4-H Friday News Blast for 1.24.2020

You must be an ACTIVE 4-H member in 4-H Online before you can register for a YQCA Training. To be active your re-enrollment will need to be approved in the extension office so it may take a day or two to process once you submit information in 4-H Online.

4-H Online: https://www.4honline.com/
YQCA Registration: https://yqca.learngrow.io/Account/Login (use your 4-H Online log-in information to register)

Please contact the Extension Office if you need assistance in re-enrolling in 4-H Online.

We are excited to announce that Cass County Nebraska will be hosting a workshop this summer called "Tractor Safety Training 2020.” It will be held May 21-22 at the Cass County Extension Office/fairgrounds. Upon completion students will receive the certification through a Hazardous Occupations Course. Successful completion of the course will allow trained youth to operate a tractor over 20 horsepower, or to connect or disconnect an implement or any of its parts to or from a tractor needed for working on a farm or ranch other than their own.

To register and for additional information visit https://go.unl.edu/5izi

The Cass County 4-H Council is again this year offering camp awards up to $200 for a Cass County 4-H member to attend a summer 4-H camp, county or state level, of their choice. To apply for the award complete the application posted on our website and return it to the Cass County Extension Office by March 10.

Application: https://go.unl.edu/djgx

We hope to have a great turnout at our Cass County Public Speaking Workshop on March 24th and at the county-level contest on April 20th!

This year the 2020 state-level Public Speaking Contest will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, the third day of the PASE/Life Challenges experience.

A few updates:

-The PSA theme for 2020 is "Inspire Kids To Do"

-All Youth will register for the state-level event through 4-H Online (as they do with PASE/Life Challenges already)

Visit the website here for additional information: https://go.unl.edu/539d

Do you enjoy being outside? Learning new things about crops? Considering a career involving crops, insects, diseases, soils, water or more? Do you want to help figure out how to feed our world’s growing population in a sustainable way?

Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Corn Board are offering the 9th Annual Innovative Youth Corn Challenge contest. This contest guides participants through all aspects of corn production, as well as agricultural careers related to corn production.

As a team (2 or more participants), youth will be challenged to implement a production practice different than normal to determine if they increased their yield. Economics and sustainability of the practice will also be considered. Yields, cropping history, and production information will be collected in the Corn Yield Challenge management summary.

Entry forms are due by March 15th to the Fillmore County Extension Office. For more information visit the event website here: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/cornchallenge

4-H'ers who are seniors have many exciting opportunities during their last year of school, one of which is planning for what to do after high school. If plans include college, please take the time to consider applying for some scholarships available to you through Cass County 4-H. Review the letter sent to 4-H Cass Country seniors.

Each scholarship has different requirements and deadlines, please note them carefully. Application due dates are firm. Local scholarships must include a letter of recommendation and need to be sent or delivered to the Cass County Extension Office. Verification of your 4-H Status as required for the applications will be done by the Extension staff, or your 4-H Leader.

Application forms and additional information can be found on our website here: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/cass/scholarship-opportunities/

Cass County 4-H will once again be collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in Omaha. This is a great community service activity for all members to give back to youth in need. Let's see which club can collect the most!

Pop tabs can be dropped of at the Extension Office anytime during regular business hours.

There are some BIG and fun changes to the Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo for the 2020 year!

We encourage all youth and their families to watch the webinar below. We would like everyone to be prepared and updated on the fun changes.

The 2020 State Schedule and additional information can be located here: https://4h.unl.edu/horse/state-expo

Link to the recorded webinar: https://youtu.be/dWT9ZUl40Ag

Young Nebraska Scientists camps are hosted by Nebraska EPSCoR to encourage youth participation in science, technology, engineering and math learning and careers. For more than 11 years, 100+ youths have attended the camps each summer.

Opportunities for middle school students include:

• June 3-6, CyberCamp, University of Nebraska at Kearney
• June 17-19, Field Naturalist Camp, Prairie Plains Resource Institute
• June 29-July 1, Engineering of Plant Cell Walls, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• July 13-15, The Secret Life of Metals, Creighton University

Opportunities for high school students include:

• June 1-5, Small but Mighty: A Hands-on Investigation of Viruses and Bacteria Camp, Bellevue University
• June 1-3, Chemistry and Nanoscience Behind Renewable Energy Technologies Camp, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• June 3-6, CyberCamp, University of Nebraska at Kearney
• June 7-13, Biodiversity: Field Science Camp, Cedar Point Biological Station
• June 22-25, Explorations in Biology Camp, Nebraska Wesleyan University
• June 28-July 3, Intersections of Art + Science Camp, Cedar Point Biological Station

Camp fees include meals and lodging, except day camps. Applications are due May 1.

Applications close March 1 for Young Nebraska Scientists High School Researchers (high school juniors preferred), which offers paid summer jobs in the labs of university scientists.

More information can be located here: https://go.unl.edu/jwnd

The 2020 Women in Agriculture Conference Scholarship is open to any student attending a 4-year college/university, 2-year college, a vocational/technical school, or a 4-H or FFA member may apply. Scholarships to be awarded include Five $125 (full registration fee) and Ten $62.50 (half registration fee).

Applications are now open. Applications must be submitted online by midnight Sunday, February 2, 2020. Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than February 7, 2020.

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference is an annual two-day event designed to educate and uplift women involved in any aspect of Nebraska’s agricultural industry. Through workshops and presentations, attendees will learn how to: better manage risk, improve their farms and ranches, and become more successful operators and business partners. The conference features 5 general session speakers and over 30 concurrent workshops. Don't miss this opportunity!

When: Thursday and Friday, February 20-21, 2020
Where: Holiday Inn Convention Center in Kearney, NE
110 Second Ave., Kearney, NE 68848

Full conference agenda available here: https://wia.unl.edu/agenda

Additional scholarship information and application information available here: https://go.unl.edu/4z6g

Lambing and Kidding School will be held at two locations in Nebraska on January 25, 2020. Each location will have speakers in the morning and will have a farm tour in the afternoon. The locations for the program will be the Chadron Fire Hall located at 302 West Third Street in Chadron, NE and 4-H building at the Custer County Fairgrounds located at 44100 Memorial Drive in Broken Bow Nebraska.

The cost to attend is $25 for non-Sheep and Goat Producer members, $20 for members and $10 for students. This cost includes handouts and lunch. To preregister e-mail ne.sheep.goats@gmail.com or call Melissa Nicholson at 308-386-8378. The Nebraska Sheep & Goat Producers Association and Nebraska Extension is sponsoring the program.

The Special Gardening Project is an opportunity for 4-H members to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens.

This year's project is: The unique Classic Magic Bachelor Button flower.

The seeds are free (paid for by the Cass County 4-H Council.) But you must contact the Extension Office and let us know if you want the seeds. One packet per 4-Her, including Clover Kids. Deadline to order the seeds is January 29th.

Call: 402-267-2205, or

Email: cass-county@unl.edu

Enrollment is open for the 2020 program year! Club members, club leaders, independent members, project leaders, and superintendents must re-enroll each year.

To date 216 individuals have enrolled/re-enrolled:

• 178 youth and
• 38 volunteers.

Enrollment instructions are available to help you navigate the 4-H Online system. Be sure to check out the following resources:

· Enrollment Instructions

· Pick Your Project

· 2020 Project Listing

Get started!

Attention 2020 Nebraska State Fair exhibitors: Show Stock Manager is now open and available for those of you who are planning ahead, and preparing to show at the 2020 Nebraska State Fair. This link: State Fair Animal Nomination/ID Requirements provides information about requirements and deadlines for show entries. If necessary, click this link to nominate your livestock https://showstockmgr.com/.

The following link lists step-by-step instructions for using Show Stock Manager: Step-by-Step Instructions

Contact Lauren with any questions you may have either via email at lstohlmann2@unl.edu or give her a call at the office at 402-267-2205.

The Pick Your Project, available at http://4hcurriculum.unl.edu, has been updated for the 2020 program year.

Using the searchable, web-based 2020 Pick Your Project, users will be able to search for projects by keywords, curriculum areas, knowledge levels, and geographic levels. It is the intent that this feature will assist 4-H youth, volunteers and families with learning about the project opportunities using the Pick Your Project and then locating the same project in 4HOnline.

To assist 4-H members, volunteers, and parents, with locating curriculum to support 4-H projects, two resources are available:
1) A new 4-H Projects page at https://4h.unl.edu/projects
2) A Printable Project Listing at https://4h.unl.edu/documents/NE4H-Project-Listing-2020.docx

KUDOS to the members of Triple B 4-H Club for the community service project they completed at their December club meeting! The club collected coats, gloves, hats and other winter clothing to donate to Cass County families in need. Well done 4-H members!

Looking ahead ...

1. Summer Camps announced for 2020
2. Nebraska Equine Webinar series ... 2nd Monday of every month (please remember to register for these webinars in advance)

3. Lambing and Kidding School - January 25, 2020

4. Special Garden Project Seed Order Deadline - January 29, 2020

5. UNL Teacher Scholars Academy Application Deadline - February 1, 2020

6. 4-H Volunteer and Leader Training in Cass County - February 4, 2020 at 6:00 PM

7. YQCA Training in Cass County - February 6, 2020

8. Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic Judging Contest - February 15, 2020
9. Come Ride with Me ... February 15, 2019 A Horsemanship clinic for youth and adults
10. Freel/Lepert Family Scholarship Deadline - March 1, 2020
11. David Knabe Memorial Scholarship Deadline - March 1, 2020
12. 2020 Horse Judging School - March 7, 2020
13. 2020 Adult/Leader Equine Advancement Level Workshop - March 8, 2020
14. 2020 Equine 4-H Youth 3 & 4 Advancement Level Workshop - March 8, 2020
15. Chick Days at UNL - March 14, 2020 in Lincoln
16. Innovative Youth Corn Challenge Registration Due - March 15, 2020
17. 4-H Re-enrollment Deadline - March 15, 2020
18. Cass County 4-H Council Meeting - March 16, 2020
19. NACEB Scholarship Deadline - March 16, 2020
20. 4-H Public Speaking Workshop - March 24, 2020
21. 4-H Horse Stampede - March 28, 2020 at UNL
22. 4-H Companion Animal Challenge - March 28, 2020
23. Horse Stampede 2020 4-H Horses .. March 29, 2020
24. Weeping Water Whiz Kidz Scholarship Deadline - April 1, 2020
25. YQCA Training in Cass County - April 9, 2020
26. Cass County 4-H Public Speaking Contest - April 20, 2020
27. Otoe County Livestock Judging Clinic ... April 25, 2020
28. Horse IDs, Level Testing, Entry for District and State Deadline - May 8, 2020
29. 4-H Project Deadline for county fair - May 15, 2020
30. Cass County 4-H Council Meeting - May 18, 2020
31. Tractor Safety Training - May 21-22, 2020
32. YQCA Training in Cass County - June 4, 2020
33. Online Horticulture Judging Contest - June 5-22, 2020
34. Big Red Camps in Lincoln - June 7-12
35. New 4-H Member Enrollment Deadline - June 15, 2020
36. Cass County 4-H Animal ID Sheets Due - June 15, 2020
37. YQCA Certification Completion Due to Extension Office - June 15, 2020
38. District Horse Show information - June 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
39. PASE/Life Challenge Contest at UNL - June 22-24, 2020
40. State Horse Show at Fonner Park - July 12-16, 2020
41. County Fair Online Pre-Entries Due - July 15, 2020
42. Dog Contest - July 18, 2020
43. Cass County 4-H Council Meeting - July 20, 2020

1. Hort Update (new Dec 17 + past issues)
   
2. Gardening articles by Sarah Browning (New articles posted almost every week)
3. Recorded Webinar and info on "Hunting Leases" with vital information for landowners
4. Nebraska Extension Publications ... online Library

5. Private Pesticide Training in Cass County (see below) ... February 20, 2020

This course is designed to examine key health and safety issues specific to rural and agricultural workers. This course is intended for professionals who work with or have an interest in agricultural health and safety.

This course will take place at the Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center for Public Health — 519 South 40th Plaza Circle, Omaha, NE

Session A: July 14-15, 2020

Session B: July 16-17, 2020

Session C (Available On-line): July 14, 2020

For more information including session topics and to register please visit

www.unmc.edu/cce/aghealth

Tired to traveling in the cold weather. Stay home and attend our next webinar from - Fit and Healthy Kids Series “Mindfulness for Kids – It’s That Important!”

Register by 2/2/20 at noon at:

http://food.unl.edu/fit-and-healthy-kids

MOST DIFFICULT: FINDING INFANT CARE

69% of those surveyed in Nebraska reported having reliable childcare as a top concern, especially for infants.

The Learning Child team created and launched a brand-new website designed to help families as they search for childcare including the development of checklist that can be customized.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact The Learning Child team at TLC@unl.edu or visit the website at https://child.unl.edu/choosing-quality-child-care We’re here to help.

The date for pesticide training for Cass County has been announced. It will be 2-20-2020 at the Cass County Fairgrounds, in the EXPO building. Visit our website at: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/cass/2020-private-pesticide-applicators-training/

More information can be found at: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/nemaha/2020-private-pesticide-applicator-training-schedule/ .

For other locations and times visit: https://pested.unl.edu/pesticide-safety-recertification

For questions about registration, training, and/or study materials, call the Pesticide Safety Education Program Office at 800-627-7216 (toll-free) or 402-472-1632 and visit the website:

For questions about the status of your license, reciprocity, test results, and/or tests requirements, call the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 402-471-2341.

Lauren Stohlmann, Extension Educator and Unit Leader, lauren.stohlmann@unl.edu

Katie Kreuser, Extension Educator, katie.kreuser@unl.edu

Tracy Ensor, Extension Assistant, tracy.ensor@unl.edu

Krystl Knabe, 4-H Support Staff, krystl.knabe@unl.edu

Sondra Buell, Office Manager, sondra.buell@unl.edu

General Mailbox, cass-county@unl.edu

Email: cass-county@unl.edu
Website: www.cass.unl.edu
Location: 8400 144th Street, Weeping Water, NE, 68463
Phone: 402-267-2205
Facebook: facebook.com/UniversityofNebraskaLincolnExtensionCassCounty
Twitter: @UNLCassCounty