Hall County 4-H Newsletter
December 2023
IT'S TIME TO ENROLL IN 4-H!
It's that time! New and returning 4-H families may now enroll at https://v2.4honline.com. (Returning 4-H families, please enroll under the same email login that was used the previous year; do not create a new account.) Enrollment fees remain $10 per youth. Fees may be paid online during the 4-H enrollment process or by check/cash at the Hall County Extension Office.
Important Update on Project Selection: Starting in the 2023-2024 program year, project selection is now optional. By successfully completing the 4-H member enrollment by the June 15th deadline, youth will be eligible to participate and exhibit in any project area, contest, county and state fairs. While project selection is optional, it is encouraged for youth to select projects they are interested in exploring. Please note:
- Youth are only eligible to exhibit in a specific project area or contest in a single county.
- Horse and shooting sports projects will continue to require project enrollment due to the parental consent required to participate in these projects.
If you have any questions regarding the enrollment process, please call the Extension Office at 308-385-5088. We are here to help!
ENROLLMENT DRAWING WINNER!
Congratulations to Peyton Allan! She is the winner of our early bird 4-H enrollment drawing and will receive a gift certificate to the Grand Theatre. Thank you to everyone who enrolled in 4-H early this year! 😃
SIGN UP FOR 4-H TEXT MESSAGES!
NEW – Hall County 4-H will be using the Remind app (in addition to email & social media) to communicate important 4-H news, events & deadlines to 4-H families. Get information for Hall County 4-H right on your phone! Two-way text messaging makes it more convenient for families to receive important information. Plus, it’s free and easy to use!
Options to sign up for Remind:
- Option 1 - Click the link to sign up, https://www.remind.com/join/4h-hall.
- Option 2 - Text the message @4h-hall to the number 81010.
See the attached pdf below.
Please call Crystal at 308-385-5088 for assistance.
LITTLE FREE PANTRY BUILT BY LOCAL 4-H CLUB
Kountryside Kids 4-H Club has just completed the installation of a Little Free Pantry at Lincoln Elementary School. They are excited to partner with Grand Island Public Schools (and you!) on this project!
The club is inviting 4-H families and clubs to join them in keeping the pantry filled with food, hygiene, seasonal needs, and home essentials, through the next year. If your family or club would like to contribute to the pantry, sign up for a week (or more) in 2024, by following this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45ABA72DA7FBCF8-45801707-lincoln.
Our thanks to the Allan family for building the pantry! The Little Free Pantry is supported by Hall County 4-H, the Nutrition Education Program (NEP), and UNL Extension. If you have any questions, call the Extension Office at 308-385-5088 or email LaDonna at ladonna.obermiller@unl.edu. For ideas of items to put in the Little Free Pantry, click Little Free Food Pantry Food Safety Information | UNL Food.
YQCA TRAINING OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK
We're excited to provide YQCA training over the holiday break again! What a great time to complete this required training and check it off your to-do list!
Dates/Times Offered:
- Wednesday, December 27th, 2-4 pm
- Wednesday, December 27th, 6-8 pm
Location: Hall County Extension meeting room
*Remember, YQCA Training is REQUIRED for all youth (4-H age 8-18) planning to show beef, swine, sheep, goats, dairy, poultry & rabbits at County and/or State Fair. Clover Kids are not required to take the course. Youth showing bucket calves only are not required to take the course.
Great news! Attending the face-to-face training costs only $3 per youth (compared to $12 for the online course) and it takes less time than the online training. Important! Youth must be enrolled in 4-H Online for the upcoming 4-H year before completing YQCA training.
Follow these steps:
- Enroll in 4-H Online at v2.4honline.com (remember to use your same login information from last year if you are a returning 4-H member).
- Visit yqcaprogram.org/ and sign in with your same login information from last year, unless this is your first time taking the course.
- Find the training session you will attend on the list and register. Be sure you select the correct date, time, location, and trainer Megan Knuth.
- Pay the $3 fee with a credit card.
- Please contact the office to let us know which session you are attending.
- Complete the pretest prior to the training - located on the “Enrolled Trainings” page.
- Attend the training.
- Following the training take the post survey and print your certificate.
If the above dates/times do not work for you, there are other opportunities for face-to-face YQCA trainings in nearby counties. Call the Extension Office for more information at 308-385-5088.
LIVESTOCK WEIGH-IN DATE SET
Market Beef Weigh-In
The 4-H Market Beef Weigh-In will be held Saturday, January 6th at Platte Valley Vet Clinic in Alda from 8-11 am. If you plan to show market beef at County Fair or State Fair, you need to weigh in at this time. In order for market beef to be eligible for State Fair, they must have an EID tag and DNA must be pulled at weigh-in.
There are opportunities to weigh calves in surrounding counties; however, if you plan on showing animals at the Hall County Fair, we prefer that you weigh your animals at our weigh-in on the 6th. If you have questions about livestock weigh-in day, contact Megan or Crystal.
- DNA cost is $7 per animal (paid later during the online nominations at showstockmgr.com)
- The cost of the ear tags will be covered by Friends of 4-H.
FABRIC DONATIONS NEEDED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT!
Attention 4-H Families & Volunteers!
Do you have extra fabric laying around? The Sew Crazy 4-H Club needs your help! They are making pillowcases for a community service project and need cotton fabric. They specifically need 1 1/4 yards (total 48") of the same colored/patterned 100% cotton fabric (minimum of 7/8 yard). These pillowcases will be handed out to young kids and teens in need, so fun fabric is welcome. Donations can be dropped off at the Hall County Extension Office located at College Park by Friday, December 8th.
JOIN SEW CRAZY 4-H SEWING CLUB!
- Who: Any youth interested in sewing, ages 5-18.
- When: Saturday, December 9, 2023
- Where: Hall County Extension meeting room
- What Time: 1:00-4:00 pm
- December Project: Pillowcases for Community Service project
Club Leaders: Annette Schimmer and Barb Hovie
- Annette 308-379-7191 | netterz95@gmail.com
- Barb 308-379-5208 | barbarahovie@gmail.com
PLEASE contact Annette or Barb if you plan to attend, or if you have questions. A list of supplies needed will be sent via email before the meeting.
OMAHA FASHION WEEK
Omaha Fashion Week
We’re seeking applications for the Omaha Fashion Week 4-H Collection! Selected applicants will model their garments during the Omaha Fashion Week Student Night on Wednesday, Feb. 21. Applications are due January 5. For more details or to apply, visit 4h.unl.edu/ofw.
SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
State Achievement Application
State achievement applications are due Friday, January 5! These applications are used to select National 4-H Congress delegates, National 4-H Conference delegates, and Nebraska 4-H Foundation scholarship recipients. Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/achievement-application.
Nebraska 4-H Foundation Scholarships
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation offers 4-H members the opportunity to apply for scholarships. The Nebraska 4-H Foundation awards up to $22,000 worth of scholarships each year to 4-H’ers from across the state. All scholarship applications must be submitted via the Annual Achievement Application and are due January 5, 2024. For guidelines and more information, go to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation website: www.ne4hfoundation.org/scholarships.
4-H STEM ACTIVITY BACKPACKS
Check out a STEM Backpack for your family for the Holiday Break! Each of the backpacks contains theme-based books, activity sheets & materials, and a step-by-step lesson plan for adults. Most of the lessons are also available in Spanish.
SPECIAL GARDEN PROJECT
Check Out the 2024 Special Garden Project!
The 2024 plant will be Princess India Nasturtium. Learn more about the Special Garden Project and how to get started at 4h.unl.edu/sgp.
To reserve your Special Garden Project seeds,
- Enroll in 4-H at v2.4honline.com.
- Complete the following google form: go.unl.edu/hallcosgporder by January 31, 2024.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Take a Look at These Overlooked Projects!
COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROVIDED BY OUR LOCAL 4-H TEAM
After-School with 4-H
The Hall County 4-H team has been busy providing fun, engaging programs at the Wood River after-school program. Around 70 kids participate in the after-school program and have learned about 4-H, experienced AR coloring, created worm farms, made fun food, experimented with STEM activities, learned more about caring for small animals, and oohed and awed over live rabbits!
Inventure Days
D'Ette has been out and about teaching at Inventure Days in central Nebraska! During this full-day program, students work in teams to create a product/business from a widget and present their ideas shark-tank style to a panel of judges. Community mentors and entrepreneurs provide guidance throughout the fun-filled day while students learn more about entrepreneurship as a career path!
Awards
A shoutout to our local 4-H team! They received awards from the national NAE4-HYDP association. Awards were received for Outstanding Achievement in a Promotional Piece (Kids College), Excellence in Healthy Living award (Stop the Pass program in the Tri-Cities region), and a Citizenship in 4-H Youth Development Award for their Project Kindness program. Congrats!
HORSE NEWS
Save the Date!
The next Horse Advisory meeting will be on February 12 at 6:30 pm at the Hall County Extension Office meeting room. It is important we have as many 4-H members as possible at this meeting. The discussions will be around: High Point requirements, independent and club duties during the Hall County Fair horse show, and requirements to participate in certain classes. Please watch your email for more information.
SHOOTING SPORTS
4-H Shooting Sports Information, Statewide Competitions
Go to 4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports for more information about the Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports program & to view the calendar of upcoming statewide shooting sports competitions!
Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshops & Update Sessions
In order to run a club, county, or multi-county 4-H shootings sports program, leaders and instructors must be certified by Nebraska 4-H. Volunteers must attend a Leader Certification Workshop designed to cover the needed knowledge and guidelines to become a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Leader/Instructor.
Go to 4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports/instructor for information regarding upcoming leader certification workshops & updates. If you are interested in becoming a certified shooting sports instructor for Hall County 4-H, please contact LaDonna Obermiller at 308-385-5088.
YEAR-END 4-H CLUB TREASURER'S REPORT
Club Leaders, it’s time to fill out the annual treasurer’s report. Even if your club does not handle money, the form still needs to be signed & turned in to the Extension office.
NEW: There is a Club Inventory Report that must be filled out as well.
Forms can be found here: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/hall/4-H/NEW%20Year%20End%20Treasurer%27s%2C%20Inventory%20Report%20fillable.pdf) and will be sent via email as well. Reports are due to the Extension office by January 31st. If you have any questions, call Joyce at (308) 385-5088 or email jkrolikowski2@unl.edu.
NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION
Nebraska 4-H has launched a new volunteer orientation. This online training serves as an introduction to the 4-H Youth Development program in Nebraska and covers a few essential topics for volunteers.
While the orientation is required for new volunteers and those going through the re-screening process, any interested individuals, including current and prospective volunteers, are welcome to complete the course. Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/volunteer-orientation.
LIVESTOCK ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM
Through the Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement program, youth can receive recognition as Members of Excellence for engaging in various project-related activities. NEW in 2024: Members as young as eight will be able to participate. Applications are due June 15, but why wait? Visit 4h.unl.edu/livestock-achievement to get started.
CALENDAR
December 25 - Christmas Day; Extension Office closed.
December 27 - YQCA Training, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at the Extension Office.
January 1 - New Year's Day; Extension Office closed.
January 6 - Market Beef Weigh-In, 8-11 am at the Platte Valley Vet Clinic in Alda.
D'Ette Scholtz
4-H Youth Development
Megan Knuth
4-H Youth Development
LaDonna Obermiller
4-H Youth Development
Crystal Beissenherz
Office Manager
Joyce Krolikowski
Nebraska Extension - Hall County
Email: hall-county@unl.edu
Website: hall.unl.edu
Location: 3180 W Hwy 34, College Park, Grand Island, Nebraska, USA
Phone: 308-385-5088
Facebook: facebook.com/HallCounty4HNebraska
Twitter: @4HHoopla