Dakota County 4-H News
March 2022
Nebraska Extension - Dakota County
DAKOTA COUNTY OFFICE STAFF
Angela Abts—4-H & Youth aabts2@unl.edu
Julie Boyle—4-H and Youth julie.boyle@unl.edu
Tammy Dunn—Office Manager tpeterson3@unl.edu
Carol Larvick—Food & Nutrition clarvick1@unl.edu
Brenda Sale—SNAP-ED bsale@unl.edu
Dakota County 4-H
Email: dakota-county@unl.edu
Website: https://dakota.unl.edu
Location: 1505 Broadway Street, Dakota City, NE, USA
Phone: 402-987-2140
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLDakotaCounty
Twitter: @NEDakota4HExt
Follow us On Facebook and Instagram!
Instagram: NE Extension Dakota County
Dates & Deadlines
MARCH
4TH - 4-H Horse Stampede entries due
7th - Extension Board meeting
19th - Speech & Favorite Foods Contest 9:30AM - United Church of Pender
26th - 4-H Horse Stampede
31st Dakota County 4-H Senior Scholarship due
APRIL
1ST- 2ND - Siouxland Garden Sho0w, Marriot Hotel Center South Sioux City, NE
1st - Entries due Virtual Companion Animal Challenge
4th - Extension Board Meeting
4th - 4-H Council Meeting
11th - 4-H Council Meeting Joint w/ Thurston
17th - Happy Easter
11th- 17th - Virtual Companion 'animal Challenge
17th - 23rd - National Volunteer Week
21st - Presentation & Music Contest - Dakota City 6:30 - 8:30 PM
MEMBER INFORMATION
Visit: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dakota/contests/
For rules resources, tips and more!
Siouxland Garden Show
April 1st & 2nd, 2022 at the Marriot Hotels Center In South Sioux City, NE
Visit: https://www.siouxlandgardenshow.org/
for all the details
4-H Volunteer Awards
Nebraska 4-H is now accepting nominations for a new awards program to recognize the outstanding contributions of 4-H volunteers across the state.
The Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards honors adult and youth volunteers, as well as and multi-generational families, who have provided meaningful contributions to Nebraska 4-H. One Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award and One Emerging Adult Volunteer Award winner will be chosen for each of the state’s 11 Nebraska Extension Engagement zones. One statewide winner will be named in the each of the youth volunteer and multi-generational family categories.
“Our 4-H volunteers go above and beyond to serve Nebraska’s youth every year,” said Jill Goedeken, 4-H Youth Development Extension educator. “This volunteer recognition opportunity debuted in 2021 and we were thrilled at the number of outstanding 4-H volunteers nominated statewide. We are looking forward to another opportunity to recognize 4-H volunteers for their contributions to youth in Nebraska.”
The nomination period runs through March 15. Nominations can be submitted by any 4-H member, family, supporter, or Extension staff member. Nominees must fit the award categories and can be a volunteer for any Nebraska 4-H experience. Some examples may include 4-H club leader, project leader, junior leader, county or State Fair volunteer, special interest volunteer, such as robotics or shooting sports, afterschool club volunteer or 4-H camp volunteer. More information, along with the nomination form, is available online at: https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-recognition.
Winners will be announced virtually the week of April 18, in which Nebraska 4-H will be celebrating the Week of the Volunteer. A special awards presentation will take place at the 2022 Nebraska State Fair.
For more information, visit https://4h.unl.edu/volunteers/recognition
4-H PROJECTS
2022 Special Garden Project
The Special Garden Project is open to all youth of 4-H age and it will give them the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting this unique flower. This project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables and flowers. The project allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in this project area.
The focus of the 2022 project is the Rubenza Cosmos. The flowers of the Rubenza are unique, the petals change color as they age. Pollinators and beneficial insects are attracted to the blooms all summer long. These cosmos make great cut flowers. Be sure to enjoy a bouquet of Rubenza indoors.
Be sure to visit https://4h.unl.edu/special-garden-project to learn more about the project. IF interested, let our office know before Friday, February 18th, as the order deadline has been extended!
2022 Special Agronomy Project
The focus of the 2022 Special Agronomy Project is Broomcorn Sorghum. Broomcorn can be used for ornamental uses in floral arrangements or harvested for broom-use prior to seed maturity.
If you have youth in 4-H OR YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN ASSIGNMENT: There are three ways to complete this at the county or state fair in 4-H. First, an educational exhibit that can be in a poster format can include what you learned. Secondly, let your creativity go wild and create a video-type presentation explaining what you have learned, showing the growing process, etc. Finally, you can enter the crop itself. To do this, cut 4 stalks at the ground level and bound-together with supporting information about the project. For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules.
SIGN UP for the project (order the seeds). By enrolling through 4-H Online, youth will have access to the folder with the educational materials including the growing newsletter & evaluation. Schools should share or print off the newsletter and evaluation as you hand out the seeds.
CHANGES TO SWINE CLASSES FOR COUNTY FAIR
YQCA is required. Please see general 4-H rules on page 30.
An exhibitor is allowed a total of five head of swine. This number must be a mixture of barrows and gilts, with at least one being a barrow. Example: one barrow and four gilts.
☞If a 4-H member is also an FFA member then he/she is allowed to bring six head of swine, but not more than five animals per organization. Example: three FFA hogs and three 4-H hogs OR five 4-H hogs and one FFA hog.
☞FFA members and 4-H members will show together to form a youth show.
The classes will be divided according to sex/weight by the swine committee, so a reasonable number of animals will be shown at one time.
A Champion and Reserve Overall Market Swine and Overall Breeding Swine will be selected. The Champion and Reserve Champion of each division will be determined by the official judge.
Progress weight class - Hogs weighing less than 220 lbs.
Overweight class - Hogs weighing more than 320 lbs. (No purples awarded, and no champion selected from this class.)
Registration of Purebred Swine - To be eligible to show in a registered class, the animal must be owned by the exhibitor, have an official breed registration. Any animal not meeting purebred requirements will be shown in the crossbred division.
Our county fair will comply with the Nebraska Pseudorabies regulations.
☞There will be NO SPF Scanning. Swine Show will not be a terminal show. 4-H members are responsible for disposition of their hogs following the show.
Department G - Section 930
Showmanship - Premium Schedule B
901. Junior Swine Showmanship (8-10)
902. Intermediate Swine Showmanship (11 & 13)
903. Senior Swine Showmanship (14 and older)
MARKET SWINE
Department G - Section 931
Individual – Premium Schedule C
Club Pen of 3 - Premium Schedule B
Crossbred
901. Crossbred Market Gilts
902. Crossbred Market Barrows
Purebred Market
903. Berkshire
904. Chester White
905. Duroc
906. Hampshire
907. Hereford
908. Poland China
909. Spotted Swine
910. Yorkshire
911. All Other Breeds
912. Club Pen of 3 Pigs, owned by at least 2 exhibitors.
BREEDING GILT
Department G – Section 932
Individual – Premium Schedule C
Club Pen of 3 – Premium Schedule B
901. Crossbred Breeding Gilt
Purebred
902. Purebred Berkshire Breeding Gilt
903. Purebred Chester White Breeding Gilt
904. Purebred Duroc Breeding Gilt
905. Purebred Hampshire Breeding Gilt
906. Purebred Hereford Breeding Gilt
907. Purebred Poland China Breeding Gilt
908. Purebred Spotted Breeding Gilt
909. Purebred Yorkshire Breeding Gilt
910. Purebred All Other Breeds (AOB) Breeding Gilt
Changes to Bucket Calf Classes - County Only Fair Project
Only Fair Project
We are excited to announce changes to the Bucket Calf Classes for the 2022 D-T Fair. Now, exhibitors can return their bucket calf the second year and show in their own class with other returning bucket calves. Watch for the fairbook for specifics as we work out the details, but for now we know:
- Your bucket calf must have been shown by you as 4-H Youth or 4-H Clover Kid at the 2021 D-T Fair, and must be shown by you at the 2022 D-T fair. (It can not have been shown by a sibling, relative, or other 4-H club member).
- The class will be its own class as part of the bucket calf show.
- You may weigh-in your return bucket calf at the Beef Weigh-In. This is not required unless you want to participate in the Return Bucket Calf Rate of Gain Class.
- Clover Kids Ages 5-7, they are only allowed to exhibit a First Year Bucket Calf (not eligible for the Return Class).
- Youth aged 8-14 are allowed to enter the Return Bucket Calf Class. (For example, if your child was aged 7 last year and showed their 4-H Bucket Calf, they may return their same bucket calf at 4-H age 8.) Clover Kids cannot participate in the Return Bucket Calf Class.
- First Year Bucket Calves may have been born between January 1 and June 1 of the Current Year.
- Record books are required for the First Year Bucket Calf Class and Return Bucket Calf Class.
All bucket calves and return bucket calves must have completed affidavits to the extension office by June 15th. All exhibitors 8+ must complete YQCA.
NIFA Awards - Governor's Agricultural Excellence Awards
Nebraska 4-H Foundation’s Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Awards sponsored by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) is a prestigious award designed to recognize 4-H clubs for their efforts to serve their communities. This grant is intended to provide funding for 4-H Clubs to complete projects that will have a lasting impact on their communities. Projects should be intentional and impactful, growing club members as leaders and fulfilling a need in their community. Recognition is in the form of a $500 grant issued to the club’s treasury to be used as described in the award application form completed by the club. Examples of fundable programs include mentorship programs, intergenerational programs, attending educational experiences, hosting workshops/educational events and service-learning opportunities.
Projects should fit within at least one of seven 4-H program areas: College and career readiness, healthy living, STEM, Food supply confidence, community development, leadership development, and/or entrepreneurship. Projects should strengthen the educational experience of the county and/or state’s 4-H youth and adult volunteers.
Priority consideration will be given to clubs who integrate community engagement and educational components into their projects while furthering the mission of Nebraska 4-H to empower youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.
Consider avenues to address youth issues within your communities while promoting positive youth development and being and advocate for 4-H. Projects should have a potential for increasing life skills, reaching expanded youth audiences (at-risk, low income, diverse, disabled, etc.) and increasing new audiences in ongoing 4-H programming.
See website for more information. Application deadline is April 1st, 2022
https://www.ne4hfoundation.org/governers-ag-excellence-award/
STATE FAIR & OUT OF COUNTY OPPORTUNITIES
Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop
Volunteers have the opportunity to become certified as an adult (21 years and older) or apprentice (14-20 years old) leader. Seven project areas will be offered at the Sidney Workshop - rifle, pistol, shotgun, hunting skills, muzzleloader, coordinator, and archery. The Coordinator certification being offered in Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports is for individuals who work with certified shooting sports leaders, 4-H club leaders for shooting sports projects, 4-H volunteers managing shooting sports events and competitions.
Coordinators will explore and learn more about the different disciplines in 4-H Shooting Sports, how to support the different types of coaches, structuring a budget, designing a fund-raising plan, building an overall plan focused on Positive Youth Development, practice handling conflict, discover how to manage and recruit volunteers, best practices for managing events and competitions, teaching more than just “shooting” with science and healthy lifestyles, and working within your county’s 4-H structure.
There is a minimum number of participants needed to offer these disciplines at the workshop. Workshop participants will learn under expert instruction from members of the Nebraska State
4-H Shooting Sports Training Team.
The registration fee is $110.00 per person for initial certification and those individuals adding an additional discipline except for Apprentice Instructors. The registration fee for Apprentice Instructors (14 to 20 years of age) is $90 for this workshop. This fee includes meals, supplies and program materials. Participants must make their own lodging arrangements. Registration on Saturday runs from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Please share this information with volunteers in your county. For more workshop information and registration link, go to the 4-H Shooting Sports web page, https://4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports/instructor#calendar. Or contact your local Nebraska Extension Office or Steve Pritchard at (402)395-2158 or (308)536-2691. Registration is available only online at the link provided in the brochure or they can register directly by clicking https://go.unl.edu/fomq.
2022 Global Challenges Summer Camp
Virtual Companion Animal Challenge
The Virtual Companion Animal Challenge offers a variety of 4-H companion animal contests that don't require live animals, including a demonstration, essay, art, and photography contests, as well as cat trivia, and dog trivia. Youth have the opportunity to display their companion animal knowledge through these contests both as individuals and as part of a team.
Online entry forms are due by 5:00 PM on April 1st. Entry fees are $5 per contest and a one-time $5 office fee per exhibitor. T-shirts are available for $15 through the entry form. Checks should be made out to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Please make sure to include the name of the youth participant when submitting entry fees. No refunds will be given. Exhibitors will be charged a $25 fee if checks come back with insufficient funds. Entry fees must be postmarked by April 1st and mailed to:
- Grace Kim
UNL PO Box 830
ANSC C204g
Lincoln, NE 68583
Essays, art, photography, and demonstration recorded entries must be submitted digitally within the entry form. Trivia will be completed through an online quiz which must be taken from April 11-17th.
Results will be posted online during the week of April 30th. Stay tuned to the UNL Companion Animal Facebook page and this webpage for results. Ribbons and certificates will be mailed to exhibitors or sent to their county offices
**No premiums are handed back for this contest
Nebraska 4-H’s referral link: https://shop4-h.org?rfsn=897681.d5750
Livestock Information Series
4-H District & State Horse Show
UNL Chick Days
2022 Nebraska Ag Youth Institute
Apply now to attend one of the biggest youth agriculture outreach events in the state—the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI). NAYI brings together high school juniors and seniors to learn more about Nebraska agriculture, network with agriculture leaders and discover the many careers available in agriculture. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) helps sponsor and coordinate NAYI every year.
NAYI will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus July 11–15, 2022. Applications for NAYI are available at nda.nebraska.gov/nayi and must be submitted online. Current high school juniors and seniors interested in attending have until April 15, 2022, to apply. This year’s theme is “Cultivating Connections.”
“Whether it’s connecting agriculture to people, rural Nebraska to the cities, or students to opportunities in Nebraska agriculture, connections are more important than ever,” said NDA Director Steve Wellman. “NAYI is a creative and fun way for a new generation of people to connect with Nebraska agriculture. If you know high school juniors or seniors with an interest in agriculture, be sure to encourage them to apply to NAYI before the April 15th deadline. NAYI is a one-of-a-kind opportunity.”
NAYI is in its 51st year, making it the longest running agricultural youth program of its kind in the nation. Approximately 200 students attend every year. NAYI will feature motivational speakers, discussions on agricultural issues, career development, networking opportunities, leadership activities, a farm management game, a formal banquet and awards presentation, and a street dance.
NDA selects students to attend NAYI based on their leadership skills, interests and involvement in agriculture. Students attend NAYI free of charge due to generous donations from numerous agricultural businesses, commodity groups and industry organizations.
NAYI is coordinated by the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council, which is comprised of 21 college-aged students selected by NDA for their passion and interest in the ag industry. The Council’s purpose is to provide young Nebraskans with a better understanding