
The Weekly Update #4
November 5th, 2024

2025 Frontier County 4-H Calendar of Events
January
20 - 4-H Council Meeting - Curtis @ 7:30 pm - NCTA Ed Center Room #129
25 - Market Beef Weigh-In & Tagging - NCTA - 8:30 am-10:30 am
28 - Market Beef Weigh-In & Tagging - NCTA - 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
2024 Frontier County 4-H Achievement Celebration
The 2024 Frontier County 4-H Achievement Celebration was held Sunday, November 3rd in Curtis with over 75 people in attendance. The Happy Helpers 4-H Club and the Frontier Riders 4-H Club hosted the event this year. Club members helped with various duties: Lane Welch and Hunter Contrerez were the flag bearers. The Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H Pledge were led by Lauryn Ruda. Hunter Contrerez gave the Invocation.
In 2024, the Frontier County 4-H program included 212 regular 4-H'ers (age 8+) and 43 Clover Kids (ages 5-7 years).
During the evening, Luke Oberg and Janae Oberg, both of Farnam, were named the 2024 4-H Ambassadors. Both Luke and Janae have been 4-H members for 11 years. Senior attendants were Adalen Ehlers of Moorefield and Graidy Brent of Maywood. Junior attendants were Kellan Newcomb and Fletcher Grabenstein. Kellan resides in the Eustis area and Fletcher is of Farnam.
The Frontier County 4-H Council provides a completion pin for all 4-H members who have completed their 5th and 10th years of 4-H, not counting years as a Clover Kid. Five-Year Pin Recipients: Faith Brown, Lexi Brown, Brittin Fink, Haylie Gustafson, Corinne Hammond, Colt Hejtmanek, Laif Kerchal, Savannah Klein, Natalie Mortensen, Zoe Mortensen, Dylan Norby, Piper Puls, Coralee Schurr, Isaac Snyder, Booker Stout and Lane Welch. Ten-Year Pin Recipients: Ashley Easterday, Tyce Pate, Dawson Ruda, Layton Sailor, Reagan Stengel, Madison Wiiest and Madison Woehrle.
First Central Bank in Curtis sponsored the 4-H Best Record Book Awards. 4-H’ers were presented with cash awards of $10 for purple ribbons, $8.00 for blue ribbons, $5.00 for red ribbons, and $5.00 for Clover Kid Record Books. The Clover Kid division is non-competitive. Results were as follows:
Clover Kid: Sadie Farr, Logan Gengenbach, Courtney Johnston, Whitney Johnston, Reese Schurr and Rudy Welch
Junior (Ages 8-10)
Allison Gengenbach – Purple
Stetson Farr – Blue
Intermediate (Ages 11-14)
Sofie Farr - Purple
Connor Oberg - Purple
Kara Oberg - Purple
Kylee Sanderson - Blue
Luke Schurr - Blue
Senior (Ages 15-18)
Janae Oberg - Purple
Ashley Easterday - Blue
Ryan Oberg - Blue
There was also a $25.00 Cash Drawing, sponsored by First Central Bank as well. Any 4-H’er who completed a Record Book was entered in the drawing, regardless of age or ribbon color. Whitney Johnston was the winner for 2024.
This year, we've had five individuals complete horsemanship advancement levels. This program is designed to serve as a guide for instruction and evaluation of each member's progress. The correct handling of horses is emphasized from the beginning to the most advanced level. Each level has particular emphases to assist in developing the 4-H member's self-discipline, patience, self reliance, responsibility and pride of accomplishments. This year's advancements include: Calhan Brown: Levels 1 and 2; Lexi Brown: Levels 1 and 2; Fletcher Grabenstein: Levels 1 and 2; Rowdy Grabenstein: Levels 1 and 2; Lane Welch: Level 3.
Outstanding 4-H Member - Hallee Sheffield - According to her nominators, Hallee has been a big helping hand throughout her years in 4-H. This has included anything from volunteering to simply helping others. She was a youth 4-H Council member this past year and is always open to trying new things and to help wherever it may be needed.
Outstanding 4-H Leader - Donnie Woodring - His nominators state that Donnie is an amazing volunteer who shows up, rain or shine, to shooting sports practice, county fair contests and shooting leader meetings. He has a lot of experience to share with youth and co-leaders. Donnie started leading shooting sports when his children were young 4-H members and he continues yet today in Frontier County.
Outstanding 4-H Alumni - Crystal Oberg - Crystal is a Phelps County 4-H Alumni and has contributed to the Frontier County & State 4-H program in many ways over the years and especially this year. She is always positive and happy to help as needed. For the past couple of years, Crystal has helped check in and give youth entry tags at Frontier County Fair static exhibit day, along with calming the 4-H families nerves.
Extra Mile Award - Creighton Uhrich & Kimberly Stengel - Creighton worked tirelessly this past year, according to his nominators. He traveled from Kearney to Cozed every spare minute he could to work with his grandfather. He broke several calves not only for himself, but also for his siblings and cousins. Feeding, grooming and working relentlessly to prepare for the Buffalo County Fair and the Eustis Fair & Corn Show. In the end, he left the arena with nothing to show for his hard work but a ribbon and applause. He deserves the Extra Mile Award as much as anyone as his siblings and cousins received several trophies and awards just by showing the animals he trained. Kimberly Stengel - According to her nominators, Kimberly has become very involved in several different areas of 4-H over the years. Even though she was never a 4-H member growing up, Kimberly and her husband and their 3 daughters are all involved in Frontier County 4-H. She helps keep the county 4-H archery contest running smoothly. She joyfully helps youth score their arrows on the targets, gathers scoresheets, etc. She helps wherever the shooting leaders need her assistance, without being in the way. For the last 6+ years, Kimberly has helped attractively arrange the 4-H static exhibits in the Stockville Frontier County Fair. She has been helping with livestock judging contest and last day of fair static building cleanup. Kimberly is always so supportive and appreciative of the 4-H program and the Extension Office.
"I Dare You" Award - Nickolas Rohr - This award is given to a 4-H member in recognition of personal integrity, balanced living and motivation for leadership.
If you were unable to attend, premium checks (along with awards) are now available for pick up at the Extension Office, Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. These must be picked up by the 4-H’er themselves or by an immediate family member, per Frontier County 4-H Council policy. Please also remember to cash your checks within 90 days. If you received a 5- or 10-year completion certificate but not the pin, you can also pick those up in the office.
The Nebraska Extension in Frontier County Office would like to send out a special thank you to ALL the 4-H’ers and adults who went an extra mile to ensure this event was successful – Kathy & Mandy
Adalen Ehlers & Janae Oberg
4-H Record Book Participants
Club Leaders and Shooting Sports Leaders
Lane Welch - Horsemanship Advancement Level 3
Frontier County 4-H Council Members
Clover Kid Participants
Whitney Johnston - $25 Record Book Cash Drawing Winner
Janae Oberg - Donnie Farr Memorial Trophy Winner & Ella Lenz Trophy Winner
Kimberly Stengel - Extra Mile Award
Nickolas Rohr - "I Dare You" Award Winner
Crystal Oberg - Outstanding 4-H Alumni Award Winner
5- and 10-Year Completion Pin Earners
2025 Into to Leatherwork 4-H Workshop
Register at go.unl.edu/leather-workshop
Nondiscrimination Statement
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.
Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Nebraska Extension in Frontier County
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
404 E 7th Street, Ste 2
Curtis, NE 69025
(308)367-4424
Kathy Burr, Extension 4-H Educator, Email: Kathy.Burr@unl.edu
Mandy Contrerez, Administrative Assistant, Email: Mandy.Contrerez@unl.edu