4-H ENROLLMENT OPEN
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!
4-H MONTH IS HERE - LETS MAKE SOME CARDS FOR THE NURSING HOME!
4-H Month is a great time to give back to others in the community. One group that sometimes gets forgotten about are residents of nursing homes. Feelings of loneliness can be decreased after receiving mail. So this year for 4-H month we are encouraging 4-H members to send cards to residents in the nursing home. Attached are card templates that can be used or draw one of your own. We would like to have cards dropped off at the nursing homes for Valentines Day so please plan to deliver them to the Extension Office by February 12th. When sending a card to someone in the nursing home you may not have a personal connection with that person and may not know what their preferences are so for your message it can be an uplifting quote or wishes such as:
“Sending you warm wishes and letting you know someone out there is caring about you.” Here are some other things to consider:
- Do not include your personal information like last name, address, email address
- Keep messages generic and nonreligious
- Avoid suggestion that their situation needs to be improved such as “Feel Better”
- Add fun drawings
Here are some suggestions of what to put in your card:
- Wishing you a wonderful day!
- Thinking about you!
- For someone who’s special and wonderful…
- Just a friendly little hello form me to you!
- Just felt like sharing a smile with you today!
- Sending happy thoughts your way!
- Hoping you know how special you are…
- This greeting is sent with warmest wishes to brighten your day!
- Wishing you a wonderful day to a wonderful person!
- You are loved!
- Sending sunshine
MARKET BEEF WEIGH IN
All youth planning to exhibit a market beef animal at the Sheridan County Fair has the opportunity for the animal to be tagged and weighed in at the Sheridan County Livestock Market, February 4, 2024, 1:00-3:00 pm.
Nebraska State Fair/AKSARBEN: All livestock in contention to exhibit at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair and/or the Aksarben Stock Show will be required to submit a DNA nomination. All 4-H/FFA BREEDING livestock, market livestock and FEEDER CALVES will now be required to submit a DNA sample/envelope to be eligible to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair.
DNA nominations for the Nebraska State Fair are due on June 15, 2024. Any DNA nomination submitted through Show Stock Manager will also be eligible for exhibition at the Aksarben Stock Show.
Members who cannot make the weigh in date may attend the Dawes County Market Beef weigh-ins if necessary. If attending the alternative weigh in, members must notify the beef superintendents and the office.
Dawes County Beef Weigh-in – February 17 from 9:00 - Noon in Crawford
CLOVER BUD MEETING
- Rushville Clover Bud meeting will be February 27, 3:30-4:15
- Gordon Clover Bud meeting will be February 13, 3:30-4:30
- Hay Springs Clover Bud meeting will be February 26, 4:00-4:45
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.
SEW FUN
Free sewing classes are held February 19th at the Extension office in Rushville from 9:00 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 4:00pm or February 16th 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 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.
4-H Volunteer Impact Study of Volunteers - You may be contacted
This survey is being conducted by the NCR Volunteer Specialists as a part of a multi-state effort to document the impact of volunteering. A previous survey conducted fall of 2018 clearly demonstrated the impacts volunteering with the 4-H program has on communities, youth, and volunteers.
Since 2018, the 4-H volunteer impacts documented in the first study have been shared with decision makers, constituents, volunteers, and Extension professionals across the country. Like any good evaluation, after five years, it is important to identify new impacts. Examples of these impacts include:
- 86% Reported gaining skills to use in other volunteering.
- 96% Reported helping make youth ready for future careers.
- 92% Reported volunteering with 4-H makes communities stronger.
The purpose of the study is to quantify the personal, organizational, and public impacts of volunteers involved with the 4-H Youth Development Programs in the twelve state region. The goals are to:
- Document what individuals feel they gain from their experiences as a 4-H volunteer.
- Investigate the organizational benefits our program receives from volunteers.
- Assess volunteers’ beliefs about the public value of volunteering with the 4-H program.
This 12 state study of volunteers in the 4-H program will be conducted through an electronic survey disseminated by University of Minnesota evaluators. There will be a random sample of 1000 volunteers from our state that will be selected to participate. The survey will be distributed on January 15 and close on February 15. Each state will receive state specific data. We will be sharing more information with you later this winter and next spring.
JARVIS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The intent of the scholarship is to assist women who live 3 or more hours drive from Lincoln but wish to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Applicant must reside in Love Memorial Cooperative Residence Hall on East Campus. If you have questions email Gloria Turnbull at gloria.turnbull@windstream.net. Application deadline: postmarked or email a PDF file no later than March 15, 2024.
SHERIDAN COUNTY 4-H MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarship eligibility is for high school seniors enrolled in the Sheridan County 4-H program and planning to enroll in any post-secondary education institution. This is a $500 scholarship. The scholarship awards one graduating senior who has excelled in their involvement with the 4-H program. The basis for selection acknowledges the leadership role the youth have taken on within the Sheridan County 4-H Program.
Note: Form is available on https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/northernpanhandle/sheridan-county-4-h-0/ as a Word Document. Form can be submitted by e-mail or mail.
Conditions of acceptance:
Seniors must plan to enroll in post-secondary education immediately following graduation from high school and submit a list of classes when they are enrolled.
SUMMER CAMP 2024
The summer 2024 theme is The Power of Being 🍀 Green. Youth will get to explore and interact with their natural world in six different sessions. Youth will learn how they can use their head, heart, hands, and health to make our natural world a better place for all. The 2024 sessions offer tailored age cohorts, providing sessions for younger campers between the ages of 8-10, and an older cohort for ages 10-14. Families can find dates, session summaries, and registration information by visiting https://4h.unl.edu/camps-register.
Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program
We are excited to announce the fourth year of the Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program. This additional opportunity for enrolled livestock project youth, is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership.
The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.
The program consists of three levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals. Each accomplishment is worth a specific number of points. Junior 8-9 submits pictures, poster, presentation, and other learning activities to receive the distinction of Junior Member of Excellence, no point value, Intermediates, ages 10-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence. Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence. The Plan and Reports, linked on the webpage, show examples of the project related accomplishments they can choose, or they can identify their own with approval of their local educator.
Applications/Sign up are due June 15th through the application form link on the website. Plan and Reports, as well as Project Records will be due August 1 via the completion form on the website.
Youth completing the achievement program and receiving member of excellence recognition in the various species will be recognized during the Parade of Champions, 4-H weekend at the Nebraska State Fair.
For more information or to apply, go to: Livestock Achievement Program | Nebraska 4-H (unl.edu)
Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic Livestock Judging Contest
The contest will be held in Kearney on Saturday, Feb. 17th with the entry deadline being Feb. 5th. All details and entry information can be found using the following link https://nebraskaclassic.org/winter-edition/judging-contest.php. We look forward to another great contest this year with an outstanding dinner and set of awards to follow.
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 - 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
Nebraska Extension - Sheridan County Office
Email: sheridan-county@unl.edu
Location: 800 S Loofborrow Street, PO Box 329, Rushville, NE 69360
Phone: 308-327-2312
Twitter: @SheridanCounty
