Dakota- Thurston News Update

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

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

Allison Claussen, Summer Assistant, aclaussen3@unl.edu

Bobbie Hingst, Office Assistant, bhingst2@unl.edu

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

Tammy Peterson, County Extension Staff, tpeterson3@unl.edu

Angela Abts, Extension Educator, aabts2@unl.edu

Website: www.dakota.unl.edu
Location: 1505 Broadway Street, Dakota City, NE, USA
Phone: 402-987-2140

Visit dtfair.com to check out the new and improved website! You can find all your information about the fair from livestock shows to live events!

The Dakota-Thurston 4-H County Fair has the following policy:

19) Late Policy - 4-H members are to pre-enter their projects for deadline will be accessed a $10 fee per individual. Entries will be accepted up to one week past the deadline, as long as the late fee has been paid.

These do not apply to any State Fair submissions! State Fair deadlines are hard and firm!

Clean up day will be on Saturday, July 27th! There will be a meal provided for everyone! Hope to see everyone there!!! 😊

4-H is all about learning! But at the fair we want you to tell us all the things you learned while making and working on your projects! For a quick reference list on the supporting information click here: Paperwork for 4-H Exhibits.docx

Reminder: ALL sewing projects and outfit challenges will be judged on Monday, July 29th at the Dakota-Thurston County Fairgrounds.

All Modeling is judged on this day, and all Clothing Construction, Posters, Quilting, Knitting/Crocheting, Clothing Accessories, and Clothing Challenge Entries must be entered on this day.

This includes all sewing, Shopping in Style and Attention Shoppers, Knitting & Crocheting, Accessories, & Quilt Quest.

• Check- in is at 1:30 PM
• Judging begins at 1:45 PM

PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY AS THINGS HAVE CHANGED THIS YEAR!

Poultry Exhibitors - When you enter your animals Wednesday, July 31st, from 6:00 –8:00PM we are asking that you check your animals in with either the superintendents or Extension Staff. We want to try and ensure that our show programs are accurate. Your assistance on this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Rabbit Exhibitors - The Rabbit Show is on Tuesday, July 30th. Check-in is from 8:00 - 9:30 AM; Showmanship starts at 10:00 AM and the show begins at 10:30 AM.

Bedding - The fair board will be supplying bedding for livestock projects. If you have special needs for your projects, it is your responsibility to bring the supplies or contact the Fair Board.

Stalling Horses - The Dakota Thurston County Fair Board voted in 2010, That if a horse is showed, it must be stalled. No veterinarian excuses will be accepted. This applies to all horses exhibiting at the 4-H Horse Show, no exceptions. All horses must be stalled and checked in at the fairgrounds with the Superintendents or Extension Staff on Wednesday, July 31st from 6:00-8:00PM.

Bucket Calves - Record books for the Bucket Calf project are due to the Fair Livestock Office by Noon on Thursday, August 1st. Interviews will be from 1-3 PM on Thursday August 1st. There will also be a sign up sheet for interview times at Beef Cattle Check-in on Wednesday evening!

No early release of animals - Please refer to the fair book for the following rule: All live animals, 4-H/FFA, Open Class (except cats, dogs, household pets/birds) will remain on the grounds for the duration of the fair. No early releases. Also see the following statement from the Fair Board: Penalty– Premiums will be pulled for exhibits leaving the fairgrounds prior to the aforementioned release time.

Livestock Check-in is on Wednesday, July 31st from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the fairgrounds!

Please check-in your animals at the respective livestock scale. This will help us with making sure we have the right exhibitors and livestock that are on the fairgrounds and help with correct stall assignments and correct show programs. Reminder: Swine ear tags need to be purchased for $3.00 each at the time of check-in.

Attention ALL Exhibitors:

Per 4-H General Rule 21, All animals should not have clothing items on when checked in! Any animal suspected of infectious or contagious disease will not be allowed to remains on the fairgrounds and will NOT be allowed to exhibit. Animals that have pinkeye, active ringworm, visible warts, or abscesses will not be allowed. Ringworm may be judged inactive if the lesion area is not encrusted and hair has begun regrowth in the area. Animals with warts that are not visible by a hands-on inspection will be allowed to remain on the fairgrounds and exhibited. Under no circumstances may animals under quarantine be exhibited. The Decision of the County Fair Veterinarian is FINAL.

• Animals other than rabbits, may arrive anytime on Wednesday, July 31st, as the grounds will be open for livestock arrivals. Official livestock Stalling will be posted on Tuesday afternoon. Any livestock or tack, on premises before Wednesday, the Dakota- Thurston Fairboard is not responsible for theft.
• Thursday, August 1st, all 4-Hers are invited to ride on the float for the parade! Meet at 5pm on the east side of the campground to get on the float! Adults are welcomed to ride on the float as well!
• New this year: Each family unit will be able to purchase 2 discounted activity passes for the ticketed events at the fair. The cost of these discounted tickets are $30 each ticket. This will only be available to 4-H Families. Please contact Miranda Estochen (402-922-0992) with any questions or to purchase your 2 passes.
• Horticulture Exhibitors
1. Reminder: You need the Cultivar or variety when checking in your horticulture exhibits on Wednesday at the fair. This is a required portion of the project. Please contact the extension office with any questions.
2. For Example: Class 248- Watermelon, Crimson Sweet

Dakota- Thurston Fair Board is sponsoring a meal for all 4-H members, families, volunteers, etc. on Wednesday evening! They will serve from 6:00 pm until food is gone on the WEST side of the Cattle Barn!

One (1) wristband will be given to each 4H youth that is showing during Fair week. The wristbands will be given to Dakota and Thurston Extension to be handed out to kids starting Wednesday July 31st during static entry (kids that may not show livestock). The additional wristbands can be handed out to kids as they pick up back tags from the livestock office. DO NOT LOSE AS NO REPLACEMENTS WILL BE GIVEN!

The wristbands are good for youth to get into the following for FREE:

Thursday - Tractor pull

Friday - Figure 8 Racing, Kids Day Activities, Laser Tag

Saturday - Kids Day Activities, Extreme Bull Riding

4-H Members are encouraged to celebrate the diversity, inclusivity, and self-realization they have found through 4-H projects and expressed in a 4-H exhibit. Youth interested in applying for this award will submit the application along with a picture of the exhibit by completing the information found at the application link. Deadlines for youth to apply are due by the start of their county fair. Stop by the Extension Office for more details and the application. Applications can be in paper form or summitted electronically at https://go.unl.edu/ibelongaward4h2024

4-H is sponsoring a movie on Sunday, August 4th at 1:00 PM!

The movie is called MIGRATION and here's the description: A family of ducks decides to leave the safety of a New England pond for an adventurous trip to Jamaica. However, their well-laid plans quickly go awry when they get lost and wind up in New York City. The experience soon inspires them to expand their horizons, open themselves up to new friends, and accomplish more than they ever thought possible.

Post Fair Cleanup day will be on Monday, August 5th!!

See Rule 20 in 4-H General Rules in Fair Book:

20) At the end of the fair, all pens and stalls must be clean with no waste left behind. Failure to do so will result in loss of fair premium.

DON'T FORGET!! If you are planning on exhibiting Livestock or participating in and In Person Contest your deadline is August 10, 8:00PM CST.

For more information visit: https://4h.unl.edu/state-fair/live-animal-exhibitor

Livestock includes: All large animals, rabbits, poultry and basically any livestock.

In Person Contests include: Fashion Show, Presentations, ID Contests, and basically anything else that you have to come in person to participate.