Gage 4-H News

Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 17th at 2:00 pm for the Gage County 4-H Achievement Celebration! The celebration will take place at the 4-H Building

We will recognize:

County project awards

Scholarships

Diamond Clover Club

Volunteer Years of Service

10 Year Members

Club Awards

Youth at Work Grant Recipients

Friend of 4-H, 4-H Alumni, and Business Recognition

Persons receiving awards will receive an invitation; watch for further details.

Reminder to please deposit any county fair checks from the livestock auction and your ribbon premium check before the end of the year! They will be voided the first of the year.

The Homesteader's 4-H Gun Club is accepting new members. The club will start meeting Dec 1st at 4:00 pm. The club has everything to get the young shooters started. Parents must attend practices and be an active part in the club. They have practice every Sunday into March, excluding holidays. If you would like to visit with Mike Jochum, 4-H Leader, prior to joining he would be more than willing to do so. Email him at mikej10x@diodecom.net

A Basic Safety Course will be offered on November 25, 27, December 2, 4, & 9th starting at 6pm. This course is for youth ages 7-11. The Daisy 499 BB Gun will be used along with the Daisy 10 Lesson Guide. Class size is limited to 12. Adults must be present at all times. Cost is $20 per student. All materials will be provided. Bring eye protection for both student & adult. Classes will be held at the 4-H Building on the Gage Co. Fair Grounds, Beatrice, NE.

Contact Mike Jochum to enroll for the class. For more information call 402-984-1988. Email Mike at mikej10x@diodecom.net

High School seniors, please note the Martha and Don Romeo Scholarship offered by the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers. They award a $500 scholarship to a graduating male and a female in Nebraska. Scholarship form is available online with a deadline to submit to our office by November 30.

Nebraska Fed Steer Challenge applications are now open!

Applications are open and due December 1, 2024, for the 2025 program year. For more information regarding the Fed Steer Challenge, or to apply to participate in 2025, visit https://4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge

This is the biggest American Poultry Association-sanctioned show in Nebraska. It is a great opportunity for youth and adults to share their birds, network with exhibitors from numerous states (last year we had two birds from Alaska), and buy/sell birds. Junior exhibitors are double entered in the junior show and open show. There will be showmanship, breed identification, and defect identification contests. Entry details are in the catalog at https://www.nestatepoultryshow.com. Entries are accepted by mail (through October 25) or online (through November 5).

Anyone interested in being a direct volunteer needs to sign up through 4hOnline. Once signed up you will be directed to a background check website where there is a $16 fee. After this is completed you will have to resign up every year, but the background check will only be performed every 5 years. Direct volunteers also need to complete the volunteer orientation as well. https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-orientation

The Clubs of Excellence Award is awarded to clubs who have met a certain set of criteria and provide documentation on how that criteria was met. The overall goal of 4-H clubs is to develop youth to demonstrate life skills and contribute to the improvement of themselves, their family, their club, their community, and their world. Gaining status as a Nebraska 4-H Club of Excellence is a great way to measure your club's success at meeting that goal. Applications are due to the Extension Office by September 15.

Organizational Leaders - Please turn in your club's 2024 Year End Treasurer's Report by January 15, 2025. If you have questions please call the Extension Office, 402-223-1384. Thank you to the clubs who have submitted the form.

Email: Gage-County@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/gage/
Location: 1115 West Scott Street, Beatrice, NE, USA
Phone: 402-223-1384
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionGageCo/