4-H Weekly Update 1/17/25

• Jan 23: 4-H Sewing for Fun Class, Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• Jan 25: Sarpy County Beef Weigh Day, 9-10am at Cooper Farm
• Jan 25: Nebraska State 4-H Indoor Archery Championships
• Feb 1-2: Wayne County 4-H & NRA Sectional Air Rifle Invitational
• Feb 4: Clover Kids Klub Meeting, 5:30-6:30pm Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• Feb 8: Horses Judges School, UNL Animal Science Complex in Lincoln, NE
• Feb 17: President's Day, Office Closed

• Feb 26: Omaha Fashion Week 4-H Collection
• Mar 11: Clover Kids Klub Meeting, 5:30-6:30pm Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• Mar 15-16: Nebraska State 4-H BB gun & Air Rifle Championships
• Mar 29-30: 4-H Horse Stampede, UNL Animal Science Complex in Lincoln, NE
• Apr 8: Clover Kids Klub Meeting, 5:30-6:30pm Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• Apr 26: Small Animal Pet Show, 9am Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• May 13: Clover Kids Klub Meeting, 5:30-6:30pm Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• May 15: 4-H Council Meeting, 6:30pm Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office
• May 26: Memorial Day, Office Closed

Do you love sewing and want to share your skills with the next generation? We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help lead and assist with 4-H beginner sewing classes! These classes teach youth basic sewing skills, from using a sewing machine to completing simple projects. No professional experience is needed—just a willingness to guide and encourage young learners.

Details:

• Who we’re looking for:
  • Sewing enthusiasts with basic sewing knowledge
  • Patient and friendly individuals who enjoy working with kids
• What you’ll do:
  • Help kids learn to use sewing machines
  • Assist with hands-on projects
  • Share tips and inspire creativity

Interested?
Sign up to volunteer or ask questions by contacting Stephanie Thorson: stephanie.thorson@unl.edu

Thank you for supporting 4-H and helping us inspire the next generation of makers!

When: Saturday, April 26th
Time: 9:00 AM (Check-in begins at 8:30 AM)
Where: Douglas-Sarpy Extension Office

Bring Your Unique Pets to Shine!
This fun-filled event is open to all kinds of small pets, including:

• Gerbils & Hamsters
• Reptiles & Amphibians
• Fish
• Caged Birds
• Invertebrates
• Cats

Note: Dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs have their own special shows at the Sarpy County Fair.

Celebrate the love for your small and extraordinary companions at this one-of-a-kind event! Everyone is welcome to come and cheer for these amazing pets. Don’t miss it! If you have any questions, please contact Brett Kreifels: brett.kreifels@unl.edu

Date: February 10, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.

Topics covered will be the treasurer responsibilities, 4-H financial policies, and best practices for treasurers. 4-H Council Treasurers, county staff working with treasurers, and 4-H club volunteers are encouraged to attend. No cost, free registration (required for all attendees) and a zoom link sent after registration.

Register here: https://go.unl.edu/treasurertraining

Applications are now open to join the FEMA Youth Preparedness Council (YPC)! The YPC brings teens from across the country together to share ideas with FEMA, create community preparedness projects, and build leadership and emergency management skills. Students in grades 8–11 with leadership experience, extracurricular involvement, and an interest in emergency preparedness are eligible to apply. To apply, fill out the application form and submit two letters of recommendation. Applications are being accepted from January 7 - March 3, 2025.

Learn more and apply at ready.gov/kids/youth-preparedness-council. Let’s make a difference together!

Registration is now open for the 2025 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort! New for 2025: you may exhibit your Farrowed and Owned project animals at any Nebraska county fair. Exhibiting at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair is an option. All cohort members will participate in an interview at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair. Follow the link here to the cohort webpage and join the first session in February for more details!

February 8, 2025: Horse Judges School (UNL Animal Science Complex, Lincoln, NE). For Youth: Get ready for the Horse Judging Contest at Stampede! Learn the basics of judging and practice your skills. For Adults: Learn how to become a 4-H Horse Show Judge or renew your certification.

March 29-30, 2025: 4-H Horse Stampede (UNL Animal Science Complex, Lincoln, NE)

Sign-Up Deadline: February 28, 2025

• Contests You Can Join:
  • Public Speaking (can compete on Zoom!)
  • Demonstrations (can compete on Zoom!)
  • Horse Bowl
  • Art
  • Photography
  • Horse Judging (new this year!)
  • Hippology (new this year!)

July 12-16, 2025: Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo (Fonner Park, Grand Island, NE)

• Sign-Up Deadline: June 1, 2025
• Important: Make sure your Horse IDs and Advancement Levels are done by June 1. For questions about any of these events, email Lena Luck at lena.luck@unl.edu.

We’re excited to announce the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge, open to 4-H members (ages 8+ as of January 1). This contest helps participants learn about corn production and explore related agricultural careers.

• Teamwork: Teams of 2 or more work together.
• Innovation: Teams try a new production practice to see how it affects corn yield.
• Data Collection: Teams record yields, cropping history, and production details in a management summary.
• Awards: Cash prizes and plaques for top teams:
  • 1st Place: $1,000
  • 2nd Place: $500
  • 3rd Place: $250
  • Additional awards of $200 each for "Extra Mile" and "Ag Literacy."

This challenge inspires creativity and recognizes excellence in corn production. Don’t miss your chance to participate—register by April 1! For more Information: Click here or contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.

Date: January 25th

Time: 9-10 am

Location: Omaha Home for Boys Cooper Farm, 8602 Mormon Bridge Rd, Omaha

4-Hers wanting to participate in the Market Beef Rate of Gain contest at the 2025 Sarpy County Fair will need to have their cattle weighed at the weigh day. Breeding Heifers do not need to be weighed. EID tags (State Fair & AKSARBEN) and County-Only tags will be available.

Click here: State Fair Livestock Identification & Nomination

Join the fun! This year, youth will grow sunflowers as part of our 5th Annual Special Agronomy Project. Participants will receive seeds and resources to grow their crop, learn about sunflower traits, and see how they thrive in their area.

Why Join?

• Grow something cool and unique!
• Show off your project at the County or State Fair in the agronomy category.

How to Get Started:

1. Sign up for the 2025 Special Agronomy Project through 4-H Online by selecting the Agronomy project.
2. Order your seed packets from your local Nebraska Extension Office.
3. Find all project details in the Nebraska State Fairbook by clicking here.

Let’s grow, learn, and celebrate together!

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. It allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in this project area. The focus of the 2025 project is 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. For more information on participating in this project, click below.

This department allows 4-H members to showcase the knowledge and skills they've developed in areas such as computers, drones, electricity, energy, geospatial science, robotics, rockets, welding, and woodworking. By participating, members can demonstrate how these topics connect to STEM. For general rules and information, click here.

Up to 15 scholarships are available for students to attend the 2025 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference!

Who Can Apply?

• Students attending a 4-year college, 2-year college, or vocational/technical school.
• 4-H or FFA members.

How to Apply:

• Write a short essay (3,000 characters max) answering: "Why do you want to attend the Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference?"

Submit your application online by midnight, February 1, 2025. Scholarship winners will be notified by February 7, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity—apply today! For more information, click here.

The Nebraska Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) is pleased to offer the Cynthia Thomsen Scholarship. Nebraska WIFE is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving profitability in production agriculture. The one-year $2000 scholarship is available to any woman who lives in Nebraska who will begin her FIRST year in a University/Technical/Trade/Community College in a field related to agriculture. The scholarship may be used at the school of the recipient's choice in Nebraska. Applications must be postmarked by March 25, 2025.

Please refer any questions to Donna: donnab6519@windstream.net or Pam: 308-737-7840

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!

Apply for a scholarship today, by clicking here. Registration is now OPEN! More information on sessions, dates, and the link to register can be found at 4h.unl.edu/camp.

Grant Meister, member of the Springfield Blue Jeans and Boots 4-H Club, was selected as one of two winners of the NCEA 4-H Section Diversity Committee's 2024 I Belong Award! Grant impressed the judges when he said, "I feel Belonging to 4-H means I have a great big extended family of friends and farm friendly folks on my side and always cheering for me to grow and succeed!"

Congratulations Grant!

We'd love to spotlight more local 4-H clubs/4-Hers! Please e-mail Andrea: aboschult2@unl.edu with information about your club and activities to be shared in future weekly updates!

4-H Enrollment is now open for 2024-2025, click here! (Instrucciones disponibles en español)

4-H Community service ideas and resources click here!

4-H Club Leader information and resources click here!

Submit your community service project here!

4-H Volunteer Connection resources click here!

Steps to start a 4-H Club click here!

Share your 4-H pictures or ideas with us by e-mailing: aboschult2@unl.edu

2024-2025 New and Returning Volunteer Enrollment is open, please click on form below for instructions:

Location: 8015 West Center Road, Omaha, NE, USA

Phone: 402-444-7804

Email: douglas-sarpy4h@unl.edu
Website: www.douglas-sarpy.unl.edu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/douglassarpy4h

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made to Douglas-Sarpy County Extension at 402-444-7804 or douglas-sarpy@unl.edu

Nebraska Extension education programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United State Department of Agriculture.