SHERIDAN COUNTY NEWSLETTER

Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day - Office Closed

Nov. 17 - Shooting Sports Practice

Nov. 27-28 - Happy Thanksgiving - Office Closed

Dec. 12 - Holiday Maker Day, 1 to 3 pm, Extension Office

DEADLINE DATES:

Nov. 30 - Don & Martha Romeo Scholarship Application Due

Dec. 5 - Holiday Maker Day Registrations Due

Seniors can apply for the Don and Martha Romeo Scholarship application for the chance to be awarded $500. The applications are due to the Extension Office by November 30th. Please find the application below.

The annual 4-H Council election was held on Sunday, October 25th during the Achievement Banquet. Congrats to our new members:

• Gordon - Clint Nielsen
• Hay Springs - Brad Beguin (2nd term)
• Rushville - Hannah Hoos
• Youth Members: Jackson Roffers, Luke Laws (2nd term), Jacob Dorshorst, and MacKenzie Simonson

The 4-H Program would not exist without volunteers. We would like to recognize these members for their years of service.

1 Year Leaders / Volunteers

Annette Langford

5 Year Leaders / Volunteers

Jennifer Dieriex, Jake Scott

20 Year Leaders / Volunteers

Bruce Salisbury

40 Year Leaders / Volunteers

Claire Shogrin

• Beef - Kirsten Heck and Cameron Heck

• Horse - Brylee Anderson, Mackatie Anderson, Richard Anderson

• Plant Science - Kirsten Heck
• Poultry - Camron Heck
• Rabbit - Brylee Anderson, Mackatie Anderson, Richard Anderson

Outstanding Junior Application - Cameron Heck

Outstanding Senior Application - Kirsten Heck

Each of these members received a $100 for being selected as having the most detailed Project Record Sheets.

• Senior - Kinley Tausan
• Intermediate - Kiley Tausan
• Junior - Keeley Tausan

Amethyst: Brylee Anderson, Mackatie Anderson, and Richard Anderson

These members were active in the 4-H program this year and were awarded with 4-H Bucks to help pay for upcoming workshops. Receiving $50 were Brylee Anderson, Mackatie Anderson, and Richard Anderson.

Goat: Emma Keiser

Sheep: Madison Laws

Swine: Cameron Heck

Poultry: Natalia Dolezal and Elizabeth Thompson

Rabbit: Brylee Anderson

Beef: Harper Scott

Senior - Jaxon Kearns

He continues to help during County Fair shows, checks in to see if there is anything they can help with during the week, teaches younger members how to work together and participate in activities they may not have before. Not to mention has been willing to record ads on the radio to support Sheridan County 4-H.

Intermediate - Willow Frink

She is actively involved in multiple project areas and is always thinking about how they can better themselves as well as try new things and better the 4-H Program as a whole. Willow is willing to step in and help whenever she sees a need and demonstrates great leadership skills within her robotics team, helping to teach younger members about robotics and making sure everyone feels like they are a part of the team.

Junior - Tenley Ostrander

While she may be a younger member; she has already demonstrated leadership skills. Tenley sets goals each year and work really hard to achieve them.

This award is to recognize people who selflessly give of themselves to help out the Sheridan County youth and 4-H program.

There is not a better way to describe this volunteer. She continually volunteers during fair, with Project Fridays and Babysitting Workshops teaching kids about CPR. Sheridan County 4-H is lucky to have Brenda Beliel as this year’s Jane Beguin Recipient.

This award is to recognize a business who goes above and beyond helping the 4-H program to Make the Best, Better. This year’s recipient is a great example of this! They are always asking for ways to help support 4-H programs through their grants and sponsorships. Due to their generosity we have been able to give bike helmets and life jackets to Sheridan County students during the annual Ag Safety Day, provide other school programs such as Connecting the Dots and Inventure Day.

We are so grateful for this year’s Business Friend of 4-H – Turner Foundation Ranches.

This award goes to an alumni who are always striving and doing everything they can to help support Nebraska Extension and Sheridan County 4-H. During summer they spent countless hours helping to spruce up the fairgrounds and helped ensure shows ran smoothly during fair. They are a true power volunteer couple for 4-H.

The award is for 4-H participants who are high school students who have demonstrated personal integrity, led well-rounded lives and possess a willingness to assume responsibility. They do not need to hold leadership positions currently but should be recognized by their peers and adults who work with them as emerging leaders. This member definitely assumes responsibility and demonstrates integrity. As a high school student he volunteered to help coach a robotics team. Some high school students tend to take over when youth members are struggling, not this youth member. He makes sure the youth do the work, he provides ideas and also comes up with challenges to help the kids to work together as a team. Congratulations to Jacob Dorshorst!

Holiday Maker Day is back!! Youth can choose 4 out of the 8 projects to complete on Friday, December 12th between 1 and 3 pm at the Extension Office. The fees for each session varies. Please return your registration by December 5th. You can find the registration below.

Feel like you are too old to participate in Holiday Maker Day but still want to get into the Holiday Spirit? Come volunteer to lead a session and show younger members how to create the items. Please contact Melissa Mracek at mmracek2@unl.edu or (402) 322-0655 for more details.

Nebraska 4-H is excited to bring the 4-H Volunteer Road Show to volunteers statewide this November! The 4-H Volunteer Road Show will rotate host locations each year, get registered today at the location near you OR attend the virtual session! NEW for 2025: All registered participants will go in a drawing for a Shop 4-H digital gift card! Please see the attached flyer for details regarding the dates, locations and times. The Volunteer Road Show is a great opportunity to experience project training and new ideas to bring back to your 4-H community. All 4-H volunteers, parents/caregivers and any adult wanting to find THEIR spark while volunteering with 4-H is welcome!

Visit https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-road-show for more specific information and registration link. Registration closes one week prior to each Road Show session. Registration is $15 per person and includes a meal and all supplies for in-person attendees. Registration for Virtual attendees is $10, they will receive a packet of supplies to use during the program.

Dates and Locations

Nov. 13 - Virtual - 4:30 to 6:30 pm MT

Nov. 17 - Central City - 4:30 to 7 pm MT

Schedule for In-Person Locations

5:30 pm Arrive, Eat, Welcome

6:00 pm Avoid 4-H Volunteer Burnout: Avoid 4-H Volunteer Burnout by learning how to implement some practical steps for your own 4-H club structure.

6:30 pm Building Strong Relationships with Youth at Every Stage – Are you looking for ways to build a strong relationship with you through each stage of their 4-H experience? Learn ways to intentionally build relationships with youth of all ages.

7:00 pm Curriculum Training

• Human Development – Searching for your next club project? Experience a hands-on Human Development project! This includes a lesson and fair exhibit idea(s) ready to take back to the 4-H experience you lead.
• Beyond Ready – Discover how volunteers can ensure youth are Beyond Ready for life and work by experiencing a lesson you can take back to the 4-H experience you lead! Ready to provide your 4-H members with some career exploration activities - this is perfect for you!

8:00 pm Safe Travels Home

Shooting Sports practice for BB Gun and Air Rifle has started! They practice from 3:30 to 7:00 pm, depending on when youth show up. During October through December, practice is held the first and third Mondays of the month at the Rushville American Legion basement. In January, they will practice every Monday and start attending Panhandle Best Shoots. To be eligible, youth must be 8 years old by January 1, 2026. Youth need to register on 4-H online after the first practice in order to participate. Parents need to sign waivers the first meeting. Please contact Bruce Salisbury at 402-533-8859 for more information.

Families can reenroll in 4-H for the 2026 Fair Season now! Visit 4honline.com to get started. 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. Other projects are not mandatory to add. Please contact the Extension Office for assistance.

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.

David Russell, Wendy Andersen, Michelle Heck, Nicole Janssen, Jake Scott, Kami Scott, Valerie Beel, Tim Campbell, Kris Stumpff, Melissa Mracek

4-H Council:
President - Zach Kearns

Vice President - Jace Stumpff

Secretary - Kaleigh Krebs

Treasurer - Brian Nelson
Members - Clint Vincent, Brad Beguin, Jackie Simonson, Brandon Jancik, and Chet Tausan
Youth Members: Jaxon Kearns, Lain Tausan, Kynsleigh Krebs, and Luke Laws

Extension Board:
President - Matt Albrecht
Vice President - Caleb Peters
Secretary/Treasurer - Paige Stumpff
Members - Morgan Weyers

Sheridan County Extension Office:

Office Manager - Wendy Andersen

4-H Extension Educator - Melissa Mracek

Livestock Systems Extension Educator - Brock Ortner

Rural Prosperity Extension Educator - Caitlin Roes

Email: sheridan-county@unl.edu
Location: 800 S Loofborrow Street, PO Box 329, Rushville, NE 69360
Phone: 308-327-2312
Twitter: @SheridanCounty