Butler County 4-H News

• Nov. 2nd - Daylight Savings Ends
• Nov. 5th-12th - 4-H Council & Robotics Fundraiser
• Nov. 9th - Hunt Safe Classes, Oak Creek Sporting Club
• Nov. 11th - Office Closed, Veteran's Day
• Nov. 16th - 4-H Awards Banquet, 5 PM at the Butler County Event Center
• Nov. 20th - Winter Discovery Kit registrations & Payment due
• Nov. 27-28 - Office Closed, Thanksgiving Holiday
• Nov. 30th - Martha & Don Romeo Scholarship due to the Extension Office
• Dec. 15th - Pick up Winter Discovery Kits
• Dec. 25th - Office Closed, Christmas Day

Thank you for helping make National 4-H Week such a success! We loved seeing all the green on October 6th and hearing your amazing reasons for being part of 4-H. Your enthusiasm and support remind us what makes our 4-H community so special. Together, we’re inspiring the next generation of leaders, learners, and doers — and we couldn’t do it without you!

Halloween fun + science = the perfect combo! We had a blast at David City’s Trunk or Treat, where over 500 youth took home a floating ball experiment to explore air pressure and balance. Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun — seeing all the creative costumes and 4-H spirit truly made our day! We love helping youth rise to new heights with 4-H through hands-on learning and curiosity!

The Butler County 4-H Council and Robotics Club are teaming up for a fundraiser to help cover costs for the State Robotics Contest in March! This fundraiser will help ensure that all 6 robotics teams have the chance to participate at state.

From November 5–12, we’ll be selling Otis Spunkmeyer desserts — the perfect treat for the holidays! Orders will arrive in December, just in time to share with friends and family (or enjoy yourself!).

Be on the lookout for more information from our robotics members, or order from the website!

https://www.shopfund.com/shop?t=gs&sid=3317346

Your support helps our youth keep learning, building, and competing through hands-on STEM experiences. Thank you for investing in the next generation of innovators!

On October 15th, our new enrollment year began! All new and returning members must enroll annually. The cost is $10 per youth. Adult Volunteers are free but may require extra screenings if they are new or have not completed them yet. Access the link here: https://v2.4honline.com

Club Leaders and Adult Volunteers: You MUST enroll and be approved before you begin meeting with your members or volunteering for your activity! Youth must be enrolled before clubs start meeting or participating in 4-H sponsored events!

If you are a returning member and are having issues enrolling, please do not make a new account! Call the Extension Office for help! Please be sure that all information is up to date and correct!

Hunt Safe Courses will be held Sunday, Nov. 9th, 9:30 am – 11:30 am or 2 pm to 4 pm at Oak Creek Sporting Club, Brainard. Hunt safe sessions are for students, ages 11 through 15 who have completed the online firearm and/or archery course(s).

Each session will be 2 hours in length and covers tree stand safety, equipment/firearm safety, and shoot-don’t shoot scenarios. There is no fee for the Hunt Safe session. This program is sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and is conducted by certified volunteers.

Online Hunt Safe registration is required:
https://www.register-ed.com/programs/nebraska/156-nebraska-hunt-safe-session

Online Firearm and Bowhunter Combination Courses are to be completed prior to the Hunt Safe Certification: https://www.hunter-ed.com/nebraska/

Contact Russ Tooker, 402-367-8107, for additional information.

Beat the winter boredom with our 4-H Winter Discovery Kits! Choose from three fun options—each packed with hands-on activities to keep your child learning and creating during the chilly season. Kits are $10 each. Click the picture to access the Google Form and sign up (please complete one form per child). Please be sure your child is enrolled in 4-H prior to registering for a kit! Sign-ups are due November 20th, and pickup will begin the week of December 15th. Don’t miss out on this cozy winter fun!

Register at this link: https://forms.gle/qnNAsWXapaSR1BBo9

We’ve got leftover supplies from this summer’s Discovery Kits—perfect for some extra winter break fun! The kits include Clay Trinket Dish, Air Plant Terrarium, and Silicone Bead Keychain projects. These aren’t full kits, but they include many of the supplies you’ll need to get creative. Each kit is just $5, and you can stop by the office the week of December 15th to grab yours. Kits will not be made up ahead of time, so you’ll get to pick out your own supplies. Please note—we will not be ordering any missing materials, so grab what you need while supplies last!

The Nebraska Association of Fair Managers will award a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H

male and a $500 scholarship to one qualifying 4-H female who are graduating seniors in the State of Nebraska and who plan to continue with post high school education. The scholarship will be awarded at the annual NAFM convention in January.

The selection of the scholarship recipients will be made by the NAFM Scholarship Committee

whose members will consider the following:

1. Each applicant must have exhibited his/her 4-H projects in a County Fair or at the State Fair within the last four years.

2. Each applicant must hold a 2.5 high school grade point average (based on a 4.0 system). Each applicant must also maintain a 2.5 grade point average for the first semester in college and carry at least 12 credit hours.

3. Each applicant must agree to apply the scholarship funds for tuition or fees at a two or four year college or its equivalent, to be judged by the committee.

4. Each applicant must have demonstrated support for his/her school and community.

5. Each applicant must exhibit during the application process a desire to achieve the goals of which he/she is capable.

6. Financial need will not be considered in the selection process.

7. One male and/or female finalist will be selected by the 4-H award committee in each local Extension Office.

8. Recipients are requested to personally accept the award at the Nebraska Fair Managers Convention.

Please return the form below to the Extension Office to be mailed in by November 30th.

All Butler County 4-H Clubs are required to complete a YEAR END Treasurer's Report. This can be a final statement from a checking and savings account or the End of Year Report. They can be emailed to the office or you can bring in a physical copy. The reports can be found below. Reports are due by January 31, 2026.

Calling all 4-H volunteers, parents and caregivers and any adult who wants to find THEIR spark through volunteering with 4-H!

You're invited to join us for one of our upcoming Volunteer Road Show events:
Virtual – November 9
Arlington – November 11
Virtual – November 13
Central City – November 17

You'll discover new opportunities for your members, network with other volunteers, and build your skills working with youth. Session topics include:
Building Strong Relationships Through Every Stage
Avoiding 4-H Volunteer Burnout
Project Training: Human Development
Project Training: Beyond Ready through career exploration

In-person session registration fee is $15. Virtual sessions registration fee is $10.

Learn more and register at 4h.unl.edu/volunteer-road-show.

Please apply by December 15th, 2025 for the 2026 program year. For more information regarding the Fed Steer Challenge, or to submit an application please visit https://4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge

The Program includes raising a steer purchased at market price, monthly webinars with industry professional and UNL Animal Science Faculty, a special class at the Nebraska State Fair evaluated by a commercial cattle buyer, and harvesting steers to evaluate carcass merit. Monthly content includes: Feeder Cattle Pricing and Starting Cattle on Feed, Winter Feeding & Care of Cattle, Implants & Growth Modifiers, Cattle & the Environment, Risk Management Strategies, Summer Feeding & Care of Cattle, Quality & Yield Grading and Grid Pricing for Carcass Merit.

Discover Nebraska during Red Letter Days! High school juniors and seniors, join us for a full-day campus visit experience at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Explore academic opportunities, engage in student and parent sessions, and enjoy a campus tour. Available on select Mondays and Fridays. Register now at go.unl.edu/visit

Hey high school students! Ever wonder what it’s like to be a Husker in the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources (CASNR) at UNL?

Join us for Zoom In To CASNR — a fun, interactive virtual event where you’ll meet current students, faculty, and staff. Ask questions, get insider tips, and explore all the exciting opportunities waiting for you at UNL!

Sessions start at 7:00 p.m. (CST) on:

October 28

November 24

January 26

February 23

March 30

April 27

Sign up today: https://go.unl.edu/vb2s

Email: butler-county@unl.edu

Phone: 402-367-7410

Location: 451 N 5th St. David City, NE 68632

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Thays Silva, Health & Wellness Educator: thays.silva@unl.edu

Janessa Rawhouser, 4-H Assistant: jbergman3@unl.edu

KateLynn Ness, 4-H Educator, Butler & Colfax Counties: kness2@unl.edu

Louise Niemann, Office Manager: lniemann2@unl.edu