JUNE 2024
1 - DEADLINE FOR ENROLLMENT WITH T-SHIRT
1 - Horse ID and level testing due for State Horse Show
1- State Horse Show Online Entry Deadline
5 to 7- 4-H Regional Camp
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 Static Exhibits due for County Fair
JULY 2024
4 to 5 - Office Closed in observance of Independence Day
13 -17 State Horse Show, Fonner Park, Grand Island
9- Archery Contest - 6 pm
10 - CONTEST DAY - Culinary Challenge (1 pm) & Horticulture Judging (2 pm)
10 - Fairgrounds Clean up - 6:30
13 - 4-H County Horse Show
15 - Clothing & Quilt Day - 9 am - Midwest Covenant Home
- 4-H Fashion Show - 7 pm - Midwest Covenant Home
17 - Entry Day - Polk County Fair
17-21 - Polk County Fair
FOLLOW STEPS BELOW FOR YOUR FAIR 4-H T-SHIRT - SPONSORED BY POLK COUNTY FARM BUREAU & FARM BUREAU FINANCIAL SERVICES - DON STERUP
- ENROLL THROUGH 4-H ONLINE before ordering your t-shirt(see above enrollment details)
- Click the link below 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
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
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.
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals 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!
Polk County Extension
Email: polk-county@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/polk/
Location: 400 Hawkeye Street, Osceola, NE, USA
Phone: 402-747-2321
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PolkCountyNebraska4H
