Thurston County 4-H News
January 2021
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Stacey Keys, Extension Assistant, stacey.keys@unl.edu
Samantha Beutler, Office Staff, samantha.beutler@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
Jan 1 - Office Closed - Happy New Year!
Jan 11 - Thurston 4-H Council Meeting
Jan 15 - State 4-H Achievement Applications DUE Digitally
Jan 18 - Office Closed - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan 30 - *CANCELLED FOR 2021* DT Beef Weigh-In
Jan 31 - 2021 Thurston 4-H Kick Off @ Pender Lanes (1-4pm)
Feb 1 - Butter Braid Sales begin
Feb 8 - Joint 4-H Council Meeting
Feb 15 - Office Closed - President's Day
Mar 1 - Thurston 4-H & Volunteer Early Enrollment Incentive
Mar 8 - Thurston 4-H Council Meeting
Mar 15 - Butter Braid Order DUE
Mar 15 - All Contest Day Registration DUE
Mar 20 - All Contest Day
Mar 25 - Butter Braid Pick Up @ Extension Office
Save the dates!
ID sheets, tagging, and DNA are the responsibility of the families. Please contact the office. 402-385-6041.
Deadline is JUNE 15TH!!
COVID-19 UPDATES
COVID Update to Extension/4-H Programming Changes
As of January 6, 2021, Thurston County is in ORANGE!
If the risk dial is ORANGE, it is recommended that programs, meetings, and events are held virtually and facial coverings are required for in-person meetings.
COVID-19 Resources
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln takes the health and safety of our campus community very seriously. As the United States and global health officials continue to address the spread of novel coronavirus and COVID-19 infection, health and emergency preparedness officials at UNL are monitoring the situation in collaboration with our university and governmental partners. Any official updates regarding UNL’s response will be found on this site.
Member Info
4-H Online Enrollment & Re-Enrollment
Visit ne.4honline.com to enroll for the 2020-2021 4-H year!
There is a $5 enrollment fee.
Cloverleaf Livestock: Pay Club
Rosalie Feeders, TC Roughriders, & Independent: Pay the Office Directly
NOTHING'S CHANGED!!! But since it's a new year we need you to re-enroll at ne.4honline.com. There are step by step sheets at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/4-h-enrollment. For both new families and families that already have profiles. If you already have a profile make sure you DO NOT make a new profile.
If you are a VOLUNTEER for our program we also need to you to re-enroll in our online database. Again step by step information can be found at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/4-h-enrollment. NEW Thurston County volunteers will need to do a background check before Volunteer Enrollment will be complete!
If anyone of you has questions please call the office and we'll do our best to work through any issues.
Dakota-Thurston County 4-H Ambassadors
DEADLINE for Ambassador Application is January 12, 2021!! Find the application HERE!
4-H Ambassadors are 4-H teens (14-18) that applied and were selected to lead and take part in activities that help them become good citizens and leaders through civic engagement education. The mission of the program is to empower teen 4-H leaders with the knowledge and skills to be advocates for Nebraska 4-H & Youth Development in Dakota and Thurston Counties. This experience will strengthen their leadership abilities so they can serve as a positive role models for younger youth; building partnerships with teens, volunteers, and supporters of the 4-H program; and promote 4-H in Nebraska. For more information, please contact the Dakota County Extension Office (402) 987-2140.Continuing Education
Inspiring Your Future Scholarship Contest
Is there an individual or an animal that has inspired you to pursue an education and career in animal science?
Eligibility:
· Incoming freshman or transfer student for 2021-2022 academic year
· Must plan to enroll in the animal science program at UNL the Fall 2021 semester
· Must be an admitted animal science major
· Immediate families of UNL employees are not eligible to enter this competition
Contest Details:
1. Tell us who (animal or person) has inspired you to pursue an animal science degree through a digital story. Examples to create your submission include video, infographic, pictures, essay, or any other mediums that allows you to express yourself. All digital stories are accepted. Be creative!
2. Your submission may utilize any production techniques and artistic composition as long as it on topic, complies to the rules, and is appropriate. A submission may not contain offensive, libelous, sexually explicit, disparaging or altogether inappropriate content and may not defame or otherwise violate the rights, copyrights, trademarks, or rights of publicity, privacy, or reputation of any third party. A submission may not contain any material to promote sale of a product or service.
3. Maximum video length should be no more than 3 minutes and recommended length of essays is 2 pages.
4. Entrants must complete the online entry form and upload their digital story at the end of the form.
Ten winners will be selected and will receive:
$5,000 scholarship to be used for 2021-2022 academic year. This is a non-renewable scholarship. Students will receive $2,500 in the fall semester and $2,500 in the spring semester.
The competition will close at Noon on February 15, 2021.
More information can be found here: https://animalscience.unl.edu/scholarship-competitionThurston County 4-H Council Senior Scholarship
Applicant Criteria:
- Applicant must be a current High School Senior.
- Applicant must currently be an enrolled member of the Thurston County 4-H Program. And have been enrolled in 4-H for at least the past two years.
- Applicant must have completed and turned in their 4-H Career Portfolio/Achievement Application for at least the past two years.
- Application must be completed and returned to get proper signatures to the Club Leader by April 1st of the current calendar year. Club Leaders will then turn all collected applications to Nebraska Extension in Thurston County. After submission, applications will not be returned.
Scholarship Information:
- One $150 will be awarded to all applicants who meet the criteria.
- Scholarship will be awarded after receiving written notification of scholarship recipient’s second semester enrollment. For those students enlisting with the military, notification of basic training completion will be the equivalent.
- Scholarship monies will be sent directly to the scholarship winner.
Jarvis Memorial Scholarship
The intent of the scholarship is to assist women who live 3 or more hours drive from Lincoln but wish to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Applicant must reside in Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall on East Campus.
If you have questions email Gloria Turnbull at turnbull@inebraska.com.
Application deadline: postmarked no later than March 15, 2021.
Application can be found here: https://unl.box.com/s/dg5z1xjqqrhddyv3cqfo9hke7iw8jv6l
(One $500 Scholarship — Fall 2021/Spring 2022—non renewable)
Who is Eligible?
1. Female born high school graduate (or soon to be) OR a UN-L student who has not resided at Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall (LMH) OR an undergraduate transfer student from another college or university pursing any major for an undergraduate or graduate degree.
2. Applicant must be or been a member of 4-H or FCCLA or FFA (minimum of two years) or have taken a minimum of three semesters in Family & Consumer Sciences classes and live in or attend school in the following Nebraska counties: Antelope, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Cedar, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dakota, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dixon, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Knox, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Red Willow, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, Thomas, Thurston, Wayne, Wheeler. (Map on page 3)
3. Must have applied (minimum) or been accepted (preferred) to University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
4. Must have requested residency in Love Memorial Hall, a cooperative residence hall on East Campus. Residents rotate responsibilities for cleaning a portion of the Hall and planning/preparing meals (about 1 hour per week; more time during a week when responsible for food preparation). The cost of living in Love Memorial Hall is less than half of what is charged for all other traditional dorms. Over a four year period this amounts to a savings around $24,000. More information about Love Memorial Hall is found at: https://housing.unl.edu/love-memorial-hall Students may change housing preference by submitting a written request to the Housing Office.
For more information:
Web - https://housing.unl.edu;
Phone - (402) 472-3561; Switchboard—800-742-8800; Email: housing@unl.edu
4-H Projects
2021 Special Garden Project
The Nebraska Extension Special Gardening Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables and flowers. The project allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in this project area.
This project is open to all youth of 4-H age and it will give them the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting a tasty vegetable; obtain the tools necessary to be successful gardeners, and learn about the wide range of plant-science related careers. Last year over 1700 4-H members were enrolled in the project.
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.
Enroll for the 2021 Special Garden Project through 4-H Online OR contact the office BEFORE January 29th!
NEW: Special Agronomy Project
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.
To kick-off the inaugural year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore teosinte. The plant looks and is very similar to corn, in fact it is believed to be the wild ancestor of today's corn!
For youth to participate:
Enroll for the 2021 Special Agronomy Project by enrolling in any of the Field Crop Project levels through 4-H Online.
Contact your local Nebraska Extension Office and let them know how many seed packets you need. If you do not contact your local Extension Office, seeds might not be available for you. The county office will order seeds as a county unit then distribute them to the members.
Seeds will be sent to the County Extension Offices. Pick seeds up from your local county Extension office when the county tells you the seeds are available (should be around March or April).
4-H members enrolled in the Special Agronomy Project will:
- Receive a ‘packet’ of teosinte seeds (one packet per youth) in March/April
- Grow their seeds in their garden or pots
- Receive written resource materials AND virtual, live or recorded videos/field trips
- Be eligible to enter an exhibit at both the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy project area:
- G750011 - Special Agronomy Project - Educational Exhibit (SF259)
- G750012 Special Agronomy Project -Video Presentation
- G750013 Special Agronomy Project (Freshly Harvested Crop)
Enroll for the 2021 Special Agronomy Project through 4-H Online by enrolling in ANY level of the field crop project area and contact your local Nebraska Extension Office to order packets of seeds BY FEBRUARY 12TH. The local Extension Office will order and distribute the seeds.
Contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu or 402.759.3712 or Aaron Nygren at anygren2@unl.edu or 402.352.3821
OR Aaron Nygren at anygren2@unl.edu or 402.352.3821.
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.
Not sure if the Corn Challenge is for you? Get more info from those who've done it!
Call for 4-H Photography
Whether it’s your favorite photo you’ve taken this fall or one you took to the county fair, we want to see it! Submit your favorite photo for a chance to be showcased. The 4-H photography showcase offers members a project exhibition opportunity beyond traditional print media. 4-H’ers are invited to submit their favorite photo they’ve taken for a chance to have it showcased online for thousands of 4-H fans to admire.
Link to more info: Nebraska 4-H Photography Showcase
Animal Science & Agriculture
National Western Catch-A-Calf Applications
The National Western Catch-A-Calf program has re-opened for 2021-2022.
Applications are due JANUARY 15th online. More information can be found here: https://nationalwestern.com/catch-a-calf-program/?fbclid=IwAR3LBfau6HJKcroQJmU7Q9RlYClb-qVSWTzpwXh7LhgHHzhA_7amYd_B2N0
4-H Horse Stampede
March 27, 2021 at the UNL Animal Science Building
Cost: $10
Contests: Demonstration, Photography, Horse Bowl, Speech, Art
- Entry Forms can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/horse/stampede
- Art exhibits must be labeled with the youth's information (full name, age division, and county) on the back of the exhibit
- Photography exhibits must have the proper matting along with their personal data tags attached to the back of the exhibit
- Demonstration & Public Speaking contests are currently being planned for in person on March 27th,2021 BUT may be altered to a virtual option that will be held live over Zoom, March 27th depending on health restrictions and guidelines on UNL Campus. Youth will be emailed their scheduled time and their corresponding Zoom link.
- Horse Bowl is currently being planned for in person on March 27, 2021 but may be postponed to a later date depending on UNL Campus health restrictions and guidelines.
Virtual Companion Animal Contest
Fee: $5
Contests: Demonstration, Photography, Dog Trivia, Cat Trivia, Essay, Art
We have made some changes to our 4-H Companion Animal Contest! It will now be VIRTUAL!
- All entry forms are due April 2nd,2021 by 5:00pm to the online entry form: https://forms.gle/WqFQ9SD8moiXyJXe9
- Entry fees should be mailed/postmarked by April 2nd WITH a copy of the online entry form.
- Art, Photography, Essay, Demonstration entries/exhibits should be uploaded to the online entry form (only submitting 1 document/photo per entry)
- Art entries must be saved/labeled as so:
Contest-FirstName-LastName-County-Age
Example: Art-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13
- Photography entries should be labeled as so (with their Data Tag attached):
Contest-FirstName-LastName-County-Age
Example: Photography-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13
DataTag-Photography-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13
- Demonstration entry files should be saved in the MP3 or MP4 format
- Team demonstrations: each team member should submit the same video
- Questions will be posted on the webpage that should be answered at the end of the demonstration
- Demonstration entries should be labeled as so:
Contest-FirstName-LastName-County-Age
Example: Demonstration-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13
- Essay entries entry files should be labeled as so (with statement of authenticity attached):
Contest-FirstName-LastName-County-Age
Example: Essay-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13
Statementofauthenticity- Essay-Jane-Doe-Lancaster-13
- Dog and Cat Trivia (brand new contest!)
- Participants will be given a week’s time frame to finish the quizzes for their respective age groups
- Participants will need to create a Quizizz account in order to participate
Ribbons and certificates will be mailed to exhibitors or sent to their county offices by April 30th
For information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/companion-animal/challenge
2021 Nebraska District 4-H Horse Shows
2021 Districts Dates and Sites:
June 14- Scottsbluff
June 15- Burwell
June 16- Columbus
June 17- Lincoln
June 18- McCook
Districts Webpage- https://4h.unl.edu/state-horse-expo-district
We are excited for our 2021 year! Thank you to the extension offices that will be hosting our District Locations!