Hall County 4-H Newsletter
March 2022
In This Issue
- Kids College Opportunities
- Enroll in Hall County 4-H
- Fine Arts Night
- Summer Camp/Camp Scholarships
- What is 4-H Age?
- Pick Your Project
- 4-H Club Resources
- Photography Opportunities
- Innovative Youth Corn Challenge
- Companion Animal Programs
- Scholarships
- Shooting Sports
- Horse News
- Livestock Updates
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Statewide 4-H Events & Opportunities
- Calendar
It's Time to Enroll in 4-H!
Returning 4-H members are asked to re-enroll by March 15th. This ensures that we have all of your current contact information and that you do not miss any important information or deadlines.
The website has a new look & has been upgraded with several new features. Please read “Tips for Completing Your 4-H Enrollment” before starting this process. Call Crystal at 308-385-5088 if you have any questions.
4-H Fine Arts Night
Share your enthusiasm about 4-H through the 4-H Public Speaking Contest! Youth have the opportunity to write a Speech or a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that incorporates the topic of 4-H and deliver it to an audience. The 4-H Public Speaking Contest helps youth develop skills for communicating about current issues to real audiences, learn how to organize and prepare a speech, develop speech delivery skills, learn how to present themselves to others, and develop self-confidence.
Do you have a musical talent or a flair for theatrics? Share your talent at the 4-H Fine Arts Night! Talent show entries may include, but are not limited to: magic, comedy, instrumental or vocal performance, mime, skit, etc. Top performers may be selected to perform at the 4-H Fashion show on June 29.
For more information, go to https://hall.unl.edu/4-h-contests-events/ or call (308) 385-5088. Registration forms are due to the Extension office by April 12.
4-H Camp Scholarships
The Hall County 4-H Council will award two $100 Camp scholarships (4-H age 12 and under). To apply, visit https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/4-h-summer-camps/ for the Camp Scholarship application or contact the Hall County Extension Office. Applications are due to the Extension Office by April 8th. 4-H members (13 or older) may request funds to attend camp or other contests.
What is 4-H Age?
Often you hear about 4-H age for events and activities and sometimes it’s confusing. Here is how to determine 4-H age. 4-H is open to all youth between the ages of 5 and 18 (4-H age).
- 4-H Age: The age of the youth before January 1 of the current year.
- 4-H eligibility is determined based on 4-H age (the age of the member on December 31 of the previous year). If your birthday is on January 1, your 4-H age is the age you were on December 31. If you turn eight on January 1, your 4-H age is seven. If you turn nine on January 1, your 4-H age is eight.
- Clover Kid eligibility: The first year of eligibility is 4-H age five and the last year of eligibility is 4-H age seven.
- Regular 4-H eligibility: The first year of eligibility is 4-H age 8 and the last year of eligibility is 4-H age 18.
Pick Your Project
Pick Your Project (https://4hcurriculum.unl.edu) is an online project selection guide for finding both county-only and state fair eligible 4-H fair projects and their resources. Users can search by keywords or browse by curriculum area, knowledge level, and geographic level.
Explore over 150 Nebraska 4-H projects through the Nebraska 4-H Pick Your Project and find the 4-H projects that will help you grow throughout 2022!
4-H Club Resources:
Have you been thinking of starting your own 4-H club?
It's easier than you might think! Contact Megan or D'Ette; we would be happy to answer any questions! We have the tools to help you get started! Call 308-385-5088 or email mknuth3@unl.edu. You can also check out this website: https://4h.unl.edu/clubs/start.
Looking for a club meeting space?
The Hall County Sheriff’s Posse (HCSP) would like to invite 4-H clubs and Independent 4-H members to use their facility for FREE, all year round. They are a non-profit, family-oriented organization which was established in 1985. Their 10-acre facility offers an indoor and outdoor riding arena, clubhouse with a full kitchen and meeting room. They are located just south of Fonner View Golf Course, sharing the same driveway.
The Hall County Sheriff's Posse offers the facility FREE OF CHARGE all year round, to all 4-H clubs that are in Hall county and surrounding counties for 4-H club fundraisers and activities (Hall, Sherman, Howard, Merrick, Hamilton, Clay, Adams, Kearney, and Buffalo). This is a GREAT opportunity to have a place for practice rides and fund-raising events for all 4-H club categories. Please check out their NEW Facebook page.
For more information, please contact Jamie Sich at 308-379-3368 or email vbarj@yahoo.com or jamie@grosshansinc.com for more information.
Project Spotlight:
Photography Level 1 Theme for 2022
Attention 4-H Photography enthusiasts! This year’s Hall County Level 1 Photography Theme will feature Sunrises/Sunsets. Be sure to enroll in the project Photography (A) - Photography Basics. This is for Level 1 photography exhibitors only. Class information will be listed in the 2022 Fair Book, coming in April. Get out and start snapping!
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" Photo Contest
Minnesota 4-H Photography is excited to offer a multi-state photo contest to youth in grades K-13. In the "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" 4-H photo contest, youth are encouraged to select their best photo and tell the committee why it’s special to them. Submit one (1) image (with no or minimal editing) with up to three sentences on why it’s important to you by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2022. Find more information here: "Hit me with your best shot" 4-H photo contest | UMN Extension with rules here.
Innovative Youth Corn Challenge
- To achieve new and innovative crop production methods to improve yields and provide research data for producers to implement in their operations which are economically feasible.
- To disseminate data to corn producers, researchers, and agri-businesses to examine and decide whether the practices used will help their operation achieve higher yields.
- To introduce youth to a variety of agronomic professionals, including corn producers. Youth will be working with an adult to mentor them through the process. These adults could be extension faculty, ag teachers, or other qualified agronomy professionals.
- To teach youth all aspects of corn production, as well as a variety of agricultural careers related to corn production.
Nebraska 4-H Companion Animal Programs
Companion animals are diverse groups of animals that include dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, companion birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and many more! The Nebraska 4-H companion animal programs offer opportunities for youth to develop life skills and obtain knowledge of companion animals.
- Companion Animal Webinar Series
- Dog Achievement Program
- Companion Rabbit Science
- Companion Cat Science
- And much more!
Go to 4h.unl.edu/companion-animal to check it out!
Scholarships:
Husker Harvest Days Scholarship
Nine scholarships valued at $1,200 each for students pursuing a post-secondary education in various areas of the field of agriculture will be awarded by the Agricultural Institute of Nebraska, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, and Farm Progress Companies.
The scholarships are awarded to high school graduating seniors who are pursuing a program/career in agriculture/agribusiness. All scholarships are academic in nature. Financial need may be a consideration in the selection process but will not be the determining factor. Application deadline: March 17. For more information, go to: https://hall.unl.edu/4-h-youth-member-resources/.
Shooting Sports:
Hunter's Education
If you plan to participate in the shotgun or rifle project this year, make sure you take a hunter’s safety course first (4-H age 11 and up). To register, visit http://outdoornebraska.gov/huntereducation/.
2022 Hall County 4-H Shooting Sports Schedule
Horse News:
Livestock Updates:
YQCA Training Update
Attention livestock families! Nebraska 4-H is converting to a NEW Youth Quality Assurance online system on March 23rd. It is STRONGLY recommended that if you have completed your certificate for this year and have NOT turned it into the office that you do so before March 22nd as there will be no access to the old platform after that date.
After attending a face-to-face training or completing the online quizzes, your YQCA certificate will be available for you to access at https://yqca.learngrow.io/account/login. Select the course that will now say completed or certified and instructor led. Then select print certificate. Please email the certificate to Crystal (cbeissenherz2@unl.edu) or print and bring it to the office BEFORE MARCH 22. Call the Extension Office if you have questions at 308-385-5088.
*YQCA Training is REQUIRED for all youth (4-H age 8-18) planning to show beef, swine, sheep, goats, dairy, poultry & rabbits at County and/or State Fair.
Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI)
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 11–15, 2022. 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, 2022, to apply. This year’s theme is “Cultivating Connections.”
NDA selects students to attend NAYI based on their leadership skills, interests and involvement in agriculture. Students attend NAYI free of charge due to generous donations from numerous agricultural businesses, commodity groups and industry organizations.
2022 Calendar - Upcoming Events
March 29 - 4-H Council Meeting, 6:30 pm at the Extension office.
April 26 - 4-H Fine Arts Night, 6:30 pm at the College Park Auditorium.
May 16 - Horse advisory meeting, 6 pm at the Extension office.
May 23 - Sheep & Goat weigh-in, 5:30-7:30 pm at Fonner Park.
June 2 - Bicycle Road-E-O, 3:30 pm at the Extension office (north parking lot).
June 29 - Clothing Judging Day & 4-H Fashion Show
July 20-24 - Hall County Fair
D'Ette Scholtz
4-H Youth Development
Megan Knuth
4-H Youth Development
LaDonna Obermiller
4-H Youth Development
Crystal Beissenherz
Joyce Krolikowski
Nebraska Extension - Hall County
Email: hall-county@unl.edu
Website: hall.unl.edu
Location: 3180 W Hwy 34, College Park, Grand Island, Nebraska, USA
Phone: 308-385-5088
Facebook: facebook.com/HallCounty4HNebraska
Twitter: @4HHoopla