March Newsletter

Nebraska Extension - Wayne County

510 N Pearl Street, Suite C | Wayne, NE 68787-1939

402-375-3310 | FAX: 402-375-0102

E-mail: wayne-county@unl.edu

Website: http://wayne.unl.edu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtWayneCounty

6 UNL Red Letter Day

7 Clover Kid Meeting (Reg. DUE March 2)

7 Chick Days (Reg. DUE March 2)

10 NCTA Discovery Day

15 Direct Volunteer Enrollment DUE

14-15 Nebraska State 4-H BB Gun and Air Rifle Championship, Kimball

15 4-H Council High School Senior Scholarship & Renee Felt Schulte Scholarship Applications DUE

16 4-H Council

18 Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards Nominations DUE

20-21 Nebraska First Lego League Championship

21-22 Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification and Update Trainings, Bloomfield

23 State 4-H Internship Application and Resume DUE

28 UNL Admitted Student Day

30 Zoom in to CASNR

Thank you to everyone who has enrolled and welcome to the new 4-H members and families to the 4-H Program! We look forward to getting to know and working with each of you! All youth enrolled in 4-HOnline by February 2 were entered into a drawing to win a prize.

Congratulations to the following!

Aiden Lundahl - winner of a 2026 Fair Pass

Dean Junck - winner a $25 Bomgaars Gift Card

Jacob Prothman - winner of $25 Certificate to the 4-H Food Stand

Prizes will be mailed to the winners soon!

Go to https://v2.4honline.com if you haven’t enrolled. It’s not too late!

Currently, the newsletter is only shared digitally (email) with families unless you contact the office indicating you would like a hard copy mailed to you. We are happy to send one to you! If we do not hear from you, we will assume you only want to receive it electronically. Please reach out if you have questions.

Nebraska 4‑H is pleased to announce that all enrolled Nebraska 4‑H youth and volunteers receive complimentary online access to 4‑H curriculum developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln! More than 30 digital publications are available at no cost to enrolled Nebraska 4‑H members and volunteers. These learning resources cover a variety of topics, including clothing, babysitting, shopping, entomology, poultry, and many more. Access to the digital curriculum is provided through the 4-HOnline Member Enrollment system. Once enrollment has been completed and approved, youth members and volunteers will receive an email with a link to begin exploring the available resources. Additional digital, print, and online 4‑H curriculum and learning resources are also available and may be accessed on the Nebraska 4‑H Project & Learning Resources web page.

The Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards honors adult and youth volunteers as well as multi-generational families who have provided meaningful contributions to Nebraska 4-H. One Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award and One Emerging Adult Volunteer Award winner will be chosen for each of the state’s 10 Nebraska Extension Engagement zones. Statewide winners will be named in the each of the youth volunteer and multi-generational family categories.

The nomination period runs through March 18, 2026. Nominations can be submitted by any 4-H member, family, supporter, or Extension staff member. Nominees must fit the award categories and can be a volunteer for any Nebraska 4-H experience. Some examples may include 4-H club leader, project leader, junior leader, county or State Fair volunteer, special interest volunteer (such as robotics or shooting sports), afterschool club volunteer or 4-H camp volunteer. More information, along with the nomination form, is available online at: https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-recognition.

Winners will be announced virtually in April 2026. A special awards presentation will take place at the 2026 Nebraska State Fair.

There will be a Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification and Instructor Update trainings March 21-22 in Bloomfield at the Knox County Fairgrounds. All disciplines are offered. Early bird registration closes March 11.

For more information on the initial Instructor Certification, visit https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/4hstaff/19899/105989

For more information on the Instructor Update, visit https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/4hstaff/19899/105991

There will be a Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification and Instructor Update trainings April 11-12 in Broken Bow at the Custer County Fairgrounds. All disciplines are offered. Early bird registration closes April 1.

For more information on the initial Instructor Certification, visit https://events.unl.edu/NE4H-Shooting-Sports/2026/04/11/195625/

For more information on the Instructor Update, visit https://events.unl.edu/NE4H-Shooting-Sports/2026/04/11/195642/

Each year, the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees challenges 4-H members from all over the country to submit an essay on a topic related to honey bees. Each state chooses its finalist and submits his or her essay to the Foundation for judging. Three cash prizes will be awarded in the 2026 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition. This year's topic is "The Power of Pollen." Reach out to Nebraska Extension in Wayne County for essay rules and requirements. Essay is due April 15.

The Public Speaking and Presentation Contests are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on April 19, 2026 at the Wayne County Courthouse. Registration for the event is due on April 16. These contests help youth develop skills for communicating about current issues to real audiences, learn how to organize and prepare a speech, develop speech delivery skills, learn how to present themselves to others, and develop self-confidence.

The top five contestants in each of the junior, intermediate, and senior divisions of each category

(Prepared Speech, PSA, and Illustrated Presentation) are eligible to represent Wayne County at the Premier Communication Event, June 16-17, 2026 in Lincoln.

All enrolled 4-H youth are eligible to participate in Impromptu Speech and Video Communication at the Premier Communications event in Lincoln on June 16-17. Information is included and at https://4h.unl.edu/premier-communication-event

There are several upcoming animal related events this spring and summer. Click the button bellow for animal events.

There are several summer camps with registration due dates soon. Click the button bellow for summer camps.

Attention seniors and parents of seniors! Check out our newsletter about scholarships and other college information. Juniors, feel free to take a peak to plan ahead for next year!

6 NCTA Discovery Day

10 Red Letter Day

11-12 Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification and Update Trainings, Broken Bow

13 Junior Jumpstart

15 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay DUE

15 NAYI Applications DUE

19 Public Speaking and Presentation Contest (Reg. DUE Apr. 16)

19-25 National Volunteer Week

20 Junior Jumpstart

24 Arbor Day (Office Closed)

27 Zoom in to CASNR

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional reminders and updates!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtWayneCounty

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waynecountynebraska4h/

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. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture. ©2026