Thurston County 4-H News
June 2018
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Stacey Keys, Extension Assistant, stacey.keys@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
June 8 - Ponca Day Camp Registration DUE
June 11 - Joint 4-H Council Meeting @ Pender (7 pm)
June 13 - District Horse Show - Ord
June 14 - District Horse Show - York
June 15 - All Livestock Affidavits DUE
June 15 - YQCA Deadline
June 15 - Aksarben/State Fair Sheep, Swine, Goat & Feeder Calf DNA/Nominations DUE
June 18 - Ponca Counselor Training
June 19 - Ponca Day Camp @ Ponca State Park
June 20 - District Horse Show - Gordon
June 21 - District Horse Show - Central City
June 22 - District Horse Show - Curtis
June 25-26 - PASE/Life Challenge @ UNL
July 4 - Office Closed - 4th of July Holiday
July 9 - Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting
July 15-19 - State Horse Show @ Fonner Park, Grand Island
July 18 - ALL Dakota-Thurston County Pre-Fair Entries DUE
July 25 - 4-H Clothing Day Judging @ Emerson
July 28 - Pre-Fair Clean Up
July 29-31 - Pre-Fair Judging Shows
August 1-5 - Dakota-Thurston County Fair
August 6 - Post Fair Clean Up
August 10 - State Fair Animal and In Person Entries DUE
August 21 - State Fair Exhibits DUE @ Extension Office (Noon)
August 24-Sept 3 - NEBRASKA STATE FAIR
Need to Know
Busy Programming - Out of the Office
Days we know that we'll both be out of the office are:
- June 12
- June 19
- June 21
- June 25
Member Information
Summer Workshops
Mark your calendars! Summer is just waiting for us! Sign up here for our summer workshops! https://goo.gl/forms/65U9Lzn4dFgpqa4C2
Young Entrepreneur Camp - June 4th-7th
Design Decisions Workshop - June 12th
Animal Science Workshop - June 14th
Ponca Day Camp Counselor Training - June 18th
Ponca Day Camp - June 19th
Let's Paint Run-A-Ways - June 20th
Clover Kid Camp - June 21st
Let's Get Cooking #1 - July 2nd
Let's Get Cooking #2 - July 3rd
Come Join Us At Ponca Day Camp!!
We are also in need of Ponca Day Camp Counselors. These 14 year old + 4-H members also need to fill out an application at the above website. Please join us in making this a memorable summer experience for these youth.
Workshop Scholarships for 4-H Members
Regional Speech
Congratulations to McKinley Morgan for receiving a blue ribbon and Alexis Bodlak for receiving a purple ribbon at the Regional Speech competition. Alexis will also be advancing to the State Competition.
Several area 4-Hers received awards at the Northeast Regional 4-H Public Speaking Contest held on May 24, 2018 at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska.
Forty-four youth from 16 counties throughout the state competed in their respective age division in the 2018 Regional 4-H Speech competition. Additionally, twenty-seven contestants from eleven counties in the northeast district competed in their respective age division in the 2018 Regional 4-H Public Service Announcement (PSA) competition.
Contestants earn the opportunity to participate in regional competition by winning their age division at the county level. Contestants may compete in one or both categories. Contestants are awarded purple, blue, or red awards in recognition of their accomplishments in speech or PSA; in addition, the top four individuals in each division received medals. The four winners of the senior division speech and PSA competition are given the opportunity to compete for awards at the State 4-H Public Speaking Contest to be held in Grand Island during the Nebraska State Fair. All youth competing in state competition and staying for awards will receive special awards. The top two speech and PSA winners in State 4-H Public Speaking Contest receive scholarships.
Other seniors selected to advance to the 2018 state competition from the Northeast Regional Competition in the Speech Category are: Brian Potts, Cedar County, Taylor Arens, Knox County; and Martha Witchey, Knox County.
County Fair Info
Dakota-Thurston County Fair Grievance Policy
"Purpose: Any person who feels that a violation of the rules or regulations of the Dakota-Thurston 4-H County Fairbook has occurred, must go through a protest/appeals process. This appeals process covers all 4-H contests, static exhibits, and livestock exhibits/shows.
Set-Up: The committee would be made up of the following: (each serving for a one year term)
- Each county 4-H Council President (2 members)
- One other 4-H Council member from each county (2 members)
- Two fairboard members, one from each county (2 members)
- The chair from the committee in which the grievance was submitted (1 member)
Total: 7
Terms:
- Each grievance must be written and submitted by the exhibitor to the Dakota-Thurston County Extension Office Staff.
- Protests for pre-fair events must be filed within 24 hours or close of next business day.
- Protests for fair exhibits/shows will not be accepted after the exhibit release time.
- Each individual will need to pay a $50.00 filing fee for the grievance. Filing fee will be refunded upon positive settlement.
- All grievances will be kept on file for 2 years.
THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS IS NOT FOR MISSED DEADLINES. (ex. Drop/Add, Horse Entry, Horse Affidavit, Livestock Affidavit, YQCA, Pre-Fair Entries) Refer to 4-H & General Rules 7 and 23 on late policies."
Fair Entry Information
County Project
Do you have 4-H ribbons stored in boxes, tucked away under beds or in the basement? Recycle those ribbons into something new that showcases all your hard work and achievements.
Create an item using 4-H ribbons or rosettes. Wall hanging, frames, quilts and more, check out Pinterest for lots of ideas. Use your imagination!
Item must be made of at least 50% ribbons, your choice for remainder of materials.
Enter project on entry day of the county fair. There is a category/class for county only projects
COUNTY ONLY SPECIAL PROJECT
DEPARTMENT Q - Section 920
901. Recycled/Upycled 4-H Ribbons - Create an item using 4-H ribbons or rosettes. Examples, wall hanging, frames, quilts and more. Use your imagination. Item must be made of at least 50% ribbons, your choice for remainder of materials.
Late Affidavit & Late Entry Policies
1) Late animal affidavits will be accepted for one following the entry deadline and will be accessed a $10 late fee per individual for the Dakota-Thurston County Fair.
2) Late fair entries will be accepted for one week following the entry deadline and will be accessed a $10 late fee per individual for the Dakota-Thurston County Fair.
4-H King & Queen Contest
Looking for Trophy Sponsors
Livestock ID's/Affidavits DUE
DNA & Online Nominations
To show at State Fair & Aksarben you need to go online and nominate the following species by June 15th:
- Breeding Beef
- Market Sheep
- Breeding Sheep
- Market Swine
- Feeder Calves
- Market
Entrepreneurship Challenge
We’d like to share with you a brand new state fair class in the entrepreneurship project (ESI)- an Entrepreneurship Challenge! The challenge is open to 4-H’ers enrolled in any of the three units of ESI. 4-H members will create an exhibit showcasing what they learned from the challenge and enter it at the fair. Through the challenge, we are encouraging kids to be entrepreneurial in their thinking and consider entrepreneurship as a career option.
Family Fun Packs
The Dakota Thurston County Fair Board is pleased to announce that "Family Fun Packs" will be on available for purchase at the Fair Manager's Office on Clean-up day Saturday July 21st as well as during Fair week Sunday July 29 thru Friday August 3rd.
Each Family fun pack costs $40 and consists of:
- 2 Tickets to Impact Pro Wrestling - Friday
- 2 Tickets to Dueling Pianos - Friday
- 2 Tickets to Laser Tag - Friday
- 2 Tickets to Kids Day - Saturday
This is a $60 value which will be sold for $40!
Camping at the Fair
Interested in camping at the fair? Contact Sherry Slaughter @ 402-863-2352
Mary Paeper @ 402-922-1299
These wonderful ladies can let you know the availability of camp sites and prices.
Animal Exhibits
Rabbit Exhibitors - When you enter your animals Monday, July 30th, from 6:00 –8:00 we are asking that you check your animals in with either the superintendents or Extension Staff. We want to try and ensure that our show programs are accurate. Your assistance on this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Bedding - The fair board will be supplying bedding for livestock projects, which will consist of sawdust. If you have special needs for your projects, it is your responsibility to bring the supplies. If you have any questions, please contact the Stephanie Luedert.
Stalling Horses - The Dakota~Thurston County Fairboard voted in 2010, That if a horse is showed, it must be stalled. No veterinarian excuses will be accepted. This applies to all horses exhibiting at the 4-H Horse Show, no expectations. Horses must be stalled at the fairgrounds on Thursday, August 2nd by 8:00 p.m.
Livestock Check-in - Wednesday, August 1stfrom 6:30 - 8:30 pm is check-in day at the fair. Before you unload your livestock trailer, please stop by the livestock office and check-in. In order to verify exhibitors and livestock that are on the fairgrounds. This will help us with correct stall assignments and correct show programs. Reminder: Swine ear tags need to be purchased for $2.00 each at the time of check-in.
No early release of animals - Please refer to page 8 of the fair book for the following rule: All live animals,
4-H/FFA, Open Class (except cats, dogs, household pets/birds) will remain on the grounds for the duration of the fair. No early releases. Also see page 28 for the following statement from the Fair Board: Penalty– Premiums will be pulled for exhibits leaving the fairgrounds prior to the aforementioned release time.
Don’t forget your cats and dogs must have current vaccinations. Forms are available on our website. (Dakota County 4-H, fair information page)
Bucket calves need a record book with their entry. (Dakota County 4-H, fair information page)
Outfit Challenge
Open to any 4-H member. Need not be enrolled in the clothing project to participate. Limit one entry per person per class. Both the Add a Piece and the Complete Outfit may be purchased from garage sale, thrift store, consignment store, resale shop (i.e. Goodwill) or a store bargain. Cost must be $10/$20 or below, depending on challenge. If clothing is altered or embellished those cost must be included in the total cost of outfit. This cost does NOT include shoes, accessories or undergarments. Accessories already owned can be used to compliment/finish the outfit.
An entry consists of modeling the outfit and a Shopping Challenge worksheet (available at the Extension Office or online). 4-H’er must model at Clothing day and at Public Fashion Revue. Entry that does not follow the guidelines will be dropped one ribbon placing. Consider these questions in choosing your challenge piece and to complete worksheet: ·
· Fit, quality and care of the garment
· When and how often do you expect to wear this outfit
· How garment/outfit fills a void in your wardrobe
· Will you change a garment by remodeling, embellishing or other changes.
You will also be asked to list each purchased piece, cost and place of purchase and cost of any changes to garment. Outfit will be displayed at the fair.
902. Modeled $10.00 Add a Piece Clothing Challenge - Add one (or more) piece(s) of clothing to an existing outfit already owned by the
4-H’er. The purchased piece(s) and existing clothing must be modeled together. Worksheet listed above must be included.
903. Modeled $20.00 Outfit Challenge - Open to any 4-H member. Must be a complete wearable outfit. Cost of outfit must be $20.00 or less, not including shoes, accessories or undergarments.
Family & Consumer Sciences
4-H Culinary Challenge Contest
Plant Science
2018 Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging Contest
The 2018 Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging contest is just around the corner. This year the contest will be available from 8:00 am Friday, June 8th through 8:00 am Monday, June 18, 2018. It is composed of three parts; general knowledge questions, plant part and seed identification, as well as a judging portion. It is open to all 4-H youth, as well as adults, and even Extension individuals. No password needed, the link listed below will take you directly to the contest. The link to participate will be https://go.unl.edu/2018hortcontest
The youth need to fill in all of their information completely. The online contest should only be taken once by each participant. No study materials are to be used. The contest will allow an opportunity for the participant to review the answers prior to submitting. Once submitted, the participants will see their score, but they will not be able to see which questions they missed. After the contest has completed on June 18th, the participants or the county(ies) can request to see the scores and answers.
Study Materials for the Online Horticulture Judging Contest and the State 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest held during State Fair are the same and they can be found at:
Youth Crop Scouting Competition
Nebraska Extension also offers the 5th annual Crop Scouting Competition for Nebraska youth. This contest is at the ARDC near Mead, Nebraska on July 26th, 2018. The event includes indoor and outdoor events. Teams of junior high and high school students (those completing 7-12th grades) are invited to participate.
Clubs or other organizations may enter a team composed of three to five participants. An adult team leader must accompany each team. Team leaders could be FFA advisors, crop consultants, extension staff, coop employees, etc.
Top-scoring teams win prizes: $500 for first, $250 for second, $100 for third place. Top two teams are eligible for regional competition in August at Nebraska.
Teams are expected to know basics of scouting corn and soybean fields. This includes crop staging; looking for patterns of crop injury; disease, insect and weed seedling identification; etc. Other topics may include but are not limited to, pesticide safety, nutrient disorders, and herbicide injury.
More information about the crop scouting competition and instructions on how to register a team are available online at cropwatch.unl.edu/youth.
Teams must be registered by July 16th. This program is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer, Nebraska Independent Crop Consultant Association and Nebraska Extension.
Haskell Ag Lab - Crop & Climate Field Day
Please plan to attend the Climate & Crops Field Day at the Haskell Ag Lab near Concord on Tuesday, August 14. This is a public field day and is open to everyone. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. We will have various tracks with speakers in the morning. A free lunch will be available at 11:30 and tours will be available in the afternoon. Educational booths by extension personnel and outside vendors will be available during the day. Plans include educational programs for children, a shooting sports trailer, speakers on climate and how that impacts crops, insects, economics, and animals, drone demonstrations. The day will conclude around 3:30. Details are still being finalized. Please watch this newsletter for more information each month. Again, please mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 14 for the public Climate & Crops Field Day at the Haskell Ag. Lab near Concord. Please pass this along to others in your area.
Animal Science
Upcoming Livestock Shows
June 2 - 4-H Beef Progress Show - Phelps County Fairgrounds
June 2 & 3 - Nebraska Jr. Beef Expo - Northeast Community College
June 10 - Hustler 4-H Progress Show - Cuming County Fairgrounds
June 10 - 4-H Horse Show - Wahoo, NE
June 16 - Stanton FFA Progress Show - Stanton County Fairgrounds
June 17 - Platte County Swine Progress Show - Ag Park, Columbus
June 23 - Wheeler County Progress Show - Bartlett Fairgrounds
June 23 - 32nd Annual Papio Valley 4-H Show - Sarpy County Fairgrounds
June 24 - Sandy Spurs Bucket Calf Clinic & Show - Antelope County Fairgrounds
June 28 - Wisner Junior Livestock Show 4-H/FFA Horse Show - Wisner River Park Arena
Tractor Safety Training 2018
All youth aged 14 and 15 and working on a farm or ranch other than their own MUST be certified through a Hazardous Occupations Course. Successful completion of the course will allow trained youth to operate a tractor over 20 horsepower, or to connect or is connect an implement or any of its parts to or from a tractor.
Cost for the training is $60.
Closest training is Wayne Fairgrounds, June 19 & 20.
Find it online here.
NEW Quality Assurance = YQCA
Requirements: Online - 3 modules @ $12 total
OR Test Out for Intermediate & Senior @ Free
Thurston County 4-H Council has voted to provide scholarships for these fees after youth fill out a short form. Found here: https://unl.box.com/s/20uwv5vi6jtl4ef55wvmrebkj9kmk1lp
Here are some quick Log In Instructions:
1. Go to yqca.org from your computer browser and select Sign In/Register Tab
2. Sign in and register using the 4-H Online box
3. Select the name of your organization from the pick list Nebraska 4-H Youth Development
4. Use your 4-H Online user name and password to start the process
5. Select the member name taking the course
6. Select the age of the member in the appropriate box
7. When the age is selected the appropriate courses will be selected
8. Select online choice (Instructor led class will be developed by your local instructor)
9. Select payment method credit card or if you have received a coupon code from your Extension Office you will enter it at this time to purchase the courses
10. After completing the three courses be sure to save and print out a completion certificate and take it to your Extension Office
11. For swine exhibitors the number on your completion certificate will be used as the number that will be asked for by swine buyers
12. If you encounter problems you can contact help@yqca.org
Submitting Animal Information into AKSARBEN Livestock Database
*NEW* Aksarben CHANGES
4‐H and FFA youth participants will declare which youth organization they will show their animal projects by August 10 in ShoWorks.
NEW UPDATE: Animals exhibited in either 4-H or FFA at State Fair are now eligible at AKSARBEN.
NEW UPDATE: Feeder calf nominations no longer will require DNA for AKSARBEN. Feeder Calf nominations will only require an EID tag and an online nomination in the database.
NEW UPDATE: AKSARBEN will not be holding a Dairy Cattle, Rabbit or Broiler show in 2018.
NEW UPDATE: AKSARBEN horse nominations will require an online nomination with picture upload for their June 15 deadline.
NEW UPDATE: Animals exhibited as either breeding or market at State Fair will now be able to switch divisions at AKSARBEN.
2018 State Fair & AKSARBEN Livestock Identification Requirements
Family Responsibilities:
1. Exhibitors will be required to enroll in 4-H and the required projects by the county deadline in 4H Online.
2. Exhibitors showing market animals at State Fair or AKSARBEN must have a signed and sealed official DNA collector with hair samples for DNA verification turned into their county office and have completed the online nomination (www.showstockmgr.com) along with submitting payment online by the appropriate deadline listed in the table. Any animal carrying an 840 EID tag will require the exhibitor to obtain a Premises ID. Contact the local Extension Office for details. (It is recommended that you make a copy or a photo image of completed envelope you turn into your county.)
3. Exhibitors showing breeding beef, breeding sheep and breeding does at State Fair or AKSARBEN will need to complete an online nomination (www.showstockmgr.com) by the June 15 deadline.
4. Exhibitors will be required to complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) for the enrolled livestock projects by the county deadline.
5. Exhibitors will notify the County Extension Staff of any retags that may occur up to time of check-in at either the State Fair or AKSARBEN show.
6. Exhibitors will select which animal entries they have chosen to show at State Fair on the State Fair pre-entry website. All nominated and validated animals will be automatically listed as a choice option for pre-entry registration.
7. 4‐H and FFA youth participants will declare which youth organization they will show their animal projects by August 10 in ShoWorks.
a. If an animal is shown in FFA at the State Fair, it is no longer eligible for AKSARBEN. If an animal is entered in FFA, but isn’t exhibited, that animal will still be eligible to be exhibited at AKSARBEN.
8. Exhibitors will be required to bring the breed registration association paperwork to check-in at State Fair for animals wanting to show in a breed class. The exhibitors name should be identified on the registration paper.
Beef Fitting Clinic
2018 Nebraska District 4-H Horse Shows
Reminder: All Entries for the State Horse Show must be mailed by May 11, 2018.
2018 4-H Horse Show Dates and Sites
- June 13th - Ord
- June 14th - York
- June 20th - Gordon
- June 21st - Central City
- June 22nd - Curtis
- July 15-19 - State Horse Show - Fonner Park, GI
Nebraska Elite Showman Competition
by popular demand we have added goat showmanship into the mix.
For more information: