
4-H Friday News Blast for 1.17.2020
Inspire Kids To Do!
Offices Closing at noon today
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Offices Closed Monday, January 20, 2020
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4-H Council Meeting
Reach out to Lauren Stohlmann with any questions.
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Cass County Scholarship Opportunities
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/
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Pop Tabs for the Ronald McDonald House
Pop tabs can be dropped of at the Extension Office anytime during regular business hours.
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2020 Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo Changes!
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
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2020 State Fairbook Release
The 2020 Fairbook with track changes can be viewed at (https://4hfairbookmanage.unl.edu/fairbookview.php). User name is "4huser" and password is "learning2020."
Additional information can be located here: https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/4hstaff/10564/62343
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Young Nebraska Scientists Camp
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
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Computer Science Camps
The Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is pleased to announce a summer learning opportunity for high school students. We are hosting “Innovate: The Raikes School Way” and “Girls Who Innovate: The Raikes School Way”, computer science camps that will be led by Executive Director of the Raikes School, Steve Cooper. This opportunity was highlighted in a 2019 Forbes article, "STEM-Focused Summer Programs for Ambitious High School Students".
Students will participate in a two-week, project-based, on-campus camp, where they will learn basic programming skills, receive instruction from Nebraska faculty members, experience what classes can be like in the Raikes School, visit local businesses and research labs, and interact with Raikes School students and staff, all of whom play a key role in the competitive selection process to our program each year.
What: “Innovate: The Raikes School Way” & “Girls Who Innovate: The Raikes School Way”
For: High School Students (primarily the graduating class of 2021)
Where: University of Nebraska–Lincoln
When: July 12-25, 2020
Cost: $950 (limited need-based scholarship opportunities are available)
Programming Experience: None needed (in fact, no experience is preferred)
Application Deadline: March 27, 2020
Interested participants are able to find more details and application materials at http://raikes.unl.edu/summercamps.
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2020 Women in Agriculture Conference Scholarship
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
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Equine Foot and Hoof Care Clinic
This is also an approved CE credit opportunity for Veterinarians and Technicians in Nebraska and Iowa.
More information can be found here: https://go.unl.edu/w485
Go here to register: https://go.unl.edu/uxib
Payment in full is required to reserve a spot. Checks can be made out to UNL Animal Science and mailed to Kathy Anderson, C204 Animal Science Complex, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0908.
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Lambing and Kidding School
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.
Speakers and topics for the program are:
- “How to Keep Ewes and Does healthy through Disease Control and Treatment” by Brian Vander Ley DVM, Great Plains Education Center, Clay Center Nebraska
- “Economical Feeding for the Doe” Dr. Steve Hart, Goat Extension Specialist, Langston University, Langston Oklahoma
- “Economical Feeding Programs for the Ewe.” Ivan Rush, sheep producer, Scottsbluff, NE
- “Good Sheep Management Practices.” David Ollila, Sheep Specialist, SDSU Rapid City, SD
- “Treating Chilled Newborns, Tubing Lambs/Kids” Dr. Regina Rankin DVM and Vicki Milner, Crawford Companion Animal Clinic, Crawford NE
- Hands-on Tour including care of the young “bum” lamb and goat, body condition scoring of ewes and does, when and how to assist difficult births
- Broken Bow tour: Beth and Hannah Smith’s Farm, 44306 Road, Broken Bow NE
- Chadron tour: Connie Moore’s Farm, 61 Goffena Rd, Chadron NE
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.
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Bee Keeping Classes at UNL
Sign-up here: https://ssp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_06eNidmd00tlvQp
Additional information can be located here: https://entomology.unl.edu/bee-lab#tab3
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Special Garden Project 2020
Each year, a new plant is selected as the focus for all members enrolled in the project. Youth receive seeds which they plant and cultivate using project resources provided throughout the experience. Youth then have the opportunity to exhibit cut flowers or harvested vegetables or present their experience through a poster or report.
The project is designed to challenge youth interested in horticulture by introducing them to new and unique growing experiences and foster real-world problem-solving skills through a guided horticultural experience.
This year's project is: The unique Classic Magic Bachelor Button flower. Classic Magic Bachelor Buttons are a unique mix of plum, purple, and bicolor flowers. Not only do the flowers attract beneficial insects, they are edible as well.
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
Photo courtesy of Johnny's Select Seeds, Johnnyseeds.com, 1-877-564-6697.
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4-H Leaders ... Year End Reports due
December 31 was the due date for the Year End Reports from each club's leader. Go to: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/cass/year-end-treasurers-report/ to get the blank report form. Leaders, please turn them in at the Extension Office as soon as possible!
If you have questions, please contact us at the Extension Office:
(402) 267-2205 or cass-county@unl.edu
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2020 Enrollment is Open!
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 191 individuals have enrolled/re-enrolled:
- 158 youth and
- 33 volunteers.
Enrollment instructions are available to help you navigate the 4-H Online system. Be sure to check out the following resources:
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Stock Show Manager website now open ...
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.
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YQCA - Youth for the Quality Care of Animals
All 4-H members (excluding Clover Kids) enrolled in beef, dairy cattle, dairy goat, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep, and swine are require to complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) training to exhibit livestock. The YQCA training must be completed by June 15th, 2020.
There will be three opportunities to attend an in-person training at the Cass County Extension Office. Please call the Extension office at 402-267-2205 to let us know you are coming, but you will need to pre-register online at YQCA.org
Please see the dates, times, and age levels below:
· February 6th - Juniors 6 – 7 pm. & Intermediate/Senior 7:30 – 8:30 pm.
· April 9th - Juniors 6 – 7 pm. & Intermediate/Senior 7:30 – 8:30 pm.
· June 4th – time TBD
While we encourage you to attend the in-person training, YQCA training may also be completed online. You can register and complete that training on their website at YQCA.org. If you have questions or need help registering, please call the office at 402-267-2205.
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Updated 2020 Pick-Your-Project Resource
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
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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.
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2020 Online Horticulture Judging Contest
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 5-22, 2020 at: https://go.unl.edu/hortcontest.
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 Fairbook http://4h.unl.edu/fairbook/plant-science/horticulture-id. 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
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Nebraska 4-H Camp 101 Sessions
Join live at: https://unl.zoom.us/j/7874401325
Questions: contact Sean Gunderson at the camp
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Big Red Summer Camp Sessions Announced
Big Red Summer Camps are residential, career exploration camps held at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This year's sessions will be held June 7-12, 2020.
Session Topics:
· Animation
· Digital Media
· Teaching
· Engineering
· Agriculture & Natural Resources
· Filmmaking
· Veterinary Science
· Talent in Startups
Unicameral Youth LegislatureFor more information go to: https://go.unl.edu/jutb
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State 4-H Indoor Archery Tournament Registration Open
- FRIDAY JANUARY 24th - Registration: 5:15 pm. Shooting starts promptly at 6:00 pm
- SATURDAY JANUARY 25th - Registration: 7:00 am. Shooting starts promptly at 8:00 am
- Registration: 10:00 am. Shooting starts promptly at 11:00 am
Cost: $15 per shooter. Pay at the event site.
NFAA 300 Round (12 ends of 5 arrows)
Contact Info: Mark Eggers: (402)750-0005 or Becky Carmin: (308)380-0763
Registration information found at: https://forms.gle/FCF4w8wDpCTW33gq6
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2020 District Horse Show Locations and Dates
June 15- Scottsbluff
June 16- Burwell
June 17- Columbus
June 18- Lincoln
June 19- McCook
Districts Webpage- https://4h.unl.edu/horse/district-shows
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4-H Calendar
Looking ahead ...
- Summer Camps announced for 2020
- Nebraska Equine Webinar series ... 2nd Monday of every month (please remember to register for these webinars in advance)
Shooting Sports Leadership Workshop, Lincoln – January 18-19
State Archery Indoor Championships, Columbus – January 24-25
Lambing and Kidding School - January 25, 2020
Special Garden Project Seed Order Deadline - January 29, 2020
UNL Teacher Scholars Academy Application Deadline - February 1, 2020
4-H Volunteer and Leader Training in Cass County - February 4, 2020 at 6:00 PM
YQCA Training in Cass County - February 6, 2020
- Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic Judging Contest - February 15, 2020
- Come Ride with Me ... February 15, 2019 A Horsemanship clinic for youth and adults
- Freel/Lepert Family Scholarship Deadline - March 1, 2020
- David Knabe Memorial Scholarship Deadline - March 1, 2020
- 2020 Horse Judging School - March 7, 2020
- 2020 Adult/Leader Equine Advancement Level Workshop - March 8, 2020
- 2020 Equine 4-H Youth 3 & 4 Advancement Level Workshop - March 8, 2020
- Chick Days at UNL - March 14, 2020 in Lincoln
- 4-H Re-enrollment Deadline - March 15, 2020
- NACEB Scholarship Deadline - March 16, 2020
- 4-H Public Speaking Workshop - March 24, 2020
- 4-H Horse Stampede - March 28, 2020 at UNL
- 4-H Companion Animal Challenge - March 28, 2020
- Horse Stampede 2020 4-H Horses .. March 29, 2020
- Weeping Water Whiz Kidz Scholarship Deadline - April 1, 2020
- YQCA Training in Cass County - April 9, 2020
- Otoe County Livestock Judging Clinic ... April 25, 2020
- YQCA Training in Cass County - June 4, 2020
- Online Horticulture Judging Contest - June 5-22, 2020
- Big Red Camps in Lincoln - June 7-12
- New 4-H Member Enrollment Deadline - June 15, 2020
- District Horse Show information - June 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
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Ag Information & Other Opportunities:
- Hort Update (new Dec 17 + past issues)
- Gardening articles by Sarah Browning (New articles posted almost every week)
- Recorded Webinar and info on "Hunting Leases" with vital information for landowners
- Nebraska Extension Publications ... online Library
Become a Master Gardener ... for 2020 program, register by January 17, 2020
Nebraska Crop Management Conference ... January 22-23 in Kearney
Private Pesticide Training in Cass County (see below) ... February 20, 2020
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Pesticide Training Date Announced for 2020
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.
Nebraska Extension Cass County
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