Nebraska Extension - Gage County
April 2020 Newsletter
In This Issue:
- Office Remains Closed
- How to Contact Us
- Yard and Garden Live has already started!
- FREE VIRTUAL SEMINAR: Pruning Trees & Shrubs
- 4-H Boredom Buster Challenge
- 4-H Living Room Learning
- Using Fertilizers in Your Landscape
- Managing Lawn Weeds in Spring
- Product Dates: To Toss, or Not to Toss?
- Frozen Food Myths, Debunked
- 2020 4-H Enrollment Now Open!
- 2020 Anytime Learning Registration Now Open!
- Livestock, YQCA & Horse Program Updates
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Office Remains Closed Due to COVID-19
As the spread of COVID-19 remains a national concern, Nebraska Extension continues to take several steps to help protect our clientele and our broader communities. State-wide, Nebraska Extension has canceled all in-person events from March 16-May 9. This is in line with the CDC recommendation of ‘social distancing’ that the larger UNL community is also following.
As your local partners, Gage County Extension employees are committed to continuing to reach the University of Nebraska - Lincoln's engagement mission in this unprecedented time. Please continue to follow our Facebook page and website for information related to rescheduling or alternatives events.
At this time, our office is closed to the public for the safety of office staff and the broader community. Thank your for your continued support and understanding.
How to Contact Us
- E-mail Nicole Stoner at nstoner2@unl.edu
For food, nutrition and health questions:
- E-mail Tara Dunker at tara.dunker@unl.edu
- E-mail Jacie Milius at jacie.milius@unl.edu or Jane Esau at jane.esau@unl.edu
UPCOMING EVENTS
FREE VIRTUAL SEMINAR: Pruning Trees & Shrubs
It's easy to join remotely from your home! Simply contact Nicole at nstoner2@unl.edu by 4/16 to sign up and receive web streaming instructions.
Monday, Apr 20, 2020, 06:30 PM
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BOREDOM BUSTER CHALLENGE EVERY MONDAY & WEDNESDAY, 2:00 P.M.
Tune in every Monday and Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 PM CT/1:00 PM MT for Nebraska 4-H's Boredom Buster Challenge! Each week, youth will be given a problem to solve using materials found in their home. Through these hands-on virtually guided challenges youth will learn about entrepreneurship, healthy living, science, technology, and more! Each session will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing. Youth do not need to be 4-H members to participate.
LIVING ROOM LEARNING | EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY, 2:00 P.M.
Tune in every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at 2:00 PM CT/1:00 PM MT for Nebraska 4-H's Living Room Learning! Each day, youth will participate in a hands-on virtually guided activity where they will learn about healthy living, science, technology, and more! Each session will focus on a new activity that can be done with materials found at home. Living Room Learning activities are perfect for youth in 3rd-5th grades. Each session will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing. Youth do not need to be 4-H members to participate.
Using Fertilizers in Your Landscape
Managing Lawn Weeds in Spring
Food, Nutrition & Health - Tara Dunker, Extension Educator
Product Dates: To Toss, or Not to Toss?
Sometimes my toddler gets a “Kudos” from her daycare for being especially great at doing whatever toddlers do.
This mostly involves playing nice with friends and shouting less than normal (she’s loud), but it gave me an idea. Why not hand out my own nutrition-related kudos?
That kudos goes to the dedicated volunteers at the Beatrice Community Food Pantry. While I could give them a kudos for any number of the great things they do, this one in particular is for their insightful view of product dates.
Frozen food myths, debunked
Usually, I wouldn’t get jazzed about March being frozen food month, but these are unusual times.
With so many isolated at home, working long hours on-the-job or juggling work and family in entirely new ways, it's time to let your freezer take the stress out of meal prep.
I thought the most interesting way to tackle frozen foods would be to debunk some long standing myths. So, here goes.
4-H & Youth Development - Jacie Milius, Extension Educator & Jane Esau, 4-H Assistant
2020 Gage County 4-H Enrollment - Now Open!
$12 dues must be paid online at the conclusion of the enrollment process. NEW in 2020, all 4-H members will be covered by Annual Accident Insurance through American Income Life. **No enrollment fee for Clover Kids. See below for special enrollment instructions for Clover Kids.
Projects will continue to be cleared from 4HOnline annually. Project history per member can be found under Member Reports in your family account. Call the Extension Office if you have questions.
2020 ANYTIME LEARNING
UPDATE: We are still planning on hosting our 4-H Anytime Learning Workshops and Projects. The projects can be picked up starting April 15; however, please call (402)223-1384 prior to coming so that we can prepare the projects for you. Plan to pay with a check (made out to the "University of Nebraska-Lincoln" ) or cash for the amount only - sorry, we are unable to accept credit cards.
4-H learning happens year-round at your home, club meeting, 4-H workshops and County Fair. We are excited to present spring and summer workshops, projects, and exhibits for 4-H youth to learn skills, work together, and have fun. 2020 Anytime Learning listing is included in this newsletter and youth will register online through Eventbrite by April 15 (unless otherwise noted) or the project's limited enrollment is full. Note project enrollment fees when applicable AND project indicated for the youth to enroll in on 4HOnline. Those registered will receive complete project/workshop information. Don't miss out... register early, have fun, and learn new skills!
TAGGING & LIVESTOCK ID
In 2020, exhibitors and families are responsible for collecting DNA, tagging, and identifying their livestock for all species (including swine). Gage County 4-H Council has paid for the tags in 2020, no fee will be collected. We will not be hosting a Swine Tagging Day in 2020. Livestock ID sheets and registration papers (for registered livestock) are due to the Extension Office by June 15 and can be found at: https://go.unl.edu/gagecolivestockid
YQCA & TRAINING SCHEDULE UPDATE
4-H (ages 8-18) and FFA (under age 19) exhibitors as of Jan. 1st of the current year who exhibit beef, dairy, goats, sheep, swine, rabbit & poultry are REQUIRED to complete YQCA training by June 15, 2020, to be eligible to participate at the Gage County Fair and Nebraska State Fair. (Clover Kids are not required to complete YQCA training). **Note: you must be enrolled on 4hOnline for the current year prior to registering for a training.
YQCA Face to Face Training Schedule
- Wednesday, June 3 | 5:30 p.m. | Gage County Extension Office Meeting Room
Face-to-Face training participants are REQUIRED TO PRE-REGISTER ONLINE and pay a $3.00 fee. Once you have completed the training you will log back into your YQCA account and retrieve your certificate to turn into the Extension Office by June 15.
Online YQCA training FLASH SALE!!! 25% off from April 1-30th, 2020 - making the training cost $9. To take advantage of this discount, families or counties must purchase coupons through sales@yqca.org with a P.O. or check only using the order form. These coupons must be used during April. Please make a special note to your 4-H age (as of Jan. 1, 2020) when selecting a course to complete. Use your 4-HOnline username and password to login to YQCA account.
4-H HORSE PROGRAM UPDATES
Horse Advancement Level Update - March, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 situation and social distancing, there will be changes in 4-H horse Advancement Level Testing. In order to abide by social distancing recommendations, skills and demonstration testing are on hold.
We are encouraging youth to complete the written test, which will be offered online, and the reports/feed chart/healthcare charts as these pieces can be completed by youth at home. The goal is to offer the skills test and demonstration after May 9, 2020.
For 2020, we are also canceling the District Horse Shows. All youth will be allowed to enter the Fonner Park State 4-H Expo without qualifying. Entries to the State 4-H Expo are due June 15 and the deadline for passing the advancement levels will be extended to June 15.
Dates to Note:
Written Advancement Tests Available On-Line: March 25, 2020
Skills and Demonstration Testing Available (depending upon social distancing recommendations): May 9
Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Show Entry Date - June 15, 2020 to the county office
Advancement Levels Completed Due Date for State Entries: June 15, 2020
Stampede Entries Due: June 15, 2020
ADVANCEMENT LEVEL TESTING PROCEDURES
LEVEL 1-3 REQUIREMENTS
- Written exam: the youth can take the written exams online. Extension staff can access the links to the exams at: https://4h.unl.edu/employee/horse. Extension staff and horse examiners please only provide the link to one exam at a time to a youth. There are 4 exams for each level available (A, B, C, and D). If a youth does not receive at least an 80% on their first attempt, they will need to re-take the exam but a different version. It is recommended that youth receive one link and are asked to take the exam without using any resources. At the same website above you can find the link to a spreadsheet that lists all of the youths quiz results.
- Skills test: currently on hold. The hope is to make these tests available after May 9th. We will continue to monitor social distancing practices.
- Demonstration: Skills test: currently on hold. The hope is to make these tests available after May 9th. We will continue to monitor social distancing practices.
LEVEL 2 & 3 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Written report and feed chart emailed to county office at time of completion. Youth are encouraged to complete these while we are all practicing social distancing.
LEVEL 3 – ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT
- Health care paper emailed to county office at time of completion. Youth are encouraged to complete these while we are all practicing social distancing.
LEVEL 4 – REQUIREMENTS
Demonstration, written report, and skills test – follow same protocols as above
4-H Horse Stampede – March, 2020
The 4-H Stampede is now moved to July 12, 2020 (the Sunday prior to the start of the State Expo). The contests will be held at Fonner Park in the Bosselman Conference Center starting in the morning. We will have the updated schedule posted on the website in the coming weeks. All youth will need to re-enter if they were previously entered for the March contest. Entries will be due with the entries for State on June 12th.
Nebraska Extension - Gage County
Email: Gage-County@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/gage/
Location: 1115 West Scott Street, Beatrice, NE, USA
Phone: 402-223-1384
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionGageCo/
Twitter: @GageCoExtension