Gage 4-H News
August Newsletter
In This Issue:
Announcements:
- Welcome Bailey Schroeder, Gage County Office Manager
- 2021 Gage County Fair Dates
- 4-H Building Inc.
Gage County Fair Wrap-up:
- Nebraska Strong at the Gage County Fair
- 2020 Gage County Fair 4-H/FFA Results
- County Fair Reminders
- Thank you Donors & Volunteers
Nebraska State Fair:
- Information
- Static Exhibits
- County Booth Showcase - call for volunteers
Notes to 4-H Members:
- Chicken Coop
Notes to 4-H Leaders:
- Spotlight on 4-H
- Gage County 4-H Council
Calendar of Events
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Welcome Bailey! | Gage County Extension Office Manager
Hey everyone! My name is Bailey Schroeder and I am a recent graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Animal Science. I grew up on my family’s 3rd-generation cow/calf operation where I have also started my own herd. I was involved in 4-H and FFA, where I showed cattle. I enjoy helping out on my family’s operation, working on expanding my cattle herd, attending cattle shows, and hanging out with friends in my spare time.
SAVE THE DATE!
4-H Building Inc. Update
The most recent meeting of 4-H Building Inc. was held on Aug. 10th where the fair was reviewed and planning for the coming months began. Several big projects are coming up and are looking forward to showing you the updates! We want to thank Blue River 4-H club for applying for the youth at work grant for the building and all the hard work put in to painting and the new blinds. Please feel free to come to our next meeting or call Megan Overbeck-Secretary at 402-239-7619 if your club would like to help out with any upcoming projects or serve on our board!
Gage County Fair Wrap-up
Nebraska Strong at the Gage County Fair
Winners were evident everywhere at the Gage County Fair - from the 4-H and FFA exhibitors, to the donors, to the hundreds of volunteers, to the management of the fair. The success of the fair is 100% dependent on volunteers. You set up, take entries and make displays, record entries, run gates, announce, tear down, clean up the grounds, and much more. You are the ones who make this event great!
Congratulations to exhibitors, families and participants. You exhibited sportsmanship, teamwork, and positive character. Parents are priceless in the 4-H program, giving time to your children and other children throughout the year and during fair week to help them learn new skills and perfect the “old” ones. Our favorite signs in the livestock barns read “Many champions pass-through this barn but the best of all are the kids who work in it.”
The Gage County Fair & Expo is a celebration of what 4-H and FFA youth have achieved, the showcase for youth to share what they’ve learned. Participation in a county fair has been shown to develop leadership skills, character, life skills, positive relationships, decision making, goal setting and working together.
4-H and FFA youth exhibited over 800 livestock, poultry, rabbits, small pets, and horse events. Exhibits in the 4-H Building totaled nearly 1,200 entries with over 200 exhibits qualifying for the Nebraska State Fair. These exhibitors will remember purple ribbons and the thrill of the trophy, as well as the red ribbons and life lessons.
Giving us faith in the future, Clover Kids non-competitive exhibits in the 4-H Building were awesome for these future 4-H members, kids who can’t wait to join 4-H.
The support of award donors is vital to the recognition of the success of 4-H and FFA youth. Our thanks to over 150 businesses and organizations in the county who give so generously.
Thanks for believing in the value of rewarding youth for their accomplishments.
Thanks to the Gage County Ag Society and spouses for your hard work, time, energy, and love of kids. Their support pays for judges fees of over $5,000; premium money exceeds $7,000, plus ribbons, and the many other components of the fair. Thanks to the Gage County Ag Society for organizing the Livestock Auction which brought-in over $35,000 in support for our youth livestock project participants.
Although we had an interesting year, we appreciate and thank the Gage County Ag Society for their willingness and determination to make the 2020 Gage County Fair a success! Thanks to everyone who watched, physically or virtually. Your presence and support mean a lot to the 4-H program and our wonderful youth who participate.
County Fair Reminders
- Premium Checks will be mailed this week! In an effort to assist the Ag Society with wrap-up of fair accounting, please cash your premium check WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.
- Livestock Premium Auction participants, please send thank you notes to your donors.
- Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Awards will be ready to pick-up from the Gage County Extension Office on Friday, August 21. Checks will be mailed to the 4-H'er if that is your only award, otherwise, they can be picked up at the Extension Office.
Thanks to Award Donors & Fair Supporters
Nebraska State Fair
Nebraska State Fair Information
The Nebraska State Fair Board announced that the 2020 Nebraska State Fair will be a celebration of 4-H and FFA youth! While the State Fair will look different than it has in the past, we are excited to see the support for young people and to showcase the projects they’ve been working on throughout the year.
Here are some updated and highlights for 4-H exhibitors:
- The 4-H contests and 4-H livestock shows will all be held on the first weekend (Aug 29-30).
- 4-H static exhibits will not be re-judged at State Fair. Static exhibits will receive special recognition, and best of show awards will be selected. Static exhibits will remain on display throughout the fair.
- The Youth Dairy Show and Dairy Judging Contest will be on the second weekend.
- The FFA livestock shows will be on the second weekend (Sept 5-6).
- By having the shows on separate weekends, there will be more space in the barns; hence, 4-H livestock entry limits will remain the same.
Stay tuned to 4h.unl.edu/state-fair for more updates as details are finalized.
Static Exhibits at the Nebraska State Fair
- All perishable static exhibits and large/fragile items will be submitted to the virtual showcase, rather than being transported to the State Fair. They will not physically go to the Nebraska State Gair, so there is no need to bring them to the Extension Office. Photos have been taken at the Gage County fair.
- All articles that will not be virtually displayed must be at the Extension Office by 4:30 p.m., Thursday, August 20, 2020 to be transported to Grand Island. Please remove your county entry tags. We will attach the State Fair entry tag.
- If you do not plan to bring your exhibit(s) please let us know immediately so the alternate can be notified.
- Every item in all exhibits must be labeled with your name and county.
- The Gage County Extension staff and Volunteers are not responsible for damage, breakage, or loss of any items entrusted to their care in the delivery or return from the Nebraska State Fair. We recommend that valuable items not be entered or insured by the exhibitor for the duration of the Nebraska State Fair. There will not be secure display areas in 2020.
Gage County Booth Display
Livestock Exhibitor Information
There will be random DNA checks and drug testing for all species. Please make sure to follow all guidelines and ethical practices outlined in the Nebraska 4-H State Fair Book.
State Fair Certified Veterinary Inspections and Health Requirements:
- Please visit the state fair website for livestock health requirements.
- If you are planning to exhibit beef or swine at the State Fair, please remember you will need to obtain health papers issued from your vet within 30 days of exhibition with the exception of shorn sheep, meat goats, dairy goats and rabbits.
- Sheep and goat exhibitors will need to get vet papers issued within 15 days of exhibition at the State Fair.
- Swine CVI must contain the following statement: "To the best of my knowledge, swine represented on this certificate have not been exposed to, infected with or originated from premises known to be infected by Swine Enteric Corona Disease (SECD) or Seneca Valley Virus (SVV) in the last 30 days.
- NEW - Rabbits CVI Required in 2020 - Rabbit Hemmorrhagic Disease (RHDV-2) has been identified in the southern and western states in the U.S. With increased convert, all rabbits exhibiting at the 2020 Nebraska State Fair must have a CVI within 15 days of exhibition. Refer to the health requirements link above. Each CVI must be issued by an accredited, licensed veterinarian; show name and address of owner or exhibitor; show that the rabbit does not have signs of RHDV-2.
Notes to 4-H Members
Career Portfolio OR Achievement Application | Due October 1
The fair is over, the excitement settled, and it’s time for 4-H members to record your accomplishments for the year. October 1 is right around the corner - the time to submit your Career Portfolio or Achievement Application and Gage County Awards Application. No project records required. The September newsletter will contain the details, with the awards application. We want to recognize all youth for your achievements.
The 4-H Council will award $2.00 per member to clubs whose membership has 100% completion of the forms turned in to the Extension Office by October 1. All names on your club membership printout are included.
Diamond Clover | Due October 1
Chicken Coop Available
Notes to 4-H Leaders
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Nebraska Extension Gage County
Email: Gage-County@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/gage/
Location: 1115 West Scott Street, Beatrice, NE, USA
Phone: 402-223-1384
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionGageCo/
Twitter: @GageCoExtension