HARLAN COUNTY EXTENSION

Calendar of Events

Save the Dates

• 4-H 2025 Fair Dates

• Pesticide Training – February 13
• Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference, Kearney – February 20-21, 2025

2024/2025 4-H Enrollment

• Harlan 4-H Brochure
• Youth Returning & New (Informational Website), (4-Honline)
  
• Volunteers
• 4-H Leader Resources

Harlan County News & Events

• Brown Bag Activity Kits
• How to videos

• Impact at a glance
• Flickr (To share the success stories of our youth through pictures)

Statewide Opportunities

• Extension program areas
  
• 4-H Special Garden Project
• Innovative Youth Corn Challenge

• 2025 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort!

• Remote Pilot Exam Prep Course

• Master Gardener Program
  

• Lasting Legacy Estate Planning Series in Arapahoe
• Partners in Progress –Beef Seminar (Cow/Calf College)
  

January

• January 1: Office closed in observance of News Year
• January 16: Brown Bag Order Deadline
• January 20: Office closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

February

• February 13: Brown Bag Order Deadline
• February 13: Private Pesticide Training at 9:30am & 1:30pm @ the Ag Center, Orleans
  
• February 17: Office closed in observance of President's Day

We are excited to have you join Harlan County 4-H!
Enrollment closes JUNE 15, 2025.

Enroll Today!!

4-H Enrollment is open and at no charge to you to enroll.
Go to https://4h.unl.edu/enroll to learn about enrollment for the 2024/2025 4-H year!
By successfully completing the 4-H member enrollment, youth will be eligible to participate and exhibit in any project area, contest, county and state fairs.
Project selection is optional, however we encourage youth to select projects they are interested in exploring.
Please note:
o Horse and shooting sports projects are required to enroll in project area due to the parental consent required to participate in these projects.

Enroll or Re-enroll for the upcoming 2024/2025 4-H year at https://v2.4honline.com

Volunteer enrollment is OPEN. In 2025, we have switched screening providers, which means all DIRECT (club leaders & 4-H Council members) volunteers must be re-screened. You do NOT need complete the orientation again if you completed in 2024. Volunteers must enroll by March 15 OR BEFORE having direct contact with youth. Please contact Micky at mblender2@unl.edu with questions about your screening level.

Nebraska 4-H offers a variety of resources for 4-H Clubs and leaders. A 4-H Club is an organized group of five or more youth who meet regularly with adult volunteers or 4-H staff for a long-term, progressive series of educational experiences. The purpose of a 4-H club is to provide positive youth development and foster educational opportunities to meet the needs of young people.

For 4-H Club Leader Resources follow this link https://4h.unl.edu/resources/club-leaders

In Harlan County, we have AMAZING youth! To share the success stories of our youth through pictures, visit our Flickr account at flickr.com/photos/harlan-county-ne/

You can use the registration link to request a kit.
Registration Link: https://go.unl.edu/harlan-furnas-brownbag
or scan the QR code or contact us at 308-928-2119. Deadline to order is January 12 with kits available for pickup by January 20.
Limit 1 project per child.

Looking for visual help with a Brown Bag project? The Harlan/Furnas team have put together video tutorials with step-by-step instructions for you. Check them out at https://go.unl.edu/bb-video

The Special Garden Project is a 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 will have to reach out to their local Extension Office to sign up and order the seeds no later than January 31. More Information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/special-gardening-project

We are delighted to announce the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge, a prestigious contest open to 4-H members (aged 8 and older as of January 1st) and FFA members (in-school members). This competition is designed to guide participants through a comprehensive exploration of all facets of corn production, including aspects related to agricultural careers associated with corn production.

Key Features:

• Team Participation: Teams comprising two or more youth participants will collaboratively embark on the challenge.

• Innovative Practices: Youth will be tasked with implementing a production practice differing from the norm, with the goal of assessing its impact on increasing corn yield.

• Data Collection: The Corn Challenge management summary will systematically gather crucial information, including yields, cropping history, and production details.

• Recognition and Rewards: Outstanding achievements will be duly rewarded with cash prizes and plaques for the top three teams:

• First Place: $1,000

• Second Place: $500

• Third Place: $250

• Special Awards: In addition to the top rankings, commendable efforts will be acknowledged through the "Extra Mile" and "Ag Literacy" Awards, each carrying a value of $200.

This competition not only fosters a spirit of innovation in corn production but also serves as a platform for recognizing dedication and excellence within the 4-H and FFA communities. We encourage all eligible participants to embrace this opportunity to showcase their skills and contribute to the advancement of agricultural practices. Registration deadline is April 1st.

Registration link: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/corn-challenge/

For detailed guidelines and participation information, please refer to the https://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/cornchallenge webpage or contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.

Registration is now open!
Please note the added opportunities for youth who exhibit swine at the county level. **NEW for 2025**: Exhibit their Farrowed and Owned project animals at any Nebraska county fair. Exhibiting at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair is optional. All cohort members will participate in an interview at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair. Join the first session in February for more details! Refer to the cohort webpage at: https://4h.unl.edu/farrowed-owned.

Nebraska Extension will be offering one-day (eight hour) courses across the state to prepare individuals to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeronautical Knowledge Exam required to receive a Part 107 remote pilot certification or license to fly drones for commercial applications.
Registration is available online (Link) for each location.

Pre-registration is required with a $275 registration fee.

On-line registration closes the Monday prior to the event.

Study materials, and light breakfast and lunch will be provided. An educational discount is available to students and educators through an application process available on the registration link.

This is a course for anyone who wants to fly drones, not just agriculture. The course works for EMS, Law Enforcement, Real Estate, Land Management, photography, etc.

Please contact Dr. Dirk Charlson for more information on this course at
Email: dirk.charlson@unl.edu or Cell: 402-460-0742 (Text or Call)

A multi-state extension workshop series for women in agriculture will offer strategies to evaluate and improve farm estate and transition plans.

“Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women: A Succession Planning Series,” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Central time on Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 at sites across Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana. The series is being produced through a collaborative effort by extension programs at Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Purdue University.

Topics covered will include motivation for succession planning, communicating with family, the financial aspects of estate and transition plans, and the legal aspects of putting a plan in place. A keynote speaker will be simulcast to every workshop location during each meeting, with time for questions and a hands-on activity for participants. A meal will be provided on each date.

“Planning for what happens to your things when you’re gone can be daunting, but it’s so important, especially in agriculture, so that the transition to the next generation goes smoothly,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. “This series will help women learn best practices and new strategies to help the transition and estate planning processes so they can take that back to their farm or ranch and help lead the way in creating or reevaluating their plans.”

Groskopf said the program’s structure is intended to strengthen networks of women in rural areas, which can provide opportunities for building trust and sharing information. “Connections are so important to rural women,” she said. “We have seen the benefits that come from knowing your peers, having a place to share difficulties, and mitigate the isolation that so many of us in agriculture often feel.”

The registration fee for in-person attendance is $60 before Jan. 13 and increases to $75 on or after Jan. 13. A virtual option is available for $75. Participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions. More information and registration is available on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website, https://wia.unl.edu/succession25.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number2023-70027-40444.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska Extension will host a risk management workshop in Clay Center to update livestock producers on the latest insurance options and risk management planning strategies. It will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 21, at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, 844 Road 313.
Attendees will learn strategies designed to reduce risk exposure to achieve a profitable outcome in uncertain times. Current issues facing the cattle industry will be discussed to help producers to make more informed decisions. The goal of this program is to provide producers with the tools and resources needed to navigate the volatile livestock market and better manage risk through the creation of a risk management plan.

HARLAN COUNTY EXTENSION PERSONNEL DIRECTORY
Find local and regional experts at this link: https://epd.unl.edu/county/harlan

Email: Harlan-County@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/harlan/
Location: Alma, NE, USA
Phone: 308-928-2119
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harlancountyext

Flickr: flickr.com/photos/harlan-county-ne/

Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.