Frontier County 4-H Newsletter
March 24th, 2023
Frontier County In-Person YQCA Training
All 4-H members enrolled in livestock projects are required to complete annual quality assurance training and certification through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program. This includes youth enrolled in beef, dairy cattle, goat, sheep, swine, poultry, and rabbit projects. Youth may complete online training courses or attend in-person training workshops held by their county Extension office. Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/yqca.
Frontier County's final in-person training is in Curtis on April 3rd from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at NCTA's Livestock Teaching Center. For more information, please visit our website at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/frontier/yqca-4-h-horse/ or call the office at 308-367-4424. To register for training, please visit yqcaprogram.org. Remember to take the pre-test after registering, before attending class. This makes the approval and process of obtaining certificates much simpler. After attending the training, there will also be a post-test that must be taken before access is given to the certificate.
Governor's Agricultural Excellence Award
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation’s Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Award is a prestigious award designed to recognize 4-H Clubs for their efforts to serve their communities. This award provides funding for 4-H Clubs to complete projects that will have a lasting impact on their communities. Projects should be intentional and impactful, growing club members as leaders and fulfilling a need in their community. Applications are due April 1. Learn more at ne4hfoundation.org/governors-ag-excellence-award.
2023 4-H Youth Leadership Conference
Registration is now open for the 2023 4-H Youth Leadership Conference! High school students, ages 14-18, are invited to Camp Comeca in Cozad from June 19-21 to gain real-world leadership skills. The experience is open to all youth, not just 4-H members! Register by June 4 to claim your spot. Visit 4h.unl.edu/leadership-conference to get started.
Tractor and Farm Equipment Safety Course
Teens 14 or 15 years of age who work on farms, or others who are interested in learning about tractor and farm equipment safety practices, can register for a safety training course offered at seven locations across Nebraska from May 22 through June 8.
Students will complete the first day of the course by attending a hands-on event at one of two locations or online through the eXtension Foundation Campus website. The hands-on events will occur on May 22 in North Platte and May 30 in Grand Island. After completing the hands-on event or the online course and testing, the required driving test will be offered at seven locations across Nebraska from May 23 through June 8.
Federal law prohibits children under 16 from using specific equipment on a farm unless their parents or legal guardians own the farm. However, certification received through the course grants an exemption to the law allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to drive a tractor and to do field work with specific mechanized equipment.
The hands-on event and the online course will cover the required elements of the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program, including quizzes that students must pass to attend the driving portion of the training. Once a student is registered, the coordinators will send instructions, materials, course paperwork and a link to the online course if they do not attend one of the two hands-on events.
The onsite driving training and exam will include a driving test, equipment operation and ATV safety lessons. Students must demonstrate competence in hitching and unhitching equipment and driving a tractor and trailer through a standardized course. Instructors also will offer education on emergency preparedness, personal protective equipment, and safe behaviors and laws for ATVs, utility-task vehicles (UTVs) and other off-road vehicles (ORVs).
The course costs $35 and includes educational materials and supplies. Participants can pay at the time of registration or before the driving exam. Only checks and cash are accepted.
Registration form: https://go.unl.edu/2023tractorsafety
Little Food Pantry
This project has the dual goal of marketing the presence of
4-H and NEP programs while also providing an emergency
food source to community members.
A Little Free Pantry Toolkit has been designed to provide the
information you will need for the project. All interested
groups can access the resources of the toolkit when
planning and placing a Little Free Pantry in your community.
Funding is available to construct the pantries and stock them
for up to 6 months.
Little Free Pantry is designed to be organically maintained by the community in which it is placed. We are asking groups to make a 2 year commitment to support a pantry location to get the
project started.
Interested parties may contact the office for more details.
2023 4-H Horse Camp
The 2023 4-H Horse Camp will take place on June 8-10 at Fort Robinson State Park in Crawford, NE. All individuals, ages eight and older, are welcome to attend with activities for junior, intermediate, and senior / adult. The 4-H code of conduct will be in effect, but membership is not mandatory.
Scholarships are available!
2023 Medicine Creek Pheasants Forever Banquet - Still Need a Few More Helpers
Medicine Creek Pheasants Forever will be hosting their annual banquet on Saturday, April 1 at the Frontier County Fairgrounds in Stockville and is looking for approximately 10 older (12+ years) shooting sports members to help with auction items and clean up when it is over. In the past, Pheasants Forever has made generous donations to the club that help us with purchasing new equipment. There will be pizza available for the kids at 6pm. This is a great opportunity for kids to help out! Please call the Extension office (308-367-4424) or Liz Kerchal for more information.
