CENTRAL SANDHILLS AREA 4-H NEWS

Mailing Address: PO Box 148 - Thedford, NE 69166

Email:

Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/centralsandhills/
Location: 503 Main Street, Thedford, NE, USA
Phone: (308)645-2267
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralsandhillsarea/

In this edition:

• Attention State Fair Qualifiers
• State Event Opportunities

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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 CentralSandhills@unl.edu.

2025 STATE FAIR EXHIBITS

TO: Central Sandhills Area County State Fair Qualifiers

FROM: Michelle Garwood

4-H Extension Educator

RE: Preparing 4-H Exhibits for State Fair

Please read carefully as details are a little different this year due to Shaniya’s maternity leave!

Congratulations! Your exhibit has been selected for State Fair competition! Please contact Michelle Garwood at (402) 376-1850 if you have any questions regarding criteria for exhibits for State Fair. Extension Office Staff will attach the proper exhibit tags to your exhibit before it leaves for State Fair.

CLOTHING & TEXTILE EXHIBITS must include identification labels and information cards just as for the county fair. Some textile exhibits now require a data sheet or other supporting information.

FOOD EXHIBITS that require recipe cards should have the recipe card placed under the plate and in a plastic bag. Please use a SELF-SEALING BAG to allow for secure and proper attachment of the entry tag. Food exhibits must be FROZEN for transportation to State Fair.

HOME ENVIRONMENT EXHIBITS require a tag with additional information including the elements and principles of design used in designing the project.

Blaine County exhibits will need to be delivered to the Sandhills High School Parking Lot in Dunning by 12:00pm CT on Monday, August 18th.

Thomas County exhibits will need to be delivered to the Extension Office in Thedford by 10:30 am CT on Monday, August 18th.

Hooker County exhibits will need to be delivered to the Extension Office in Mullen by 9:00 am MT on Monday, August 18th.

Grant County exhibits will need to be delivered to the Hyannis High School Parking Lot by 7:30 am MT on Monday, August 18th

Extension staff will then transport your exhibits to the State Fair on Wednesday, August 20st, 2024. (Not all exhibits may be able to be transported by our office due to the size of project.)

Fragile exhibit? Package it properly (i.e. bubble wrap and box). Secure tipsy containers of flowers. Proper packaging for exhibits will help prevent damage during transportation. The Extension Office is NOT responsible for damage to exhibits. If you do not wish to send perishable goods on Monday, you have until the end of the day on Tuesday to drop them at the Thedford Office and they must be travel-ready in protective packaging. Since Michelle is handling transportation for all Central Sandhills and Cherry County exhibits this year, this will be the only option for items not picked up on Monday.

August 10 @ 8:00pm - All 4-H livestock and in-person contest entries are due in ShoWorks. Families enter livestock, including beef, sheep, swine, goats, rabbits, poultry, fashion show, and contests. The ShoWorks site closes at 8:00pm CT. No late entries are accepted.

2025 STATE FAIR EXHIBITS

2025 Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational...This year’s annual Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational (previously known as the Nebraska High School Smallbore Silhouette Championships or the Pressey Shoot) will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Pressey Wildlife Management Area. This is a “free” competition, open to all youth age 11 years old or older who have successfully completed Hunter Education and who have not yet graduated from high school. Proof of Hunter Education certification is required prior to being allowed to compete. Shooters should bring either their Hunter Education card or certificate to show at registration on the day of the match. All first-time shooters at the event will receive one free box of .22 ammo!

The range will open for practice at 8:00 a.m., with registration continuing until 9:30 a.m. Matches will begin at 10:30 a.m. and conclude mid-afternoon. Competitors will be grouped in various classes according to age, rifle weight, sight type, and experience level, competing against others in their own class. Individuals and teams are encouraged to enter. Teams will consist of 4 shooters from the same school or 4-H club. Teams may also enter in the “open” category if they do not fit the requirement for school or 4-H teams, however, open teams will not qualify to win the Overall Team Award. Trophies or medals will be awarded to the winners of each class.

Only equipment authorized by NRA Smallbore Rifle Silhouette Rules will be permitted. Shooters should bring their own rifle and ammunition (Standard or High Velocity .22 short, long, or long rifle.) No Stingers or other Ultra High Velocity ammo allowed. Targets are NRA ½ scale. Course of fire will be 40 rounds fired in two, 5-round stages at 40, 60, 77 and 100 meters.

ONLINE REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Pre-registration will be online this year. The deadline for pre-registering online is noon on Thursday, September 25. Registrations can also be made the day of the event. Pre-registration by noon on Thursday, September 25 is strongly encouraged! The registration link for individuals is below.

Individual Registration: https://go.unl.edu/presseyindividual

There will NOT be a meal provided.

Shooters and their families will need to bring their own food.

Pressey WMA is located approximately 17 miles south of Broken Bow, NE and 30 miles north of Lexington, NE. Camping is available at the WMA. For more event details, contact Matthew Haumont at (308) 527-3403 or nebraskasilhouette@gmail.com. This invitational is the longest running organized youth shooting event in Nebraska!