4-H Blast

**If you have not enrolled yet, please do so by Friday at noon on February 27th. The 4-H Online will be shut down for a brief maintenance from the afternoon of February 27th through the afternoon of March 2nd.

Additionally, February is the perfect time to enroll in 4-H for 2026 for a few reasons:

1. Due to a new card service fee on 4-H online, starting March 1st , 4-H enrollments paid online will increase from $5 to $6.00. This enrollment increase is ONLY for online payment. If you choose to pay via cash or check at the Extension Office, the enrollment cost will remain $5.00.

2. After March 1st, only those that are enrolled 4-H members and volunteers will receive the monthly blast newsletter to their email. To ensure that you stay in-the-know with all things happening, make sure you get enrolled!

3. All 4-H and Clover Kid members enrolled for the 2026 year by March 1st will have their name entered into a drawing for a Chamber Checks card and 2 refillable 4-H Food Stand cups! Drawing will take place on Tuesday, March 3rd.

We are excited to celebrate 4-H Member Month with you this February! Don't forget to enroll to participate in all the new opportunities we have planned for this year.

Ever want to learn crochet, but not quite interested in a tedious blanket? Ready to discover something new each month? Join our Granny Square of the Month Club!

Granny Squares are making a comeback and can be found in all sorts of designs - clothes, blankets, pillows, bags, and more! Each month, this group will receive supplies and materials to make a new square. Make as many, or as few, as you like. In June, patterns will be provided where we can learn how to assemble our squares to make something fun.

Pick your colors, pick your patterns, pick your designs, and make something uniquely you!

How does this work? Explore your spark in this fun, new take-and-make workshop.

1. Use our sign-up form to receive February's square and beginning supplies.
2. Each month you will receive an email with the next square. You can choose to participate or skip the month; pay for the months that you participate.
3. In June, you will receive notification of pattern options to make with your completed squares, along with in-office hours you can attend to receive help.
4. If you so choose, you can enter your completed project at the York County Fair in August!

Find more information and costs at our sign up link: go.unl.edu/crochetclub. Reach out to our office if you have additional questions!

Club Leaders - this one is for your!

On March 9th from 6-8 pm, we are hosting our annual 4-H Club Leader training. It is mandatory for at least one leader from each club to attend that evening. We will be hosting this event in the 4-H Building. Please RSVP to the Extension Office by March 4th.

The goal of the fed steer challenge is to enhance the value of the traditional 4-H Beef project by providing an option that rewards production merit and carcass value of the market animal, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and producer engagement by the 4-H member.

Contest Components:

Raising a commercial steer -

• 4-H Member selects/purchases and raises a commercial steer to finished market weight.
• Maintains a detailed record book.
• Exhibit in the Fed Steer class at York County Fair.
• Evaluation of 4-H Member's knowledge.
• Steers entered in Fed Steer class will be shown in their own class, with top two steers advancing to the final market steer class.
• This is a non-terminal show. We will use ultrasound data to determine carcass traits.

Expectations and Responsibilities of participants:

• Be enrolled in the beef project before the mandatory weigh date.
• Have the financial ability to purchase a market steer if need to.
• Have the financial ability to provide proper facilities, care, and feeding of the steer.
• Obtain an official starting weight by attending the mandatory weigh in on February 28th from 1:00-2:00 at the Fairgrounds.
• Actively participate in the five educational opportunities. Must participate in a minimum of 90% of the educational opportunities.
• Exhibit the steer at the York County Fair.
• If any additional educational opportunities arise, the youth should make every effort to fully participate.

Awards:

• Top 2 Average Daily Gain (ADG)
• Top 2 Marbling Score
• Top 2 Ribeye Area
• Top 2 Carcass Value per Day on Feed

*With this being in its first year, please note that rues and expectations could be changed, however, we will make every effort to communicate those changes.

Please reach out to tanya.crawford@unl.edu if you have any questions.

Jenny Brhel - jrees2@unl.edu

Amanda Hackenkamp - amanda.hackenkamp@unl.edu

Macee Parrish - macee.parrish@unl.edu

Laurie Linabery - llinabery2@unl.edu

Email: york-county@unl.edu
Website: https://york.unl.edu
Location: 2345 North Nebraska Avenue, York, NE, USA
Phone: (402) 362-5508
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unlextensionyork/?ref=bookmarks