Our office is closed January 16 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Many come together on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to practice community service, including many of our 4-Hers.

Community service projects are an important activity for 4-H members. These projects give youth valuable opportunities to develop positive relationships in their community as well as enhance personal growth and satisfaction. Learn more https://4h.unl.edu/community-service

With each new State Fair season, brings new possibilities and opportunities for 4-H families.

The decision has been made to change the age of eligibility in 2023 to be 9 years of age before January 1 (of the current year) for all in-person events* (livestock, contests, fashion shows).

*This does not include horse or shooting sports.

Nebraska 4-H is working with Wish of a Lifetime from AARP to connect older adults and youth to build relationships across generations. Youth participants will be paired with an older adult from St. Joseph Villa to conduct interviews about their life experiences, accomplishments, struggles, and passions. Ideal participants are interested in giving back to the people in their community and building leadership and communication skills.

Youth are committing to four in-person meetings with Extension staff and three interviews with the adult they get paired with, for a total of seven meetings. All resources will be provided during the in-person meetings and the program is FREE. Youth will meet with their paired adult on their own schedule. The four in-person meetings will be held in the evenings on February 15, March 9, March 29, and April 19 at the Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office. All ages are encouraged to participate.

If you're interested in participating, please fill out this short form: https://forms.gle/jcCwZeAjAuVn2dtb6. Fill out the survey by February 3.

Contact Katherine at ksundgren@unl.edu with questions.

This is a fun recipe to have kids adapt and create something new.

Try adding different types of dried fruit, nuts or flavors of baking chips.

Check it out at https://food.unl.edu/recipe/cowboy-cookies

See more 2023 4-H project ideas at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.642169387476476&type=3

Date: January 28, 2023*

Located at Cooper Farm (8602 Mormon Bridge Rd, Omaha)

Time: 9 am-11 am

Weighing of Market Beef participating in the Sarpy County Fair Market Beef Rate of Gain Contest

EID Tags and County-Only tags will be available. EID Tags are required for Market Beef and Feeder Calves being exhibited at the Nebraska State Fair or the AKSARBEN Stock Show

DNA Hair Samples will also be pulled for all Market Beef, Breeding Heifers and Feeder Calves being exhibited at the Nebraska State Fair and/or AKSARBEN

(Breeding Beef and Feeder Calves do not need to be brought to the Beef Weigh Day unless you’d like a weight or to pull DNA hair Samples)

Tags will be free this year!

*snow day February 4, same time and same place. Check our Douglas-Sarpy 4-H Facebook page for announcement that morning of January 28th if the date will need to be changed due to snow.

Interested in Horses but don't have a horse? Not a problem! There is a new club geared towards youth that want to learn about horse topics such as level testing and horse care and basics.

Please come and learn about horses and horse basics!

February 3, 2023

Time: 5 pm

Where: Nebraska Extension Douglas-Sarpy Central Office, 8015 W Center Rd. Omaha

RSVP with Alaina Kauffman, Alaina.kauffman@unl.edu.

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.

The focus of the 2023 Special Agronomy Project is Tepary Beans. Tepary beans can be used like dry edible beans, forage, or hay. To participate in the Special Agronomy Project, enroll in the project through 4-H Online or call Mary at 402-444-7804 to reserve seed by February 15.

There are three ways to complete this at the county or state fair. 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 6 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.

The 4-H Spring Rabbit Show will be held on Saturday, March 18, 9 a.m. at the Lancaster Event Center Fairgrounds – Exhibit Hall. Open to all youth ages 8–18, with a Clover Kids class for youth ages 5–7. This is a great opportunity for youth to talk to other 4-H’ers about where to purchase a good rabbit for a 4-H project, and to learn and practice showmanship. Rabbit Quiz and Breed Identification contests are free for youth to enter! New this year: the knowledge contests are open to adults for a minimal fee!

Show flyer will be posted at https://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/companionanimal. For questions, contact Kate Pulec at kpulec3@unl.edu or 402-441-7180.

See an showmanship example at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE8Q_oPyD1A

Time: 9 am

Where: Nebraska Extension Douglas-Sarpy Central Office, 8015 W Center Rd. Omaha

For 4-Hers 5 and up.

The companion animal contest will include cats, small mammals (hamsters, rats, ) reptiles, snakes, fish, birds and insects.

This year's contest will include a short (under 5 minute presentation). Watch future newsletters for a speech template. See a cat show guide here.

Connect with our experts for this contest at the Nebraska 4-H companion animal page. This page offer opportunities for youth to develop life skills and obtain knowledge of companion animals. The focus of the Nebraska 4-H companion animal programs is the total development of the young person. The companion animals contests, shows, and related activities are utilized as a vehicle for human growth and development.

To enroll in 4-H for 2023, click here.

For returning families, please do not create a new account; rather use your log-in credentials for 4honline used in previous years. Instructions can be found here: https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/returning-member. Enrollment instructions for new families can be found here: https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/new-member.

Please note the enrollment fee for Douglas-Sarpy counties is $10 per member and is paid online. Enrollments are due June 15, 2023.

Please contact Mary Dierks at mdierks@sarpy.com with any questions.

New 4-H Volunteers for Douglas-Sarpy 4-H will need to be screened and have a background check done. Volunteers may not work with youth until volunteer enrollment and screening is complete. To begin the screening process visit and enroll via 4-H Online.

Parents and children ages 5-7 are invited to be a part of the Douglas-Sarpy 4-H Clover Kid Program. January programming will be all about Houseplants and growing things!

Clover Kid Dates: Feb 7, March 7, April 4, and May 2.

Time: 6-7 pm

Where: Nebraska Extension Douglas-Sarpy Central Office, 8015 W Center Rd. Omaha

There is no cost to attend, but participants are asked to preregister with Rachel at rwright4@unl.edu.

When: February 9, 2023

Time 5:30-7:30 PM

Cost: $15

Where: Nebraska Extension Douglas-Sarpy Central Office, 8015 W Center Rd. Omaha

During the workshop, youth will learn jewelry making basics. Youth will be guided through the jewelry making process and get hands-on experience using tools of the trade. Youth will design, create, and take home their own necklace or bracelet!

Registration Deadline: January 27, 2023

Registration link: https://forms.gle/KHhzxQykByhJr7zc6

This workshop is for youth ages 10-18. 4-Hers ages 8-9 can participate if they have an adult stay with them for the workshop.

All Breeding Beef, Breeding Sheep, Breeding Swine and Breeding Goats MUST have hair pulled and DNA sample submitted along with being nominated in Show Stock Manager by June 15th, 2023.

All Feeder Calves must also have hair pulled and DNA sample submitted and the animal must be nominated in Show Stock Manager by June 15, 2023.

All Market Beef, Market Swine and Feeder Calves must still have an 840 EID

For more information, contact Brett Kreifels, Urban Program Coordinator at brett.kreifels@unl.edu

YQCA Training Dates:

Tuesday May 16th at 6:30 here at the office and

Tuesday June 6th at the Fairgrounds at 6:30 pm.

This year there will be a before and after the course for both in person and online YQCA Trainings.

The following videos have been developed to help walk families through the process:

Help Video: Web-Based Training

Help Video: Instructor-Led Training

1. The help desk is your best option for any issues related to the platform. Please be patient as they get back to you on your requests. These have been responded to quickly over the past couple of weeks but know that as trainings increase, so do help desk tickets. help@yqcaprogram.org

Registration for the 2023 4-H camp season is open! There are a limited number of spots available this year, so we recommend that families register as soon as possible. Session information and registration can be found at 4h.unl.edu/camp