Thurston County 4-H News
July 2023
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Sydney Williams, Extension Assistant, sydney.williams@unl.edu
Allison Claussen, Summer Assistant, aclaussen3@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
July 4 - Office Closed - 4th of July Holiday
July 10 - Thurston Co. 4-H Council Meeting; TBD
July 12-15 - Fremont 4-H Expo
July 15-19 - Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo
July 21 - ALL Dakota-Thurston County Pre-Fair Entries DUE
July 29 - Pre-Fair Clean Up
July 30 - Aug 6 - Dakota-Thurston County Fair
July 31 - Dakota-Thurston 4-H Fair Clothing Day
Aug 2 - Entry Day- Static and ALL Animals
Aug 8 - Post Fair Clean Up
Aug 10 - State Fair Animal & In-Person Contest Entries DUE
Aug 19-20 - 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop, Sportsman Club in West Point
Aug 25-Sept 4 - NEBRASKA STATE FAIR
Aug 25-27 - 4-H Weekend @ State Fair
Sep 4 - Office Closed - Labor Day
Sep 9-10 - Norfolk Beef Expo
Sep 11 - Joint 4-H Council Meeting; TBD
Sep 22-25- Ak-Sar-Ben Stock Show, Fonner Park, Grand Island
Member Info
Dakota-Thurston PRINTED Fairbook is HERE!!
WE HAVE PRINTED FAIRBOOKS! STOP AND PICK ONE UP!!
Keep Up on Facebook!
Thurston County Summer Workshops Are DONE!
Check out our Facebook page and you might see a few familiar faces!
Call for Volunteers
Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop - August 19-20
Click here to view the brochure: 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop.pdf
4-H Community Service
County Fair Information
Fair Entry Info
ONLINE ENTRIES ARE AVAILABLE: https://thurston.fairwire.com/
Want to print out a paper copy: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dakota/fair-entry-info/
Late Entry Policy
1) 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.
These do not apply to any State Fair submissions! State Fair deadlines are hard and firm!
Livestock Exhibits
PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY AS THINGS HAVE CHANGED THIS YEAR!
Poultry Exhibitors - When you enter your animals Wednesday, August 2nd, from 6:00 –8:00PM we are asking that you check your animals in with either the superintendents or Extension Staff. We want to try and ensure that our show programs are accurate. Your assistance on this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Rabbit Exhibitors - The Rabbit Show is on Tuesday, August 1st. Check-in is from 8:00 - 9:30 AM; Show starts at 10:30 AM.
Bedding - The fair board will be supplying bedding for livestock projects. If you have special needs for your projects, it is your responsibility to bring the supplies or contact the Fair Board.
Stalling Horses - The Dakota~Thurston County Fairboard voted in 2010, That if a horse is showed, it must be stalled. No veterinarian excuses will be accepted. This applies to all horses exhibiting at the 4-H Horse Show, no expectations. All horses must be stalled and checked in at the fairgrounds with the Superintendents or Extension Staff on Wednesday, August 3rd from 6:00-8:00PM.
Livestock Check-in - Wednesday, August 2nd from 6:00 - 8:00 pm is check-in day at the fair. Please check-in your animals at the respective livestock scale. This will help us with making sure we have the right exhibitors and livestock that are on the fairgrounds and help with correct stall assignments and correct show programs. Reminder: Swine ear tags need to be purchased for $3.00 each at the time of check-in.
No early release of animals - Please refer to the fair book for the following rule: All live animals, 4-H/FFA, Open Class (except cats, dogs, household pets/birds) will remain on the grounds for the duration of the fair. No early releases. Also see the following statement from the Fair Board: Penalty– Premiums will be pulled for exhibits leaving the fairgrounds prior to the aforementioned release time.
Cat, Dog, & Ferret Exhibits - Vaccinations are required for cats, dog (and ferrets) shown at the Dakota - Thurston County Fair. Please submit proof of vaccinations with your animal entries that are due on July 21st. Forms are available on our website. (https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/affidavitsid-forms/)
Bucket Calves - Record books for the Bucket Calf project are due to the Fair Livestock Office by Noon on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. Interviews will be from 1-3 PM on Thursday August 3rd. There will also be a sign up sheet for interview times at Beef Check-in on Wednesday evening! (https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/affidavitsid-forms/)
Remember: Use of Copywritten Images
Copyrighted writing, artwork, videos, and images may be used in 4-H educational exhibits under Fair Use for educational purposes of Copyright Law. In order to qualify for Fair Use, 4-H’ers must:
1) only use a small amount of the copy-written work,
2) add new meaning to the work to make it original,
3) rework it and use it in a totally different way, and
4) use it for nonprofit purposes (not to make money).
Giving credit to the original creator is also recommended.
Supporting Info for 4-H Fair Projects!
Trophy Donors Needed
Trophies that are presented at the 2023 Dakota-Thurston County Fair are great incentives for 4-Hers to excel. Trophies presented cost $25.00 a trophy. Your donations are greatly appreciated!
Volunteers Needed!
- Volunteers are still needed for the fair! Some of the livestock shows may need additional help with wrangling youth, show order, ring set up or miscellaneous duties.
- We need volunteers or parents to help with the 4-H Sponsored Movie Night on Saturday, August 5th. It's at 9:00 PM with free admission!
- Help is also needed in the exhibit hall all day on August 2nd for check in! Please contact the office if you are willing to volunteer!
Wristbands for County Fair
Animal Science & Agriculture
State Fair Livestock & In Person Contest Entry
For more information visit: https://4h.unl.edu/state-fair/live-animal-exhibitor
Livestock includes: All large animals, rabbits, poultry and basically any livestock.
In Person Contests include: Fashion Show, Presentations, ID Contests, and basically anything else that you have to come in person to participate.
State Fair Rabbits - 15 day CVI
Online Insect ID Contest
The Online Insect Identification Contest is currently open and will close on Monday, July 10. Learn more and find study materials are https://4h.unl.edu/online-insect-id-contest
Youth Crop Scouting Competition - August 2
Haskell Ag Lab Family Field Day - August 10
Make plans to attend the Haskell Ag Lab (HAL) Science & Ag Family Field Day on Thursday, August 10, 2023. The event will run from 9 AM to 3 PM. The Haskell Ag Lab is located 1 1/2 miles east of Concord, Nebraska. Note there is bridge construction so a detour is needed. Check back often as this page will be updated with more information. https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/hal/halfieldday2023/