4-H Friday News Blast for 8.2.2019

Flat Herbie will be at the fair this Saturday, August 3rd at 9:00 am for clean-up and set-up! We'll have root beer floats when we're finished cleaning and setting up everything!

Bring gloves, a bucket, rags, maybe a broom or rake, and most of all your smile! This is not just for livestock members. We need help from members with static exhibits too, to clean and set up the 4-H Exhibit Hall.

Flat Herbie can't wait to see you, and APPRECIATES your good help.

Did you read the part about Root Beer Floats? YUM - free root beer floats will be served from the porch of the 4-H Office when we're done cleaning and setting up for the fair on Saturday, August 3rd.

A digital copy of the fairbook is located on our website: cass.unl.edu

The direct link to the fairbook is: https://go.unl.edu/3nka

Exhibitor numbers for 4-Hers showing livestock will be available at the 4-H Office on the fairgrounds. Club leaders can pick them up for their whole club, or individuals can pick up their own.

Non-livestock 4-H members do not need an exhibitor number.

Reminder: Proper identification is the responsibility of exhibitor in the Horticulture Department. The valid cultivar or variety name must be included on all entry cards. See the fairbook on page 80 for detailed information regarding cultivars

Anyone and Everyone who came to a 4-H Summer Workshop ... please bring your item(s) to the fair! Yes, you can enter them ... all of them! Stepping Stones, Ojo de Dios God's Eye hangings, Weaving, 3-D Printed items, embryology pictures and stories, all the clover kid items, quilts, cookies, etc, etc, etc. If you don't have the item (i.e. the cookie workshop) write a story about it, make a poster, or re-create the item.

It'll be great seeing the workshop items at the fair! Ribbons and prize money will be awarded!

We will be accepting nominations for Cass County Volunteer awards at the fair this year. In the past this was done after the fair, but what better time to make nominations than during the fair when so many of us witness the great things volunteers do! Nominations will be collected in the 4-H office during the week of the fair.

These awards will be presented at the Achievement Party, Sunday, November 3rd, 2019.

Below is a list of the awards. Who will you be nominating? ...

• The Olga J. Livers Outstanding 4-H Leader Award
• Meritorious Service Award
• Tribute of Leader Excellence Award
• Heart of 4-H Award
• Outstanding 4-H Alumni Award

You can read about each award at: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/cass/volunteer-recognition-nominations/

The contest will take place on Saturday, August 31st in the Raising Nebraska Building with two competition time slots at 10 am and 1 pm. 4-H’ers can register in ShoWorks (https://4h.unl.edu/state-fair/contest-participant) – no additional forms are needed. The Culinary Challenge is located under the “4-H Personal Development and Leadership” department in ShoWorks. The 4-H Culinary Challenge Contest will require youth to demonstrate healthy decision making through nutrition, food preparation, menu planning, and food safety. A team will consist of two members to be eligible to compete. 4-H members need to be at least 10 years of age by January 1st.

A challenge ingredient is selected each year highlighting a Nebraska commodity food product. The 2019 challenge ingredient is dairy!

More information can be found at:

· https://4h.unl.edu/state-fair/contest-participant

· http://food.unl.edu/food-projects

This year, each participant will receive a goodie bag from the Midwest Dairy Association. Lots to learn at the Culinary Challenge!

This year's 4-H Foundation Trail Ride will be held on October 5-6, 2019. Join us for an enjoyable, guided ride through the scenic Nebraska National Forest near Halsey. Enjoy delicious meals, family activities, and great entertainment. All proceeds support the Nebraska 4-H camp programs. Go to: https://4h.unl.edu/camps-centers/state-camp for all the fun details.

To educate Cass County youth about Bess Streeter Aldrich and to draw attention to the fact that she resided in Cass County, the Aldrich Foundation will present a special award to the 4-Her who creates the best Heritage Project for the Cass County Fair. Fair judges will decide who will receive the recognition: a certificate, a copy of Mrs. Aldrich's book A Lantern in Her Hand, and $25 in prize money.

Entry day for all 4-H exhibits (expect livestock and animals) is Sunday, August 4th from 4:00 to 6:00. During this time, 4-Hers can sign up for the Cake Auction. Heather Bornemeier, Cake Auction Superintendent, will be in the 4-H Exhibit Hall on Sunday afternoon with a sign-up sheet. Any 4-Her, age 8-18, can be in the Cake Auction. Requirements for the Cake Auction:

1) 4-Hers must be enrolled in 4-H for the 2019 year.

2) 4-Hers must have one entry exhibited at the County Fair this year (any project area).

When do you bring your actual cake, cookies, rolls, or sweet treats for the Cake Auction? On Tuesday evening between 5:30 and 6:00. The 4-Her is responsible for the item; but all efforts will be made to keep the item in biddable condition.

Page 9 of the fairbook has all the cake auction guidelines.

1/2 of the selling price goes to the exhibitor, 1/2 of the selling price goes to the 4-H Council.

The 4-H Fair office will open each day of the fair at 8:00 am, and there will always be someone in the office. The office phone # is 402-267-4415; there is not an answering machine.

You can also contact staff members via email; all staff will be responsive to their fair emails:

Educator: Lauren Stohlamnn at lauren.stohlmann@unl.edu

Assistant: Tracy Ensor at tracy.ensor@unl.edu

Summer Intern: Harlee Brauckmuller at harlee.brauckmuller@huskers.unl.edu

Office manager: Sondra Buell at sondra.buell@unl.edu

County Box at cass-county@unl.edu

Did you know ... Door prizes are given in each static area at the County Fair. The superintendents purchase these fun gifts! 4-Hers can “put their name in the bucket” for each project area where they enter exhibits.

These door prizes go to kids who don’t win Champion, Reserve, or earn a trip to State Fair. During the fair the winners of these door prizes will receive an email and can pick up their prizes at the 4-H Office at the fair.

4-H exhibitors participating in 4-H events must adhere to the 4-H dress code. Beef, Swine, Sheep, Meat Goats, Dog, Poultry, and Rabbit participants should wear dark colored or blue jeans with a 4-H T-shirt or a white shirt or blouse with sleeves with the official 4-H chevron. No headgear is permitted.

Armbands, chevrons, and 4-H T-shirts can be purchased at the Extension Office before the fair and at the 4-H Office on the fairgrounds during the fair. The office is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Both white and green 4-H t-shirts are available for sale:

· White shirts with a green clover are $6.00, XXL shirts are $6.50.

· Green shirts with a white clover will be $7.00, XXL shirts are $7.50.

Hard soled shoes or boots should be worn. Shorts, halter tops and midriffs are not appropriate. Dairy Cattle and Dairy Goat exhibitors should adhere to the above code, except that white jeans or trousers are recommended. Horse participants should wear the dress and equipment described under "General Show Rules" in the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide handbook.

Also available for purchase is a Cass County 4-H t-shirt that features the outline of the county shape, the 4 points of the 4-H Clover (Head, Heart, Hands, Health), and a bright red NEBRASKA. This winning design came from the Stove Creek Rustlers 4-H Club last year. (Note: 4-Hers cannot show in these shirts).

4-H and FFA exhibitors will select which animal entries they have chosen to show at State Fair on the State Fair entry website: www.statefair.org. All nominated and validated animals will be automatically listed as a choice option for pre-entry registration. 4-H and FFA youth participants will declare which youth organization they will show their animal projects by August 10 in ShoWorks. If an animal is entered online by August 10 or shown in FFA at the State Fair, it is eligible for AKSARBEN. Exhibitors will be required to bring the breed registration association paperwork to check-in at State Fair for animals wanting to show in a breed class. The exhibitor's name should be identified on he registration paper.

All State Fair livestock entries must be submitted no later than 8:00 pm Central Time on August 10, 2019.

The responsibility for making proper AKSARBEN entry rests entirely upon the exhibitor. DNA has already been collected. All entries must be submitted online through the online process via aksarbenstockshow.com. Online registration opens August 1st, ending on August 31st at midnight Central Time.

Earlier this summer we mentioned a new format for ordering State Fair Tickets. We got the updated information this week:

Tickets for Livestock Exhibitors: All livestock exhibitors and in-person event exhibitors (contests, fashion show, presentations) will still be able to order discounted tickets when they enter in ShoWorks for State Fair. This process has not changed for those exhibitors coming to the fair.

Discounted Tickets for the General Public: The Nebraska State Fair has several great NEW discount ticket options available to the general public. Here is a link for 4-H families and stakeholders who are planning to go to the fair: https://www.statefair.org/buy-tickets (Additional details are also on this web link.)

Tickets for Static Exhibitors who have Projects Selected for the State Fair: A link will be provided to the exhibitors who win a trip to the state fair with a static exhibit. You will receive this information at the county fair.

All advance ticket options are available now until midnight on August 22nd at 11:59 PM CST.

Now - August 21 ... Volunteer to help at the State Fair

August 3 ... Clean up day at the fairgrounds

August 4 ... Static Exhibits entry at fairgrounds from 4:00 to 6:00

August 5 ... Air Rifle and BB Gun Contest at the fairgrounds in the Open Air building

August 6 ... 4-H Cake Auction

August 6 ... Awards Presentation

August 6 ... Silent bids begin on the 4-H Quilt Auction

Aug 6-10 .... Cass County Fair 2019 Calendar

1. Hort Update for July 2019
2. August 19 ... Flame Farming all-day Workshop
3. Recorded Webinar and info on "Hunting Leases" with vital information for landowners
4. Nebraska Extension Publications ... online Library
   
5. Sheep & Goat Production Meeting ... July 12/13 Chadron/North Platte

Lauren Stohlmann, Extension Educator and Unit Leader, lauren.stohlmann@unl.edu

Katie Kreuser, Extension Educator, katie.kreuser@unl.edu

Tracy Ensor, Extension Assistant, tracy.ensor@unl.edu

Sondra Buell, Office Manager, sondra.buell@unl.edu

Harlee Brauckmuller, 4-H Summer Intern, harlee.brauckmuller@huskers.unl.edu

General Mailbox, cass-county@unl.edu

Email: cass-county@unl.edu
Website: www.cass.unl.edu
Location: 8400 144th Street, Weeping Water, NE, 68463
Phone: 402-267-2205
Facebook: facebook.com/UniversityofNebraskaLincolnExtensionCassCounty
Twitter: @UNLCassCounty