Chase County 4-H Newsletter
January 2025
4-H & FFA Beef Weigh-In
The Chase County 4-H Market Beef Weigh-In is set for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 from 8 to 10 a.m. at Veterinary Services. All Chase County 4-H and FFA members who are planning to exhibit market heifers or market steers are invited to weigh-in, tag and identify their projects. DNA will be collected for all animals being shown at the Nebraska State Fair.
If needed, Chase County 4-H members may also go the Perkins County Beef Weigh-In, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Chuck and Linda Krajewski scale site, 75485 Road 316, Venango, NE 69168 (2 miles west, 1/5 miles South of Brandon on 316).
Weigh in is not mandatory, but to be eligible for Rate of Gain, animals must be weighed in at a Perkins or Chase weigh in.
Tags and ID sheets may be picked up at the Extension Office. Links to Livestock Affidavits (ID sheets), YQCA Training and more can be found on the Nebraska Extension in Perkins-Chase County webpage. Chase County Livestock Affidavits (ID Sheets), along with a picture of the tag in the animal's ear, are due at the Chase County Extension Office by Monday, June 2. State Fair Livestock Identification and Nomination is due June 15.
4-H Members planning to exhibit at the 2025 Chase County Fair must be enrolled on 4-H Online by June 15.
For questions about Market Beef Weigh-In or Chase County 4-H, call Debbie Kuenning, Extension Educator, at the Chase County Extension Office (308)882-4731 or email Debbie, debbie.kuenning@unl.edu.
Beef Weigh-In
Saturday, Feb 8, 2025, 08:00 AM
Veterinary Services, Nebraska 61, Imperial, NE, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Enroll in 4-H!
4-H enrollment for 2025 is open. Visit 4-H Online to complete the enrollment process before June. 15. Youth ages 8-18, as of Jan. 1, may enroll in the 4-H program. Youth ages 5-7 may enroll as Clover Kids.
2024 Achievement Night
Congratulations to our Achievement Award winners for the 2024 4-H year. Achievement Night was held Nov. 12 at the Catholic Hall. Special awards went to Amanda Keneipp, Friend of 4-H Award; Kelsey Kunkel, 4-H Alumni Award; and Westyn Mendenhall and Alex Johnson, Outstanding 4-H Members.
Alumni Award, Kelsey Kunkel
Friend of 4-H Award, Amanda Keneipp
Horse Level Awards
Sportmanship Award winner, Asher Weiss
Swine Herdsmenship, Owens Family
Sheep/Goat Herdsmenship, Thayer Family
Beef Herdsmenship, Sauder Family
Bearnes Award winner, Charlee Spickelmier
Junior Achievement Award winners
Junior Achievement Award winners
Junior Achievement Award winners
Junior Achievement Award winners
Senior Achievement Award winners
1-year members
2-year members
7, 8, 9, 10-year members
2024 4-H Volunteers and Leaders
2024 4-H Council
2025 Special Garden Project
Let the Extension Office know if you're interested in the 2025 Special Garden Project, a unique way to offer Nebraska youth the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens.
The 2025 Special Garden Project will focus on 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. (I assure you the husk cherry is different than a groundcherry, which is a weed in Nebraska, that looks very similar but isn’t edible).
Youth are encouraged to enroll for Horticulture/Plant Science through 4-H Online. Youth then have to reach out to the Extension Office by Jan. 21 to sign up and order the seeds.
2025 Special Agronomy Project
Not only is Nebraska Extension offering a Special Gardening Project, it has also announced a Special Agronomy Project, a unique experience for 4-H members to delve into the world of crops in our state.
About the Project: Youth participants will receive seeds and resources to cultivate a crop, explore its traits, and assess its viability in their region. This year, we're celebrating the fifth year of the special agronomy project by spotlighting sunflowers.
Why Participate?
• Grow something fun, new, and different.
• Be eligible to showcase your project at the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy category.
How to Get Involved:
• Enroll for the 2024 Special Agronomy Project through 4-H Online by selecting the Agronomy project.
• Contact your local Nebraska Extension Office to order your packets of seeds by Feb. 24.
For project specifications and additional details, check out the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules
Let's cultivate knowledge and growth together! #NE4H #AgronomyProject @UNLExtension211
Nebraska 4-H Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort
The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort is an opportunity for youth interested in learning more about the swine industry. The program is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska swine industry. The goal is to enhance the educational value of the traditional 4-H swine projects by focusing on swine production, accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member.
Registration is due Feb. 5 and can be found at Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort | Nebraska 4-H | Nebraska.
4-H Horse Stampede
March 29 & 30, 2025: 4-H Horse Stampede held at the UNL Animal Science Complex in Lincoln, NE
- Entries due Friday, February 28, 2025
- Contests include:
- Public Speaking (may compete virtually through zoom)
- Demonstrations (may compete virtually through zoom)
- Horse Bowl
- Art
- Photography
- Horse Judging – new for 2025
- Hippology – new for 2025
Chase County Extension Google Calendar
Link to the Chase County Extension Office's Google calendar to stay up to date with events.
Upcoming:
- Jan. 20--4-H Council meeting, 6 p.m.
- Jan. 20--Chase County Extension Office closed
- Jan. 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11--Leaving a Lasting Legacy
- Feb. 8--Chase County 4-H and FFA Beef Weigh-in, 8-10 a.m.
- Feb. 17--Chase County Extension Office closed
Contact Us
Debbie Kuenning, Extension Educator, debbie.kuenning@unl.edu
Diane Stamm, Office Manager, dstamm3@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/perkins-chase/
Location: 490 East 5th Street, Imperial, NE, USA
Phone: 308-882-4731
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chasecounty4H