4-H Newsletter

In this edition:

• 4-H Enrollment
• Volunteer Information
• Winter Break 4-H Take and Make Kits
• Hooker County Achievement Night
• State Event Opportunities

It's the 4-H New Year! 4-H Online is now open and ready for re-enrollment. I know many of you are wasting no time getting involved in 4-H activities. If you are in shooting sports, robotics or planning to volunteer, please don't hesitate to get enrolled for this year. Check out the attachments for step-by-step instructions on how to re-enroll.

Enrollment is now open. If you serve as a 4-H Council member, Club Leader, Shooting Sports Instructor or plan to lead a workshop, please take the time to re-enroll before you begin your volunteer duties.

If you successfully screened last year, you will not be asked to screen or take part in the orientation for another five years. However, you will still be checked monthly by Sterling Volunteers.

The State 4-H office is still currently working on their end to get the orientation videos embedded in the enrollment process, but if you did them last year, you do not have to do them again this year. If you are prompted to take the orientation again, let me know and we will try to take care of it on our end.

Thank you for your willingness to serve the betterment of our young 4-H'ers!

Brittney is doing her best to spend time in both the Thomas and Hooker county offices to better serve her wide region. Below is a color-coded calendar showing what office she will be in if you need to stop in and chat. November is a month full of conferences and holidays so there is no set pattern for where she may be. Please refer to the calendar if you are planning to stop by or reach her by her mobile number (308) 675-8539.

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

The Nebraska Fed Steer Challenge is a hands-on livestock education program that includes raising a steer purchased at market price, monthly webinars with industry professional and UNL Animal Science Faculty, a special class at the Nebraska State Fair evaluated by a commercial cattle buyer, and harvesting steers to evaluate carcass merit. Monthly content includes: Feeder Cattle Pricing and Starting Cattle on Feed, Winter Feeding & Care of Cattle, Implants & Growth Modifiers, Cattle & the Environment, Risk Management Strategies, Summer Feeding & Care of Cattle, Quality & Yield Grading and Grid Pricing for Carcass Merit.

Please apply by December 15th, 2025 for the 2026 program year. For more information

regarding the Fed Steer Challenge, or to submit an application please visit https://4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge

Earn a $5,000 Scholarship!

Join Us for a Day of Food Science!

Spend a day in the Food Science and Technology Department conducting one-of-a-kind experiments in the Food Innovation Center’s teaching laboratories and pilot plants. The activities will be led by Food Science and Technology faculty and experts from The Food Processing Center. You will practice your new skills and build upon your understanding of a career as a food science professional as you engage in real-world challenges.

For your participation in this one-day event, you can earn a $5,000 scholarship!*

For more information and to register go to: https://foodscience.unl.edu/food-science-scholarship.../

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:

CSA Office: (308)645-2267

Brittney Walker: (308)675-8539

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.