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

OCTOBER

6-12 National 4-H Week

14 Office Closed – Columbus Day

14 Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting TBD

18 Dakota-Thurston 4-H Ambassador Application Deadline

18 Deadline to register for the Fall Take Home Project Kit

NOVEMBER

11 Joint 4-H Council Meeting TBD

11 Office Closed – Veteran’s Day

18 Thurston Extension Board Meeting

28-29 Office Closed – Thanksgiving Holiday

DECEMBER

6 Thurston 4-H Achievement Applications DUE

9 Thurston County 4-H Council TBD

24 Office Closed – Christmas Eve

25 Office Closed – Christmas Day

Mark your calendars and make plans to celebrate National 4-H Week with us on October 6-12!

This is an awesome opportunity for our older Dakota or Thurston County 4-H members!!

4-H Ambassador Eligibility:

• Youth 14-18 years of age (age on January 1st).

• Youth will serve a two year term (can reapply for another term).

• Enrolled as a 4-H member (Dakota or Thurston).

• Must be an active member for at least two years prior to application.

Applications are due to the Nebraska Extension Office in Dakota County by Friday, October 18, 2024.

Contact your local Extension Office for an application.

We are trying something new here in Thurston County! This will be the first of a series of "Take Home Project Kits" that our office will be offering! Our first kit is a Silicone Bead Keychain!

Register via link to purchase kit(s) - https://forms.gle/ehEAsLLrAWTgPT1P8

Price is $5 per kit. Registration due by Friday, October 18th! Available for anyone to purchase! 😊

It's that time of year to REFLECT, REVIEW, and REWARD yourself for all the hard work you have put into your 2024 4-H year! That means we want to hear all about it, so we are encouraging you to fill out the Achievement Applications! What are Achievement Applications? They are somewhat similar to the previous 4-H Story section, but we encourage you to be creative and use your strengths to capture your 4-H experience. Please read the guidelines at the beginning of the form, as they give you a good framework to base your application on. Express yourself and your 4-H experience! We want to hear your 4-H story!

Award Applications due: Friday, December 6, 2024.

1. Write your story (add pictures if you want)

• Clover Kid (5-7): https://go.unl.edu/ckachapp24

• Junior Novice (8-12, preferably first year members): https://go.unl.edu/jrnoviceachapp24

• Junior (8-12): https://go.unl.edu/jrachapp24
• Jr & Jr. Novice Achievement App Rubric: https://go.unl.edu/rubricjr24
• Senior (13-18): https://go.unl.edu/srachapp24
• Sr Achievement App Rubric: https://go.unl.edu/rubricsr24
• Junior Novice (8-12, preferably first year members): https://go.unl.edu/jrnoviceachapp24

2. Fill out County Award Sheet - https://go.unl.edu/ctyawardsheet24

3. Print or email to sydney.williams@unl.edu or jhansen6@unl.edu

If possible, we would love these to be done digitally. So simply fill out the forms and email them back to sydney.williams@unl.edu. If links don't work or you prefer paper copies, let us know!!! Contact us at 402-385-6041.

Looking for a unique way to engage and inspire young people in your club or classroom? Check out this year’s 4-H STEM Challenge.

Developed by 4-H educators from across the country, Power Protectors is a collection of three activities that teach kids how to address real-world issues and explore careers in energy. The STEM Challenge kit is perfect for youth ages 8-14. Learn more at 4-H.org/programs/stem-challenge/

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.

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.

It’s that time of year again and we’ll be hosting the 20th annual Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium (NYBLS) here at the Animal Science Complex on November 8 – 10, 2025. More details about the symposium, the 2023 recap video and the application link can be found at go.unl.edu/nybls. Please note the application deadline of September 15th. If an individual is selected to participate, a $75 registration fee will be collected at that time. I have attached social media content for you to share if you wish as well as a flyer that can be distributed. Please contact me at araymond2@unl.edu with any questions that you have.

Apply to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for FREE through November 1!

There is no place like Nebraska and no better time to become a Husker!

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is waiving the $45 undergraduate admission application fee for Nebraskans through November 1. You can apply for FREE at go.unl.edu/apply—enter the code “HUSKER” when prompted for a fee waiver code.

We’re here to help! Contact us at admissions@unl.edu or 402-472-2023.

Explore the "Power of Red" at the 4-H Campus Visit Day! 🌟 Join us on Saturday, November 9th, for a half-day college visit experience at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dive into academic interests, enjoy a campus tour, and get all your questions answered about admissions, financial aid, and more. Complimentary lunch included! Register now at go.unl.edu/casnrvisitday24. #PowerOfRed

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.

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!