Webster County 4-H Newsletter
January 2022 Edition
Happy January
Happy New Year!! We made it to 2022. 2021 flew by, now we are ready to start the new year! We hope everyone had a great Christmas, New Year's, and school break. We can't wait to see what 2022 brings!
-The Webster County Extension Staff
Important Dates & Events
- January 3rd: Omaha Fashion Week Applications Due
- January 4th: BRAG Applications Due
- January 16th: Webster County Jr Leaders Meeting
- January 17th: Office Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- February 11th: YQCA Training - Blue Hill
- February 11th: YQCA Training - Red Cloud
- February 12th: Cattlemen's Classic Livestock Judging
- February 15th: Webster County Youth Council 4-H Scholarship Due
- February 15th: Lyle Niemeyer 4-H Scholarship Due
- February 1st: Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort Application Due
- February 1st: Start of National 4-H Month
- February 21st: Office Closed in Observance of President's Day
- February 26th: Last 4-H Beef Weigh In - Red Cloud
BRAG (Big Red Ag Growers)
State Level Achievement Applications
The Achievement Application is the standard application form used for the selection of county and state award winners, including Nebraska delegates to National 4-H Congress and National 4-H Conference, as well as Nebraska 4-H Foundation scholarship award recipients. Only Senior Achievement Applications (ages 15-18) are accepted for state-level awards and recognition.
Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/achievement-application
Last Webster 4-H Beef Weigh in for the Year!
2022 YQCA In Person Training Dates
Spring 4-H After School Program
- Save the Dates for Silver Lake and Blue Hill After School!
- Silver Lake: March 1st, 8th, and 15th. Registration link and flyer to come!
- Blue Hill: April 5th, 12th, and 26th. Registration link and flyer to come!
4-H Online 2.0 and Open Enrollment
Click on the video below to watch a walk through on how to enroll on the new system of 4-H Online.
Omaha Fashion Week
Livestock Judging
Horse Health and Horse Nutrition Short Courses.
Looking for that holiday gift for your equestrian friends? Or for yourself? Check out these two short courses on Horse Health and Horse Nutrition from Extension Horses. They are available from December 15 to May 15. You can start at any time, and each course has 6 lessons from University and industry experts from around the country. At $50 per course, that is less than $10 per lesson. Click here to enroll.https://catalog.extension.org/?category=6&keyword=Hippology+Shortcourse&cond=advand&searchcategory=
Scholarships
Livestock Achievement Program
The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.
The program consists of two levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals. Each accomplishment is worth a specific number of points. Intermediates, ages 10-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence. Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence. The Plan and Reports, linked on the webpage, show examples of the project related accomplishments they can choose, or they can identify their own with approval of their local educator.
Applications/Sign up are due June 15th through the application form link on the website. Plan and Reports, as well as Project Records will be due August 10 via the completion form on the website. Youth completing the achievement program and receiving member of excellence recognition in the various species will be recognized during the Parade of Champions, 4-H weekend at the Nebraska State Fair.
For more information or to apply, go to: Livestock Achievement Program | Nebraska 4-H (unl.edu)
Ashley Benes ashley.benes@unl.edu
Brett Kreifels brett.kreifels@unl.edu
Cole Meador cmeador2@unl.edu
Congratulations to Libby Macklin!
Libby Macklin of Blue Hill recently competed in the Western National Roundup in Denver, Colorado. This event is held each year in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show. Participation is open to both 4-H and FFA member delegates, approved by their respective state offices. Youth participate in one or more contests and have the opportunity to attend workshops and a career fair. Competition is for both individuals and teams. There is a broad array of contests and the event draws over 1,000 attendees. The Western National Roundup provides a place for youth to compete nationally while encouraging teamwork and self-confidence and focusing on the 4-H Mission mandates: science, engineering, technology, mathematics, healthy living, and citizenship. Libby was eligible to compete in the National 4-H Horse Classic Western Division Horse Public Speaking Contest. She qualified to compete by winning the public speaking contest last March at the Nebraska 4-H Horse Stampede at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Her speech was titled: Wild Horses - History, Management, and Challenges. She received second place individual in the Horse Public Speaking Contest at the Western National Roundup.
Libby is the daughter of Joel and Sara Macklin and is a member of the Webster County Wranglers 4-H Club and Blue Hill FFA Chapter.
Horse Stampede
4-H Horse Stampede Art Contest
Be an enrolled 4-H youth member for the 2022 year
Do you fall under these age divisions? 8-11 yrs. old, 12-14 yrs. old, 15-18 yrs. old as of January 1st
Fill out the Entry Form
Artwork must be original and equine related
Art media may include watercolor, oil, acrylic, pencil, chalk, charcoal, pen/ink, crayon, or pastels.
Artwork must be matted with suitable matting board with a maximum 3” border. Matting may be black, white, or colored. No glass or frames allowed.
Artwork must be complete and matted by March 26, 2022
We look forward to seeing you at Stampede!
Special Agronomy Project
The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different.
The focus of the 2022 Special Agronomy Project is Broomcorn Sorghum. Broomcorn can be used for ornamental uses in floral arrangements or harvested for broom-use prior to seed maturity. To participate in the Special Agronomy Project, enroll in the project through 4-H Online or call your local extension office to reserve seed.
There are three ways to complete this at the county or state fair. First, an educational exhibit that can be in a poster format can include what you learned. Secondly, let your creativity go wild and create a video-type presentation explaining what you have learned, showing the growing process, etc. Finally, you can enter the crop itself. To do this, cut 4 stalks at the ground level and bound-together with supporting information about the project. For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules
Special Garden Project
Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort
Nebraska 4-H Month
Summer Camp Registration
SOAR Dog Workshop
We are excited to present our SOAR workshop series in conjunction with Platte Valley Kennel Club! Learn from experienced clinicians provided by Platte Valley Kennel Club! This workshop series will have a total of 3 to 4 sessions throughout the spring/ summer months (dates to come). Handlers will gain greater success in participating in each workshop as it provides action steps for youth to move forward and builds upon the skills learned from previous sessions. We do encourage others to join any of our workshops even if you cannot go to all of them.
Along with building skills with your dog(s), youth will also learn more about other events and organizations they can participate in to immerse themselves in dog related activities.
To register: https://ssp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5nf7WHgYttOeWoe
Date: February 19th, 2022
Time: 1:00-4:00pm
Address: Companion Dog Club of Omaha and Council Bluffs
10803 N 72nd Street, Omaha NE 68122
Early Registration fee: $15 (per workshop) by February 11th, 2022
Day of Registration fee: $25 ( vaccination forms must be present)
Please make checks payable to: UNL and mailed/postmarked by February 1st. Please include the Participant's name with the payment envelope.
Mail to:
Grace Kim-C204g
PO Box 830
Animal Science-University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE 68583-0908
Additional information provided in the registration link
For further questions about registration contact Grace Kim at: (402)472-6085 or grace.kim@unl.edu or workshop details, Gisele Olney at gcolney@aol.com
UNL Extension in Webster County Newsletter
4-H Leader/Parent Meeting
Happy Birthday to those celebrating in January!!!
The Webster County Extension Office and Courthouse will be closed Monday, Jaunary 17th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Meet Our Team!
Alexa Pedersen
Office Manager
Email: alexa.pedersen@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/webster/
Location: 621 North Cedar Street, Red Cloud, NE, USA
Phone: 4027463417
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WebsterCoExtNE
Katie Bolte
4-H Programming Assistant
Email: katie.bolte@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/webster/
Location: 621 North Cedar Street, Red Cloud, NE, USA
Phone: 4027463417
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WebsterCoExtNE
Beth Janning
4-H Youth Development Extension Educator in Adams/Webster Counties
Beth Janning is a 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator. She provides programming in school enrichment, after-school, and traditional 4-H Programs. Her topic areas include but not limited to animal science, science, engineering and volunteer development.
Email: elizabeth.janning@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/webster/
Phone: 402.746.3417
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WebsterCoExtNE