Thurston County 4-H News

Jennifer E. Hansen, Extension Educator, jhansen6@unl.edu

Sydney Williams, Extension Assistant, sydney.williams@unl.edu

Bobbie Hingst, Office Manager, bhingst2@unl.edu

Email: thurston-county@unl.edu
Website: thurston.unl.edu
Location: 415 Main Street, P.O. Box 665, Pender, NE 68787
Phone: 402-385-6041
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLExtensionThurston/
Twitter: @UNLThurstonCty

JANUARY

1 Office closed – New Year’s Day

2 Office Closed

5 State 4-H Achievement Applications DUE

12 4-H Council Meeting; 6:30 PM

19 Office Closed – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

30 Deadline to join Farrowed & Owned Nebraska Swine Cohort for 2026

FEBRUARY

2 Butter Braid Fundraiser begins

9 Joint 4-H Council Meeting (Pender Fire Hall 7:00 pm)

16 Presidents' Day; Office Closed.

MARCH

1 Thurston 4-H Achievement/Kick Off Party; Pender Lanes; 12-3 PM

9 4-H Council Meeting 6:30 pm

11 Butter Braid Sales DUE to the Office

19 Butter Braid Pickup @ the Extension Office

April

20 DT All Contest Day Entries are DUE!!

24 Arbor Day

25 Dakota Thurston All Contest Day - TBD

State achievement applications are due Monday, January 5, 2026! These applications are used to select National 4-H Congress delegates, National 4-H Conference delegates, and Nebraska 4-H Foundation scholarship recipients. Learn more at https://4h.unl.edu/achievement-application

4-H enrollment is open to everyone for the 2025-2026 program year. The enrollment instructions found online for first time members are here: https://4h.unl.edu/resources/enrollment/

or you can just enroll online here: https://4honline.com/#/user/sign-in

Starting Monday, January 5th, the Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Orientation will be implemented through 4-H Online. Volunteers who enroll BEFORE this date WILL NOT have to do the orientation training for this current year. They won’t have to do the orientation until the 2026-2027 4-H year. These volunteers’ Orientation training 3-year rotation period will start on 2026-2027 program year.

If volunteers enroll ON or AFTER this date, they WILL be required to complete the orientation for the current year regardless of if they have completed previously already. The current program year will become the start of their 3-year rotation period for the orientation.

Volunteer Orientation will now be required every 3 years through 4-H Online. This is a change from it being required only during a volunteer’s rescreening year. This will allow us to update the Orientation trainings more frequently if the need arises. Volunteers will be able to do the training in 6 separate sections (each being 10 minutes or less) at their own pace rather than in one sitting. They may be able to do it simultaneously on separate devices with their spouse/partner/another volunteer if they wish, however each individual volunteer will need to do the Orientation training associated with their respective member profile. There will be no workaround permitted at this time. If you have any questions, contact our office at 402-385-6041.

It’s awards and recognition season! In 4-H, we recognize and award individuals and groups for outstanding achievements and contributions to their community, club, and their own personal development. 4-H recognition and awards are available throughout all levels and programs! Explore the statewide opportunities at https://4h.unl.edu/awards-recognition

Community service is an important part of the 4-H experience. Not only do communities benefit from these projects, but young people do, as well! Youth learn valuable life skills like citizenship, leadership, and respect for others. They are also more likely to do well in school, graduate, and vote. So, it’s easy to see why we want to celebrate all the 4-H community service projects! Share your project with us at 4h.unl.edu/community-service-showcase.

4-H Volunteer Virtual Training: New 4-H Club Leader Training

This New 4-H Club Leader Training will be focused on volunteers new to a 4-H club leader role and individuals interested in serving in this role. Participants will learn the benefits of serving in this role, how to plan 4-H experiences, ways to create an engaging environment and resources available to support club leaders. Visit https://go.unl.edu/newclubleader to register.

Look for more 4-H Virtual Volunteer Training series topics in the coming months!

State Fair Livestock Identification & Nomination page has been updated to reflect the 2026 edits.

Summary of Updates

• There are no changes to livestock identification or nomination requirements.
• The only edits were made under County Responsibilities:
• DNA submissions are due June 22 and should be addressed to the Nebraska State Fair.
• Youth will continue to pay $7.00 per State Fair nomination and will enter online nominations through the Show Stock Manager site.
• While there are no changes, please remind exhibitors to review individual Fairbooks for registered animal requirements. Some additional items are required to exhibit in a breed class at State Fair but are not required for nomination.
• Also as a reminder, registration papers must list the exhibitor’s name or a co-owner who is an immediate family member and is included with the online nomination in Show Stock Manager. Family farm or ranch names will not be accepted.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office - 402-385-6041

As you begin making plans for 2026, be sure to check out the Special Garden Project. It offers a unique introduction to plant science. Members are given seeds and guided through growing and harvesting. Members can exhibit a cut flower or harvested vegetable at the fair if all goes well. Otherwise, youth can share their experience through a poster, story or video.

Next year, members will work with the Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold. Visit https://4h.unl.edu/special-gardening-project to learn more and to get started.

Feeling drained in the morning or stuck in a midday slump? In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel run down. Tai Chi for Energy offers a natural way to recharge, combining the gentle, flowing movements of Sun style with the powerful, grounded spirals of Chen style. This energizing, low-impact activity helps boost vitality, improve focus, and melt away stress—no caffeine required. Move, breathe and recharge from anywhere. Sign up for one of the ten week sessions at https://go.unl.edu/tai-chi-morning or https://go.unl.edu/tai-chi-afternoon #UNLHealth&Wellbeing

Big Red Summer Academic Camps are residential career exploration camps held at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. By participating in a camp, youth live on and explore the Nebraska campus, meet students from across the country, investigate an interest or potential career, and have lots of fun making new friends. (This is not a commuter camp). During the week-long camps, students will work with university faculty to explore the topic of their particular camp, like engineering, digital media, or food systems. After spending several fun-filled days on campus, families are invited to attend a capstone presentation where students showcase their achievements.

Big Red Summer Academic Camps are open to students going into grades 9-12 during the 2026-2027 school year. Housing and food are provided. Space is limited, and camps will fill on a first-come, first-serve basis. To ensure the optimal co-hort learning experience, each camp sets a maximum registration. A waitlist option will be available.

Please see Camp Sessions for a list of camps offered, descriptions, capacity, costs, and scholarship opportunities.

2026 Dates & Deadlines

• Scholarship Application Deadline - Friday, January 23 go to https://go.unl.edu/scholarshipbigredcamp
• Registration Opens - Tuesday, February 10, at 8:00 a.m. CT; for the rest, go to the above camp sessions
• Early Bird Tuition Rate Deadline - Friday, April 17
• Regulation Tuition Rate Deadline - Friday, May 1
• Late Tuition Rate and Final Registration Deadline - Friday, May 22
• Health Form Submission Deadline - Friday, May 22
• Big Red Camps - June 7-12, 2026

Registration for the 2026 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is now open until January 30, 2026.

Please note youth may exhibit their Farrowed and Owned project animals at a 2026 Nebraska county fair or the Nebraska State Fair. All cohort members will participate in an interview at the 2026 Nebraska State Fair. Exhibiting your animal at the Nebraska State Fair is not a requirement for the record book and interview portion of the cohort.

NEW for 2026: virtual tour of the UNL swine facility will be a featured topic!

Visit https://go.unl.edu/4hunledufarrowedowned to get started.

Start looking in your mail boxes next month or so if you need to renew your pesticide license. Check the dates on where you want to take the classes and RSVP at that County. You can also do the classes on-line. Go to https://pested.unl.edu for more information.

The 2nd annual Northeast Nebraska Crops Update that will be held at the Haskell Ag Lab near Concord, NE on February 4th, 2026. This is a program designed for anyone in the ag sector that works with crops, geared towards the northeast area. It runs from 9am-3:30pm and is free to attend with a meal provided. Registration is highly recommended to ensure adequate space and enough food. Presentations will be on crop issues and ag topics for 2026.

An educational event for small and back-yard poultry producers and youth featuring speakers on the following topics:

8:30 Registration - at Dept. of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

9:00 Presentations - Room B101

• Talk 1: Reading feed tags for your flock nutrition program, Jodi Holmes, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Retail Field Rep., Holdrege, NE.
• Talk 2: Backyard Flock Health Management—Brett Kreifels, Extension Educator, Leader, Douglas Sarpy Counties, Omaha, Nebraska

10:30 Workshop—Preparing for 4-H and FFA Poultry Judging Competitions (Rooms D105 and D107)- Ashley Bigge, Extension Educator, Penn State University

Noon—Lunch Break, Free Omelet Lunch - Ani. Sci. Commons

1:00 Contest Winners Announcement—B101

1:15 Quiz Bowl Contest—B101

Contests include:

• Egg Art – Adult & Youth
• Poultry Photography- Adult & Youth
• Poultry Quiz Bowl – Adult & Youth Teams

The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership.

The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.

The livestock achievement program consists of two levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related educational, leadership and citizenship accomplishments.

Youth completing the application, plan & report, and the project record for their designated species receive member of excellence distinction for their project area. Members as young as eight will be able to participate. Applications are due June 15, but why wait? Visit 4h.unl.edu/livestock-achievement to get started.

This is a reminder that we’ll be conducting the Nebraska Agricultural Custom Rates survey from now until mid-January. This is our regular biennial custom rates survey that is utilized by many across the state. Data will be gathered and summarized in the 2026 report.

We will send the online survey link via email or send a print copy to those who request the paper version when they sign up to participate in the survey. Go.unl.edu/tbky is the online link to sign up, or the QR code is noted in the graphic below.

The program consists of levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. For each level, the Dog Achievement program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H youth choose their goals. The accomplishments increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. At the beginning of the 4-H year, participants plan what to accomplish and at the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Successful completion of a level's Plan & Report form results in a 4-H youth earning that level of the Dog Achievement program. More information can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/dog-achievement-program

Get ready for an unforgettable three-day livestock judging experience! The Heartland Triple Crown Livestock Judging Series is coming June 17–19, 2026, bringing together youth from across the region for competition, learning, and celebration as the Great Plains Judging Circuit wraps up its season. This three-day event is open to all states.

Participants will take part in 10 placing classes, enjoy a clinic, and compete for awards in each age division and species. With events hosted in Columbus, Bladen, and Nelson, Nebraska, each day offers something unique—plus fun evening activities, including a BBQ after-party and a final banquet and awards ceremony.

Whether you're a seasoned judge or new to the arena, this is the perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills, meet fellow competitors, and close out the circuit in style.

📅 June 17–19, 2026
📍 Columbus • Bladen • Nelson, Nebraska
🔗 Registration details available at: https://go.unl.edu/lj26

Join us for three exciting days of livestock evaluation, learning, and community. We can’t wait to see you there! More details to come for each day.

Experience what life is like as a student at Nebraska. During Red Letter Day, you'll tour campus with a current student, eat lunch in a dining center, learn about student engagement opportunities and resources for success and delve into your career path during academic sessions. You'll also tour one of our residence halls and learn more about on-campus housing.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact the Nebraska Office of Admissions at 402-472-2023. Because Red Letter Days fill up quickly, we encourage you to reserve your spot early.

Your pre-registration will allow us to prepare for your visit, ensuring the best possible campus experience.

Program Fee: $5 per person. Program fees are nonrefundable.

Note: School groups cannot be accommodated at Red Letter Day. View group visit opportunities.

These are the dates of the days:

• February 13th - filled
• March 6
• April 10
• May 1

Visit these websites to get started: https://admissions.unl.edu/events/on-campus/red-letter-days/ or https://admissions.unl.edu/visit/

CASNR Admitted Student Day - Friday, February 20th

Admitted Student Day - Saturday, March 28th

The Nebraska Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) is pleased to offer the Cynthia Thomsen Scholarship. Nebraska WIFE is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving profitability in production agriculture. The one-year $2000 scholarship is available to any woman who lives in Nebraska who will begin her FIRST year in a University/Technical/Trade/Community College in a field related to agriculture and must be postmarked by March 25, 2026. The scholarship may be used at the school of the recipient’s choice in Nebraska.

You'll find the application here.

For all you new members and for our previous ones, to keep up with all the latest updates and information as soon as possible! Follow us on Facebook @UNLExtensionThurston!