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May 2024
A Polk County 4-H Newsletter
We enjoy working with all 4-H members and their families. We love to see your faces and watch you excel, learn and grow! We are happy to help you any way we can during our office hours of:
8:30 am - 12:00 pm & 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday.
While our lives at work get filled with exciting and challenging tasks, the same is true for our lives at home. Please call and email us with all your important questions during our office hours. We appreciate your understanding!
SAVE THE DATE
2024 Polk County Fair
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IN THIS SMORE....
2024 DEADLINES AND EVENTS - Downloadable sheet
- 2024 CLOVER COLLEGE - 4-H Summer Workshops
- SHEEP & GOAT SHOWMANSHIP WORKSHOP
- ENROLL IN 4-H & Pick-Your-Project
- T-SHIRT ORDER
- KEEP SEED PACKETS
- SEEDS AVAILABLE - Special Gardening & Special Agronomy Project
- SIGN UP FOR SPORTSYOU
- SHEEP/GOAT WEIGH DAY.
- IN-PERSON YQCA TRAINING
- SAVE THE DATE - County 4-H Horse Show
- 2024 COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT THEME
- MAY BIRTHDAYS
STATE SCOOP
- SAVE THE DATE - 4-H Regional Camp
- STATE FAIR CHANGE - age of eligibility
- STATE WIDE OPPORTUNITIES
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
5 - Sheep/Goat Weigh Day
5 - Youth Quality Care of Animals - YQCA
27 - Office Closed for Memorial Day
1 - Deadline to Order 4-H T-Shirt
1- Horse ID and level testing due for State Horse Show
1 - State Horse Show Online Entry Deadline
5-7 - 4-H Regional Camp
13 - Sheep & Goat Showmanship Workshop
15 - DEADLINE TO ENROLL IN 4-H
15 - YQCA and Animal ID Due for County Fair
15 - Horse Level Testing Due for County Fair
26 - Pre-Entry for all exhibits for county fair
13-17 State Horse Show, Fonner Park, Grand Island
10 - CONTEST DAY - Culinary Challenge (1 pm) & Horticulture Judging (2 pm)
10 - Fairgrounds Clean up - 6:30
15 - Clothing & Quilt Day - 9 am - Midwest Covenant Home
17 - Entry Day - Polk County Fair
17-21 - Polk County Fair
2024 Deadlines & Events
Download the 2024 Deadlines and Events sheet today! This information is provided to help our 4-H families stay on task and not miss out on any of the important 4-H happenings.
2024 CLOVER COLLEGE
Check your mail boxes. The 2024 Workshop flyer is coming your way!
It is time to have fun learning with Polk County 4-H this summer! You will be receiving the 2024 Clover College flyer and registration form in the mail. You can also download it below! You must be enrolled in Polk County 4-H to register for our workshops. Workshop space is limited and the registration is at a first come, first serve basis.
SHEEP & GOAT SHOWMANSHIP WORKSHOP
ENROLL IN 4-H TODAY!!
Enrollment for the 23-24 Year Is Open
It is time to enroll for the 23-24 4-H year! Log onto your account and 4HOnline 2.0 guides you through the enrollment process.
PICK-YOUR-PROJECT
a guide to help you decide which projects you want to enroll in
No sure what projects to enroll in for county fair? Pick Your Project is an online database and selection guide for finding 4-H projects and their resources. users can search for projects by keywords or browse by curriculum area, knowledge level, and geographic level. CHECK IT OUT!
Order your 4-H T-Shirts
by using the google form below
FOLLOW STEPS BELOW FOR YOUR FREE 4-H T-SHIRT
- ENROLL THROUGH 4-H ONLINE before ordering your t-shirt(see above enrollment details)
- Click the image to the left to fill out the google form.
- A FORM NEEDS TO BE FILLED OUT FOR EACH 4-H MEMBER.
- ORDERS ARE DUE JUNE 1ST so DO NOT WAIT to get your t-shirt ordered
!!IMPORTANT!!
SIGN UP FOR SPORTS YOU
SIGN UP FOR POLK COUNTY'S SPORTSYOU ACCOUNT!
NEW - Polk County 4-H will be using the SPORTSYOU app (in addition to email & social media) to communicate important 4-H news, events & deadlines to 4-H families. Get information for Polk County 4-H right on your phone through the app! We are able to share a 4-H Calendar with you along with short helpful videos and any schedule changes or updates quickly. It is optional, but we hope you will find out the benefits of using this app!
Options to sign up for SportYou:
- Download the SportsYou app through your app store if you do not already have it.
- Once downloaded it, then to sign up select the "join group" at the top right-hand side.
- The access code is: M5MMBAR6
Sheep & Goat Weigh Day
YQCA In-Person Training
YQCA is an important part of any livestock project. Learning more about safe and effective ways of caring for your livestock is the aim of YQCA.
IMPORTANT!! Each participant that completes either in-person or online YQCA MUST complete a pre-test and post-test. The system will not mark your session complete or generate your certificate without both tests. DEADLINE FOR YQCA IS JUNE 15TH!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE HELPFUL, SHORT VIDEO TO HELP LOGIN AND COMPLETE YOUR YQCA.
WANT TO GET A HEAD START ON YQCA? USE THE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE BELOW TO BE A YQCA EARLY BIRD!
SAVE THE DATE
2024 County 4-H Horse Show
2024 County Themed Photography Exhibit
Each year, Polk County Extension creates a themed photography project exclusive to our county 4-H members. This year's selection is ABANDONED BUILDINGS.
All three levels of photography have the option to enter a photo based on that year's theme. The winner from each photography level will have their photo displayed in the Polk County Extension Office for a year immediately following the Polk County Fair.
Get your cameras out and keep your eyes peeled for abandoned buildings such as barns, houses, and deserted commercial buildings. Capture the beauty in things left behind. We can't wait to see what you will shoot!
4-H'ERS WITH MAY BIRTHDAYS
SAVE THE DATE
2024 4-H Regional Camp
2024 ONLINE HORTICULTURE ID 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 7-21, 2024 at: http://go.unl.edu/online4hhortcontest
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 https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/contests/45 . 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
More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/online-horticulture-judging-contest
UNL LIVESTOCK JUDGING CAMP
June 5 - 7 Registration Deadline May 20th
This camp is geared toward youth 7-18 years of age who have an interest in competitive livestock judging. The camp covers content on all of the livestock species including cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats. Youth will learn about the priority traits that we use when evaluating livestock and gain basic knowledge of the livestock industry as it pertains to each specie. A heavy emphasis in this camp will also be placed on oral reasons. Not only will youth improve their presentation skills but they will also learn about the basics of reasons format along with how to be accurate and concise in a set of reasons. At the end of camp, youth will be better prepared to compete in a livestock judging contest not only locally but at the regional and national level alike.
Animal Science Discovery Day
LIVESTOCK ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM
The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects, including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition, by recognizing youth striving to improve their livestock project knowledge and leadership.
Members of Excellence are recognized within each 4-H livestock project area, including:
- beef
- sheep
- meat goat
- swine
- dairy cattle
- dairy goat
- rabbit
- poultry
The program consists of three levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals.
- Juniors, ages 8-10, must submit pictures, posters, presentations, and other learning activities to receive the distinction of Junior Member of Excellence.
- Intermediates, ages 11-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence.
- Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence.
At the beginning of the 4-H year, youth must apply to participate in the program. Upon acceptance into the program, participants plan what to accomplish. At the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Additionally, participants must complete their annual 4-H Online enrollment process, YQCA requirements, and project record books in order to receive a Member of Excellence distinction.
STATE FAIR AGE OF ELIGIBILITY CHANGE FOR IN-PERSON EVENTS
BIG RED CAMPS GIVE STUDENTS A STEP UP FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREER GOAS
Click below image for more details and registration
Are you ready to take the next step towards a successful future? Join us for an immersive and empowering college and career ready experience through Big Red Camps 2024! Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, skill-building, and preparation for the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. We believe that every young person has the potential to achieve greatness. Our comprehensive program is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to thrive in postsecondary education and beyond. Whether you're exploring potential career paths, preparing for college admissions, or seeking guidance on how to navigate the professional world, our camp provides the tools and resources you need to succeed. Through this experiential learning opportunity, you will work alongside UNL faculty and staff as well as business and industry professionals. Incoming freshmen through seniors during the 2024-25 school year are welcome. Whether you're a first-time camper or a returning veteran, we guarantee an unforgettable experience filled with learning and fun! Don’t delay, reserve your spot today! For more information and to register, visit our website 4h.unl.edu/big-red-camps or contact us at BigRedCamps@unl.edu. We can't wait to see you at camp!
STATE 4-H CAMPS
Polk County Extension
Email: polk-county@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/polk/
Location: 400 Hawkeye Street, Osceola, NE, USA
Phone: 402-910-1640
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PolkCountyNebraska4H