Thurston County 4-H News
November/December 2023
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Sydney Williams, Extension Assistant, sydney.williams@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
Important Dates
Nov 23-24 - Thanksgiving Holiday - office closed
Dec 1 - 2023 4-H Achievement Applications Due!
Dec 12 - Extension Board Meeting (rescheduled); Thurston Co. Extension Office - 6:30 PM
Dec 25 - Christmas Day - office closed
Jan 1 - New Years' Day - office closed
Jan 8 - 4-H Council Meeting - Thurston Co. Extension Office (6:30 PM)
Jan 15 - Martin Luther King Day - office closed
Feb 12 - Joint 4-H Council; Pender Fire Hall (6:30 PM)
Feb 19 - Extension Board Meeting
Feb 25 - 4-H Achievement/Kick-Off Party; Pender Lanes (12:00-3:00 PM)
Member Info
Thurston 4-H Fair Premiums Review - Due 11/27!
Please let us know if there are any changes by Monday, November 27th!
If you have any questions contact us at: 402-385-6041 or sydney.williams@unl.edu
4-H Ambassador Applications still open!
Would you like to help promote 4-H in Dakota and Thurston Counties?
Apply to become a 4-H Ambassador.
Learn leadership skills, meet 4-H'ers from across the state, serve as a role model, help with workshops, member recruitment and more!
Link to the application is below. Contact the Extension Office for more information.
Ag Innovators Experience
DEADLINE APPROACHING! Nebraska 4-H is seeking teen leaders for this year’s Ag Innovators Experience, Protect the Plate. We need 20+ facilitators to deliver the Ag Innovators Experience in their communities. We also need three state facilitators to attend the national training and provide leadership for local facilitators. Applications are due Nov. 22. Applications are available at https://4h.unl.edu/ag-innovators-experience
2023 4-H Achievement Applications - Due December 1!!
(Seniors this is how you get Scholarship monies from the Nebraska 4-H Foundation)
Click the links for more information: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/4-h-achievement-application/
Reach out to us if you have any questions!!
State Achievement Applications due January 5th!
State achievement applications are due Friday, Jan. 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 https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application
NEW Volunteer Orientation!
Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/volunteer-orientation.
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 Tuesday, Jan. 2. For more details or to apply, visit https://4h.unl.edu/omaha-fashion-week
Awards & Recognition Season
Community Service Showcase
2023 4-H STEM Challenge
Developed by 4-H educators from across the country, Power Protectors is a collection of three activities that teach kids how to address real-world issues and explore careers in energy. The STEM Challenge kit is perfect for youth ages 8-14. Learn more at 4-H.org/programs/stem-challenge/
Project Spotlight
We all know about the 4-H livestock, cooking and sewing projects. But with nearly 50 projects to choose from, there are likely some you aren’t familiar with. These five often-overlooked projects offer real-world skills and unique experiences: https://4h.unl.edu/news/nebraska-4-h-5-underrated-practical-projects
Animal Science & Agriculture
Age Eligibility Change for 4-H Statewide Events in 2024
As you know, in 2023, Nebraska 4-H lowered the age limit for participation in the Nebraska State Fair for all in-person events to nine years of age. That change increased our participation and provided more youth the opportunity to have an engaging learning experience. We had many positive comments from legacy families as well as new.
This fall, we have had follow-up conversations with many of you as well as the show superintendents and various teams that run these events during State Fair and throughout the year. Based on that feedback and our goal of increasing access, the decision has been made to change the age of eligibility in 2024 to be 8 years of age before January 1 (of the current year) for all in-person State Fair events (livestock, contests, fashion shows) and other state competitions (Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo, PASE, communications contest).
Note: there will be some events that will maintain their ages due to specific program rules (shooting sports, FIRST LEGO League Challenge, robotics). Please check information on each specific event as it becomes available.
Nebraska Fed Steer Challenge
Nebraska Fed Steer Challenge applications now open! The 4-H Fed Steer Challenge is a unique opportunity for members looking to take their 4-H beef project to the next level.
Applications are open and due December 1, 2023 for the 2024 program year. For more information regarding the Fed Steer Challenge, or to apply to participate in 2024, visit https://4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge
4-H Livestock Achievement Program
The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership.
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 livestock achievement program consists of two levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related educational, leadership and citizenship 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.
Youth completing the application, plan & report, and the project record for their designated species receive member of excellence distinction for their project area. 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.
Special Garden Project for 2024
As you begin making plans for 2024, be sure to check out the Special Garden Project. It offers a unique introduction to plant science. Members are given seeds and guided through planting, growing, and harvesting seasons. Members can exhibit a cut flower or harvested vegetable at the fair if all goes well. Otherwise, youth can share their experience through a poster, story, or video exhibit.
Next year, members will work with the PRINCESS INDIA NASTURTIUM. Visit https://4h.unl.edu/special-garden-project to learn more.
4-H Dog Achievement Program
The program consists of levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. For each level, the Dog Achievement program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H youth choose their goals. The accomplishments increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. At the beginning of the 4-H year, participants plan what to accomplish and at the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Successful completion of a level's Plan & Report form results in a 4-H youth earning that level of the Dog Achievement program.
More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/dog-achievement-program
For any questions, contact Grace Kim at Grace.kim@unl.edu
It is recommended on the program page that Plan & Report Forms should be to county offices at least 1 month prior to the county awards night for youth to be recognized.
Continuing Education
Don & Martha Romeo Scholarship
The Nebraska Association of Fair Managers will award a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H male and a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H female who are graduating seniors in the state of Nebraska and who plan to continue with post high school education. The scholarship will be awarded at the annual NAFM convention in January. Please share the application, found at https://www.nebraskafairs.org/newsletters.php, with high school seniors in your county.
Applications should be submitted to local Extension Offices by Thursday, November 30. Extension Offices in Nebraska are asked to return finalists to the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers (ATTN: Ricky Gennrich, PO Box 223, Bertrand, NE 68927 or rickygennrich@gmail.com) on or before December 10, 2023.
More details at: https://www.nebraskafairs.org/newsletters.php