Nebraska Extension in Knox County, PO Box 45, 308 Bridge Street, Center NE 68724 Phone: 402-288-5611 - Fax: 402-288-5612 - Email: knox-county@unl.edu Website: http://knox.unl.edu/county4h Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knoxcountynebraskaextension/ May 2016 4 H News Important Dates: May 23 Archery Practice May 26 Regional Speech Contest, 2:00 pm, Norfolk May 30 Office Closed Memorial Day June 3 Bioenergy Youth Activities, Center June 6 Archery Practice June 8 Clover Kid Day Camp, Center June 10 Beyond the Needle Workshop June 13 Archery Practice June 14 Robotics Workshop, Center June 14.22 Rifle & Shotgun Practice June 15 Animal ID Forms DUE June 17 District 4-H Horse Show, Bloomfield June 20 4-H Council Meeting, 7:00 pm, Center June 20 Archery Practice June 24 4-H Project Day, Center June 27 Archery Practice June 28.22 Rifle & Shotgun Practice June 30 4-H Entomology Workshop July 4 Office Closed-Independence Day July 10-14 State 4-H Horse Show July 14 Babysitting Workshop, Center July 15 Entries DUE for Cook-Off Contest, Food Revue & Presentation Contest July 18 Entries DUE for Fashion Show, Clothing & Textiles Exhibits July 18 Entries DUE for Shooting Sports Contests July 18 Entries DUE for Talent Contest July 19 Cook-Off Contest, Food Revue, Presentation Contest July 26 Fashion Show, Clothing & Textiles Judging Dear Knox County 4-H Family & Friends, Welcome new and old 4-H members and families to the Knox County 4-H Program. 4-H is education for life that uses a learn-by-doing approach. We look forward to knowing and working with each of you! The 4-H newsletter contains information about the year s activities, projects and deadlines. For more information on any of the 4-H projects and events, please contact the Extension Office or visit our website at http://knox.unl.edu/county4h Ruth Vonderohe, Extension Educator REMINDERS: Be planning your exhibits for the new Rock Art Challenge! (see the flier in last month s newsletter) Register by May 27 for Clover Kid Camp Register by June 1 for the Bioenergy Youth Day Register by June 1 for the Beyond the Needle Workshop Register by June 7 for the Robotics Workshop Register by June 10 for 4-H Project Day ALL Animal ID forms are DUE by June 15 th Register by June 17 for Entomology Workshop Register by July 7 for the Babysitting Workshop Plan to participate in the Cook-Off, Food Revue & Presentation Contests on July 19 Check out the Horse Clinics & Practices in Niobrara Congratulations to all the 2016 graduates. We wish you much success in your future endeavors. 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 Sates Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture. 2016
4-H Enrollments Due NOW If you haven t completed your 4-H enrollment, please do so right away. All volunteers and members (including Clover Kids) will complete their enrollments online. Online Instructions, project list, the Project Resource Central Guide, and the Clover Kid Guide are available online at http://knox.unl.edu/county4h. DUES: The 4-H Council asks that dues be paid by 4-H members the same time that enrollments are due. The council suggests a donation of $4.00 per member and $1.00 for Clover Kids. Make checks payable to the Knox County 4-H Council and send to the Extension Office. Email Reminders: In addition to the 4-H newsletter, program reminders, updates and deadlines will be sent via email. If you are not already receiving email reminders and would like to, please let the office know your email address. Volunteer Screening - Nebraska Extension asks that ALL volunteers be screened through the Department of Health & Human Services for child abuse and neglect. The database is updated every 4 years on a district rotation. Our district is scheduled to be updated this year, so all volunteers are asked to complete a screening form even if you have done it before. The screening form is included in the club enrollment packets or available at http://knox.unl.edu/county4h. Return the form to the State 4-H Office (address is on the form) or you may return to the Extension Office and we will be happy to forward it on for you. The screening enables the 4-H program to assure you that we are providing a safe, positive and nurturing environment for your child. If you have questions, please contact the office. 4-H Manuals/Resources - A limited supply of 4-H project manuals is available in the Extension Office. Project manuals/resources that are available for each project are listed in the 2016 Project Resource Central. Please contact the office to order 4-H materials or you can order your own manuals at https://marketplace.unl.edu/ne4h/curriculum or www.4- hmall.org/category/educationresources.aspx NEW County Challenge Rock Art Exhibit Use your imagination and creative a Work of Art using any type of rock(s). No project enrollment is required and the exhibit can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Awards will be presented to Best Workmanship; Most Creative; and Most Unique. See the flier at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/knox/4-hnewsletters/. Need ideas, check out Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=rock%2 0art&rs=typed&0=rock typed&1=art typed 4-H Fairbooks Available The 4-H section of the Fairbook has been updated for 2016 and the books are available at the Extension Office. One book has been allowed for each family. The fairbook has the guidelines for 4-H projects and exhibits, so please check it over carefully. The fairbook is also on our website at http://knox.unl.edu/county4h. Show Quality Lionhead Rabbits for Sale: The Kirk & Julia Nielsen family have the following Lionhead rabbits for sale: Year-old Male that was shown at last year s fair and received a purple; 10 week-old male and female Asking $20 each. If interested, call 402-841-1616. They can send pictures to anyone interested. 2016 Special Garden Project Jazzy Mix Zinnia Unique range bicolor blooms are what make the Jazzy Mix Zinnia unique. This cultivar comes in shades of burgundy-red, red, yellow, and orange with cream, red, or yellow tips. The 1-2 blooms are fully-double and semi-double. These zinnias are a great cut flower that can get 20-26 tall. On average it will take about 75-85 days for the plants to bloom. Fair exhibits will include cut flowers, photography, educational exhibit (poster or report). If interested in the project, contact the office. We do have some seeds left.
Check Out These Upcoming 4-H Workshops Bioenergy Youth Activities Friday, June 3 1 st session 8:30-10:30 am C6 Biofarm 2 nd session 10:30 am-12:30 pm Solar Cars No Cost, Pre-register by June 1 st Courthouse Annex Meeting Room, Center Flier available at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/knox/4- h-newsletters/ Clover Kid Camp 4-H Summer Games 2016 Wednesday, June 8, 10:00 am 3:30 pm Center Community Hall Cost -$10.00, Pre-register by May 27 Flier available at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/knox/4- h-newsletters/ Beyond the Needle Workshop Ice Dying and Ombre Techniques Friday, June 10, 10:00 am 3:30 p.m. Courthouse Annex Meeting Room, Center Cost - $20, Pre-register by June 1 st See the enclosed flier for more information 4-H Robotics Workshop Tuesday, June 14, 10:00 am 3:30 pm Courthouse Annex Meeting Room, Center Cost $7.00, Pre-register by June 7 th See the enclosed flier for more information 4-H Project Day Friday, June 24, 9:30 am 3:30 pm Courthouse Annex Meeting Room, Center Pre-register by June 10 th See the enclosed flier for more information 4-H Entomology Camp Thursday, June 30, 9:00 am 4:00 pm Bazile Mills Cost $35.00, Pre-register by June 17 th See the enclosed flier for more information Babysitting Workshop Thursday, July 14, 9:00 am 3:30 pm Courthouse Annex Meeting Room, Center Cost $15.00, Pre-register by July 7th See the enclosed flier for more information 4-H Cook-Off, Food Revue, & Presentation Contests Tuesday, July 19 Center Community Hall Contact the office for information on how to prepare for these contests. Animal Identification Forms Due June 15 th Please See the Enclosed Guidelines for more details. All animal ID s are due in the Extension Office by Wednesday, June 15 th. This includes beef breeding heifer, second-year bucket calf, fall feeder calf, cow/calf pair, feeder calf, bucket calf, horse, dairy, dairy goat, meat goat, swine, breeding & market sheep, and bottle lamb. No ID s are necessary for cat, dog, poultry, rabbit, and companion animals. The Extension Office does not automatically send out identification forms and tags. It is your responsibility to pick them up, complete, and return by the deadline. Tags are available at the Extension Office and cost is $1.00 for calf tags and 75 for sheep, goat & swine tags. ID forms are available to print off our webpage at http://knox.unl.edu/livestockaffidavits or available at the extension office. Please see the enclosed sheet regarding identification, DNA samples and BNC cards that are required for State Fair and AKSARBEN. All DNA samples and BNC cards must be in the County Extension Office by Wednesday, June 15 th. A premier leadership development experience for Nebraska s future leaders! NPower Leadership Conference July 20-21, 2016 University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus Cost - $100.00 (which includes lodging, meals, and conference supplies) Register online from May 1 to May 30 at http://www.nestudentleadership.org/
Livestock Quality Assurance Course The 4-H Quality Assurance (QA) Course teaches youth about the quality of meat and food products that come from livestock. Quality assurance for livestock producers means making a promise to the consumers, or the people who consume the meat, eggs, milk and dairy products, from food production animals. The promise made is that products from livestock will be the highest possible quality and producers will do everything possible to make these products safe to eat. 4-H youth ages 8-18, who are enrolled in a livestock project (beef, dairy cattle, dairy goat, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep, and swine), are required to complete QA Training each year. Options to complete the QA Training are: Face-to-Face QA Training by Extension Educator/Club Leader Material is available to conduct face-to-face QA Training at your club meeting. The material has been adopted from some of the earlier items that have been used to conduct training sessions. If you want to conduct QA Training at your club meeting, contact the office for the material. Test-Out Tests - Intermediate and Senior Level youth are eligible to take a written test to fulfill QA age level requirements. Practice tests are available on the online course, however, the actual test must be taken at the extension office. Passing is 70%. Study materials are listed on the Livestock QA Course webpage at http://4h.unl.edu/qualityassurance Online Course: The Livestock Quality Assurance Online Course has been developed to assist youth with learning about major areas of proper animal care, including: daily care and management; prevention; handling; carcass quality; and medication. 4-H youth ages 8-18, who are enrolled in a livestock project (beef, dairy cattle, dairy goat, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep, and swine), are required to complete three modules in the QA Online Course by June 15 of the current year in order to complete that year s QA requirements. The online course has been divided into three age levels: Junior (4-H youth ages 8-10) Intermediate (4-H youth ages 11-14) Senior (4-H youth ages 15-18) Upon completion of each module, youth will be able to print a certificate of completion to give to the extension office or just contact the office that they have completed. All 4-H youth will have to pay $5.00 annually to participate in the online QA program. The QA Online Program can be found at http://campus.extension.org/. To enroll in the selfdirected online course, Internet access and an email address (each 4-H youth will need their own unique email address to register) is required. To assist you in getting registered and paying, instruction and other resources are available at http://4h.unl.edu/qualityassurance. Free Fitting & Showing Clinic June 11 - Stanton This clinic is sponsored by the Wranglers 4-H Club on Saturday, June 11 at the Stanton County Fairgrounds from 9 am to 4 pm. Nate Jelinek will be putting on the clinic. Schedule is: Morning Session (9 noon) Daily hair care & fitting Afternoon Session (1-4 pm) Showmanship Bring your calves washed, clean 7 ready to go. Bring any product, chute, blowers, and anything used for showing. RSVP to Jaci Bruhn at 402-649-0697 by June 8 th. Are You Passionate About the Beef Industry? The Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest provides an opportunity for youth to become spokespersons for future leaders in the beef industry. If public speaking or industry advocacy is your thing, you should compete. Date is Friday, June 10, 10:00 am at the Mid Plains College, Broken Bow. Register by email ncw@necatttlemen.org to receive complete rules or call 308-760-6464.
Knox County 4-H Public Speaking Contest Results The Knox County 4-H Public Speaking Contest was held on Tuesday, April 19 in Center with thirteen 4-H members participating. The Public Speaking Contest gives each 4-H member an opportunity to speak before a group. 4-H members learn how to develop their speaking skills and gain selfconfidence. These are skills the 4-H member will use their entire life! The results are as follows (ages as of Jan 1): Clover Kids Division (ages 5-7): Special Clover Kids Ribbons were awarded to Gannon Edholm, Avery Gill and Pierce Jeannoutot, all of Bloomfield; and Cecilia Wortmann and Sophia Wortmann of Crofton. Junior Division (ages 8-10 must present an original speech relating to 4-H from 1-3 minutes): Trophy winner was Elizabeth Wortmann of Crofton. Receiving purple ribbons were Blake Byerly, Kaitlyn Byerly and Ava McFarland all of Bloomfield. Intermediate Division (ages 11-13 must present an original speech relating to 4-H from 3-5 minutes): Trophy winner was Martha Witchey of O Neill. Receiving purple ribbons were Taylor Arens of Crofton; and Ella McFarland of Bloomfield. Senior Division (ages 14-18 must present an original speech relating to 4-H from 5-8 minutes): Trophy winner was Kimberly Hines of O Neill. Representing Knox County at the Regional Public Speaking Contest on Thursday, May 26 at the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk will be Elizabeth Wortmann, Ava McFarland, Blake Byerly, Martha Witchey, Taylor Arens, Ella McFarland, and Kimberly Hines. Congratulations to all who participated and Good Luck at the Regional Contest! Reminder for 4-Hers Enrolled in Horticulture and Floriculture As you are planting your seeds, please keep track of your variety names. These are needed when you enter your fair entries. You can do this by saving your seed packets or keeping a garden journal. Fair Superintendent Needed in Home Environment Area Do you enjoy going to the fair and looking at the 4-H exhibits? Would you like to know what the judge is looking for when judging the 4-H exhibits? Then here is an opportunity for you! A volunteer is needed to help out at the fair in the Home Environment area. You would be needed to help on Wednesday and Thursday of the fair. On Wednesday you help check-in the 4-H exhibits and on Thursday, you help out when the judge is judging the exhibits. After the exhibits are judged, you help arrange them for display for the fairgoers to view. If interested, please call the office. Spotlight On 4-H! Leader/Volunteer Newsletter The May 2016 4-H Spotlight Leader/Volunteer Newsletter is available for club leaders. The monthly newsletter gives ideas for club meetings and projects. If you would like to receive the newsletter, please contact the office or it s available at: http://knox.unl.edu/county4h. The following topics are in the May issue: The Power of a Positive Role Model Keeping 4-H ers Safe Inspiring Gratitude in Our Youth Entrepreneurs Creatively Solving Problems in 4-H 4-H Shooting Sports Aims High for Volunteers! Minding Your Manners The World of Clover Kids! Studying Water Science at UNL
Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Program Safety first but lots of fun! Learn safe gun handling skills and sound fundamentals of shooting under the guidance of caring and knowledgeable adult volunteers. Promotes positive youth-adult interaction and peer ledership. The focus is on the total development of the young person. Shooting Sports Program Updates Parent s involvement is needed for all the younger kids. Youth will need to provide their own ear and eye protection and ear and eye protection will be required to shoot in the.22 Rifle and Shotgun. Only eye protection will be required for the BB Gun and Air Rifle. Glasses can be purchased from any sporting goods store such as Scheels, Cabela s, etc. Glasses should not be dark as they make targets harder to see. Clear or yellow glass lenses work best. Hearing protection will be available, but the shooting club will have them For Sale. No shooter will be allowed to shoot without hearing and eye protection, this is for the health and safety of the shooter. This applies to both shotgun and.22 rifle. $5.00 fee will be charged for each shooting sports class that the 4-H er participate in. Two practices will be required for all disciplines to participate in the official contest. The $5.00 fee will be paid to the Extension Office with the fair pre-entry forms. Recurve/Long Bow class added to age groups in the Archery discipline. Shells will again be available. Shotgun shells will be available for $5.00/box and.22 LR rifle shells will be available for $1.00/round of 25. These are made possible by our local Pheasants Forever Chapter. We are planning to have shotgun and.22 rifle both practicing together. More practices will be scheduled at a later date. Nebraska 4-H Website Check out the Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports webpage for more information on the program and upcoming events at http://4h.unl.edu/shootingsports Archery Practice Dates The first practice will be held on Monday, May 23; NO PRACTICE on Monday, May 30; and then practices will be held every Monday night in June and every Monday night in July except July 4 th ; the last practice will be on Monday, August 1. All practices start at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at the Bloomfield Airport..22 Rifle & Shotgun Practice Dates Tuesday, June 14, 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, 6:00 p.m. Location: All practices will be held at the Knox County Fairgrounds in Bloomfield Knox County Official 4-H Shooting Sports Contest Dates.22 Rifle & Shotgun Contests Sunday, July 31, 1:00 pm, Knox County Fairgrounds Archery Contest Sunday, August 7, 2:00 pm, Knox County Fairgrounds BB Gun & Air Rifle Contests Wednesday, August 10, 3:00 pm, Knox County Fairgrounds Other Shooting Sports Dates June 4 (Saturday) - Holt County 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational, Holt County Fairgrounds, Chambers June 4-5 (Weekend) NE State 4-H Outdoor Archery Tournament & NE State High School Bowhunter 3D Shoot, Grand Island June 26-July 1 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship, Grand Island October 15-16, 2016 - NE 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Workshop, Broken Bow
Horse News Nebraska 4-H Horse Home Page Check out the Nebraska 4-H Horse Program Home Page for any questions you might have concerning the 4-H Horse Project. http://animalscience.unl.edu/anscextensionequine4h horseprogram NEW Ranch Pleasure Class for County The 4-H Council, with the recommendation of the Horse Meeting Group, has added the Ranch Pleasure Class to the county 4-H Horse Program. Look for more details on the class in the fairbook. Horse Clinic Dates at Niobrara Tyler Dimig will be available on the following dates to provide free horse clinics and practices at the Rough Riders Arena in Niobrara. Everyone is welcome to attend one or all! All clinics will start at 7:00 pm. Monday May 16 Halter, Showmanship & Grooming Monday, June 6 Walk Trot & Western Pleasure Monday, June 13 Western Pleasure Continued, Refresher for Districts Monday, June 20 Horsemanship Monday, June 27 Ranch Horse Pleasure Monday, July 11 Trail Monday, July 18 Open Night Monday, July 25 Open Night Monday, August 1 Open Practice Show Night Monday, August 8 Open/Clean & Groom Horses if needed Trophy Buckle Series Horse Show Saturday, June 11, 9:00 a.m. Harm & Tulleys Event Center Knox County Fairgrounds, Bloomfield Entry Fee - $4.00 per class Show includes showmanship, performance, games, and speed events. Three Trophy Buckles will be awarded to the highest point earner of two shows (April 9 and June 11) in three age groups. Buckles will be awarded at the end of the show on June 11. For more information, call Jolene Greckel at 402-640-0445. 2016 District Horse Show - June 17, Bloomfield 2016 Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Show - July 10-14 th in Grand Island Commancheros Open Class Horse Show Sunday, July 31, 2016, 8:30 am Harm & Tulleys Event Center Knox County Fairgrounds, Bloomfield Horse Trail Challenge Clinic Saturday, May 28 at 9:00 am Maskenthine Lake Recreation Area in Stanton County $5 on-site or pay in advance Geared toward the recreational horse rider and formulated for ALL equine breeds, the Horse Trail Challenge is devoted to building and improving equine/rider partnerships. Obstacles are elective and assistance will be provided by AQHA Recreational Advisor Larry O. Voecks in a clinic format where you can participate or simply observe. Must have your own horse. Register by May 27 as space is limited. Call the Madison County Extension Office to Register at 402-370-4040. Laurel Bit & Bridle 4-H Horse Show June 4 The Laurel Bit & Bridle 4-H Club will be hosting a 4-H Horse Show at the Cedar County Fairgrounds in Hartington on June 4 starting at 9:00 am. This will be an excellent show to practice for the upcoming District Horse Show on June 17 th. 4-H Horse Camp June 9-11, 2016 Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford Set in the beautiful Pine Ridge region of western Nebraska, Ft. Robinson provides the ideal setting to enjoy some of the greatest outdoor experiences of a lifetime horseback riding! All ages 8 and up (members, leaders, parents) are welcome, but be prepared to take care of yourself and your horse. Registration fee of $50.00 per youth camper (ages 8-18) is due by May 20. Contact the office for more information or the camp brochure and registration form is available at http://dawes.unl.edu/dawescounty4h.
TRACTOR SAFETY COURSES PLANNED The 2016 Tractor Safety Training in this area will be June 20-21, at the fairgrounds in Wayne, NE. The first day will be from 8 am to 5 pm and will consist of intensive classroom instruction with hands-on demonstrations, concluding with a written test that must be completed satisfactorily before students may continue driving tests the next day. The second day will start at 8 am and include testing, driving and operating machinery. Any youth 14 or 15 years of age who works on a farm or ranch other than his/her parents is required to be certified through a tractor safety course. Extension Educators and field specialists will teach the 2-day courses. Cost for the course is $60, which includes all course materials, lunch both days and breaks. Registration is requested by June 10, 2016. For details or to register, contact the Dixon County office at 402-584-2234. 2016 Range Youth Camp The 53 rd Nebraska Range Youth Camp will be held June 6-10, 2016 at the Nebraska State 4-H Camp in Halsey. The purpose of the camp is to provide education to young people in Nebraska who are interested in rangelands and practical range management. The camp is open to young people at least 14 years of age, but not over 18 by October 1, 2016. Deadline for applications is May 27 th. If you are interested, contact the Extension Office for an application. Financial sponsorship is available! The cost of the Range Camp is $325, however every student that attended last year received a substantial level of sponsorship from local Natural Resource Districts or the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition and nobody paid more than $100 to attend and some students attended for free!. Contact your FFA Advisor, County Extension Office or your local Natural Resource District. More information is available on the Nebraska Section Society for Range Management webpage http://www.nesrm.org/youthrangecamp.html Nebraska 4-H Camp Information Nebraska 4-H Camps are ready to receive registrations for the 2016 camping season. Families can register online or by mail-in registrations. Camp Brochures are available from the office or you can check out the camps online at http://4h.unl.edu/4hsummercamp With the support of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation and its donors, a limited number of $100 camperships are offered to support participation of young people at 4-H Summer Camps. More information on the camperships is available at http://4h.unl.edu/4hcampscholarship. 4-H HORTICULTURE CONTEST A horticulture judging contest will be held on June 15, 7:00 p.m. at the Rhebb Acreage located 3 miles northeast of Norfolk, NE (84494 Saddle Rd). The program is open to all 4-Hers and interested adults. There will be prizes for first, second and third place finishers; snacks and fun for all. Contact the Wayne County Extension Office at 402-375- 3310 for more information and to register. Pre-registration due by 5 PM, June 10. Directions will be given when registering. This would be a great way to practice for the 2016 Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging available from June 10 th until June 20 th. 2016 Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging Contest The 2016 Nebraska 4-H Online Horticulture Judging contest is just around the corner. This year the contest will be available from June 10 th at 8:00 a.m. until June 20th at 8:00 a.m. It is composed of three parts; general knowledge questions, plant part and seed identification, as well as a judging portion. It is open to all 4-H youth, as well as adults, and even Extension individuals. No password this year, the link listed below will take you directly to the contest. http://go.unl.edu/2016onlinehortcontest Please have the youth fill in all of their information completely. The online contest should only be taken once by each participant, if it is taken multiple times the first score entered will be the one used. No study materials are to be used while taking the test. The contest will allow an opportunity for the participant to review the answers prior to submitting. Once submitted, the participants will see their score, but they will not be able to see which questions they missed. After the contest has ended, the participants can request to see their scores and their answers Study Materials for the Online Horticulture Judging Contest and the State 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest held during State Fair are the same and they can be found at: http://4h.unl.edu/fairbook/plantscience/horticulture-id http://njha.org/contests-projectsactivities/horticulture-identification-judgingcontest/
State Fair 4-H Culinary Challenge Contest The purpose of the 4-H Culinary Challenge Contest is for youth to demonstrate healthy decision making through nutrition, menu planning, food preparation, and food safety. This contest is similar to our Food Revue Contest. Who Can Enter? 4-H youth, 10-18 years of age that are enrolled in a Foods & Nutrition project. There are 2 age divisions: Intermediate (ages 10-13) and Senior (ages 14 & up). Must be in teams of 2. What Do I Do? Choose a theme and a design a table setting; create a menu; prepare and incorporate the challenge ingredient into one food item and bring that food item to the contest; participate in a live interview with judge; incorporate technology into your table presentation interview. The 2016 Challenge Ingredient is SQUASH, which includes summer squash, winter squash, pumpkins and zucchini. What About the Interview? Interviews are 8-10 minutes for the intermediate division and 12-15 minutes for the senior division. Talk about your table design (theme, nutrition, menu cost, food safety concerns); be knowledgeable about your challenge ingredient; team interviews should be equal participation; technology may include using an ipad or laptop, PowerPoint, picture story, or video. When is the Contest? The contest is held August 27, 2016 at the Nebraska State Fair. Where Can I Learn more? http://4h.unl.edu/fairbook/healthylifestyles/culinary-challenge or contact the office. PASE and Life Challenge June 19-21, 2016 UNL s East Campus Registration Deadline is June 3, 2016. Contact the office if interested. Check out the website http://4h.unl.edu/paselifechallenge for more information on the two events. Each summer, over 500 4-H ers convene at the University of Nebraska East Campus to test their skills in animal science and family and consumer sciences during PASE (Premier Animal Science Events) and Life Challenge. Teens compete in a variety of different contests including: livestock, meats and poultry judging, livestock skill-a-thon, livestock quiz bowl, life challenges and clover challenge. While on campus, youth have the opportunity to take part in facultyled workshops, campus tours, and special sessions by UNL recruiters. Science Saturdays at Raising Nebraska Celebrate the International Year of the Pulse through Science Saturdays, a free and open to the public event, at Raising Nebraska located on the State Fairgrounds in Grand Island, NE. Science Saturday occurs the second Saturday of every month with the facility open from 10:00 to noon. The highlighted program consists of an educational, interactive and fun 25 minute session. Upcoming programs include: June 11 th Create a Backyard Habitat by Terri James & Elizabeth Killinger July 9 th Selling your Beans designed by NE Extension Economists For more details about the Science Saturday program, visit www.raisingnebraska.net or contact Beth Janning at 308.385.3967 or ejanning2@unl.edu Nebraska Mystery Foods Event The Second Annual Nebraska Mystery Foods Event will be held on Friday, June 3 rd at Raising Nebraska, located in Grand Island, NE. This event challenges teams of youth ages 10 to 18 to use their creativity, nutrition knowledge, and decision making to make a dish onsite which includes mystery ingredients. This event is open to all youth. Bring Your Group to Raising Nebraska! Are you looking for an educational piece for your 4-H club or 4-H members? Then look no more! Raising Nebraska is the place for you! We have a variety of ways that you can enjoy and experience Raising Nebraska. 1. A Program Just for You! Program includes a movie in the grain bin, scavenger hunt, and a feature program. Select from a program ready to go or ask about a specific topic you would like covered. 2. A Private Tour Tour includes the history of Raising Nebraska, the educational take-away about the exhibits and exploration time. We welcome your group s business meeting in the space and then allowing us to be the educational component! Visit www.raisingnebraska.net or contact Beth (Phone: 308-385-3967; email: ejanning2@unl.edu) to learn more and schedule your trip today!
Inspiring Gratitude in Our Youth (Source-May 2016 Spotlight on 4-H) Hey, thanks! What s the big deal about having an attitude of gratitude? What s the importance of saying thanks? Studies cite a growing interest in the area of gratitude in the younger generation. An attitude of gratitude serves as a key factor for success in life. Gratitude: Being aware of and thankful for the good things that happen AND taking time to express thanks. Two key factors are being aware of and taking time. Your 4-H member won a trophy, scholarship or other recognition. What s the next, very important, step? Expressing appreciation and saying thanks. Write a note, visit with your donor, shake their hand and say THANK YOU. It can go a long ways with a donor in their continued support when they receive appreciation or thanks from recipients. With winning comes the privilege of saying thanks! As youth are awarded trophies, scholarships, and various honors, hopefully they will recognize the importance of saying thanks. Parents become the first line of support, reminding youth to say thanks, write a note, send a text or email, or better yet, meet the donor in person. Club leaders are encouraged to create an environment of gratitude through 4-H club meetings and activities. Research indicates that gratitude is associated with happiness and personal well-being and helps people form, maintain, and strengthen supportive relationships; gratitude helps people feel connected to a caring community, such as 4-H. Knowing the benefits, how can we foster gratitude in children? Our families, schools, 4-H and others must all do our part. While there s no quick fix, the more we remain committed to it, the more rewards we will reap. By bringing out the best in our kids, we bring out the best in our families and communities. Anything worthwhile takes time and effort. It s up to all of us to make it happen. Adults model and teach gratitude. Kids help other kids learn the importance of gratitude and their responsibility to say thanks. Gratitude is a virtue that anyone can cultivate. There are many opportunities for kids to recognize and thank those who have done something special for them, and it s a habit that if they start young, they will carry throughout life. Enhancing gratitude can be relatively simple and easy to integrate into 4-H families and clubs. When it comes to future generations, gratitude is the single best investment we can make. Gratitude matters and it matters most in kids. Zig Ziglar summed it up well, Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life changing.
Upcoming Events Contact the office for more information on any of the events. BEEF/SHEEP/GOATS/SWINE: May 21 (Saturday) Duel County Beef, Sheep, Goat, Swine Progress Show, Chappell May 27 (Friday) 12 th Annual Lively Livestock Sheep & Goat Jackpot, York County Fairgrounds May 28 (Saturday) Beef A Rama & Swine A Rama, Albion May 28 (Saturday) 12 th Annual Lively Livestock Swine Jackpot, York County Fairgrounds May 29 (Sunday) Sheep & Goat A Rama, Albion June 3 (Friday) Midwest Livestock Progress Pig Show, Seward June 4 (Saturday) Midwest Jackpot Livestock Shows (Sheep, Goats), Seward June 4 (Saturday) Phelps Gosper Beef & Sheep Progress Show, Holdrege June 5 (Sunday) Sheridan County Goat, Beef & Sheep 4 H Progress Show, Gordon June 11 (Saturday) Free Beef Fitting & Showing Clinic, Stanton County Fairgrounds (register by June 8) June 12 (Sunday) Hustler 4 H Progress Show (swine, sheep, cattle, goats), West Point (Open to 4 H & FFA) June 12 (Sunday) Dawes County Goat, Beef, & Sheep 4 H Progress Show, Chadron June 18 (Saturday) 4 th Annual Swine, Sheep & Goat Challenge, Nance Co Fairgrounds, Fullerton June 25 (Saturday) Wheeler County Progress Show (Beef), Bartlett Fairgrounds June 25 (Saturday) 30 th Annual Papio Valley 4 H Show (goat, sheep, beef), Sarpy County Fairgrounds, Springfield June 25 (Saturday) The Final Drive Sheep & Goat Progress Show, Geneva June 27 28 Massey s Show Lamb Camp, Wayne County Fairgrounds September 11 (Sunday) Norfolk Beef Expo, NECC Ag Complex, Norfolk September 22 25 AKSARBEN 4 H Stock Show, Omaha HORSE: May 25 (Wednesday) 4 H Horse Judging Contest, Pitzer Ranch, Ericson May 28 (Saturday) Horse Trail Challenge Clinic, 9 am, Maskenthine Lake Recreation Area in Stanton County June 4 (Saturday) Salt Creek Wranglers Pre District Horse Show, Lancaster Event Center, Lincoln June 5 (Sunday) Salt Creek Wranglers Open Horse Show, Lancaster Event Center, Lincoln June 9 11 4 H Horse Camp, Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford June 11 (Saturday) Trophy Buckle Series Horse Show, Knox County Fairgrounds, Bloomfield June 12 (Sunday) Platte Valley Wranglers 4 H Horse Show, Saunders County Fairgrounds, Wahoo June 12 (Sunday) Boots & Saddle Club Horse Show, 9:30 am, Carney Park, O Neill June 17 (Friday) 4 H District Horse Show, Knox County Fairgrounds, Bloomfield June 24 (Friday) Buckle Up Show Camp, Fillmore Co Fairgrounds, Geneva June 25 (Saturday) 4 H Invitational Horse Show, Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney June 26 (Sunday) Boots & Saddle Club Horse Show, 9:30 am, Carney Park, O Neill July 10 (Sunday) Boots & Saddle Club Horse Show, 9:30 am, Carney Park, O Neill July 10 14 State 4 H Horse Show, Fonner Park, Grand Island July 30 (Saturday) Boots & Saddle Club Horse Show, 2:30 pm, Carney Park, O Neill July 31 (Sunday) Commancheros 4 H Club Open Horse Show, Knox County Fairgrounds September 10 (Saturday) Boots & Saddle Club Horse Show, 9:30 am, Carney Park, O Neill September 11 (Sunday) Boots & Saddle Club Horse Show, 9:30 am, Carney Park, O Neill September 17 18 AKSARBEN 4 H Horse Show, Lincoln WORKSHOPS, JUDGING CAMPS: May 21 (Saturday) Cedar County Showmanship Clinic, Cedar Co Fairgrounds, Hartington May 25 (Wednesday) Standard of Excellence NCTA Livestock Judging Camp, NCTA, Curtis (register by May 18) May 26 (Thursday) Animal Science Field Day, 9:30 am 4:00 pm, NCTA, Curtis June 7 9 Winners Unlimited Livestock Judging Camp Session I, East Campus, Lincoln (register by May 6) June 10 (Friday) NE Livestock Judging Classic, Kearney June 11 13 Winners Unlimited Livestock Judging Camp Session II, East Campus, Lincoln (register by May 6) June 20 21 Tractor Safety Course, Wayne Fairgrounds June 20 21 PASE (Premier Animal Science Events) & Life Challenge, Lincoln (register by June 3)