Dakota County 4-H News

DAKOTA COUNTY OFFICE STAFF

Angela Abts—4-H & Youth aabts2@unl.edu

Julie Boyle—Food Nutrition and Health julie.boyle@unl.edu

Tammy Dunn—Office Manager tpeterson3@unl.edu

Email: dakota-county@unl.edu
Website: https://dakota.unl.edu
Location: 1505 Broadway Street, Dakota City, NE, USA
Phone: 402-987-2140
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLDakotaCounty
Twitter: @NEDakota4HExt

Facebook: Nebraska Extension in Dakota County

Instagram: NE Extension Dakota County

SEPTEMBER

18 Farewell Celebration for Brenda Sale

Sept 25-28 - Ak-Sar-Ben Stock Show

OCTOBER

6-11 National 4-H Week

10-6 Extension Board meeting

NOVEMBER

3 Extension Board meeting

11 Office closed - Veterans Day

27-28 Office Closed - Thanksgiving Holiday

DECEMBER

24-31 Office closed for Holiday break

Mark your calendars and make plans to celebrate National 4-H Week with us on October 6-11!

https://4-h.org/resources/professionals/marketing-resources/4-h-week-toolkit

Thank you everyone for your hard work, participation and camaraderie that made for a wonderful fair event!

Big round of applause to the Dakota~Thurston County Fairboard for all the work they do in making sure the buildings and grounds are ready to go. The support they provide is so very much appreciated. Make sure you thank them.

Thank you to the many volunteers that help with the livestock shows, entry day, keeping youth and animals wrangled, and just generally being of assistance.

Please thank a volunteer.

Did you receive a trophy or Bonus Auction premium? Send them a thank you note. Donors want to know their funds are well spent and appreciated.

Premium checks have been mailed to club leaders. Club leaders will distribute the amount due to 4-H'ers based on the club's policies.

The Extension office encourages 4-H members to complete award applications and Diamond Clover awards. For information on completing application wards and Diamond Clover please visit https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dakota/4-h/awards-recognitions-scholarships/

Bonus Auction Certificates have been printed and in the process of being delivered.

Congratulations to all the 4-H'ers that participated at the Nebraska State Fair. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to attend and represent Dakota County.

Results from the State Fair can be found here:

https://nebraska4hresults.com/

LIvestock Exhibitors: Beau Thomsen, Gauge Thomsen, Boyd Frazey, Finn Thomsen, Mia Lyons, Payton Hermelbracht, Drayden Nielsen, Benjimen Bousquet, Rachael Bousquet, Maxon Mitchell, Rylie Hermelbracht, Karson Roeber, Aiden Estochen, Kinleigh Estochen

Static Exhibitors: Isaac Albrecht, Benjamin Albrecht, Audric Cavenee, Payton Hermelbracht, Brooke Raymer, Ainsley Madison, Karlee Duncan, Connor Schooley, Carson Schooley, Kinlee Dunn, Cameron Buderus, Rylie Hermelbracht, Halle Cain, Lucas Bousquet

Are you looking for a great opportunity to build your skills and resume? Apply to become a 4-H Ambassador.

You can travel to UNL campus for training and meet other Ambassadors across the state. Help with camps, represent 4-H at Community events, and be an excellent role model for younger 4-H'ers.

Eligibility requirements:

• Youth age 14-18 (Age on January 1st).
• Youth will serve a two-year term (can reapply for another term).
• Enrolled as a 4-H member (Dakota or Thurston County)
• Must be an active member for at least two years prior to application.

Applications are due to the Nebraska Extension Office in Dakota County by Wednesday, October 15th, 2025.

Application will be sent to age eligible 4-H youth in Dakota County

Or click here to download a copy of the application Dakota~Thurston County 4-H Ambassador Application2025-2026.pdf or contact the Extension Office.

4-H has always been about helping young people become Beyond Ready — for college, career, and life. Share a photo at https://4-H.org/ShareYourStory from your early 4-H days alongside a recent one and describe how 4-H made you Beyond Ready for life and career! Not an alum? No problem! Post your 4-H moments on social using #4HBeyondReady and #NE4H.

Calling all potential 2026 county and state fair 4-H judges!
Sign up now to be a part of the Nebraska 4-H judging team. Help Nebraska youth be beyond ready for work and life through 4-H project exhibits by serving as a 4-H project judge!

Deadline to sign up: September 30, 2025
Register here: https://go.unl.edu/2026judgesregistration
Join us and help shape the future of 4-H!

The annual Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Animal Science Complex on November 21-23, 2025. The symposium is designed to introduce youth to careers opportunities and current issues in the beef industry, as well as offer education and practice in the use of leadership skills.

The application to attend NYBLS is due October 1, 2025, and can be found at https://go.unl.edu/nybls. Questions? Contact Alli Raymond at araymond2@unl.edu.

More details at: https://go.unl.edu/nybls

A Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop is scheduled for early October in Scottsbluff. It will be held October 4-5 at the Panhandle Research & Extension Center. The early bird deadline to register for the Scottsbluff session is September 24th, 4 pm.

Volunteers have the opportunity to become certified as an adult (21 years and older) or apprentice (14-20 years old) leader in the Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol, or Archery discipline. There is a minimum number of participants required to offer this workshop. Workshop participants will learn under expert instruction from members of the Nebraska State 4-H Shooting Sports Training Team.

The registration fee is $140 per person for initial certification and those individuals adding an additional discipline. The registration fee for Apprentice Instructors (14 to 20 years of age) is $120 for this workshop. This fee includes meals, supplies, and program materials. Individuals are officially registered when payment is received. Participants must make their own lodging arrangements. Registration on Saturday runs from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

While participants might need to bring limited, if any, equipment to the in-person discipline training site, there are a series of four National 4-H Shooting Sports online modules which individuals MUST complete prior to the training to become eligible for certification. Information on the modules and how to enroll, 4-H Shooting Sports Online User Guide, can accessed by using the link found on the Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports website under Calendar of 4-H Shooting Sports Events at https://4h.unl.edu/shooting-sports, under the Scottsbluff Workshop - this provides step-by-step instructions on how to sign up for and complete the entire series of modules before the workshop. Individuals who have already completed the Online modules are not required to complete them again.
As individuals follow each of the instructions in the Online User Guide, they will be asked to choose a payment method. Participants are responsible for the $20 (per person) one-time registration fee. The entire series of modules will take approximately 3-4 hours, so please plan some time accordingly.
Please share this information with volunteers in your county. For more workshop information and registration link, go to the 4-H Shooting Sports web page or contact Steve Pritchard at (402)395-2158 or (308)536-2691. Registration is available only online at the link provided in the brochure or individuals can register directly by clicking HERE.

More details at: https://events.unl.edu/NE4H-Shooting-Sports/

The Nebraska Loess Hills RC&D Council is working on implementing (3) Household Hazardous Waste Collections. The planned collections will be on October 10th & 11th in Dakota City, Tekamah, and Bancroft. More information to follow.

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.