Otoe County 4-H Wednesday What-Nots
January 27, 2021
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.
4-H Clover Bag Kits for January
Call the Extension Office to reserve your fun kit today before they're all gone!
It’s 4-H Enrollment Time!
It’s time to enroll and re-enroll in 4-H! All youth and leaders will need to enroll and re-enroll in Otoe County 4-H through 4-HOnline at https://ne.4honline.com. 4-HOnline is the web-based enrollment system that allows families to enroll and re-enroll in 4-H on their personal computer or mobile device. You will complete all of the information necessary to join or re-enroll in 4-H online, including 4-H Code of Conduct forms. PLEASE NOTE: When signing up as an Independent 4-H member, you must have at least one parent enrolled as a 4-H leader.
You are strongly encouraged to re-enroll by May 1 or you may miss out on communications such as project specific letters, the monthly TIPS newsletter, Wednesday What-Nots, etc. New members and fair projects may be updated through June 15 according to new Nebraska State 4-H policy.
Can I Be In 4-H?
4-H eligibility . . . Any child may join 4-H as a Clover Kid IF they are ages 5, 6 or 7 as of December 31, 2020. A young person may join 4-H as a full member IF they are ages 8 to 18 as of December 31, 2020.
4-H is open to everyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or family status.
Otoe County 4-H Foundation Grants
The Otoe County 4-H Foundation will provide grants to Otoe County 4-H members and 4-H clubs to strengthen 4-H in Otoe County. Grant requests can be between $50 to $500. Applications are due twice a year - February 28 and November 30. 4-H clubs are limited to submitting two grants per year.
Contact the Extension Office for more information and for an application. You can go online at: otoe.unl.edu to find the application, which is located under the Otoe County 4-H Foundation. Apply now!
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!
Innovative Youth Corn Challenge 2.0: Registration Open
The Nebraska Innovative Youth Corn Challenge is approaching its tenth-year engaging youth in crop science-based education. The Innovative Youth Corn Challenge (IYCC) was created as a partnership between the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Extension. Since the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge program’s inception in 2012, 74 teams have participated in the program with 37 teams successfully harvesting and analyzing their plot data. A total of 147 youth have participated.
This program continues to evolve and has exciting changes planned for the 2021 growing season with IYCC 2.0. A citizen scientist component will encourage youth to connect with researchers on a real problem facing corn growers and assist in collecting data or designing a tool to solve a real-world problem.
The IYCC 2.0 will also feature an agricultural literacy piece which will help others understand corn production practices and highlight teams’ efforts. This will allow youth to promote their own work through creative works such as a video or other multimedia tool. Nebraska Extension will execute this evolving, innovative and in-depth program in 2021, which will be the tenth year creating agricultural, science-informed graduates in the agricultural industry.
Prizes for participation in this project include 1st place - $1,000, 2nd place - $500, 3rd place -$250, “Extra Mile” Award $200, CORN Communications Award $200 and $50 for completion of the project. In addition, each team receives a crop scouting kit valued at over $200, plot sign and the opportunity to engage with UNL agronomic professionals through “ask an agronomist” sessions.
For more information about this program and to register, go to https://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/cornchallenge. Registration is due March 15th. Contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu or (402) 759-3712 for details about this program.
2021 Special Garden Project
The Special Garden Project is a way to offer 4-H members the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens. The 2021 Special Garden Project is focused on the tasty Hakurei Turnip. These are not your grandmother’s turnips. Hakurei is a white salad turnip that is smooth, round and at its best when harvested under 2”. The roots can be eaten raw or cooked and the tops can also be cooked. Youth should enroll for the Special Garden Project through 4-H Online. Once enrolled through 4-H Online, youth are then to call their local office to let them know they enrolled for the project. By enrolling through 4-H Online, youth will have access to the educational materials including the growing newsletter & evaluation.
More details at: http://4h.unl.edu/special-gardening-project.
Contact the Extension Office if you would like to participate this year.
Youth in Action Awards
4-H Fund Raising Guidelines
· Money raised in the name of 4-H must be used for 4-H purposes.
· 4-H fund raising should only be conducted to meet a 4-H club goal. There must be a definite plan to account for funds raised.
· Due to the IRS, 4-H Councils and 4-H Clubs can now have in their treasury up to 1 1/2 times their annual budget. If you have a large treasury, it’s time to thoroughly consider ways to effectively utilize your dollars that were earned in the name of 4-H. Fund raising will also need to be curtailed if your checking account is too large.
· Generally, money raised during the year should be spent that same year, so there is no need for a 4-H club to have a savings account.
· All moneys received from 4-H fund raising programs, except those necessary to pay
reasonable expenses, must be expended to further the 4-H mission.
· Please check with the Extension Staff before putting the 4-H name or 4-H Clover on any flyer or item you intend to sell for profit.
Clover Kid Bucket Calf Rules
Bucket calves must be no more than six (6) months of age and weigh no more than 350 pounds. A halter must be used. Exhibition includes a short interview with the judge to discuss the youth’s knowledge of caring for and raising the calf.
Clover Kids who have participated in the Clover Kid Bucket Calf Show are still eligible to participate in the Bucket Calf project as a “regular” 4-H member. A 7-year-old Clover Kid who shows a Bucket Calf can keep the calf for the next year when the youth is a 4-H member and 8-years-old. The calf can be brought back as a Bucket Calf+ project. Please call the Extension Office with any questions.
Clover Kids must purchase and tag the calf, plus complete the Animal ID sheet by June 15th. These are available at the Extension office. Clover Kids do not need to do the YQCA training.
Regular Bucket Calf Rules
Entries must be an orphan or newborn calf; male or female; dairy, beef or cross; and fed on bucket or bottle. These calves must be born after January 1 and before May 1, 2021. By June 15th, the calf must be ear tagged with a 4-H EID tag and Animal ID sheet completed. 4-H members must complete YQCA training by June 15th.
4-H members can show in the bucket calf class as many years as they like but they can show only one entry per year.
Bucket Calf +1 Rules
A bucket calf may be kept and shown the following year as a Bucket Calf +1. All Market Bucket Calf calves must be tagged with a 4-H EID tag. 4-H members must turn in an Animal ID sheet and complete YQCA training by June 15th. A headshot photograph showing the entire calf head and the EID tag visible in the ear is required for 2021.
Premium Checks
The Otoe County Ag Society requests that you please cash your Otoe County Fair premium checks by February 1, 2021. After this date, the checks will be void.
Summer 4-H Camp Registration is OPEN!
We have exciting news! Registration for Summer Camp 2021 is now OPEN! Check out the exciting 4 and 5 day overnight camp offerings at the NEBRASKA STATE 4-H CAMP in Halsey! Charter bus transportation option offered select weeks from Lincoln (UNL East Campus) and Grand Island (Raising Nebraska)! Register by Jan. 31st to receive 10% off per session! Use code: EARLYBIRD21
See full camp descriptions and register online: https://4h.unl.edu/camps-centers/summer-camp/schedule
A full brochure will be coming out soon as well!
Please reach out to Katie with any questions! Kzabel2@unl.edu
2021 Tractor Safety Training Date Set
Companion Rabbit Science
4-H Photography Showcase
New in Otoe County - Unified Showing 4-H Club!
Unified Showing 4-H Club Information
Unified Showing 4-H Club is in its second year of operation and this will be our first year in Otoe County! We started in Lancaster County and are super excited to be continuing this journey and growing our reach. Unified Showing 4-H Club empowers youth with special needs by pairing them with buddies who ensure the safety of the youth showman and lamb. For those of you who are interested in Unified Showing, there will be a selection process for both showmen and buddies and 12 people will be chosen in each county (6 showmen and 6 buddies).
The selected showmen would need to join 4-H and then our very own
4-H club. This club will house both the showmen, the buddies, and adult leaders. We will also try to have 4-H meetings and hangouts once a month to ensure everyone feels comfortable and can make connections with other members. Parents and siblings will also be invited in order to form bonds with people who can better understand their experiences.
During the summer, practices will be held at our farm in southwest Lincoln once a week. Youth will practice with their designated lamb that my family owns. These practices will be approximately an hour and will include the showmen having the opportunity to lead their animals around and bathe, feed, and learn about them. Buddies will be at the practices and will accompany the showmen into the show ring to ensure both the animal and child’s safety. Family members will also be given the option of staying on site with their child or returning at the end of the practices.
At the end of the summer, the showmen will be able to see their hard work pay off as they will have their own class at the Otoe County Fair. This will be when they lead their sheep around the ring with the help of their buddies. The judge will ask the youth questions about their lamb and themselves. At the end, they will be given a prize for participating and working so hard in Unified Showing.
The application process will begin January 1, 2021 and end at midnight February 14, 2021. The team will then be posted on the Unified Showing Facebook page on February 22, 2021.
If you have any questions about Unified Showing or to request an application form please contact me via Unified Showing Facebook group page or at my email address amnwalbrecht@ gmail.com.
Thank you future participants,
Allison Walbrecht
Unified Showing 4-H Club Project Leader
Winter Fun Pack
Virtual Learning Experiences
LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime Kits
NEW LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime Kits are now available for check out!
4-H Cake Decorating Kits
Otoe County Beef Weigh-in Cancelled
· The 2021 Otoe County 4-H Market Beef Weigh-In/Tagging on Saturday, January 30th has been CANCELLED due to COVID-19.
· There will be no Beef Rate of Gain Contest in 2021.
· ID sheets, DNA envelopes and EID tags may be picked up at the Extension Office. There will be a $3.00 charge for each EID tag, one per head of beef.
· ID sheets are due to the Extension Office on June 15th. A picture of the market beef showing the tag, ear, and head is also required by June 15 to the Extension Office.
· Market Beef that want to show at STATE FAIR or AKSARBEN must have DNA samples. DNA envelopes can be picked up from the Extension Office but exhibitors are responsible for pulling their own DNA and nominating their own animal by June 15th online at: www.showstockmgr.com.
4-H Foundation Banquet Cancelled
The health and safety of our 4-H family throughout Otoe County and beyond is the utmost of importance to us. As a result, the Otoe County 4-H Foundation Board of Directors canceled the 2021 Otoe County 4-H Foundation Banquet normally scheduled in February due to the risks associated with COVID-19.
The foundation was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with the mission of enhancing 4-H programming, securing financial support for local 4-H programs, and developing area youth for future generations. We are proud of our 4-H youth and our community for helping us work towards our goals.
Help us to thank the businesses and individuals below for supporting the Otoe County 4-H Foundation for 2021.
4-H Horse Stampede
All contest entries, including Speech, Junior Horse Bowl, Senior Horse Bowl, Demonstration, and Art & Photography must be submitted to the Extension office by March 5th, 2021.
More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/horse/stampede.
Companion Animal Challenge
Otoe County 4-H Council Is Part of AmazonSmile!
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Otoe County 4-H when you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available on your web browser at http://smile.amazon.com and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. Set up Nebraska 4-H Foundation Syracuse, NE as your current charity.
When you shop at http://smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Otoe County 4-H Council, which provides support for Otoe County 4-H. Thank you for helping support 4-H!
Companion Cat Science
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 Otoe County Fair
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
Cheryl Goff, Office Manager, cheryl.goff@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