Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United Sates Department of Agriculture.

Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

© 2019

 

Show your 4-H Pride by wearing a 4-H shirt during the week of February 10th

to help celebrate Nebraska 4-H Month. Also watch for special posts on the Adams County Facebook Page and participate in the fun with your comments.

Celebrate 4-H locally, recruit new members and volunteers, and have fun! This year, Nebraska 4-H Month will kick off the statewide Share Your Adventure call to action. We want to see what 4-H is like from your perspective! Whether you're a 4-H professional, volunteer, council member, club leader, project leader, club member, camper, or even alumni - if you have a 4-H adventure to share, we (and our followers) want to see it! Share your story on social media with a photo or video. Tag @Nebraska4H and #NE4H. Also, consider hosting a Nebraska 4-H Instagram Takeover during Nebraska 4-H Month to show the wide variety of opportunities in 4-H, provide a glimpse into what it's like to be involved in 4-H, and tell the stories of 4-H. To apply to take over the Nebraska 4-H Instagram, complete the interest form at https://4h.unl.edu/instagram-takeover.

F E B R U A RY 2 0 2 0

Adams County 4‐H Newsletter 

News Directory Upcoming Dates to Remember Page 1 - 2

Thank you, Congratulations & General Information Page 2 - 3

Leaders & Parents Corner Page 3 - 4

Youth Information Page 4 - 7

Project Information Page 7 - 14 Shooting Sports, Communications, Family & Consumer Science, Healthy Lifestyles, Environmental Ed & Earth Science, STEM, Plant Science, Livestock, Clover Kids

College Readiness   Page 14 - 15

4-H Council & Extension Contact Information Page 16

4-H Calendar Page 17

February Feb 2 CWF Quarterly Meeting Feb 2 Jr Leader Meeting Feb 3 4-H 101 Feb 3 4-H Council Feb 6 Extension Board Feb 11 Ag Society Feb 14 Early Bird 4-H Enrollment Feb 15 Clover Kids Fun Saturday Feb 15 Quilts of Valor Workshop Feb 17 Ext Office Closed Feb 18 Leaders/Volunteer/Parent Training Feb 29 4-H Day at the Museum

    

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The Adams County Extension Office will be closed February 17th for Presidents Day

LOVE 4-H (Enrollment Deadline)! The 4-H Council has decided to recognize February 14th as the Early Bird 4-H Enrollment Deadline! Back to April 15th for the Enrollment Deadline! If you are enrolled and paid in Adams County 4-H by February 14th you will receive a 4-H

manual of your choice. Please enroll using the 4-H Online program – Instructions, “4-H Available Project Listing in Adams County” and the current Pick-A-Project is available on our website at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/adams/4h/ No packets will be mailed out. Hard copies are available at the Adams County Extension Office. There are a variety of 4-H projects; therefore, you can make your 4-H experience unique. One way to make projects more fun is to find a friend. If they were not in 4-H in the past, assist them in signing up and selecting the same projects to do together. Remember this information is time sensitive with enrollments due on April 15th. Just a reminder that projects can be added to previously filled out enrollment forms until that date.

Youth can start enrolling for 2020 4-H by going to https://ne.4honline.com and sign in by using the email address that you used to create your account last year. If you can’t remember your password select the option “I forgot my password.” If brand new to 4-H, go to https://ne.4honline.com and select “I need to set up a profile.” There is a County enrollment fee of $5 please pay this at the Adams County Extension Office after enrollment is submitted. Payment by cash or check (make payable to Adams County 4-H Council). The enrollment will not be complete until the Extension Office has received the enrollment fee and the

online enrollment has been submitted. Step-by-step instructions for enrolling can be found on our website. If you have any problems or questions, please call Gwen or Twila at 402-461-7209.

Beef Weigh Day – Only 1 date left! Mark your Calendars! The last Adams County Beef Weigh Day is scheduled for March 7th at the Animal Clinic, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Exhibitors planning on showing Market Beef at fair will need to weigh their animals. More information in the Livestock section of this newsletter.

Congratulations & Thank-yous

Thank You Thank you to all who made the 4-H Council’s Soup Supper a huge success. The chicken noodle, chili, and desserts were delicious. A special thank you goes to the 4-H Council fund raising committee for taking charge of the event along with the business sponsors. The CWF baskets were beautiful and unique, along with outstanding decorated cakes for the cake auction. A special thank you to Lee Hogan from Ruhter Auction for being the auctioneer.

    

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Congratulations

Ashlyn Mohling – Runner up for Outstanding Tribland 4-Her.

Leaders & Parents Corner

Junior Leader News Anyone is welcome to join the Junior Leader’s Club that is 13 by January 1, 2020, or older. You must be an active member of the Adams County 4-H program by being a member of an organized 4-H club or an Independent member. Junior Leaders do a lot of fun, learning and leadership activities, this year the focus will be on the “new” achievement program. Some of the activities the club does are: pancake feed and food booth at the county fair, helping with Leader’s Banquet, along with helping members and younger 4-H’ers with 4-H projects and being positive role model for younger 4-H’ers. Bring a friend and make new friends. Also you are eligible to earn a scholarship. If you have any questions, please contact Julie at the Adams County Extension Office (402-461-7209).

Leader & Volunteer Enrollment We depend on and use leaders and volunteers throughout the Adams County 4-H program. Every year the Leaders and Volunteers are required to enroll/reenroll in 4-H Online. Once enrolled for 2019-2020, your status in 4-H Online will be “Pending” until we receive verification that you have cleared the new Volunteer Screening. Once you have submitted your enrollment, you will receive an email with instructions on what to expect next as we will submit your name to the State 4-H Office. We need every Leader/Volunteer to complete all the steps by March 15th if you are planning to continue as a Leader/Volunteer in 2020.

Save the Date for Leader/Volunteer/Parent Training Adams County Leader/Volunteer Training will be held in the Commons Room at the Extension Office on February 18th starting at 6:30 PM with a light meal sponsored by the Adams County 4-H Council. Join us to learn about changes in Risk Management and explore the Adams County 4-H program with Beth & Julie. We would like at least one representative (club leader or parent) from every club to attend. Independent parents are highly encouraged to attend. Please RSVP 402-461-7209 for a seat at this training.

Club Resources Needing some ideas for your 4-H Club? There are a ton of resources on our State 4-H page to assist you. Please check out the links below. Topics covered but not limited are:

ꞏClub Leader Resources— https://4h.unl.edu/resources/club-leaders ꞏMeeting and Officer Resources—https://4h.unl.edu/resources/club-leaders#officer ꞏClub Activities and Projects—https://4h.unl.edu/resources/club-leaders#teaching

    

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January 4-H Council Happenings:

4-H Soup Supper Shooting Sports Kick Off

4-H Leader & Volunteer Training YQCA Training

February 4-H Council Agenda Items:

FFA Liaison CWF – State Requirements Public Speaking 2020 Changes

Council Committees WholeStone Packer Letter

*Please note action was taken regarding Packers at the fair – the auction will be a premium only auction,

there will be no packer bids in any species. * SAVE THE DATES! 2020 Adams County Fairfest Dates Its official! The 2020 Adams County Fair is July 15th to July 19th. Static Exhibits will be entered Monday, July 13th and Livestock check-in Tuesday, July 14th. Livestock Auction will be Monday, July 20th. Livestock show schedule including Clover Kids shows will be the same as 2019 fair.

Youth Information

4-H 101 – March 2nd Are you new to the 4-H program and need some extra guidance? This group will navigate you through your first or second year of 4-H, you will be instructed on deadlines, projects and exhibits, guided on proper 4-H procedures all while having a great time. This special interest group will meet on the first Monday of each month from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM at the Extension Office. Mark your calendar for the next meeting on March 2nd, please RSVP the Extension Office at 402-461-7209.

Citizenship Washington Focus Trip Youth who are 15 to 18 years old in the years of 2022 & 2025 are invited and welcomed to sign up for a trip of a lifetime! Youth will experience the cities of Chicago, New York City, Washington D.C. and more. If you are interested in attending any future conferences, please contact NE Extension in Adams County at (402)461-7209. It is never too early to sign up. Fundraising is ongoing; Money earned at any fundraising activity will be applied to your 2022 or 2025 CWF trip fund. Please contact the Adams County Extension Office for further information.

    

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Register for 4-H Day at the Museum Adams County Extension is partnering with Hasting Museum and Henry Doorly Zoo to bring you a fun filled day at the Museum during Nebraska 4-H month on February 29th. The cost is $5.00 per person to attend. The day will begin at 10:00 am with a Virtual Field Trip with the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo while in the Hastings Museum Lead Theater. With your fee, you will receive a ticket to watch an additional movie in the theater, a planetarium show, and all day access to the exhibits. Purchase your tickets online at https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/programs/4-h-day-at-the-hastings-museum.html Limit seats are available. Note: The Hastings Museum allows you to come and go the day of your admission. You may enjoy the Henry Doorly Zoo Virtual Field Trip, grab lunch off site, and come back to enjoy the Museum!

Nebraska State 4-H Camps There are many opportunities for our youth through out the year. The 2020 4-H Camp schedule is available to view and explore on their website. More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/camps-centers Any questions regarding the various camps should be directed to Sean Gundersen at sgundersen2@unl.edu.

Rural Youth Loans As you begin looking for your project for next year, you may want to consider an opportunity that is available to you. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency makes operating loans of up to $5,000 to eligible individuals between the ages of 10-20 to finance income producing, agriculture-related projects. The individual must be participating in 4-H, FFA, or a similar organization. The program must be planned and supervised with the assistance of the organization’s supervisor and the individual’s parent or guardian. This assistance will help the individual to produce a sufficient income to repay the loan, and provide the youth with practical business and educational experience in agriculture-related skills. The loan funds may be used to purchase livestock, feed, seed, equipment, and supplies for the project. They may also be used to buy, rent, or repair needed tools or equipment. Rural Youth Loans have a maximum loan amount of $5,000 (total principal balance owed at any one time on the loan) and the term can range from one to seven years. After the loan is made the interest rate will not change for the entire term of the loan. A parental signature is required on the application for the loan, but not on the promissory note or the other documents used to secure the loan. You can contact your local County FSA for more information.

National Youth Summit Series Are you a high school student interested in diving deeper into Photography? There is a National Youth Summit in Washington DC that consists of multi-day programs focused on giving youth real world exposure in the field of Photography. The programs is: Photography – February 26 to March 1st – Apply by February 10, 2020 To learn more visit https://4hcenter.org/tours-programs/national-youth-summits/

    

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Tractor Safety Course A tractor safety course for 14 and 15 year-old youth who plan to work on farms is scheduled for June 18  and 19 at the Adams County Extension Office. Federal law prohibits children under 16 years of age from using certain equipment on a farm unless their parents or legal guardians own the farm. Even in the case where a child’s parent operates a farm, training and certification are required to drive mechanized equipment on a public road. Certification received through the course grants an exemption to the law allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to drive a tractor and to do field work with certain mechanized equipment. Please register by one week in advance, class minimum of 10 must be reached or course location may be cancelled. Cost of instruction, materials and lunches is $60.

What Project Should I Take? Selecting the right 4-H projects can be one the hardest parts of a 4-H project. There are so many to choose from and different levels for many. Careful planning and decision making up front will increase member satisfaction, improve completion and reduce frustrations. A resource to help you make a decision is the Project Resource Central Guide available on the web at: https://4hcurriculum.unl.edu/index.php/main/index The Project Resource Central is a guide that lists the projects and resources with a brief description of all the projects available in Nebraska 4-H. The key to selecting projects is do not pick too many projects. Accepting responsibility is an important 4-H life skill. Completing a project is a good way for a 4-H’er to demonstrate he or she can accept responsibility. It is better to complete one project than to enroll in too many, become overwhelmed and not complete any. Parents and club leaders might encourage their members to do more work in a few projects than just a tiny amount in many different projects. Often there are related projects that members might enroll in – such as foods and horticulture, home environment and woodworking, or horse and veterinary science. Selecting the right level and knowing when to move on. Many of the projects have several levels. The Project Resource Central guide gives a level suggestion for each project unit, but more important is the ability of the individual member. Many areas have beginning, intermediate and advanced project units that allow for progression from year to year. Parents and members need to find the best level for each child. Older members may start at a higher level if the beginning projects are too elementary for them. It is also suggested to progress to the next level after you feel you have accomplished your current level or have been in that level for several years. If you need help selecting which level you need to be in please contact the Adams County Extension Office.

Here are a few questions to consider when selecting a project. o What do you like to do for fun? o What do you want to learn? o What do you already know about your interest area(s)? o How many years have you taken this project or project level? o What do you need to complete your projects? (space, equipment, supplies, financial

resources? o How much time do you have to commit to the project? o Who can help you with the project?

    

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What do you learn in 4-H? 4-H participants learn practical skills such as fitness, meal preparation, rocket building, clothing care, animal and human nutrition, first aid, woodworking, gardening, and many other skills through the more than 150 projects available. Other skills that are defined as life skills are a part of every 4-H project. These skills are used every day of our lives and include:

o solving problems o communicating o preparing for a career o serving others o choosing healthy lifestyles o managing change and challenges

The 4-H organization wants its members to receive more from their projects than ribbons, trophies, trips and monetary gains. The 4-H program wants its members to acquire project knowledge and life skills. Many youth based organizations have worked to instill life skills in young people through various activities, but 4-H youth development professionals have evidence that 4-H programs benefit participants by helping them develop valuable life skills that will enable them to become better citizens. According to the research, members use the responsibility skills they developed from 4-H projects to complete homework assignments, be on time at work, and care for younger siblings. These skills are benefiting youth in school, at home, and on the job to be more dependable, confident and qualified individuals. In particular, knowledge gained from raising 4-H animal projects assisted students in their understanding of biology, physiology, and genetic.

Project Information

Shooting Sports

Calendar for Adams County Shooting Sports Activities: Shooting Sports Starts – Week of January 27th Shotgun Starts – February 15th Shooting Sports Picnic – April 19th

Calendar for State wide Shooting Sports Activities

March 28th – Nebraska State 4-H BB Gun & Air Rifle Contest – Fremont June 6th & 7th – Nebraska State 4-H Archery 3D & Outdoor Target – Heartland Public Shooting

Park

Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop April 4th – 5th at Holt County Fairgrounds for more info go to: tinyurl.com/NEShootingSports

    

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Family & Consumer Science Life Challenge The Life Challenge Contest dates are official, June 22nd & 23rd at UNL, East Campus. Please mark your calendars if you are interested in participating in the Life Challenge Contests. Please let Julie (402)461-7209 know if you are interested.  An organizational meeting will be on Sunday, March 1st, at 4:00 p.m. at the Extension Office.  

Quilts of Valor Sewing Day Join with Quilters across the nation in sewing for Quilts of Valor on March 7th (Date Change) at the Extension Office. The quilting workshop starts at 1:00 PM thru 4:00 PM, come and sew with Julie anytime during this time frame. There is no charge for this workshop the quilts made during this time will be a group effort and will be exhibited at the fair, then donated to the National QOV Foundation. Please RSVP at 402-461-7209 to sew with Julie.

JOANN Fabrics Current and lifetime 4-H members, parents of members, volunteers and staff can save 15% off total in-store and online purchases at JOANN Fabrics with 4-H rewards. JOANN will give a minimum of 2.5% of every eligible transaction to 4-H. Visit http://www.joann.com/4-h/ to get started. JOANN now offers 4-H fabrics in over 500 stores nationwide. This material will also be available online. So get your creative juices flowing & incorporate 4-H into your sewing projects!

Communications

Presentation Contest in 2020 Is being combined with the Speech, PSA & Performing Arts Contests due to low participation numbers. Speech, PSA, & Performing Arts Contest & Presentation Contest If your love is public speaking or entertaining an audience this contest is for you! Now is the time to start gearing up for this contest. You can register until March 23rd and the contest is on March 29th at 1:30 p.m. at Zion Luthern School. Please contact the Extension Office to register and for details on the classes. Please note a 4-Her may participate in 1 speech, 1 PSA, unlimited Performing Arts classes with a maximum of 3 per class and each instrument being a different instrument and 1 Individual and 1 Team Presentation. Statewide Competition Changes As Extension moves away from districts, the regional speech contest is also ending. The 2020 Statewide Speech / PSA contest will be held Wednesday, June 24 at UNL. Participants earn a purple ribbon at the county competition to advance. Also, youth do not have to be present on the day of competition to participate in the PSA competition; ribbon placing and medalists will be announced on that day. The speech contest will offer a live virtual option for geographically limited youth. Divisions are junior, intermediate, and senior. The top five seniors will advance to the final round, where the youth will deliver their speeches again to determine medalists and an overall winner. County contest will remain the same. We will keep you up to date as more changes occur!

    

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The New 4-H Photography Showcase! The 4-H Photography Showcase offers a project exhibition opportunity beyond traditional print media. It is intended to help youth develop professional and technical skills as photographers while fostering creativity and encouraging self-expression. Through this opportunity, youth are encouraged to practice and apply skills learned in their photography projects throughout the year. How Does It Work? Each month, a new photo will be selected from the online submissions. Selections will be made based on creativity, timeliness, technical execution, originality, and appropriateness.

The selected photo will be showcased across the Nebraska 4-H social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Youth photographers will be credited wherever and whenever their photo is shared or published. This opportunity is open to all enrolled 4-H members. Photo recommendations, file specifications, rules, and guidelines for participation are available online at https://4h.unl.edu/photography-showcase . For questions, please contact Danielle Dewees at ddewees@unl.edu . More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/photography-showcase

Plant Science Special Garden Project The Special Garden Project is a way to offer 4-H members the chance to grow unusual and fun projects. This year, the Special Garden seed is Classic Magic Bachelor Buttons. It is a mix of plum, purple, and bi-color flowers. These flowers attract insects and are also edible. To be fair, the seeds will come from one State order. 4-H members enrolled in the Special Garden Project will:

Receive a “packet” of Classic Magic Bachelor Buttons Receive a newsletter about:

o Planting/Growing o problems & insects o Harvesting & using

If interested in participating, youth need to be enrolled in 4-H and in the special garden project area, please contact the Extension Office to reserve your seeds.

    

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Environmental Ed  

The 2020 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition Call for Entries is now available at: https://preservationofhoneybees.org/essays/2020-essays. Please have interested students submit state entries to the UNL Bee Lab (unlbeelab@unl.edu) with the subject header “4H Essay Contest” by March 1, 2020. If there are students who would like to interview or get in contact with a local beekeeper, they can reach out to the Nebraska Beekeepers Association (https://nebraskabeekeepers.org). Questions? Contact Judy Wu-Smart, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Entomology at UNL, at jwu-smart@unl.edu or at 402-472-8696.

Livestock

Beef Weigh Day – Only 1 date left! Mark your Calendars! The last Beef Weigh Day for Adams County is scheduled for March 7th at the Animal Clinic, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. If you are in line at noon, your animals will be weighed. Exhibitors planning on showing Market Beef at fair will need to weigh their beef if they did not attend the December weigh day. Animals include: Market Steers Market Heifers 2nd Year Bucket Calves (Steers & Heifers)

    

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Beef Carcass Contest possibles – Carcass Contest will be held again after fair this allows the same animal you show at county fair to be in the carcass contest.

If you plan on showing a heifer that you are questioning whether to show it as a market heifer or a breeding heifer please be sure to weigh her in as a market animal, you may change it to a breeding heifer later by using the proper tag or tattoo (required for State Fair) prior to Livestock Identification Day (June 1, 2020). Also remember that you have the opportunity for DNA to be taken for State Fair and

AKSARBEN. The cost of this is $7.00 per sample paid online when you nominate your animal. EID tags are required for State Fair and AKSARBEN.

Their will be no cost for the County ear tags Please do not make arrangements for any vet work to be done on your animals during this time.

With the two weigh days your animals will be eligible for rate of gain and/or carcass, the animals starting weigh date will simply be counted from the date weighed in.

Carcass Contest Continuing in 2020 the Beef Carcass Contest, Sheep Carcass Contest and Swine Carcass Contest will be held after the Adams County Fair. This will allow exhibitors to enter their animals shown at the Adams County Fair for this contest. This contest has a limit on the number of 4-Hers that can participate due to the amount of space at the locker. If you are interested in this contest you must pre-register for it by April 15th. Participants will be on a first come/first serve basis. Beef and Sheep are required to be weighed at Beginning Weigh Days. Participants are required to sign up for the species project that they are participating in. As in the past an interview and record book will be part of the scoring. If you have any questions please call Julie at 402-461-7209. First Year Bucket Calf Reminder Just a reminder for those of you ages 8 - 12 who are enrolled in the 1st year bucket calf project, your calves must be born between January 1st and April 15th, owned by you and a tagged by April 15th. ID sheets are not due until June 1st, but this is just a reminder of the required birth, ownership and obtaining a 4-H ear tag date of April 15th. 2020 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic Livestock Judging Contest The 2020 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic Livestock Judging Contest is to be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. This is a great learning opportunity for youth as they progress through their judging careers, and an exceptional “warm-up” for State Contests to be held later this year. More information can be found at https://cattlemens.org 

Chick Days This is a new spring 2020 event that will be held Saturday, March 14 at the UNL Animal Science Dept. The event offers 5 different contests for 4-H’ers to compete in (egg decorating, poultry quiz bowl, photography, omelet cookery, and speech contests). The event is meant to encourage youth to explore what the poultry and food science industry has to offer. Register by March 1, 2020. Information available at https://4h.unl.edu/chick-days

PASE The PASE dates are official, June 22nd & 23rd at UNL, East Campus. Please mark your calendars if you are interested in participating in PASE. Please let Beth (402)461-7209 know if you are interested.  Practices will begin in late February. 

    

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Youth for the Quality Care of Animals YQCA (formerly called QA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program for youth with a focus on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development is being offered. All youth exhibiting livestock at the Adams County and NE State Fair must be YQCA Certified through either 1) Instructor-led training, 2) Web-based Certification or 3) Test-out option (available to intermediate age 12-14 & senior age 15-18). We must have your “Certificate of Completion” on file in the Extension Office by 5:00 p.m. on June 15. Face to Face YQCA Dates April 18th – Webster County Fairgrounds in Bladen – 10:00 AM April 18th - Adams County Extension Office in Hastings – 2:00 PM May 26th – Adams County Extension Office in Hastings – 2:00 PM June 3rd – Webster County Fairgrounds in Bladen – 3:00 PM More information to follow for face to face trainings and testing out information

Horse Show Dates 2020 District Horse Show Dates & Locations – all level testing required for participation in district horse show plus Horse ID sheets and entry forms must be completed by May 8th, 2020June 15th – Scottsbluff June 16th – Burwell June 17th – Columbus June 18th – Lincoln June 19th – McCook

2020 Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo July 12th – 16th, 2020

Horse Information: Sign Up to Receive E-mails! Subscribe to the UNLHorseInfo Listserv to receive any updates, changes, and educational programs to be offered this year! Listserve Link: https://listserv.unl.edu/ Please type UNLHorseInfo for the list name.

4-H Youth Horse Advancement Level 3 and 4 Workshop This Advancement Level Workshop is geared towards 4-Hers who have passed Level 2 and want to move on to Levels 3 and 4. During the workshop, youth will prepare their feed chart and health chart. They will also learn how to work with their horses to prepare for performing the advanced maneuvers required to pass Level 3 and / or 4. The workshop will be held Sunday, March 8, 2020, at the UNL Animal Science Complex. Topics include: advanced riding maneuvers, feed charts, nutrition, first aid, and much more! For more information and registration, visit: https://4h.unl.edu/horse/advancement#workshops Registration includes lunch, materials, and access to the Level 3 study guide. Early Registration will be now until February 24, 2020, for $40. At the door cost is $50. Questions? Contact: Dr. Lena Luck (lena.luck@unl.edu) or Grace Kim (grace.kim@unl.edu)

    

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4-H Horse Stampede The 4-H Horse Stampede is held annually on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln East Campus. This year’s 4-H Horse Stampede will be held Saturday, March 28th, 2020. This event offers a variety of 4-H horse contests that don’t require live horses, including public speaking, demonstration, quiz bowl, art, and photography contests. Youth have the opportunity to display their equine knowledge through these contests both as an individual and as part of a team. There is a $10 entry fee per contestant. All contest entry forms, including Speech Entry Forms, Junior Horse Bowl Entry Forms, Senior Horse Bowl Entry Forms, Demonstration Entry Forms, and Art & Photography Entry Forms must be submitted along with entry fees to county Extension offices. Forms can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/horse/stampede. Additionally, a Brown Bag Lunch is available and must be pre-order via the lunch order form. T-shirts are also available and, in order to secure a shirt, should be pre-ordered via the t-shirt order form. All order forms and fees must be submitted to Adams County Extension Office by March 2, 2020.

Companion Animal Challenge: The 4-H Companion Animal Challenge is held annually on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln East Campus. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2020. The Companion Animal Challenge offers a variety of 4-H companion animal contests that don’t require live animals, including a Demonstration Contest, Dog Skillathon Contest, Cat Skillathon Contest,

Essay Contest, Art Contest, and Photography Contest. Youth have the opportunity to display their companion animal knowledge through these contests both as individuals and as part of a team. Additional Public Info: https://4h.unl.edu/companion-animal/challenge

Dog Obedience Classes Dog Program Obedience classes offered by Adams County Extension will begin with an informational meeting on Monday, March 2, 2020. This meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. and will be held in the Community Service Building at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Objectives of the meeting include a discussion of the overall dog program, a demonstration of obedience performance expectations and an opportunity to enroll for the year. Thus, if you plan to participate in the dog program, you are highly encouraged to attend. Please do not bring your dog to this first meeting. The cost is $10.00 to participate in the dog classes. Vaccination record forms for all participating dogs will be distributed and must be completed by a veterinarian or person providing the shots before beginning the classes. The class schedule will be announced at this meeting. Requirements for participation are:

Enrollment in 4-H and in the dog project Current Vaccination form completed and on file at the Extension Office Class fee paid to the Extension Office before attending any class.

    

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Clover Kids What is Clover Kids? The 4-H Clover Kid program is designed to provide 5 to 7 year olds with a variety of educational and recreational experiences in a non-competitive environment. The program fosters the development of life skills that are essential for the cognitive, social, emotional and physical maturation of young children. Clover Kids may participate in activities led by an adult that will help them:

Explore different interests Build self-confidence Practice communication skills Get along and share with others Be a part of a group

Explore science with simple experiments Strengthen motor skills through arts and crafts Make friends

Announcing Clover Kid Saturday Fun 2020! Join Julie on Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. for some fun while learning! You must pre-register a week prior to each session by calling the Extension Office at 402-461-7209. Each workshop session is $5.00 to attend. Workshops are as follows and will feature:

February 15that Extension Office – Exploring Science; It’s time to “Explore Science” while having fun and learning to mix ingredients. We will create slime, Play Doh, Silly Putty and experiment with color changing milk.

March 14that Extension Office – Watching it Grow; Details in the next newsletter.

April 18th at Extension Office – The Great Outdoors; Details in the next newsletter.

May 16that Extension Office – Bicycle Adventures; Details in the next newsletter.

College Readiness

Scholarships Available Seniors and even some juniors in high school should be looking at scholarships to continue their education. There are numerous agricultural companies, organizations and colleges that offer scholarships to students who have long term career goals in agriculture. There are of course a lot of local and county scholarships and in addition to these you will there are a lot of national scholarships, as well as numerous ag scholarships offered at the state level. Now is the time to put together a good resume – it helps! It also helps to have a good cover letter to include with your application.

Scholarships on the Web: o http://brownfieldagnews.com/site-map/scholarships/ o Agricultural Scholarships and can be found at http://www.agriculturescholarships.us/ o all kinds of scholarships can be found at: http://www.nextstudent.com/directory-of-

scholarships CASNR Scholarship - Any graduating senior planning to attend the University of Nebraska-

Lincoln CASNR with an ACT of 26 or higher may be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship. Contact Ron or Beth for more details.

    

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NACEB Scholarship – Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards Scholarship Program Application is available at the Extension Office, Due by March 15.

Ag. Scholarship - The Hastings Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee is offering a scholarship for students with at least a C average pursing a college or university education and major in an agricultural field. The student must attend a 2 or 4 year college or university within Nebraska to qualify. Please contact the Extension Office to receive an application form.

Adams County 4-H Council Scholarship – Two $500 scholarships for a Senior pursuing a 2 or 4 year degree. Please contact the Extension Office to receive a form. Due April 1st.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln As you know Adams County Extension is the local connection to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and would like to encourage all high school students to go to http://www.unl.edu/prospective/ by exploring opportunities that the Huskers may provide. Information within this link to explore are scholarships, financial aid, tours with students and staff and much more.

University of Nebraska – Lincoln Red Letter Days Experience for yourself what life is like as a student at Nebraska. During your Red Letter Day (http://admissions.unl.edu/events/on-campus/red-letter-days.aspx), you’ll tour campus with a current Nebraska student as your guide, explore your academic interests, visit a residence hall, learn more about student involvement opportunities, discuss important admissions, scholarship and financial aid information and discover the many services that help students at Nebraska Succeed. If you’re interested in any health-related fields, check out Pre-Health Red Letter Day at http://admissions.unl.edu/events/on-campus/red-letter-days/pre-health-day.aspx If you have any questions about this event, please contact the Nebraska Office of Admissions at 800-742-8800, ext. 2023.

Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture High School students who may want to pursue a degree at a smaller atmosphere, may want to check out Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) in Curtis, Nebraska. Students will learn hands-on experiences through different departments within Agriculture. They also have transfer classes that can transition to UNL, UNK and UNO for students to further their education into a bachelor’s degree. For more information about NCTA, please go to the following link: http://ncta.unl.edu/contact-us

    

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2020 4-H Council

Diane McLeod – Pres. Jay Cecrle – V.Pres. Megan Kvols – Sec. Krescene Allen – Tres. Reid Ayres Jill Kimle JR LEADER REP: Doug Nienhueser – Chamber Kaycee Bridger Heather Mohling Mackenzie Zeckser of Commerce Rep Amber Fitzke Blane Parr YOUTH REPS: Twila Bankson, Patrick Niles Neal Gerloff Matthew Raney Ashlyn Mohling – Ag Society Reps Russell Hermann Brian Theesen Jaden Nienhueser Brandon Jacobitz – FFA Rep

Please take time to THANK these above individuals for their hard work and dedication to the Adams County 4-H Program!!!

Contact Information

Adams County Extension Office 2975 S Baltimore Ave Hastings, NE 68901 Phone: (402) 461-7209 Fax: (402) 461-7210 Web: http://www.adams.unl.edu/ E-mail: adams-county@unl.edu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionAdamsCounty

Nebraska Extension Adams County Staff

Ronald C. “Ron” Seymour, Ph.D. ron.seymour@unl.edu Lynn DeVries – lynn.devries@unl.edu Elizabeth “Beth” Janning – elizabeth.janning@unl.edu Julie Ochsner – julie.ochsner@unl.edu Gwen Rodocker – gwen.rodocker@unl.edu Twila Bankson – twila.bankson@unl.edu Alise Verhage – alise.verhage@unl.edu Angie Katzberg – akatzberg8@unl.edu Pat Evans – pat.evans@unl.edu

 

    

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4-H Calendar February Feb 6 Extension Board, Extension Office @ 7:00 PM Feb 10 BInterested (FCE), Extension Office @ 7:00 PM Feb 11 Ag Society, Fairgrounds @ 7:30 PM Feb 14 Early Bird 4-H Enrollment Deadline Feb 15 Clover Kids Fun Saturday, Extension Office @ 9:00 AM Feb 15 Shotgun Starts, Four Rivers Gun Club @ 2:00 PM Feb 17 Ext Office Closed Feb 18 Leaders/Volunteer/Parent Training, Extension Office @ 6:30 PM Feb 29 4-H Day at the Museum March Mar 1 Life Challenge Practice, Extension Office @ 4:00 PM Mar 1 Jr. Leader, Extension Office @ 5:30 PM Mar 2 Horse Stampede, Companion Animal Challenge entries and fees due in Extension Office by 5:00 PM Mar 2 4-H 101, Extension Office @ 6:00 PM Mar 2 Dog Obedience Meeting, Community Service – Fairgrounds @ 7:00 PM Mar 2 4-H Council, Extension Office @ 7:30 PM Mar 5 Extension Board, Extension Office @ 7:00 PM Mar 7 Beef Weigh In, Animal Clinic @ 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM Mar 7 Quilts of Valor Sewing Workshop, Extension Office @ 1:00 PM Mar 9 BInterested (FCE), Extension Office @ 7:00 PM Mar 10 Ag Society, Fairgrounds @ 7:30 PM Mar 14 Clover Kids Fun Saturday @ 9:00 AM Mar 28 4-H Horse Stampede/Companion Animal Challenge – UNL East Campus Mar 29 Speech/PSA/Preforming Arts Contest & Presentation Contest, Zion @ 1:30 PM

Please Check the Adams County Web site at http://www.adams.unl.edu/ for current calendar information.