Hamilton County 4-H Newsletter

• 4-H Enrollment Deadline
• Hamilton County 4-H Exhibitor T-Shirt Sign Up
• Sheep & Goat Weigh-In
• Clover Kid Club
• Animal ID's and Project Registration Date
• Summer Workshops
• FCS DAY June 22, 2023
• Pre-Fair Entry Deadline
• Sumer Workshop Info
• PASE
• UNL Livestock Judging
• Horticulture Event
• YQCA
• Special Garden Project
• 4-H Council Mini Grants
• Youth Leadership Conference
• April Highlights
• New 4-H Program Coordinator

You must be enrolled and signed up for projects in 4honline.com by June 15th in order to show at the 2023 Hamilton County Fair and to be eligible for the Nebraska State Fair.

What’s the difference between 4-H projects and fair exhibits?

A 4-H “Project” is an area of interest you want to learn more about (like a hobby). This is what you sign-up for during enrollment in 4-HOnline (i.e. cooking, wood working, dogs, photography, etc.). A project is intended to help you explore, learn, and practice skills in your areas of interest. Youth must choose their projects at the time of enrollment so they have plenty of time to learn about or practice with their project area before the fair. You can sign up for as many projects as you like.

A County Fair “Exhibit” is what you actually take to the fair – like the zinnias you grew, the animal you trained, or the rocket you built while exploring and learning about your projects. There are always things you do while exploring your project area that you do not take to the fair as exhibits and that is ok. Remember: the point of the project is to learn how to do something new and better and an exhibit will help you do that!

Every youth exhibiting, both livestock and static, at the Hamilton County Fair can sign up for a free t-shirt! Exhibitor t-shirts are REQUIRED for all youth participating in in-person contests (livestock shows and shooting sports contests). These shirts are provided by a generous donation by the Hamilton County Farm Bureau.

An email will be sent on May 15 with a sign up link. Please be sure to sign up through the link provided.

The Animal ID's are due June 15, 2023!

Animal ID sheets are where you tell us about any animals that you may be bringing to the fair and give us their tag numbers or ear notches for swine. An animal must be ID'd to come to fair. But just because the animals are on the ID sheet, you don't have to bring them to the fair. You do not have to ID poultry or rabbits. Vaccination papers for dogs and cats are also due June 15th.

For forms or any other information on registration please check out our website at extension.unl.edu/statewide/hamilton/2023-hamilton-county-fair/

You may also reach out to the Hamilton County Extension office or call us at 402-694-6174 or email Hillary at hillary.fuhrman@unl.edu.

Pre-fair entry is when you tell us what “Exhibits” you are actually taking to the 2023 Hamilton County Fair – like the basil you grew, the dog you trained, or the bird house you built while exploring and learning about your projects.

You will need to give us the Division and Class numbers from the fairbook and, for static exhibits, a short description. Pre-fair entry will be available online beginning Friday, June 16, at https://hamilton.fairwire.com.

You may also print pre-fair entry forms from our website and turn those in to the Extension Office. All pre-fair entries are due, either online or paper forms, Monday, July 10th at noon.

The Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) is a two-day event designed to help you learn about issues related to the animal industry, explore career opportunities that are available, compete with other teens from across the state and have FUN!

Eligibility

PASE is open to any current 4-H participant who is at least 10 years old before Jan 1st, 2023.

Opportunities at PASE include:

• Livestock, Meats and Poultry Judging Contests

• Livestock Skill-a-thon (Requires a team)

• Livestock Quiz Bowl (Requires a team)

• Chicken BBQ Contest

You can participate in more than one as your schedule allows. In addition, you will

have chances to explore East Campus, meet with faculty members and current

college students, and have FUN with your friends!

When and Where:

It will be held June 21 & June 22, 2023 on University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East

Campus.

Additional Information

Please reach out to the Merrick County Extension office at 308-946-3843 or Kara Wells (kara.wells@unl.edu) to get pre-registered.

Also check out the PASE website at: 4h.unl.edu/pase

Do you know what it takes to pick the best fruit and vegetables out at the grocery store? Or do you know what judges are looking for when they judge your plants at the county fair? Have you ever wondered, what plant is that!?! We are excited to offer the opportunity to learn these and other important horticulture skills through the Online Horticulture Contest. The contest will be available June 2-16, 2023 at: https://go.unl.edu/online4hhortcontest.

Horticulture judging contest consists of three parts. The first is identification of plant material. Participants identify the plants by common name from a plant list. Specimens may be alive or preserved plant parts like stems, twigs, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, bulbs, tubers, or plant products.

The second is a knowledge portion, usually in the form of a true/false or multiple choice quiz. Questions will test the contestant's knowledge of cultural practices for horticultural crops, plant science, pesticides, horticultural careers and other topics related to the production, processing and consumption of horticultural crops.

The last portion is judging or placings. This is where four different plants, plates of vegetables, or containers flowers are ranked from best to worst based on a set of criteria. Classes are judged on the basis of condition, quality, uniformity, true-to-type, and size.

More information about the Nebraska State contest along with a list of study materials can be found in the Fairbook https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/contests/45. Here you can find the written study materials for the knowledge portion, follow links to plant pictures for help with identification, and read how judging of plant material is done.

More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/online-horticulture-judging-contest

YQCA certification is required for all 4-H members enrolled in any of the following projects:

• Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market beef)
• Goat (breeding meat goat, dairy goat, meat goat)
• Poultry
• Rabbit
• Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)
• Swine (breeding swine, market swine)

Annual Training

Nebraska 4-H members ages 8-18, who are enrolled in any of the livestock projects listed above are required to participate in an annual YQCA training. Annual training requirements may be satisfied by completing either an online web-based training course or a face-to-face instructor-led training course.

Web-Based Training

Web-based annual training is available through the YQCA learning management system. The online YQCA course costs $12 per individual regardless of age.

Each session purchased includes three modules - a knowledge builder, a skills lab, and a quiz. The knowledge builder is where content is delivered. The skills lab provides an opportunity to apply the content. The quiz test knowledge. To receive certification, 80% must be achieved on the 10-question quiz. These modules, completed in their entirety, will provide 2-3 hours of experience. Features of the online modules include:

• Characters at each age level to guide youth through the course.
• Free navigation within the course so youth can spend as much or as little time on a particular topic based on their personal needs.
• Variety of learning opportunities to accommodate various learning styles and modalities.
• Audio button on each slide so youth can listen to audio rather than read the on-screen text.

Face-to-Face Training

Face-to-Face YQCA training is also available to satisfy annual training requirements. Please note that these training courses must be facilitated by a YQCA Certified Instructor. In-person YQCA training courses cost $3 per individual regardless of age. After you attend the in-person training, 4-H Council will provide you with a $3 coupon to pay for the training.

Current in-person classes are set for Sunday, May 21, 1 pm in the 4-H Building, Hamilton County Fairgrounds and Friday, July 7, 1 pm in the Extension Office. Please call us at 402-694-6174 to let us know if you are coming.

If any clubs want to schedule an in-person class they must contact the office before July 1st, 2023.

This year the Special Garden Project will include Mrs. Burns' Lemon Basil plants. Mrs. Burns' Lemon Basil can be used multiple ways and has a unique lemon flavor that can add to any recipe. This basil can also be used as a cut flower to add a lemon scent to any area.

Seed packets and information on the Special Garden Project can be picked up at the Hamilton County Extension Office.

There are many projects available to complete with the Mrs. Burns' Lemon Basil plants so check out the following website: extension.unl.edu/statewide/dodge/4-h-special-garden-project/

Hi, I’m Travis. I grew up in Hordville, Nebraska where the small-town atmosphere provided the perfect template for 4-H activities. After graduating, I worked in various job fields in Lincoln before returning home 8 years ago to be a reporter for the local newspaper. I have had experience in sales, journalism, retirement, bartending and even corrections. I am hoping to bring a large skillset to my new position and enrich my life at the same time. I’m excited to be a part of the Nebraska Extension 4-H team!