Thurston County 4-H News

Jennifer E. Hansen, Extension Educator, jhansen6@unl.edu

Sydney Williams, Extension Assistant, sydney.williams@unl.edu

Allison Claussen, Summer Assistant, aclaussen3@unl.edu

Bobbie Hingst, Office Manager, bhingst2@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

July 4 - Office Closed – 4th of July

July 13-17 - State 4-H Horse Expo @ Fonner Park, Grand Island

July 17 - ALL Dakota-Thurston County Pre-Fair Entries (including YQCA) DUE

July 27 - Pre-Fair Clean Up @ Dakota-Thurston Fairgrounds

July 28 -Cat, Dog, & Companion Animal Show - Pender Fire Hall; 1:30 PM

July 29 - 4-H Clothing Day Judging - 1:00 PM

July 31 - Aug 4 Dakota- Thurston County Fair

Aug 10 State Fair Animal and In Person Entries DUE

Aug 12 Thurston 4-H Council Meeting

Aug 19 Thurston Extension Board Meeting

Aug 21 State Fair Exhibits; Grand Island, NE

Aug 23-Sept 2 NEBRASKA STATE FAIR

Aug 23-25 4-H Weekend @ State Fair

Aug 30- Sept 2 FFA Weekend @ State Fair

Sept 2 Office Closed – Labor Day

Sept 9 Joint 4-H Council Meeting

Sept 11 Farm Safety Day, Pender, NE

Sept 26-29 Aksarben Stock Show

Oct 6-13 National 4-H Week

Oct 14 Office Closed – Columbus Day

Oct 14 Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting

Nov 11 Joint 4-H Council Meeting

Nov 11 Office Closed – Veteran’s Day

Nov 18 Thurston Extension Board Meeting

Nov 21-22 Office Closed – Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec 9 Thurston County 4-H Council

Dec 24 Office Closed – Christmas Eve

Dec 25 Office Closed – Christmas Day

WE HAVE PRINTED FAIRBOOKS! STOP AND PICK ONE UP!!

Here is a link to our digital version as well! Online Fairbook

For all you new members and for our previous ones, to keep up with all the latest updates and information as soon as possible! Follow us on Facebook @UNLExtensionThurston!

We are officially done with 4-H Summer Workshops in Thurston County! Thank you all to those who joined us and made it an incredible summer! 😊

Check out our Facebook page and you might see a few familiar faces!

Each Thurston 4-H family has received OR will receive a packet with information and entry forms for the 2024 Dakota-Thurston County Fair. These forms will be DUE back to the office by Wednesday, July 17 at 4:30pm. Livestock exhibitors are required to fill out the Stall/Pen Request Form.

There WILL NOT be an online option for Thurston members to use to sign up for county fair. Everyone will have to turn in paper entries!

Want to print out a paper copy: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dakota/fair-entry-info/. The office has extra copies as well! Contact us for questions at 402-385-6041.

The Dakota-Thurston 4-H County Fair has the following policy:

19) Late Policy - 4-H members are to pre-enter their projects for deadline will be accessed a $10 fee per individual. Entries will be accepted up to one week past the deadline, as long as the late fee has been paid.

These do not apply to any State Fair submissions! State Fair deadlines are hard and firm!

PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY AS THINGS HAVE CHANGED THIS YEAR!

Poultry Exhibitors - When you enter your animals Wednesday, July 31st, from 6:00 –8:00PM we are asking that you check your animals in with either the superintendents or Extension Staff. We want to try and ensure that our show programs are accurate. Your assistance on this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Rabbit Exhibitors - The Rabbit Show is on Tuesday, July 30th. Check-in is from 8:00 - 9:30 AM - Showmanship starts at 10:00, and the show starts at 10:30 AM.

Bedding - The fair board will be supplying bedding for livestock projects. If you have special needs for your projects, it is your responsibility to bring the supplies or contact the Fair Board.

Stalling Horses - The Dakota~Thurston County Fairboard voted in 2010, That if a horse is showed, it must be stalled. No veterinarian excuses will be accepted. This applies to all horses exhibiting at the 4-H Horse Show, no expectations. All horses must be stalled and checked in at the fairgrounds with the Superintendents or Extension Staff on Wednesday, July 31st from 6:00-8:00PM.

Livestock Check-in - Wednesday, July 31st from 6:00 - 8:00 pm is check-in day at the fair. Please check-in your animals at the respective livestock scale. This will help us with making sure we have the right exhibitors and livestock that are on the fairgrounds and help with correct stall assignments and correct show programs. Reminder: Swine ear tags need to be purchased for $3.00 each at the time of check-in.

No early release of animals - Please refer to the fair book for the following rule: All live animals, 4-H/FFA, Open Class (except cats, dogs, household pets/birds) will remain on the grounds for the duration of the fair. No early releases. Also see the following statement from the Fair Board: Penalty– Premiums will be pulled for exhibits leaving the fairgrounds prior to the aforementioned release time.

Cat, Dog, & Ferret Exhibits - Vaccinations are required for cats, dog (and ferrets) shown at the Dakota - Thurston County Fair. Please submit proof of vaccinations with your animal entries that are due on July 17th. Forms are available here: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dakota/cat-dog-companion-animal/

Bucket Calves - Record books for the Bucket Calf project are due to the Fair Livestock Office by Noon on Thursday, August 1st. Interviews will be from 1-3 PM on Thursday August 1st. There will also be a sign up sheet for interview times at Beef Check-in on Wednesday evening! Click here for more info: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dakota/livestock/

YQCA is due with no exceptions on Wednesday, July 17th for Thurston & Dakota County 4-Hers! If you have not turned in your certificate to either of the offices, please do so by the 17th! Thank you!!!

Questions - contact the office 402-385-6041

4-H is all about learning! But at the fair we want you to tell us all the things you learned while making and working on your projects! For a quick reference list on the supporting information click here: Paperwork for 4-H Exhibits.docx

Have someone who might like to donate and support our 4-Hers? Have them contact the Thurston County Extension Office.

Trophies that are presented at the 2024 Dakota-Thurston County Fair are great incentives for 4-Hers to excel. Trophies presented cost $25.00 a trophy. Your donations are greatly appreciated!

• Volunteers are still needed for the fair! Some of the livestock shows may need additional help with wrangling youth, show order, ring set up or miscellaneous duties.
• We need volunteers or parents to help with the 4-H Sponsored Movie on Sunday, August 4th. It's at 1:00 PM with free admission!
• Help is also needed in the exhibit hall all day on July 31st for check in! Please contact the office if you are willing to volunteer!

The wristbands will be given to each 4H youth that are exhibiting during fair week. These will be handed out to Dakota & Thurston Extension kids starting Wednesday July 31st during Static entry check in and the additional wristbands can be handed out to kids as they pick up backtags in the livestock office. The wristbands allows them to get into the following events for free:

• Thursday - Tractor Pull
• Friday - Figure 8 Racing, Kids Day Activities, and Laser Tag
• Saturday - Kids Day Activities, Extreme Bull Riding

We still have seeds available for the following 4-H projects:

• Special Agronomy Project- Sugar Beets- https://cropwatch.unl.edu/special-agronomy-project
• Special Garden Project- Princess of India Nasturtium- https://4h.unl.edu/special-gardening-project

Please stop by the extension office or contact us if you would like seeds or need more information! 402-385-6041 or sydney.williams@unl.edu.

DON'T FORGET!! If you are planning on exhibiting Livestock or participating in an In Person Contest your deadline is August 10, 8:00PM CST.

For more information visit: https://4h.unl.edu/state-fair/live-animal-exhibitor

Livestock includes: All large animals, rabbits, poultry and basically any livestock.

In Person Contests include: Fashion Show, Presentations, ID Contests, and basically anything else that you have to come in person to participate.

All 4-H rabbits exhibiting at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair must have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) within 15 days of exhibition. The CVI must list the Nebraska State Fair as consignee and will need to have the official identification (ear tattoo) listed on all rabbits being exhibited during the State Fair. The health papers will be checked by a representative of the State Veterinarian’s Office.

Per State Fair General Rules

Copyrighted writing, artwork, videos, and images may be used in 4-H educational exhibits under Fair Use for educational purposes of Copyright Law. In order to qualify for Fair Use, 4-H’ers must:

1) only use a small amount of the copy-written work,

2) add new meaning to the work to make it original,

3) rework it and use it in a totally different way, and

4) use it for nonprofit purposes (not to make money).

Giving credit to the original creator is also recommended.

More information about these shows can be found at the Thurston County Extension website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/area-livestock-shows-events/

• July 6, 2024 - Goat Showmanship Clinic, Wayne County Fairgrounds, Leland Herman Memorial Arena, (Wayne, NE)
• July 7, 2024 - 4-H Invitational Horse Show, Buffalo County Fairgrounds, (Kearney, Nebraska)
  
• July 10-13, 2024 - Fremont 4-H Expo - Christensen Field, W 16th St & N Ridge Road Drive, Fremont, NE
• July 10, 2024 - 2024 Madison County 4-H Roping Event, Madison County Fairgrounds, (Madison, NE)
  
• July 11, 2024 - 2024 Stocker/Yearling Tour, Bassett Livestock Auction (Bassett, NE)

The Online Insect Identification Contest is currently open and will close on Monday, July 10. Learn more and find study materials are https://4h.unl.edu/online-insect-id-contest

The Youth Crop Scouting Competition allows students to learn about and practice crop scouting through integrated pest management principles and new technologies. The program is open to teams of 4-H and FFA members who have completed 5th grade. This year’s competition will be held on Wednesday, August 7, at the Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center near Mead. Registration is due July 15. Learn more at https://cropwatch.unl.edu/cropscoutingcompetition

Save the date! Our annual Family Field Day will be August 7. We will have several speakers, demonstrations, and research tours. We also have several activities for the kids planned! Stay tuned for more information and a schedule for the day.