SHERIDAN COUNTY NEWSLETTER

Mar. 13 - YQCA in Person training at 1 pm

Mar. 17 - 4-H Council Meeting at 6:30 pm

Mar. 21-22 - State Robotics Competition

Mar. 24 - Sheridan County Extension Board at 6:30 pm

Mar. 27 - Inventure Day at the Extension Office

Mar. 27 - Clover Bud Meeting in Rushville at 4 pm

DEADLINE DATES:

April 1 - Public Speaking Contest Registration

June 15 - 4-H Enrollment

We are looking for a few new club leaders to help. Please contact the Extension Office if you are interested in helping out. Supplies and resources would be provided for you. Maybe don't want a full time commitment just offer to host one meeting.

Club Leaders need to re-enroll in 4-H Online. We are utilizing a new screening system so all volunteers need to complete the background check within the system but will not have to do it again for another 5 years. Volunteers will also need to complete the orientation videos. Youth volunteers will also need to complete the background screening. Parents will have to sign a release form. This year for the 4-H year, it needs to be completed by March 15th.

Clover Buds is a program for 5-7 year olds to get introduced into a variety of projects in 4-H. We will have a Clover Bud Meeting in Rushville on March 27th at the Extension Office from 4 to 5 pm The program will include an activity and snack. Please contact the office by March 20th if your child plans to attend.

The Panhandle Best Matches have officially began! On January 19th Rushville hosted a match and Harrison hosted their match on January 26th. Below you will find the Sheridan County results for both of these contests.

Box Butte Results:

· BB Gun:

o 11-12 year old: Ian Hahn – 2nd, Whitten Diers – 14th,

Grant Results:

· BB Gun:

o 11-12 year old: Ian Hahn – 9th, Whitten Diers - 13th,

Scotts Bluff Results:

· BB Gun:

o 9-10 year old: Maverick Bourne - 11th

o 11-12 year old: Ian Hahn – 10th, Whitten Diers - 11th, Ezra Bourne - 17th

If youth ages 8-18 as of Jan 1 are showing beef, pigs, sheep or goats (this includes breeding, bucket calves and feeder calves), dairy cattle, dairy goats, poultry and/or rabbits at County fair, state fair, AKSARBEN or other shows, they need to complete the YQCA Certification.

There are 3 ways to complete this certification:

1. Youth can complete an online course. This course has 3 sections and youth must complete a quiz in each of the sections and pass with an 80% or better. If youth do not get at least an 80% they are locked out for an hour and should review material. This course also has a fee of $12 that must be paid online.
2. Youth can attend an Instructor Led Session put on by the Extension Office. Youth will attend in-person and actively participate through the 60 minute PowerPoint, as well as some hands on activities at the end. This session has a fee of $3 that must be paid online through the YQCA Website. We also ask that you pre-register through the YQCA website so we can make we have enough supplies for the hands on activities.
3. Youth could complete the Test Out option online at the Intermediate or Senior Level. These courses cost $36 & $48 respectively.

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:

• Thursday, March 13 at the Extension Office at 1 pm
• Monday, April 21 at the Extension Office at 1 pm
• Thursday, May 1 in Hay Springs at after school

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

Please contact the Extension Office if you have more questions.

Nebraska 4-H is now accepting nominations for a new awards program to recognize the outstanding contributions of 4-H volunteers across the state.

The Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards honors adult and youth volunteers, as well as and 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.

“Our 4-H volunteers go above and beyond to serve Nebraska’s youth every year,” said Jill Goedeken, 4-H Youth Development Extension educator. “We are looking forward to another opportunity to recognize 4-H volunteers for their contributions to youth in Nebraska.”

The nomination period runs through March 20, 2025. 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 2025. A special awards presentation will take place at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair.

REGISTER NOW! 2025 Tractor & Equipment Safety Trainings are scheduled across the state. Certification from this course allows 14- and 15-year-olds to legally drive a tractor and do field work with certain mechanized equipment. Visit go.unmc.edu/tractor-safety-training to learn more!

Certification is earned by completing a two-day certification course, which includes a written test and a driving exam. Successful completion grants NSTMOP certification, allowing them to operate tractors and certain mechanized equipment on farms and ranches, and obtain a husbandry permit. Youth under 14 can attend Day 1 if accompanied by an adult, at no charge.

No Day 1 at your location? You can attend it at another location, or choose the online option!

Spring into 4-H judging! A training series for 4-H project judges will take place in April 2025:

• Thursday, April 10th (5:30 - 6:30 pm CST): Introduction to Judging 4-H Projects
• Audience: Adults interested in learning about judging 4-H projects at county and state fairs.
• Topics: Ensuring interview judging is a positive experience, the role of Positive Youth Development in the judging process and more!
• Monday, April 14th (5:30 - 7:00 pm CST): 4-H Visual Arts & Foods Judges Training

The Sheridan County 4-H Council wants to recognize 4-H seniors with a scholarship opportunity. Below is the word and pdf version of the scholarship applications. Please complete the application and return it to the Extension Office by April 15th.

The Premier Communication Event and will be a two-day event held on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus on June 19th & June 20th. For more information and resources visit: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/communication/pce/

Sheridan County 4-H will participate in the North Panhandle Public Speaking Contest on Sunday, April the Speech, PSA and Presentations Contest on Sunday, April 6th at 1:00 pm in Harrison at the Harrison Fire Hall. Contest will consist of youth from Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan, and Sioux counties. Youth will be judged in each county and separate awards will be given per county.

Registration forms are due to the Sheridan County Extension Office or email mmracek2@unl.edu by Tuesday, April 1st!

Youth from this event will be selected to participate in the Premier Communication Contest in Lincoln, Nebraska. Details for the contest can be found at the link below.

Youth qualifying at the local level can participate at the state event being held on June 19-20, 2025 in Lincoln, NE. There are some great cash prizes for those that win the events! More information can be found at the Premier Communication Event Site. Registration for the state competition is due on JUNE 1st! The office will be in contact with a new registration form if you qualify.

The 2025 What’s the Buzz? season of the Nebraska State 4-H Camp will share the importance of pollinators in Nebraska- why they’re important, how they impact agriculture, and what youth can do in their own communities to support the various native pollinators we have in Nebraska. From bees and butterflies to hummingbirds and bats- it’s going to be a week full of learning and fun!

The Nebraska State 4-H Camp is returning to Chadron and Burwell for summer camp 2025! Youth new to camping can attend a shorter camp session designed to let them experience all the best parts of summer camp in a 3 day/2 night session. Choose from one of two 5 day/4 night sessions for youth 10-14 years old and returning this year is the Leaders in Training camp for high school youth 15-17 years old! Campers will focus on developing leadership skills with an opportunity to put those skills into practice by volunteering at one of our other camp sessions!

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

This year our annual LOG N Camp will be held at Fort Robinson State Park. The youth will get to spend two nights at the camp, learn leadership skills, while being immersed in the rich history of Fort Robinson State Park. The cost of the camp is $80, 4-H scholarships may be available. Check out the application below to apply.

We are excited to announce the fifth year of the Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program. This additional opportunity for enrolled livestock project youth, is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership.

The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.

The program consists of three levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals. Each accomplishment is worth a specific number of points. Junior 8-10 submits pictures, poster, presentation, and other learning activities to receive the distinction of Junior Member of Excellence, no point value, Intermediates, ages 11-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence. Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence. The Plan and Reports, linked on the webpage, show examples of the project related accomplishments they can choose, or they can identify their own with approval of their local educator.

Applications/Sign up are due June 15th through the application form link on the website. Plan and Reports, as well as Project Records will be due August 1 via the completion form on the website.

Youth completing the achievement program and receiving member of excellence recognition in the various species will be recognized during the Parade of Champions, 4-H weekend at the Nebraska State Fair.

For more information or to apply, go to: Livestock Achievement Program | Nebraska 4-H (unl.edu)

The 4S Goat Expo would like to extend their scholarship to young goat producers again this year. They will be awarding two - $250.00 scholarships to High school seniors and Freshman in college that apply. The deadline for this scholarship is May 31, 2025. For more information, view the scholarship attached.

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 - Zach Kearns

Vice President - Jace Stumpff

Secretary - Kaleigh Krebs

Treasurer - Brian Nelson
Members - Clint Vincent, Brad Beguin, Jackie Simonson, Brandon Jancik, and Chet Tausan
Youth Members: Jaxon Kearns, Lain Tausan, Kynsleigh Krebs, and Luke Laws

Extension Board:
President - Matt Albrecht
Vice President - Caleb Peters
Secretary/Treasurer - Paige Stumpff
Members - Trevor Ginkens, Morgan Weyers

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