SHERIDAN COUNTY NEWSLETTER

Dec 4: Shooting Sports Practice - Rushville Legion - 3:30-7:00 pm

Dec 6: Livestock Committee Meeting - Extension Office - 6:30 pm

Dec 7: Horse Committee Meeting - Zoom - 7:00 pm

Dec 8: Sew Fun - Hay Springs Cafeteria - 1:00-4:00 pm

Dec 10: 4-H Holiday Maker Day - Extension Office - 1:00-4:00 pm

Dec 11: Extension Board Meeting - Extension Office - 6:30 pm

Dec 12: Cloverbud Meeting - Hay Springs Cafeteria - 4:00-4:45 pm

Dec 13: Sew Fun - Extension Office - 9:00-Noon or 1:00-4:00 pm

Dec 18: Shooting Sports Practice - Rushville Legion - 3:30-7:00 pm

Dec 25: Christmas Day - Office Closed

Jan 2: 4-H Card Game Night - Extension Office - 5:30 pm

DEADLINE DATES:

Nov 30 - Martha & Don Romeo Scholarship Application

Dec 1 - Fed Steer Challenge

Dec 1 - 4-H Supply Giveaway

Dec 1 - Nebraska Beekeepers Association Application

Dec 15 - Nebraska Young Artist Awards Application

Jan 5 - Omaha Fashion Week Application

Jan 5 - State Achievement Application

Starting in the 2023-2024 program year, project selection is now optional. By successfully completing the 4-H member enrollment by the June 1st deadline, youth will be eligible to participate and exhibit in any project area, contest, county and state fairs. While project selection is optional, it is encouraged for youth to select projects they are interested in exploring.
Please note:

o Youth are only eligible to exhibit in a project area or contest in a single county.

o Horse and shooting sports projects will continue to require project enrollment due to the parental consent required to participate in these projects.

Did you know the 4-H fiscal year is October 1 - September 30?

- 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!

- Rushville Clover Bud meeting will be TBD

- Gordon Clover Bud meeting will be TBD

- Hay Springs Clover Bud meeting will be held on Dec 12th at Hay Springs Cafeteria at 4:00-4:45pm.

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.

Meeting to plan weigh-in dates as well as suggestions for the 2024 fair book. December 6 at the Extension Office starting at 6:30 pm.

Free sewing classes are held December 13th at the Extension office in Rushville from 9:00 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 4:00pm or December 8th 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 practice is for BB Gun and Air Rifle. 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.

Come play some fun games before school starts again! January 2nd at the Extension Office starting at 5:30 pm for 4-H members 13+. Food will be provided!

Active 4-H members, that are deserving Sheridan County youth needing supplies to help with their animal projects, write us a paragraph explaining how one of these supplies will help with your animal projects at the fair! The deadline to get entered into the give-away will be December 1, 2023. Email paragraph to mnelson82@unl.edu

The Nebraska Young Artist Awards annually recognize Nebraska high school juniors who are talented in art, music, dance, theatre, or film and emerging media. During the past 26 years, we have recognized nearly 1,700 students from across the state. These students have been selected based on the quality of their art and were selected by our faculty to come to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with their families as guests for a day of activities and awards ceremony. They see the campus, visit with UNL students and get information about what a career in some area of the arts could be like. Submissions for this year’s Nebraska Young Artist Awards in all categories are due Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.

Applications are now being accepted through December 1, 2023, for the 2024 Youth Beekeeping Scholarship Program offered by the Nebraska Beekeepers Association.
The NBA Youth Beekeeping Scholarships are an important investment in the future, helping to promote environmental sustainability, provide valuable skills and experiences for young people, and support the vital role of bees in our ecosystems. A NBA youth scholarship provides young people with the opportunity to learn about and develop an interest in beekeeping, which is an important and rewarding skill. This is particularly important given the crucial role that bees play in the environment and in food production.

The Nebraska Association of Fair Managers will award a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H male and a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H female who are graduating seniors in the state of Nebraska and who plan to continue with post high school education. The scholarship will be awarded at the annual NAFM convention in January. Applications should be submitted to local Extension Offices by Thursday, November 30. Extension Offices in Nebraska are asked to return finalists to the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers (ATTN: Ricky Gennrich, PO Box 223, Bertrand, NE 68927 or rickygennrich@gmail.com) on or before December 10, 2023.

We are seeking applications for the Omaha Fashion Week 4-H Collection! Selected applicants will model their garments during the Omaha Fashion Week Student Night on Wednesday February 21, 2024. Applications are due January 5, 2024.

State achievement applications are due Friday, Jan. 5! These applications are used to select National 4-H Congress delegates, National 4-H Conference delegates, and Nebraska 4-H Foundation scholarship recipients. Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/achievement-application.

As you begin making plans for 2024, be sure to check out the Special Garden Project. It offers a unique introduction to plant science. Members are given seeds and guided through planting, growing, and harvesting seasons. Members can exhibit a cut flower or harvested vegetable at the fair if all goes well. Otherwise, youth can share their experience through a poster, story, or video exhibit. Next year, members will work with the PRINCESS INDIA NASTURTIUM. Visit 4h.unl.edu/spg to learn more.

We all know about the 4-H livestock, cooking and sewing projects. But with nearly 50 projects to choose from, there are likely some you aren’t familiar with. These five often-overlooked projects offer real-world skills and unique experiences: go.unl.edu/2nd8.

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.

4-H Foundation:

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 - 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 - Trevor Ginkens, Paige Stumpff

Sheridan County Extension Office:

Office Manager - Wendy Andersen

4-H Extension Assistant - Marie Nelson

4-H Extension Educator - Melissa Mracek

Email: sheridan-county@unl.edu
Location: 800 S Loofborrow Street, PO Box 329, Rushville, NE 69360
Phone: 308-327-2312
Twitter: @SheridanCounty