BOX BUTTE COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER

Aug. 28-Sept. 7 - Nebraska State Fair

Sept. 1 - Robotics Information Meeting at 5 pm

Sept. 2 - Livestock Committee Meeting at 6 pm

Sept. 7 - Office Closed - Labor Day

Sept. 9 - State Fair Projects return to office

Sept. 10 - Small Animal Committee Meeting at 6:30 pm

Sept. 15 - Open 4-H Council Meeting at 6 pm

Oct. 4 - 10: National 4-H Week

Nov. 8 - Achievement Celebration

DEADLINE DATES:

Oct. 5 - Achievement Applications due to office

Oct. 15 - Special Award Nominations due

Nebraska Bank has invoiced all sale buyers. When all the payments are received, they will write the checks. We will send a message via Band to have you come and pick up your checks.

Fair Premiums will be available to pick up at the Achievement Celebration.

The Choice Card prizes and buckles that were ordered after fair will not be here until October/November. We will bring them to the Achievement Celebration to pick them up.

We are so proud of our Box Butte County 4-H members who showcased their hard work, creativity, skills, and dedication at the Nebraska State Fair!

Congratulations to all our exhibitors on their outstanding results!

PURPLE RIBBON – SUPERIOR!

Dani Bixby- Family Food Tradition; Desert Garden; Original Acrylic Painting;

Eli Bryner – Romper/Jumpsuit

Corley Connor – Expression Through Color Photography; Jelled Exhibit

Ayla Foster- Original Fiber Art

Eden Foster – Jelled Exhibit

Mara Foster- Food Preservation Freezing-Baked item Made with Frozen Produce

Kinslee Hansen – Healthy Baked Product

Emily Johnston- Recycled/Upcycled Home Accessory

Katrina Karell – Family History Display; Service Items; Recycled/Remade Furniture; Babysitting Kit; Barn Quilts larger than 4x4; Barn Quilt less than 4x4; Embellished Garment; Fashion Accessory; Specialty Pastry; General Purpose First Aid Kits; Specific Purpose First Aid Kit; Geocache

Joeie Kresl – Black & White Photography

Emily Johnston- Recycled/Upcycled Accessory; 3D Accessory

Kristin Magnuson – Veterinary Science Small Animal/Pet Display Makenna Quick – Cooking Basics Recipe File

Dak Smith – Arm/Finger Knitted Item

Ryker Tolstedt – Creative Techniques & Lighting Photography; Original Acrylic Painting

Ainslee Woltman – Upcycled Garment; Veterinary Science Large Animal Display Ralee Woltman- Cooking 401-Candy

BLUE RIBBON – EXCELLENT!

Dani Bixby –Original Sculpture

Jayla Curtis- Shopping in Style-Revive Your Wardrobe

Taylee Curtis – Romper/Jumpsuit; Best Buy for Your Buck

Ayla Foster – Sewing Top; Embellished Garment;

Mara Foster – Textile Accessory; Small Barn Quilt;

Emily Johnston -; Foliage Potted Plant; Jalapeño Peppers Kade Johnston – Foliage Potted Plant; Composite Wood Project

Katrina Karell – Best Buy for Your Buck; Dried Fruits; Disaster Kit; Textile Arts Garment or Accessory

Ryleigh Mashburn – Original Acrylic Painting

Ryggin Meyer – Local History Scrapbook/Notebook; Veterinary Science Small Animal/Pet Display

James Lanier – Creative Techniques & Lighting Photography

Violetta Shouldis – Home Antique Restoration – Furniture

Ethan Robbins – Welding Article

Raelee Woltman – Fairy/Miniature Garden;

RED RIBBON – Good!

Addison Belford – Flower Notebook

Dani Bixby – Wildlife Arts;

Emily Cullan – Quilt Quest Level 1 Large Exhibit

Katrina Karell – Original Product Greysen Kolle – Special Garden Project Raelee Woltman – Original Art Inspired by Plants or Animals; Original Pencil Drawing

Congratulations to EVERY Box Butte County 4-H member who took a project to the Nebraska State Fair! Your hard work, preparation, creativity, and willingness to learn are what make 4-H so special. We are incredibly proud of each of you!

Way to represent Box Butte County!

Beef- Champion:

Kyle Shaw- Champion Hereford & Polled Hereford Breeding Heifer

Beef- Purple Ribbon:

Kyle Shaw- Intermediate Beef Showmanship; Crossbred Steer;

Tate Smith- Senior Beef Showmanship; Simmental Yearling Heifer (calved Jan/Feb 2025);

Rozlyn Wills- Senior Beef Showmanship; Simmental Yearling Heifer (calved March/April 2025)

Beef - Blue Ribbon:

Corbin Benigno-Senior Beef Showmanship; Feeder Steer;

Lexey Wills- Feeder Heifer; Simmental Heifer (calved Jan- April 2025);

Ainslee Woltman- Senior Beef Showmanship; Crossbred Steer;

Dallas Woltman- Senior Beef Showmanship; Crossbred Steer; Registered Steer-Chianina;

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Sheep – Reserve Champion:

Ainslee Woltman- Reserve Champion Division VI (White Face Influence)

Sheep-Purple Ribbon:

Ainslee Woltman- Senior Sheep Showmanship; Crossbred Market Lamb;

Sheep – Blue Ribbon:

Aspen Staudenmaier- Intermediate Sheep Showman; Commercial Market Bred Ewe Lamb (born 01/2025 & after); Natural Color Market Lamb;

Braden Staudenmaier- Senior Sheep Showmanship; Commercial Market Breed Ewe Lamb (born 9/1/25 & after); Crossbred Market Lamb;

Ainslee Woltman- Commercial Market Breed Ewe Lamb (born 9/1/25 & after);

Augustus Woltman- Junior Sheep Showmanship; Commercial Market Breed Ewe Lamb (born 9/1/2025 & after); Southdown Market Lamb;

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Swine – Champions:

Anthony Haas- Champion Duroc Market Hog; Overall purebred Market Hog; Third Place Market Hog

Carson Haas- Champion Yorkshire Market Hog

Swine – Purple Ribbon:

Carson Haas- Senior Swine Showmanship; Crossbred Breeding Gilts; Crossbred Market Barrow;

Tate Smith- Senior Swine Showmanship;

Railey Wills- Senior Swine Showmanship

Swine – Blue Ribbon:

Brooklyn Crowley- Junior Swine Showmanship; Crossbred Market Gilt;

Anthony Haas- Senior Swine Showmanship; Crossbred Market Barrow;

Tate Smith- Crossbred Market Gilt;

Railey Wills- Crossbred Market Gilt;

Rozlyn Wills – Senior Swine Showmanship; Crossbred Market Barrow;

Swine – Red Ribbon:

Tate Smith – Crossbred Market Gilt

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Rabbit – Purple Ribbon:

Eden Foster- Holland Lop Sr. Buck

Katrina Karell- Senior Rabbit Showmanship; Holland Lop Sr. Doe; Holland Lop Sr. Buck;

Rabbit – Blue Ribbon:

Eden Foster- Senior Rabbit Showmanship;

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Poultry – Champion:

Katrina Karell – 1st Place Senior Poultry Showmanship

Poultry – Purple Ribbon:

Emily Johnston- Senior Poultry Showmanship; Chantecler White Pullet;

Katrina Karell- Senior Poultry Showmanship; Ameraucana Black Hen:

Raelee Woltman- Wyandotte Columbian Hen;

Poultry -Blue Ribbon:

Emily Johnston- Old English Crele Hen;

Raelee Woltman- Senior Poultry Showmanship;

Poultry – Red Ribbon:

Raelee Wolltman- New Hampshire Hen

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Culinary Challenge – Purple

Ayla Foster- Senior Culinary Challenge

Katrina Karell – Senior Culinary Challenge

Fashion Show – Purple

Taylee Curtiss- Fashion Show Shopping in Style Purchased Outfit with Written Report

Emily Johnston- Fashion Show Constructed Steam 3 Garment

Katrina Karell – Shopping in Style Purchased Outfit with Writtem Report

Save the Date for the Achievement Celebration on Sunday, November 8th starting at 4 pm at the MultiPurpose Hall in Hemingford. Stay tuned for awards to apply for.

Achievement Applications are a great way to summarize your 4-H Acheivements and Leadership positions for the year. At a local level, youth will receive project pins and on a state level, these applications make youth eligible to for scholarships as well as the opportunity to attend National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Congress. These applications have a maximum of 4 pages with additional pages added for scholarships or being selected as a delegate for the national opportunities.

Applications are due to the Extension Office or may be emailed to Melissa at mmracek2@unl.edu by October 5th. Below are PDF versions of the applications but for examples and more information visit: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/awards-recognition/achievement-application/

The All Around Award applications are to recognize those that go above and beyond exhibiting in their county fair project and continue to learn and grow with their projects all year by awarding them with a $30 cash prize. The applicaitons can still be completed if youth members wore FFA shirts during the County Fair shows. Bonus points are given if you complete an Achievement Application but they are not required. Applications are due on October 5th to the Extension Office or via email to Melissa at mmracek2@unl.edu. See the applications attached below.

Deadline to submit Diamond Clover is October 1. Forms are available on the Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover website.

The Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover program encourages 4-H youth to engage in a variety of programs, projects, and activities that will enable youth to acquire skills and abilities that will prepare them for success in the future. The program is designed to reach and recognize all youth engaged in 4-H, from club members and campers to school enrichment, afterschool, and special interest program participants. The program consists of six levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments.

Rules

• Youth may only receive recognition at each level once.
• Youth may only receive one level of recognition per year.
• Youth should begin at Level 1 and progress through Level 6. However, youth who are older when beginning may opt to start at a higher level (2-4) as is mutually agreeable to the participant and the parent/guardian or leader. In order for older youth to begin at level 5 or 6, the Extension staff must also be in agreement.
• Approval: Levels 1–4 require the approval of a 4-H youth’s parent/guardian. If the 4-H youth belongs to a 4-H club, club leader approval is also required (if 4-H youth belongs to more than one club, choose one leader to work with). Levels 5 and 6 require the approval of a local county extension staff member.
• Accomplishments: Each level requires participants to complete a specified number of accomplishments. The 4-H participant may choose accomplishment listed for each level. The accomplishments are age appropriate and increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. Parents/guardians, leaders, and Extension staff may suggest other accomplishments — comparable to those provided — to improve the individual learning experience of each 4-H youth.

As another 4-H year comes to an end, it is time to recognize all that go above and beyond to help the Box Butte County 4-H program. These individuals will be recognized at the Banquet in November. We want to hear from you for who should win the following awards. To nominate someone it is easy, submit a paragraph of why they should win the award, who you are nominating, and the award you are nominating them for to the Extension Office by October 15th. You can email the nominations to mmracek2@unl.edu. Below are award descriptions and forms to help you start the nomination process.

• Outstanding 4-H Member: youth age 8-18 that has gone out of their way to support and promote Box Butte County 4-H.
• National Leadership Award: (Formerly I Dare You award): youth that have completed their Junior and/or Senior year high school and show outstanding qualities in servant leadership are eligible to be nominated for this award. Award recipient receives a personalized award certificate, a copy of William H. Danforth’s classic motivational book I Dare You! and $35 cash.
  
• Outstanding Leader Award: any 4-H Club Leader, project leader, superintendent or volunteer who exhibits amazing and outstanding merits, please nominate them for the Outstanding Leader Award by submitting in writing your reasons for your nomination.
• Outstanding 4-H Club (Club of Excellence): Has your club gone the distance and then some? If you think your club has really achieved a lot this past year, nominate them and tell us what all you have done.

Thank you so much to Alishia Intermill and Shauna Meyring for serving on the council for the last three years. Also a huge thank you to our youth members: Anthony Haas, Ainslee Woltman, Trey Carter, and Railey Wills. We greatly appreciate their service and are always looking for people interested in serving on the Council.

• Elections will be held during the Achievement Banquet for 2 positions on the 4-H Council.
• These positions are three-year commitments (Jan 2027 - Dec. 2029). Meetings are presently scheduled for the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
• The 4-H Council administers the finances (including fundraising), policy and programming for the 4-H program.
• Call the Extension Office by October 15 to have your name included on the ballot or to nominate someone for these positions; with their permission.
• If you have questions about what this position entails, visit with a current council member or contact Melissa.
• New council members will be notified and need to join the January 2027 meeting.

• The 4-H Council invites high school youth ages 14-18 to apply for one of the four youth positions on their 4-H Council.
• These one-year terms run from January - December of the current year.

To apply, submit a short application:

• Forms are available at the Extension Office, download below or Melissa will be happy to e-mail one to you.
• Return your completed form to the Extension Office by October 15.

4-H Council meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Youth members have full voting rights, and are encouraged to help an adult member with their office. This is a wonderful opportunity for youth to voice their opinions. Youth also learn skills such as leadership, budgeting, people skills, negotiations and responsibility. These types of opportunities are very impressive on scholarship applications. Give it some thought and if you have any questions, visit with one of the 4-H Council members, youth council members or give Melissa a call.

Due to the issues with the Remind app last year, we are going to try out the Band app. The Bank app will allow us to add events onto calendars, share files, and send updated posts. To join scan the QR code below.

Email: boxbutte-county@unl.edu
Location: 415 Black Hills Ave Alliance, NE 69301
Phone: 308-762-5616
Instagram: @bbc.4h