Gage 4-H News

Please come pick up the static exhibits that went to the Nebraska State Fair. We also still have some from county fair as well. If you have questions or if the item will fit in the drop box we can make arrangements with you. Questions call us at 402-223-1384.

This is an exciting time as we recognize the excellence of Gage County 4-H members through the annual awards program. Award applications are due October 1. Now we need a group of adult volunteers to read through the applications and select the winners of scholarships, project medals, etc. This year, we are going virtual. Judge award award categories from the comfort of your home between October 15th -25th. Send an email to Jacie if you can help; great way to learn about the awards application! Thank you in advance!

Mark your calendars for November 17th at 1:30 pm for the 2024 Gage County Achievement Celebration! The celebration will take place in the 4-H Building. We will recognize:

• County project awards
• Scholarships
• Kids of Character winners
• Diamond Clover pins
• Leader recognition
• Alumni winner
• Volunteer Years of Service
• Business Recognition
• Clover Kids graduation & more

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

We have made changes to the way that you apply for County Achievement Awards (pins), Special Awards, and Scholarships for 2024. This year, the Career Portfolio and Achievement Applications will no longer be accepted for County Awards, but we have created a [hopefully] streamlined process to apply. There are two ways to apply this year:

1. Fill out the application using the link: https://go.unl.edu/gagecoawards OR
2. Download the Gage County 4-H Achievement & Scholarship Application .PDF (file included below) to your computer. Add in your information, and click "SUBMIT" in the .PDF

• You need to have the adobe on your computer to be able to edit the pdfs. A Chromebook will not open the pdf. If you have a Chromebook you will have to fill out the online form.

You do NOT need to print and bring us anything this year. by clicking "SUBMIT" on either the online form of the .PDF, we will receive your form. You will get a confirmation email that will allow you to make edits to your application. You can make edits until October 1, then we will print them and prepare them for judging.

*NOTE*: Career Portfolios & Achievement Applications will NOT be accepted for county awards this year.

Apply for all County Awards & Scholarships using these two options. A listing of all the County Award Areas can be found at: https://go.unl.edu/gagecoawardlist

The Achievement Application is still required to apply for State-Level Achievement Awards. Information about that process can be found at: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/cuming/achievement-application/

If you have questions please contact the Extension Office at 402-223-1384 or email Jacie

If you submitted your application already and want to double check that we received it please check this link. go.unl.edu/24Achievement

If you don't see your name please make sure you hit submit. If you are still have problems submitting then please give us a call at 402-223-1384

The Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover program encourages 4-H youth to engage in a variety of programs, projects, and activities that will enable youth to acquire skills and abilities that will prepare them for success in the future.

The program consists of six levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. For each level, the Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover 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 Diamond Clover program.

Here is the website with more info and the Diamond Clover Applications https://4h.unl.edu/diamond-clover

If you would like you can submit them via email, by emailing Rachel at rbuehler2@unl.edu

If you were a recipient of the Youth at Work Grant this year, you are required to fill out the final report. A check will be presented at the 4-H Achievement Program in November. Youth leadership grants will be awarded up to a maximum of $200 each.

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/