BOX BUTTE COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER

Apr. 2 - Livestock Committee Meeting at 6 pm

Apr. 6 - North Panhandle Speech Contest at Harrison Fire Hall starting at 1 pm

Apr. 6 - Little Critters Club Meeting at 2 pm

Apr. 10 - Alliance Clover Kids at 4 pm

Apr. 10 - Hemingford Clover Kids at 6 pm

Apr. 14 - Bit N' Boots 4-H Club Meeting at Extension Office at 6 pm

Apr. 15 - 4-H Council Meeting at 6 pm

Apr. 21 - YQCA Training in Alliance at 9 am

Apr. 22 - Small Animal Committee Meeting at 6 pm

Apr. 25 - Office Closed - Arbor Day

DEADLINE DATES:

April 1 - Public Speaking Contest Registration

April 11 - Box Butte 4-H Scholarships are due

June 15 - 4-H Enrollment

The Extension website got a new uplift. Check out the webpage for upcoming information including pesticide trainings at the link below.

The 2025 Fairbook pages are up on the website! Things to note:

• Auction Cakes and Cake Decorating classes are combined and will be judged on Tuesday. Auction cakes will then go home and come back on Friday for the auction.
• Bred and Fed division will be open to heifers as well.
• This year only 2 pigs will be shown per person and sold due to the size of the pig pens.
• There will not be re-weighs for livestock this year.
• The minimum weights for beef are 1,000 for steers and heifers and then 1,750 for the maximum.
• There will be an Intermediate Cookie Jar category.

Thank you to everyone who can out and supported the 4-H Fundraiser last Monday. We had a great turnout serving around 180 meals. We also made over $1,000 from the raffle. A huge shoutout to Westside Event Center for hosting and preparing the food for the event.

Box Butte County 4-H members participated in the Panhandle Best Shoots from January 19 to March 9, 2025, at various western Nebraska locations. Six Box Butte County members competed at the State 4-H Shoot in Fremont, Nebraska, on March 16, 2025, earning notable placements in BB Gun, AR Sporter, and AR Precision categories across different age groups.

The 19th Annual Tom and Luke Jensen Memorial Box Butte County Fair Shoot was held on March 23, 2025, in Alliance, marking the end of the local BB and AR Rifle season. Several 4-H members earned top honors, with Alexander Ackerman, Corley Connor, Ashley Carr, and Makenna Quick securing Grand and Reserve Grand Champion titles.

The results showcase the dedication and skill development of Box Butte County 4-H youth in shooting sports.

Individual Results from Nebraska 4-H State Shoot:

BB Gun (with Test): 11–12-year-old:

9th – Corley Connor,

14th – Ford Swanson,

21st – Alexander Ackerman

BB Gun (No Test) 11–12-year-old:

5th- Corley Connor

14th- Ford Swanson

19th – Alexander Ackerman

AR Sporter 11–12-year-old:

9 – Corley Connor

14- Alexander Ackerman

15 – Ford Swanson

AR Sporter – 15–18-year-old:

1 – Ashley Carr

3 – Makenna Quick

8 – Katrina Karell

AR Precision 11–12-year-old:

7 – Corley Connor

AR Precision 15–18-year-old:

3 – Ashley Carr

4- Makenna Quick

12 – Katrina Karell

Individual Results Box Butte County Fair Shoot- March 23, 2025

BB Gun – 11–13-year-old:

Alexander Ackerman, Purple – Grand Champion

Corley Connor, Purple -Reserve Grand Champion

Ford Swanson, Purple

Senior Air Rifle – 14–18-year-old:

Ashley Carr, Purple – Grand Champion

Makenna Quick, Purple – Reserve Grand Champion

Katrina Quick, Purple

Intermediate Air Rifle – 11–14-year-old:

Corley Connor, Purple – Grand Champion

Ford Swanson, Blue

Alexander Ackerman, Blue

Join us for Wilderness Wonders Camp this summer. On June 3rd, the camp is for youth entering in 3rd through 5th grade. June 4th's camp is for youth ages 5-7. The camp will include lunch, t-shirt, activity costs, insurance, and snack. The fee is $50. Registration is due May 5th but spots are limited. 4-H Camp scholarship may be available from the 4-H Council. See the registration below to sign up.

We will also be looking for Camp Counselors. Camp Counselors for this event must be 13 years and older. Please contact Melissa Mracek at mmracek2@unl.edu or (402) 322-0655 if interested.

Clover Kids is a program for 5-7 year olds to get introduced into a variety of projects in 4-H. We will have a Clover Kid Meeting in Alliance on April 10th at the Extension Office from 4 to 5 pm and in Hemingford on April 10th at the Multipurpose Hall from 6 to 7 pm. The program will include an activity and snack. Please RSVP at the office if your child plans to attend.

Come join us at this year's Fort Robinson Horse Camp. Participants will create a lead rope, experience fun interactive sessions, and explore the beauty of Fort Robinson while horseback. Check out the schedule below. There are also scholarship opportunities available.

We are excited to have three local Progress Shows this year. The Box Butte Show will include a swine division this year!! Flyers will be coming soon!

A complete list of summer workshops will be coming in April. Some workshop topics include:

• June 17th - Babysitting Basics
• June 19th - Fishing Workshop
• You Create It
• Cake Decorating
• Sewing
• Clover Kid

If youth ages 8-18 as of Jan 1 are showing beef, pigs, sheep or goats (this includes breeding, bucket calves and feeder calves), dairy cattle, dairy goats, poultry and/or rabbits at County fair, state fair, AKSARBEN or other shows, they need to complete the YQCA Certification.

There are 3 ways to complete this certification:

1. Youth can complete an online course. This course has 3 sections and youth must complete a quiz in each of the sections and pass with an 80% or better. If youth do not get at least an 80% they are locked out for an hour and should review material. This course also has a fee of $12 that must be paid online.
2. Youth can attend an Instructor Led Session put on by the Extension Office. Youth will attend in-person and actively participate through the 60 minute PowerPoint, as well as some hands on activities at the end. This session has a fee of $3 that must be paid online through the YQCA Website. We also ask that you pre-register through the YQCA website so we can make we have enough supplies for the hands on activities.
3. Youth could complete the Test Out option online at the Intermediate or Senior Level. These courses cost $36 & $48 respectively.

Please visit: https://yqcaprogram.org/ for more information, get registered and pay fees for the in-person course, or take the online course.

Dates for Instructor Led Trainings:

• Monday, April 21 at the Extension Office at 9 am
• Wednesday, May 21 at the Multi Purpose Building in Hemingford at 12 pm

Deadline to complete YQCA is June 15th! YQCA Certificates need to be sent (mmracek2@unl.edu) or returned to the office.

Please contact the Extension Office if you have more questions.

For those who have a High School Senior within the Box Butte County 4-H Program or have a Box Butte County 4-H Alumni attending a 2 or 4 year college, please consider completing a scholarship application! The applications are attached below for both the 4-H Alumni Scholarship and the High School Senior 4-H Scholarship Applications below (They are attached in Word or PDF form).

A committee will select 6 recipients (5 at $1000 and 1 at $500).

Both Scholarships will be due on Friday, April 11, 2025. Please submit the high school scholarship as a physical paper copy; hand delivered or mail to 415 Black Hills Ave, Alliance, NE 69301. The Alumni scholarship turned in as a physical copy or email to mmracek2@unl.edu.

If you have questions please contact the Extension Office.

Box Butte 4-H Robotics teams competed at the State STEM Expo Event held at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln on March 21 and 22. There were 89 teams from across the state participating in the competition. The teams had the ability to interact with industry partners, other robotics teams, and presented their project solution, robot design, and robot competition. There were four teams competing from Box Butte County. Sting Ray members are Mara Foster, Callin Foster, Lane Febry, and Emerson Mashburn. Brick Ship Team members include William Harris, Jack Shafer, and Sawyer Benigno. The Techno Titans team members are Kade Johnston, Gus Woltman, Slade Harris, Eli Bryner, and Addelyn Bryner. The Mariana Mechanics include Raelee Woltman, Timothy Gilkerson, and Autumn Hartman.

The Sting Ray team was awarded 1st place Core Values team for the way they demonstrated how they worked together as a team to solve problems this season!

This year our annual LOG N Camp will be held at Fort Robinson State Park. The youth will get to spend two nights at the camp, learn leadership skills, while being immersed in the rich history of Fort Robinson State Park. The cost of the camp is $80, 4-H scholarships may be available. Check out the application below to apply.

We will be hosting Unified Showing again this summer with the conclusion event at the County Fair. If you are interested in serving as a buddy or know a new friend that would like to join please contact Jenilee Woltman at jenilee@sandcanyontherapy.com.

On April 14th at 6 pm at the Extension Office, Bit N' Boot will have its first club meting. Please come to learn the practice schedule and information about Horse Level Testing.

Exhibitors planning to show pigs, sheep, or goats at the Box Butte County Fair need to attend a weigh-in this spring. The animals do not have to be weighed but will receive their tag. Box Butte County has two options on Thursday, May 15th or Thursday May 22nd from 6 to 7 pm at the fairgrounds. Trailers just need to be in line by 7 pm. If families cannot attend either of these weigh-ins, they can attend the Sheridan or Dawes County weigh-ins.

Dawes:

• Thursday, May 29th from 3-6 pm at the Dawes County Fairgrounds (no pigs)

Sheridan

• Sunday, May 18th from 8 to 11 am at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds

Youth qualifying at the local level can participate at the state event being held on June 19-20, 2025 in Lincoln, NE. There are some great cash prizes for those that win the events! More information can be found at the Premier Communication Event Site. Registration for the state competition is due on JUNE 1st! The office will be in contact with a new registration form if you qualify.

REGISTER NOW! 2025 Tractor & Equipment Safety Trainings are scheduled across the state. Certification from this course allows 14- and 15-year-olds to legally drive a tractor and do field work with certain mechanized equipment. Visit go.unmc.edu/tractor-safety-training to learn more!

Certification is earned by completing a two-day certification course, which includes a written test and a driving exam. Successful completion grants NSTMOP certification, allowing them to operate tractors and certain mechanized equipment on farms and ranches, and obtain a husbandry permit. Youth under 14 can attend Day 1 if accompanied by an adult, at no charge.

No Day 1 at your location? You can attend it at another location, or choose the online option!

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!
• Monday, April 14th (5:30 - 7:00 pm CST): 4-H Visual Arts & Foods Judges Training

We are excited to announce the fifth 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)

The 4S Goat Expo would like to extend their scholarship to young goat producers again this year. They will be awarding two - $250.00 scholarships to High school seniors and Freshman in college that apply. The deadline for this scholarship is May 31, 2025. For more information, view the scholarship attached.

Email: boxbutte-county@unl.edu
Location: 415 Black Hills Ave Alliance, NE 69301
Phone: 308-762-5616
Instagram: @bbc.4h