SHERIDAN COUNTY NEWSLETTER

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

Apr 1: Shooting Sports Practice - Rushville Legion - 3:30-7:00 pm

Apr 5: Sew Fun - Hay Springs Cafeteria - 1:00-4:00 pm

Apr 6: YQCA training - Extension Office - 9:00-10:30 am

Apr 8: Livestock Nutrition Workshop - Zoom - 7:00-8:30 pm

Apr 13: Shooting Sports Instructor Update Session - Albion - 9:00-Noon

Apr13-14: Shooting Sports New Instructor Training Session - Albion

Apr 14: Speech & Presentation Contest - Alliance - 1:00 pm

Apr 15: Extension Board Meeting - Extension Office - 6:30 pm

Apr 15: Shooting Sports Practice - Rushville Legion - 3:30-7:00 pm

Apr 16: Clover Bud Meeting - Gordon Elementary - 3:30-4:30 pm

Apr 20: Horse Riding Test Prep Western Pleasure - Rushville Arena - 9:00-11:00 am

Apr 22: Foundation Meeting - Extension Office - 6:30 pm

Apr 22: Clover Bud Meeting - Hay Springs Cafeteria - 4:00-4:45 pm

Apr 23: Clover Bud Meeting - Rushville Elementary - 3:30-4:15 pm

Apr 26: Arbor Day - Office Closed

Apr 27: Horse Test - Rushville Arena - 9:00-11:00 am

May 4: Jake's Day - Jech's - 8:00 am

May 19: Pig, Sheep & Goat Weigh-Ins, Sheridan Co Fairgrounds - 9 am - noon

May 19: YQCA training - Fairgrounds - 1:00 - 2:30 pm

May 20: Build a Better Babysitter - Dawes Co Fairgrounds - 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

May 20: 4-H Council Meeting - Extension Office - 6:30 pm

May 23: Wilderness Wonders - Camp Norwesca - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

May 24: Wilderness Wonders - Camp Norwesca - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

May 28: North Panhandle Livestock Contest - Box Butte Co Fairgrounds

May 29-31: Log N Camp - Next Level - Lincoln

Jun 5-6: Tractor Safety Training - Sheridan Co Fairgrounds

Jun 23: Sheridan County Progress Show - Sheridan Co Fairgrounds

Jun 26-27: Design Camp - Camp Norwesca

Jul 13: Sheridan County Horse Show

Jul 19: Sheridan County Style Review & Music Contest

Jul 21-27: Sheridan County Fair

DEADLINE DATES:

Apr 5 - Speech Contest

Apr 15 - Sheridan County 4-H Memorial Scholarship

May 3 - Wilderness Wonders

Jun 3 - Design Camp Registration

Jun 15 - Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program

Jul 1 - Music Contest Registration

Starting in the 2023-2024 program year, project selection is now optional. By successfully completing the 4-H member enrollment by June 1st, 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!

This year Farm Credit Services of America is sponsoring a new t-shirt for all 4-H members this year. To help us order the shirts, please complete the form below for each youth member prior to June 15th.

Congratulations to Tenley Ostrander for her design being picked to be the 2024 Sheridan County Fair Theme!

- Cake & Cookie Jar Auction will be happening on Monday July 22nd, separate from the Buyers Bonanza.

- Farm Credit is donated 4-H shirts for all 4-H members.

- Concessions will be occupied by AA Barbeque.

- Council will help with Barn Quilt Workshop fees.

- Gordon Clover Bud meeting will be April 16, 3:30-4:30 during Gordon Elementary Afterschool Program

- Hay Springs Clover Bud meeting will be April 22, 4:00-4:45 in the Hay Springs Cafeteria

- Rushville Clover Bud meeting will be April 23, 3:30-4:15 during Rushville Elementary Afterschool Program

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.

- April 1st at the Extension office in Rushville from 9:00 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 4:00pm

- April 5th 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.

The Nebraska State 4-H Presentations Contest will partner with the State 4-H Public Speaking Contest to create a combined state-level communications event – this event will be called the Premier Communication Event and will be held on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus on June 17-18, 2024.This means that the youth who qualify for the Presentations Contest needs to be determined before June 1. https://4h.unl.edu/premier-communication-event

Box Butte County 4-H will host our Speech and Presentations Contest on Sunday, April 14 at 1:00 pm in Alliance. The contest will be held at the Performing Arts Center at the Alliance High School.

The Public Service Announcement theme for 2024 is: 4-H is a Feeling.

In 2022, Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan, and Sioux combined contests to benefit the youth. We will combine again, but there will be NO zoom connection. We will have separate awards.

Registration forms are due to the Sheridan County Extension Office by Monday, April 5th and PSA recordings by April 8th!

We are working on finalizing summer events for 2024! Be on the lookout for a finalized brochure!

Predator vs. Prey is the theme for the 2024 4-H Wilderness Wonders Camp! On May 23, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm will be offered for youth going into 3rd-5th grade. The camp is limited to 50 youth from four counties and will have a $40 fee. On May 24, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm will be offered for youth ages 5-7. The camp is limited to 50 from four counties and will have a $40 fee.

Registrations are due by May 3. Turn them in to the Extension Office as soon as possible! We wanted to promote this to 4-H families before we send the flyer home with local schools. The slots for both camps will fill up fast!

If you are interested in participating in Unified showing at the 2024 Sheridan County Fair as a Mentor or Mentee please message Melissa at mmracek2@unl.edu by June 1st!

Please let the extension office know if you would like a set of honor cords to show your 4-H accomplishments on your special day!

Sheridan County had a couple of teams who were recognized for their accomplishments. The Gordon-Rushville Builder Bros team consisting of Robert Moore, Grady Strain, Riley Lefler, Khai Janssen, Easton Johnson, Tyler Shelton, and Quinton Bennett received third place for their Innovation Project. This team’s project was creating an anaerobic digester made from clay to cook in rural Africa without electricity and as a safer fuel source. The judges said they did a great job developing an impactful solution with the help of research and impacted users.

The Hay Springs MARAJ team made up of Jacob Dorshorst, Andrew Bonsal, Merritt Albrecht, and August Reimann received First Place for their Robot Design. The judges said they loved how the robot carried itself with all its attachments on the board and how they improved it with each iteration.

The Hay Springs Henry the Crazy Hawk team was selected as one of seven teams to be considered for the Global Innovation Award for their project idea of an app that would help people who liked to bike to find trails, know the trail amenities, be able to track animal migration patterns for what they may encounter on the trails, and provide tips if they should encounter animals on the trail. The team members are Willow Frink, Kylar Scheenen, Ellerie Davis, Ellie Reimann, and Brecken Starke.

We had two first year teams from Gordon participate, the Tiny But Smart and Mavericks. Maverick team members were Clare Swanson, Avery Kreitman, Denali Hillion, Gage Bidroski, Astrid Ray, and Kalia Ghost Bear. Their project was a video about how to be a good friend and spread kindness. One of their judges nominated them for the Rising All-Star award, demonstrating that they see great things from this team in the future.

The Tiny But Smart team consisted of Nixon Banks, Grant Simmons, Tranquil Hillion, Jack Child, and Shaun Pradhaun. This team created an app that would help people find building instructions and learn how to free build with the pieces they have.

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 - Zach Kearns

Vice President - EJ Frink

Secretary - Brad Beguin

Treasurer - Jackie Simonson
Members - Candace Nelson, Clint Vincent, Jace Stumpff, Brain Nelson
Youth Members: Kirsten Heck, Jaxon Kearns, Wyatt Fedderson, Kyler Vincent

Extension Board:
President - Matt Albrecht
Vice President - Caleb Peters
Secretary/Treasurer - Paige Stumpff
Members - Trevor Ginkens, Morgan Weyers

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