Hall County 4-H Newsletter

• Exhibitors/Families - Please take a few minutes to review:
• Hall County Fair Rules
• 4-H Program Participant/Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct
• General Rules specific to each of your projects in the Fair Book! hall.unl.edu/hall-county-fair/
• Parking Information: Please Park trailers to the west of the buildings. No parking between the buildings.
  
• Check out the complete Hall County Fair Calendar & Schedule: hall.unl.edu/hall-county-fair/

The Hall County Fair Board will be purchasing Fair t-shirts for all 4-H exhibitors and volunteers! If you participated in pre-fair events, are exhibiting static exhibits, showing animals, or volunteering, please pick up your shirt at Fair check-in on July 17th. Thanks Hall County Fair Board!

Green & white 4-H clover t-shirts will also be available for purchase in the 4-H office at the Fair. Reminder: The 4-H office will be located on the east end of Five Points Bank Arena, near the Concession area.

Get rewarded for checking in your 4-H exhibits early at the Hall County Fair! Exhibit entry is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17th from 4–6:30 pm at Fonner Park.

How will the contest work? The earlier you check in animals and static exhibits, the more chances you have to win prizes! Check in all your animals, or all your static exhibits, and then ask a 4-H staff member for an entry form. Complete it and add it to the entry box. We’ll be drawing and announcing winners in both the Cattle barn (for animal check-ins) and in the Aurora Cooperative Pavilion (for 4-H static exhibit entry) every 30 minutes, starting at 4:30 pm. The earlier you check in all your exhibits, the more chances you have to win a prize!

Why is early check-in helpful? Early check-in gives staff and superintendents more time to organize static exhibits for judging and to prepare for the Thursday livestock shows. Show programs can’t be put together until everyone checks in. Animal check-ins and exhibit drop-offs later in the day mean that volunteers and staff work late to prepare for the next day. We appreciate your help in making early check-ins possible!

Say cheese! Grand Champion photos will be taken on Saturday, July 20th between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm in the Concession area, east end of the Five Points Bank Arena. A Grand Island Independent photographer will take a quick photo of any 4-H member who received a Grand Champion award (animal or static exhibits).

Clover Kids Show & Tell, always a fun event to watch, will be held on Thursday, July 18th at 6:00 pm. The event will be held on the stage in the Aurora Cooperative Pavilion. During this event, Clover Kids will show and share about their favorite 4-H project they made and exhibited at this year’s fair, by bringing the project to the stage area between 5:30-6 pm. D’Ette will be there to greet them and get them ready for the show!

This event gives our youngest 4-H members experience in public speaking and will bolster their confidence! Pre-registration is not required. Questions? Contact D’Ette at the Extension Office at 308-385-5088.

Join us Saturday, July 20th at 3:30 pm in the main aisle of the Cattle Barn for Corn Hole! Grab a friend for the competition, or we can pair you up with someone during registration. We promise you’ll make new friends along the way! Registration will begin at 3:15 pm or immediately following the 4-H Recognition Event.

No experience is necessary to join the fun! The age divisions will be 5-8, 9-13, 14-17, 18 & over. Prizes? Yes, of course! The competition will be a double elimination event this year, with prizes for 1st and 2nd place in each division. We hope to see you there on Saturday afternoon.

A BIG thanks to Jason & Lisa Allan and family for organizing this event and building brand new 4-H Corn Hole boards for this annual contest!

Please help us to provide a safe environment and a great experience for youth during the Hall County Fair.

1. Keep a watchful eye on children. Children should be supervised by their parent(s) or other designated adult(s) at all times.
2. Wear closed-toe shoes to protect your feet.
3. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
4. Pay attention to the weather forecast and know where you will go if you need to seek shelter from an unexpected thunderstorm.
5. Wash your hands after touching animals and always before eating.

Have a safe and memorable time at the fair and always keep safety your #1 priority. Let the fair fun begin!

We are looking forward to seeing all of you at the fair! As you prepare to bring your static exhibits to the fairgrounds, please read through this helpful list of reminders/tips. We want your family’s fair experience to be fun-filled and stress-free!

At fair time, you will often read or hear office staff talking about STATIC exhibits. A static exhibit is any exhibit that isn’t alive (doesn’t breathe and/or walk). They are stationary. We are usually referring to exhibits in the exhibit hall: posters, home design exhibits like wall hangings, food, flowers, human development exhibits, woodworking, Kids College exhibits, and more! (Animals are not static exhibits.)

• Static Exhibit Entry Tags - Watch for an email from Crystal! You will be notified when entry tags are printed and ready for you to pick up. Stop by the office, 8:30-5, to get your tags. Tip: Attach tags at home ‘before’ arriving at the fairgrounds. It will make the entry process easier for you and your family when you arrive on entry day!
• Information Cards/Tags - Double-check…do you have all supporting information attached to the exhibit? Please check the class/dept. in the fair book to see if you need additional information on your exhibit. Many classes/departments require more information: food (recipes), food preservation (card), home design & restoration (supporting information card), visual arts (supporting information card), photography (data tags), woodworking (plans). The office has copies of these forms available. Still not sure what you need? Call D’Ette or Joyce for help. Tip: Fill them out ahead of time. Once you are on the fairgrounds, it is not easy to get the forms filled out with all the distractions!
• What will exhibits be judged on? Scoresheets are available for everyone to view at 4h.unl.edu/state-fair/static-exhibitor. If you would like to add additional information to your exhibit, you can! Supporting information, even when not required, is always welcomed by the judges.

Horticulture exhibitors- save your seed packets! To exhibit in this area, you must know your varieties and cultivars. This information must come in with your flowers and vegetables on entry day. Need information on exhibiting flowers/vegetables/ herbs/fruit items? Check out these resources when preparing entries for the fair:

• Preparing Cut Flowers for Exhibits at County and State Fairs 4H227
  
• Selecting and Preparing Vegetables, Herbs and Fruits for Exhibit 4H226

To keep food safe for our judges, please check the premium book for a list of food ingredients that are considered unsafe for fair exhibits (egg or cream cheese fillings/frostings, meat items, melted cheese on top of foods, uncooked fruit toppings, etc.). Any exhibits that require refrigeration will not be accepted. Any exhibit (food or recipe file) that includes alcohol will be disqualified. In addition:

• Food exhibits should be entered using a disposable pan or plate and covered by a plastic self-sealing bag.
• Each exhibit must include the recipe, handwritten, photocopied or typed.

• Remember Supporting Information Cards for Home Design & Restoration and Visual Arts Exhibits. Those can be found here: hall.unl.edu/hall-county-fair-information/.

• Reminder: Exhibits in the Visual Arts AND Home Design & Restoration must be ready for display, framed, ready to hang. No single matboard or artist canvas panels are allowed. A wrapped canvas (if staples are not visible on the edge) is accepted without framing, but must still have a hanger. Command strips are not allowed as hangers!
• While we love to get those big, awesome home design projects, there is a size limit – no taller than 7 feet and no wider than 6 feet. All exhibits must be easily lifted by two staff members or volunteers.

Don’t forget to bring all the clothing projects to the fairgrounds that were judged on clothing judging day! This includes Shopping in Style exhibits, $15 challenge garments, all constructed items, and Clover Kid exhibits. The clothing superintendents will attach tags & ribbons to these items at the fair.

• Exhibit Entry - Extension staff and the static exhibit superintendents will be available to help you. We ask that you follow the signs and place exhibits in the proper areas. Questions about your exhibit or tags, please ask. We’re here to help!
• Judging on Thursday - To reduce distractions for the judges and superintendents, and for the safety of families (we make a little bit of a mess during judging!), please do not browse through the static exhibit area until judging is done. We know it’s hard to wait to see your ribbon placings! We will have the static exhibit area ready for public viewing no later than 4 pm on Thursday, July 18th.
• Find a Mistake? - If you find a mistake on a placing, ribbon, scoresheet, or other, please let D’Ette or Joyce know right away. Often, we can correct the mistake immediately and before premium checks are printed. We appreciate your help!
• Exhibit Release - Please plan to pick up your exhibits on Sunday, July 21st from 3-4:30 pm. If you are unable to do so, please find a family member or friend who can help. All exhibits not picked up have to be loaded up & returned to the Extension Office, adding to the workload of staff/volunteers.
• Premium Checks - Sunday, July 21st, 3-4:30 pm. As you pick up your exhibits, be sure to pick up your premium check. A staff member will be available in the Aurora Cooperative Pavilion to hand out the checks. Be sure to thank a fair board member for providing premiums for your exhibits!

  
  

Champion Photos - If you were selected as a Champion Exhibitor in the static exhibit hall, don't forget to have your picture taken by the GI Independent photographer on Saturday, July 20th from 11:30-1:00 in the Concession area, east end of the Five Points Bank Arena. (While you're there, make sure to eat at the 4-H Family Luncheon!)

The 4-H Recognition Event will also be held on Saturday, July 20th @ 2:00 pm in the Aurora Cooperative Pavilion. During the event, we will give awards to the Champion Exhibitors in the static exhibit hall, as well as Volunteer awards and Shooting Sports awards. If you were selected as a Champion Exhibitor or if you participated in Archery, BB Gun, Rifle or Shot Gun competitions, please come to this event to be recognized and receive your award!

The Fair Book contains 4-H project class descriptions, premiums & much more. Check it out here: hall.unl.edu/hall-county-fair/. The website also includes additional forms, data tags & supporting information cards, as well as a summary of new classes & class changes.

Please review ALL AREAS of the 2024 Fair Book that pertain to your projects. You may download a copy of the 2024 Fair Book here: hall.unl.edu/hall-county-fair/ or you may pick up a paper copy at the Extension Office.

NEW this year – We will be using text messaging through the Remind App to communicate important 4-H news, events & deadlines to 4-H families, including during the Hall County Fair. Direct links to Fair Programs and Livestock Auction sign-up links will be sent through the Remind App ONLY.

Options to sign up for Remind:

• Option 1 - Click the link to sign up, https://www.remind.com/join/4h-hall.
• Option 2 - Text the message @4h-hall to the number 81010.

• Tuesday, July 16th from 4-6 pm
• Tom Dinsdale Automotive Cattle Barn

All poultry & rabbit exhibitors are asked to please help with cage setup. Many hands make quick work!

• Stall Assignments be posted at 9:00 am Wednesday morning, and families may begin setting up at that time. When unloading equipment, please unload and move your vehicle to make room for the next 4-H family, then return to set up your pen/stalls.
• Parking Information - Please park trailers to the west of the buildings. No parking between the buildings.
• Livestock Check-In is from 4-6:30 pm. Please consider checking-in at the beginning of check-in to help staff and superintendents prepare for the upcoming shows in a timelier manner and get entered into the Hall County Fair Exhibit Entry Contest.
• Livestock packets for the Hall County Fair will be provided for each member. When you arrive for exhibit check-in, please pick up your packet at the livestock office on the east side of Five Points Bank Arena.
• Poultry & Rabbit Exhibitors - The Cattle Barn is much cooler than being outside, but it can still get warm in there. Some ideas to think about are: frozen water bottles, half gallon milk jug to use as poultry water dish, leave extra key in case of emergency overheating of animal (if choosing to lock cages). Herdsmanship will be required, so please keep your area clean!

The theme for the 2024 Hall County Fair Stall Decorating for clubs and families is “Old Time Rock & Roll". Show off your 4-H pride by decorating your club or family area. This has been lots of fun in past years!

Show attire includes the following shirt options: green or white 4-H Clover t-shirts, white button-up with 4-H armband, NEW Hall County Fair t-shirt issued this year, navy Hall County 4-H shirt issued last year, or green Hall County 4-H shirt issued three years ago. State Fair or AKSARBEN shirts are NOT permitted. Attire includes dark jeans and closed toed shoes. Shirts and armbands are available at the office for purchase (& will be available at the Fair after check-in). Backtags will be included in the exhibitor livestock packets; no exhibitor number harnesses may be worn.

Historically, Hall County Fair 4-H exhibitors have done a great job and have shown immense pride in the art of herdsmanship. Thank you!! One area that is sometimes missed is the middle aisle that is used when livestock are being moved from tie-outs, wash rack and show ring. Please pay special attention to this area to help keep our barn clean. This is a great way to encourage those who are not as agricultural savvy to walk through the barn and learn more about the projects you have worked so hard on.

4-H members enrolled in the Bucket Calf project have a record book to complete! The record book counts for 25% of your total points at the Hall County Fair, so be sure to turn it in to the Extension staff when your calf is entered onto the fairgrounds. *Please note that the bucket calf show is considered showmanship for the calves and their exhibitors.

Champion & Reserve signs, donated by generous 4-H donors including the Pollock family and the Paul Rauert Memorial, will be available to hang above the 4-H member’s stalls or pens. The signs will be reused from year-to-year and therefore must be returned (after being cleaned) to the livestock office on Sunday, July 21st so they can be used next year.

• Auction Sign Up - Google forms will be used for Livestock Auction sign up. Be sure to sign up for the Remind App (see info above). As soon as a show is over, a link will be sent via text message in the Remind App to all individuals eligible for the auction. You will have 2 hours from the end of the show to sign up ONE market animal that was shown that day.
• Buyer Thank You Notes will be available at the livestock office. Please complete the thank-you, place in the brown envelope, write the name of the 4-H member and the species of the livestock it is for on the outside of the envelope. Place the completed thank you in the designated box outside the livestock office. Thank you’s must be completed BEFORE going through the Auction.
  
• Livestock Sale Cards are still available at the Extension Office. These are great for youth to distribute to potential auction supporters!

A Beef Carcass Contest will be offered again at the Hall County Fair. Beef exhibitors will have the opportunity to have a carcass ultrasound done on their cattle after the beef show on Saturday. Friends of 4-H has generously agreed to cover the cost of ALL beef animals that youth would like to participate in the carcass contest. There will be a grand and a reserve champion announced after the Fair. Sign up at check-in on Wednesday!

Dog Show Setup: July 17th at 6 pm in the arena.

Dog Show: Thursday, July 18th at 4:30 pm (please arrive by 4 pm to check in)

*Please come & help with setup on July 17th, and take-down after the show if possible. Below you will find a list of what will be tested for each of the classes.

Showmanship (loop lead or martingale)

• Handler’s appearance: Jeans, 4-H t-shirt and tennis shoes/boots
• Dog grooming and appearance: Bathed and brushed, flea and tick free, toenails trimmed, teeth and ears cleaned
• Handling and showing of the dog: movement of handler with the dog, stacking dog, completion of pattern
• Knowledge of the dog: Anatomy, common vaccines, breed of your dog, working group, country of origin, internal and external parasites, nutrition (kind of dog food, how much/often eats)

Obedience (6 ft. leash and flat collar or choke collar)

• Heal on leash and Figure 8
• Stand for Exam
• Recall
• Long sit (1minute)
• Long down (3 minutes)

Agility

• Dog must be 18 months or older
• Flat/buckle collar (no hanging tags)
• Level 1 - 6 obstacles
• Level 2 - 10 obstacles
• Level 3 - 10 obstacles off leash
• Level 4 - 13 obstacles off leash

4-H Dog Exhibitors - Please review the rulebook in its entirety here: 4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/animals/4. We also ask that you carefully review the dog section of the Hall County Fair Book prior to practicing for the Fair, hall.unl.edu/hall-county-fair/.

The Hall County 4-H Horse Show is quickly approaching! Check in will be from 7-8 am Friday morning, July 19th at Thompson Arena. Families will stall their horses next to their trailer. The show will start at 8 am. (Please be sure to clean up the area around the trailer before leaving. This includes picking up any trash, filling in holes from a horse that might dig or paw at the ground and cleaning up manure.) Questions? Call the office or check with superintendents Merriah Bockmann and Korrie Heller.

Volunteers Needed to Make Horse Show Run Smoothly: We ask 4-H horse families and clubs to help during the show. Horse Show responsibilities include: checking in 4-H riders for the classes, running the gates, & handing out ribbons.

• Independent Families: English Classes
• Prairie Drifters: Western/Reining/Ranch Riding Classes
• Lazy K Silver Spurs: Showmanship/Halter/Speed/Cattle Classes
• All Clubs: Trail

Hungry? You won’t leave hungry from the Hall County Fair! The following free meals are available to 4-H families. Please thank our awesome sponsors!

• Wednesday - Free Hot Dog Meal provided by Pathway Bank on Wednesday evening, July 17th, from 5-7 pm for 4-H families. Stop by the Five Points Bank arena concessions while checking in on Wednesday. A BIG thanks to Pathway Bank for supporting Hall County 4-H!
• THURSDAY - Ag Appreciation Meal will be on Thursday evening from 5-7 pm in the Aurora Cooperative Pavilion (outdoor). All 4-H families/superintendents are invited! This meal is sponsored by the Hall County Ag Committee.
• THURSDAY - BINGO and ICE CREAM! The Hall County Fair Board invites you to sit down and try your hand at BINGO and enjoy some cold ice cream! Free ice cream for anyone playing BINGO at the Tom Dinsdale Automotive Barn Bar from 6:30-8:30 pm.
• SATURDAY - The 4-H Family Luncheon is scheduled for Saturday, July 20th from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm in the Concession area, east end of the Five Points Bank Arena. All 4-H alumni are welcome to attend! A BIG thank you to Kayl Heating & Air, who is sponsoring this meal! We also received donations for the Family Luncheon from Dairy Queen-Capital Ave, Super Saver, Equitable Bank, Sam's Club, Heritage Bank, Aurora Cooperative and Hall County 4-H Council. Help us thank our community businesses that make this event happen! Don’t forget, the 4-H Recognition event will follow the luncheon at 2:00 pm on the Aurora Cooperative Pavilion stage.
• SUNDAY - We will wrap up the fair with the Livestock Buyer’s Meal and 4-H Livestock Auction. All business representatives/buyers, 4-H families and volunteers are welcome to attend this meal on Sunday from 3:30-5:30 pm in the Concession area, east end of the Five Points Bank Arena. Thank you, AKRS Equipment!

4-H member, Kade Kosmicki, recently competed in the State Poultry Judging Contest at the 2024 Premier Animal Science Event in Lincoln, NE. The contest consists of one class of judging hens for past production, one set of oral reasons on a production hen class, grading eggs based on exterior quality, interior quality by candling, and broken-out quality, grading ready-to-cook poultry and identification of ready-to-cook parts. For more information, go to 4h.unl.edu/pase.

Hall County 4-H member, Travis Svitak, recently competed in the Speech contest at the 4-H Premier Communication Event in Lincoln, NE. Travis received a purple ribbon in the Intermediate division of the Prepared Speech category and a purple ribbon in the Impromptu Speech category. The Prepared Speech contest provides youth the opportunity to write and prepare a speech on a topic related to their 4-H experience. The Impromptu Speech competition gives youth the opportunity to write and present a speech around a 4-H-related topic that they select during the competition, where they are given 15 minutes to develop and prepare for their presentation. Judges evaluate the subject, organization, and delivery of the speech. For more information, go to 4h.unl.edu/premier-communication-event.

2024 Outstanding Models

• Overall Grand Champion Senior Model - Alison Schimmer
• Overall Grand Champion Junior Model - Remi Buchfinck
• Outstanding Model, STEAM Level 1 - Elise Krueger
• Outstanding Model, STEAM Level 2 & 3 - Alison Schimmer
• Outstanding Model, Beyond the Needle - Remi Buchfinck & Jaylee Hatt
• Outstanding Model, Shopping in Style - Annie Buchfinck
  
• Outstanding Model, Shopping in Style $15 Challenge (age 12 & under) - Marissa Golka
• Outstanding Model, Shopping in Style $15 Challenge (age 13 & up) - Eastlyn Hubl

State Fair Fashion Show Models - Clothing Construction

• Hope Krueger
• Hailey Allan
• Eastlyn Hubl
• Alison Schimmer
• Peyton Allan
• Remi Buchfinck
• Kendall Rennau

State Fair Fashion Show Models - Shopping in Style

• Hailey Allan
  
• Peyton Allan
• Tessa Rundle

State Fair Fashion Show Alternates - Shopping in Style

• Alison Schimmer
• Annie Buchfinck

Family and Consumer Science Contest

• Champion, Senior Division - Peyton Allan
• Reserve, Senior Division - Alison Schimmer
• Champion, Junior Division - Tessa Rundle
• Reserve, Junior Division - Hope Krueger

(Photos courtesy of Grand Island Independent)

State Fair animal & contest entries must be made online in ShoWorks before 5:00 PM CST on August 10. This entry process must be completed by the 4-H exhibitor (or their family). Fees must be paid using a debit/credit card. There are no other options for payment. Watch your email for more information & the ShoWorks entry link. State Fair rules & regulations can be found here: 4h.unl.edu/state-fair. Please review these thoroughly before arriving at State Fair.

• July 8 - Happy Hounds Dog Practice, 5:30 pm at Fonner Park, south side of the NE Building.
  

• July 13-17 - State 4-H Horse Expo at Fonner Park
  
• July 17-21 - Hall County Fair
  

• August 10 - Entry deadline for 4-H livestock & in-person contests at the Nebraska State Fair.

• August 23 - September 2 - Nebraska State Fair

Email: hall-county@unl.edu
Website: hall.unl.edu
Location: 3180 W Hwy 34, College Park, Grand Island, Nebraska, USA
Phone: 308-385-5088
Facebook: facebook.com/HallCounty4HNebraska
Twitter: @4HHoopla