Dawes County 4-H

Mar. 8 - Panhandle Best in Chadron

Mar. 9 - Dawes 4-H Council Meeting 6 pm

Mar. 14 -15 - State BB Gun

Mar. 19 - Chadron Intermediate Afterschool Adventures 4-5:15 pm

Mar. 20-21 - State Robotics

Mar. 24 - Dawes Extension Board Meeting at 6 pm

Mar. 25 - Chadron Primary Clover Kids Club 4-5:30 pm

Feb. 16 - OFFICE Closed - Presidents Day

DEADLINE DATES:

Mar. 12 - Special Agronomy Project Registration Deadline

Mar. 24 - 4-H Club Link Up Hemingford Date Registration Deadline

Apr. 7 - 4-H Club Link Up Rushville Date Registration Deadline

Apr. 13 - Speech Contest Registration Deadline

We want to wish the Dawes County Shooting Sports youth good luck at state on March 14-15 and Chadron Robotics team good luck at State on March 20-21!

We have some partnerships going on right now with the Chadron After School Program. Tessa is going in to the Primary School to offer Clover Kids Club again. The next session is Wednesday, March 25th. Kindergarten is from 4-4:30, 2nd grade 4:30-5, and 1st grade 5-5:30.

Tessa is going in to the Intermediate School to offer Afterschool Adventures. The next session is Thursday, March 19th. 3rd grade from 4-4:35 and 4th grade from 4:40-5:15.

Have you got enrolled yet?! https://v2.4honline.com/ is open for the 2025-2026 Enrollment Year! Deadline for 4-H enrollment is June 15, 2025. If you need help with enrollment, you may contact the Extension office for help!

As a reminder, if you plan to participate in Shooting Sports or the Horse project, you need to add those projects and sign the consents. To be completely enrolled, dues must be paid. CHANGES TO DUES - Dues are $5.00 and can be paid with cash, check, or credit card. Checks are payable to UNL Extension. Clover Kids (ages 5-7) are free.

Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA).

Youth enrolled in any of following projects or project areas will need to complete YQCA training;

• Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market beef)

• Dairy Cattle

• Goat (breeding meat goat, dairy goat, meat goat)

• Poultry

• Rabbit

• Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)

• Swine (breeding swine, market swine)

There are 3 ways to complete this certification:

1. Web-Based Training - Web-based annual training is available through the YQCA learning management system. The online YQCA course costs $12 per individual regardless of age. Each session purchased includes three modules - a knowledge builder, a skills lab, and a quiz. The knowledge builder is where content is delivered. The skills lab provides an opportunity to apply the content. The quiz test knowledge. To receive certification, 80% must be achieved on the 10-question quiz. These modules, completed in their entirety, will provide 2-3 hours of experience.
2. In-Person Training - In-person YQCA training courses cost $3 per individual regardless of age.
3. Testing Out - Test-out options are only available to youth in the first year of Intermediate (age 12) and Senior (age 15) age levels. There is no test-out option for Juniors.

Please visit: https://yqcaprogram.org/ for more information, get registered and pay fees for the in-person course, or take the online course.

Dates for Instructor Led Trainings:

• April 17 - Dawes Extension Office - 2-4 pm
• May 14 (tentative) - Crawford Location TBD - 2-4 pm
• June 1 or 2 (tentative) - Dawes Extension Office 10am -12 pm

Deadline to complete YQCA is June 15th! YQCA Certificates need to be sent tessa.reece@unl.edu or returned to the office.

The North Panhandle Speech Contest will be held on April 19th at the Sheridan County Extension Office starting at 2 pm. Members can participate in a variety of contests. They can give a speech, conduct a presentation, or pre-record a Public Service Announcement with the radio station.

Prepared Speech:

Length:

• Clover Kids - less than 2 minutes
• Junior (ages 8-10) - 2-3 minutes
• Intermediate (ages 11-13) - 3-5 minutes
• Senior (ages 14 -18) - 5-8 minutes

No team entries or props allowed.

Public Service Announcement:

Length: 60 seconds

No team entries. Needs to incorporate the theme: "Ready Today, Leading Tomorrow". Need to be general enough to be used across Nebraska. Must include tagline within the last 10 seconds: "Learn more about the the Nebraska Extension 4-H Youth Development Program at 4h.unl.edu." Copyrighted material can't be used. Feel free to reach out to KCSR, as they are generally willing to record a member's PSA with them.

Video Communication:

Length: 60 -90 seconds

No team entries. Youth can use phone, laptop, or tablet to create a multi-media piece around the theme: "Ready Today, Leading Tomorrow." No copyrighted material.

Illustrated Presentation:

Length:

• Individual Junior - 3-5 minutes
• Individual Intermediate and Senior - 6-8 minutes
• Team Junior - 5-7 minutes
• Team Intermediate and Senior - 8 -10 minutes

Topic should be related to what youth are learning about through 4-H.

More more details on the rules, past state winners, etc. Please visit: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/communication/pce/

Join Melissa and Tessa for an exciting 4-H Club Link-Up — a chance to connect, collaborate, and grow together! This event brings together 4-H club leaders and all members for an engaging experience designed to strengthen our clubs and build meaningful connections across our community.

When: Two dates will be offered. Clubs can attend either location.

• Sunday, March 29th from 3-5 pm in Hemingford
• Sunday, April 12th from 3-5 pm in Rushville

Who: Club leaders, club members, independent members, and volunteers!

Registration: In order to prep materials, we need to know who will be attending. Register by March 24 for the Hemingford date by calling Box Butte Extension. Register by April 12 for the Rushville date by calling Rushville Extension.

Come ready to engage, network, and celebrate the spirit of 4-H. We look forward to seeing all leaders and members there!

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live in. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different. This year, we will be exploring a crop that can be marketed different ways depending on the variety.

In the sixth year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore TWO varieties of popcorn! The first is an heirloom variety that was discovered and developed by a farmer in eastern Nebraska, called Nebraska Red. The second is a commercial variety, Robust 997. Be sure not to plant sweet corn in your garden with these to prevent cross pollination.

• Each youth who registers will automatically receive the 2 different popcorn seeds automatically.
• While this popcorn shouldn’t be grown with sweet corn, it won’t be affected by dent corn. Aaron has provided the reasoning for this which you can share with your members if they have any questions.
• Most popcorn varieties have a gene that doesn’t allow them to be pollinated by dent corn, which is what field corn is.
• The two varieties we have selected have 12 days difference in maturity, so if they are planted at the same time, they each should pollinate at different times and keep their colors, but there may still be some cross pollination between them if one is delayed in maturity.
• The reason it affects sweet corn is that both are flint corns so they readily cross pollinate, with the sweet corn not tasting good since it has more starch vs sugar.

For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules.

More details at: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/special-agronomy-project/

To get the seeds, please contact the Extension Office prior to March 12.

Morgan Schommer and Tessa are starting to plan a sewing club starting up on Friday afternoons. Stay tuned for more information as space will be limited!

We are excited to announce the 2026 Nebraska 4-H Summer Camp season! Youth are invited to join us and Big Gumdrop Outdoors as we explore the world around us through our Exploring Ecosystems theme.

During the 2026 Exploring Ecosystems season, campers will explore Nebraska’s natural world, discover how ecosystems connect, and learn how they can help care for the environment - all while having fun at camp!

The Nebraska State 4-H Camp is offering both day camps and overnight camp opportunities. Camp will return to Chadron for a 5 day overnight session (June 15-19) for youth ages 8–14. Day camps will be held in Grand Island (June 30) and Lincoln (July 22) for youth ages 8–12 providing a great introduction to the camp experience.

Registration is now OPEN! More information on sessions, dates, scholarships, and the link to register can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/nebraska-4-h-summer-camp/

The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program is back for its fifth year, recognizing youth who go above and beyond in their livestock projects! This program promotes learning in selection, production, leadership, and exhibition across all livestock species.

🔹 Open to enrolled 4-H livestock youth
🔹 Species include beef, sheep, swine, meat goat, dairy, rabbit, poultry.
🔹 Three achievement levels: Junior, Intermediate, Senior

🗓 Apply by June 15
🗂 Plans & Reports due August 1
🏆 Members of Excellence will be recognized at the Nebraska State Fair Grand Drive.

👉 Learn more & apply here: https://go.unl.edu/lap

New for this year, enrolled 4-H youth will receive complimentary access to 4-H curriculum developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln!

These hands-on resources help youth explore their sparks further and cover a wide range of interests, including shopping, entomology, poultry, clothing, babysitting, and much more! To learn more about complementary 4-H Curriculum, read this article: https://4h.unl.edu/.../complimentary-4-h-curriculum-now.../

4-H volunteers don't always make it in the photos, but they're making the moment possible. Help us celebrate our extraordinary volunteers by nominating them for the 2026 Statewide Volunteer Recognition awards!

You can submit nominations at https://4h.unl.edu/resources/volunteers/recognition/ by March 18.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center is now accepting applications for its annual student scholarships of $1000 each to be awarded in 2026.

Eligible applicants must have attended high school in one of the following counties: Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Cherry, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Hooker, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, and Thomas. The applicant should be a graduating high school senior or a first- or second-year college student.

Applicants must attend any of the University of Nebraska campuses at Lincoln, Kearney, and Omaha, or the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. They must major in Agronomy, Ag Economics, Animal Science, Vet Science, Agricultural Technology, or a related degree that emphasizes agriculture.

Applications can be filled out at https://ssp.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1LE6WLZ7KKFV7H8 . They must include a supporting letter of recommendation to be considered complete. Email letter with subject line, 2026 Scholarship recommendation letter (insert name of student) to dmccarthy2@unl.edu.

The scholarship is open now through April 1. Awardees will be chosen by May 1 and notified via email. For more information or questions, contact Deidra McCarthy at dmccarthy2@unl.edu or 308-632-1230

The 55th annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) will be held July 6-10, 2026, on UNL’s East Campus.

Applications are now available to students who are currently high school juniors and seniors on the website at: www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi

Applications will be due on April 15th.

For more information, please see the attachment below.

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.

4-H Council:
President - Boone Huffman

Vice President - Kevin Keim

Secretary - Dina Connell

Treasurer - Bailey Lesmeister
Members - Kris Vahrenkamp, Buffy Hourt-Allred, Melissa Nicholson
Youth Members: Garett Tollman, Kody Keim, Amelia Betson, Rhett Lesmeister

Extension Board:
President - Tony Denke
Vice President - Tim Milner
Secretary/Treasurer - Angel Lindsey
Members - Cody Gibbons, Willy Cogdill, Kyli Heiting

4-H Foundation:

Ryan Sellman, Chris Garrett, Bill Cogdill, Jan Soester, Roy Lambert, Jeff Lien, Kris Vahrenkamp