Thurston County 4-H News
May 2026
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
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
MAY
19 Thurston Extension Board Meeting
20 D-T Fair Board Meeting at D-T Fairgrounds; 7:00 PM
25 Office Closed – Memorial Day
27-29 Premier Animal Science Event – UNL-Lincoln
JUNE
1 Horse State & County ID’s DUE
4 Adventure Day Camp, Neligh Park West Point, NE
8 Thurston County 4-H Council Meeting
15 All Livestock Affidavits (incl. Horse County Only) DUE
15 State Fair Beef, Sheep, Swine, & Goat DNA & Nominations DUE
15 4-H Enrollment ABSOLUTE DEADLINE
16-17 Premier Communication Contest at UNL-Lincoln
17 D-T Fair Board Meeting at D-T Fairgrounds; 7:00 PM
19 Office Closed - Juneteenth
JULY
3 Office Closed – 4th of July.
11-15 State 4-H Horse Expo at Fonner Park, Grand Island
15 ALL Dakota-Thurston County Pre-Fair Entries (including YQCA) DUE
15 D-T Fair Board Meeting at D-T Fairgrounds; 7:00 PM
25 Pre-Fair Clean Up
27 4-H Clothing Day Judging
26 - Aug 2 Dakota- Thurston County Fair
AUGUST
July 26 – Aug 2 Dakota-Thurston County Fair
10 State Fair Animal and In Person Entries DUE
17 Thurston Extension Board Meeting
26 State Fair Exhibits; Grand Island, NE
28-30 4-H Weekend at State Fair
28-Sept 7 NEBRASKA STATE FAIR
Remind!
Beginning from April 1, due to not being able to text, we transitioned to Remind, using the phone numbers we have on file, and added you to Remind. We understand this may not be as convenient as traditional text messaging, but it will allow us to continue sharing timely updates with you. Thank you for your understanding. If you are not getting any messages, please contact our office to let us know, thank you.
Thurston County Extension Staff
4-H Online Enrollment deadline June 15!
For those who have not enrolled in 4-H for 2025 (or started an enrollment but not completed it), it's not too late! Visit https://v2.4honline.com/ to enroll. Our county has a $5 enrollment fee. Please contact us at 402-385-6041 with any questions.
2026 DAKOTA - THURSTON CO. FAIRBOOK IS UP!!
Our 2026 Fairbook is posted online and ready to view!
Visit our website to either view a PDF copy or to find the links to the areas you're interested in!
Click on this link to view: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/thurston/4-h/dakotathurston-county-fair/
Deadline Day - June 15th!
Before Monday, June 15th please make sure you have all these things checked off...
EVERYONE:
- Enrolled at https://v2.4honline.com (all youth and leaders)
- Projects selected on 4honline
LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS:
- Tags from office (Beef, Swine if State Fair)
- ID Sheets/Affidavits (Beef, Dairy, Goats, Sheep, Rabbits, Swine, Horses)
- Going to State Fair? DNA for ALL animals & Online nomination https://showstockmgr.com
- If going to AKSARBEN, they have a different online nomination system, but will be required to submit a separate DNA envelopes and online nominations. AKSS exhibitors will be ordering and purchasing their DNA envelopes through the AKSS website at https://www.aksarbenstockshow.com/.
Livestock ID/Affidavit sheets, livestock tags, EID tags, and DNA envelopes are available at the office. Contact us at: 402-385-6041 or stop by and pick them up! Reminder that tags are $3/each.
PAY YOUR DUES!!
If you are a member of Rosalie Feeders or Thurston County Independent, please remember to pay your $5 dues to our office ASAP so we can complete your enrollment. Mail checks to: Thurston County Extension, PO Box 665, Pender, NE 68047. (Youth members 8-18+, Clover Kids do not have dues.)
All Contest Day Results!
All Contest Day was a blast! Lots of fun giving speeches, playing music, and favorite foods!
Individual Instrumental Senior Division
Audric Cavenee - Tenor Sax - Sonata in C Minor - Purple
Audric Cavenee - Double Bass - Capuzzi Concerto in D Major - Purple, Grand Champion
Individual Instrumental Junior Division
Ben Albrecht - Baritone - Zap - Purple
Isaac Albrecht - Trumpet - America the Beautiful - Blue
Individual Instrumental Cloverkid
Evelyn Albrecht - Piano - Amazing Grace - Participation
Wyatt Nielsen - Recorders - Hot Cross Buns - Purple
Lars Speiser - Recorders - Hot Cross Buns - Purple
Speech Contest
Cloverkids
Emily Hansen - My Kitten's - Participation
Evelyn Albrecht - Why I Like to Live on a Farm - Participation
Junior
Kate Hansen - Why I Like 4-H - Blue
Isaac Albrecht - Hunting - Purple - Grand Champion
Carter Twito - John Wayne: Little Iowa to Big Hollywood
PSA Contest
Payton Hermelbracht - Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow - Blue - Grand Champion
Presentation Contest
Junior
Inga Speiser - Current Women of the Supreme Court - Blue - Grand Champion
Ben Albrecht - Balloon Animals - Blue
Impromptu Speech Contest
Junior
Wyatt Nielsen - Blue
Kate Hansen - Blue
Ben Albrecht - Blue
Isaac Albrecht - Blue
Senior
Payton Hermelbracht - Blue - Reserve Champion
Logan Hansen - Blue - Grand Champion
Cloverkid
Evelyn Albrecht - Participation
Favorite Foods
Senior
Audric Cavenee - Purple - Grand Champion
Payton Hermelbracht - Purple Reserve Champion
Jenna Raymer - Purple
Brooke Raymer - Purple
Junior
Carter Twito - Blue - Grand Champion
Zion Cumming - Blue
Kate Hansen - Blue - Reserve Champion
2026 Thurston Summer Workshop Offerings!
View our flyer - 2026 4-H Summer Workshop flyer.pdf
Google Form - www.go.unl.edu/thurstonsummer26
Some of our summer workshops are as follows:
- May 27-28th - Let's Get Cooking 1 & 2
- June 2nd - Nature Science Day
- June 4th - Adventure Day Camp
- June 9th - Animal Science Lab
- June 10th - Let's Paint Run-A-Ways
- June 11th - Pieces of Possibility
- June 16th - DIY Design Studio
- June 18th - Clover Kid Camp
- June 23rd - Homegrown Heritage
- June 25th - Surprise!! Workshop
Adventure Day Camp
We’re joining Burt, Cuming, & Thurston Counties this year for a day of outside fun…
WHAT: Be prepared to have fun! Wear clothes that can get dirty!
BRING: Bug Spray, Sunscreen, Extra Set of Clothes, & Life Jacket (if you have one)
Date: Thursday, June 4
Time: 8 am—3:30 pm
Place: Neligh Park, West Point
Age Range: 8-11
Fee: $40 (Burt 4-Her: $20)
DEADLINE TO REGISTER:
Additional paperwork will need to be completed for full registration at https://go.unl.edu/adventureday.
Adventure Day Camp Counselor Training/Camp
We’re looking for Camp Counselors for Adventure Day Camp on June 4th, to make a day of fun for the campers!
Responsibilities as a counselor will be to work through all the sessions with your group, conduct “get acquainted games”, and assist the session leader when needed. And you get to do all the fun stuff TOO!
Date: June 2, 2026
Time: 5pm-6:30pm
Place: Neligh Park, West Point
Age Range: 14+
Fee: FREE!! You don’t have to pay to come to camp!!
Additional paperwork will need to be completed for full registration at https://go.unl.edu/adventureday.
YQCA
YQCA is available as an online or face-to-face program for youth everywhere in the United States. Any 4-H or FFA member planning to show livestock must be certified (beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit, sheet, and/or swine projects.)
Requirements - Choose from these 3 options:
- Online at– https://yqcaprogram.org/ 3 modules @ $12 total (to receive full certification you must complete 3).
- Face-2-Face training @ $3 total scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 1:00-3:00 PM @ the Pender Fire Hall (register at https://yqcaprogram.org/. You will need to take a pre & post test before their certification is complete & a certificate is issued).
- Test Out for Intermediate @ $36 or Senior @ $48.
Dakota-Thurston County 4-Hers YQCA deadline is Thursday, July 15th!! Contact our office for coupon codes for in-person or web-based YQCA training!
AG 360 : Exploring Hawaii, Alaska, and Nebraska in VR
Join this FUN one-day camp to explore agriculture and technology through the creation of virtual reality (VR) tours. Participants will learn about local agriculture as well as Hawaii and Alaska, create tours, and publish their work for public viewing. You will also have the chance to immerse yourself in local agriculture and ask questions of ag professionals while learning about both VR Tour creation and innovative agricultural and research practices.
WHO: Youth going into grades 7th grade and up!
COST: $25 (includes lunch, snacks, and supplies for all activities)
WHEN: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE:
May 29th at Eastern NE Research Extension, Education Center (Mead)
June 1st at West Central Research Extension, Education Center (North Platte)
June 2nd at Panhandle Research Extension, Education Center (Scottsbluff)
June 3rd at US Meat Animal Research Center (Clay Center)
June 4th at Haskell Ag Lab (Concord)
Registration submitted and payment postmarked by May 26th
Register at https://go.unl.edu/ag360
Space is limited to 40 participants at each site.
Questions? Reach out to Brandy at (402) 759-3712 or brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu or Sarah at (308) 772-3311 or spaisley3@unl.edu
Summer Day Camps 2026!
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. Please share the following message and attached graphic with your 4-H families.
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.
More Summer Camp 2026!
2026 Special Garden Project is Alumia Vanilla Cream Marigold!
The Special Gardening Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables, flowers, fruit, and herbs. The project allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their hands dirty in this project area.
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.
Youth are encouraged to enroll for Horticulture/Plant Science through 4-H Online. Youth will then have to reach out to their local Extension Office to sign up and the seeds will be here soon. Project information and materials are available on the website: https://4h.unl.edu/special-gardening-project.
Seeds are here, please call ahead as there are a limited supply of seeds. Call us at 402-385-6041.
2026 Special Agronomy Project is Popcorn!
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.
Youth will then have to reach out to their local Extension Office to sign up and the seeds will be here soon. For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules.
Seeds are here, please call ahead as there are a limited supply of seeds. Call us at 402-385-6041.
2026 Nebraska 4-H Leadership Academy in Honor of the Late Joel Roth
We are excited to share that applications are now open for the Nebraska 4-H Leadership Academy - our pilot, state-level experience inspired by the National 4-H Leadership Academy program founded in honor of the late Joel Roth.
Participants (Roth Scholars) will engage in leadership development, mentorship, and statewide experiences. Selected youth will receive a $500 stipend for completion of the program.
Who we’re looking for:
• Current high school sophomores
• Active Nebraska 4-H members
• Youth ready to grow, lead, and commit to the experience
Program highlights:
• Monthly virtual meetings
• In-person statewide events
• Late summer kickoff in alignment of 2026-27 academic year
Application deadline: May 4, 2026
Apply here: https://forms.gle/gFV6PKpjbmr3M7gJ7
2026 Virtual Food Preservation
If you would like to learn the safe, science-based methods of food preservation plan to enroll in the FREE Virtual Educational Series offered via zoom by Nebraska Extension.
Register at least one week ahead of each class. All participants will receive an email link to log-into the ZOOM program. Each class will be held from 12:00 to 1:00PM CT.
May 20 – Making Jams & Jellies
June 10 - Boiling Water Canning
June 17- Dehydrating Foods
July 15 - Freezing Foods
July 22 - Pressure Canning
August 12 - Tomatoes or Salsa
August 20 - Pickling
September 15 - Squash/Pumpkins
More details and registration can be found at:
https://go.unl.edu/virtualfoodpreservation.
For additional questions, contact your local Nebraska Extension office or go to www.food.unl.
Nebraska Tractor & Equipment Safety Training
The Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health, in partnership with Nebraska Extension, has announced the dates for its annual tractor and equipment safety training courses. The training will be offered at 12 locations across Nebraska throughout May and June.
Youth under the age of 14 can attend Day One if accompanied by an adult, but they are not eligible to drive equipment, participate in Day Two or receive certification. Students under 14 must register, but they will not be charged a fee. New and beginning farmers who want to increase their knowledge about safe farm practices are also urged to register and attend.
- May 26-27 - Lincoln-Logan-McPherson County Extension Office, 348 W. State Farm Road, North Platte, Nebraska
- May 28-29 - Red Willow County Fairgrounds-4H Building, 1400 W. Fifth St., McCook, Nebraska
- June 1-2 - Legacy of the Plains Museum, 2930 Old Oregon Trail, Gering, Nebraska
- June 3 - Sheridan County Fairgrounds. 613 E. Third St., Gordon, Nebraska
- June 4-5 - AKRS Equipment, 49157 Douglas Ave., O’Neill, Nebraska
- June 8-9 - Raising Nebraska, 501 E. Fonner Park Road, Grand Island, Nebraska
- June 10-11 - Cuming County Fairgrounds, West Washington St., West Point, Nebraska
- June 23-24 - Dawson County Fairgrounds, 1002 Plum Creek Parkway, Lexington, Nebraska
- June 25 - Phelps County Fairgrounds, 1308 Second St., Holdrege, Nebraska
- June 29-30 - Valley County Fairgrounds, 801 South St., Ord, Nebraska
- July 1-2 - Ag Hall at Tuxedo Park, 1700 Tuxedo Park Road, Crete, Nebraska
- July 1-2 - Butler Country Fairgrounds, 62 L St., David City, Nebraska
- Virtual Module – For those attending a location that only offers Day One or are attending a location that offers both days but live 50 miles or more from the location.
To get more information and to register, visit: https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/cscash/outreach/farm-safety-days.html
Contact Ellen Duysen at ellen.duysen@unmc.edu with questions on the courses.
Engler Scholarship
We are excited to share with you the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Engler Program. Visit the website below to find more information about Engler as well as the scholarship that is available for high school graduating seniors. https://engler.unl.edu
If you have any questions please reach out to Michelle Bassford:
Michelle Bassford, Chief Experience Officer,
Engler Entrepreneurship Program-UNL,
DINS 201AD, Lincoln, NE 68583,
(402) 472-9274, https://engler.unl.edu
Congrats to our 2026 Seniors!
Just wanted to take a moment to recognize our 2026 Thurston County 4-H Seniors! We are so proud of all your accomplishments so far and wish you the best of luck on your future adventures!
- Lane Kelly - Pender Public Schools
