Thurston Co. 4-H News

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

MARCH

1 Thurston County Early Enrollment Incentive Deadline!

2 4-H Achievement/Kick Off Party – Pender Lanes; 12-3 PM

4 4-H Horse Stampede entries DUE

10 4-H Council Meeting; 6:30 PM

15 Jarvis Memorial Scholarship Application DUE

17 Dakota-Thurston All Contest Day Registration is DUE by 12:00 PM!!

22 Dakota- Thurston All Contest Day, 9:30 am (United Church of Pender) (Speech, Favorite Foods, Presentations, & Music contests)

27 Butter Braid Sales DUE!!

29-30 4-H Horse Stampede, Lincoln, NE

APRIL

4 Thurston 4-H Senior Scholarship Applications Due

10 Butter Braids delivered (To Extension Office)

12 All Contest Day (RAIN DATE)

14 Joint 4-H Council Meeting, (Dakota County Extension Office)

20-26 National Volunteer Week

25 Office Closed – Arbor Day

MAY

12 Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting

19 Thurston Extension Board Meeting

26 Office Closed – Memorial Day

Nebraska is using the same platform as last year! To enroll, visit https://v2.4honline.com/
For new families, find instructions here: https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/new-member

For returning families: Do Not create a new account; rather use your existing log-in credentials from 4-H online as used in previous years. Find instructions at https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/returning-member

Any Direct volunteers such as club leaders, project leaders, workshop presenters and more, must put in their ACTUAL BIRTHDATE into 4-H Online when enrolling so that the volunteer screening can be done.

Our county has a $5 enrollment fee to be paid by check or cash.

Cloverleaf members pay your leader. All other clubs, TC Roughriders, Rosalie Feeders, and Independent pay by check or cash to the Thurston County Extension Office.

Please contact us at 402-385-6041 with any enrollment questions.

Beginning with the 2024-2025, there are changes to the Nebraska 4-H volunteer screening policy and procedures. Beginning October 2024, all 4-H volunteers serving in a direct volunteer role, such as a club leader, project leader, workshop presenter and more, will screen every five years based on their anniversary date. With this change, ALL volunteers serving in a direct role will screen during the 2024-2025 program year.

When enrolling in 4-H Online, volunteers will be redirected to the new screening vender, Sterling Volunteers. The new screening is a criminal background history check and will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. The cost of the screening is $16 and is paid during the screening process online. Volunteers must successfully pass their screening in order to serve in a 4-H volunteer role.

All returning volunteers need to re-screen by March 15, 2025.

These changes were made to ensure all youth and volunteers are protected through increased volunteer screening level and enhanced user experience!

Thurston County 4-H'ers will again have the opportunity to sell Butter Braids this year starting Monday, February 10, 2025!

Thurston 4-H Members can pick up their fundraising materials prior to or on February 10th from the Thurston County Extension Office! (If materials aren't picked up in a timely manner, we will bring them to Achievement/Kick Off Party on March 2nd!)

Online options are available again for 2025. Butter Braids are available in a variety of flavors! Thurston County 4-Hers will be taking orders from February 10 to March 27. Orders will be delivered to the 4-Hers on April 10 at 4 pm at the Thurston County Extension Office. Proceeds from this fundraiser help fund 4-H activities throughout the year!

Our annual Dakota-Thurston County All Contest Day (Speech, PSA, Presentations, Music and Favorite Foods Revue) will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the United Church of Pender!

• Scan the QR code to register or click the following link - https://go.unl.edu/dtcontests25
• Location - United Church of Pender, 504 Earl St, Pender, NE 68047
• Start Time - around 9:30 AM
• You must be ENROLLED in 4-H Online to register and participate!
• Registrations are due by Monday, March 17th!!

Need more information or tips click here - https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dakota/4-h/4-h-contests/

Project information and materials are available on the website: https://4h.unl.edu/special-gardening-project. If you have any questions about the project please contact me: elizabeth.exstrom@unl.edu, 308-385-5088.

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live in. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different. This year, we will be exploring a crop that can be marketed different ways depending on the variety.

In the fifth year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore sunflowers! There are two types of sunflower production in Nebraska. There are those grown for oil production, and those grown for human food consumption referred to as confectionery seeds. A portion of the oil seed production is used in the bird seed industry. Sunflowers are grown throughout the state of Nebraska with the greatest concentration in western Nebraska. The variety we will be growing is a high oleic hybrid. Its oil profile combined with a nice black seed color ensures multiple market options.

To be eligible to enter an exhibit at the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy project area, enroll for the 2025 Special Agronomy Project through 4-H Online by enrolling in the Agronomy project and contacting your local Nebraska Extension Office to order packets of seeds.

The Nebraska State 4-H Camp is excited to announce the 2025 season! Youth can join us for an un-BEE-livable summer and learn all about What’s the Buzz? In 2025. Please share the following message and attached graphics with your 4-H families.

The 2025 What’s the Buzz? season of the Nebraska State 4-H Camp will share the importance of pollinators in Nebraska- why they’re important, how they impact agriculture, and what youth can do in their own communities to support the various native pollinators we have in Nebraska. From bees and butterflies to hummingbirds and bats- it’s going to be a week full of learning and fun!

The Nebraska State 4-H Camp is returning to Chadron and Burwell for summer camp 2025! Youth new to camping can attend a shorter camp session designed to let them experience all the best parts of summer camp in a 3 day/2 night session. Choose from one of two 5 day/4 night sessions for youth 10-14 years old and returning this year is the Leaders in Training camp for high school youth 15-17 years old! Campers will focus on developing leadership skills with an opportunity to put those skills into practice by volunteering at one of our other camp sessions!

Registration is now OPEN! More information on sessions, dates, and the link to register can be found at 4h.unl.edu/camp.

Spring into 4-H judging! A training series for 4-H project judges will take place in April 2025:

• Thursday, April 10th (5:30 - 6:30 pm CST): Introduction to Judging 4-H Projects
• Audience: Adults interested in learning about judging 4-H projects at county and state fairs.
• Topics: Ensuring interview judging is a positive experience, the role of Positive Youth Development in the judging process and more!
• Tuesday, April 14th (5:30 - 7:00 pm CST): 4-H Visual Arts & Foods Judges Training
• Audience: New and experienced judges for Visual Arts and Foods projects.
• Topics: Class changes to 4-H Visual Arts department; Refresh on foods department judging including the new trends of sourdough and updates.

Participation is optional, and while live attendance is encouraged, the sessions will be recorded and available at: https://4h.unl.edu/resources/judges/.

Visit https://go.unl.edu/judgestraining2025 to register!

Show Stock Manager is open for livestock nominations for the 2025 Nebraska State Fair!

Website Link: https://showstockmgr.com/

All livestock in contention to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will be required to complete an online nomination with payment through Show Stock Manager and submit a DNA collector envelope with a hair sample. This includes all 4-H and FFA breeding livestock, market livestock, and feeder calves. Each State Fair nomination will be $7.00 per animal in Show Stock Manager. 4-H and FFA livestock nominations are due on June 15, 2025.

Refer to the 4-H State Fair Livestock Identification and Nomination Requirements for additional information on 4-H exhibitor eligibility at the State Fair - https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/state-fair/livestock-exhibitor/livestock-identification/

If you have any questions on how to submit your online nominations, you can review the 2025 Step-by-Step Nomination Instructions document.

Special Note: For 4-H/FFA families who are planning on nominating the same animals for the NSF and Aksarben Stock Show, obtain your DNA envelopes from the local Extension Office or FFA Advisor. Turn in your completed DNA envelopes to the local Extension Office or FFA Advisor. Submit the DNA payment and complete the online nomination in Show Stock Manager. 4-H/FFA families will only be required to submit DNA and pay once for an animal. After these steps, complete the online nomination process for the Aksarben Stock Show. The Aksarben Stock Nomination online nomination system will be different than Show Stock Manager. Guidance on how to nominate State Fair animals in the Aksarben Stock Show online nomination database will be provided at a later date.

Cumming County will be hosting a Cat Showmanship Clinic in West Point on Tuesday, May 27th from 1:00-2:30 p.m. at the Dinklage Building on the Cuming County Fairgrounds. Alicia Nebuda will be the presenter who currently owns Glitter Grooming in West Point and has judged cat shows in the past.

Registration is being handled by Cumming County Extension office so if youth are interested, contact them! It is limited to the first 20 youth and cost will be $5.00 per youth.

The Nebraska 4-H Horse Stampede offers a variety of 4-H horse contests that do not require live animals, including public speaking, demonstration, quiz bowl, art, and photography contests. Youth have the opportunity to display their equine knowledge through these contests both as an individual and as part of a team. The 4-H Horse Stampede is held annually at the UNL Animal Science Complex in Lincoln, Nebraska. This year's event will be held Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30, 2025.

There is a $10 entry fee per participant and a $10 office fee per exhibitor. Event shirts are also available for pre-order. All orders, fees, and entry forms must be submitted online by Friday, February 28, 2025. All art and photography exhibits must be dropped off at check-in on the day of the event (see schedule for details).

Nebraska 4-H Horse show dress code is required for all in-person contests. Please see pages 23-24 of the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide for details. Exception: No hats or headgear are permitted.

Online Entry Procedures
Entries for 2025 utilize 4-H Online. Login to your 4-H Online account and click on the events tab, then select the 2025 Horse Stampede event.

The 54th annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) will be held July 7-11, 2025, on UNL’s East Campus. Applications are now available to students who are currently high school juniors and seniors on our website at: www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi As always, applications will be due on April 15th.

NEW THIS YEAR

For those that have previously provided a letter of recommendation for a student applying, we have changed our process this year eliminating the letter of recommendation and switching to a recommendation form. It is our hope that the recommendation form will help streamline the process for both you and our scoring committee. The recommendation form can be found on the NAYI website as well as here https://tinyurl.com/NAYIRecommendation and will also be due on April 15th.

We are delighted to announce the Corn Yield 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 Yield 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.

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.

Nebraska Extension is pleased to announce the another year of the Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program. This additional opportunity for enrolled livestock project youth 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 program consists of three levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals. Each accomplishment is worth a specific number of points. Junior 8-10 submits pictures, poster, presentation, and other learning activities to receive the distinction of Junior Member of Excellence, no point value, Intermediates, ages 11-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence. Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence. The Plan and Reports, linked on the webpage, show examples of the project related accomplishments they can choose, or they can identify their own with approval of their local educator.

Applications/Sign up are due June 15th through the application form link on the website. Plan and Reports, as well as Project Records will be due August 1 via the completion form on the website.

Youth completing the achievement program and receiving member of excellence recognition in the various species will be recognized during the Parade of Champions, 4-H weekend at the Nebraska State Fair.

For more information or to apply, go to: Livestock Achievement Program | Nebraska 4-H (unl.edu)

Ashley Benes ashley.benes@unl.edu

Brett Kreifels brett.kreifels@unl.edu

Cole Meador cmeador2@unl.edu

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

This webinar series, sponsored by Nebraska Extension and delivered via Zoom, is a great opportunity to join experts from Nebraska Extension to learn and ask questions! All programs are on the second Wednesday of the month from Noon-1 pm CT.

Check out the website to learn more and find past program recordings - https://hles.unl.edu/lawn-garden/gro-big-red/

The intent of the scholarship is to assist women who live 3 or more hours drive from Lincoln but wish to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Applicant must reside in Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall on East Campus.

If you have questions email Gloria Turnbull at gloria.turnbull@windstream.net

Application deadline: postmarked no later than March 15, 2025.

Application can be found here: https://go.unl.edu/thurstonjarvismemorial2022

(One $500 Scholarship — Fall 2024/Spring 2025—non renewable)

Who is Eligible?

1. Female born high school graduate (or soon to be) OR a UN-L student who has not resided at Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall (LMH) OR an undergraduate transfer student from another college or university pursing any major for an undergraduate or graduate degree.

2. Applicant must be or been a member of 4-H or FCCLA or FFA (minimum of two years) or have taken a minimum of three semesters in Family & Consumer Sciences classes and live in or attend school in the following Nebraska counties: Antelope, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Cedar, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dakota, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dixon, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Knox, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Phelps, Pierce, Red Willow, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, Thomas, Thurston, Wayne, Wheeler.

3. Must have applied (minimum) or been accepted (preferred) to University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

4. Must have requested residency in Love Memorial Hall, a cooperative residence hall on East Campus. Residents rotate responsibilities for cleaning a portion of the Hall and planning/preparing meals (about 1 hour per week; more time during a week when responsible for food preparation). The cost of living in Love Memorial Hall is less than half of what is charged for all other traditional dorms. Over a four year period this amounts to a savings around $24,000. More information about Love Memorial Hall is found at: https://housing.unl.edu/love-memorial-hall Students may change housing preference by submitting a written request to the Housing Office.

For more information: Web - https://housing.unl.edu;

Phone - (402) 472-3561; Switchboard—800-742-8800; Email: housing@unl.edu

We are excited to share with you the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Engler Program. Visit the website below to find more information about Engler as well as the scholarship that is available for high school graduating seniors. https://engler.unl.edu

If you have any questions please reach out to Michelle Bassford:

Michelle Bassford, Chief Experience Officer,

Engler Entrepreneurship Program-UNL,

DINS 201AD, Lincoln, NE 68583,

(402) 472-9274, https://engler.unl.edu

Seniors:

• FAFSA is open! Submit as soon as possible for maximum scholarship consideration!
• Housing is open! Housing Application & Roommate Finder are open!
• Supplemental Scholarship Application due February 1st!
• Admitted Student Day is Saturday, March 29th!
• Deposit Deadline Day is May 1!

Juniors:

• Red Letter Days
• February 14
• April 4
• April 25
• May 2
• Junior JumpStart Visit Days:
• February 17
• April 7
• April 11
• April 28

Program Specific | Visit Experiences

• CEHS | Teach at Nebraska - February 7
• CASNR | Experience the Power of Red - February 13
• Careers in Sports - February 14
• JLMC | In the Studio - February 15
• JLMC | In the Agency - February 28
• JLMC | Connections - April 17
• Engineering | Women in STEM - May 1

Click here: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/scholarships/