SHERIDAN COUNTY NEWSLETTER

Apr. 3 - YQCA Training in Rushville

Apr. 12 - Club Link Up in Rushville

Apr. 19 - Panhandle Speech Contest

Apr. 20 - Sale Committee Meeting

Apr. 24 - Arbor Day - Office Closed

Apr. 24 - YQCA Training in Rushville

May 1 - Hay Springs Sewing Session 1

May 14 - YQCA Training in Hay Springs

May 15 - Hay Springs Sewing Session 2

May 17 - Sheep/Goat/Swine Weigh-in

DEADLINE DATES:

Apr. 13 - Speech Contest Registration Deadline

Apr. 15 - 4-H Memorial Scholarship Application due

May 4 - Wilderness Wonders Registration Due

We wanted to provide an update on our digital content. The Department of Justice issued accessibility guidance in 2024 as a rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), establishing a clear accessibility standard for digital content and tools. The deadline for university compliance of Title II is April 24, 2026.

All digital content posted by anyone at the university must meet digital accessibility guidelines before being published. This includes any UNL website (both public and internal facing), web applications, social media posts and more.

This accessibility guidance is a big change for the University and Extension. You will notice our social media flyers are different. Moving forward, almost all the information will be in the caption/post on Facebook, not on the flyer. Our website will be laid out differently as well.

Please note that as we have till April 24 to understand and be in compliance - we are slowly getting our website completed. We will have all fair documents (affidavits, fairbook, schedule, etc) and summer programs on our website in the next two weeks. Thank you for understanding.

Below is the tentative Fair Schedule. Please note the change in the sale photos, the Cake and Cookie Jar Auction, and the Livestock Sale.

The Swine, Sheep, and Goat weigh-in will be held on Sunday, May 17th at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds starting at 9 am with pigs. Sheep and goats will start weighing in at 11 am. All members who are participating in these market livestock projects are encouraged to attend. Sheep and Goats need to have scrapies tags in their ears as official identification.

To kick off summer, join us on a Treasure Hunt at this year's Wilderness Wonders Camp. Youth entering the grades 3rd and 5th on May 28th at Camp Norwesca. Youth ages 5-7, will join camp on May 29th. The fee is $50, which includes lunch, t-shirt, insurance, workshop supplies. Registration is due May 4th. You can find the registration form below.

Older youth who are interested in serving as a camp counselor please contact the Extension Office. Camp counselors must be at least 12 years old.

This Spring the 4-H staff will be offering two sewing session in Hay Springs. During the first session, the youth will create hand warmers and in the second session they will finish a tote bag. Fabric and machines will be provided.

Sessions:

• May 1st from 1 to 3 pm at the Lister Sage
• May 15th from 1 to 3 pm at the Lister Sage

There are only 9 spots available. Please register by contacting the Extension Office at (308) 327-2312.

We are excited to share with you all the summer workshop offerings we have planned for this year. You can find our complete packet below or at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/sheridan/4-h/4-h-workshops/.

• Youth do not have to be 4-H members to attend workshops.
• Workshops are subject to cancellation if minimum participation is not reached.
• Most workshops have a maximum number of participation, these will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

• Online: https://go.unl.edu/sheridan4h26summer
• Paper: see attachment below

Western Livestock Challenge and Tractor Safety Training requires a separate registration form. Please see below.

When: June 3rd

Where: Sheridan County Fairgrounds

Who: Ages 14+

Cost: $60

Register on: https://cvent.me/0oRoRz

When: June 15th from 1 pm to 4 pm

Where: Rustic Greenhouse

Who: Ages 8+

Cost: $10 made out to Rustic Greenhouse

Register by: June 1st

When: June 16th from 1 to 3 pm

Where: Extension Office

Who: Ages 8+

Cost: $15

Register by: June 1st

When: June 17th from 9 am to 2 pm

Where: Sheridan County Fairgrounds

Who: Ages 8+

Cost: $25

Register: Day of

This is a great local contest to practice livestock judging skills. This contest is part of the Great Plains Judging Circuit. Registration fee includes lunch and prizes.

When: June 17th from 3 pm to 6 pm

Where: Sheridan County Extension Office

Who: Ages 8+

Cost: $5

Register by: June 1st

Are you interested in upping your showmanship game or is your goal to win the Large Animal Round? Attend this workshop to get the showmanship tips and tricks.

When: June 22nd, 9 am to 3 pm

Where: Sheridan County Extension Office

Who: Ages 8+

Cost: $45

Register by: June 10th

Please pack a sack lunch.

Come create 4 projects in 1 day! Youth will create a bookshelf, doormat, tray, and a crate ottoman!

When: June 29th, 9 am to 4 pm

Where: Sheridan County Extension Office

Who: Ages 8+

Cost: $25

Register by: June 15th

Please pack a sack lunch, bring a pair of jean shorts.

Design a new outfit at this summer workshop. Youth will burn hats, design a t-shirt and create a skirt from jean shorts.

When: July 7th, 9 am to 2 pm

Where: Sheridan County Extension Office

Who: 5-7

Cost: $20

Register by: July 1st

Please pack a sack lunch.

Design a new outfit at this summer workshop. Youth will burn hats, design a t-shirt and create a skirt from jean shorts.

The North Panhandle Speech Contest will be held on April 19th at the Sheridan County Extension Office starting at 2 pm. Members can participate in a variety of contests. They can give a speech, conduct a presentation, or pre-record a Public Service Announcement with the radio station.

Prepared Speech:

Length:

• Clover Kids - less than 2 minutes
• Junior (ages 8-10) - 2-3 minutes
• Intermediate (ages 11-13) - 3-5 minutes
• Senior (ages 14 -18) - 5-8 minutes

No team entries or props allowed.

Public Service Announcement:

Length: 60 seconds

No team entries. Needs to incorporate the theme: "Ready Today, Leading Tomorrow". Need to be general enough to be used across Nebraska. Must include tagline within the last 10 seconds: "Learn more about the the Nebraska Extension 4-H Youth Development Program at 4h.unl.edu." Copyrighted material can't be used. Feel free to reach out to The Twister, as they are generally willing to record a member's PSA with them.

Video Communication:

Length: 60 -90 seconds

No team entries. Youth can use phone, laptop, or tablet to create a multi-media piece around the theme: "Ready Today, Leading Tomorrow." No copyrighted material.

Illustrated Presentation:

Length:

• Individual Junior - 3-5 minutes
• Individual Intermediate and Senior - 6-8 minutes
• Team Junior - 5-7 minutes
• Team Intermediate and Senior - 8 -10 minutes

Topic should be related to what youth are learning about through 4-H.

More more details on the rules, past state winners, etc. Please visit: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/communication/pce/

Animal Affidavits for beef, sheep, goats, swine, dog, horse, and cat are due June 15th. Dog and Cat vaccination forms are due on July 1st. If you attend a weigh-in, these forms were completed then. To access the forms visit: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/sheridan/animal-affidavits/

4-H members who are seniors are invited to complete the 4-H Scholarship application. One person will be selected to win a $500 scholarship from the 4-H Council. Applications are due on April 15th. They may be submitted via email to Melissa Mracek at mmracek2@unl.edu or brought to the office. The application is attached below.

Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA).

Youth enrolled in any of following projects or project areas will need to complete YQCA training;

• Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market beef)

• Dairy Cattle

• Goat (breeding meat goat, dairy goat, meat goat)

• Poultry

• Rabbit

• Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)

• Swine (breeding swine, market swine)

There are 3 ways to complete this certification:

1. Web-Based Training - Web-based annual training is available through the YQCA learning management system. The online YQCA course costs $12 per individual regardless of age. Each session purchased includes three modules - a knowledge builder, a skills lab, and a quiz. The knowledge builder is where content is delivered. The skills lab provides an opportunity to apply the content. The quiz test knowledge. To receive certification, 80% must be achieved on the 10-question quiz. These modules, completed in their entirety, will provide 2-3 hours of experience.
2. In-Person Training - In-person YQCA training courses cost $3 per individual regardless of age.
3. Testing Out - Test-out options are only available to youth in the first year of Intermediate (age 12) and Senior (age 15) age levels. There is no test-out option for Juniors.

Please visit: https://yqcaprogram.org/ for more information, get registered and pay fees for the in-person course, or take the online course.

Dates for Instructor Led Trainings:

• April 24 - Extension Office - 9 am to 11 am
• May 14 - Hay Springs Lister Sage- After school

Deadline to complete YQCA is June 15th! YQCA Certificates need to be sent to mmracek2@unl.edu or returned to the office.

Back by popular demand are regular Clover Kid meetings hosted by Tessa Reece. Tessa will be hosting meetings in Hay Springs and Gordon at the afterschool program. The Hay Springs event will be on April 14th from 4 to 5 pm at school cafeteria. These activities are for kids in Kindergarten through Second grade.

The annual 4-H Horse Camp will be held at the Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford. The sessions include working ranch, horse stretching, riding games, creating a rope halter, and more! For youth members 8 and above the fee is $75. This includes craft, supper, t-shirt, horse stalls for Thursday and Friday night. For more information visit: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dawes/4-h-dawes-county/workshops-programs-camps-clubs/

It is time to be thinking of State Fair Livestock requirements!

All livestock in contention to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will be required to complete an online nomination with payment through Show Stock Manager and submit a DNA collector envelope with a hair sample. For NE State Fair DNA instructions and envelopes, please stop by the Extension Office. This includes all 4-H and FFA breeding livestock, market livestock, and feeder calves.

Show Stock Manager is open for livestock nominations for the 2026 Nebraska State Fair! Website Link: https://showstockmgr.com/ Each State Fair nomination will be $7.00 per animal in Show Stock Manager. Submit the DNA payment and complete the online nomination in Show Stock Manager. 4-H and FFA livestock nominations are due on June 15, 2026.

Turn in your completed DNA envelopes to the local Extension Office or FFA Advisor by June 15, 2026.

State Fair Entry Closes August 8, 2026

For 4-H/FFA families who are planning on entering the Aksarben Stock Show, you will need separate DNA envelopes and online nominations- exhibitors will be ordering and purchasing their DNA envelopes through the AKSS website https://aksarbenstockshow.com/ The Aksarben Stock Nomination online nomination system will be different than Show Stock Manager and separate between each livestock show.

Please direct any AKSS questions to the AKSS website.

Families can reenroll in 4-H for the 2026 Fair Season now! Visit 4honline.com to get started. As a reminder, if you plan to participate in Shooting Sports or the Horse project, you need to add those projects and sign the consents. Other projects are not mandatory to add. Please contact the Extension Office for assistance.

The 55th annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) will be held July 6-10, 2026, on UNL’s East Campus.

Applications are now available to students who are currently high school juniors and seniors on the website at: www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi

Applications will be due on April 15th.

For more information, please see the attachment below.

In March robotics finished up with teams competing at the State Robotics Expo. The Duck Republic team consisting of Avery Kreitman, Denali Hillion, Gage Bidroski, and Clare Swanson won a Core Value award.

Also in March, Sheridan County 7th graders participated in the Inventure Day program where they developed their own product and business idea. A huge thank you to our mentors for the day: Julie Linders, Muffy Forney, Amanda Haller, Brenda Beliel, Renee Thies, Kris House, Amy Schmidt, Emilee Wells, Seth Tausan, Jennifer Dieriex, and Deb Kearns.

At the State BB Gun competition in Kimball, Maverick Bourne placed 32nd in the 11 to 12 year old division and Ezra Bourne placed 34th in the 13 to 18 year old division.

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, Valerie Beel, Tim Campbell, Kris Stumpff, Melissa Mracek

4-H Council:
President - Brian Nelson

Vice President - Brandon Jancik

Secretary - Kaleigh Krebs

Treasurer - Chet Tausan
Members - Brad Beguin, Jackie Simonson, Hannah Hoos, Zach Kearns, and Clint Nielsen.
Youth Members: Luke Laws, Jackson Roffers, MacKenzie Simonson, and Jacob Dorshorst

Extension Board:
President - Caleb Peters
Vice President - Morgan Weyers
Secretary/Treasurer - Paige Stumpff
Members - Mark Haller and Austin Reed

Sheridan County Extension Office:

Office Manager - Wendy Andersen

4-H Extension Educator - Melissa Mracek

Livestock Systems Extension Educator - Brock Ortner

Rural Prosperity Extension Educator - Caitlin Roes

Email: sheridan-county@unl.edu
Location: 800 S Loofborrow Street, PO Box 329, Rushville, NE 69360
Phone: 308-327-2312
Twitter: @SheridanCounty