4-H News in Keith/Arthur Counties

• 4-H Calendar
• Welcome Office Manager - Amanda Allen
• State Fair Results - Arthur
• State Fair Results - Keith
• Keith 4-H Achievement Banquet
• Keith 4-H Council Scholarship
• Arthur 4-H Achievement Banquet
• Achievement Application/Career Portfolios
• Diamond Clover
• Club of Excellence
• Frequently Asked Post-Fair Questions
• National 4-H Week
• 2024-2025 4-H Enrollment

September 9: Keith 4-H Council Meeting, Roads Department Conference Room, 5:30 pm

September 10: Office Closed - Staff in Arthur for Range Judging Contest

October 6-12: National 4-H Week!

November 3: Keith 4-H Achievement Banquet, Fairgrounds, 2pm

November 10: Arthur 4-H Achievement Banquet, Fairgrounds, 2 pm

Deadlines:

September 15: Club of Excellence deadline

October 4: Achievement Applications or Career Portfolios and Diamond Clovers deadline

October 30: Keith 4-H Council Scholarship deadline

Hello, my name is Amanda Allen and I am excited to be starting as the new Office Manger for the Keith-Arthur Extension Office! My family and I recently moved to the area from North Central Missouri, 8 hours away! We thought the area and communities would be a perfect fit for our family! So far we are loving Nebraska!!

Prior to the move, I was previously employed with the University of Missouri Extension in Mercer and Grundy County, as what MU Extension termed a “YPA,” or a Youth Programs Associate, who mainly assists the 4-H clubs within the surrounding communities and works with schools and various organizations throughout the community to better educate and engage area youth and families and deliver resources from the University. Before that I had been involved with many aspects of hog production, working for MFA, Smithfield and Maschhoff’s directly after graduating from the University of Missouri with my Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science in 2007.

I moved here with my wonderful family- husband of 14 years, Zack, is the new manager of the Ag Valley Big Springs grain co-op, my 13- “going on 30”, daughter Kaytlann and 11 year old, “fishing fanatic”, son Curtis. They are attending South Platte school in Big Springs and are really enjoying it so far- as they have already made several friends and are diving into several new opportunities and we are excited about the many new doors opening ahead of them! They have just began practices for Jr Volleyball and Jr Football, and instruments are being brought home to practice, so it is already been very interesting! We may be a little “weird” but we really love just being together!? We enjoy learning new hobbies, cooking together, fishing, hiking, watching movies and listening to music!

So far, I have really enjoyed working with Tessa and the 4-H families of Keith and Arthur Counties! I also look forward to meeting and helping many of the community members that come or call with questions and concerns, and hope that everyone takes full advantage of the wide array of resources and knowledge to be shared through UNL Extension!!

Congratulations to all the 4-H'ers who sent items or competed at the Nebraska State Fair. A complete list of results can be found at: https://nebraska4hresults.com/

Tessa dropped off the exhibits at the Courthouse on the afternoon of September 4. Please pick up your exhibits as soon as possible.

Arthur County 4-H’ers, In-Person Event Results:

· Hailey Dam – special award for Best Opposite, purple for Breeding Rabbits Jr Doe, purple for Breeding Rabbits Sr Buck, blue for Rabbit Showmanship

· Jocelynn Meeks – blue for Swine Showmanship, blue for Crossbred Market Gilt

· Tristyn Meeks - blue for Swine Showmanship, blue for Crossbred Market Gilt

· Karli Wagner – blue for Nebraska Fed Steer Challenge

· Kacey Wernsman - blue for Nebraska Fed Steer Challenge

Static Exhibit Results:

· Jaci Corfield – blue Accessory 3D, blue Range Plant Poster, blue Salad Tomatoes

· Rave Corfield – white Green Summer Squash

· Hailey Dam – purple and special recognition Original Acrylic Painting

· Ruby Ohm – blue Coffee Cake, red Barn Quilt

· Karli Wagner – purple Original Single Media, purple Furniture Remade

· Kacey Wernsman – purple Welding Art

· Braden Wilson – purple Baking with Whole Grain, blue Candid Photo

· Kaylee Wilson – blue Expression Photo

· Nora Wilson – blue Accessory 2D

Congratulations to all the 4-H'ers who sent items or competed at the Nebraska State Fair. A complete list of results can be found at: https://nebraska4hresults.com/

Exhibits are back at the Extension Office September 4. Please come pick up your exhibits as soon as possible.

Keith County 4-H’ers, In-Person Event Results:

· Emma Lake – purple for Fashion Show Steam 2, blue for Fashion Show Shopping in Style

· Audrey Moorhead – purple for Breeding Rabbits Sr Buck, purple for Market Rabbits Roaster, blue for Fashion Show Steam 2, blue for Fashion Show Shopping in Style

Static Exhibit Results:

· Jagger Barnhill – blue Woodworking, red Rocket

· Jalie Barnhill – purple Accessory from Wood, purple Barn Quilt

· Macy Harger – blue Babysitting Kit, blue Shopping in Style Binder

· Amos Lake – blue Healthy Baked Product

· Emma Lake – blue Wildlife tracks, red Cooking Recipe File

· Audrey Moorhead - purple and special recognition Advanced Technique Photo, purple and special recognition Creative Arts, purple Human Development Scrapbook, purple Entomology, purple Coreopsis, purple Recycled Woodworking, blue Macrophotography, blue Still Life Photo, red Shopping in Style binder, red Family Food Baking, red Rudbeckia/Black-eyed Susan, red Salad Tomatoes

· Aaron Mumm – purple and special recognition Abstract Photo

· Daniel Mumm – purple and special recognition Fishing Rod, blue Abstract Photo, blue Original Pencil Drawing, red Original Single Media

· Ava Nordhausen - purple and special recognition Candid Photo

· Anthony Perrin – red Petunia

· Caden Rhoades – purple and special recognition Family Heritage, purple Specialty Rolls

· Claudia Rhoades – purple Veterinary Science, blue Veterinary Science, red Biscuits or Scones,

· Aubrey Samuelson – blue Salad Tomatoes, blue Fashion Accessory, white Textile Arts Accessory

· August Schow – purple and special recognition Leaf Display, purple 3 jar Jelled Exhibit, purple Dahlia, purple Any Other Herb, blue White Bread, blue 1 Jar Jelled Exhibit

· Ruby Schow – purple Name Art, purple Steam 3, purple Beyond the Needle Fabric, purple Cooking Recipe File, purple Original Fiber Art, blue Clothing First Aid Kit, blue Rudbeckia/Black-eyed Susan

· Andi Spurgin – purple Embellished Garment, blue Accessory 3D, blue Healthy Baked Product, red Abstract Photo, red Two-Piece Outfit

· Kepler Spurgin – blue Specialty Rolls

The Keith County 4-H Council offers a scholarship for graduating seniors in 2025! The scholarship will be awarded at the Achievement Banquet.

The application is below. If you would like it in a Word format, let us know. Please turn it to Tessa at the Extension Office. The scholarship deadline is October 30, 2024!

It is end of 4-H year reporting time! Keeping records/writing achievement applications is a great way to hold onto your memories about each incredible year you have in 4-H. In a couple of years, you can look through these applications and remember what fun you had. Keeping records is also a great way to develop your skills in communication, organize your time, document events and actions, evaluate your own efforts, set goals, etc.

Keith Curriculum Areas:

• Animal Science
• Communication & Expressive Arts
• Consumer & Family Sciences
• Environmental Education & Earth Sciences
• Healthy Lifestyles Education
• Leadership & Citizenship
• Plant Science
• Science & Technology

Arthur Curriculum Areas:

• Agriculture
• STEM
• Leadership & Entrepreneurship
• Healthy Living
• College & Career Preparation for My Future

Green folders for your portfolio are available at the Extension Office for $5 each. Finish your 4-H year in style, complete a Career Portfolio!

Deadline to submit Achievement Applications/Career Portfolios for both Keith & Arthur is October 4.

Deadline to submit Diamond Clover is October 4. Forms are available on the Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover website. If you aren't sure what level your youth has passed, we can let you know!

The Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover program encourages 4-H youth to engage in a variety of programs, projects, and activities that will enable youth to acquire skills and abilities that will prepare them for success in the future. The program is designed to reach and recognize all youth engaged in 4-H, from club members and campers to school enrichment, afterschool, and special interest program participants. The program consists of six levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments.

Rules

• Youth may only receive recognition at each level once.
• Youth may only receive one level of recognition per year.
• Youth should begin at Level 1 and progress through Level 6. However, youth who are older when beginning may opt to start at a higher level (2-4) as is mutually agreeable to the participant and the parent/guardian or leader. In order for older youth to begin at level 5 or 6, the Extension staff must also be in agreement.
• Approval: Levels 1–4 require the approval of a 4-H youth’s parent/guardian. If the 4-H youth belongs to a 4-H club, club leader approval is also required (if 4-H youth belongs to more than one club, choose one leader to work with). Levels 5 and 6 require the approval of a local county extension staff member.
• Accomplishments: Each level requires participants to complete a specified number of accomplishments. The 4-H participant may choose accomplishment listed for each level. The accomplishments are age appropriate and increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. Parents/guardians, leaders, and Extension staff may suggest other accomplishments — comparable to those provided — to improve the individual learning experience of each 4-H youth.

To receive the designation as a Nebraska 4-H Club of Excellence, clubs must meet a certain set of criteria and document how this criteria was met. Clubs meeting the requirements will initially receive a certificate. In subsequent years clubs successfully meeting the requirements will receive a special insignia to place on their certificate. Clubs must apply annually to receive this recognition.

Clubs must:

• Have at least five members from at least three different families.
• Recite the 4-H Pledge at meetings.
• Meet at least six times per year.
• Choose/elect youth officers.
• Have youth serve in leadership roles.
• Have one club project, related to curriculum, which they do together.
• Have adult role model involvement.
• Be facilitated by organizational and project leaders who have successfully completed the volunteer screening.
• Have members who perform a presentation or public speaking at the club level or above.
• Complete one community service project.
• Have members who participate in county, district or state events.
• Celebrate member and club achievements.

Application

To apply for the Club of Excellence recognition, complete the Nebraska 4-H Club of Excellence Report of Activities. The completed form should be turned into the Extension Office by September 15th.

"When will I receive my livestock sale check?"

Schow Auction Service and Ogallala Livestock Market are working to have all buyers pay in a timely manner. Please allow time for this process. Do not call either Schow Auction Service or Ogallala Livestock Market to ask when the checks will be ready. Tessa checked and we are still waiting on a handful of buyers. We are closer though!

"When will I receive my fair premium money?"

The Keith and Arthur County Ag. Society will provide the fair premiums. The money will be available later in the fall.

"When will my awards I won at the fair get here?"

Awards will be available later in the fall. Most of the plaques, trophies, etc will be available closer to the achievement banquet.

The current 4-H fiscal year will end on September 30, 2024 and the new 4-H Enrollment for the 2024-2025 4-H year will open around October 17th.

Please make sure to keep this on your radar and get enrolled in 4-H for the new year starting in October! Deadline for 4-H Enrollment will be June 15, 2024.