Thurston County 4-H News
August 2016
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Stacey Keys, 4-H Assistant, stacey.keys@unl.edu
Email: thurston-county@unl.edu
Website: thurston.unl.edu
Location: 415 Main Street, P.O. Box 665, Pender, NE 68787
Phone: 402-385-6041
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLExtensionThurston/
Twitter: @UNLThurstonCty
Upcoming Dates
Aug 23 - State Fair Exhibits DUE @ Extension Office (Noon)
Aug 26-Sept 5 - NEBRASKA STATE FAIR
Sept 5 - Office Closed - Labor Day
Sept 7 - State Fair Exhibits ready for pick up
Sept 19 - 4-H Career Portfolios DUE @ Extension Office
Sept 22-25 - AK-SAR-BEN, Omaha
Oct 2-8 - National 4-H Week
Oct 5 - National Youth Science Day
Oct 10 - Office Closed - Columbus Day
Oct 16 - Thurston County achievement Banquet
Thanks for a Great Fair!
Congratulations to all of the Thurston County 4-H’ers and families for an excellent job with the fair! The Extension Office staff would like to thank you for an excellent fair experience. We heard many positive comments from the security, vendors, and fair board about how 4-H youth and their families followed the rules at the grounds. Keep up the good work!
Our 4-H program and county fair would not be successful without the many volunteers, sponsors, and donations. Please remember to personally thank someone that helped this year or in years past. Our volunteers are a vital part of the 4-H program, and many of the events at fair and throughout the year would not be possible without their dedication.
If you received a trophy or bonus auction premium, get those thank you notes sent! A few brief sentences and a stamp are all it takes to show your appreciation. We want to continue the positive support from all of our donors. So make sure to say Thanks!
State Fair Info
Nebraska State Fair
The Nebraska State Fair will be August 28 through September 7. What can you see at the state fair? Be sure to check the state fair website at http://www.statefair.org/ and http://4h.unl.edu/nebraskastatefair
Below is just a small list of things to see and do.
- Dog, Fashion Revue, Presentation, Speeches
- Robotics Competition, 4-H Livestock Shows
- Concerts & Shows
- Contests
- Carnival & Rides
State Fair Book Updates & Changes/County Fair Books Available
The 2016 4-H State Fair book is available online. The animal exhibits at this link: http://go.unl.edu/nsd2 and the static exhibits at: http://go.unl.edu/ey74.
The Dakota~Thurston County Fair book very closely follows the state fair book so as you begin thinking about your fair exhibits please feel free to check out the State Fair book. The 4-H pages of our county fair book are up online at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/fairbook/. And is also available at the office.
State Fair Volunteer Recruitment
Do you want to spend a few hours at the state fair as an important part of the 4-H programming going on during the fair? We need your help! Nebraska 4-H is looking for volunteers to help with exhibit entry day, judging, and serving as 4-H exhibit building hosts. Volunteers will also be needed to serve as the Lil’ Green Mascot and assist with all 4-H contests and events throughout the fair. State Fair 4-H volunteers will receive a fair pass for the day(s) they volunteer.
Volunteers can sign-up by completing the 4-H Volunteer Interest Form available online at http://go.unl.edu/2016statefair4-hvolunteer . If you have questions about being a 4-H volunteer at the Nebraska State Fair, please contact: Cathy Johnston, Extension Educator, cjohnston1@unl.edu or (402) 472-1762.
We look forward to seeing you in Grand Island!
State Fair Static Exhibits
Herdsmanship at State Fair
Herdsmanship is an important part of presenting a positive image of FFA & 4-H members and their livestock projects to the public. Herdsmanship will be judged this year, all exhibitors are encouraged to keep their areas neat and clean for public viewing. http://4h.unl.edu/3_4HPrograms/b_4HScience/2016_Nebraska_State_Fair_Herdsmanship_Rules.pdf
Health Certificiates
These are required on all animals entering the fairgrounds and will be checked by a veterinarian at the Livestock Check-In Trailer prior to entering the grounds. If you have both 4-H and FFA livestock, they may be listed on the same health certificate as they will be checked at the same time.
Nebraska State Fair Sixth Annual Recycled Garden
Join us in creating a planter using recycled objects! Piece your planter together yourself or use a found object. All planters will be displayed in the Recycled Garden at the Nebraska State Fair! Be sure to incorporate the 2016 theme – Grand Champions – in your display! The event is open to all ages, so gather your business, 4-H Club, Boy or Girl Scout troop, church group, family or friends, and create a Recycled Planter together. Individual entries also accepted. Learn more at http://www.statefair.org/events/2016/recycled-garden-contest-display.
Member Information
Career Portfolios
It is time to get started on your career portfolio! Wouldn’t it be nice to start now before the sense of “panic” sets in. Now that fair is over and you have finished up projects for the state fair, jot down some notes about your goals, experiences, find those receipts so you can record the costs of your projects. Remember the career portfolios record keeping doesn’t require that you write a lengthy essay about your projects, just the main highlights. The portfolio has five sections to complete. They include the following:
Section 1: Project Accomplishments
Section 2: 4-H Leadership, Community Service, Volunteer, etc.
Section 3: Non 4-H Experiences
Section 4: 4-H Curriculum Story
Section 5: Support Materials
The career portfolio can be a valuable tool for 4-Hers as they prepare to graduate, apply for scholarships and enter the working world. Please call the extension office for assistance; we are available to help you with your Career Portfolio questions. We encourage everyone to complete their 4-H Career Portfolio. Deadline: Monday, September 19, due to the Extension Office.
Diamond Clover Program
Designed to encourage 4-H youth to engage in a variety of projects and activities that will enable members to acquire the life skills necessary to lead successful lives as competent, caring and contributing citizens. The program consists of six levels that require a 4-H member to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. The program is designed to enable every 4-H member willing to exert the effort an opportunity to be recognized, regardless of how they are involved in 4-H. For more information and forms, please contact the office or visit the website at 4h.unl.edu/diamondclover
Sample accomplishments include the following:
* Learn the 4-H Pledge, Motto, and Colors
* Attend at least 60% of club/project meetings
* Attend local 4-H activities or events (contest, county fair, camp, educational
program, state fair, etc.)
* Help with 4-H promotion
* Help with a club or community service-learning project
* Complete at least one 4-H project
* Complete your 4-H Career Portfolio
* Bring a friend to a 4-H meeting or activity
* Recruit a new 4-H member
* Serve as a 4-H officer, committee chair, or on 4-H Council
The forms are due the same time as the 4-H Career Portfolio. Forms are available online. We encourage everyone to fill one out. We are sure that everyone can get started on this recognition opportunity.
National 4-H Week
National 4-H Week will be October 2-8, 2016. Start brainstorming some ideas to increase our enrollment. Also consider adding a science experiment (Motion Commotion) to your October meeting to celebrate National 4-H Science Day on October 7th.
Here are few ideas to try this year to promote 4-H.
· Ask local businesses to put a message about 4-H on their sign.
· Designate a “4-H Day” during 4-H Week and ask all 4-H members to wear their 4-H t-shirts to school.
· Furnish cookies for 4-H Open House at a local business or in conjunction with a community activity. Make sure your 4-H club has a sign there so you get the publicity.
· Make 4-H bookmarks and distribute them to school and public libraries during 4-H Week.
· Plan an anniversary party for your club. Invite former members and leaders.
· Put a “Happy” ad in local papers during 4-H Week.
· Fly a 4-H flag in the town square.
· The ideas are endless.
Achievement Night
It is hard to believe that fall is right around the corner, which means we need to prepare for the achievement banquet. The banquet will potentially be held Sunday, October 16th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Rosalie Town Hall. Watch future newsletters for updated information.
Join 4-H families for an evening of fellowship, food, recognition, and FUN! The Thurston County 4-H Council will be supplying meat for the meal. Families will need to bring two side dishes. Hope to see you for an evening of FUN and RECOGNITION!
Family & Consumer Sciences
2016 Make It With Wool Contest
Enter the Make It With Wool Contest! The object of the contest is to promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabric and yarn; to encourage personal creations in sewing, knitting, crocheting, spinning and weaving of wool fabric; and to recognize creative skills.
The 2016 State Make It With Wool Contest will be November 19 at the Dawson County Extension Office in Lexington NE beginning at 9:00 a.m. Public fashion show is at 1:00 p.m.
The divisions determined by age as of January 1, 2016 (national rule change), are as follows:
- Preteen – age 12 and under
- Junior – age 13 to 16
- Senior – age 17 to 24
- Adult – age 25 and over
- Made For Others
Entry forms, fees, wool samples and wool testing fees are due October 15, 2016 to Entry Coordinator Andrea Nisley.
More information is available on the new National Make It With Wool website (http://www.nationalmakeitwithwool.com).
Animal Science
2016 Animal Exhibitor Handbook is Now Available
2016 Nebraska State Fair Livestock Schedule
The 2016 Nebraska State Fair Livestock Schedule is now available on the Nebraska State Fair website!
Along with the livestock schedule, you can also find the following documents available:
- Livestock Rules and Regulations and General Information
- Health Requirements
- Arrival/In Place Schedule
Direct Link: http://www.statefair.org/p/getinvolved/270