Hall County 4-H Newsletter

New and returning 4-H families may now enroll at https://v2.4honline.com. (Returning 4-H families, please enroll under the same email login that was used the previous year; do not create a new account.) Fees may be paid online during the 4-H enrollment process or by check/cash at the Hall County Extension Office.

As a reminder, the annual enrollment fee is $15.00 per youth ($15.60 for online credit card payments), ages 5–18. And remember, cost should never stand in the way—scholarships are available, so please connect with a 4-H staff member if needed.

Reminders for 4-H Project Selection:

• Project selection in 4-H Online is optional (with the exception of projects listed below).
• Horse and shooting sports projects will continue to require project enrollment due to the parental consent required to participate in these projects.
• Youth are only eligible to exhibit in a specific project area or contest in a single county.

Adult Volunteer Enrollment: This enrollment is meant for volunteers who are club leaders, project leaders, shooting sports instructors or workshop facilitators who work directly with youth. All other volunteers, such as 4-H Council members, Fair Superintendents or workshop/event helpers DO NOT need to enroll in 4-H Online.

If you have any questions regarding the enrollment process, please call the Extension Office at 308-385-5088. We are here to help!

• If you have not finished your county fair award thank you’s, now would be a great time to thank those sponsors.
• Please cash ALL County Fair and State Fair checks ASAP!
• If you were unable to attend the Achievement Event, please pick up your awards at the Extension Office.

Hall County 4-H Council is seeking new members for 2027, youth and adult members. Youth must be 14 years old before Jan. 1, 2027 and will serve 1 year terms, three terms maximum. Adults serve 2 year terms, three terms maximum (6 years). Please contact 4-H staff at the Extension office to be added to the list of possible future 4-H Council members!

Hall County 4-H will continue using the GroupMe app (in addition to email & social media) to communicate important 4-H news, events & deadlines to 4-H families. Get information for Hall County 4-H right on your phone! Plus, it’s free and easy to use!

Instructions for NEW families to sign up for 'Hall County 4-H' GroupMe:

• Click on the link to join: https://groupme.com/join_group/113864556/nf18oCgx
• Download the GroupMe app on your device.
• When the 'Hall County 4-H' group appears, click Join Group.

*Important note for families who previously signed up for GroupMe:

GroupMe has discontinued their text message feature; therefore, you MUST download the GroupMe app in order to continue receiving messages on your phone from Hall County 4-H. (Make sure your notifications are turned on for the app so that you do not miss an important event or deadline!)

• Download the FREE GroupMe app on your device.
• Sign in using the same phone number that you use today. The group 'Hall County 4-H' should show up, along with all previous messages that you have received.

Please call Crystal at 308-385-5088 for assistance.

Kountryside Kids 4-H Club, in partnership with Grand Island Public Schools, is currently sponsoring a Little Free Pantry at Lincoln Elementary School, 805 Beal St in Grand Island. The club is inviting 4-H families and clubs to join them in keeping the pantry filled with food, hygiene, seasonal needs, and home essentials.

The Little Free Pantry is supported by Hall County 4-H, the Nutrition Education Program (NEP), and UNL Extension. If you have any questions, call the Extension Office at 308-385-5088 or email LaDonna at ladonna.obermiller@unl.edu. For ideas of items to put in the Little Free Pantry, click Little Free Food Pantry Food Safety Information | UNL Food.

Tiffany Square is looking for a group who might be interested in sewing bibs for their residents! They are looking for bibs that clip around the neck and extend to about the waistline. There is no specific pattern required. Tiffany Square will provide the fabric if needed and is looking for fun, colorful prints. They would ideally like 15–20 bibs but would also be happy with 5–10 if that’s what your family or club is able to make.

Interested? Contact Macey Weiler, Life Enrichment Coordinator at Tiffany Square, at 308-398-8423 for more information and to discuss the project. Thanks so much for considering this community service project!

Sew Crazy Sewing Club is requesting donations for their next Community Service project. Sew Crazy club members will be making pillowcase dresses and diapers for Orphan Grain Train!

Pillowcase Dress Supplies:

• New or gently used pillowcases and/or bed sheets
• Double fold bias tape
• 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch elastic

Diaper Supplies:

• New or gently used T-shirts made from 50% to 100% cotton
• Men's large or women's extra-large sizes are preferred
• No black T-shirts or screen printing please

Supplies can be dropped off at the Hall County Extension Office at College Park by Friday, November 13. Thank you for helping Sew Crazy 4-H Club give back to our community!

• Who: Any youth interested in sewing, ages 5-18.
• When: Saturday, November 14, 2026
• Where: Hall County Extension meeting room
• What Time: 1:00-4:00 pm
• November Project: Community Service project (see information above)

Club Leaders: Annette Schimmer and Barb Hovie

• Annette 308-379-7191 | netterz95@gmail.com
• Barb 308-379-5208 | barbarahovie@gmail.com

PLEASE contact Annette or Barb if you plan to attend, or if you have questions. A list of supplies needed will be sent via email before the meeting.

The MTECH afterschool programs are off and running! Based at Howard and Dodge Elementary schools, an overwhelming registration response was received, bringing together a fantastic group of 4th and 5th graders eager to explore plant science and technology. Students are getting hands-on experience while also connecting with teen mentors from Grand Island Senior High.

As part of a federal grant, the MTECH program is led by Hall County 4-H staff, in partnership with University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty. The program is designed to make STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) engaging, interactive, and fun. Through hands-on activities, students are discovering that plant science and technology aren’t boring—they can be exciting, creative, and full of possibilities!

Save these dates on your calendars!

• Market Beef Weigh-In: Saturday, January 9, 2027, 8-11 am at Platte Valley Vet Clinic in Alda (snow date, January 16)
• Market Sheep/Goat Weigh-In: TBD (May) 2027, 5:30-6:30 pm at Fonner Park

Do you or someone you know (like a 4-H alumni) have a passion for 4-H livestock projects? We’d love to connect with you!

Hall County 4-H has several livestock volunteer opportunities available for the upcoming 4-H year. Whether you enjoy working with youth, sharing your livestock knowledge, or helping behind the scenes, there’s a place for you to make a difference.

If you or someone you know may be interested, please reach out to Megan at 308-385-5088. Help us spread the word and support the growth of our 4-H livestock program!

Indoor Archery League at Third City Archers begins soon!

Location: Third City Archers - (Indoor range) 317 N. Elm, Grand Island

New to Archery - Plan on attending one of the following practices:

• Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 10:00 am
• Monday, November 16, 2026 at 6:00 pm
• Monday, November 16, 2026 at 7:30 pm

Returning Archers - Practices begin:

• Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 10:00 am
• Monday, November 23, 2026 at 6:00 pm
• Monday, November 23, 2026 at 7:30 pm

Contact Matt Carmin at 308-379-5347 for more information.

Go to 4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/shooting-sports-program/ for more information about the Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports program & to view the calendar of upcoming statewide shooting sports competitions!

In order to run a club, county, or multi-county 4-H shootings sports program, leaders and instructors must be certified by Nebraska 4-H. Volunteers must attend a Leader Certification Workshop designed to cover the needed knowledge and guidelines to become a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Leader/Instructor.

Go to 4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/shooting-sports-program/certified-leaders/ for information regarding upcoming leader certification workshops & updates. If you are interested in becoming a certified shooting sports instructor for Hall County 4-H, please contact LaDonna Obermiller at 308-385-5088.

High school juniors and seniors interested in Nebraska are encouraged to visit campus on a Red Letter Day! This experience includes a campus tour with a student guide, academic appointments, lunch, financial aid and housing sessions, and clubs and organizations browsing fair. Register at go.unl.edu/visit.

High school juniors interested in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are invited to experience campus, explore their interests, and get a head start on the journey to becoming a Husker!

Junior Jumpstart gives you an inside look at life at Nebraska, including:

• A campus tour led by a student guide
• Two academic sessions to explore your interests
• Tips and advice for making the most of your senior year
• Lunch in the dining center and a taste of campus life

Come see where your next chapter could begin, meet fellow future Huskers, and get ready to Go Big Red! Register at go.unl.edu/visit.

CLOVER by 4-H helps youth thrive! CLOVER creates impactful learning experiences in partnership with100+ top-tier universities. There are currently over 150 activities and lessons for ages 5-18, spanning a range of educational topics from agriculture and healthy living to civic engagement and STEM. Through gamification, youth can earn rewards that help validate their learning. With customizable experiences, educators and leaders can tailor learning journeys and monitor progress. Help your kids reach their full potential at 4-H.org/CLOVER.

The Nebraska Association of Fair Managers will award a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H male and a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H female who are graduating seniors in the State of Nebraska and who plan to continue with post high school education. The scholarship will be awarded at the annual NAFM convention in January.

The 2026 Martha and Don Romeo Scholarship application can be found at https://go.unl.edu/nafm-romeo-scholarship. The application, as well as two letters of recommendation, are due to the local Nebraska Extension Office by November 30, 2026.

More details at: https://go.unl.edu/nafm-romeo-scholarship

The Nebraska 4-H Foundation offers 4-H members the opportunity to apply for scholarships. The Nebraska 4-H Foundation awards up to $22,000 worth of scholarships each year to 4-H’ers from across the state. All scholarship applications must be submitted via the Annual Achievement Application and are due January 5, 2027. For guidelines and more information, go to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation website: www.ne4hfoundation.org/scholarships.

Calling all 4-H volunteers, parents and caregivers and any adult who wants to help 4-H youth be ready for life and work in their future!

You're invited to join us for one of our upcoming Volunteer Road Show events:

• November 1 – Virtual

• November 2 – Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, Ithaca

• November 8 - Neligh

• November 17 - Virtual

• November 19 - Lexington

You'll discover new opportunities for your members, network with other volunteers, and build your skills working with youth. Session topics include:

• Artificial Intelligence for 4-H Volunteers: Tools to Work Smarter, Not Harder

• Telling the 4-H Story

• Project Training: Healthy Lifestyles

• Beyond Ready 4-H Clubs

• Fairbook Feedback

In-person session registration fee is $15. Virtual sessions registration fee is $10.
Learn more and register at 4h.unl.edu/volunteer-road-show.

• November 11 - Veteran's Day; Extension Office is closed.
• November 26-27 - Thanksgiving; Extension Office is closed.
• December 2 - Extension Board Meeting, 4:30 pm at the Extension Office.
• December 22 - YQCA Training, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm at the Extension Office.
• December 24 - Christmas Eve; Extension Office closes at 12:00 pm.
• December 25 - Christmas Day; Extension Office is closed.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment.
https://nebraska.edu/nondiscrimination

Email: hall-county@unl.edu
Website: hall.unl.edu
Location: 3180 W Hwy 34, College Park, Grand Island, Nebraska, USA
Phone: 308-385-5088
Facebook: facebook.com/HallCounty4HNebraska