Box Butte County 4-H Newsletter

Project Enrollment

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.

Wear your favorite 4-H shirt or just wear green!

Think about nominating a volunteer in Box Butte County to receive state level recognition for all their hard work and dedication to Box Butte County 4-H.

To nominate go to this link: https://ssp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ahN4XZrwPGwX7aC

Write a thank you or personally tell a 4-H supporter Thank you for all they do to help the Box Butte County 4-H Program! Without our donors and supporters we would not have awards for fair, or be able to do school enrichment or afterschool programs.

4-H Month is a great time to give back to others in the community. One group that sometimes gets forgotten about are residents of nursing homes. Feelings of loneliness can be decreased after receiving mail. So this year for 4-H month we are encouraging 4-H members to send cards to residents in the nursing home. Attached are card templates that can be used or draw one of your own. We would like to have cards dropped off at the nursing homes for Valentines Day so please plan to deliver them to the Extension Office by February 12, but cards can be dropped off anytime through the month of February. We also have templates you can pick up at the Extension Office. When sending a card to someone in the nursing home you may not have a personal connection with that person and may not know what their preferences are so for your message it can be an uplifting quote or wishes such as:

“Sending you warm wishes and letting you know someone out there is caring about you.” Here are some other things to consider:

• Do not include your personal information like last name, address, email address
• Keep messages generic and nonreligious
• Avoid suggestion that their situation needs to be improved such as “Feel Better”
• Add fun drawings

Here are some suggestions of what to put in your card:

• Wishing you a wonderful day!
• Thinking about you!
• For someone who’s special and wonderful…
• Just a friendly little hello form me to you!
• Just felt like sharing a smile with you today!
• Sending happy thoughts your way!
• Hoping you know how special you are…
• This greeting is sent with warmest wishes to brighten your day!
• Wishing you a wonderful day to a wonderful person!
• You are loved!
• Sending sunshine

You can submit Community Service projects to the state here:

https://4h.unl.edu/community-service-showcase-submission

To enroll in 4-H go to https://4honline.com/

If you have questions visit: https://4h.unl.edu/enroll

With Nebraska 4-H Month fast approaching, we would like to showcase the talent of our 4-H youth through a Nebraska 4-H Month Photography Challenge. Each week, two new themes will be introduced on Mondays throughout February. Any Nebraska 4-H youth can participate by taking pictures inspired by the theme and submit Each week, there will be a selected winner from each category who will win some 4-H swag.

Here is some information you may want to know:

• You can take pictures on whatever device you are comfortable with.
• Youth may submit one picture per category per week.
• You will need to save your picture as “First Initial Last Name - Theme”. Example: J Doe – 4-H Spark
• Photos are to be submitted on Sundays by 11:59 pm (Central Time) at the link listed above.
• An Extension Team will select one winner per category; winners will be announced that week, along with a posting of each submission.
• 4-H Swag will be distributed in March through local 4-H offices to the winners.
• Your pictures may be used in future Nebraska 4-H campaigns or on social media!

Photography Challenge Themes & Release/Submission timeline:

• Release on Thursday, February 1st

• Submission 11:59 pm CT on Sunday, February 11th

• Release on Monday, February 5th

• Submission by 11:59pm CT on Sunday, February 11th

• Release on Monday, February 12th

• Submission by 11:59pm CT on Sunday, February 18th.

• Release on Monday, February 19th

• Submission by 11:59pm CT on Sunday, February 25th.

• Release on Monday, February 26th

• Submission by 11:59pm CT on Sunday, March 3rd.

Go to: https://4h.unl.edu/photography-showcase to learn more!

To submit photos go to: https://4h.unl.edu/photography-showcase-submission-form

February's Monthly Workshop youth will learn history of origami and create a paper crane lantern/mobile to display in their room!

Date: Thursday, February 22nd

Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm

Fee: $5

A big THANK YOU to all volunteers who helped with Beef Weigh in on January 21st. What a much nicer day to have had it!!! Great job to all 4-Hers and families that weighed in beef! We had 64 head weigh in and the average weight was 779lbs.

Members who cannot make the weigh in date may attend the Dawes or Sheridan County Market Beef weigh ins if necessary. If attending the alternative weigh in, members must notify the beef superintendents and the office.

Dawes County Beef Weigh-in – February 17 from 9 to noon in Crawford

Sheridan County Beef Weigh-in – tentatively – February 4 from 1 to 3 at Sheridan Livestock

May Weigh-in for Sheep/Meat Goat & Pigs:

Market Lamb, Pig & Meat Goat: Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 6-7 PM

Market Lamb, Pig & Meat Goat: Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 6-7 PM