Thurston County 4-H News
November 2021
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Jennifer E. Hansen, Extension Educator, jhansen6@unl.edu
Stacey Keys, Extension Assistant, stacey.keys@unl.edu
Samantha Beutler, Office Staff, samantha.beutler@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
Upcoming Dates
November:
Nov 8 - Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting (6:30 pm)
Nov 11 - Office Closed - Veteran's Day
Nov 15 - Volunteer Roadshow - Columbus, NE (6:00 pm)
Nov 25-26 - Office Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday
December:
Dec 24- Office Closed - Christmas Holiday
Dec 31 - Office Closed - New Year's Day Observed
Save the dates!
Achievement Night
Thanks to all members who submitted an achievement application for review this year. Thanks to the 4-H Council for hosting the annual Achievement Awards Night, and to members and families for joining us to recognize accomplishments.
Our Outstanding 4-Her was Rylie Bonneau.
Recognized for Clover Kid Participation were:
· Jax Fogarty
· Kate Hansen (also did Achievement Application!!)
· Rayna Kelly
· Renner Blackbird
· Camden Kelly
· Addison Lamplot
Junior county level achievement award winners:
Beef – Jett Fogarty
Bucket Calf – Jack Olson
Ag Achievement – Carter Bonneau
FCS Achievement – Khloe Swanson
Home Environment – Khloe Swanson
Plant & Soil Science – Logan Hansen
Woodworking – Rhiley Harney
Boys Record Book – Logan Hansen
$50 Camp Scholarship – Amaryn Bodlak
$50 Camp Scholarship – Logan Hansen
$50 Camp Scholarship – Rhiley Harney
$50 Camp Scholarship – Kaitlyn Mahaney
$50 Camp Scholarship – Jack Olson
$50 Camp Scholarship – Jenni Olson
Also submitting achievement applications were Shaylee Sanderson, Jace Fogarty, and Brylea Mosser.
Senior county level achievement award winners:
Beef – Gracie Slaughter
Rabbit – Nate Sanderson
Sheep – Rylie Bonneau
Swine – Logan Mosser
Achievement – Jacie Bonneau
Ag Achievement – Rylie Bonneau
Citizenship – Codi Olson
Leadership – Tyra Bonneau
Fashion Show – Codi Olson
Plant & Soil Science – Dylan Mahaney
Boys Record Book – Dylan Mahaney
Girls Record Book – Codi Olson
$50 Camp Scholarship – Dylan Mahaney
$50 Camp Scholarship – Codi Olson
Special year recognition awards went to:
2 yr. Volunteer - Chris Swanson
2 yr. - Kate Hansen
5 yr. - Garan Coons, Harper Jensen, Jack Olson, Logan Hansen, Niapiga Coons, Rowen Paeper, Kamimila Coons, Seth Stanga
8 yr. - Isabella Bonneau, Natalie Bonneau, Owen VanKirk
10 yr. - Caleb Kelly, Mason Bodlak
12 yr. - Alexis Bodlak, Colton Sanderson, Erika Paeper
Graduate - Ashley Ostrand
Our Friend of 4-H was the United Church of Pender. They have provided space for numerous 4-H workshops, council meetings and other events.
Congratulations again to all achievement award winners!
Junior Achievement
Senior Achievement
Special Year Recognition
Member Information
State Fair Premium Checks
4-H Online Enrollment
We have a NEW online enrollment site coming for 4-H Online! The public link will be active later in November. Please DO NOT try and access our past version of 4-H online as data is being transferred.
Although it will be a new version with a new look and feel, it will function similar to the previous version. You will still be able to enroll and/or re-enroll your family members as well as enroll as a volunteer. New families can go in and create their families and add members. We look forward to learning more about the 4-H Online 2.0 and will share details with you as they become available to us!
Volunteer Road Show
Nebraska 4-H is excited to bring the 4-H Volunteer Road Show to volunteers statewide this November! The 4-H Volunteer Road Show will rotate host locations each year, get registered today at the location near you. Please see the attached flyer for details regarding the dates, locations and times. Each Road Show location will have the following schedule: meal and table topics, 4-H Volunteer Impact and Introduction of Resources, choice of workshops for session 1 and 2 and finished with a wrap-up session on introducing parliamentary procedure to youth. Visit https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-road-show for more specific information and registration link. Registration closes one week prior to each Road Show session.
There is a session November 15 at Central Community College, Columbus, from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Registration is $8 and includes a meal and all materials. Payment is due at the door.
Animal Science and Agriculture
Fed Steer Challenge
NE Fed Steer Challenge 2022 is now accepting applications! Applications are submitted via Qualtrics. All other information, including the application link, can be found at
https://4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge
The Nebraska 4-H Fed Steer Challenge is an opportunity for youth interested in learning more about the cattle industry and is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska cattle industry. The goal of the Fed Steer Challenge is to enhance the educational value of the traditional 4-H beef projects by providing an affordable option that rewards production merit and carcass value of the market animal, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and producer engagement by the 4-H member.
Components of the Program include two parts:
1. Raising a commercial steer
- 4-H member selects and raises a commercial steer to finished market weight.
- Utilize management and nutrition protocols similar to a commercial feedlot.
- Maintain a detailed record book related to the management and feeding of the steer.
- Exhibit steer in the 4-H Fed Steer Challenge class at the Nebraska State Fair where steers will be visually evaluated by a commercial cattle buyer representing a packer.
- Sell cattle on a Quality and Yield Based Carcass Grid.
- Following the live exhibition, steers will be transported to a commercial packer, harvested and carcass data collected.
- Knowledge related to their project and the cattle industry as a whole
- Accuracy and details related to a record book
- Interview with representatives from the cattle industry
Youth interested in participating in the Nebraska 4-H Fed Steer Challenge must:
- Be an enrolled 4-H member and at least 14 years of age as of December 31 of the year current year.
- Have the financial ability to purchase a market steer at the current market price in January (~$850) and obtain insurance for the market value of the steer.
- Source a steer on their own or select a steer from a pool of identified program producers.
- Obtain an official starting weight for their steer at a county 4-H weigh-in event. If their enrolled county does not have an official weight-in, youth may attend the weigh-in of any county.
- Provide adequate facilities and adhere to YQCA practices to ensure proper management and well-being of the animal.
- Actively participate in online and face-to-face educational programming offered by Nebraska Animal Science faculty. Must participate in a minimum of 90% of educational opportunities offered between January and December.
- Exhibit Steer in the Nebraska Fed Steer market steer class at the Nebraska State Fair. At that time, steers will be harvested at a commercial packer and participants will be paid based upon the current market value.
- Maintain accurate production records related to raising the animal, complete the record book, and submit to program organizers at designated time.
Catch-a-Calf Program
Applications for 2022-2023 Catch-A-Calf held at the National Western Stock Show are NOW OPEN and are due December 15, 2021. Apply at
https://nationalwestern.com/livestock-shows/catch-a-calf-program/
Please note, this program is only open to active 2021 4-H members ages 14-18 (who must be residents) in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska & Wyoming.
Livestock Achievement Program
Nebraska Extension is pleased to announce the second 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 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. Intermediates, ages 10-13, 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 10 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: Nebraska 4-H / Livestock Achievement Program
Continuing Education
Martha & Don Romeo Scholarship
The Nebraska Association of Fair Managers will award a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H male and a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H female who are graduating seniors in the State of Nebraska and who plan to continue with post high school education. The scholarship will be awarded at the annual NAFM convention in January.
The selection of the scholarship recipients will be made by the NAFM Scholarship Committee whose members will consider the following:
- Each applicant must have exhibited his/her 4-H projects in a County Fair or at the State Fair within the last four years.
- Each applicant must hold a 2.5 high school grade point average (based on a 4.0 system). Each applicant must also maintain a 2.5 grade point average for the first semester in college and carry at least 12 credit hours.
- Each applicant must agree to apply the scholarship funds for tuition or fees at a two or four year college or its equivalent, to be judged by the committee.
- Each applicant must have demonstrated support for his/her school and community.
- Each applicant must exhibit during the application process a desire to achieve the goals of which he/she is capable.
- Financial need will not be considered in the selection process.
- One male and/or female finalist will be selected by the 4-H award committee in each local Extension Office.
- Recipients are requested to personally accept the award at the Nebraska Fair Managers Convention.
This Scholarship is awarded during the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers Convention Banquet, which will be held in Kearney, Nebraska, on Saturday, January 22, 2022. Winners will be notified by January 3, 2022. Return completed application to your local County Extension Office by November 30, 2021.
Find the complete application here: https://go.unl.edu/37qw