SOUTHERN PLAINS 4-H NEWSLETTER

Here is a one stop shop for all the animal shows, clinics, & judging contests that we get information for across the state. Take a look at the opportunities for youth that participate in all animal projects. This includes the Southern Plains Livestock Judging Contest in Nelson & the Big Green 4-H Club's Speed Show in Deshler.

https://www.smore.com/g916f

Don't forget to go to v2.4honline.com and register for the 2023 4-H Season. Plans are already rolling and workshops are beginning. Enrolling makes sure that you are in the know for all activities and projects. The deadline for all things 4-H is JUNE 15! Please don't wait until the last day!

• 4-H OnLine Enrollment
• Project Selections Made
• All Livestock Affadavits
• YQCA Certificates
• Premise ID #
• DNA Envelopes

Our Nuckolls County fair board has worked hard to make improvements to the fairgrounds for the use of 4-H families over the years. There are some areas that could use some freshening up and the fair board has asked for the help from our 4-H families. Please complete the following Doodle Poll by May 15th to let us know which date works best for the majority to tackle these projects before the fair. https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/bWQKK9Xe

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program. Youth that show Swine, Beef, Dairy, Sheep, Goats, Rabbits, & Poultry at County or State Fair are required to attend an instructor-led in person training or complete the web-based training.

Regardless of how youth would like to participate in these training they will need to be signed up and the classed paid for through this online platform: https://yqcaprogram.org/login/index.php.

Instructor-led training: $3

web-based training: $12

**These fees are to support the national YQCA program, we can not accept cash or check in the office payment needs to be made on the online platform**

Training dates:

Friday, May 26th @ 3pm-Nuckolls County Fairgrounds following Livestock Judging Contest

Tuesday, June 13th @ 10:30am at the Thayer County Courthouse Club Room

REMINDER: If you have already participated in an instructor led training you have to complete a pre-test survey and a post-test survey on the YQCA website in order for certificates to be generated. Also certificates need to be turned in to your participating office!

Once again, Nuckolls County will be hosting a series of roping clinics offered by Marshall Peterson of the UNL Rodeo Team. The dates will be May 22nd & 23rd. On May 22nd we will offer a Level 1 roping clinic which will be all on the ground work. the cost is $50. On May 23rd we will offer a Level 2 clinic which will begin on the ground and graduate to roping a dummy behind a four-wheeler on horse. You will need to provide your own horse. The cost is $200. Contact the Nuckolls County office at 402-225-2381 to sign up as class size is limited.

If youth would like to practice and learn more about livestock judging an information session will be provided in both extension offices in Nelson or Hebron on May 4th @ 4:15pm. Please let Rachel or Amy know if you are planning on attending.

If you are unable to meet on May 4th, but youth would feel more comfortable with a crash course before the county contest please contact Rachel rachel.adam@unl.edu and we can arrange something.

The Southern Plains livestock judging contest will be held on Friday, May 26th at the Nuckolls County fairgrounds in Nelson, NE. Please use the following link to register: https://forms.gle/kqqXYAMSPghN6Hhw5

The 4-H Horse Judging Contest will be held Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Pitzer Ranch in Ericson, NE. beginning at 8:30 a.m. Please contact Rachel or Amy at the respective office so we can make sure we have enough drivers.

If youth want to attend and compete in PASE this year please let Amy or Rachel know ASAP. Registration is due this month and want to make sure we have teams lined up are ready to go before due dates.

To learn more about PASE-https://4h.unl.edu/pase youth need to be age 10 by Jan 1st of the current year to participate.

If youth want to attend and compete in PCE or State Public Speaking this year please let Amy or Rachel know ASAP. Registration is due this month and want to make sure we have in registered in time

To learn more about PASE-https://4h.unl.edu/premier-communication-event youth need to be age 10 by Jan 1st of the current year to participate and qualify for state competition.

Thayer County Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054CAFAF22A6F49-2023

Nuckolls County Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4AA5A728A5F9C70-sheep

This year there will be NO district horse shows so all youth age 10 & up are eligible to compete at the Nebraska State 4-H Horse Show. Please visit: https://4h.unl.edu/horse-expo-show for rules and information regarding entry. All families will be required to enter the state 4-H horse show using https://nhorse.fairwire.com beginning May 1st and closing at 5 p.m. CST on June 1st. NO late entries will be accepted and all IDs and additional paperwork must be submitted to county office by June 1st.

Archery Season is here!! First class will be held Sunday, May 7 at the Archery Shooting Range in Hebron at 6:30 and 7:30 respectively by ages. Archery is an outdoor sport, and controlled by the weather. Be sure if you are interested in Archery, that Brian Lukerts knows your interest and has your number, as he will be sending out updates in cause of weather or changes. You may text him your information to 402-768-1790. See you all on Sunday, and Happy Shooting!

Registration links:
Camp Renegade registration link: https://go.unl.edu/23renegade June 12-13 for ages 8-10

Camp Venture registration link: https://go.unl.edu/23venture June 15-16 for ages 10-12

Both Camps are held at Camp Jefferson, in Fairbury!

Counselor Opportunity, Deadline is May 1 for either camp. Apply here!

Counselor registration link: https://go.unl.edu/23counselor

Scholarships Available for Thayer County 4-Hers, upon request inquire at the Thayer County Extension Office.

If you are a Nuckolls County youth and interested in raising money towards your CWF trip we have three different opportunities for you. All will be meal deals offered during various events.

Friday, May 26th Livestock Judging Contest lunch

Monday, July 24th Static Judging Day lunch

Tuesday, July 25th Nuckolls County Horse Show concession stand

Please notify the Nuckolls County Extension office if you would like to participate in any of these opportunities.

Yes you read the title correct! Due to popularity of our summer Bonanza Project Day we have decided to switch it up a little bit this year. We will be offering two days, one on Tuesday, June 6th at the Nuckolls County Fairgrounds and one on Thursday, June 8th at the Thayer County Fairgrounds. Please contact either the Nuckolls or Thayer County office to reserve your spot!

The seeds for these projects have arrived! Come pick your's up today!

Special Garden Seed Project is Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil

Special Agronomy Seed Project is Tepary Beans

These are a great way to get your feet dirty, be outside, and learn! Each comes with material

and guides to assist you in completing this project.

Big Green 4-H Club Speed Show

June 25th, 2023

Thayer County Fairgrounds-Deshler, NE

Events: Barrels, Poles, Flying W, Potato Race, Keyhole, and Ride a Buck

Cost: $5 per class or $20 for the day

Contact for questions: Makinna Peterson: 402-200-0459

Do you know what it takes to pick the best fruit and vegetables out at the grocery store? Or do you know what judges are looking for when they judge your plants at the county fair? Have you ever wondered, what plant is that!?! We are excited to offer the opportunity to learn these and other important horticulture skills through the Online Horticulture Contest. The contest will be available June 2-16, 2023 at: https://go.unl.edu/online4hhortcontest

Horticulture judging contest consists of three parts. The first is identification of plant material. Participants identify the plants by common name from a plant list. Specimens may be alive or preserved plant parts like stems, twigs, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, bulbs, tubers, or plant products.

The second is a knowledge portion, usually in the form of a true/false or multiple choice quiz. Questions will test the contestant's knowledge of cultural practices for horticultural crops, plant science, pesticides, horticultural careers and other topics related to the production, processing and consumption of horticultural crops.

The last portion is judging or placings. This is where four different plants, plates of vegetables, or containers flowers are ranked from best to worst based on a set of criteria. Classes are judged on the basis of condition, quality, uniformity, true-to-type, and size.

More information about the Nebraska State contest along with a list of study materials can be found in the Fair book https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/contests/45. Here you can find the written study materials for the knowledge portion, follow links to plant pictures for help with identification, and read how judging of plant material is done.

More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/online-horticulture-judging-contest

2023 ENROLLMENT!! Open now!

May 16 Sheep/Goat Weigh In - Deshler

May 17 Sheep/Goat Weigh in - Nelson

May 24 - 4-H Horse Judging Contest, Pitzer Ranch, Ericson, NE

May 26 - Southern Plains Livestock Judging Contest

-@ 3 pm-YQCA training @ Nuckolls Co Fairgrounds

June 6th-Bonanza Day-Nelson 9 am-3pm

June 8th-Bonanza Day-Deshler 9am-3pm

June 12-13 Camp Renegade

June 13 - @ 10:30 am-YQCA Training @ Thayer County Extension Office

June 15 4-H Enrollment DEADLINES and all IDs DUE!

June 15-16 Camp Venture

June 28-29 Camp Blast

July 5 - Thayer-Nuckolls Archery Shoot, @ Hebron 6 pm (rain date July 6th)

July 26 - Nuckolls-Thayer Shotgun Shoot, @ Nelson 4 pm

Email: nuckolls-county@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/southernplains/
Location: 825 S Main St, Nelson, NE, USA
Phone: 402-225-2381
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernPlainsExt
Twitter: @SPNE4HExt

Email: thayer-county@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/southernplains/
Location: 225 N 4th St, Hebron, NE, USA
Phone: 402-768-7212
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernPlainsExt/
Twitter: @SPNE4HExt

The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.