CENTRAL SANDHILLS AREA 4-H NEWS

Mailing Address: PO Box 148 - Thedford, NE 69166

Email: mandersen16@unl.edu or s.albertus@unl.edu

Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/centralsandhills/
Location: 503 Main Street, Thedford, NE, USA
Phone: (308)645-2267
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralsandhillsarea/

In this edition:

• Enrollment
• Activity of the Month
• Setting Spring Dates
• Grant Opportunity
• Jarvis Memorial Scholarship
• Workshops

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Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills

Don't forget to visit our Extension website at:

Nebraska Extension in the Sandhills

PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR NEWS so it can be included in our newsletters! Forward any 4-H news, events, or activities to Marcy at mandersen16@unl.edu

If you enroll in 4-H by the end of February, your child will be entered to win a 4-H Month Swag Bag from the Central Sandhills Extension office!

Photo entries will be weekly opportunities for 4-H members to showcase their photography skills based on different categories. Entries will be uploaded to the Nebraska 4-H Website link (4h.unl.edu/photography-showcase) by midnight on Sundays starting on February 11th. Watch the Nebraska 4-H Facebook and Instagram pages for the weekly theme categories. Winners will be announced later in the week with their photo on social media. There will be 4-H Swag prizes given to all category winners.

The opening date for statewide 4-H enrollment was October 16th.

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:

o Youth are only eligible to exhibit in a project area or contest in a single county.

o Horse and shooting sports projects will continue to require project enrollment due to the parental consent required to participate in these projects.

All leaders and volunteers also need to be enrolled on 4honline. There is no fee for adults to enroll. All volunteers in our 4 counties will need to be screened through the DHHS. Call the office if you need more information.

Step into a winter wonderland of creativity and discovery with this selection of fun and delicious (and, yes, educational!) activities that will spark curiosity and passion, helping kids discover the joy of science, baking, and crafting.

We are working on setting spring dates for workshops and the Communications and Expressive Arts Contests. Be on the look out for an announcement early next year!

Deadline to apply is Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

Projects should aim to engage youth people in a way that links service with intentional learning goals. Strong applications will have the following characteristics:
Be youth-led
Have a substantive impact on youth participants
Have a substantive impact on the community served
Foster community partnerships
Mobilize volunteers
Engage diverse community members
Involve media and public officials
Celebrate and recognize service
Inspire and sustain a commitment to service

More details at: https://www.serve.nebraska.gov/volunteer-week/

This year's Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic Livestock Judging Contest, the contest will be held in Kearney on Saturday, Feb. 17th with the entry deadline being Feb. 5th. All details and entry information can be found using the following link https://nebraskaclassic.org/winter.../judging-contest.php. We look forward to another great contest this year with an outstanding dinner and set of awards to follow.

The Jarvis Memorial Scholarship is open. Attached are the eligibility guidelines. Besides the forms, there is a map of Nebraska highlighted in yellow for an easier way to find the boundary of eligibility.

The intent of the scholarship is to assist women who live 3 or more hours drive from Lincoln but wish to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Applicant must reside in Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall on East Campus.

If you have questions email Gloria Turnbull at gloria.turnbull@windstream.net.

Application deadline: postmarked or email a PDF file no later than March 15, 2024.

It's back! The 2024 Hippology Academy kicks off on February 17. Topics for this year include toxic plants of the northeast, horse evaluation, feeding myths, soil testing and usage, identifying feeds, and fencing. Content for each topic includes practice tests, slides, and digital learning stations in addition to twice weekly lectures.

There are three enrollment levels to choose from:

1. Bronze: All content listed above, accessible until August 31, 2024.

2. Sliver: Everything included in Bronze, plus can ask teacher questions, participate in discussion board, and have access to course material until November 31, 2024.

3. Gold: Everything included in Silver, plus opportunity to participate in live virtual office hours with instructor (Thursday evenings) and access to course material until December 31, 2024.

Learn more and register here: https://catalog.extension.org/?category=6&keyword=hippology&cond=advand&search=Search

**New for 2024** With the changes to 4-H Online, youth are encouraged to enroll for Horticulture/Plant Science through 4-H Online. Youth will have to reach out to their local Extension Office to sign up and order the seeds. It will be up to the county office to keep track of the youth signed up and share the educational materials including the growing newsletter & evaluation (also in the shared folder on the Special Garden Project website).

County Offices will be responsible for ordering the seeds. Seed packets will cost $0.50 each. Please let the Central Sandhills Area Extension office know by February 12, 2024.For more information clickon on the following link https://4h.unl.edu/special-gardening-project.

• 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 for next year’s program are due Dec. 1 and are available at 4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge.

• 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.