CENTRAL SANDHILLS AREA 4-H NEWS
April Newsletter 2020
Contact Information
AMANDA DAVIS
4-H YOUTH DEVLEOPMENT ASSISTANT
Email: ssawyer3@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/centralsandhills/
Location: 503 Main Street, Thedford, NE, USA
Phone: (308)645-22678
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralsandhillsarea/
In this Newsletter
* CALENDAR OF EVENTS TO COME
* DEADLINE FOR 4-H ENROLLMENT
*2020 CSA FAIR BOOK RULE CHANGES
*YQCA INFORMATION
*4-H MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
*HEALTHY N' FIT CHALLENGE
*VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR ALL
*DISTRICT AND STATE SPEECH CONTEST INFORMATION
*DISTRICT HORSE SHOW INFORMATION: CANCELLED
*HORSE ADVANCEMENT LEVEL INFORMATION
*COUNTY FAIR DATES
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 8: State Horse Show Entries are Due
May 10: 4-H Enrollment Due
June 2, 3-5: UNL Livestock Judging Clinic and Camp
June 10: Livestock ID and Horse ID's Due
June 10: YQCA Due
JUST A NOTE........
STAY INFORMED WITH 4-H AND EXTENSION NEWS!
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Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills
Don't forget to visit our Extension website at:
Nebraska Extension in the Sandhills
PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR NEWS SO IT CAN BE ADDED TO THE NEWSLETTERS! Please forward any 4-H news / events / activities with Amanda at amanda.davis@unl.edu
DEADLINE FOR 4-H MEMBERSHIP
Deadline is fast-approaching! MAY 10 is the last day to enroll!
4-H enrollment is now open for the 2019-2020 membership year!
Clover Kid membership: youth must be 5-7 years old on or by December 31, 2019
Regular Membership: youth must be 8-18 years on or by December 31, 2019
Please log in to your family 4HOnline account to enroll/re-enroll members and project selections. You may access it here: https://ne.4honline.com/Login.aspx?403D4050364539525371705375593D Do not create a new account if you are re-enrolling. If you have any questions, please call the Extension Office for assistance.
County Fair 2020 Fair Book Rule Changes
Livestock and Horse Exhibitors:
**Livestock and Horse ID’s are due on June 10. Any late entries submitted will constitute in a livestock/horse entry late fee. ANY species of livestock or horses entered will be issued a $10 late fee per head. Youth may enter as many head as permitted by fair book rules, but each head entered late will be subjected to a late fee charge of $10 per animal. Entries will NOT be accepted after June 15. Entries and late fee payments are due in-house to the Extension Office, by June 15 to be eligible to exhibit.
**Due date for completed YQCA is June 10 to avoid a $10 late fee. If not completed by June 15, members will not be allowed to exhibit livestock. $10 late fee and proof of completion must be submitted to the Extension Office before June 15.
**Fair entry forms are due July 10 FOR ALL YOUTH. Any entries submitted will constitute in a $10 late fee through July 15. Entries will NOT be accepted after July 15, and member will not be eligible to exhibit at the fair.
YQCA: Youth for the Quality Care of Animals
Who needs YQCA certification?
Any youth who will be exhibiting livestock at County Fair, State Fair or Aksarben. Needs completed by June 10.
- Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market beef)
- Dairy Cattle
- Goats (breeding meat goat, meat goat, dairy goat)
- Poultry
- Rabbit
- Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)
- Swine (breeding swine, market swine)
Online Training, using Google or Firefox, may be completed at: https://yqca.learngrow.io
UPDATES: County and State Speech Competitions
Community Service Project Opportunity
Can you sew? Do you have extra fabric lying around?
Looking for ways to help during the pandemic?
HEALTHY N' FIT CHALLENGE
Join the Healthy N Fit Families Challenge from Nebraska Extension! It is a 4-week challenge that will run from Monday, April 6th through Friday, May 1st, 2020. One nutrition and one physical activity challenge will be posted each week. Different ideas will be provided to complete each challenge. Families who complete the challenge will have a chance to win a nutrition or physical activity prize thanks to the 4-H Healthy Futures grant. The more challenges you complete, the more chances you have to win. Winners will be randomly selected and announced each Friday by 5pm (CT).
You will be provided different ideas to complete each challenge. Weekly challenges include:
- Week 1: Smoothie Challenge and Walk Challenge
- Week 2: Oatmeal Challenge and Indoor Activity Challenge
- Week 3: Snack Mix Challenge and Strength Challenge
- Week 4: Tortilla Challenge and Yoga Challenge
Families who complete the challenge will have a chance to win a nutrition or physical activity prize thanks to the 4-H Healthy Futures grant. Winners will be randomly selected and announced each Friday by 5pm (CT)
For more details about the challenge go to: https://food.unl.edu/healthynfitfamilies
VIRTUAL LEARNING
Nebraska Extension has a variety of activities for youth to participate in over the next few months to help provide enrichment opportunities - all through online learning! Free of charge!
Here are some of the fun learning opportunities!
- Living Room Learning started March 17. Each Tuesday and Thursday at 2:00 pm CT/1:00 pm MT we offer hands-on virtually guided activities for 3rd – 5th graders that can be done with materials found at home. https://4h.unl.edu/living-room-learning
- The Boredom Buster Challenge! Is for 6th – 9th graders and runs every Monday and Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 PM CT/1:00 PM MT. Each week, youth will be given a problem to solve using materials found in their home, the focus is entrepreneurship and creativity. https://4h.unl.edu/boredom-buster-challenge
- Virtual Field Trips are starting March 31 and will offer on-site tours to learn about STEM, technology, and Ag. https://4h.unl.edu/virtual-field-trips
COMPANION ANIMAL: DOG SHOWMANSHIP VIDEOS
The State 4-H Office has compiled videos on youtube to assist youth who like to exhibit dogs. Videos illustrate various dog showmanship patterns and tasks as found in the Nebraska Dog 4-H showmanship guidelines.
For more information, Visit the State 4-H Companion Animal website at: https://4h.unl.edu/companion-animal
To view YouTube video Click Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?reload=9&list=PL579hRei5D7xwKTqpe8kJw0GnfKK4x8l4
CANCELLED: Nebraska 4-H District Horse Show
Due to the Corona evirus pandemic, ALL Nebraska 4-H District Horse Shows have been cancelled. Tentatively, the State Horse Show is still being planned. 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 12 and the deadline for passing the advancement levels will be extended to June 12.
Horse Advancement Level Update
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. Youth are encouraged 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, STAY TUNED for more information.
ADVANCEMENT LEVEL TESTING PROCEDURES
LEVEL 1-3 REQUIREMENTS
- Written exam: the youth can take the written exams online. Contact Extension Staff for access information. 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
COUNTY FAIR DATES
Below are County Fair Dates and Shows. Stay tuned for more detailed information in upcoming newsletters, emails and social media updates.
Hooker County:
Thursday, July 16 - Clothing Construction / Style Review
Tuesday, July 28 - Horse Show
Thursday, July 30 - Static Entries
Friday, July 31 - Livestock Show
Saturday, Aug 1 - Small Animal Show
Thomas County:
Monday, July 13: Clothing Construction / Style Review
Tuesday, July 21: Horse Show, Small Animal Show
Wednesday, July 22: Livestock Show
Thursday, July 23: Static Entries
Blaine County:
Monday, July 13: Clothing Construction / Style Review
Tuesday, July 28: Static Entries
Wednesday, July 29: Horse Show
Thursday, July 30: Livestock Show, Small Animal
Grant County:
Monday, July 27: Clothing Construction / Style Review
Thursday, August 6: Horse Show, Small Animal Show
Friday, August 7: Static Entries
Saturday, August 8: Livestock Show & Auction, Style Review Show and Cookie Jar Auction