CENTRAL SANDHILLS AREA 4-H NEWS
March 2022 Newsletter
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 148 - Thedford, NE 69166
Email: mandersen16@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/centralsandhills/
Location: 503 Main Street, Thedford, NE, USA
Phone: (308)645-2267
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralsandhillsarea/
MARCH EDITION
Membership For 2021-2022 Is Now Open!
In November 4honline transitioned from 1.0 to 2.0. You can click on the link to enroll in the new system https://v2.4honline.com/. If you have any questions, please reach out to Shaniya at s.albertus@unl.edu or by calling the office at 308-645-2267.
Please note, this year the Nebraska State 4-H Office will impose a statewide enrollment deadline date that will assist counties in having a consistent timeline for processing membership enrollments. Once that date is announced from the State 4-H Office, it will be released from the Extension Office.
What does this mean? ENROLL EARLY and don't miss the statewide deadline to be a Nebraska 4-H member! :-)
All leaders and volunteers also need to be enrolled on 4honline. There is no fee to enroll.
Attention: Adult members and volunteers
All 4-H volunteers and staff are required to complete the Nebraska 4-H volunteer screening process. Volunteer screening is done in order to assure a safe, positive, and nurturing environment for all youth involved with the Nebraska 4-H programs and provide protection for the child, the volunteer, the educator, the 4-H Council, the Extension Board, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.
Initial screening of volunteers and staff will occur when they sign up to volunteer or are employed as an Extension professional. Re-screening for volunteers will be done every five years by district regardless of when the original screening was completed. Volunteers are responsible for covering the screening fee at the time the screening is completed. Currently, the cost of the screening is $5.00. Please see click on the link below for more details.
Thank you to the Miller family and the Ferguson family for the pictures of the kids in the 4-H apparel.
Grant County Sandbots Make State
The Sandhills Sandbots 4-H Club took three teams to the First Lego League Qualifier in Scottsbluff on Saturday, January 29, 2022. The day was jampacked with timed competitions, presentations, and a whole lot of fun! All three teams walked away with plenty of awards and qualifying for the state competition on February 26, 2022, at Raising Nebraska in Grand Island. The awards are as follows:
The Mentor Award- Coach Sara Brenneman. This award goes to the Coach or Mentor whose leadership and guidance is clearly evident and best exemplifies the FIRST® LEGO® League Core Values.
The Rising Star Award- Blue Sandbots. During the course of competition, the Judges may encounter teams whose unique efforts, performance, or dynamics merit recognition. Some teams have a story that sets them apart in a noteworthy way. Sometimes a team is so close to winning an award that the Judges choose to give special recognition to the team.
Global Innovation Award- Blue Sandbots. During each qualifier event in our region in Nebraska, the project judges are looking for a team whose project they feel is extraordinarily innovative and would best represent Nebraska at a Global level in innovation! Nebraska will be able to nominate one team to advance on to the next steps after the Nebraska Championship. This team will be asked to come present their project presentation at the Nebraska Championship where they will be judged alone for Global Innovation.
The Campions Award- Sandhills Sandbots. The Champion’s Award recognizes a team that embodies the FIRST LEGO League experience, by fully embracing our Core Values while achieving excellence and innovation in both the Robot Game and the Project.
Seven out of sixteen teams competing were selected to move on to the Nebraska Championship. The Sandbots teams are made up of 4th-8th graders that attend Hyannis Schools. For more information on the 4-H Robotics program, please contact Shaniya Albertus at the Central Sandhills Area Extension Office by calling 308-645-2267.
March 4-H Project of the Month- Public Speaking
Communication is important in every aspect of our lives. We use communication to form connections, motivate change, and influence decisions every day. We want youth to be confident in their ability to communicate with the world and develop these important life skills. The 4-H public speaking contest is a great way to do this.
The Public Speaking Contest consists of two different events. Youth can enter their local county event and then, if chosen, have the opportunity to move on to the state contest. The local contest typically takes place in April, and the state contest will be held in Lincoln June 24th, 2022. Categories for the state contest include Public Service Announcements (PSAs), Public Speaking, and Presentations. The top 5 youth in Public Speaking and PSA (must receive a purple ribbon) are eligible for the state contest. Presentations must receive a purple and will have additional guidelines for state fair. Local contests may have extra classes that are not eligible for state.
Rules and guidelines vary per contest, but common themes are as follows; all speeches and presentations must be related to 4-H, include an introduction, body, and conclusion and all references used, and be original. Local contest ages divisions are clover kid 5-7, junior 8-10, intermediate 11-13, and senior 14-18. State contest age divisions are intermediate 10-13 and senior 14-18.
Local contest dates have not been set yet but will be soon.
For more information on the state public speaking contest please visit 4h.unl.edu/public-speaking.
If your 4-Her is interested in the public speaking contest and you want more information, please contact the 4-H Assistant Shaniya at s.albertus@unl.edu.
HORSE EVENTS 4-H CONTESTS FOR 2022
- 4-H Horse Stampede Contest- March 26th- Animal Science Complex UNL
- Entries due to County offices March 4th
- https://4h.unl.edu/horse-stampede
- Intro. to Basic Horse Knowledge & Management- VIRTUAL- 6-7pm Mondays March 2022 (7th, 14th, 21, & 28th)
- More information to come
- Nebraska Judges Workshop – April 30th- Animal Science Complex UNL
- More information to come
- Horse Judging Contest- May 1st - Animal Science Complex UNL
- More information to come
- 4-H District Horse Shows – June 6-10th
- Entries Due May 6th
- CHANGES!
- New age group/classes
- Elementary Ranch Pleasure (10-11 years old)
- Individual work will not be used as a trial basis for the 2022 year (Please see webpage for district procedure details): https://4h.unl.edu/horse-district-shows-rules
- Fonner Park 4-H State Horse Show- July 9-13th – Grand Island, NE
- Entries Due May 6th
- Slightly modified show schedule posted!
- Another livestock show will be occurring during the same dates as the 2022 Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo, 4-H families are highly encouraged to book hotel rooms and reserve camper/RV hookups as early as possible. Camper/RV hookups will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis, and reservations can be made by contacting Kathy at 308-382-4515.
- 2021 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide can be found for purchase at:
2022 Global Challenges Summer Camp: Environmental Innovation and Leadership
The 2022 Global Challenges Summer Camp, a collaboration between the Nebraska Honors Program and the College of Arts and Sciences, is an opportunity for high school students to engage with environmental issues by creating community with faculty members, college mentors, and elementary-aged youth in Lincoln. The camp will take place July 18 - 30, 2022, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus with field trips to Reller Prairie Field Station, and is for rising high school juniors and seniors. The application deadline is Friday, April 15, 2022. Learn more at https://honors.unl.edu/experiences/global-challenges-summer-camp.
More details at: https://honors.unl.edu/experiences/global-challenges-summer-camp
Tractor Safety Classes
New!! Hands-On Safety Day: Tractor and Equipment Safety for Young and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
Young and beginning farmers, ages 13 and older are invited for a day of hands-on equipment demonstrations and tractor driving (14 years of age and over to drive).
May 24, 2022 – West Central Research and Education Center in North Platte
May 26, 2022 – Raising Nebraska in Grand Island
Annual Tractor and Equipment Safety Certification Training Course for students 14 years of age and older
Successful completion of a one-day in-person training (driving exam) paired with an online learning module will result in certification for 14 and 15 year old youth to be employed on farms and ranches.
May 25, 2022– North Platte
June 6, 2022 – O’Neill
June 7, 2022 – Gering
June 8, 2022 – Broken Bow
June 9, 2022 – Hastings
June 10, 2022 – Weeping Water
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. Click the link for more information. https://4h.unl.edu/livestock-info-series.
Second Year of the Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program
This additional opportunity for enrolled livestock project youth, 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.
The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.
The program consists of two 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. Each accomplishment is worth a specific number of points. 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. The Plan and Reports, linked on the webpage, show examples of the project related accomplishments they can choose, or they can identify their own with approval of their local educator.
Applications/Sign up are due June 15th through the application form link on the website. Plan and Reports, as well as Project Records will be due August 10 via the completion form on the website. Youth completing the achievement program and receiving member of excellence recognition in the various species will be recognized during the Parade of Champions, 4-H weekend at the Nebraska State Fair.
For more information or to apply, go to: Livestock Achievement Program | Nebraska 4-H (unl.edu)
Ashley Benes ashley.benes@unl.edu
Brett Kreifels brett.kreifels@unl.edu
Cole Meador cmeador2@unl.edu
STAY INFORMED ABOUT 4-H AND EXTENSION NEWS!
Please be sure to like us on FB!
Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills
Don't forget to visit our Extension website at:
Nebraska Extension in the Sandhills
PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR NEWS so it can be included in our newsletters! Forward any 4-H news, events, or activities to Marcy at mandersen16@unl.edu