares.
- Design: N|150 themed or In Our Grit, Our Glory themed
- Each county will select one for display at Raising Nebraska. It will not be eligible to be judged in any other class at State Fair.
Photography Unit 3 Exhibit Print
Dakota Thurston County Fair Activity Passes
This pass is a $30 value and is being sold for $15
The Pass includes 1 entry into each of the following events:
- Tractor Pull
- Dueling Pianos
- Extreme Bull Riding
If you are interested in purchasing these passes, please contact the Fair Manager at dakotathurstoncountyfair@mail.com.
Fair Book Changes
An exhibitor (4-H or FFA) is limited to two market animals & two breeding heifers. Any combination of classes is allowed. *Change*
Market Beef - animals must be registered by the official breed association to be exhibited in breed classes
901.Angus Steers
902.Shorthorn Steers
903.Hereford Steers
904.Crossbred Steers
905.Angus Heifers
906.Shorthorn Heifers
907.Hereford Heifers
908.Crossbred Heifers
909.Club Pen of 3
Breeding Beef
901. Commercial Breed Heifers
902. Limousin Breed Heifers
903. LimFlex Breed Heifers
904. Maine-Anjou Breed Heifers
905. Maintainer Breed Heifers
906. Red Angus Breed Heifers
907. Shorthorn Breed Heifers
908. Shorthorn Plus Breed Heifers
909. Simmental Breed Heifers
910. Foundation Breed Heifers
911. AOB (All Other Breeds) Breed Heifers
912. Angus Breed Heifers
913. Charolais Breed Heifers
914. Composite Charolais Breed Heifers
915. Chianina Breed Heifers
916. Gelbvieh Breed Heifers
917. Balancer Breed Heifers
918. Hereford and Polled Hereford Breed Heifers
· The written (only) Level 1 test must be completed by the fair pre-entry deadline (mid-July) for all youth meeting the minimum equine intermediate age level of 12 as of January 1st of the current year.
· If the written (only) Level 1 test has not been completed, intermediate age and up youth will not be allowed to participate in the Dakota-Thurston County 4-H Horse Show.
· Written Level 1 test will be administered by either a certified Level 1 or 2 horse leader or by the local Extension Office. Testing appointments will be required by the Extension Office.
Information about what will be covered on this test can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/horse/advancementFair Book Notices
Cow-Calf Project
No embryo transfer calves, as class is based upon genetic transfer from mother to offspring.
Feeder Calf
If one of your feeder calves is out of your Returning Cow (First Calf-Cow/Calf Pair), then you would be allowed to have 2 entries in either the Feeder Calf Steer class or Feeder Calf Heifer class.
Continuing Education
Thurston County 4-H Council Senior Scholarship
Applicant Criteria:
- Applicant must be a current High School Senior.
- Applicant must currently be an enrolled member of the Thurston County 4-H Program. And have been enrolled in 4-H for at least the past two years.
- Applicant must have completed and turned in their 4-H Career Portfolio for at least the past two years.
- Application must be completed and returned to get proper signatures to the Club Leader by April 1st of the current calendar year. Club Leaders will then turn all collected applications to Nebraska Extension in Thurston County. After submission, applications will not be returned.
Scholarship Information:
- One $150 will be awarded to all applicants who meet the criteria.
- Scholarship will be awarded after receiving written notifications of scholarship recipient's second semester enrollment. For those students enlisting with the military, notification of basic training completion will be the equivalent.
- Scholarship monies will be sent directly to the scholarship winner.
This application is due to your 4-H leaders by April 1st. We hope you consider participating. This process and application will be reviewed by the 4-H Council in two years to re-access needs. The application can be found here: https://unl.box.com/s/af57hvl3s0pt58zr34mqjk8ngyyw20ep
Mrs. Chloe Jarvis Memorial Scholarship
($500— Fall 2019/Spring 2020—non renewable)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: postmarked by March 15, 2019
1. Female born high school graduate (or soon to be) OR a UN-L student who has not resided at Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall (LMH) OR an undergraduate transfer student from another college or university pursing any major for an undergraduate or graduate degree.
2. Applicant must be or been a member of 4-H or FCCLA or FFA (minimum of two years) or have taken a minimum of three semesters in Family & Consumer Sciences classes and live in or attend school in the following Nebraska counties: Antelope, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Cedar, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dakota, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dixon, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Keith, Keya Paha, Kim-ball, Knox, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Red Willow, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, Thomas, Thurston, Wayne, Wheeler. (Map on page 3)
3. Must have applied (minimum) or been accepted (preferred) to University of Nebraska -Lincoln.
4. Must have requested residency in LMH, a cooperative residence hall on East Campus. Resi-dents rotate responsibilities for cleaning a portion of the Hall and planning/preparing meals
(around 2-4 hours per week; more time during a week when responsible for food preparation). The cost of living in LMH is less than half of what is charged for all other traditional dorms. Over a four year period this amounts to a savings around $13,000. More information about LMH is found at: http://.unl.edu/halls/love.shtml Students may change housing preference by submitting a written request to the Housing Office.
Family & Consumer Sciences
Bake & Take Month
Plant Science
8th Annual Innovative Youth Corn Challenge
Deadline to enter the contest: March15th
Download entry forms at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth
Do you enjoy being outside? Learning new things about crops? Considering a career involving crops, insects, diseases, soils, water or more? Do you want to help figure out how to feed our world’s growing population in a sustainable way?
Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Corn Board are offering the sixth Innovative Youth Corn Challenge contest. This contest, open to 4-H members (age 10 & older as of Jan. 1st) or FFA members (in-school members), guides participants through all aspects of corn production, as well as agricultural careers related to corn production.
As a team (2 or more participants), youth will be challenged to implement a production practice different than normal to determine if they increased their yield. Economics and sustainability of the practice will also be considered. Yields, cropping history, and production information will be collected in the Corn Yield Challenge management summary.
Cash prizes and plaques will be given to the first, second, and third place teams. First place will receive $1,000, second place will receive $500, and third place will receive $250. Sustainability, crop scouting and “extra mile” awards will also be given, each worth $200.
To participate in 2019, youth must complete and return an entry form by March 15th to the Fillmore County Extension Office in Geneva, NE. Forms can be downloaded at cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/activities. For more information, contact Brandy at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu or 402-759-3712.
Animal Science
18th Annual Burt County Beef Preview
18th Annual Burt County Beef Preview which will be held in Oakland on Saturday, April 6, 2019.
Entry Form: https://go.unl.edu/2019_bcbp_entry_form
21st Annual Seward Calf Classic
21st Annual Seward Calf Classic
April 13, 2019
Seward County Fairgrouds
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Check in
10:30 a.m. Show
Sanctioned by the Junior Nebraska Cattlemen and Staplehurst Livestock 4-H Club
UNL Companion Animal & Wildlife Career Day
The Department of Animal Science and the School of Natural Resources will be hosting their Companion Animal and Wildlife Career Day on March 6th. It is open to students interested in learning more about careers and majors in these industries. Students can register via this link: https://form.jotform.com/82485871237163. Once they’ve registered we’ll send a detailed schedule and parking information. I’ve included a rough schedule below for your information. Space is limited to 50 participants with preference given to high school students.
Schedule:
Check-in: 9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Overview: 9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Animal Science Sessions: 9:50 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Lunch & Career Panel: 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Wildlife Sessions: 12:50 p.m. - 1:55 p.m.
Wrap-up: 2:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
NEW HIPPOLOGY ACADEMY ONLINE SHORT COURSE FOR YOUTH, ADULTS, LEADERS, EXTENSION PERSONNEL
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 15, 2019 – Equine professors working with ExtensionHorses.org are offering a new Hippology Academy, Feb. 11 to March 24, 2019. This short online course is designed for youth, adults, leaders, and extension personnel to gain knowledge and practice on horse hippology content.
Content includes practice tests, slides, and digital stations in six areas in addition to twice weekly lectures. Participants registering for the silver level will have the option to interact with equine professors from across the United States during the lectures. The silver level costs $100 per person and provides the opportunity to ask questions, talk to the professor of the week via asynchronous chat, and includes all materials from the bronze level.
The bronze level includes core features like access to 12 lectures from university professors on anatomy, health, diseases, parasitology, toxic plants, nutrition and more. It costs $50 per person. New lessons will be available starting each Monday for each of the six weeks.
“Youth and leaders are always asking and looking for more ways to get ready for hippology and other contests,” said Kathy Anderson, UNL Extension horse specialist.
“We are super excited to offer this course as it will be jam-packed with all kinds of things to help prepare and be competitive plus simply know so much about horses.”
Registration opens January 15 at www.extensionhorses.org and closes when enrollment reaches 100 participants or February 10, whichever comes first.
For more information, please contact: Kathy Anderson, University of Nebraska Extension horse specialist, at kanderson1@unl.edu; Betsy Greene, University of Arizona Extension horse specialist, at betsygreene@email.arizona.edu; or Colleen Brady, Purdue University Extension horse specialist, at bradyc@purdue.edu.
Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
The horse advisory group and myself have approved several changes for the 2019 4-H horse program. If you will please pass the following information on to your horse leaders and 4-H youth involved in the horse project so they are aware of the changes for this upcoming horse show season. Also, I held a webinar to discuss and answer questions for people yesterday evening. Here is the link to the webinar recording: https://youtu.be/tI07z1f4BMw
District Horse Show:
1. An individual and/or horse may enter ALL CLASSES level 2 classes at Districts, meaning 1 Western Pleasure, 1 Western Horsemanship, 1 Hunter Under Saddle, 1 Hunt Seat Equitation, 1 Reining, 1 Barrel Racing and 1 Pole Bending.
Fonner Park State 4-H Expo:
1. An individual and/or horse may enter all advanced classes (if they have passed their level 3), meaning 1 Advanced Western Pleasure, 1 Advanced Western Horsemanship, 1 Advanced Hunter Under Saddle, and 1 Advanced Hunt Seat Equitation as long as they ride a different horse then they competed with at the District Horse Show for level 2 classes.
2. There will be an additional age group for the following classes: Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, and Showmanship. For these classes only the age groups will be as follows: Elementary – 10 to 11; Junior – 12 to 14; Senior – 15+. All other classes will have only two age groups: Junior – 10 to 14 and Senior – 15+.
3. The addition of a Level 3 Miniature/Shetland Pony In-Hand Trail Class.
4. Trail will move to the outdoor arena on Monday following the conclusion of Showmanship. It will run all afternoon and we will not conclude the class until the evening so that anyone competing in the Horse Judging Contest/Hippology could compete in trail after the conclusion of those contests.
5. Trail will have only one judge and be judged using the 0 to infinity scale for scoring.
6. New class Miniature/Shetland Pony In-Hand Trail will be offered (Level 3 class).
7. English and Western Dressage Level 2 will ride: English - Training Level Test 3 (https://www.usdf.org/docs/showflash/web/tests/2019/USEF_TLT3.pdf) or Western - Basic Level Test 4 (https://westerndressageassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/WDAA-2017-WESTERN-DRESSAGE-BASIC-LEVEL-TEST-4-v1-4-2019.pdf.
8. English and Western Dressage Level 3 will ride: English - First Level Test 3 (https://www.usdf.org/docs/showflash/web/tests/2019/USEF_1LT3.pdf) or Western - Level 1 Test 4 (https://westerndressageassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/WDAA-2017-WESTERN-DRESSAGE-LEVEL-1-TEST-4-v1-4-2019.pdf).
9. Schedule changes so please refer to the schedule posted on the http://4h.unl.edu/horse webpage. Sometimes may be adjusted as we get closer and have a better idea of entries.
General Changes:
1. Helmet – ASTM/SEI approved safety helmets with a harness are required in ALL hunt seat classes. Hunting cap or derby is NOT acceptable in any classes.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.
4-H Horse Stampede
The horse stampede is a group of contests for youth interested in horses. These contests do not require youth to have a horse all they need is to have an interest and be willing to learn some information about horses.
- The 4-H Horse Stampede will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at the Animal Science Complex.
- Contests include: Individual Demonstration Contest (can be done in person or through zoom), Team Demonstration (can be done in person or through zoom), Speech (can be done in person or through zoom), Junior or Senior Horse Bowl (team quiz bowl contest), Art Contest (do not need to be present to participate, you can mail in the entries), and Photography Contest (do not need to be present to participate, you can mail in the entries).
- It will be held the same day as the 4-H Companion Animal Challenge so that youth can compete in both events if they choose. We will ensure there are not schedule conflicts.
- If you would like to have lunch or a t-shirt at the contest please make sure to fill out a lunch or t-shirt order form when registering for contests.
- Entries are due to Dr. Lena Luck by March 1, 2019.
- For more information and registration forms: https://4h.unl.edu/horse/stampede
- Questions? Contact: Dr. Lena Luck (lena.luck@unl.edu)
4-H Companion Animal Challenge
The Companion Animal Challenge is a set of contests for youth interested in companion animals. These contests are animal-less and test youths knowledge about companion animals. New this year to the contest are a Cat Skillathon and an essay contest. 4-H youth ages 10-18 are invited to participate.
- The 4-H Companion Animal Challenge will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at the Animal Science Complex.
- Contests include: Demonstration Contest, Dog Skillathon Contest, Cat Skillathon Contest, Essay Contest, Art Contest, and Photography Contest.
- This event allows youth to apply their companion animal knowledge, but does not require them to have an animal!
- It will be held the same day as the 4-H Horse Stampede so that youth can compete in both events if they choose. We will ensure there are not schedule conflicts.
- Entries are due to Dr. Lena Luck by March 8, 2019.
- For more information and registration forms: https://4h.unl.edu/companion-animal/challenge
Northeast Nebraska 4-H Horse Show
2019 Nebraska District 4-H Horse Shows
2019 Districts Dates and Sites
- June 10 - Bloomfield
- June 11- Elkhorn
- June 12- Ord
- June 13- Ogallala
- June 14- McCook
Reminder: All entries are due to the county office by May 10, 2019. All Level testing required for participation in the 2019 district 4-H Horse Show MUST be completed by May 10, 2019.
All entries for the State Horse Show must be mailed by May 10, 2019. These include Showmanship, Halter, All Cattle Classes, Hunter Hack, Dressage, Advanced Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Pleasure and Horsemanship, Trail, 2 year old and 3 year old Western Pleasure and Working Ranch.
2019 Fonner Park 4-H Horse Show July 14-18, 2019