Dakota County 4-H News

DAKOTA COUNTY OFFICE STAFF

Angela Abts—4-H & Youth aabts2@unl.edu

Julie Boyle—Food Nutrition and Health julie.boyle@unl.edu

Tammy Dunn—Office Manager tpeterson3@unl.edu

Brenda Sale—SNAP-ED bsale@unl.edu

Email: dakota-county@unl.edu
Website: https://dakota.unl.edu
Location: 1505 Broadway Street, Dakota City, NE, USA
Phone: 402-987-2140
Facebook: facebook.com/UNLDakotaCounty
Twitter: @NEDakota4HExt

Facebook: Nebraska Extension in Dakota County

Instagram: NE Extension Dakota County

APRIL

5 - Big Red Camp Early Bird Camp Registration
7 - Dakota County Extension Board

12 - All Contest Rain Date

14 - Joint 4-H Council (TBD)

20-26 - National Volunteer Week

22 - Easter Sunday

MAY

5 - Extension Board Meeting

26 - Office Closed Memorial Day

29 - ALL HORSE ID'S & STATE ENTRIES DUE

31 - 4-H Foundation Governor's Agricultural Excellence Award deadline

JUNE

2 - Extension Board meeting

9 - 4-H Council meeting

15 - Apply to State Livestock Achievement program (final report 8/1)

15 - ALL LIVESTOCK ID'S AFFIDAVITS DUE

15 - State Fair livestock nominations/DNA due

15 - Final enrollment/project deadline

17/18 - P.A.S.E. UNL

19/20 - Premier Communications Event - UNL

DAKOTA~THURSTON COUNTY FAIR - July 30th - August 3rd, 2025

NEBRASKA STATE FAIR - August 22nd - September 1st, 2025

It was a great day for Dakota and Thurston County 4-H members as they showed off their skills for the All Contest Day. All Contest Day includes Public Speaking, PSA, Presentation, Music and Favorite Foods Revue. The Public Speaking and Presentation contests provide the opportunity for the 4-H’ers to advance to a State Competition. The Favorite Foods Revue and Music contest are county only contests.

Public Speaking: Topic must include a 4-H component

PSA: is a 60 second long promotional audio recording focused on a year theme. The 2025 theme is “Ready Through 4-H and beyond…….

Added to All contest Day this year was an Impromptu Speech Contest. Youth drew a random topic then had 15 minutes to prepare a speech. Eight youth participated.

Presentation is a like show and tell, a speech with some type of prop.

Grand Champion Speech Intermediate: Elle Lamplot

Grand Champion Speech Senior: Payton Hermelbracht

Grand Champion PSA Junior: Kate Hansen

Reserve Champion PSA Senior: Logan Hansen

Grand Champion PSA Senior: Rylie Hermelbracht

Grand Champion Impromptu Speech: Logan Hansen

Reserve Champion Impromptu Speech: Benjamin Albrecht

Grand Champion Presentation Junior: Benjamin Albrecht

Grand Champion Presentation Intermediate: Isaac Albrecht

Ribbons

Speech Contest

Cloverkids/Participation ribbon:

Evelyn Albrecht, Emily Hansen

Intermediate

Purple: Elle Lamplot

Senior

Purple: Payton Hermelbracht

PSA (Public Service Announcement)

Junior

Purple: Kate Hansen

Senior

Purple: Logan Hansen, Rylie Hermelbracht

Impromptu Speech

Purple: Taryn Albrecht, Ty Nielsen, Kate Hansen, Logan Hansen, Elle Lamplot, Addison Lamplot, Isaac Albrecht, Benjamin Albrecht

Presentation Contest

Junior

Purple: Benjamin Albrecht

Intermediate

Purple: Isaac Albrecht

In the Favorite Foods contest 4-H’ers prepare a menu, usually with a theme, set up a single table setting. This should include plate(s), flatware, drinkware and a centerpiece. The 4-H’er prepare one food item from the menu for the judge to try.

Grand Champion Favorite Foods Junior: Benjamin Albrecht

Reserve Champion Favorite Foods Junior: Isaac Albrecht

Grand Champion Favorite Foods Senior: Audric Cavenee

Reserve Champion Favorite Foods Senior: Brooke Raymer

Favorite Foods

Ribbons

Cloverkids/Participation Ribbon: Evelyn Albrecht, Emily Hansen

Junior

Blue: Carter Twito

Purple: Benjamin Albrecht, Kate Hansen, Isaac Albrecht

Senion

Blue: Jenna Raymer

Purple: Logan Hansen, Brooke Raymer, Audric Cavenee

For the Music Contest 4-H members, sing, play instruments, the piano or maybe even dance. Youth can do solos, duets and groups.

Best of Show Grand Champion: Audric Cavenee

Best of Show Reserve Champion: Kylie Kocian

Music Contest

Ribbons

Cloverkid/Participation Ribbon: Evelyn Albrecht – piano solo)

Junior

Blue: Ty Nielsen (vocal solo)

Purple: Taryn Albrecht & Jack Fichter (vocal duet), Isaac Albrecht (vocal solo), Addison Lamplot (vocal solo), Ty Nielsen (piano solo)

Senior

Blue: Brooke Raymer (Instrumental solo/bells), Audric Cavenee (Instrumental solo/tongue drum)

Purple: Kylie Kocian (Instrumental solo/flute), Audric Cavenee (instrumental solo/double bass), Instrumental solo/tenor sax)

Nebraska 4-H requires all members enrolled in a livestock meatanimal project (beef, sheep, swine, goat, poultry, rabbit) to completeannual quality assurance certifi cation through the Youth for theQuality Care of Animals program. The program has recently movedto a new online system available at

YQCAProgram.org. Learn more about YQCA requirements and find help documents at

4h.unl.edu/yqca

.

YQCA must be completed by July 17th.

We would love to have the 4-H youth affected with severe weather events in Nebraska “share” their experiences , stories, and recommendations. These classes will be a pilot project for next year, as we are hoping to expand the state fair “Safety” department to include more opportunities for youth.

We would love for your county to add theses new 4-H classes into the Safety department in your county fair book. This year they will be county only. They will not be eligible for state fair. If you are able, please share them also with your open class department for both youth and adults.

Here is the why!!!!!!

Nebraska 4-H families have been working tirelessly to respond to and recover from a series of severe storm events in recent years. In particular, the multiple storms that struck Nebraska in 2024 left a lasting impact on communities across the state. In response, the Nebraska Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) team has created an opportunity for youth to share how they navigated disaster recovery or helped their neighbors and community. We believe that 4-H members have valuable insights and solutions that can help families and communities rebuild more effectively.

Building inclusive networks is essential for supporting all Nebraskans during every phase of disaster management. These challenges are complex, and we all share the responsibility of addressing them together. Through this initiative, we ask Nebraska 4-H members to rise to the challenge and share their stories to contribute to the recovery efforts within their communities.

We invite you to choose a topic that resonates with you. Possible themes include:

Emergency Preparedness: Disaster Recovery and Response: 2025 County only exhibits

Disaster Recovery/Response Poster (SF269) – Poster should promote a recovery message or response to a weather-related disaster. Example: Flooding/Tornado/fire/storm damage. Documentation should include evidence of your family’s or your community’s preparedness, response or recovery for the disaster topic. Posters must be constructed of poster board at least 11 inches x 14 inches but not larger than 22 inches x 28 inches.

Disaster recovery/response Scrapbook (SF270) - The scrapbook must contain 10 news articles from print and/or internet sources about any type of weather-related disasters to residential or commercial properties or landscapes. Mount each clipping on a separate page accompanied by a description of events leading to the incident and any measures that might have been taken to prepare, recover or respond to the weather-related disaster. The scrapbook should be bound in a standard size hardcover binder or notebook for 8.5 inches x 11 inches size paper. Correct sentence structure, readability and thorough explanations are an important part of judging.

72-hour Disaster Kit (Emergency Preparedness) (SF111) - Disaster kits must contain the materials to prepare a person or family for emergency conditions caused by a natural or man-made incident. Selection of materials is left to the exhibitor. Family or group kits must have enough material or items for each person. A description of the kit's purpose, the number of people supported, and a list of contents is required. 4-H members are encouraged to test their kit by challenging their family to try to survive using only the included materials for the designated time. If tested, share that experience in kit documentation. Please include an explanation of drinking water needs for your disaster kit. Do not bring actual water to the fair in the kit.

Disaster Response/training Experiences (SF 190) - The exhibit should share a learning experience the youth had related to safety in a weather-related disaster. Examples could be participating in a first aid or first responder training, a farm safety day camp, babysitting workshop or similar events; scientific experiment related to safety related to a weather-related disaster; or the youth’s response to an emergency situation in that disaster event. The exhibit should include a detailed description of the experience, the 4-H member’s role, some evidence of the member’s leadership in the situation and a summary of the learning that took place. Exhibits may be presented in a poster with supplemental documentation, a notebook including up to ten pages of narrative and pictures, or a multimedia presentation lasting up to five minutes.

Careers in Emergency management (SF191) - The exhibit should identify a specific career area in the emergency management field and include education and certification requirements for available positions, salary information, demand for the field and a summary of the 4-H member’s interest in the field. Examples of careers include firefighters, paramedics, emergency management personnel, military assignments, law enforcement officers, emergency room medical personnel, fire investigators and more. It is recommended 4-H members interview a professional in the field in their research. Additional research sources might include books, articles, career web sites, job-related government web sites or interviews with career placement or guidance counselors. Exhibits may be presented in a poster with supplemental documentation, a notebook including up to ten pages of narrative and pictures, or a multimedia presentation lasting up to five minutes.

Care Package Display (SF182) - This exhibit is a display about the PROCESS of creating and giving a care package, not the actual care package. You may use a poster, Power Point or another multi-media program to tell about the PROCESS of developing and giving a care package to a family. PowerPoint should be saved to a USB/thumb drive. You need to answer the following questions in your exhibit. How did you select the organization? What items did you include in your care package? Why did you select those items? How did it feel to present your care pack to the family? What did you learn from this experience? Other information that you feel is important about the care package or family. Some examples of care packages are: Backpack for school supplies, litter pan for animal shelter items, replacement of toys lost in a disaster for the children, etc.

CHALLENGING PHOTO EXHIBIT: TELLING A STORY DISPLAY – Exhibit will include three photos which tell a story without words. Photos may show something being created, destroyed, consumed, moving, or growing. Photos should capture the beginning, middle, and end

of a single story, project, or event. Topic could also be a weather-related event, tornado, flooding or other. Display will consist of three 4x6 photos mounted on a single horizontal 11x14 black or white poster or mat board. Each photo in the display must be numbered using a pencil. Numbers should be readable but not distracting from the overall display. No titles, captions, or stick-on numbers are allowed. Photos may be mounted vertically or horizontally. Data tags are required for each photo in the display. (Activity 14)

Produce a Computer Slideshow Presentation – Using presentation software a 4-H Exhibitor designs a multimedia computer presentation on one topic related to youth. Possible topic – Disaster Preparedness, response or recovery; family or community response to a weather-related event. An 8.5 inch x 11 inch three ring notebook with a printout of all the slides should be submitted. Slideshow should include a minimum of 10 slides and not more than 25. Incorporate appropriate slide layouts, graphics, animations, and audio (music or voice and transition sounds do not count). Each slide should include notes for a presentation. All digital exhibits must be uploaded according to the guidelines and by the deadline listed in the department rules.

Produce an Audio/Video Computer Presentation – Using presentation software a 4-H exhibitor designs a multimedia computer presentation on one topic related to youth, including audio and/or video elements. Possible topic – Disaster Preparedness, response or recovery; family or community response to a weather-related event. A notebook with a printout of all the slides should be submitted. The presentation should be at least two minutes in length and no more than five minutes in length, appropriate graphics, sound and either a video clip, animation, or voice over and/or original video clip. All digital exhibits must be uploaded according to the guidelines and by the deadline listed in the department rules.

Virtual Platform Presentation – Youth design a fully automated educational presentation using any multimedia platform such as Tik Tok, YouTube, Canva, Canvas, etc.. Possible topic – Disaster Preparedness , response or recovery; family or community response to a weather-related event. Submissions may include a notebook, poster, etc., explaining the process, experience, and/or presentation. All digital exhibits must be uploaded according to the guidelines and by the deadline listed in the department rules.

Create a Website/Blog or App – Design a simple website, blog, or app for providing information about a topic related to youth. Possible topic – Disaster Preparedness, response or recovery; family or community response to a weather-related event. Include an explanation of why the entry was created. Any current website, blog, or app development platform is accepted such as Google Sites, iBuildApp, Wix, etc. All digital exhibits must be uploaded according to the guidelines and by the deadline listed in the department rules.

Families are responsible for tagging their own livestock and turning in ID sheets. Tags are available at the Dakota county Extension Office for $3 each. If you think you may attend the State FAir or Ak-Sar-Ben, pick up some DNA envelopes, they are no charge, you pay the nomination fee online at a later date. ID sheets are available in our office or get them from our website at: AFFIDAVITS

It's time to get enrolled in 4-H for the 2025 4-H year! There are quite a few families that have not completed their enrollment for the 224-25 4-H year. Please complete this step so we can build our club lists, project lists and more.

Nebraska is using the same platform as last year! To enroll, visit https://v2.4honline.com/
For new families, find instructions here: https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/new-member

For returning families: Do Not create a new account; rather use your existing log-in credentials from 4-H online as used in previous years. Find instructions at https://4h.unl.edu/enroll/returning-member

Any Direct volunteers such as club leaders, project leaders, workshop presenters and more, must put in their ACTUAL BIRTHDATE into 4-H Online when enrolling so that the volunteer screening can be done.

Please contact us at 402-987-2140 with any enrollment questions.

We've been working on updating our website. It is a work in progress. County fair information will be coming. If there is specific information you can't find or need, please reach out and I can direct it to you or make sure to get the information updated.

The 2025 County Fairbook should be available in the next couple of weeks

Cole Brady, a senior Environmental Studies major at UNL, senior thesis focuses on the public perceptions of mountain lions in Nebraska. Please take a few minutes to complete his survey to help with his research project.

This survey is for current or past Nebraska residents. You must have been a resident of Nebraska for at least a year. The goal of this survey is to gain an understanding of resident's attitudes towards mountain lions in Nebraska. Information will be used to inform a student thesis project at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Any information you provide will not be shared and will remain anonymous. Thank you for your support. Please direct any questions or request additional information from email cbrady10@huskers.unl.edu.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeF2S12eZ4-o-Dg7fzwCV4ytVzbNq_baI9XWGrBTsL7Rcg1DA/viewform?usp=sharing

A summer job that makes a difference!

The Nebraska State 4-H Camp is hiring staff and program assistants for the 2025 season. Travel across the state as we bring everything that makes 4-H Camp great to Chadron and Burwell! State 4-H Camp staff will participate in a week of training to help develop the necessary skills for a successful summer. Staff will learn how to teach environmental education lessons, lead games and activities, and how to incorporate Positive Youth Development in their daily work at camp. Not to mention, this is all done in a fun summer camp environment leading and playing large group games, tubing the river, and spending time around the campfire.

Visit go.unl.edu/campjob to learn more about each position and to apply.

If you will be showing horses this summer keep in mind some deadlines.

All horse ID's/affidavits are due in the Dakota County Extension office by MAY 29TH. Entries for the State horse show are also due at the time.

ID/Affidavits can be found at: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dakota/dakota-county-fair-state-fair/horse/

For information on the State horse show, advancement level and more visit https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/

Remember to compete at State Horse show Level 2 advancements level needs to be completed.

County fair the requirement is: Written (only level 1 must be completed by the fair pre-entry deadline (July 17th) for all youth meeting age 12 and up.

Cumming County will be hosting a Cat Showmanship Clinic in West Point on Tuesday, May 27th from 1:00-2:30 p.m. at the Dinklage Building on the Cuming County Fairgrounds. Alicia Nebuda will be the presenter who currently owns Glitter Grooming in West Point and has judged cat shows in the past.

Registration is being handled by Cumming County Extension office so if youth are interested, contact them! It is limited to the first 20 youth and cost will be $5.00 per youth.

Website Link: https://showstockmgr.com/

All livestock in contention to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will be required to complete an online nomination with payment through Show Stock Manager and submit a DNA collector envelope with a hair sample. This includes all 4-H and FFA breeding livestock, market livestock, and feeder calves. Each State Fair nomination will be $7.00 per animal in Show Stock Manager. 4-H and FFA livestock nominations are due on June 15, 2025.

Refer to the 4-H State Fair Livestock Identification and Nomination Requirements for additional information on 4-H exhibitor eligibility at the State Fair.

If you have any questions on how to submit your online nominations, you can review the 2025 Step-by-Step Nomination Instructions document.

Special Note: For 4-H/FFA families who are planning on nominating the same animals for the NSF and Aksarben Stock Show, obtain your DNA envelopes from the local Extension Office or FFA Advisor. Turn in your completed DNA envelopes to the local Extension Office or FFA Advisor. Submit the DNA payment and complete the online nomination in Show Stock Manager. 4-H/FFA families will only be required to submit DNA and pay once for an animal. After these steps, complete the online nomination process for the Aksarben Stock Show. The Aksarben Stock Nomination online nomination system will be different than Show Stock Manager. Guidance on how to nominate State Fair animals in the Aksarben Stock Show online nomination database will be provided at a later date.

The Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) is a weeklong experience for high school juniors and seniors from across Nebraska to learn more about career opportunities within agriculture. This conference features speakers, workshops, agricultural education, networking with peers and industry leaders, professional development, leadership experience, fun and new friends!

https://nda.nebraska.gov/nayi/

Young Nebraska Scientists, conducted by Nebraska EPSCoR with funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, offers camps for middle and high school students throughout the state. The program focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math topics and is a great way for teens to sample a career or campus, meet friends and mentors, and find their future.

Camp fees include meals and lodging, except day camps. National Science Foundation funding helps keep camp fees low, plus need-based scholarships are readily available. Faculty from Nebraska colleges and universities are camp session leaders, and camp staff include university students.

Summer 2025 opportunities for middle school students (grades 6-8) include the Secret Life of Metals from July 21-23 at Creighton University in Omaha, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; lunch provided. Camp cost is $60 and the program follows day camp format.

Opportunities for high school students (grades 9-11) include the STEM in Your Apple, which takes place July 4-6. This camp takes place at UNL Food Science/Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, with a visit provided to camp sponsor Kimmel Orchards in Nebraska City. Camp cost is $75 and the program follows residential format.

Also for high school students is Explorations in Biology at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln from June 16-19. Camp cost is $150 and the program follows residential format.

Biodiversity at UNL Cedar Point Biological Station in Ogallala is for high school students and takes place July 6-12. Camp cost is $150 and follows residential format.

Quantum Camp, a new, online camp for high school students, takes place July 29-31. It is led by University of Nebraska at Kearney Physics faculty with Nebraska's National Science Foundation-Funded EQUATE, or Emergent Quantum Materials and Technologies, research collaboration. Camp cost is $20.

The program also offers one-day food science camps at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln. Registration closes two weeks before each camp starts. Dairy Camp – Ice Cream will by May 29, Pizza: Rise of the Dough will by June 19 and The Science of Chocolate will be July 22.

Learn more and apply now online. Email yns@nebraska.edu with any questions.

More details at: https://yns.nebraska.edu/camps

Heavy Equipment Career Exploration

Register today for the Heavy Equipment Career Exploration day set for Monday, June 23, 2025 at Central Community College - Hastings Campus in Hastings, NE. Sessions include:

* Navigate and drive virtual heavy equipment simulators

* Behind the wheel experience with a variety of Heavy Equipment Pieces

* Learn about the Hastings CCC Heavy Equipment Program

* Career panel

* Optional campus tours

Check-in is from 9:30 am to 10:00 am. Lunch is included. The day ends at 4:30 pm with optional campus tours. Registration cost is $35.00. Register at https://go.unl.edu/heavyequipment . Registration will close on Friday, June 13, 2025 at 5 pm or until all spots are filled.

This is a joint program with Nebraska Extension, Nebraska 4-H, Central Community College, and Nebraska Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP).

Do you know what it takes to pick the best fruit and vegetables out at the grocery store? Or do you know what judges are looking for when they judge your plants at the county fair? Have you ever wondered, what plant is that!?! We are excited to offer the opportunity to learn these and other important horticulture skills through the Online Horticulture Contest. The contest will be available June 10-24, 2025 at: http://go.unl.edu/online4hhortcontest

Horticulture judging contest consists of three parts. The first is identification of plant material. Participants identify the plants by common name from a plant list. Specimens may be alive or preserved plant parts like stems, twigs, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, bulbs, tubers, or plant products.

The second is a knowledge portion, usually in the form of a true/false or multiple choice quiz. Questions will test the contestant's knowledge of cultural practices for horticultural crops, plant science, pesticides, horticultural careers and other topics related to the production, processing and consumption of horticultural crops.

The last portion is judging or placings. This is where four different plants, plates of vegetables, or containers flowers are ranked from best to worst based on a set of criteria. Classes are judged on the basis of condition, quality, uniformity, true-to-type, and size.

More information about the Nebraska State contest along with a list of study materials can be found in the Fairbook https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/contests/45 . Here you can find the written study materials for the knowledge portion, follow links to plant pictures for help with identification, and read how judging of plant material is done.
More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/online-horticulture-judging-contest

More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/online-horticulture-judging-contest

The Public Health Association of Nebraska (PHAN) is thrilled to announce an art contest for elementary school students to commemorate our 75th anniversary! This year's theme is “Thrive 75”, inspired by the Vital Conditions for Health and Wellbeing Framework. The winning designs may be featured on the Public Health Association of Nebraska website at https://www.publichealthne.org/aboutus.

Elementary school students in grades K-6 in Nebraska are invited to create an original piece of artwork (drawing, painting, collage, mixed media - get creative!) reflecting the Thrive 75 theme and the Vital Conditions for Health and Wellbeing.

What is Thrive 75?
Thrive 75 encourages us to think about what makes our communities healthy and happy. Your artwork should reflect the important elements that contribute to a thriving life, such as:
- Thriving Natural World: Show a healthy and beautiful Nebraska.
- Basic Needs for Health & Safety: Depict the importance of nutritious food.Show how healthcare keeps us healthy and strong.
- Humane Housing:Think about the comfort and security of a home.
- Meaningful Work & Wealth: Illustrate how having resources helps us thrive.
- Lifelong Learning: Show how learning helps us grow.
- Reliable Transportation: Show how getting around helps us connect and participate in society.
- Belonging & Civic Muscle: Illustrate the importance of friends, family, and community.

A Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop is scheduled for early April in Bassett, NE. It will be held April 12-13 at the Rock County Fairgrounds in the Bassett Community Building. The early bird deadline to register for the workshop is April 2nd.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to become certified as an adult (21 years and older) or apprentice (14-20 years old) leader. Five project areas will be offered at the Bassett Workshop – rifle, pistol, shotgun, coordinator, and archery.

There is a minimum number of participants required to offer these disciplines at the workshop. Workshop participants will learn under expert instruction from members of the Nebraska State
4-H Shooting Sports Training Team.

More details at: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/shooting-sports-program/

Spring into 4-H judging! A training series for 4-H project judges will take place in April 2025:

• Thursday, April 10th (5:30 - 6:30 pm CST): Introduction to Judging 4-H Projects
• Audience: Adults interested in learning about judging 4-H projects at county and state fairs.
• Topics: Ensuring interview judging is a positive experience, the role of Positive Youth Development in the judging process and more!
• Monday, April 14th (5:30 - 7:00 pm CST): 4-H Visual Arts & Foods Judges Training
• Audience: New and experienced judges for Visual Arts and Foods projects.
• Topics: Class changes to 4-H Visual Arts department; Refresh on foods department judging including the new trends of sourdough and updates.

Participation is optional, and while live attendance is encouraged, the sessions will be recorded and available at: https://4h.unl.edu/resources/judges/.

Visit https://go.unl.edu/judgestraining2025 to register!

You may also include the QR code:

The Nebraska State 4-H Camp is excited to announce the 2025 season! Youth can join us for an un-BEE-livable summer and learn all about What’s the Buzz? In 2025. Please share the following message and attached graphics with your 4-H families.

The 2025 What’s the Buzz? season of the Nebraska State 4-H Camp will share the importance of pollinators in Nebraska- why they’re important, how they impact agriculture, and what youth can do in their own communities to support the various native pollinators we have in Nebraska. From bees and butterflies to hummingbirds and bats- it’s going to be a week full of learning and fun!

The Nebraska State 4-H Camp is returning to Chadron and Burwell for summer camp 2025! Youth new to camping can attend a shorter camp session designed to let them experience all the best parts of summer camp in a 3 day/2 night session. Choose from one of two 5 day/4 night sessions for youth 10-14 years old and returning this year is the Leaders in Training camp for high school youth 15-17 years old! Campers will focus on developing leadership skills with an opportunity to put those skills into practice by volunteering at one of our other camp sessions!

Registration is now OPEN! More information on sessions, dates, and the link to register can be found at 4h.unl.edu/camp.

This webinar series, sponsored by Nebraska Extension and delivered via Zoom, is a great opportunity to join experts from Nebraska Extension to learn and ask questions! All programs are on the second Wednesday of the month from Noon-1 pm CT.

Check out the website to learn more and find past program recordings - https://hles.unl.edu/lawn-garden/gro-big-red/

Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.