4-H Newsletter

In this edition:

• 4-H Enrollment Update
• New 4-H Assistant
• Pick up State Fair Exhibits
• National 4-H Week
• Volunteer Roadshow
• Meat Judging Opportunity
• Ignite Conference

The end of the 2024-2025 4-H year is nearing. 4-H Online will be closing soon to prepare for the 2025-2026 year and will re-open for enrollment on November 1st. Watch for more information on how to re-enroll in next month's newsletter.

Hello 4-H families and volunteers! I am Brittney Walker, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as your new 4-H Assistant serving Blaine, Thomas, Hooker, and Grant counties!

As a proud Central Sandhills 4-H alum, it’s an incredible honor to return to the communities that helped shape who I am today. Growing up in this program, I had the chance to explore a little bit of everything—whether it was shooting BB gun and air rifle with the Grant County Sharpshooters, serving as a camp counselor in Halsey, showing market steers, or entering baking and sewing projects at the Hooker County Fair. These experiences gave me lifelong skills and memories, and I’m truly grateful to be back where it all began.

I’m excited to bring my recent experience as a 4-H Assistant in Seward County to this role and to support youth as they discover their spark through 4-H. Whether it’s through traditional projects or new adventures, I’m here to encourage, guide, and grow alongside each of you.

I look forward to working with you and making this a fun, impactful year in 4-H!

Brittney Walker

Email: bemerson4@unl.edu

Office Phone: (308)645-2267

Mobile Phone: (402)322-2867

We still have a few exhibits and premium checks left from the State Fair. Please stop by to pick up your projects at your earliest convenience.

Hooker County Exhibitors--your exhibits are in the Extension Office in the Hooker County Courthouse.

Celebrate National 4-H Week October 5th - 11th! Wear green, show off all of the fun things happening in your clubs and serve your community this week to get in the Nebraska 4-H Spirit!

Hello Central Sandhills 4-H Volunteers!

Nebraska 4-H is excited to bring the 4-H Volunteer Road Show to volunteers statewide this November! The 4-H Volunteer Road Show will rotate host locations each year, get registered today at the location near you OR attend the virtual session! NEW for 2025: All registered participants will go in a drawing for a Shop 4-H digital gift card! Please see the attached flyer for details regarding the dates, locations and times. The Volunteer Road Show is a great opportunity to experience project training and new ideas to bring back to your 4-H community. All 4-H volunteers, parents/caregivers and any adult wanting to find THEIR spark while volunteering with 4-H is welcome!

Visit https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-road-show for more specific information and registration link. Registration closes one week prior to each Road Show session. Registration is $15 per person and includes a meal and all supplies for in-person attendees. Registration for Virtual attendees is $10, they will receive a packet of supplies to use during the program.

Schedule for In-Person Locations

5:30 pm Arrive, Eat, Welcome

6:00 pm Avoid 4-H Volunteer Burnout: Avoid 4-H Volunteer Burnout by learning how to implement some practical steps for your own 4-H club structure.

6:30 pm Building Strong Relationships with Youth at Every Stage – Are you looking for ways to build a strong relationship with you through each stage of their 4-H experience? Learn ways to intentionally build relationships with youth of all ages.

7:00 pm Curriculum Training

Human Development – Searching for your next club project? Experience a hands-on Human Development project! This includes a lesson and fair exhibit idea(s) ready to take back to the 4-H experience you lead.

Beyond Ready – Discover how volunteers can ensure youth are Beyond Ready for life and work by experiencing a lesson you can take back to the 4-H experience you lead! Ready to provide your 4-H members with some career exploration activities - this is perfect for you!

8:00 pm Safe Travels Home

Hosted at UNL’s Animal Science Complex Meat Laboratory, this come-and-go event will feature a wide variety of meat products for students to practice on (carcasses, wholesale cuts, retail ID). It’s a great warm-up for upcoming contests and a fun way to build skills in a low-pressure environment.

Is your teen passionate about AI, computer science, or STEM? Nebraska 4-H has a funded opportunity for youth (ages 13–19) to attend the 2026 Ignite by 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. - including travel, registration, hotel, and meals! This year's conference will be March 25–29, 2026.

Teens & a parent/guardian must complete the Interest Form by Oct. 27: https://go.unl.edu/ai-igite26

Thanks for your help in identifying Nebraska's future STEM leaders!

Please be sure to like us on Facebook at Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills

Don't forget to visit our Extension website at: Nebraska Extension in the Sandhills

PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR NEWS so it can be included in our newsletters! Forward any 4-H news, events, or activities to CentralSandhills@unl.edu.

Mailing Address: PO Box 148 - Thedford, NE 69166

Email:

Brittney Walker: bemerson4@unl.edu

Terri Thomas: tthomas39@unl.edu

Location: 503 Main Street, Thedford, NE, USA
Phone: (308)645-2267

Nebraska 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. Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.