Thurston County 4-H News
June 2020
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
June 8 - Joint 4-H Council Meeting (7 pm) via Zoom
June 7-12 - CANCELLED - Big Red Camps
June 8 - CANCELLED - Ponca Counselor Training
June 9 - CANCELLED - Ponca Day Camp
June 15 - CURRENTLY Horse ID & State Entries due
June 22-23 - POSTPONED/CANCELLED - PASE/Life Challenge
June 24 - VIRTUAL - State Speech Contest
July 1 - ALL Livestock Affidavits DUE
July 1 - State Fair Beef, Sheep, Swine, & Goat DNA and Online Nomination DUE
July 2 - CANCELLED - F2F YQCA Training @ Pender Fire Hall (9:30-11:30am)
July 7 - YQCA Deadline
COVID-19 UPDATES
Face-to-Face Extension & 4-H Programming - UPDATE!!!
AFTER June 15th, Nebraska Extension programming may go forward with face-to-face experiences following local Health Department recommendations.
Big News - THIS INCLUDES 4-H CLUB MEETINGS! After June 15, you have the option to meet face to face following the guidelines. If you would like a zoom option before the 15th or would like the option for those not able to meet face-to-face please contact Stacey.
What about fair?
At this time we are still unsure of how the Dakota/Thurston 4-H County Fair will look for 2020. There are several continuing conversations that need to be had, with the Fair Board, the area health departments, 4-H Councils; as well as, taking into consideration the guidelines given to us from the Governor, the University system, and the State 4-H Office.
One thing we do know! We are going to do something to give your 4-H youth the opportunity to showcase their amazing work they've done throughout the year. Currently we are moving forward with the hope that we will be face to face at fair but this may change as more information and facts are collected and fair gets closer. We MAY give options, depending on the current situation, that may be virtually, drop off mode, distance mode, or a combination of all of the above.
The next Dakota-Thurston County Fair Board meeting is June 17th at 7:30 pm at the Fair Grounds, hopefully at this time we’ll have a definite direction of what the 4-H portion of the fair will look like.Online Livestock Judging Video Series
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.
Summer Opprotunities
What about Thurston County Summer Workshops?
Currently the University has limited us to NO face to face programming until after June 15. We are also unsure when all staff will be back in the office full-time, but the conversation on how to do this safely for everyone involved.
We are planning virtual options for workshop activities. Be on the lookout for Thurston County on Thursday’s.Join the Statewide Virtual 4-H Learning Opportunities this Summer!
Virtual 4-H Camp Programs 2020
Haskell Ag Lab Family Field Day - Change in Format
Due to circumstances surrounding COVID–19, we have made the decision to make the HAL Family Field Day virtual in 2020. More details on presentations and demonstrations will be coming soon. Based on what we know today, large gatherings of people will not be allowed without some type of restrictions and the health and safety of our employees and community come first.
County Fair/Events
Fair Board Meeting
For anyone that is unable to attend the meeting in person, you may connect electronically or telephonically via zoom.us with the following information:
Topic: Dakota Thurston County Fair Board
Time: Jun 17, 2020 07:30 PM
Meeting ID: 873 6356 6658
Password: 955563
Call in # 1-408-638-0968
There will be no video available of the Fair board meeting.
The Zoom meeting will begin after the Fairgrounds walk-around has been completed and everyone has returned into the Expo Center. Individuals may log into the meeting at any time.
Open meeting laws apply.
What about livestock deadlines?
- YQCA deadline – POSTPONED to July 1st
- State Fair DNA & Online nomination – POSTPONED to July 1st
- Livestock ID sheets/Affidavits deadline – POSTPONED to July 1st
- State Horse entries – CURRENTLY June 15 (the state is still making decisions on this) https://4h.unl.edu/horse/state-expo/horse-show
- Tagging – Please contact the office with your needs & bags will be put together for pick up!
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals - YQCA
Any tradition 4-H member (8-18) in your family that is enrolled in a beef, goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep and/or swine project must be certified to show at county and state fair by July 1st! If you have questions please contact us! Instructions on how to use the online system can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/yqca-instructions.
Requirements:
Online – 3 modules @ $12 total (to receive full certification you must complete 3)
OR CANCELLED - Face-to-Face training @ Pender
OR Test Out for Intermediate @ $36 or Senior @ $48
Remember...certification must be completed by July 1st!!
Here are some quick Log In Instructions:
1. Go to yqca.org from your computer browser and select Sign In/Register Tab
2. Sign in and register using the 4-H Online box
3. Select the name of your organization from the pick list Nebraska 4-H Youth Development
4. Use your 4-H Online user name and password to start the process
5. Select the member name taking the course
6. Select the age of the member in the appropriate box
7. When the age is selected the appropriate courses will be selected
8. Select online choice (Instructor led class will be developed by your local instructor)
9. Select payment method credit card or if you have received a coupon code from your Extension Office you will enter it at this time to purchase the courses
10. After completing the three courses be sure to save and print out a completion certificate and take it to your Extension Office
11. If you encounter problems you can contact help@yqca.org
Thurston County 4-H Council has voted to provide scholarships for these fees of the online or face-to-face sessions. Contact the office for more information.
DNA & Online Nominations
To show at State Fair you need to go online (https://showstockmgr.com/stockmgr/) and nominate the following species by July 1st.
- Breeding Beef
- Market Sheep
- Breeding Sheep
- Market Swine
- Market Beef
- Market Goats
- Breeding Goats
If you are showing livestock that is ONLY going to Aksarben contact them (https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/p/events/2019-dna-information/dna-information) for DNA envelopes. DNA to ONLY Aksarben is due July 1st.
Livestock ID's/Affidavits DUE
New Fair Parking Info for 2020 from the Dakota-Thurston County Fair Board
Livestock and horse trailer parking will be moved to the south west corner of the Expo Center ashalt parking lot. No trailers will be allowed to remain within the fenced in fairgrounds area after livestock has been unloaded during Fair week.
Wanted Request from the Fairboard
The Fairboard is looking for an individual, family or 4H club interested in assisting with trash collection during the Fair. Trash will need to be collected from indivudal cans and transported to the roll off dumpsters located on the Fairgrounds twice per day (morning and evening) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The indivusual/family/club will be paid $200 at the end of Fair week. If interested contact Lisa @ 402-610-0689.
Fair Entry Information??? Online Option Available
While we may not know exactly all of the modifications we will need to make for Fair this year, paper entries forms will be available. But something NEW, we also have online entries! You can enter all of your exhibits at https://thurston.fairwire.com.
Trophy Donors
Trophies add great incentive for our 4-H'ers to excel. Please remember at fair time and throughout the year that ribbons are awarded for the merit of the project and items such as trophies should be based on competition.
Dakota-Thurston County 4-H Fair Book Online
Exhibitor Livestock Policy *UPDATED*
"Exhibitors are responsible for adhering to all livestock rules. Violation of the stated rules will result in the animal being disqualified from competition. (Ex. Feeder Calf is disqualified, this means from Cow/Calf class, Feeder Calf class, and Showmanship class.) Any premium (physical or monetary, including bonus auction for that animal) will be forfeited. No refunds will be made."
4-H Horse Show Time Moved
New Photography Exhibit Data Tags
Any questions check the county fair book or check the state fairbook: https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/exhibits/5
Double check to be sure you are use the correct data tag. There are different data tags for each photography level. Current Data Tags last updated for 2020 are available at https://unl.box.com/v/4h-photography
Name: Include both first and last name.
Age: Include your 4-H age, or the age you were on January 1st of the current year.
County: Include the county where you are exhibiting – this will be required if the exhibit is select for State Fair.
Year in Photography: List the total number of years you have been enrolled in any 4-H photography project.
Years in the Current Level: The total number of years you have been enrolled in the current 4-H photography level.
Camera:
· Indicate the brand make and model of the camera, such as Google Pixel 2, Nikon Coolpix B500, or Canon EOS Rebel T7.
· Indicate whether the camera is digital or film.
Tell us about this photo (special equipment, techniques, subject, location, goals, etc.). Use this space to tell the judges what you want them to know about the photo. For abstract photos, it might be a good idea to tell the judge what the subject is or how you took the photo. For especially unique images, tell the judge how you captured the image. For images where you used advanced equipment or tried a new technique, tell the judge about it here.
Describe any edits or changes made to the picture using digital software. Use this space to explain any digital manipulation done to the photo, including digital post-production filters, cropping, or any adjustments to exposure, contrast, etc. Explain what edits or changes were made, as well as what software was used. This include mobile/smartphone apps.
(The following questions are for Level 2 and 3 exhibitors only.)
Focal Length*: This is a number indicating the length of the lens which determines how much of a scene you are able to see through your viewfinder. This is typically measured in millimeters (mm).
Example: 29mm, 35mm, 50mm.
See Level 2 Activity 1 for more information.
Type/Source of light: Be as specific as possible. Identify whether the lighting was natural or artificial. If artificial, identify the light sources, such as camera’s flash, neon lights, car headlights, flashlight, etc. For natural light, identify the type, dawn, dusk, midday, reflected, diffused, direct, light shining through a window, etc.
Example: natural, midday direct sunlight
See Level 2 Activities 3 and 5 for more information.
(The following questions are for Level 3 exhibitors only.)
Shutter Speed*: This is the length of time a camera shutter is open to expose light into the camera sensor. Shutter speed is typically measured in fractions of a second when they are under a second. Slow shutter speeds allow more light into the camera sensor and are used in low-light situations, while faster shutter speeds help freeze motion. This might also be referred to as exposure time.
Example: 1/30, 1/125, or 1/500
See Level 3 Activity 1 for more information.
F Stop*: This is a number which indicates the size of the aperture, which allows light to travel into the camera. The aperture controls the depth of field. A larger aperture opening will result in a smaller depth of field. The aperture size is expressed in f numbers or f-stops.
Examples: f/1.4, f/4, f/22
See Level 3 Activity 1 for more information.
ISO*: This is a number that indicates a film’s sensitivity to light or more commonly its speed. It is typically measured in numbers, a lower number representing a darker image, while higher numbers mean a brighter image.
Examples: 100, 200, 400
See Level 3 Activity 1 for more information.
List advanced equipment and/or techniques used and/or what manual adjustment were made. Level 3 exhibitors should be exploring and experimenting with advanced techniques. This may include but does not necessarily require using a DSLR camera, manual adjustments, or other advanced equipment. Use this space to identify and, if needed, explain what advanced equipment or techniques were used to capture this image. If manual adjustments were made, identify which settings were adjusted (ISO, F Stop, Shutter Speed).
*Note: Regardless of whether or not you made manual adjustments or used special equipment, you must still identify this information. “Auto” is not an acceptable answer. Digital cameras automatically record this information for each photo captured. The information, referred to as Metadata, is attached to the image file and goes with it when the image is downloaded to a computer for example. There are many ways to access this data. See instructions below for more information.
Remember: Use of Copywritten Images
Copyrighted writing, artwork, videos, and images may be used in 4-H educational exhibits under Fair Use for educational purposes of Copyright Law. In order to qualify for Fair Use, 4-H’ers must:
1) only use a small amount of the copy-written work,
2) add new meaning to the work to make it original,
3) rework it and use it in a totally different way, and
4) use it for nonprofit purposes (not to make money).
Giving credit to the original creator is also recommended.
Projects
2020 Online Horticulture Judging Contest
Horticulture judging contest consists of three parts. The first is identification of plant material. Participants identify the plants by common name from a plant list. Specimens may be alive or preserved plant parts like stems, twigs, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, bulbs, tubers, or plant products.
The second is a knowledge portion, usually in the form of a true/false or multiple choice quiz. Questions will test the contestant's knowledge of cultural practices for horticultural crops, plant science, pesticides, horticultural careers and other topics related to the production, processing and consumption of horticultural crops.
The last portion is judging or placings. This is where four different plants, plates of vegetables, or containers flowers are ranked from best to worst based on a set of criteria. Classes are judged on the basis of condition, quality, uniformity, true-to-type, and size.
More information about the Nebraska State contest along with a list of study materials can be found in the Fairbook http://4h.unl.edu/fairbook/plant-science/horticulture-id. Here you can find the written study materials for the knowledge portion, follow links to plant pictures for help with identification, and read how judging of plant material is done.
More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/online-horticulture-judging-contest
Online Insect Identification Contest
The Nebraska 4-H Online Insect Identification Contest provides an opportunity for participants to put their entomological knowledge to the test. The contest consists of insect identification and multiple-choice questions. Participants will gain knowledge about insects and entomology through this competition. This contest can serve as practice for county contests and the State Fair 4-H Insect Identification Contests.
The contest is open to all youth, as well as adults. Youth do not need to be enrolled 4-H members to participate. The contest will be available from Friday, June 5 through Friday, June 19, 2020.
4-H Plant and Insect Identification Contests
If you like plants and/or insects, here’s your opportunity to build skills and have fun too!
Attend to participate in one, two, three or all four contests!
Your interest - your choice! Bring a friend too!
(4-H’ers may earn a trip to a state and/or national contest!)
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Agricultural Park Exhibit Hall Club Room, Fairgrounds - 822 15th Street, Columbus NE
(Entrance to Ag Park is at intersection of 10th Av. and 15th St.)
12:15 – Welcome and Instructions
12:30 PM - Horticulture Judging, I.D. & Quiz
1:45 PM - Tree Identification
2:35 PM – BREAK with Refreshments
2:45 PM - Grass and Weed Identification
3:45 PM - Entomology (Insect) Identification
PLEASE BRING A CLIP BOARD TO USE DURING THE CONTEST
Identify plant/insect samples for each contest. For horticulture, there is also a quiz and 4 judging classes (vegetables, fruits, flowers, nursery stock). Study materials available at https://4h.unl.edu/fairbook/contests. For information, contact your local Extension office or Kelly Feehan at kfeehan2@unl.edu or 402-563-4901.
Clip & return registration by Tuesday, June 23rd to: UNL Extension, 2715 13th Street, Columbus, NE 68601
Young Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge
Informational Webinar
Here is an informational webinar that we prepared that includes helpful information.
Registration and Website
https://beyondschoolbells.org/bsb-student-challenges/pitch-challenge/pitch-challenge.html
Member Info
Identifying Volunteer Opportunities for Youth: 4-H Civic Engagement Ideas
4-H empowers young people to be true leaders. True Leaders are people who have confidence, will stick to a job until it gets done, and can endure through challenges. Communities across Nebraska need true leaders now more than ever.
4-H volunteers and youth across Nebraska may be looking for ideas about how they can become civically engaged, all while abiding by the guidelines shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A web page with numerous ideas can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-civic-engagement. Now is a great time to collectively use our heads for clearer thinking, our hearts for greater loyalty, our hands for larger service, and our health for better living.
More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-civic-engagement
Animal Science
Video Companion Animal Showmanship Contest
Evaluate My Ride
Want to grow your riding skills? Join our Evaluate My Ride forum!
Nebraska 4-H Evaluate My Ride will provide members with tips, suggestions, and ride evaluations from Equine Industry clinicians. New patterns or topics will be shared and cover a variety of disciplines related to equine riding. Participants may review materials at their own pace, try out any of the listed topics, and work on the feedback they are given. Evaluate My Ride is open to ALL AGES. Members will have the opportunity to submit videos of ranging difficulty and experience. New members can join at any time and catch up on the past weekly materials at their own pace.
To Sign up: https://4h.unl.edu/evaluate-my-ride
Get started with our Introduction Topic and our first set of patterns!
4-H State Dog Show
Saturday, October 3, 2020 - UNL Animal Science Complex
Due dates and information:
- This year the State Dog Show Entry forms, Fees & Vaccination forms will be due to your County Extension office by the end of the day August 10th, 2020.
All the documents needed can be found on the Dog Show Webpage
https://4h.unl.edu/dog-show