CENTRAL SANDHILLS AREA 4-H NEWS

Mailing Address: PO Box 148 - Thedford, NE 69166

Email: mandersen16@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/centralsandhills/
Location: 503 Main Street, Thedford, NE, USA
Phone: (308)645-2267
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralsandhillsarea/

OCTOBER EDITION

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Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills

Don't forget to visit our Extension website at:

Nebraska Extension in the Sandhills

PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR NEWS so it can be included in our newsletters! Forward any 4-H news, events, or activities to Marcy at mandersen16@unl.edu

The tentative opening date for statewide 4-H enrollment will be October 17th. The enrollment process should be the same as what we did this last year. Please note, this year the Nebraska State 4-H Office will impose a statewide enrollment deadline date that will assist counties in having a consistent timeline for processing membership enrollments. Once that date is announced from the State 4-H Office, it will be released from the Extension Office. What does this mean? ENROLL EARLY and don't miss the statewide deadline to be a Nebraska 4-H member! :-)

All leaders and volunteers also need to be enrolled on 4honline. There is no fee for adults to enroll. Our counties will be up for rescreening this year as well. I will release more information as we get it.

Please drop off at the Thedford Extension Office or submit the following items via email to s.albertus@unl.edu by October 3, 2022

https://4h.unl.edu/annual-achievement-application

Junior Achievement Application for ages 8-14 (county-only)

• PDF Form

• Word Doc

• Google Doc

Senior Achievement Application for ages 15-18 (state-eligible)

• PDF Form

• Word Doc

• Google Doc

Completed application including:

• About Me Cover page

• 4-H Experiences

• Leadership Experiences

• Community Involvement/Service Learning Experiences

• Career Spark

• Additional responses required for national experience or scholarship applicants only

State-Level Review (for Seniors, 4H ages 15 and up ONLY) – see website (https://4h.unl.edu/annual-achievement-application) for more information to be eligible for State Awards and Honors such as National 4-H Conference & Congress, 4-H Foundation Scholarships, etc.

This year’s 4-H Foundation Trail Ride will be held on October 14-16, 2022. Join us for an enjoyable, guided ride through the scenic Nebraska National Forest near Halsey. Enjoy delicious meals, family activities, and great entertainment. All proceeds support the Nebraska 4-H camp programs.

Schedule of Events

Friday, October 14

• Early birds arrive and settle in!
• 4:00 pm – Panel Party to set up corrals
• Supper on your own.

Saturday, October 15

• 8:30 am – Registration
• 10-12:00 am – Trail Ride (2 hours)
• 12:00 pm – Lunch
• 1-4:00 pm – Trail Ride (3 hours)
• 6:00 pm – Dinner, Silent Auction, and Entertainment

Sunday, October 16

• 8:00 am – Breakfast
• 10-12:00 am – Trail Ride (2 hours)

Registration

To register, mail the completed registration form to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, , PO Box 4500, Lincoln, NE 68504. The registration fee is $60 per adult and $30 per youth if postmarked before October 1. After October 1, the registration fee is $70 per adult and $40 per youth. Join us for just the Saturday night Trail Supper, silent auction and entertainment for $25 (included in Trail Ride registration). All events are subject to the local health department’s Directed Health Measures and may be cancelled. If the event must be cancelled we will issue full refunds to registrants. No refunds will be made if participant is unable to attend.

DOWNLOAD 2022 REGISTRATION FORM HERE

Make an online payment. Please mail completed registration form to Nebraska 4-H Foundation or email Lindsay.

Additional event information will be available in the 2021 participant letter you will receive after registration. For event questions, please contact Bruce Treffer at btreffer1@unl.edu. For registration or payment questions, contact Lindsay Shearer at lshearer2@unl.edu.

So what exactly is LifeSmarts?

LifeSmarts, the nation’s premier consumer program, has never been more relevant. Entering its 28th year, LifeSmarts provides real-world education for students who learn about core consumer topics and develop critical thinking skills. Participants focus on five key topic areas: consumer rights and responsibilities, the environment, health and safety, personal finance, and technology. The goal of LifeSmarts is to create consumer savvy young people who will be well equipped for adult life in today’s complex, global marketplace.

You can learn more about LifeSmarts here or check out this short video about what educators have to say about LifeSmarts!

My name is Chelsey Greene, and I am the State Coordinator in Nebraska. Expect to receive a few updates from me throughout the school year about various things. If you have not already, I encourage you to subscribe to the SmartStart (monthly) and TeachSmarts (weekly – seen below) communications from LifeSmarts; you can do so here.

This year’s online competition will open Monday, September 19 on a brand-new platform! That means, that everyone will need to re-register, coaches and students alike. Check out the information below for directions on how to get started. This year, the first 25 Nebraska coaches to register will receive printed copies of the LifeSmarts in a Box resources! 🎊

The online qualifying competition will remain open through November 15. Since players’ competition scores are final, we encourage your students to practice in the coming months and wait to take the actual Qualifying Category Quizzes in November. Here are great resources to get your students familiar with the content in each topic area, including the Question-of-the-Day Calendar, links to Resources by Topic, and more!

The monthly TeamSmarts Challenge is a great way for your students to practice and learn content each of the five areas as well as be eligible to win a $100 prize in one of the following categories: JV (middle school/junior high), Varsity (high school), FBLA, FCCLA, 4-H Varsity, HOSA, and SkillsUSA.

Coaches may create as many teams as they like, though only one team per school can compete in the state competition. If your school has more than one team qualify for the state competition, the top-scoring team from the online competition will be the team to represent your school at the state level. After the online qualifying session closes in November, eligible teams will be invited to compete in the Nebraska State LifeSmarts JV & Varsity competition on Wednesday, December 14 at the UNL East Campus Union in Lincoln.

The Varsity team with the highest score will receive an invitation to the National LifeSmarts Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 27-30, 2023. The state competition will mark the end of the season for Junior Varsity teams.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about LifeSmarts!

Wishing you the best of luck in the upcoming year!

Chelsey

Register today!

We will be having a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Trick Dog Certification Day in the animal science complex in Lincoln, NE on Saturday, October 15th. Usually these certifications require a fee for each dog but due to a generous approved evaluator and volunteer, fees are only $5 per dog for 4-H youth!

We ask people that are interested, to register. This will allow us to know approximately how many youths plan on coming. Payment can be due the day of the event

-Youth can bring multiple dogs if they feel that they are ready (4-H Vaccination forms are required)

Registration: https://ssp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2g8GLTu7799biqW

-please register by Monday, October 10th by 2pm

Other information about CGC and trick dog certification can be found at the following links below:

-Canine good citizen certification: https://www.akc.org/.../training.../canine-good-citizen/

A Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop is scheduled for mid-October near Ashland. It will be held October 15-16 at the Ashland Gun Club near Ashland, or October 22-23 at the Otoe County Wildlife Club. The early bird deadline to register for the Ashland session is October 5th, 4 pm and Nebraska City is October 12th.

Volunteers have the opportunity to become certified as an adult (21 years and older) or apprentice (14-20 years old) leader in the Shotgun discipline. There is a minimum number of participants required to offer this workshop. Workshop participants will learn under expert instruction from members of the Nebraska State 4-H Shooting Sports Training Team.

The registration fee is $85.00 per person for initial certification and those individuals adding an additional discipline except for Apprentice Instructors. The registration fee for Apprentice Instructors (14 to 20 years of age) is $75 for this workshop. This fee includes meals, supplies and program materials. Participants must make their own lodging arrangements. Registration on Saturday runs from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

While participants might need to bring limited, if any, equipment to the in-person discipline training site, there are a series of four National 4-H Shooting Sports online modules which individuals MUST complete prior to the training to become eligible for certification. Information on the modules and how to enroll, 4-H Shooting Sports Online User Guide, can accessed by using the link found on the Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports website under Calendar of 4-H Shooting Sports Events at https://4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports, under the Ashland Workshop - this provides step-by-step instructions on how to sign up for and complete the entire series of modules before the workshop.
As individuals follow each of the instructions in the Online User Guide, they will be asked to choose a payment method. Participants are responsible for the $20 (per person) registration fee. The entire series of modules will take approximately 3-4 hours, so please plan some time accordingly.
Please share this information with volunteers in your county. For more workshop information and registration link, go to the 4-H Shooting Sports web page or contact Steve Pritchard at (402)395-2158 or (308)536-2691. Registration is available only online at the link provided in the brochure or individuals can register directly by clicking HERE.

More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports

A Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Update Session is scheduled for mid-October near Ashland. It will be held October 15th, 9am to noon, at the Ashland Gun Club, or October 22 at the Otoe County Wildlife Club. The early bird deadline to register for the Update training is October 5th and 12th.

The time has come to provide an update for all Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors who received their training in 2015 or before. Over the years there have been numerous curriculum changes, updates, and additions, with some major curriculum adjustments in the last few years.

These Update Sessions are for adult or apprentice 4-H volunteer instructors who have previously attended a 4-H instructor training workshop in 2015 or prior years. These are an update for existing instructors, NOT a training for new instructors. You MUST be a currently enrolled Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports volunteer leader in your county to attend.

Shotgun will be the only discipline update that will be offered during the morning session. Registration is at 8:30am and program starting at 9am. Lunch is provided at noon.

There is a minimum number of participants needed to offer this discipline session. Participants will learn under expert instruction from members of the Nebraska State 4-H Shooting Sports Training Team.

Registration fee must be paid by October 7th. Early bird registration by October 5th and 12th is $30 for the session. Late registration fee, after October 5th, is $45. Fee includes program materials and lunch for the Update session. It does not include lodging.

Please share this information with volunteers in your county. More Update Sessions will be scheduled for this year. For more workshop information and registration link, go to the 4-H Shooting Sports web page. Or contact your local Nebraska Extension Office or Steve Pritchard at (402)395-2158 or (308)536-2691. Registration is available only online at the link provided in the brochure or they can register directly by clicking HERE.

More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports

Blaine, Hooker, and Grant 4-H members were among 192 4-H members who participated in the 4-H Fashion Show at Grand Island on Saturday, August 27. This year, the Nebraska State Fair 4-H Fashion Show was divided into three, smaller fashion shows to accommodate the amazing runway space in Raising Nebraska. 4-H members modeled for a panel of judges and for a crowd estimated at 700 during the Nebraska State Fair.

The special Best of Show constructed Fashion Show Award winners were Saidi Ringenberg of Dawson County, Isabelle Barkoudah of Gage County, Clare Bauman of Lancaster County, Chloe Jeffers of Hayes County, and Zane Schneidereit of Blaine County. These garments were all on display in the 4-H Design Gallery in the 4-H & FFA Exhibition Building at the State Fair. Our winners also received cash awards from sponsors, Extension Educator, Andrea Nisley and Emeritus Extension Educator, Sarah Purcell.

Saidi Ringenberg of Dawson County also received the 2022 Nebraska Make It With Wool 4-H Fashion Show plaque presented by Andrea Nisley, the Nebraska Make it with Wool State Director and sponsored in memory of Alice Doane, past State Director for the Nebraska Make It With Wool.

New this year were two Best of Show Fashion Show Awards for Shopping in Style presented to Ellie Pagel of Adams County and Emily Kircher of Red Willow County. These two cash awards were sponsored by Megan Burda of Brick Road Boutique.

Zane Schneidereit received a purple ribbon in the State Fair 4-H Fashion Show. Zane constructed a STEAM Clothing 3 Specialty Wear Garment from leather and cotton fabrics. He had a set of chaps and a western shirt. Zane has been a Blaine County 4-H member for 7 years and is a member of the Blaine County Independents.

Gussie Schneidereit received a blue ribbon in the State Fair 4-H Fashion Show. Gussie constructed a STEAM Clothing 3 Dress from. Gussie has been a Blaine County 4-H member for 6 years and is a member of the Blaine County Independents.

Audrabell Werth received a purple ribbon in the State Fair 4-H Fashion Show. Audrabell constructed a STEAM Clothing 2 Romper. Audrabell has been a Hooker County 4-H member for 1 year and was a Grant County member for 5 years.

Kaisley Phipps received a blue ribbon in the State Fair 4-H Fashion Show. Kaisley constructed a STEAM Clothing 2 Romper. Kaisley has been a Hooker County 4-H member for 3 years and is a member of the Country Clovers 4-H Club.

Lila Brennemann received a purple ribbon in the State Fair 4-H Fashion Show. Lila constructed a STEAM Clothing 2 Dress. Lila has been a Grant County 4-H member for 6 years and is a member of the Hyannis Sandbots 4-H Club.

Adee Arnold received a blue ribbon in the State Fair 4-H Fashion Show. Adee constructed a STEAM Clothing 2 Jumpsuit. Adee has been a Grant County 4-H member for 5 years and is a member of the Hyannis Sandbots 4-H Club.

Hooker and Thomas Counties will be looking for a robotics leader for the coming 4-H year. If you have any questions please call the Central Sandhills Extension Office at 308-645-2267.