HARLAN COUNTY EXTENSION

Calendar of Events

2024/2025 4-H Enrollment

• Nebraska 4-H
  
• Harlan 4-H Brochure
• Youth Returning & New (Informational Website), (4-Honline)
  
• Volunteers
• 4-H Leader Resources

Harlan County News & Events

• Brown Bag Activity Kits
• How to videos
• 4-H Beef Weigh-in

• 4-H Kick-off Event
• 4-H Public Speaking Contest

• 4-H T-Shirt Design Contest
• Who Gets Grandma's Pie Plate
• 2025 Harlan County Fair Dates
  

• Flickr (To share the success stories of our youth through pictures)

Statewide Opportunities

• 2025 Nebraska State Fair
• NSF Fairbook
  
• Livestock Exhibitor Resources
  
• Show Stock Manager
  

• Spring into 4-H judging!

• Innovative Youth Corn Challenge

• Remote Pilot Exam Prep Course (Drones)

• Nebraska State 4-H Camp
• Data Driven
• The Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI)
• Tractor Safety Training
• Gro Big Red
  

March

• March 10: Public Speaking Contest registration deadline
• March 13: Brown Bag Order Deadline
  
• March 15: 4-H T-shirt Contest Deadline
  
• March 15: 4-H Volunteer Enrollment Deadline
• March 16: 4-H Kick Off Event from 2pm - 4pm @ Uptown Bowling in Alma
• March 17: 4-H Public Speaking Contest at 6:00pm @ the Ag Center, Orleans
• March 18: Who Gets Grandma's Pie Plate at 12pm and 5:30pm @ Alma UMC
• March 21: Brown Bag Kit Pick up
  
• March 22: 4-H Beef weigh-in at 1pm - 3pm @ the Alma Livestock Auction, LLC

We are excited to have you join Harlan County 4-H!
ENROLL TODAY!!

Enroll Today!! There's NO Cost to enroll.

Go to https://4h.unl.edu/enroll to learn about enrollment for the 2024/2025 4-H year!
Enroll or Re-enroll for the upcoming 2024/2025 4-H year at https://v2.4honline.com

Enrollment closes JUNE 15, 2025.

Volunteer Enrollment is due by MARCH 15 or BEFORE your work with youth.
Nebraska 4-H has TWO different types of volunteers: direct and indirect.

DIRECT VOLUNTEER: are those working directly with youth - club leaders and 4-H Council Members. Direct volunteers will be asked to complete the following screening process and repeat screening as scheduled. Must enroll in 4-H Online. The fee is $16 in 2025.
** Please contact the office if you have a conceal carry permit or any other current/active screening process.
** You do NOT need to complete the orientation again if you completed in 2024.

INDIRECT VOLUNTEER: supporting 4-H program without directly interacting with youth, such as event helpers, program support roles, and county fair superintendents. Indirect volunteer will be asked to complete the activity worker application. Volunteers will complete a form sent by the Extension Office.

Please contact Micky at mblender2@unl.edu with questions about your screening level.

All direct volunteers can get reimbursed for their volunteer screening.

Please submit your receipt to harlan-county@unl.edu, and we will mail your check for reimbursement. No reimbursement will be made without a receipt.

Nebraska 4-H offers a variety of resources for 4-H Clubs and leaders. A 4-H Club is an organized group of five or more youth who meet regularly with adult volunteers or 4-H staff for a long-term, progressive series of educational experiences. The purpose of a 4-H club is to provide positive youth development and foster educational opportunities to meet the needs of young people.

For 4-H Club Leader Resources follow this link https://4h.unl.edu/resources/club-leaders

Who Gets Grandma’s Pie Plate

Whether planning ahead or making decisions when someone dies, these resources will help you and your family!

*** Registration is required to secure your spot.
Register for class by using this link: https://forms.gle/X8ibptuVmZNpqxQn9

Class Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Class Times: Noon or 5:30 pm
Event Address: Alma United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 304 7th St, in Alma, NE
-- FREE Program courtesy UNL, Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes
a lite sack lunch meal will be provided courtesy the Harlan County Health System

For more information or questions, please contact the Harlan County Extension Office at 308-928-2119 or harlan-county@unl.edu

🎨✨ March Brown Bag Activity Kits are here! ✨🎨

This month, we’re featuring TWO exciting activities:
1️⃣ 4-H Clover Art
2️⃣ Lady Bug Kit

FREE kits available! To order yours, simply:
🔗 Scan the QR code
🌐 Click here: https://go.unl.edu/harlan-furnas-brownbag
📞 Or call our office at 308-928-2119

⏰ Order by March 13th to get your FREE kits!

Get ready for a fun-filled March!

Looking for visual help with a Brown Bag project? The Harlan/Furnas team have put together video tutorials with step-by-step instructions for you. Check them out at https://go.unl.edu/bb-video

Harlan County 4-H

Harlan County Fair Schedule

Harlan County Livestock Exhibitor Resources

Static Exhibitor Resources

Harlan County 4-H Fairbook - coming soon

All Things Nebraska 4-H State Fair
https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/state-fair/

2025 Nebraska 4-H State Fairbook

https://4h.unl.edu/4-h-fairbook-nebraska-state-fair/

4-H Livestock Exhibitor Resources

https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/state-fair/livestock-exhibitor/

Show Stock Manager is live for livestock nominations for the 2025 Nebraska State Fair!

Website Link: https://showstockmgr.com/

** All livestock in contention to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will be required to complete an online nomination with payment through Show Stock Manager and submit a DNA collector envelope with a hair sample. This includes all 4-H and FFA breeding livestock, market livestock, and feeder calves.
Each State Fair nomination will be $7.00 per animal in Show Stock Manager.
4-H and FFA livestock nominations are due on or before June 15, 2025.

If you have any questions on how to submit your online nominations, you can review the 2025 Step-by-Step Nomination Instructions document.

Special Note: For 4-H/FFA families who are planning on nominating the same animals for the NSF and Aksarben Stock Show, obtain your DNA envelopes from the local Extension Office or FFA Advisor. Turn in your completed DNA envelopes to the local Extension Office or FFA Advisor. Submit the DNA payment and complete the online nomination in Show Stock Manager. 4-H/FFA families will only be required to submit DNA and pay once for an animal. After these steps, complete the online nomination process for the Aksarben Stock Show. The Aksarben Stock Nomination online nomination system will be different than Show Stock Manager. Guidance on how to nominate State Fair animals in the Aksarben Stock Show online nomination database will be provided at a later date.

This webinar series, sponsored by Nebraska Extension and delivered via Zoom, is a great opportunity to join experts from Nebraska Extension to learn and ask questions! All programs are on the second Wednesday of the month from Noon-1 pm CT.

If you cannot participate in the live programs, they will be recorded and made available on this webpage for later viewing, too.

To sign up for a webinar topic visit: https://hles.unl.edu/lawn-garden/gro-big-red/

The 2025 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.

Federal law restricts youth under 16 from using certain farm equipment unless their parents or
guardians own the farm. However, 14- and 15-year-olds can earn an exemption 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.

To Learn more and to register for a date, check out the link: https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/cscash/outreach/farm-safety-days.html

Youth under 14 years of age can attend Day 1 if accompanied by an adult but cannot drive equipment, attend Day 2, or become certified. Students under 14 must register but won’t be charged a fee.

This prestigious contest is 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.

• 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.

Registration deadline is April 1st.

Registration link: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/corn-challenge/

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.

The 54th annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) will be held July 7-11, 2025, on UNL’s East Campus.

Applications are now available to students who are currently high school juniors and seniors on our website at: www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi

As always, applications will be due on April 15th.

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
• Audience: New and experienced judges for Visual Arts and Foods projects.
• Topics: Class changes to 4-H Visual Arts department; Refresh on foods department judging including the new trends of sourdough and updates.

Participation is optional, and while live attendance is encouraged, the sessions will be recorded and available at: https://4h.unl.edu/resources/judges/.

Visit https://go.unl.edu/judgestraining2025 to register!

Nebraska Extension will be offering one-day (eight hour) courses across the state to prepare individuals to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeronautical Knowledge Exam required to receive a Part 107 remote pilot certification or license to fly drones for commercial applications.
Registration is available online (Link) for each location.

Pre-registration is required with a $275 registration fee.

On-line registration closes the Monday prior to the event.

Study materials, and light breakfast and lunch will be provided. An educational discount is available to students and educators through an application process available on the registration link.

This is a course for anyone who wants to fly drones, not just agriculture. The course works for EMS, Law Enforcement, Real Estate, Land Management, photography, etc.

Please contact Dr. Dirk Charlson for more information on this course at
Email: dirk.charlson@unl.edu or Cell: 402-460-0742 (Text or Call)

📢 Registration Now Open for "Data Driven: A Statistics & Data Science Field Day"!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 22, 2025, and join us on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus for an exciting day of data science and statistics competitions! This event is open to teams of 4 high school students and 1 coach.

Compete in 5 unique games focused on probability, data science, and a bit of luck for a chance to win amazing prizes, including $500 CASNR scholarships for the top-scoring team members. Registration is free for the first 20 teams, courtesy of CASNR sponsorship!

📍 Where: Dinsdale Family Learning Commons, UNL East Campus

🕙 When: 10 AM - 4 PM, March 22, 2025

Don’t miss out—register today! For more details, visit 4h.unl.edu/data-driven or contact Kimberly Stanke at kstanke2@unl.edu.

Email: Harlan-County@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/harlan/
Location: Alma, NE, USA
Phone: 308-928-2119
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harlancountyext

Flickr: flickr.com/photos/harlan-county-ne/

In Harlan County, we have AMAZING youth! To share the success stories of our youth through pictures, visit our Flickr account at flickr.com/photos/harlan-county-ne/

Nebraska 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.