Thurston County 4-H News
May 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
May 2 - Drop/Add 4-H Project DUE
May 2 - Favorite Foods & Presentation Contest Registration DUE
May 4 - Favorite Foods & Presentation Contest @ Dakota City (7:00 pm)
May 9 - Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting
May 12 - Northeast Regional 4-H Speech Contest Registration DUE
May 13 - Horse: County ID DUE & District & State Entries DUE
May 26 - Northeast Regional 4-H Speech Contest @ Norfolk (2:00 pm)
May 30 - Office Closed - Memorial Day
June 1 - Dakota-Thurston County Sheep & Goat Weigh-In @ Fairgrounds (6-8pm)
June 13 - Rabbit Tatto Party @ Extension Office (5:15pm by appointment)
June 15 - Quality Assurance Deadline
June 15 - Ak-Sar-Ben DNA DUE
June 15 - All Livestock Affidavits DUE
June 17 - Ponca Day Camp Registration DUE
June 19-21 - PASE/Life Challenge @ UNL
June 27 - Ponca Counselor Training
June 28 - Ponca Day Camp
July 4 - Office Closed - 4th of July Holiday
July 10-14 - State Horse Show @ Fonner Park, Grand Island
July 11 - Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting
July 20 - ALL Dakota-Thurston County Pre-Fair Entries DUE
July 27 - 4-H Clothing Day Judging @ Emerson
July 30 - Pre-Fair Clean Up
July 31-Aug 2 - Pre-Fair Judging Shows
Aug 3 - 7 - DAKOTA-THURSTON COUNTY FAIR
Need To Know
Summer Workshops
We are excited to announce our summer workshops for youth. We will be holding several sessions every week in June and July. Several of these camps will be open to all ages but others, like the Clover Kid Camp, will be for either older or younger youth. Come join us for an exciting summer of learning. To register go here: http://go.unl.edu/w36o or get more information follow this link: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/thurston-county-summer-workshops/
- Babysitting Clinic - June 1 OR 2 (same session offered twice)
- Computer Coding Workshop - June 7 (same session offered twice, morning & afternoon)
- Knitting Workshop - June 9
- Barn Quilts Workshop - June 14 (Part #1) & June 16 (Part #2)
- Young Entrepreneurs Camp - June 20-24
- Ponca Day Camp - June 28
- Clover Kid Camp - June 30
- WeDo Lego Workshop - July 6-8
- Robotics Workshop - July 6-8
- Meals for Beginners - July 12
Horse ID Deadline
4-H Grow True Leaders Campaign
Dakota-Thurston County Fair Theme 2016
Late Entry Policy
The Joint 4-H Council created the following rule at their November 5, 2012 meeting. Late fair entries will be accepted for one week following the entry deadline and will be accessed a $10 late fee per individual for the Dakota-Thurston County Fair.
4-H King & Queen Contest
State Fair Book Updates & Changes
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/.
Member Information
Favorite Foods Revue Contest
Get your silver shined up, the tablecloth pressed and test your favorite recipe. It’s time to prepare for the Favorite Foods Revue Contest. The contest will be held on May 4th in Dakota City at 7 pm. Please Select and prepare a favorite recipe, plan a menu which includes a favorite food and a theme to go with it. Write the menu and recipe on a 4” x 6” card. Prepare a centerpiece and a place setting for one, on a standard size card table (you must supply your own card table). The favorite food may be displayed as the whole product or as one serving. Tables should be in place 30 minutes prior to judging. This contest is divided into Novice, Junior, Intermediate and Senior divisions. This is subject to change based on the number of youth entering the contest, contest may be divided into Junior and Senior Divisions. Check out the county website for more information: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/4-h-contests/
Please pre-register if you want to participate by calling the office (402-385-6041) or email Stacey (stacey.keys@unl.edu) by May 2nd!
Presentation Contest
The 2016 Presentation Contest will be held in conjunction with the Favorite Foods Revue on Wednesday, May 4th at 7:00 p.m. in Dakota City. All 4-H members are encouraged to prepare a presentation this year at the contest. This is an excellent activity to showcase your talents. Check out the county website for more information: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/4-h-contests/
Please pre-register by calling the office (402-385-6041) or email Stacey (stacey.keys@unl.edu) with the following information by May 2nd!
Registration Information:
Name
4-H Age (as of January 1, 2016)
Title of Presentation
Type of presentation: (Poster, power-point, multi-media)
Interview Judging Contest
You are invited to Northeast Nebraska in May for an special area Interview Contest competition. All the same rules and requirements will remain in place.
We will conduct the area Interview Contest at the Norfolk Life Long Learning Center. We will be sending out more information as the event date nears but for now…
- Reserve the Date: May 26th
- Interview Contest resumes and Cover letters will be due: May 12 to Mary Jarvi at the Norfolk District office.
- Ribbons and Trophies will be awarded.
- Intermediate and Sr. Division eligible.
Please direct your questions to : Kim Bearnes kbearnes1@unl.edu
4-H PASE/Life Challenge Contest
Each summer, over 500 4-H'ers convene at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus to test their skills in animal science and family and consumer sciences during PASE (Premier Animal Science Events) and Life Challenge. Teens compete in a variety of different contests including: livestock, meats and poultry judging, livestock skillathon, livestock quiz bowl, life challenges and clover challenge. While on campus, young people have the opportunity to take part in faculty-led workshops, campus tours, and special sessions by UNL recruiters. This year the contests are June 19-21 at the UNL East Campus. Contact the Extension Office if you would like more information or would like to participate.
2016 4-H Photography Nebraska Exhibit Theme
Nebraska 4-H Club of the Month
Family & Consumer Sciences
Nebraska Mystery Foods Event
2016 Nebraska State Fair 4-H Culinary Challenge Contest
Camps
4-H Summer Camps
Attention youth! Are you ready for a fun adventure this summer? Consider joining youth around the state for an awesome adventure. The 4-H camps are open to everyone between the ages of 5-18 (do not have to be a 4-H member). There are over 40 day and night camping programs and trips offered for youth to enjoy at the three locations (Halsey, Gretna, and different destinations). Please contact the extension office for a camp brochure or visit the Nebraska 4-H Youth Development website at http://4h.unl.edu/4hcamps/4hcamphome. Come make memories this summer at Nebraska 4-H Camps!!
Camperships Available
As the camping season is right around the corner, we know many of you are receiving requests for assistance to offset camp expenses.
Again this year, with the support of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, we are able to offer a limited number of $100 camperships to assist families who may not otherwise be able to send their child to camp. You do not have to be enrolled in 4-H to request this support. If you know of somebody who might be interested in requesting a campership please have them contact the Extension Office. We will help them take the right steps and even give them a recommendation.
Save the Date for Ponca Day Camp
Come get a taste of camp in your own backyard at this year’s 4-H Ponca Day Camp. It will be held at Ponca State Park on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. All 4-H members and their friends ages 8-11 in Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Thurston, and Wayne counties are invited to attend this hands-on camp. Camp sessions include - Mobile Science Lab, Animal Explorations, Honeybee Challenge, True North, True Courage, Lunch & Snacks, & Swimming. For complete registration/health statement please contact the UNL Extension Office in Thurston County. Registrations are due by Friday, June 17, 2016. More information can be found at: http://go.unl.edu/sqtm. Come on! Camp can’t get any closer!
Plant Science
Nebraska Youth Range Camp
The 53rd Nebraska Youth Range Camp will be held June 6 – 10, 2016 at the Nebraska State 4-H Camp in Halsey. Please spread the word and encourage students to get their application in! Eligible students need to be between the ages of 14 – 18. We have an online application available this year and we will also accept applications by mail or email. You can find the forms here: http://www.nesrm.org/YouthRangeCamp.html.
We will be teaching the new Range Judging rules that will be used this fall; come and learn it first!! The Nebraska Youth Range Camp consists of a four-and-a-half day dynamic curriculum that appeals to students with a wide array of interests including, but not limited to, rangeland management, conservation, ecology, animal science, and wildlife.
The students that attend this camp will be actively involved with field activities, lectures, hand-on experience, and recreational leadership and team-building activities that are all led by up to 20 of Nebraska’s most respected and dedicated leaders, teachers, and professionals from various agencies, colleges, and universities. Each student will be sent home with a binder that is filled with educational materials.
Financial sponsorship is available! The cost of Range Camp is $325 however, every student that attended last year received a substantial level of sponsorship from local Natural Resource Districts or the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition and nobody paid more than $100 to attend and some students attended for free!
Please direct questions to Shelly Kelly (Range Camp Co-Director) at shelly@sandhillstaskforce.org or 308-214-0065.
2016 Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging Contest
The 2016 Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging contest is just around the corner. This year the contest will be available from June 10th at 8:00 a.m. until June 20th at 8:00 a.m. It is composed of three parts; general knowledge questions, plant part and seed identification, as well as a judging portion. It is open to all 4-H youth, as well as adults, and even Extension individuals. No password this year, the link listed below will take you directly to the contest.
http://go.unl.edu/2016onlinehortcontest
Please fill in all of your information completely. The online contest should only be taken once by each participant, if it is taken multiple times the first score entered will be the one used. No study materials are to be used while taking the test. The contest will allow an opportunity for the participant to review the answers prior to submitting. Once submitted, the participants will see their score, but they will not be able to see which questions they missed. After the contest has ended, the participants can request to see their scores and their answers.
Study Materials for the Online Horticulture Judging Contest and the State 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest held during State Fair are the same and they can be found at:
http://4h.unl.edu/fairbook/plant-science/horticulture-id
http://njha.org/contests-projects-activities/horticulture-identification-judging-contest/
Fifth Annual Innovative Youth Corn Challenge
Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Corn Board are offering the fifth Innovative Youth Corn Challenge contest. This contest, open to 4-H members (age 10 & older as of Jan. 1st) or FFA members (in-school members), guides participants through all aspects of corn production, as well as agricultural careers related to corn production.
As a team, youth will be challenged to implement a production practice different than normal to determine if they increased their yield. Economics and sustainability of the practice will also be considered. Yields, cropping history, and production information will be collected in the Corn Yield Challenge management summary.
Cash prizes and plaques will be given to the first, second, and third place teams. First place will receive $1,000, second place will receive $500, and third place will receive $250. Sustainability, crop scouting and “extra mile” awards will also be given, each worth $200.
To participate in 2016, youth must complete and return an entry form by March 15th to the Fillmore County Extension Office in Geneva, NE. Forms can be downloaded at cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/activities. For more information, contact Brandy VanDeWalle atbrandy.vandewalle@unl.edu, Aaron Nygren at anygren2@unl.edu or Amy Timmerman atatimmerman2@unl.edu.
Animal Science
2016 Animal Exhibitor Handbook is Now Available
Poultry is BACK!
As of January 1, 2016, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has officially lifted the ban on poultry shows, fairs and exhibitions that was put in place to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HP AI) last year.
This is very exciting news for many of you and we will all be happy to see the poultry back in the barns this year. 2015 was also a very good educational tool on learning more about biosecurity measures with poultry and other livestock.
As you are purchasing your birds for 2016 be sure to keep track of where you purchase these birds. This information will be needed at check in time.
Quality Assurance
This year all 4-H and FFA members showing livestock of any variety (except horses) will need to go to the Quality Assurance website to update their certification. There will be NO Quality Assurance trainings in your 4-H clubs this year.
Members showing: beef, sheep, goats, swine, rabbit, or poultry, will need to complete and pass 3 lessons in the appropriate age category. Be sure to complete the 3 lessons before the June 15th deadline. Nebraska youth can go to the course at http://campus.extensnion.org. If they have not registered for the course before, they can search for Nebraska Livestock Quality Assurance and register using the enrollment key “Nebraska”, however, if they are already registered, the course will appear in their course list. Questions concerning registration can be e-mailed to lga@unl.edu. In order to keep the quality at the highest level and streamline the services offered, a $5 annual fee for all participants is being implemented.
Upcoming Shows & Events
- May 7 - Spring Fling Dressage Schooling Show, Lancaster Events Center, Lincoln
- May 14 - Missouri Valley Horse Judging Contest, Valley County Fairgrounds, Ord
- May 16 - Free Beef Fitting Clinic, Cuming County Fairgrounds, West Point
- May 25 - 4-H Horse Judging Contest, Pitzer Ranch Arena, Ericson
- May 27&28 - 12th Annual Lively Livestock Jackpot Show (Sheep, Goat, Swine), York County Fairgrounds
- May 28 - Horse Trail Challenge Clinic, Maskenthine Lake Recreation Area in Stanton County
- May 28 - Beef-A-Rama & Swine-A-Rama, Boone County Fairgrounds, Albion
- May 29 - Goat-A-Rama & Sheep-A-Rama, Boone County Fairgrounds, Albion
- June 3&4 - Midwest Livestock Jackpot Show (Swine, Goats, Sheep), Seward County Fairgrounds, Seward
- June 4 - Phelps/Gosper Beef & Sheep 4-H Progress Show, Phelps County Fairgrounds, Holdrege
- June 5 - 4-H Goat Hoof Trimming Clinic, Julie Addison's home, Wayne
- June 11 - Wranglers Fitting & Show Clinic (Beef), Stanton County Fairgrounds, Stanton
- June 12 - Hustler 4-H Progress Show (Swine, Sheep, Beef, Goats), Cuming County Fairgrounds, West Point
- June 12 - Platte Valley Wranglers 4-H Horse Show, Fairgrounds, Wahoo
- June 25 - The Final Drive - Sheep & Goat Progress Show, Fillmore County Fairgrounds, Geneva
- June 25 - Wheeler County Progress Show (Beef), Bartlett Fairgrounds, Bartlett
- June 27&28 - Massey's Show Lamb Camp, Wayne County Fairgrounds, Wayne
Sheep & Goat Weigh In
The Sheep & Goat Weigh-In will be held on Wednesday, June 1st from 6 to 8 p.m. at the fairgrounds. If you plan to show market sheep and/or goats, they must be tagged at the weigh-in. Please read over the guidelines below for female sheep and goats.
Scrapie Guidelines for Sheep and Goats - All female sheep and goats exhibited at the fair will need to have the official USDA identification (scrapie tag). This applies both to market and breeding animals, regardless of age. Wethers do not need the USDA identification. The tag must be in place at weigh-in on May 27th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Please visit the following website for more information at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/approved-tag-co.shtml.
Phelps County 4-H Small Animal Progress Show
Winners Unlimited Livestock Judging Camps
OFFERING TWO SESSIONS IN SUMMER 2016!
SESSION I: JUNE 7-9
SESSION II: JUNE 11-13
$250/person (includes meals, lodging, and materials)
Limited to 35 participants per session. First come, first-serve.
This camp is designed for 4-H and FFA members (age 12-18) looking to perfect their livestock evaluation and oral reasons skills. Brad Bennett, as well as 2016 team members will focus on proper evaluation with a special emphasis on reasons format, terminology, and delivery.For more information, visit: animalscience.unl.edu/unl-livestock-judging-team, or contact:
Brad Bennett, Livestock Judging Coach | 402.472.8834 | bbennett8@unl.edu
Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest
2016 Nebraska District 4-H Horse Shows
- June 13 - Kearney
- June 14 - Chadron
- June 15 - McCook
- June 16 - Leigh
- June 17 - Bloomfield
- June 21 - Lincoln
All entries are due to the county office by May 13, 2016. All Level testing required for participation in the 2016 District 4-H Horse Show MUST be completed by May 13, 2016.
All entries fro the State Horse Show much be mailed by May 13, 2016. These include Showmanship, Halter, All Cattle Classes, Hunter Hack, Dressage, Advanced Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Pleasure and Horsemanship, Trail, 2 year old and 3 year old Western Pleasure and Working Ranch.
2016 Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Show July 10-14, 2016!
Tractor Safety Courses Planned
The 2016 Tractor Safety Trainings will be held in seven locations across the state during May, June, and July.
Any youth 14 or 15 years of age who works on a farm or ranch other than his/her parents’ is required to be certified through a tractor safety course. Extension Educators and field specialists will teach the 2-day courses.
The training in this area will be June 20-21, 2016 at Wayne County Fair Grounds, Wayne, NE.
Cost for the course is $60, which includes all course materials, lunch both days and breaks. Registration is requested a week prior to class. For details or to register, contact the Nebraska Extension Office in Thurston County at 402-385-6041.