SHERIDAN COUNTY NEWSLETTER

Jan. 1 - Happy New Year's Day - Office Closed

Jan. 13 - 4-H Council Meeting

Jan. 20 - Martin Luther King Day - Office Closed

Jan. 26 - Harrison Panhandle Best Shoot

Feb. 9 - Beef Weigh-in at Sheridan Livestock 2 pm - 4 pm

Deadline:

Jan. 5 - State Level Achievement Application due date

Jan. 31 - Club Year End Reports due

Feb. 1 - Special Garden Project registration deadline

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.

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.

The beef weigh-in will be held this year on February 9th at Sheridan Livestock from 1 to 3 pm. If families cannot make this date, they can go to Hemingford on January 12th from 11 am to 1 pm or Crawford Livestock on February 8th from 9 am to 11 am.

At the end of January, clubs need to complete a Year End Treasurer report, Inventory Report, and club volunteer list. The form can be found below. Forms need to be emailed to Melissa Mracek at mmracek2@unl.edu or brought to the office.

As the New Year begins people set resolutions or goals that they have for the upcoming year. It is also a great time to set your 4-H goals for the upcoming year. A tool that can help youth members with setting their goals is the Diamond Clover Program. This program is a non-competitive program where members set their goals for the year and then in September recap how they accomplished those goals. Below is the link to the Diamond Clover webpage to download the form and start setting goals today. Youth members can start at level 1 or at the level closest to their age group.

We would like to welcome Caitlin Roes as the new Rural Prosperity Educator in our office! She will be based in Sheridan County. Caitlin graduated from Chadron State College. She and her husband Brady live in Chadron with their 1.5 year old son, Graham. Catlin is looking forward to getting to know everyone and working with all of you to make a positive impact across Nebraska!

All Club, workshop leaders, and 4-H Council members need to complete their 4-H Online enrollment prior to meeting with clubs and youth members at 4honline.com. Nebraska switched to a new volunteer screening website and is requesting all returning and new volunteers complete the background screening this year through Sterling volunteers. Volunteers will only need to complete this screening every five years, based on the date within 4-H Online. You may have to contact the Extension Office to update your birthdate so you can complete the screening. You will click on this link directly within 4-H online. Volunteers will also need to complete the volunteer orientation by clicking on the link within the system as well. You cannot be approved without completing these two items.

All market animals this year need to attend one of the below dates or go to a neighboring county to have their animals tagged.

Sheridan County Weigh-in & Tagging Dates:

Sunday, February 9th, 2025 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

All Market Beef Animals need to receive a 4-H ear tag.

Other County Box Weigh-in & Tagging Dates:

Box Butte: Sunday, January 12, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at Fairgrounds

Dawes: Saturday, February 8, 2025 from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Crawford Livestock

Nebraska State Fair/ AKSARBEN: All livestock in contention to exhibit at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair and/or the Aksarben Stock Show will be required to submit a DNA nomination. All 4-H/FFA BREEDING livestock, market livestock and FEEDER CALVES will be required to submit a DNA sample/envelope to be eligible to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair.

DNA nominations for the Nebraska State Fair are due on June 15, 2025.

Any DNA nomination submitted through Show Stock Manager will also be eligible for exhibition at the Aksarben Stock Show.

We are delighted to announce the Innovative Youth Corn Challenge, a prestigious contest open to 4-H members (aged 8 and older as of January 1st) and FFA members (in-school members). This competition is designed to guide participants through a comprehensive exploration of all facets of corn production, including aspects related to agricultural careers associated with corn production.

Key Features:

• Team Participation: Teams comprising two or more youth participants will collaboratively embark on the challenge.

• Innovative Practices: Youth will be tasked with implementing a production practice differing from the norm, with the goal of assessing its impact on increasing corn yield.

• Data Collection: The Corn Challenge management summary will systematically gather crucial information, including yields, cropping history, and production details.

• Recognition and Rewards: Outstanding achievements will be duly rewarded with cash prizes and plaques for the top three teams:

• First Place: $1,000

• Second Place: $500

• Third Place: $250

• Special Awards: In addition to the top rankings, commendable efforts will be acknowledged through the "Extra Mile" and "Ag Literacy" Awards, each carrying a value of $200.

This competition not only fosters a spirit of innovation in corn production but also serves as a platform for recognizing dedication and excellence within the 4-H and FFA communities. We encourage all eligible participants to embrace this opportunity to showcase their skills and contribute to the advancement of agricultural practices. Registration deadline is April 1st.

For detailed guidelines and participation information, please refer to the https://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/cornchallenge webpage or contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.

The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort is an opportunity for youth interested in learning more about the swine industry. The program is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska swine industry. The goal is to enhance the educational value of the traditional 4-H swine projects by focusing on swine production, accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member.

Youth participating in the Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort will:

1. Network with 4-H members across the state who are also participating in the cohort experience.
2. Participate in learning opportunities hosted by Extension Swine Specialist Benny Mote about nutrition, feeding, genetics, and more.
3. Gain knowledge related to their project and the swine industry as a whole.
4. Maintain records related to swine management and basic care.

**NEW for 2025**: Exhibit their Farrowed and Owned project animals at any Nebraska county fair. Exhibiting at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair is optional. All cohort members will participate in an interview at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair. Join the first session in February for more details!

The 2025 Special Garden Project will focus on the Goldie Husk Cherry. This old-fashioned fruit from the tomato family has sweet berries inside golden husks. The fruits have many uses and can be eaten raw, dried, frozen, canned, or made into tasty treats like pies, desserts, or preserves. (I assure you the husk cherry is different than a groundcherry, which is a weed in Nebraska, that looks very similar, but isn’t edible)

Families need to contact the Extension Office by February 1st to order seeds and enroll in the Plant Science project in 4-H Online.

4-H Enrollment for the 2024-2025 year is NOW OPEN! Deadline for 4-H Enrollment will be June 15, 2024. Enroll at 4honline.com. Shooting sports members will need to enroll before participating. To be completely enrolled we will have to also have your yearly enrollment fee.

Club Leaders please enroll in 4-H Online and complete your background check as soon as possible.

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