Southern Plains 4-H
March Newsletter
NEWsletter Navigation
- 4-H Spotlight - where news worthy items are listed!
- Upcoming Workshops
- Animal Information
- Static Exhibits & Contests
- Special Opportunities
- Link to Printable Calendar of Events
- 4-H Council & Extension Board Meetings
- Contact Us!
4-H Spotlight!
2017 Fair Dates & Theme
Thayer Co. Fair: July 19-23, 2017
The 2017 Fair Theme is: 4-H... The Good Life. We ask 4-Hers to incorporate this theme into their fair exhibits for special recognition. We are incorporating Nebraska’s 150 year celebration, with 4-H. Be creative and original.
4-H Member Enrollment
4-H members MUST re- enroll online by April 1—paper enrollment is no longer an option. The website to enroll is https://ne.4honline.com or use the "Enroll in 4-H" button above.
Need help with your password? Contact the Extension Office and we can reset it for you!
NOTE: only parents/guardians may enroll 4-H members. Each 4-H household will need to set up a profile in which the 4-H youth for the household will be added. Current 4-H members who are not enrolled online by April 1 will no longer be officially enrolled members.
Projects may be updated through May 1 by contacting the office.
Enrollment fees are:
Thayer County: Individual $6 Family $10
Nuckolls County: Individual$10 Family $17
Late Enrollments/Entries will be accepted for up to 5 business days after the deadline with an additional $5 per individual late fee.
Congrats 4-H'ers!
Congratulations to Madison Mumm, Kelby Mumm, and Walker Dick for their Career Portfolios being selected to advance from the the County to State level competition.
Raise Your Hand
- Raise Your Hand - complete the form to show your pride as a 4-H alumni
- Compete for your state - raising your hand is a vote towards a $20,000, $10,000 or $5,000 award for the states with the most alumni hands raised.
- Pay it Forward - Tweet, post and share your #4HGrown experience or support and tag fellow alumni asking them to raise their hands for their state at 4-H.org/raise-your-hand
Upcoming Afterschool Workshops
Watercolor Painting
Cost - $12 Pre-register by March 13
Learn 8 watercolor painting techniques and begin painting your own watercolor masterpiece. Participants will take home: watercolor set, brushes, watercolor pad, and a 9" X 12" cold press watercolor paper to use for their final project.
Pollinator House
Cost - $5 Pre-register by March 30
Mason bees are natural pollinators, but unlike the honey bee, mason bees do not live in colonies. Female mason bees do all the work and need natural cracks and crevices to lay their eggs. At this workshop, you'll make a house for the female mason bee. Placing this house near your garden will help provide pollinators for your garden.
Solar Light Post
Pre-register by April 12
Make your own solar light post that would be a great addition to any patio or garden!
Livestock Projects & Exhibits
Sheep & Goat Weigh-Ins are:
May 16, 5-7 p.m. at the Thayer Co. Fairgrounds in Deshler
May 17, 5-7 p.m. at the Nuckolls Co. Fairgrounds in Nelson
AKSARBEN is moving to the State Fairgrounds in Grand Island in 2017! Dates for 2017 are: September 28 - October 1.
New Bucket Calf Record Book to use for the fair!
Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest - April 8 (UNL East Campus)
Nebraska Sheep & Goat Producers Association Spring Tour - April 1 (Ravenna, NE)
Horse Project & Events
Entry & Order Forms can be found here!
Horse Advancement Levels We all know it doesn't seem like it is 4-H Horse time, but for those riders going to Districts or just wanting to update their 4-H Horse Advancement Level work for 2017, now might be a good time to start! Remember that in order to compete at the County Fair, all 4-H horse members MUST have passed Level I. District and State shows require level II or higher and those tests must be completed by May 5.
Horse Shows & Clinics:
NE 4-H Roping Clinic - April 1& 2 (Lilienthal Indoor Arena - Grand Island, NE)
Hastings Saddle Club Youth Clinic - April 8 (Hastings, NE)
Horse Judging School - April 22 (UNL East Campus)
Patterns for Purpose - April 29-30, 2017 (Columbus, NE)
Northeast Nebraska 4-H Horse Show - June 1, 2017 (Ridge Ranch Arena - Homer, NE)
Small Animal Projects & Events
Paws On Dog Workshop - March 18 (Lincoln, NE)
Spring Rabbit Show - March 25 (Lancaster Event Center, Lincoln, NE)
Static Exhibits & Contests
4-H Public Speaking Contest
Monday, March 27 - 7:00 p.m. at the Thayer Co. Fairgrounds
Must pre-register for the contest by Thursday, March 20 by calling the Extension Office or emailing kaye.mussman@unl.edu. For more information about the Public Speaking Contest visit: http://4h.unl.edu/public-speaking
Speech Division:
- Clover Kid - non-competitive (any length)
- Novice - ages 10+, 4-H'er has never competed in a speech contest before. May recite a poem, read or tell a story (under 3 minutes) - not eligible for District Competition
- Junior - ages 8-10, must be an original speech relating to 4-H (under 3 minutes)
- Intermediate - ages 11-13, must be an original speech relating to 4-H (3-5 minutes)
- Senior - ages 14+, must be an original speech relating to 4-H (5-8 minutes)
PSA Division:
- Junior - ages 11 and under
- Intermediate - ages 12-13
- Senior - 14+
The state theme for the 2017 Public Service Announcement is "4-H Grown"
Tag Line is "Learn more about Nebraska Extension 4-H Youth Development Program at 4h.unl.edu." The tag line is included in the 60 second time limit.
Projects & Events
2017 Special Garden Project is Sunburst Summer Squash - Call the Thayer Co. Extensio Office today to reserve yours!
Photography Unit 1 & 2 Theme is Capture rural living in your Nebraska County through the Camera's Lens.
Special Opportunities
4-H Kick-off & Enrollment Party
Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. Computers will be set-up to allow you to register on 4-H Online. The movie, "A Dog's Purpose" will be playing at 4:00. Concessions will be available. 4-H Council will pay admission for each 4-H'er who registers. Bring a friend and encourage them to join 4-H! Families and parents are encouraged to attend, but will need to pay their own admission.
Scholarships
Fun Events & Community Service Opportunities
Nebraska Wheat Board Bake & Take Month
March is Bake & Take Month, a time when wheat organizations encourage others to bake a wheat good and share it with family, friends, neighbors and shut-ins. In honor of the month, the Nebraska Wheat Board is sponsoring recipe cards and stickers for 4-H organizations that wish to participate. Contact the Nebraska Wheat Board Office at (402) 471-2358 or wheat.board@nebraska.gov to participate.
4-H Camps
- Kids ages 8-10, don't miss your first over-night camping experience at Camp Renegade this summer. Lots of outdoor fun and education, canoeing, swimming, insects, nature! Mark your calendars! Flyer coming soon!
- 4-H Camp Renegade Counselor Applications Due May 1st
Nuckolls Co. Fair Campsites
Southern Plains 4-H & Extension
Meeting Minutes
Next Meeting: March 20, Nuckolls Co. Ext. Office
Meeting Minutes
Next Meeting: 4/13/17, Thayer Co. Courthouse
Meeting Minutes
Southern Plains 2016 Impact Report
Next Meeting: March 27, Thayer Co. Courthouse
Special Guests - Dave Varner & John Westra
Nuckolls County Extension Office
Email: nuckolls-county@unl.edu
Website: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/southernplains/
Location: 825 S Main St, Nelson, NE, United States
Phone: 402-225-2381
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernPlainsExt/
Thayer County Extension Office
Email: thayer-county@unl.edu
Website: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/southernplains/
Location: 225 N 4th St, Hebron, NE, United States
Phone: 402-768-7212
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernPlainsExt/