Monthly Newsletter

• January 12th - Dryland Toughies Club Meeting - 4:00 pm at Cheyenne County Fairgrounds
• January 16th - Clover Kids Meeting - 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm at Sidney Public Library
• February 8th - Beef Weigh-In - 9am at Fairgrounds
• February 16th - YQCA In-Person Course - 2:00 pm at Cheyenne County Fairgrounds, 4-H Building
• March 16th - YQCA In-Person Course - 2:00 pm at Deuel County Fairgrounds, 4-H Building
• April 1st - Innovative Youth Corn Challenge Registration Deadline
• May 20th - Sheep & Goat Weigh-In - 6:00 pm at Cheyenne County Fairgrounds
• June 15th - 4-H Online Registration Deadline
• June 15th - Ownership Affidavit Deadline
• July 7th - Pre-Fair Entry Forms Deadline

Don't forget to enroll in 4-H Online if you have not done so already. To participate in Cheyenne County Fair Events, you have to be enrolled by June 15th, 2025.

The Cheyenne County 4-H team is excited to share that we will be hosting Clover Kids programming beginning in January! Each month will focus on a different activity ranging from science to the arts and animals. January’s project will be an engineering experiment involving levers and marshmallows.

These events will be held on the third Thursday of the month from 3:30-4:30 pm at the Sidney Public Library and are open to youth ages 5-7.

**Additional locations may be added based on interest**

Contact the Extension Office with any questions.

The Special Gardening Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables, flowers, fruit, and herbs. The project allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their hands dirty in this project area.

The 2025 Special Garden Project will focus on the Goldie Husk Cherry. This old-fashioned fruit from the tomato family has sweet berries inside golden husks. The fruits have many uses and can be eaten raw, dried, frozen, canned, or made into tasty treats like pies, desserts, or preserves. This project is open to all youth of 4-H ages 5-18 and it will give them the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting this unique fruit.

If you are interested in signing up for this project, please contact the Extension Office by February 3rd!

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live in. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different. This year, we will be exploring a crop that can be marketed different ways depending on the variety.

In the fifth year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore sunflowers! There are two types of sunflower production in Nebraska. There are those grown for oil production, and those grown for human food consumption referred to as confectionery seeds. A portion of the oil seed production is used in the bird seed industry. Sunflowers are grown throughout the state of Nebraska with the greatest concentration in western Nebraska. The variety we will be growing is a high oleic hybrid. Its oil profile combined with a nice black seed color ensures multiple market options.

Be eligible to enter an exhibit at the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy project area.

Enroll for the 2025 Special Agronomy Project through 4-H Online by enrolling in the Agronomy project and contacting your local Nebraska Extension Office to order packets of seeds. The local Extension Office will order and distribute the seeds to members. Please contact the Extension Office and place your order by February 3rd!

For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules

Any family thinking about showing livestock at the State Fair this year, check out the state website with updated due dates and requirements, use the button below to access the link.

State Fair will be August 22 - September 1, 2025.

We are delighted to announce the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge, a prestigious contest open to 4-H members (aged 8 and older as of January 1st) and FFA members (in-school members). This competition is designed to guide participants through a comprehensive exploration of all facets of corn production, including aspects related to agricultural careers associated with corn production.

Key Features:

• Team Participation: Teams comprising two or more youth participants will collaboratively embark on the challenge.

• Innovative Practices: Youth will be tasked with implementing a production practice differing from the norm, with the goal of assessing its impact on increasing corn yield.

• Data Collection: The Corn Challenge management summary will systematically gather crucial information, including yields, cropping history, and production details.

• Recognition and Rewards: Outstanding achievements will be duly rewarded with cash prizes and plaques for the top three teams:

• First Place: $1,000

• Second Place: $500

• Third Place: $250

• Special Awards: In addition to the top rankings, commendable efforts will be acknowledged through the "Extra Mile" and "Ag Literacy" Awards, each carrying a value of $200.

This competition not only fosters a spirit of innovation in corn production but also serves as a platform for recognizing dedication and excellence within the 4-H and FFA communities. We encourage all eligible participants to embrace this opportunity to showcase their skills and contribute to the advancement of agricultural practices. Registration deadline is April 1st.

For detailed guidelines and participation information, please refer to the https://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/cornchallenge webpage or contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.

We want to hear from you! Sara and I would love to hear what topics you would like to have included in the programs we will be offering next year. Please complete this 4-question survey!

Just click the link in the button below and answer 4 easy questions.

We look forward to hearing back from you and starting to plan Summer Workshops!

If you would like your club's meeting time listed in the newsletter, please email the information to ljeffers2@unl.edu by the last Friday of the month.

The Extension Office Staff are here to serve you!

Use our website (click the extension photo) as a valuable resource for information on Beef Systems, Community Environment, Rural Prosperity Nebraska, Crop and water systems, Food Nutrition and Health, and The Learning Child.

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Telephone: 308-254-4455

Address: PO Box 356, 920 Jackson Street, Sidney, NE 69162