4-H Weekly Update 12/13/24

• Dec 20: Omaha Fashion Week Application Deadline
• Dec 25: Christmas, Office Closed
• Dec 31: Application deadline for Douglas/Sarpy 4-H Council
• Jan 1: New Year's Day, Office Closed
• Jan 7: Clover Kids Klub Meeting, 5:30-6:30pm Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• Jan 16: 4-H Council Meeting, 6:30pm Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• Jan 25: Sarpy County Beef Weigh Day, 9-10am at Cooper Farm
• Jan 25: Nebraska State 4-H Indoor Archery Championships
• Feb 1-2: Wayne County 4-H & NRA Sectional Air Rifle Invitational
• Feb 4: Clover Kids Klub Meeting, 5:30-6:30pm Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• Feb 8: Horses Judges School, UNL Animal Science Complex in Lincoln, NE
• Feb 17: President's Day: Office Closed

• Feb 26: Omaha Fashion Week 4-H Collection
• Mar 29-30: 4-H Horse Stampede, UNL Animal Science Complex in Lincoln, NE

This project is open to all youth of 4-H ages 5-18 and it will give them the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting this unique fruit. It allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in this project area. The focus of the 2025 project is the Goldie Husk Cherry. This old-fashioned fruit from the tomato family has sweet berries inside golden husks. The fruits have many uses and can be eaten raw, dried, frozen, canned, or made into tasty treats like pies, desserts, or preserves. For more information on participating in this project, click below.

If you are interested in ordering seeds, please contact Marci Carroll: mcarroll3@unl.edu

Are you a high school junior, senior or college student interested in dairy? Here's a great opportunity to build leadership skills while serving as industry advocates! This is a one-year program, running from January through December 2025. Applicants are not required to have an agriculture background but must have a passion for dairy and the resources to communicate effectively through e-mail, text messaging, and in-person. Online applications are due December 15, 2024. Selected ambassadors will be notified by January 10, 2025. Click here for more information!

Nebraska Fed Steer Challenge applications are now open! This is the last chance for applications, please apply by December 15th for the 2025 program year. For more information on the Fed Steer Challenge, or to submit an application, please click here.

Applicatons are open for the Regional Youth Leadership Advisory Team (RYLAT)! The focus of Regional Youth Leadership Advisory Team (RYLAT) is to increase the understanding and awareness of career and employment pathways in agriculture and food systems and improve culturally responsive positive youth development practices to reach and welcome more diverse audiences into Land Grant University youth development programming. The application is open to all youth ages 14+ with a focus on bipoc (black, indigenous, people of color) participants. Applications are due December 15th. For application, click here.

Nebraska 4-H is excited to participate in the 2025 Omaha Fashion Week Student Night! 4-H members ages 8-18 are invited to apply for the 4-H Collection to be shown at the Omaha Design Center on February 26, 2025. Garments must have been exhibited at the County Fair in 2024 and should be fashion-forward, runway appropriate, and display high-quality construction. To apply, complete the online application by December 20th. Visit https://go.unl.edu/25ofw for event details and application process.

Youth, this is a great opportunity for those planning to compete in the horse judging contest at Stampede to learn all about judging and get some hands-on practice in judging. Adults, this is a great opportunity for you to learn what goes into becoming a 4-H Horse Show Judge as well as the opportunity to recertify as a 4-H judge.

For more information, or if you have any questions regarding the 2025 horse events and contests, please contact Lena Luck: lena.luck@unl.edu.

Registration is now open for the 2025 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort! New for 2025: you may exhibit your Farrowed and Owned project animals at any Nebraska county fair. Exhibiting a the 2025 Nebraska State Fair is options. All cohort members will participate in an interview at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair. Follow the link here to the cohort webpage and join the first session in February for more details!

Date: January 25th

Time: 9-10 am

Location: Omaha Home for Boys Cooper Farm, 8602 Mormon Bridge Rd, Omaha

4-Hers wanting to participate in the Market Beef Rate of Gain contest at the 2025 Sarpy County Fair will need to have their cattle weighed at the weigh day. Breeding Heifers do not need to be weighed. EID tags (State Fair & AKSARBEN) and County-Only tags will be available.

With nearly 50 projects to choose from come fair time, there are likely some you aren't familiar with. These 5 often overlooked projects offer real-world skills and unique experiences.

• Special plant sciences projects: The Special Garden Project offers introductions to plant science. Members are given seeds and guided through growing and harvesting. If all goes well, members can exhibit a cut flower or harvested vegetable. Otherwise, they can share their experience through a poster, story or video.
• Financial (consumer education) projects: Learn money management by creating income inventories, tracking expenses or completing money personality profiles. For more information, click here.
  
• Safety Projects: Learn the importance and practical benefits thru Safety Fair Exhibits. Projects include items every family should have, like first aid kits, disaster kits and home fire safety plans.
• Citizenship projects: Citizenship projects help youth become well-informed citizens and active community members. These projects allow members to document a community service activity, make a care package or donate a Quilt of Valor to a veteran!
• Veterinary science projects: Veterinary science projects are great for those who love animals, whether they own one or not! Members are challenged to research an animal care, health or safety issue. Fair exhibits allow youth to present their learning through a poster, notebook or display.

Involving children in preparing meals is a great way to teach them food preparation skills and the importance of healthy eating. This week, we are highlighting a smashing idea for an "egg"-cellent snack!

Click here for the recipe!

Nebraska 4-H recognizes and awards individuals for outstanding achievements and contributions to their community, club, and their own personal development. Recognition and awards are available throughout all levels and programs of 4-H. The Nebraska 4-H Senior Achievement Applications are DUE Sunday, January 5, 2025. As long as the time stamp comes in no later than 11:59PM CT/MT, it will be accepted. This application enables eligibility for National 4-H Conference in Washington DC in the spring, National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, in the fall, and/or the Nebraska 4-H Foundation Scholarships. More detailed information can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application.

Seniors are encouraged to apply to be eligible to be a Nebraska Delegate to these national 4-H events! Questions can be directed to Brett at bkreifels3@unl.edu or 402-444-1799

The Nebraska 4-H Foundation offers 4-H members the opportunity to apply for scholarships. The Nebraska 4-H Foundation awards up to $22,000 worth of scholarships each year to 4-H'ers from across the state. The deadline to submit an application is January 5th. For more information on this program, click here.

This scholarship is a component of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program.

The only requirements to apply for an Engler scholarship – declare a CASNR major and have participated in 4-H or FFA. For academic year 2025-2026, the application will open on October 1st and close on January 15, 2025. Find the application here.

The Nebraska Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) is pleased to offer the Cynthia Thomsen Scholarship. Nebraska WIFE is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving profitability in production agriculture. The one-year $2000 scholarship is available to any woman who lives in Nebraska who will begin her FIRST year in a University/Technical/Trade/Community College in a field related to agriculture. The scholarship may be used at the school of the recipient's choice in Nebraska. Applications must be postmarked by March 25, 2025.

Please refer any questions to Donna: donnab6519@windstream.net or Pam: 308-737-7840

4-H Enrollment is now open for 2024-2025, click here! (Instrucciones disponibles en español)

4-H Community service ideas and resources click here!

4-H Club Leader information and resources click here!

Submit your community service project here!

4-H Volunteer Connection resources click here!

Steps to start a 4-H Club click here!

Share your 4-H pictures or ideas with us by e-mailing: aboschult2@unl.edu

2024-2025 New and Returning Volunteer Enrollment is open, please click on form below for instructions:

Location: 8015 West Center Road, Omaha, NE, USA

Phone: 402-444-7804

Email: douglas-sarpy4h@unl.edu
Website: www.douglas-sarpy.unl.edu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/douglassarpy4h

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made to Douglas-Sarpy County Extension at 402-444-7804 or douglas-sarpy@unl.edu

Nebraska Extension education programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United State Department of Agriculture.