Thurston Co. 4-H News
June 2023
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Jennifer E. Hansen, Extension Educator, jhansen6@unl.edu
Sydney Williams, Extension Assistant, sydney.williams@unl.edu
Allison Claussen, Summer Assistant, aclaussen3@unl.edu
Bobbie Hingst, Office Manager, bhingst2@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*
MAY
20 Thurston Extension Board Meeting
27 Office Closed – Memorial Day
29 Let's Get Cooking #1 Workshop, St. John's the Baptist's Church, Pender, NE
30 Let's Get Cooking #2 Workshop, St. John's the Baptist's Church, Pender, NE
31 Deadline to register for Adventure Day Camp
JUNE
4 Pillow Case Workshop, United Church of Pender, Pender, NE
7 Adventure Day Camp, Neligh Park West Point, NE
10 Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting (TBD)
11 Floral Design Workshop, Pender Fire Hall, Pender, NE
11 Floral Door Hangers Workshop, Pender Fire Hall, Pender, NE
12 YQCA In-person Training, Pender Fire Hall, Pender, NE (1:30 - 3:30 PM)
13 Bee Hotel Workshop - Virtual, Live via Zoom, (ask on this)
13 Clover Kid Olympics, St. John's the Baptist's Church, Pender, NE
15 4-H Enrollment ABSOLUTE DEADLINE
15 Drop/Add 4-H Projects DUE for county fair & state fair participation.
15 All Livestock Affidavits (including Horse County Only) DUE
15 State Fair Beef, Sheep, Swine, & Goat DNA & Nominations DUE
17 HWY 15 Salvage Workshop, Pender Fire Hall, Pender, NE
17-18 Premier Communication Event @ UNL
19 Office Closed - Juneteenth
20-21 PASE/Life Challenge @ UNL East Campus
20 Let's Paint Runaways Workshop, Pender Fire Hall, Pender, NE
25 Design & Restoration Workshop, Pender Fire Hall, Pender, NE
27 Outdoor Adventures Workshop, Pender Public Schools, Pender, NE
JULY
4 Office Closed – 4th of July.
8 Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting (TBD)
13-17 State 4-H Horse Expo @ Fonner Park, Grand Island
17 ALL Dakota-Thurston County Pre-Fair Entries (including YQCA) DUE
27 Pre-Fair Clean Up
31 - Aug 4 Dakota- Thurston County Fair
AUGUST
10 State Fair Animal and In Person Entries DUE
12 Thurston 4-H Council Meeting (TBD)
19 Thurston Extension Board Meeting
21 State Fair Exhibits; Grand Island, NE
23-Sept 2 NEBRASKA STATE FAIR
23-25 4-H Weekend @ State Fair
SEPTEMBER
NEBRASKA STATE FAIR – Aug 23 – Sept 2
FFA Weekend @ State Fair Sept 30 - Aug 2
2 Office Closed – Labor Day
9 Joint 4-H Council Meeting (TBD)
11 Farm Safety Day, Pender, NE
26-29 Aksarben Stock Show
OCTOBER
6-13 National 4-H Week
14 Office Closed – Columbus Day
14 Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting
*MEMBER INFORMATION*
Please Welcome Allison in the office for the summer!
2024 THURSTON COUNTY LOCAL 4-H WORKSHOPS
It's not too late to sign up for our Summer workshops! Lots of exciting things happening! Here is the link to view the flyer: website here
Register here at: website here or send in the registration form on the flyer!
Any questions contact Thurston County 4-H Office at 402-385-6041 or thurston.unl.edu.
4-H Online Enrollment deadline June 15!
PAY YOUR DUES!!
Livestock Identification and Nomination Deadline is JUNE 15!!!!
Important reminder that ALL livestock ID affidavits, State Fair livestock DNA and nominations, and YQCA are due on JUNE 15!!!! If you are needing affidavit sheets, livestock tags, EID tags, or DNA envelopes, please contact the Extension Office at: 402-385-6041.
YQCA
Nebraska 4-H requires all members enrolled in a livestock project to complete annual quality assurance certification through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals program.
The program has recently moved to a new online system available at YQCAProgram.org. Learn more about YQCA requirements and find help documents at 4h.unl.edu/yqca. YQCA is due for our county on June 15th! You can request coupon codes from our office to help offset your family costs!
There will be an in- person YQCA training on Wednesday, June 14th from 1:00-- 3:00 pm at the Pender Fire Hall! Register online at https://www.yqcaprogram.org/
DAKOTA-THURSTON CO. FAIRBOOK IS UP!
Our 2024 Fair Book is ready and is in our office and is also posted online!
Visit https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/dakota-thurston-county-fair-0/ to either view a PDF copy or to find the links to the areas you're interested in!
This year's theme is "The Tradition Lives On"!
Click on this link to view: website and check on the one above
Volunteers Wanted!!
4-H State Summer Camps
At 4-H summer camp, young people make new friends, explore the world around them, and learn that “I can” is much more powerful than “I can’t.” Whether playing, exploring nature, conquering new heights, or becoming part of our camp family, they are creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Check out our special Adventure Together Summer Camps at https://4h.unl.edu/camps-summer
Diamond Clover Program
Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/diamond-clover.
Special Garden Project
The 2023 Special Garden Project is focused on the Mrs. Burns' Lemon Basil. This herb can be used multiple ways. Lemon basil has a unique lemon flavor can be added to any recipe or to cut flower arrangements to add scent and interest.
Contact us here at the office: 402-385-6041.
For more information click here: https://4h.unl.edu/special-garden-project
Agronomy Youth Field Day!
*ANIMAL SCIENCE & AGRICULTURE*
UPCOMING ANIMAL SHOWS & EVENTS
- June 2, 2023 - Dawes Co. Roundup Livestock Judging (Dawes Co. Fairgrounds, Chadron, NE)
- June 3, 2023 - Phelps-Gosper Co. Small Animal Progress Show (Holdrege, NE)
- June 7-9, 2023 - Winners Unlimited UNL Livestock Judging Camp - Registration by May 23 (UNL - Animal Science Building, Lincoln, NE)
- June 8, 2023 - Dodge County Family Livestock Judging Contest (Dodge County Fairgrounds, Scribner, NE)
- June 8-10, 2023 – Dawes County Horse Camp (Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford, NE)
- June 10, 2023 - Bit N Spur 4-H Horse Show (McCook Fairgrounds)
- June 10, 2023 - 4-H Invitational Horse Show (Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney, NE)
- June 11, 2023 - Hustler Progress Show (Cuming County Fairgrounds, West Point, NE)
- June 14, 2023 - YQCA In-person Training (Pender Fire Hall; 1:00-- 3:00 pm)
- June 15, 2023 - Wisner Junior Livestock Judging Contest (Wisner, NE)
- June 17, 2023 - Dawes Co. 4-H Progress Show (Dawes County Fairgrounds, Chadron, NE)
- June 18, 2023 - Red Willow County Progress Show (Red Willow County Fairgrounds - Alice Building)
- June 22-25, 2023 - Wisner Junior Livestock Show (Wisner, NE) - Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Rabbit, and Dog Shows
- June 24, 2023 - Madison County 4-H Roping Event (Madison County Fairgrounds, Madison, NE)
- June 24, 2023 - 36th Annual Papio Valley 4-H Livestock Show (Sarpy County Fairgrounds, Springfield, NE)
- June 24, 2023 - Wranglers Open 4-H Horse Show (Ag Park, Columbus, NE)
- June 25, 2023 - Big Green's 2nd Annual Speed Show (Thayer County Fairgrounds, Deshler, NE)
Fort Robinson 4-H Horse Camp June 8-10
For more information, visit go.unl.edu/4h-horse-camp.
Livestock Judging Circuit
4-H Dog Achievement Program
The program consists of levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. For each level, the Dog Achievement program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H youth choose their goals. Successful completion of a level's Plan & Report form results in a 4-H youth earning that level of the Dog Achievement program. More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/dog-achievement-program
For any questions, contact Grace McCarthy at Gmccarthy3@unl.edu
Livestock Achievement Program
Nebraska Extension is pleased to announce this additional opportunity for enrolled livestock project youth. It is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership. Applications/Sign up are due June 15th through the application form link on the website.
For more information or to apply, go to: Nebraska 4-H / Livestock Achievement Program
4-H State Fair Livestock Nomination Requirements - Deadline Day is June 15th!
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 and/or breeding beef, feeder calves, market and/or breeding swine, market and/or breeding sheep or market and/or breeding goats at State Fair must have a signed and sealed official DNA envelope with hair samples for DNA verification. Every animal nomination (this includes all breeding animals and feeder calves) will require a DNA submission. DNA must be turned into their county office and have completed the online nomination with payment in Show Stock Manager by June 15. 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 will be required to complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) for the enrolled livestock projects by August 10.
4. Exhibitors will confirm that the ear tattoo and/or identification tag matches the animal nomination submitted by June 15 for confirmation of legibility and/or accuracy.
5. Exhibitors will notify the County Extension Staff of any retags that may occur up to time of check-in at the State Fair.
6. Exhibitors will select which animal nominations they have chosen to show at State Fair on the State Fair entry website by August 10. All nominated and validated animals will be automatically listed as a choice option for entry registration.
7. 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 registration papers must show the exhibitor’s name, a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor’s family and is listed with the online nomination in Show Stock Manager.
Additional Information: Each exhibitor may nominate a total, between 4-H and FFA, as follows: Market Beef (20), Market Lambs (20), Market Swine (40), and Market Goats (20).
IMPORTANT NEBRASKA STATE FAIR LIVESTOCK UPDATES PLEASE READ!!!!!!
DNA Requirement Change
All livestock in contention to exhibit at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair and/or the Aksarben Stock Show will be required to submit a DNA nomination. All 4-H/FFA BREEDING livestock, Market livestock and FEEDER CALVES will now be required to submit a DNA sample/envelope to be eligible to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair. DNA nominations for the Nebraska State Fair are due on June 15, 2023.
Any DNA nomination submitted through Show Stock Manager will also be eligible for exhibition at the Ak-Sar-Ben Stock Show. DNA nominations will remain at $7.00 per animal. With this update, animals will automatically be eligible for both breeding and market. Families who often paid to be eligible for both had been paying $9.00 ($7.00-Market and $2.00-Breeding) would no longer need to do that. All would pay $7.00.
Age Eligibilty Change
The age of eligibility at Nebraska State Fair is now 9 years of age before January 1 (of the current year) for all in-person events (livestock, contests, fashion shows).
Age Divisions are:
Intermediate (9-13)
Senior (14-18)
Entry Limits for Nebraska State Fair:
Poultry and Rabbit -- 5
Sheep and Goat -- 4
Swine -- 5
Beef -- 5
4-H will be awarding an Overall Registered Steer division during the Market Beef Show:
Champion and reserve champion from each breed (including AOB) will be in the drive for Overall Registered Steer.
4-H will be awarding an Overall Purebred Swine during the Market Swine Show:
Champion and reserve champion from each breed (including AOB) will be in the drive for Overall Purebred Swine.
Registration Papers for Breeding Livestock (NEW)
Registration papers must show the exhibitor's name or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor's family and is listed with the online nomination in Stock Show Manager.
*Online Learning Opportunities*
Online Horticulture Contest
Mark your calendars! The Online Horticulture Judging Contest will open at 8:00 a.m. CT on Friday, June 2 and will close at 8:00 a.m. CT on Friday, June 16. Learn more and find study materials at https://4h.unl.edu/online-horticulture-judging-contest
Practice Horse Judging Contests
See below about two on-line Practice Horse Judging contests that would be great for your 4-H or FFA Horse Judging teams. Each course is only $20 with unlimited access for 90 days (from your date of enrollment). Each contest has 6 classes with 2 halter and 4 performance.
There are questions, officials, and critiques at the end of each class.
Follow the links below or QR code to enroll.
Livestock Information Series
The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Information Series is a resource for 4-H members, leaders, and parents to gain knowledge in various livestock-related topic areas. Each session, a new topic is covered with experts joining to share their experience and expertise. Extended learning opportunities and supporting documents are also available for each topic. Learn more at https://4h.unl.edu/livestock-info-series