FEBRUARY 2025

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

EVENTS/DEADLINES

LOCAL LOWDOWN

• Enrollment
• 2025 Fair Book Sign up
• Weigh Day
• Fun Fest
• YQCA
• February Birthdays

STATE SCOOP

• 4-H MONTH - CHECK IT OUT!
• Regional Camp
• Premier Communication Event
• State 4-H Camp
• Livestock Achievement Program

Hard to believe it, but it is time to start MARKING YOUR CALENDARS with important 4-H deadlines and events! Below is the pdf version that you can download and keep at home, work, or school.

4-H Online is now open for enrollment for the 24-25 4-H Program Year. ENROLL NOW! This will help us make sure our records are kept up-to-date and we are sending important information to the correct address. You can make changes to your information until June 15, 2025. We can't wait to spend another year exploring with you in Polk County 4-H

Thank you for your feedback on last year's fair book! We appreciate your input!

THIS YEAR IF YOU WANT A PRINTED COPY OF THE FAIR BOOK WE ARE ASKING YOU TO FILL OUT THE GOOGLE FORM BY MARCH 15TH. The fair book for 4-H members will include the Open Class Fairbook. The fair book can also be found online.

Once your fair book as been printed, we will let you know to come to the Polk County Extension Office to pick it up. We will not be mailing fair books out this year. 1 fair book per family please!

👉SIGN UP FOR YOUR 2025 FAIR BOOK HERE.👈

JOIN US!! All 4-H members and their families are invited to come out to the fairgrounds Sunday, March 30th, 3-5 pm, for games, snacks, and an all around good time. 4-H Staff will also be there to answer questions and help with the 4-H enrollment process. If you want to enroll at the event, please come between 3-4 pm.

Forest Moon Coffee will be there and any member enrolled in 4-H will receive 1 free smoothie! Other specialty drinks will be available to purchase for non-members and their families.

YQCA is an important & required part of any livestock project. Learning more about safe and effective ways of caring for your livestock is the aim of YQCA.

IMPORTANT!! Each participant that completes either in-person or online YQCA MUST complete a pre-test and post-test. The system will not mark your session complete or generate your certificate without both tests. YQCA certificates need to be brought or emailed to the Polk County Extension Office by June 15th.

THE IN-PERSON YQCA TRAINING WILL BE MAY 4TH AT 3:00 PM AT THE

POLK COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

CELEBRATE ALL ASPECTS OF 4-H THIS MONTH! Each Thursday in February Nebraska 4-H celebrates one of the many great aspects about the program. Share your excitement for the program by wearing your 4-H shirts on Spirit Day. Join us in thanking the many volunteers and donors who give to the program on Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Day. Put your hands to larger service on Give Back Day. GET ENROLLED IN 4-H!!

💚LOCALLY, WE WILL HAVE WEEKLY DRAWINGS FOR A PRIZE EACH FRIDAY!💚

• WEEK 1 - Friday, Feb 7 - any 4-H and Clover Kid member who wears a 4-H shirt on -SPIRIT DAY - THURSDAY FEB 6. - and texts a picture to 402-910-1640 will be entered in the drawing.
• WEEK 2 - Friday, Feb 14 - any 4-H & CK member who is enrolled in 4-H will be entered into drawing. We will also be awarding a prize to a 4-H Volunteer!
• WEEK 3 - Friday, Feb. 20 - any 4-H & CK member who is enrolled in 4-H will be entered into drawing. We will also be awarding a prize to a 4-H Donor
• WEEK 4 - Friday, Feb. 28 - any 4-H & CK member who is enrolled in 4-H will be entered into drawing. We will also be awarding a contributor to 4-H

Any 4-H member who receives a purple ribbon at our Polk County Communication Contest on April 15th, may selected to compete at the Premier Communication Contest.

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 program consists of two 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 ages 8-10, 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. Youth must apply to participate in the program. At the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Additionally, participants must complete their annual 4-H Online enrollment process, YQCA requirements, and project record books in order to receive a Member of Excellence distinction.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Email: polk-county@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/polk/
Location: PO BOX 215, Osceola, NE, USA
Phone: 402-910-1640
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PolkCountyNebraska4H