Monthly Newsletter

Sunday, March 1

1:00 pm- trap practice and all club meeting

Wednesday, March 4

Deadline to notify the Extension Office if you want Special Garden Project seeds

Sunday, March 8

1:00 pm- trap practice

Monday, March 9

6:30 pm- 4-H council meeting at Cheyenne County Fair Grounds

Thursday, March 12

Deadline to notify the Extension Office if you want Special Agronomy Project seeds

5:00 pm- Sharpshooters tournament practice

Saturday, March 14

Sutherland shooting tournament

Sunday, March 15

1:00 pm- trap practice

4:00pm- Dryland Toughies meeting at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds

11:59pm- Returning volunteer enrollment deadline

Thursday, March 19

5:00 pm- tournament practice

Saturday, March 21

9:00am- In-person YQCA training at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds

Mitchell shooting tournament

Sunday, March 22

1:00pm- trap practice

Thursday, March 26

5:00 pm- tournament practice

Saturday, March 28

9:00am- In-person YQCA training at the Deuel County Fairgrounds

Chappell/ Oshkosh shooting tournament

Sunday, March 29

1:00 pm- trap practice

Thursday, April 16

6:00pm- In-person YQCA training in Scottsbluff at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center (PREEC)

Thursday, May 14

6:00pm- Sheep and Goat weigh-in at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds

Monday, June 15

By 5:00pm- Member enrollment deadline

By 5:00pm- Ownership Affidavits due

By 5:00pm- YQCA certificates due

Monday, July 6

By 5:00pm- Fair entry forms due

2026 Essay Topic: The Power of Pollen

For this essay, a 4-H student should answer these questions: How is pollen important to bees? Has pollen been changing in plants and in our landscapes? If so, are those changes affecting bees? When do you observe the most and least pollen in your colonies and how does that impact their temperament and productivity?

Competition Rules & Essay Requirements: Any active 4-H Club member interested in writing an essay should contact their local 4-H office for competition details. The state selection process must be completed through the 4-H system. Failure to meet any one of the essay requirements will result in disqualification.

Awards:
Three cash prizes will be awarded in the 2026 National 4-H Beekeeping Essay Competition. The author of the highest-scoring essay will win first prize. The author of the second-highest scoring essay will win second prize. The author of the third-highest scoring essay will win third prize.

First Prize: $750

Second Prize: $500

Third Prize: $250

The Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is now accepting applications for a summer learning opportunity for high school students.

During the two-week, overnight camp students will:

· Develop core programming skills and learn innovation concepts through a project-oriented curriculum

· Receive instruction from Raikes School faculty members and experience what classes can be like in the Raikes School

· Visit campus research labs and local employer partners

· Interact with Raikes School students and staff, all of whom play a key role in the competitive selection process to our program each year.

The camp will be held at the Kauffman Academic Residential Center, home of the Raikes School, in the heart of Nebraska's City Campus from July 19-August 1, 2026.

· The fee to participate is $3,000. Students attending a Nebraska high school will receive a $1,000 discount, lowering the cost to $2,000 for Nebraska high school students. The cost covers all housing, meals, instruction, and activities associated with the camp.

· Full and partial scholarships are available - students can apply for scholarships through the Summer Camp application.

Priority Application Deadline: April 1, 2026 - Students who submit their application by this priority date will be notified of admission & scholarship decisions by April 13, 2026.

Calling all Clover Kids! Get ready for a hands-on challenge where creativity, problem-solving, and a little splash of fun come together. 🤔✨

At our March Clover Kids activity, young learners will design something all their own, put it to the test, and see just how much it can handle before things get interesting! 😄💦

Will your design be the strongest? The most creative? There’s only one way to find out—join us for this exciting STEM-filled adventure!

• Where: Sidney Public Library
• When: Friday, March 27 1:30 - 2:30 pm
• Who: Youth ages 5-7 as of Jan 1

To make sure we have enough supplies, RSVP to the Extension Office by 5pm Wednesday, March 25: 308-254-4455.

The 2026 Nebraska 4-H State BB Gun & Air Rifle Championships will be held on March 14-15, 2026 at the Kimball High School.

Please work with your club leader if you would like to register and attend. Registration is due by February 27, 2026.

The Special Garden Project is a way to offer Nebraska youth the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens.

The 2026 Special Garden Project will focus on the Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold. This marigold produces creamy, yellow flowers on compact plants. This variety not only has a unique color, but it also has a very long bloom time.

The Extension Office will be placing an order for the seeds for this project. Please contact us by no later than Wednesday, March 4 to let us know you would like seeds. The fee is currently estimated at around $0.50/youth plus shipping.

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.

Be eligible to enter an exhibit at the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy project area.

Contact your local Extension Office to order packets of seeds. The local Extension Office will order and distribute the seeds to members.

Please contact the Extension Office to let us know you would like seeds by no later than Thursday, March 12.

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

Nebraska 4‑H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) every year. YQCA is a national multi-species quality assurance program focused on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. YQCA training can be completed online or at in-person training events. Youth are free to choose the option that works best for them, and in-person training can be in any county.

**Every 4‑H member who exhibits Beef, Dairy Cattle, Goats, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, or Swine must complete Quality Assurance and provide a copy of your certificate to the Extension Office by June 15.

Youth are invited to join us and Big Gumdrop Outdoors as we explore the world around us through Exploring Ecosystems.

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 4h.unl.edu/camp.

Enrollment is open!

While youth may enroll in 4-H at any time during the year, they must be enrolled by no later than June 15 to participate in County and State Fair. Other projects, such as shooting sports or robotics, may require earlier enrollment to participate in practices or events. Please contact the Extension Office if you have questions or would like more information.

The Extension Office Staff are here to serve you!

Use our website as a valuable resource for information on Beef Systems, Community Environment, Rural Prosperity Nebraska, Crop and water systems, Food Nutrition and Health, and The Learning Child.

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.

Telephone: 308-254-4455

Address: PO Box 356, 920 Jackson Street, Sidney, NE 69162

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