Monthly Newsletter

Sunday, February 1

1:00pm- Sidney Sharpshooters informational meeting at the Sidney Shooting Park

Saturday, February 7

8:00am- Beef weigh-in at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds

Sunday, February 8

1:00pm- Trap Practice

4:00pm- Dryland Toughies meeting at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds

Tuesday, February 10

6:30pm- Archery practice begins, will meet every Tuesday

Thursday, February 12

6:30pm- BB practice begins, will meet every Thursday

Sunday, February 15

1:00pm- All Club Sharpshooters meeting

Friday, February 20

1:30-2:30pm- Clover Kids at the Sidney Public Library

Sunday, February 22

1:00pm- Trap practice

Wednesday, March 4

Deadline to notify the Extension Office if you want Special Garden Project seeds

Thursday, March 12

Deadline to notify the Extension Office if you want Special Agronomy Project seeds

Sunday, March 15

4:00pm- Dryland Toughies meeting at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds

11:59pm- Returning volunteer enrollment deadline

Saturday, March 21

9:00am- In-person YQCA training at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds

Saturday, March 28

9:00am- In-person YQCA training at the Deuel County Fairgrounds

Thursday, April 16

6:00pm- In-person YQCA training in Scottsbluff at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center (PREEC)

Thursday, May 14

6:00pm- Sheep and Goat weigh-in at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds

Monday, June 15

By 5:00pm- Member enrollment deadline

By 5:00pm- Ownership Affidavits due

By 5:00pm- YQCA certificates due

Monday, July 6

By 5:00pm- Fair entry forms due

Hello, my name is Ashlyn Roelle and I am excited to serve as the new Extension Instructor for Cheyenne and Deuel Counties. I grew up in Sidney, NE where I participated in 4-H showing horses, pigs, and static exhibits. I completed my Bachelors in Agriculture Animal Science at the University of Central Missouri where I was a part of Agriculture Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and the Agriculture Honors Society. In my spare time I love to spend time with my family and pets. I look forward to working closely with area residents, schools, producers, and volunteers to strengthen existing programs and develop new opportunities that meet local needs.

Join us for our February Clover Kids! This month’s activity will get kids thinking like engineers and cheering like racers!

• Friday, February 20, 1:30- 2:30pm at the Sidney Public Library

• Participation is FREE!

• Clover Kids is open to youth ages 5–7 as of Jan 1

• Please RSVP to the Extension Office by Wednesday, February 18 so we can plan enough supplies for everyone.

The 2026 Nebraska 4-H State BB Gun & Air Rifle Championships will be held on March 14-15, 2026 at the Kimball High School.

Please work with your club leader if you would like to register and attend. Registration is due by February 27, 2026.

The Special Garden Project is a way to offer Nebraska youth the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens.

The 2026 Special Garden Project will focus on the Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold. This marigold produces creamy, yellow flowers on compact plants. This variety not only has a unique color, but it also has a very long bloom time.

The Extension Office will be placing an order for the seeds for this project. Please contact us by no later than Wednesday, March 4 to let us know you would like seeds. The fee is currently estimated at around $0.50/youth plus shipping.

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live in. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different. This year, we will be exploring a crop that can be marketed different ways depending on the variety.

In the sixth year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore TWO varieties of popcorn! The first is an heirloom variety that was discovered and developed by a farmer in eastern Nebraska, called Nebraska Red. The second is a commercial variety, Robust 997. Be sure not to plant sweet corn in your garden with these to prevent cross pollination.

Be eligible to enter an exhibit at the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy project area.

Contact your local Extension Office to order packets of seeds. The local Extension Office will order and distribute the seeds to members.

Please contact the Extension Office to let us know you would like seeds by no later than Thursday, March 12.

For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules.

Nebraska 4‑H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) every year. YQCA is a national multi-species quality assurance program focused on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. YQCA training can be completed online or at in-person training events. Youth are free to choose the option that works best for them, and in-person training can be in any county.

**Every 4‑H member who exhibits Beef, Dairy Cattle, Goats, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, or Swine must complete Quality Assurance and provide a copy of your certificate to the Extension Office by June 15.

Youth are invited to join us and Big Gumdrop Outdoors as we explore the world around us through Exploring Ecosystems.

Campers will explore Nebraska’s natural world, discover how ecosystems connect, and learn how they can help care for the environment - all while having fun at camp!

The Nebraska State 4-H Camp is offering both day camps and overnight camp opportunities. Camp will return to Chadron for a 5 day overnight session (June 15-19) for youth ages 8–14. Day camps will be held in Grand Island (June 30) and Lincoln (July 22) for youth ages 8–12 providing a great introduction to the camp experience.

Registration is now OPEN! More information on sessions, dates, scholarships, and the link to register can be found at 4h.unl.edu/camp.

Enrollment is open!

While youth may enroll in 4-H at any time during the year, they must be enrolled by no later than June 15 to participate in County and State Fair. Other projects, such as shooting sports or robotics, may require earlier enrollment to participate in practices or events. Please contact the Extension Office if you have questions or would like more information.

The Extension Office Staff are here to serve you!

Use our website as a valuable resource for information on Beef Systems, Community Environment, Rural Prosperity Nebraska, Crop and water systems, Food Nutrition and Health, and The Learning Child.

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Telephone: 308-254-4455

Address: PO Box 356, 920 Jackson Street, Sidney, NE 69162

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