Clover Kids is a special program for youth ages 5-7 who want to participate in 4-H. The program offers a variety of educational and recreational experiences in non-competitive environments. These opportunities are ideal for developing confidence, creativity, and competence during this stage of youth development.

Clover Kids have special opportunities to participate during the Gage County Fair by exhibiting Clover Kids static exhibits. To be eligible to participate, Clover Kids need to enroll through our 4HOnline system at v2.4honline.com

Calling all 4-Her's!

We need your help deciding this year's livestock show shirt! Please visit our Facebook page, click on the photo and like your favorite to vote! The design with the most votes will be offered on both a white and dark grey t-shirt. Orders will be available at a later date.

Thank you to Gage County Farm Bureau for sponsoring a free livestock show shirt to each of our youth again this year!

Gage County 4-H Juniors and Seniors, it's time for you to start looking at scholarships! There are numerous agricultural companies, organizations, and colleges that offer scholarships to students who have long-term career goals in agriculture. There are also a lot of local and county-wide scholarships for 4-H youth. Now is the time to put together a good resume-it helps!

At a loss for where to begin with scholarships and financial aid? We have multiple resources available for you! Check out the Scholarship Update Newsletter for resources and a list of local and statewide 4-H Scholarships.

Robert Kracke Memorial Scholarship

Must be postmarked by April 15th to:

Vergene Kracke

Scholarship Committee

1773 CR 2500

Wilber, NE 68465

Nebraska 4-H Foundation’s Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Awards sponsored by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) is a prestigious award designed to recognize 4-H clubs for their efforts to serve their communities. This grant is intended to provide funding for 4-H Clubs to complete projects that will have a lasting impact on their communities. Projects should be intentional and impactful, growing club members as leaders and fulfilling a need in their community. Recognition is in the form of a $500 grant issued to the club’s treasury to be used as described in the award application form completed by the club. Examples of fundable programs include mentorship programs, intergenerational programs, attending educational experiences, hosting workshops/educational events and service-learning opportunities.

Funded by the Gage County 4-H Council, youth (age 12+) and 4-H clubs are encouraged to apply for a grant designated for a club or county project, workshop, or community project. A maximum of $200 is awarded per grant application. Applications are due April 1 and can be filled out online at: https://go.unl.edu/gagecoyouthatwork A final report is due on October 15 and funds will be awarded at the 4-H Achievement program in the fall.

Camper sign up is scheduled for Thursday, June 1st during office hours (9:00 am - 4:00 pm). Prices are the same as last year. You must be currently enrolled in 4-H or an FFA member to be eligible for camping.

Summer camps are a great way for youth to create friendships, experience independence, and learn new ideas or skills. Nebraska Extension in Gage, Saline, Jefferson, Thayer counties teamed-up to offer fun camp experiences for 8-18 year olds.

Camp Renegade (ages 8-10) and Camp Venture (ages 10-12) are overnight camps hosted at Camp Jefferson, 2.5 miles south of Fairbury. To attend, please pre-register by May 22. All registrations must be done online. Links for registration are linked below. Youth do not have to be a 4-H member to attend Camp Renegade or Venture.

Older youth (ages 14-18) have an opportunity to be a leader for the younger youth as a Camp Counselor. Camp counselor applications are due May 1 and Counselors are required to attend the Camp Counselor Training on Thursday, May 25 at the 4-H Building on the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

The decision has been made to change the age of eligibility in 2023 to be 9 years of age before January 1 (of the current year) for all in-person events (livestock, contests, fashion show) at the Nebraska State Fair.

The tentative 2023 Gage County Fair Schedule can be viewed here. We would also like to share some updates to the Livestock portion of the Gage County 4-H Fairbook for 2023:

General:

· Livestock can begin arriving on grounds starting Tuesday, July 25th at 7:30 pm. There will be no security or barn duty that evening so you may bring them at your own risk.

· After much discussion, we are discontinuing the choice award system. We will be moving towards banners, plaques, and medals for champion and reserve champion awards for both static and livestock.

· There will be no materials used to restrict the airflow of the open-air barns. Any materials used (I.e., pegboard, plywood, rubber) will be limited to 6 inches tall around the bottom of the pens.

Poultry/Rabbit:

· Broilers will be weighed for the Broiler show.

· Eggs for egg display will be checked in during poultry check in on Wednesday morning. Egg display will be judged at the beginning of the broiler show on Wednesday. Eggs will be cracked.

· Keep an eye out for a Poultry/Rabbit Skill-a-thon contest this summer. More details to come!

Horse:

· Linden Tree will now be called Linden Tree Superhorse and will be based upon the top score in four set categories including: Halter (required), pick one class each from 3 categories (Performance, Pattern, Timed Events). You must use the same horse for all 4 of the events selected. Points will be awarded based on ribbon placings in the selected classes in each category. Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Divisions (Walk-trot not eligible) – must enter classes through ShoWorks by July 15th.

· High Point Exhibitor Award (previously called “Linden Tree”) will continue using the same rules as previous years: Showmanship is required, youth can select 2 other classes. Exhibitor may use more than one horse for this. Halter may not be used as a class. Points will be awarded based on ribbon placings in the selected classes. Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Divisions (Walk-Trot not eligible)– must enter classes through ShoWorks by July 15th.

· The age limit for walk-trot is being removed. If you enter for walk-trot, you can only do walk-trot classes.

· Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Equitation will no longer have age divisions. All ages will show in each class.

Companion Animal: Show moving to Sunday morning.

Meat Goat: The Best Dressed Goat class will be added back to the goat show.

Beef: Going back to a split beef show. Wednesday - Bucket Calf, Thursday - Stocker Feeder, Friday - Showmanship, Market Beef & Breeding Beef.

Bucket Calf:

· The Bucket Calf project will now be required to submit a records sheet, complete an interview prior to the bucket calf show on Wednesday (sign-up for a time starting at 2:00 p.m.), and show their calf during the Bucket Calf show.

· Record Book and Project manual are currently undergoing an update, they will be available April 1 for pick-up or to print off of our website.

· Bucket calf participants are eligible to show their calf during showmanship of the Beef Show.

Swine Show:

Registration papers will be required on hogs showing in purebred classes.

Breeding Gilts:

· Will be shown by breed (order): Berkshire, Chester White, Duroc, Hampshire, Hereford, Landrace, Poland China, Spotted, Tamworth, Yorkshire, All Other Breeds, Crossbred.

· Any breed with less than 3 animals exhibiting in their breed will show in the All Other Breed Class.

· Purebred breeding gilts will be shown by age.

· Crossbred breeding gilts will be shown by weight.

· Breeding Gilts are required to be born on or after December 1, 2022.

· Champion and Reserve Champion of each purebred and crossbred breed will come back for Champion and Reserve Champion Overall Breeding Gilt.

Market Hogs:

· Will be shown by weight in the following Divisions: Purebred, Crossbred Market Gilt, Crossbred Market Barrow.

· Purebred (barrows and gilts show together, classes divided by weight, not breed)

· Crossbred Market Gilts (classes divided by weight)

· Crossbred Market Barrows (classes divided by weight)

· Market hogs weighing less than 200 lbs are not eligible for Champion/Reserve Champion.

· Champion and Reserve Champion of each division (purebred, crossbred market gilt, crossbred market barrow) will come back for Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Overall Market Hog.

All 4-H/FFA BREEDING livestock, market livestock and FEEDER CALVES will now be required to submit a DNA sample/envelope to be eligible to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair. DNA envelopes for the Nebraska State Fair are due on June 15 to the Extension Office.

DNA nominations will all be $7.00 per animal. With this update, animals will automatically be eligible for both breeding and market. Any DNA nomination submitted through Show Stock Manager will also be eligible for exhibition at the Aksarben Stock Show.

Breeding livestock (new): Registration papers must now show the exhibitor’s name or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor’s family and is listed with the online nomination in show stock manager

4-H (ages 8-18) and FFA (under age 19) exhibitors as of Jan. 1st of the current year who exhibit beef, goat, sheep, swine, rabbit & poultry are REQUIRED to complete YQCA training by June 15, to be eligible to participate at the Gage County Fair and Nebraska State Fair. (Clover Kids are not required to complete YQCA training).

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.

• April 10 @ Extension Office, 11:00 - noon

Online YQCA training is available for $12.00 per youth. Please make a special note to your 4-H age (as of Jan. 1) when selecting a course to complete.

*If you have any problems with the online website (logging in, online testing, etc.), you have to contact the help desk on the website. We unfortunately have no admin capabilities to help if you have issues.

**Make sure you complete both the pre and post survey before YQCA will let you print off your YQCA certificate.