SHERIDAN COUNTY NEWSLETTER

Aug 14: 4-H Council Meeting - Extension Office - 6:30 pm

Aug 17: 4-H Foundation Meeting - Extension Office - 7:30 pm

Aug 18: State Fair Exhibits Due - Extension Office - 4:00 pm

August 21: Sheridan County Extension Board Meeting, Extension Office, 6:30 pm

Aug 22: State Fair Food & Veggie Exhibits Due - Extension Office - 9:00 am

Aug 25 - Sep 4: Nebraska State Fair

Sep 8: State Fair Project Pick up - Extension Office

State Fair exhibits need to be brought to the office on Friday August 18, Food/veggie projects need to be brought to the office by 9:00 am on Tuesday August 22. Food items need to be frozen and packed with ice packs. Please make sure to have all supplemental information attached. Have the county item tag attached (please remove your ribbon).

Please check the Sheridan County Fair results as this will be the information used to calculate your premiums that you will receive in October.

Please be patient as sale checks will be available during pickup of Thank you Frames on at the end of August. We will follow up with a date soon!!

What better way to thank your buyer than to give them a gift? Engraved wooden picture frames with a photo of your youth can be picked up at the end of August. Youth will deliver their frame to their buyer and show appreciation for supporting their project. Sale checks will also be given out at this time. If you have any questions, please call the office.

Thank you to ALL for a successful county fair! We are so proud of everyone's accomplishments, growth and help!

We are creating a post-fair insert for the newspaper, and will be coming out with all the results from both county and state fair!

Also, please take a moment to send a thank you to the Sheridan County Ag. Society (Fair board), Sheridan County 4-H Council (you can bring it by the office), and any other volunteers and express your gratitude for their hard work in making the county fair better each and every year. The 4-H Council, superintendents, and Ag Society are all volunteers, taking time away from their families and jobs to make a difference for our 4-H program.

Congratulations to all of our participants!

The link to use for State Fair Livestock entry: https://www.statefair.org/competitions-participate/competitions/4-h-ffa-exhibitors. FFA and 4-H are using an online entry system that allows exhibitors/parents to submit their livestock entries for the 2023 Nebraska State Fair. 4-H Static Exhibit Registration will be entered by the Extension Office staff.

Registration opens on July 1. All entries must be submitted no later than 8:00 PM Central Time on August 10, 2023. They are requiring you to use a credit or debit card when you submit your entries. You can pay and register your entries at: http://nebr.fairwire.com. Families will find a link to the State Fair Livestock entry website, a pdf with step-by-step entry instructions at http://nebr.fairwire.com. When you sign up for these events you will also purchase your State Fair discount passes for your family members.

4-H and FFA exhibitors and their families are responsible for submitting all livestock entries online.

This includes:

- 4-H and FFA Livestock entries

- 4-H Companion Animal entries

- 4-H Dog entries

- 4-H and FFA Premier Exhibitor entries

- 4-H Dog Skill-a-thon entries

Junior and Intermediate age divisions are eligible to complete either the Achievement Application or the Career Portfolio. These are due September 15th. The Senior division must complete the Achievement Application in order to be eligible for State Awards. By completing these applications, youth are eligible to win additional $25 cash prizes presented at the Achievement Banquet in October. Youth will need to select a curriculum area. To complete the Achievement Application, youth have a maximum of 3 pages to include the following information: collective 4-H experiences, 4 -H experiences within the last year, 4-H Leadership Experiences, Non 4-H Leadership Experiences, Community Involvement, and Career Spark.

There is a $100 award for youth who hand in (up to three completed) project records by September 1st. Winners will be presented at the Achievement Banquet in October.

Interested in serving as a 4-H judge next summer? We’re always looking for qualified adults with fresh perspectives to serve as judges at the county and state levels. Sign-up by September 30 at 4h.unl.edu/judges.

The Nebraska State Fair will be here before you know it! Get the earliest access to everything you need for this year’s 4-H events, including show programs and results, by downloading the Nebraska 4-H mobile app (go.unl.edu/zbap) now!

We need help! We rely heavily on volunteers in the days leading up to and during the Nebraska State Fair to help ensure everything runs smoothly and provide a positive experience for our youth participants. Learn more about the volunteer opportunities and sign-up at 4h.unl.edu/state-fair-volunteer.

The Premier 4-H Science Award encourages youth to identify science skills they have used in completing their 4-H projects. All static exhibits entered at the 2023 Nebraska State Fair are eligible. For example, maybe youth experimented with different fabric types for a clothing project, explored new ways of preserving fruit, tried a variety of paints to see what would work best for a lamp, or practiced using different photography techniques. All applicants will be recognized and will be eligible for cash awards. Applications are due Monday, August 21. Learn more and apply at 4h.unl.edu/state-fair-static-exhibitor.

DEADLINE APPROACHING! Video Companion Animal Showmanship entries are due Monday, August 14, at 5:00 p.m. CT. This contest allows youth ages 10-18 to showcase the knowledge and skills they have developed in their 4-H companion animal projects. Participants record a 3–5-minute live animal presentation and answer 3 post-presentation questions. The contest is open to youth presenting a cat, ferret, guinea pig, pet rabbit, rodent, bird, reptile, or amphibian. Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/vcasc.

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

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