CENTRAL SANDHILLS AREA 4-H NEWS
April 2025 Newsletter
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 148 - Thedford, NE 69166
Email: s.albertus@unl.edu
Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/centralsandhills/
Location: 503 Main Street, Thedford, NE, USA
Phone: (308)645-2267
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralsandhillsarea/
April Edition
In this edition:
- 2025 Fairbook
- Communications and Expressive Arts Contests
- Sandhills Dog Expo
- Introduction to 4-H Judging
- Livestock Judging Classic
- Shooting Sports Instructor Training Opportunities
- State Programming
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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 s.albertus@unl.edu.
2025 Central Sandhills Fairbook
Local Communications and Expressive Arts Contests
Grant County
- April 10th- CEA Contest @ Lecture Hall 5:00
Thomas County
- Date TBA- will be in May
Sandhills Dog Expo
Important Dates Coming Up
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
- Audience: New and experienced judges for Visual Arts and Foods projects.
- Topics: Class changes to 4-H Visual Arts department; Refresh on foods department judging including the new trends of sourdough and updates.
Participation is optional, and while live attendance is encouraged, the sessions will be recorded and available at: https://4h.unl.edu/resources/judges/.
Visit https://go.unl.edu/judgestraining2025 to register!
29th Annual - Friday, June 13, 2025
The Nebraska Livestock Judging Classic (NLJC) is a regional livestock judging contest for youth. The NLJC is coordinated by Nebraska Extension in Buffalo County and the Nebraska Livestock Judging Classic Committee. The NLJC Committee works to increase the interest of youth in the livestock judging program and the livestock industry including beef, sheep, swine and goats.
For more information contact:
Kerry Elsen, Extension Educator
308-236-1235 | kerry.elsen@unl.edu
Shooting Sports Instructor Trainings
Shooting Sports Certification Training
April 12-13, 2025
Bassett Community Building Rock County Fairgrounds West Hwy 20, Bassett, NE Directions: The fairgrounds are just west of Bassett on the south side of Hwy. 20.
Why attend this 4-H Shooting Sports Certification Workshop?
- Network with other shooting sports instructors from across Nebraska. Share and learn techniques and knowledge which will develop your ability to effectively lead a local shooting sports program.
- Learn to use shooting sports to develop youth of strong character who possess effective lifeskills.
- Gain certification in ONE of the following disciplines: rifle, pistol, archery, shotgun, and coordinator.
- Learn under expert instruction and learn to develop your skills as an instructor.
Saturday, Apr 12, 2025, 08:00 AM
Bassett, NE, USA
Shooting Sports UPDATE Training
April 12-13, 2025
Bassett Community Building Rock County Fairgrounds West Hwy 20, Bassett, NE Directions: The fairgrounds are just west of Bassett on the south side of Hwy. 20.
Why attend this 4-H Shooting Sports Update Session?
- Network with other shooting sports instructors from across Nebraska. Share and learn techniques and knowledge which will develop your ability to effectively continue to lead a local shooting sports program.
- Learn to use shooting sports to develop youth of strong character who possess effective lifeskills.
- Gain an update in your discipline from the following: shotgun, archery, rifle, pistol or coordinator.
- Learn under expert instruction and learn to develop your skills as an instructor.
- This session is focused on refreshing and rejuvenating current instructors and providing any recent state 4-H policy and curriculum changes that may impact our program. The target years for those needing to recertify are 2018 and 2019.
- Help continue to move the Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Program forward
Saturday, Apr 12, 2025, 08:30 AM
Bassett, NE, USA
Shooting Sports Certification Training
April 26-27, 2025
Adams County Extension Office 2975 Baltimore Avenue, Hastings, NE
Why attend this 4-H Shooting Sports Certification Workshop?
- Network with other shooting sports instructors from across Nebraska. Share and learn techniques and knowledge which will develop your ability to effectively lead a local shooting sports program.
- Learn to use shooting sports to develop youth of strong character who possess effective lifeskills.
- Gain certification in ONE of the following disciplines: rifle, pistol, archery, shotgun, and coordinator.
- Learn under expert instruction and learn to develop your skills as an instructor.
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025, 08:00 AM
Hastings, NE, USA
Shooting Sports UPDATE Training
April 26, 2025
Adams County Extension Office 2975 Baltimore Avenue, Hastings, NE
Why attend this 4-H Shooting Sports Update Session?
- Network with other shooting sports instructors from across Nebraska. Share and learn techniques and knowledge which will develop your ability to effectively continue to lead a local shooting sports program.
- Learn to use shooting sports to develop youth of strong character who possess effective lifeskills.
- Gain an update in your discipline from the following: shotgun, archery, rifle, pistol or coordinator.
- Learn under expert instruction and learn to develop your skills as an instructor.
- This session is focused on refreshing and rejuvenating current instructors and providing any recent state 4-H policy and curriculum changes that may impact our program. The target years for those needing to recertify are 2018 and 2019.
- Help continue to move the Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Program forward
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025, 08:30 AM
Hastings, NE, USA
Animal Science Discover Day
Pitzer Ranch Judging Contest
4-H Summer Camps
