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Sioux County Newsletter
September 2023
Calendar of Events
September 4 - OFFICE CLOSED - Labor Day
September 7 - 4-H Council Meeting - Extension Office - 6 pm
September 14 - Extension Board Meeting - Extension Office - 6 pm
September 22 - Achievement Applications & Diamond Clovers due to the office
October 1-7 - National 4-H Week
October 9 - OFFICE CLOSED - Columbus Day
October 22 - Fun Feed
Sioux County Office Hours
We want to congratulate Jenny Nixon on her retirement from Nebraska Extension. Going forward Ashley Aherns (Food & Nutrition Educator), Jack Arterburn (Beef Systems Educator), and Melissa Mracek (4-H Youth Development Educator) will each be spending time in the Sioux County Office each week.
Ashley will be in the office on Tuesdays, Jack on Wednesday, and Melissa on Thursdays. The office will be open from 1 to 4 pm Tuesday through Thursday.
State Fair Results
Congratulations to all the 4-H'ers who sent items or competed at the Nebraska State Fair. A complete list of results can be found at: https://nebraska4hresults.com/
Exhibits will be back at the Extension Office September 7.
Special awards:
- Boone Button - Computers: 3D Unique Printed Item
Static Exhibit awards:
- Jaime Turbiville - Photography Unit 3: Advanced Composition - Blue
- Jaime Turbiville - Photography Unit 3: Still Life Print - Blue
- Becca Reece - Design Decisions: Accessory Textile 3D - Blue
- Becca Reece - Quilt Quest - Premier Long Arm Quilt - Red
- Chisum Pelster - Beyond the Needle: Fashion Accessory - Blue
- Abby Anderson - Beyond the Needle: Wearable Technology - Blue
- Baxter Reece - Shopping in Style: Best Buy for Your Buck - Blue
- Becca Reece - Shopping in Style: Best Buy for Your Buck - Red
- Abby Anderson - Shopping in Style: Best Buy for Your Buck - Red
- Baxter Reece - Shopping in Style: Mix, Match, & Multiple - Red
- Abby Anderson - Entomology: Insect Poster - Blue
- Becca Reece - Range Management: Value and Importance of Forage - Purple
- Baxter Reece - Cooking 201: Creative Mixes - Blue
- Chisum Pelster - Cooking 201: Loaf Quick Bread - Purple
- Baxter Reece - Cooking 201: Non-Traditional Baked Product - Purple
- Abby Anderson - Floriculture: Foliage Potted Plant - Red
- Boone Button - Computers: 3D Printed Item - Purple
- Tilton Button - Computers: 3D Printed Item - Red
- Torri Neal - Sketchbook Crossroads: Pencil Drawing - Red
In-Person Event awards:
- Abby Anderson - Fashion Show: Beyond the Needle Embellished Garment - Blue
Achievement Applications
It is Achievement Application time! Keeping records/writing achievement applications is a great way to hold onto your memories about each incredible year you have in 4-H. In a couple of years, you can look through these journals and remember what fun you had. Keeping records is also a great way to develop your skills in communication, organize your time, document events and actions, evaluate your own efforts, set goals, etc.
- Please complete the award application and submit with the Achievement Application
- Each application will be judged individually for award pins (could possibly receive up to 3 pins).
- There will be awards for "Outstanding 4-H Achievement Application" and "Outstanding 4-H Member"
- All ages are only allowed to apply for 3 program areas. Youth may apply for awards previously won.
- Clover Kids application will stay the same.
Senior Achievement Application (ages 15-18 as of 1/1/2023)
Junior Achievement Application (ages 8-14 as of 1/1/2023)
If you want to learn more about the new application, go to https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application.
Deadline to submit Achievement Applications is September 22 by 4:00.
Diamond Clover Awards
Deadline to submit Diamond Clover is September 22. Forms are available on the Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover website.
The Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover program encourages 4-H youth to engage in a variety of programs, projects, and activities that will enable youth to acquire skills and abilities that will prepare them for success in the future. The program is designed to reach and recognize all youth engaged in 4-H, from club members and campers to school enrichment, afterschool, and special interest program participants. The program consists of six levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments.
Rules
- Youth may only receive recognition at each level once.
- Youth may only receive one level of recognition per year.
- Youth should begin at Level 1 and progress through Level 6. However, youth who are older when beginning may opt to start at a higher level (2-4) as is mutually agreeable to the participant and the parent/guardian or leader. In order for older youth to begin at level 5 or 6, the Extension staff must also be in agreement.
- Approval: Levels 1–4 require the approval of a 4-H youth’s parent/guardian. If the 4-H youth belongs to a 4-H club, club leader approval is also required (if 4-H youth belongs to more than one club, choose one leader to work with). Levels 5 and 6 require the approval of a local county extension staff member.
- Accomplishments: Each level requires participants to complete a specified number of accomplishments. The 4-H participant may choose accomplishment listed for each level. The accomplishments are age appropriate and increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. Parents/guardians, leaders, and Extension staff may suggest other accomplishments — comparable to those provided — to improve the individual learning experience of each 4-H youth.
National 4-H Week: October 1-7th
The first week in October is always set aside for National 4-H Week. From October 1-7, plan to celebrate National 4-H Week!
Ideas could include wearing 4-H attire to school, decorating a store window, putting up flyers to promote 4-H, taking baked goods to a neighbor or sponsor, visiting the nursing home or sharing time with someone, sending a thank you, create a social media "shoutout" to a 4-H member, display posters in store fronts, stepping up to help a person in need and more. There are many things you can do to show your leadership skills and promote the value of 4-H.
4-H Enrollment
The current 4-H fiscal year will end on September 30, 2023 and the new 4-H Enrollment for the 2023-2024 4-H year will open later in October.
Please make sure to keep this on your radar and get enrolled in 4-H for the new year starting in October! Deadline for 4-H Enrollment will be June 15, 2024.
Apply to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln for FREE!
There is no place like Nebraska and no better time to become a Husker!
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is waiving the $45 undergraduate admission application fee for Nebraskans through November 1. You can apply for FREE at go.unl.edu/apply—enter the code “HUSKER” when prompted for a fee waiver code.
We’re here to help! Contact us at admissions@unl.edu or 402-472-2023.
(For full information see the attached doc below.)
Nebraska Extension Sioux County Office
Email: mmracek2@unl.edu
Website: go.unl.edu/siouxcofair
Location: PO Box 277 Harrison, NE 69346
Phone: (308) 668-2428
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLSiouxCounty