Jefferson County 4-H
April 2024
4-H Highlights!
2024 Fair Dates Released
The 2024 Jefferson County Fair Dates are: July 10th-14th, 2024.
Theme: “Just Another Day in Fairadise”
4-H Online Enrollment is Open Now
It’s time to get enrolled in 4-H for the 2024 4-H year! To enroll, visit: https://v2.4honline.com/. 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/returning-member
Clover Kid Enrollment Information
4-H enrollment is required for Clover Kids (ages 5-7) online at https://v2.4honline.com/. Youth should select at least one Clover Kid project to complete enrollment. Selection of multiple projects online is not required to exhibit multiple projects at the county fair. Check with our local 4-H club leaders for information about what is offered for Clover Kids during their club time.
Jefferson County Nebraska 4-H Youth Development YouTube Channel
Upcoming Workshops, Contests & Events
Animal Information
Youth Quality Assurance Training
We will be holding two final YQCA trainings on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 11:00 am and Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Extension Office in Fairbury. Youth must pre-register at yqcaprogram.org in order to attend so we can ensure adequate spacing for all participants. When you get registered, make sure to take the pretest before attending the training. Contact the office with any questions and we can send you the instructions for how to get all of these steps done.
New Beef Contests Available at 2024 Jefferson County Fair!
Beef Average Daily Gain Contest - Beef exhibitors of market steers or heifers can choose to participate (voluntary and not required to show in the county fair beef show) in this contest and must meet the following requirements:
- 1st weigh in will be Sunday, March 10th from 1 - 2:30 pm at Fairbury Livestock. (No exceptions will be made and this is the only weigh in for participants)
- 2nd weigh in will be during check-in at the Jefferson County Fair on Thursday, July 11th.
- Contest will work accordingly as Highest ADG between both weigh ins will be the winner with corresponding results down the line.
- In the event of a tie, the most combined weight gained will win.
Combined Market Beef Challenge - this contest will consist of the culmination of 3 different requirements for participants of both market steers and heifers:
- Must participate in the ADG contest
- Must participate in the carcass contest
- Must participate in the market beef show
- ADG point scores will be figured highest to lowest and the number of total participants will figure total points. (Example: 15 participants the winner of ADG awarded 15 points, last place 1 point)
- Carcass contest points will be calculated in the same manner as ADG. Highest points to the winner and down the line.
- Market beef show points awarded off placing in class only, no points given off market division or final drives
- Purple - 5 points
- Blue - 3 points
- Red & White - 1 point
- Example of CMBC with 15 participants (Market Steer A ranks 4th in ADG - 12 points, ranks 7th in carcass contest - 9 points and receives purple in live class - 5 points
- Ending score for market steer A is 26
- In the event of a tie, market animal with higher weight gain (lbs) total will win
Top Dog Practices Starting Soon!
Top Dog is getting ready to set some practice times for the 2024 season. Please email Penny at penny.holtmeier@unl.edu if you are interested in being included in the group text/messenger or just wanting additional information. I would like to meet with new comers one time during the month of March to teach them basics. Please spread the word.
The program consists of three levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals.
Juniors, ages 8-9, must submit pictures, posters, presentations, and other learning activities to receive the distinction of Junior Member of Excellence.
Intermediates, ages 10-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence.
Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence.
At the beginning of the 4-H year, youth must apply to participate in the program. Upon acceptance into the program, participants plan what to accomplish. At the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Additionally, participants must complete their annual 4-H Online enrollment process, YQCA requirements, and project record books in order to receive a Member of Excellence distinction.
More information at: https://4h.unl.edu/livestock-achievement
Special Opportunties
2024 Nebraska Agricultural 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 8–12, 2024. 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, 2024, to apply. This year’s theme is “Leading Your Legacy.”
Virtual Field Trips
There are also numerous field trips that have been archived to view at your convenience. Check them out. See the link below to view of all the tours available.
Workshop Ideas
Calendar of Events
April
1 - Diamond Clover Forms Due
8 - 4-H Communications Contest, Grace Lutheran Church, Fairbury
May
1 - Camp Counselor Applications Due
21 - Camp Renegade Camper Registrations Due
22 - YQCA Training, Extension Office, Fairbury
29 - YQCA Training, Extension Office, Fairbury
29 - Camp Counselor Training, 4-H Building, Fairbury
30 - Babysitting Workshop, Jefferson Community Health &Life, Fairbury
June
6 - Pressure Canning Workshop, Grace Lutheran Church, Fairbury
11 & 12 - Camp Renegade, Camp Jefferson
14 - Jefferson County Fair Entries Due
20 - Collage Workshop, Extension Office
Nebraska Extension - Jefferson County
Email: darci.pesek@unl.edu
Website: jefferson.unl.edu
Location: 517 F Street, Fairbury, NE, United States
Phone: 402-729-3487
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeffersoncountyext
Nebraska 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 Sates Department of Agriculture.
Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
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