Morrill County 4-H Update

January 2 - Office Closed (New Year's Day)

January 16 - Office Closed (MLK Day)

January 17 - Extension Board Meeting @ 5:00 PM (PREEC)

January 22 - Lambing & Kidding School Registration Deadline

January 28 - First LEGO Competition @ Scottsbluff

January 28 - Lambing & Kidding School @ Gordon

February - National 4-H Month

February 25 - Beef Weigh-In @ 8:00-10:00 AM (Flatwater Vet Clinic)

February 9 - Private Pesticide Applicator Training @ 1:00-4:00 PM (Prairie Winds Community Center)

June 1 - Horse ID Sheets Due

June 15 - 4-H Enrollment Deadline / YQCA Deadline / Animal Affidavit Deadline

To receive updates throughout the year in a quick and easy manner, sign up for the REMIND class: Morrill County Fair Updates.

To do that, text @mocofair to the number 81010!

It’s time to get enrolled in 4-H for the 2023 4-H year! Nebraska 4-H has transitioned to 4honline 2.0. To enroll, click on the button below.

For returning families, please do not create a new account; rather use your log-in credentials for 4honline used in previous years. Instructions can be found here: https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/returning-member. Enrollment instructions for new families can be found here: https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/new-member. Please note the enrollment fee for Morrill county is $5 per 4-H member/ $0 for Clover Kid member and is paid either online or at our office.

Please contact Katlyn ­­at (308) 262-1022 or krosas2@unl.edu with any questions.

Projects provide the basis of the 4-H program by offering various educational experiences. Carrying out a project will help the member "learn by doing" as well as learn "why" things happen the way they do.

There are over 200 project areas that youth can enter a project under for the fair. From showing an animal to growing produce in a garden, the opportunities are almost limitless! For more information and some ideas for future projects, click on the button below.

Please contact Katlyn at (308) 262-1022 or krosas2@unl.edu with any questions.

We would like to welcome our new 4-H Council members as well as those who are continuing their membership!

Adult Members:

Mike Cerny

Heather Daniels

Tina Dueker

Heather Spalding

Linda Safford

Kristina Whitney

Nate Edmunds

Youth Members:

Haley Edmunds

Demi Lapaseotes

Bethany Nichols

Kelton Whitney

The intent of the scholarship is to assist women who live 3 or more hours drive from Lincoln but wish to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Applicant must reside in Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall on East Campus.

If you have questions email Gloria Turnbull at gloria.turnbull@windstream.net.

Application deadline: postmarked or email a PDF file no later than March 15, 2023.

The Bruno Ramos Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Bruno and the things he loved most. He loved working and agriculture and spent his free time with his animals or dreaming up ways to restore and repair his vehicles. It is our hope to keep Bruno’s memory alive by supporting students as they pursue trades and careers they have a passion for.

Preference will be given to students pursuing a technical trade or a career in agriculture.

You can find the application attached below.

Applications due April 7, 2023.

Nebraska 4-H is now accepting nominations for a new awards program to recognize the outstanding contributions of 4-H volunteers across the state now until March 15, 2023.

The Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards honors adult and youth volunteers, as well as and multi-generational families, who have provided meaningful contributions to Nebraska 4-H. One Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award and One Emerging Adult Volunteer Award winner will be chosen for each of the state’s 11 Nebraska Extension Engagement zones. One statewide winner will be named in the each of the youth volunteer and multi-generational family categories.

“Our 4-H volunteers go above and beyond to serve Nebraska’s youth every year,” said Jill Goedeken, 4-H Youth Development Extension educator. “This volunteer recognition opportunity debuted in 2021 and we were thrilled at the number of outstanding 4-H volunteers nominated statewide. We are looking forward to another opportunity to recognize 4-H volunteers for their contributions to youth in Nebraska.”

The nomination period runs through March 15. Nominations can be submitted by any 4-H member, family, supporter, or Extension staff member. Nominees must fit the award categories and can be a volunteer for any Nebraska 4-H experience. Some examples may include 4-H club leader, project leader, junior leader, county or State Fair volunteer, special interest volunteer, such as robotics or shooting sports, afterschool club volunteer or 4-H camp volunteer. More information, along with the nomination form, is available online at: https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-recognition.

Winners will be announced virtually on April 21, 2023, in which Nebraska 4-H will be celebrating the Week of the Volunteer. A special awards presentation will take place at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair.

With each new State Fair season, brings new possibilities and opportunities for 4-H families in Nebraska. The opportunity for 4-H to continue having its own weekend allows more flexibility for new events, entry limits, schedules, and space. We want to continue to take advantage of that!

As part of that process, we continue to explore age eligibility requirements for State Fair participation. After garnering user input, researching data from other events/shows/states, and looking that overall impact on youth development, the decision has been made to change the age of eligibility in 2023 to be 9 years of age before January 1 (of the current year) for all in-person events (livestock, contests, fashion shows).

More information will be forthcoming.

Nebraska 4-H requires all youth ages 8-18 enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance certification through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). YQCA is a national multi-species quality assurance program focused on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development.

YQCA certification is required for all 4-H members enrolled in any of the following projects:

· Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market beef)

· Dairy Cattle

· Goat (breeding meat goat, dairy goat, meat goat)

· Poultry

· Rabbit

· Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)

· Swine (breeding swine, market swine)

YQCA is required annually.

Face-to Face Training In-person YQCA training courses cost $3 per individual regardless of age. Dates to be determined. Be watching your 4-H Newsletter!

Web-based Training at https://yqcaprogram.org. The online YQCA course costs $12 per individual regardless of age.

Test-out options are only available to youth in the first year of Intermediate (age 12) and Senior (age 15) age levels. There is no test-out option for Juniors. Participants will have only one chance to take the test-out option. If youth fail, they will not be provided another opportunity to test out of that age level.

Test-out costs are:

Intermediate: $36 ($12 x 3 years of certification) Senior: $48 ($12 x 4 years of certification).

YQCA TIPS

• 4-H Families will register and pay online

https://yqcaprogram.org

• 4-H’ers use their 4-H Online Account

• Furnas County will offer a in-person training this summer.

Continue to watch the newsletter for upcoming in-person training early 2023

The Special Garden Project is a way to offer 4-H members the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens. The 2023 Special Garden Project will focus on Mrs. Burns’ Lemon Basil. This herb can be used multiple ways. Lemon basil has a unique lemon flavor can be added to any recipe or used as a cut flower in arrangements to add scent and interest.

Seeds have been ordered and will be available at the office. Contact the office at (308) 262-1022 if planning on entering the Special Garden Project this year! For more information, go to: https://4h.unl.edu/special-garden-project

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different.

In its third year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore tepary beans. Tepary beans are a traditional Native American food crop and are a drought-tolerant crop. Tepary Beans are among the most drought-tolerant legume crops in the world, but at one time, they were almost an endangered species in the United States. Tepary beans are an ancient crop native to the northern part of Mexico and the southwestern part of the U.S. Beans can be multiple sizes and colors, like pinto or black beans, but they offer drought tolerance other legumes don’t have. For more information, go to: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/special-agronomy-project.

We’re so excited to announce Adventure Together, the new Nebraska 4-H Camp series for 2023! Registration information will be coming soon. In the meantime, mark your calendars:

Chadron – June 5-9 Cozad – June 16-20

Ashland – June 26-29 Burwell – July 16-20

Louisville – July 27-30.

This year’s National 4-H STEM Challenge will take students to be Explorers of the Deep! Explorers of the Deep focuses on the mysteries and adventures of ocean exploration—with robots! Young people learn how to use science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to explore Earth’s Ocean and how it relates to all life on the planet.

The 2022 Challenge helps young people develop observational and critical thinking skills while exploring the interconnected nature between the ocean and humans, regardless of where they live. They will learn about the incredibly complex relationship between Earth’s oceans and the global climate. According to a recent survey, 84% of teens would like to be involved with shaping the future of our environment.

Explorers of the Deep can help empower young people to innovate and take action to drive positive change.

Learn more about this year’s 4-H STEM Challenge and how you and your students can get involved at 4-h.org/parents/4-h-stem-challenge.

Interested in becoming a Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Certified Leader? All 4-H volunteers leading a Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports program must attend a Leader Certification Workshop, and there happens to be some coming up this fall! Visit events.unl.edu/NE4H-Shooting-Sports to see all the upcoming workshops. Learn more about leader certification at 4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports-leaders.

Have you heard of the FarmBits Podcast? The FarmBits Podcast is a product of Nebraska Extension, focusing on digital agriculture.

The realm of digital ag is ever evolving at a pace that can be challenging to keep up with. Our mission is to help navigate these technologies by discussing current and honest information. The FarmBits Podcast will explore topics in digital agriculture in a well-rounded and accessible way, taking the shine off of new technologies through interviews with academic experts, farmers, and industry specialists.

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, YouTube and iHeart Radio.

Find more information here: https://unlcms.unl.edu/.../exte.../on-farm-research/farmbits

Spark your imagination and passion! Ignite by 4-H is an inclusive teen event held in Washington, D.C., for four days of inspiring and engaging panels, respected speakers, workshop sessions, entertainment, and creating amazing connections. Explore the best 4-H has to offer in STEM, Agriscience, Healthy Living, and Emotional Well-Being. Discover exciting career paths and create an actionable plan to help create real change in your community. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss! Visit 4-h.org/parents/ignite-by-4-h to learn more.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based upon any protected status. Please see go.unl.edu/nondiscrimination. © 2023

Email: krosas2@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/morrill/
Location: 514 Main Street, Bridgeport, Nebraska, USA
Phone: (308) 262-1022
Facebook: facebook.com/MorrillCounty4H/

4-H Assistant / Office Manager

Email: krosas2@unl.edu
Phone: (308) 262-1022

4-H Educator - Morrill/Garden Counties

Lead Educator - Morrill/Garden Counties

Email: spaisley3@unl.edu
Phone: (308) 262-1022