

SHERIDAN COUNTY NEWSLETTER
October 2023
Volume 2023-2024, Issue 1
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Oct 1: Start of New 4-H Fiscal Year
Oct 1: All Award Applications due
Oct 1-7: National 4-H Week
- Oct 1: Volunteer Spotlight Sunday
- Oct 2: Make It Monday
- Oct 3: Tips Tuesday
- Oct 4: Wear It Wednesday
- Oct 5: Thank You Thursday
- Oct 6: Favorite Fair Moment Friday
- Oct 7: Supporter Saturday
Oct 2: Shooting Sports Practice - Rushville Legion
Oct 9: Columbus Day - Office Closed
Oct 11: Sew Fun - Extension Office - 9:00-Noon or 1:00-4:00 pm
Oct 16: 4-H Online opens for 2023-2024
Oct 16: Shooting Sports Practice - Rushville Legion
Oct 16: 4-H Foundation Meeting - Extension Office - 7:00 pm
Oct 23: Busy Book Workshop - Extension Office - 4:00-6:00 pm
Oct 24: Clover Buds Meeting (age 5-7) - Hay Springs Cafeteria - 4:00-5:00 pm
Oct 27: Sew Fun - Hay Springs Cafeteria - 1:00-4:00 pm
Oct 29: 4-H Recruitment & Awards Banquet Extension Office - 5:00 pm
Oct 30: Instant Pot Workshop - Extension Office - 5:00-7:00 pm
Oct 30: Real Colors 4-H Volunteer Training - Extension Office - 6:00 pm
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
4-H ENROLLMENT
Opens October 16th, 2023.
- If you are new to 4-H please create a profile.
- If you are a returning 4-Her, please register for this coming year!
Age 5-7 are free, Age 8-18 are only $5!
UPCOMING EVENTS
4-H RECRUITMENT, ACHIEVEMENT BANQUET, & STATE FAIR CELEBRATION
The 2023 Sheridan County 4-H Achievement Banquet will be Sunday, October 29, 5pm at the Extension Office at 800 Loofborrow Street in Rushville.
The 2023 Sheridan County 4-H Achievement Banquet will be Sunday, October 29, 5pm at the Extension Office at 800 Loofborrow Street in Rushville. New members are invited to attend the Achievement Banquet also!
Youth are encouraged to wear a 4-H t-shirt and nice jeans. It is a potluck, the families with the last name starting with L-Z need to bring a dessert and families with last name starting with A-K need to bring a side dish.
Youth will be able to pick up awards from county fair, State Fair Exhibits, State Fair Checks, premium money, Achievement Application awards, as well as recognize 4-H volunteers. We will be voting on the new 4-H Council members at this time as well.
CLOVER BUD MEETING
With the start of the new 4-H year, Clover Bud workshops will be beginning. Clover Kids is the officially recognized program in Nebraska for children under age 8. The program is designed to provide 5 to 7 year-olds a variety of educational and recreational experiences in a non-competitive environment. Clover Kids provide an excellent opportunity for youth to achieve his/her highest potential because early life experiences affect future development. The primary goal is to promote the child’s stages of development – intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally.
· Develop Self Esteem
· Decision Making Skills (making positive choices)
· Comprehension Skills (learning how to learn; positive attitudes toward learning)
· Mastering Physical Skills (enjoying constructive and creative play)
· Social-Interaction Skills (getting along with others)
· Diversity Skills (acceptance of others; exploring family and community relationships)
Children possessing these life skills are less likely to have problems with drug use, school failure, delinquency, and depression as they move into their teenage years and then into adulthood.
- Rushville Clover Bud meeting will be TBD
- Gordon Clover Bud meeting will be TBD
- Hay Springs Clover Bud meeting will be held on October 24th at Hay Springs Cafeteria at 4:00-5:00pm.
Clover Bud members are youth between the ages of 5 and 7 as of January 1st, 2024. Upon participating in these workshops, youth will have Clover Bud projects to display at the 2024 Sheridan County Fair. To register your child for these FREE events please contact the Nebraska Extension Sheridan County office at (308) 327-2312.
FIRST LEGO LEAGUE
Robotics will be starting in Rushville and Gordon for youth ages 9 to 14. They can contact Melissa at mmracek2@unl.edu for more information!
SEW FUN
Free sewing classes are held at the Extension office in Rushville from 9:00 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 4:00pm
or at the Hay Springs School from 1:00 - 4:00 pm! Beginning sewers will be learning the fundamentals and skills needed to create and design beautiful projects! Limited space is available. So please let the office know soon at mnelson82@unl.edu or 308-327-2312.
SHOOTING SPORTS
Shooting Sports practice for BB Gun and Air Rifle will start on October 2nd. They practice from 3:30 to 7:OO pm depending on when the youth show up. During October through December, practice is held the first and third Mondays of the month. In January they will start practicing every Monday and start attending the Panhandle Best Shoots. Youth need to be registered for 4-H to participate. Parents need to sign waivers the first meeting. Please contact Bruce Salisbury 402-533-8859 or Donna Jech for more information.
MONTHLY WORKSHOP - BUSY BOOK
During this workshop the youth will create an age appropriate busy book. The participants will learn about the different age appropriate activities then they will have to decide if they want to teach youth about literature, healthy living, math, etc. and the age for their book. If they are doing preschool it can have tracing letters, writing names, etc. If they are doing toddler maybe it is matching shapes onto the page or matching colors. Cost is $5. October 23, 4:00 - 6:00 pm. Call the office to sign up!
BECOME PART OF THE 4-H COUNCIL
Youth members are also included in the 4-H Council. This is a vital role necessary to give our youth "voice" on decisions that affect their educational experience. 2-4 youth members ages 14-18 can serve on the council.
Any adult or youth interested in having your name added to the ballot for the Sheridan County 4-H Council is encouraged to call the office (308-327-2312). The annual election will be held at the Achievement Banquet in October.
4-H VOLUNTEERS TRAINING
This is not your ordinary volunteer training, we will participate in Real Colors, a personality assessment where you will learn about others around you, talk about helping youth thrive in 4-H, and more! This event is also open to the public for those interested in participating in Real Colors. We will start at 6 pm on October 30th. Club leaders are required to attend. Please RSVP by October 23rd by calling the office. There will be a $10 fee for Real Colors.
MONTHLY WORKSHOP - INSTANT POT
FIREARM HUNTER EDUCATION
When: Oct 14-15
Where: Henkens Roberts Building, Dawes County Fairgrounds
Cost:
Age:
DOG OBEDIENCE CLASS
Where: Dawes County Fairgrounds
Cost: $20/dog
Age: 8-18
4-H LEADERSHIP
These people are YOUR voice! Please contact any of them if you have an idea for a new or existing event or activity, have concerns with the program, or just want to have input in the decision-making process.
David Russell, Wendy Andersen, Michelle Heck, Nicole Janssen, Jake Scott, Kami Scott, Marie Nelson, Melissa Mracek
4-H Council:
President - Ryan Paul
Vice President - Jake Elwood
Secretary - Jackie Simonson
Treasurer - EJ Frink
Members at large: Candace Nelson, Megan Grossman, Zach Kearns, Clint Vincent, Jace Stumpff, Brad Beguin
Youth Members: Austin Child, Colton Archibald, Wyatt Fedderson, Kyler Vincent
Extension Board:
President - Matt Albrecht
Vice President - Caleb Peters
Secretary/Treasurer - Jacob Tejral
Members at large: Trevor Ginkens, Paige Stumpff
Nebraska Extension - Sheridan County Office
Email: mnelson82@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/northernpanhandle/educational-programs/northern-panhandle-4-h/
Location: 800 S Loofborrow Street, PO Box 329 Rushville, NE 69360
Phone: 308-327-2312
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLSheridanCounty
Twitter: @SheridanCounty