Thurston County 4-H News

Jennifer E. Hansen, Extension Educator, jhansen6@unl.edu

Sydney Williams, Extension Assistant, sydney.williams@unl.edu

Bobbie Hingst, Office Manager, bhingst2@unl.edu

Email: thurston-county@unl.edu
Website: thurston.unl.edu
Location: 415 Main Street, P.O. Box 665, Pender, NE 68787
Phone: 402-385-6041
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLExtensionThurston/
Twitter: @UNLThurstonCty

DECEMBER

6 - 2024 Thurston 4-H Achievement Applications Due!

25 - Office Closed – Christmas Day

JANUARY

1 - Office closed – New Year’s Day

5 - State 4-H Achievement Applications DUE

13 - 4-H Council Meeting; 6:30 PM

20 - Office Closed – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

It's that time of year again!! Let's reflect, review, and reward yourself for all the hard work you've put into your 2024 4-H year! That means we want to hear all about it, so we're encouraging you to fill our the Achievement applications! And don't forget to mark down if you want to apply for county awards. Award applications will be due on Friday, December 6, 2024!!

(Seniors this is how you get Scholarship monies from the Nebraska 4-H Foundation)

Click the link for more information: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/4-h-achievement-application/.

Reach out to our office if you have any questions!! 402-385-6041 or sydney.williams@unl.edu

4-H youth member enrollment is open for the 2024-2025 program year. Please note this is for Clover Kids and youth member enrollment only. The enrollment instructions found online for youth members are still current.

https://4honline.com/#/user/sign-in

State achievement applications are due Sunday, January 5, 2025! These applications are used to select National 4-H Congress delegates, National 4-H Conference delegates, and Nebraska 4-H Foundation scholarship recipients. Learn more at https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application

Nebraska 4-H has launched a new volunteer orientation! This online training serves as an introduction to the 4-H Youth Development program in Nebraska and covers a few essential topics for volunteers. While the orientation is required for new volunteers and those going through the re-screening process, any interested individuals, including current and prospective volunteers, are welcome to complete the course.

Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/volunteer-orientation.

We’re seeking applications for the Omaha Fashion Week 4-H Collection! Selected applicants will model their garments during the Omaha Fashion Week Student Night on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Applications are due Friday, Dec. 20. For more details or to apply, visit https://4h.unl.edu/omaha-fashion-week

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 then have to reach out to your local Extension Office to sign up and order the seeds.

It’s awards and recognition season! In 4-H, we recognize and award individuals and groups for outstanding achievements and contributions to their community, club, and their own personal development. 4-H recognition and awards are available throughout all levels and programs! Explore the statewide opportunities at https://4h.unl.edu/awards-recognition

Community service is an important part of the 4-H experience. Not only do communities benefit from these projects, but young people do, as well! Youth learn valuable life skills like citizenship, leadership, and respect for others. They are also more likely to do well in school, graduate, and vote. So, it’s easy to see why we want to celebrate all the 4-H community service projects! Share your project with us at 4h.unl.edu/community-service-showcase.

We all know about the 4-H livestock, cooking and sewing projects. But with nearly 50 projects to choose from, there are likely some you aren’t familiar with. These five often-overlooked projects offer real-world skills and unique experiences: https://4h.unl.edu/news/nebraska-4-h-5-underrated-practical-projects

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Become a Regional Youth Leadership Advisory Team member and make an impact! Applications are due December 15th. We will decide and contact people quickly by December 20th. Participants can potentially be in this group for the next 3 years on this grant, but we may continue beyond that if there is interest. Expectations include meeting as a state group 4-6 times a year where they work together on a project and attend regional meetings with all participating North Central Region youth via zoom quarterly. We also travel twice a year, fall and spring, to meet as a RYLAT and have educational opportunities as a group. Spring will be March 14-17 in Washington D.C. at 4-H Ignite Conference.

Application link: https://ssp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9uCebZftkPtJpe6

The Northeast group of Cropping & Water Systems Extension Educators will once again be offering the Confronting Cropping Challenges workshop series in December. Here is the link to the program article: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2024/confronting-cropping-challenges-program-offered-december-2024

Also happening at two of the locations is a manure workshop. Its focus will be on using manure in crop production. Here is the link to this program’s article: https://water.unl.edu/article/animal-manure-management/manure-crop-producers-workshops-offered-december-10-and-12

High school seniors and juniors and college students with an interest and passion for dairy can now apply to be a dairy ambassador in one of eight states across the Midwest including Nebraska. The Dairy Ambassador Program is an educational and leadership opportunity for high school and college students interested in promoting dairy designed to shape future dairy champions who will promote the dairy community. Dairy Ambassadors will have the opportunity to connect with consumers and share dairy’s story while networking with their peers and industry professionals.

Nebraska Dairy Ambassadors will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, including connecting with consumers at the Nebraska State Fair, ag literacy festivals, other partnering organizations’ events, and attending dairy industry meetings as well as participating in leadership opportunities.

To be eligible, applicants must be (1) enrolled as a Nebraska high school junior (11th grade) or senior (12th grade) during the current year of application, or (2) college student enrolled full-time in a Nebraska post-secondary school for the duration of the appointment. Applicants are not required to have an agriculture background but must have a passion for dairy and the resources to communicate effectively through email, text messaging and in-person.

This is a one-year program, running from January through December 2025. During the program, ambassadors will receive stipends and have approved expenses covered upon participation. After successful completion of the one-year program, Dairy Ambassadors are eligible to apply for an educational scholarship up to $1,000.

Eligible students can apply at http://www.MidwestDairy.com, in the Young Dairy Leaders tab/section, under Ambassador Program then select Nebraska. The online application (APPLY NOW) is at the bottom of the Nebraska Ambassador program page. Online applications are due DECEMBER 15, 2024. Selected ambassadors will be notified by JANUARY 10, 2025.

If you have questions, please contact Tracy J. Behnken, Manager, Farmer Relations at tbehnken@midwestdairy.com or 531-207-4291.

More details at: https://www.MidwestDairy.com

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. Registration information is available at https://wia.unl.edu/succession25.

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 in their livestock project knowledge and leadership.

The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.

The livestock achievement program consists of two levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related educational, leadership and citizenship accomplishments.

Youth completing the application, plan & report, and the project record for their designated species receive member of excellence distinction for their project area. Members as young as eight will be able to participate. Applications are due June 15, but why wait? Visit 4h.unl.edu/livestock-achievement to get started.

Registration is now open for the 2025 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort! Click here to register by February 1, 2025 - https://go.unl.edu/2025farrowedandowned

A Farrowed and Owned Breeding and Market Swine division for youth interested in learning more about the swine industry is available for youth statewide in 2025! The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is designed to enhance the traditional 4-H swine project and cultivate the next generation of leaders in the swine industry by providing opportunities focusing on swine production as a goal of the 4-H member's project, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member. In order to participate, youth must be 4-H age 8-18 as of January 1, 2025, complete YQCA, farrowed their project animal(s) and participate in monthly virtual educational meetings.

Youth participating in the Farrowed and Owned Cohort will:

- Network with 4-H members across the state who are also participating in the cohort experience.

- Participate in learning opportunities hosted by Extension Swine Specialist Benny Mote about biosecurity, meat science, economics of raising swine and more.

- The cohort will meet virtually the first Sunday of the month at 7:00 p.m. CT, the months of February, March, April, May and June.

- Gain knowledge related to their project and the swine industry as a whole.

- Maintain records related to swine management and basic care.

**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.

The program consists of levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. For each level, the Dog Achievement program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H youth choose their goals. The accomplishments increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. At the beginning of the 4-H year, participants plan what to accomplish and at the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Successful completion of a level's Plan & Report form results in a 4-H youth earning that level of the Dog Achievement program.

More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/dog-achievement-program

The Nebraska Association of Fair Managers will award a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H male and a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H female who are graduating seniors in the state of Nebraska and who plan to continue with post high school education. The scholarship will be awarded at the annual NAFM convention in January. Please share the application, found at https://www.nebraskafairs.org/newsletters.php, with high school seniors in your county.

Applications should be submitted to local Extension Offices by Thursday, November 30. Extension Offices in Nebraska are asked to return finalists to the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers (ATTN: Ricky Gennrich, PO Box 223, Bertrand, NE 68927 or rickygennrich@gmail.com) on or before December 10, 2023.

More details at: https://www.nebraskafairs.org/newsletters.php

The Nebraska Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) is pleased to offer the Cynthia Thomsen Scholarship. Nebraska WIFE is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving profitability in production agriculture. The one-year $2000 scholarship is available to any woman who lives in Nebraska who will begin her FIRST year in a University/Technical/Trade/Community College in a field related to agriculture and must be postmarked by March 25, 2025. The scholarship may be used at the school of the recipient’s choice in Nebraska.

You'll find the application here.

Discover Nebraska during Red Letter Days! 🌟 High school juniors and seniors, join us for a full-day campus visit experience at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Explore academic opportunities, engage in student and parent sessions, and enjoy a campus tour. Available on select Mondays and Fridays. Register now at go.unl.edu/visit.

Welcome to ZOOM in to CASNR! This is your opportunity to hear from current staff and students to hear their stories, advice, and opinions. Feel free to ask any questions you may have or sit back and listen. It's a great day to be a Husker! To register click here or go to https://go.unl.edu/vb2s

For all you new members and for our previous ones, to keep up with all the latest updates and information as soon as possible! Follow us on Facebook @UNLExtensionThurston!