SHERIDAN COUNTY NEWSLETTER

Jul 4-5: Fourth of July - Office is Closed

Jul 8: Laser Cutter Workshop - Extension Office - 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Jul 8: Genealogy Workshop - Extension Office - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Jul 13: Sheridan County Horse Show

Jul 19: Sheridan County Style Review & Music Contest

Jul 21-27: Sheridan County Fair

DEADLINE DATES:

July 1 - Fair Entries, Dog/Cat Vaccination Forms, Clothing Narration Form

Aug. 10 - State Fair Livestock and Contest Entry Deadline

• Each year a week before County Fair, all 4-Hers are asked to come and help spruce up the fairgrounds. This year it will be on Monday, July 15th from 5 – 8 pm. This involves a lot of effort and teamwork! During the event, trash is picked up, mowing, and weed trimming is completed, repairs are made, buildings painted, floors swept, and dust removed. Pizza will be provided!! Below are the assignments for each club and the independent members.
• Equipment/supplies to bring: gloves, mowers, weed eaters, hammers, shovels, paint brushes, and brooms.

Albany: Beef Barn (mow and weed-eat around both beef barns, scale house, and show arena. Paint beef barn)

Bingham Hustlers (robotics group): Swine Barn (mow and weed-eat around building and paths to wash rack, pull weeds in stalls, check light bulbs, dig out drainage trench on the west side)

Green Valley:4-H Exhibit Building (sweep floors and wipe down shelves, mow and weed-eat around the building, fix and help set out picnic tables)

Hooves and Hearts: Open Class Building (sweep floors and wipe down shelves, mow and weed-eat around the building and water hydrant pad)

Junior Leaders: Sheep & Goat Barn (mow and weed-eat around sheep barn, check light bulbs and pen gates for usability, move sheep and goat pens to round top)

Independents: Concession Building (sweep and mop floors, wipe and set up tables, clean kitchen, and bathrooms) 4-H Office (sweep floors, and wipe down shelves, weed-eat around Office and Poultry Barn)

• These work assignments are a general guide. The hope is all the projects are completed and that takes teamwork! If you cannot attend on July 15th, you are encouraged to do some work on an earlier day. Thanks to Ryan Paul and family for mowing the fairgrounds before the Progress Show. That will make it a lot easier at fairground clean up. Everyone’s help is needed to have our fairgrounds looking its best. Please try to make it!

The 2024 Sheridan County Fairbook has been updated. You can find the updated pages at: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/northernpanhandle/2024-sheridan-county-fair/

The biggest update are the class changes in Visual Arts.

New: Due to small numbers in the Small Animal Round Robin, this year the top showmanship exhibitors from the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior divisions will compete together for the buckle award.

New this year the Cake and Cookie Jar Auction will be on Monday, July 22nd with Business Showmanship to follow. Cake judging has been moved to the same time as static judging. See the schedule below for all the updated times.

The Fair Entry forms designate the classes members are planning to take to the Sheridan County Fair. These forms are due July 1st. Forms can be emailed to mmracek2@unl.edu, dropped off at the drop box or at the office. No late forms will be accepted.

• If you are entering a class more than once, you must list it more than once. For example: Two market steers, write down the project code for market steer class twice.
• Don’t forget entries for Showmanship, Fashion Show, Music Contest or other County only projects.
• Please check to make sure you are entered in the correct age division. 4-H Age is your age before January 1, 2024. Juniors (8-10) Intermediate (11-13) Seniors (14 and above).

• Gardening and Flower Exhibits: Go ahead and pre-enter what you might be bringing. The office will print entry tags for all pre-registered exhibits. This will save exhibitors from having to fill out entry tags at the fair. If you do not bring everything you registered, just let us know and we will void the entry tags. The following free resources will guide you in preparing your exhibits for entry. http://4h.unl.edu/4hcurriculum/preparingcutflowers http://4h.unl.edu/4hcurriculum/preparingvegetabesherbsandfruit
• If you are entering a project in the Special Garden Project, don’t forget to bring your evaluation form which was enclosed with your seeds or, you can download it from the online fairbook.

During Fair Week, 4-Hers help to keep the grounds and facilities looking nice. Flags should be raised by 8:00 am and lowered before sunset. Bathrooms should be cleaned (swept and fixtures wiped down) at least once per shift (mid-morning, right after lunch, and late afternoon) and paper products added as needed. Trash lying around on the grounds should be picked up and the barrels checked throughout the day. If barrels are full, they need to be dumped into the dumpsters. Supplies are in the Fair 4-H Office.

Monday afternoon – Albany

Tuesday morning – Green Valley

Tuesday afternoon – Independents

Tuesday night – Junior Leaders

Wednesday morning – Hooves and Hearts

Wednesday afternoon – Bingham Hustlers

Wednesday night – Junior Leaders

Thursday morning – Albany

Thursday afternoon – Independents

Thursday night – Green Valley

Friday morning – Bingham Hustlers

Friday afternoon – Hooves and Hearts

New this year, the Cake and Cookie Jar Auction will be held on Monday, July 22nd starting at 5:30 pm in the show ring. Following it will be the Business Showmanship. Everyone will be able to enjoy the 4-H Foundation BBQ.

The Livestock Auction will be held on Wednesday, July 24th in the Dance Hall with the BBQ starting at 5:00 pm. Postcards have been sent out to previous buyers but below are also postcard invites 4-H members can give to potential buyers. Copies will be available at the office.

Buyers come to the sale to see the 4-H Exhibitors. Make sure you take time to personally invite them to the sale this year. You can utilize the cards below to invite the buyers or event create a flyer telling them about your animal project this year. The buyers are coming to support you and the hard work you have put into your project so show them what you are proud of and have worked so hard on this year.

Reminder that the sale information sheet will be in your packet. Please update it and answer the questions at the bottom. These forms need to be turned in by Wednesday, July 24th at 9 am to the 4-H Office so they can be ready for the sale.

Sale cards are also in your packets. They need to be completed and turned in 30 minutes following the beef show. They can be turned into the office any time prior to that if you know what you are planning to sell.

Reminder – there will be a $10/day or $50 camping fee at the fairgrounds during fair week. The fee helps to make updates around the fairgrounds. Parking passes are now available to purchase at the extension office.

This year for Family Fun Night we are hosting a Business Showmanship competition. The species this year is SHEEP and GOAT. We would like 4-H members who are taking this project to invite a Business professional to show their animal against other local business professionals. It will take place on Monday, July 22nd starting at 7 pm. This is a great opportunity for youth to meet and interact with local businesses. The 4-H Council has compiled a list of potential business professionals to ask, please contact the Extension Office for some of the names. Also please let the office know if you are planning to have someone show your project animal. See the form below.

This year Farm Credit Services of America is sponsoring a new t-shirt for all 4-H members this year. T-shirts have been ordered and will be available to pick up in July. We will send a message when they arrive.

Congratulations to Tenley Ostrander for her design being picked to be the 2024 Sheridan County Fair Theme!

• Check-in time for the Horse Show begins at 7 AM.
• Pattern Books & Programs will be available online and via email by July 10th.
• Grand Entry will begin at 8 AM and the show will start after that with Showmanship.
• Don’t forget official dress which includes a long-sleeve white shirt and a 4-H armband which is available at the office at the cost of $3.50. The complete dress code (hats, type of boots, etc.) is available in your 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide (available at the Extension Office).
• There will not be any concessions at the Horse Show this year. The Council will provide a cooler of drinks for the contestants and their families, but food will be on their own.

CLOTHING CONSTRUCTION & QUILT QUEST

• All clothing construction, (STEAM 1, 2 & 3 & Beyond the Needle, Knitting, Crochet and Quilt Quest (including barn quilts) projects will be judged on Friday, July 19th. Projects must be entered between 9 AM and NOON in the 4-H Building.
• Quilts, including barn quilts, will be entered and judged on July 19th with the clothing projects.
• Dress for this day can be 4-H t-shirt or nice clothes.
• The following project areas have information sheets that must be completed and entered with your exhibit at county fair: Beyond the Needle, Upcycled Garment, Knitting, Crocheting, and Quilt Quest. These forms are available with the online fairbook.
• The judges may break for lunch on clothing day depending on length of judging.

FASHION SHOW

• Shopping in Style Reminder - When shopping for your project, shop for the entire outfit. The score sheet is based on the entire outfit with all the parts purchased. Your accessories may be something you already have. You must complete the 4-H Shopping in Style Fashion Show Report form SF-184 and submit it to the office no later than July 15 with the narrative cards. This form is available on the on line fair book under Fashion Show. Half of your ribbon placing comes from the information on this form!

PUBLIC FASHION SHOW

• NEW: This year exhibitors will go to the Rushville Nursing Home for a Public Fashion Show there. The show will start at 2:00 pm. 4-H members will need to be there by 1:30 pm.
• If you model in the morning you need to also model in the public fashion show in the evening.
• The Public 4-H Fashion Show and the presentation of ALL Modeling Awards will be held on Friday, July 19 at 6:30 PM in the Sheridan County Extension Office.
• Clover Kids can participate in the evening public fashion show on July 19th, please be sure to turn in a Narration Card by July 15. Clover Kids will need to be dressed and at the Extension Office by 6:15 PM.
• The order of line-up will be posted in the building.

• Pens may be sat up on Saturday, July 20th. Stalling assignments will be shared on Friday, July 19th.
• Animals will be weighed in on Sunday, July 21st starting with pigs at 7:30 am, followed by Sheep and Goats, then Beef. Small Animals will check in at 11 am. The animals must be checked for mites before they can be placed in cages.
• If bringing larger birds to the fair, please bring a dog kennel for them to be displayed in or contact the Extension Office to ensure we have a big enough cage for them to be displayed in.

Static Entry will be from 9 AM-1 PM!

Foods and Cake Decorating Interview Judging will take place in the Food Booth.

Home Design & Restoration, Human Development, Heritage, Horticulture, Cookie Jars, Miscellaneous Ag & Clover Kids Interview Judging will take place in the 4-H Octagon Building.

• Static exhibit entry and interview judging will be held from 9 AM to 1 PM on Monday, July 22. We will judge until we are finished but, you must have picked up your packet from the 4-H Office no later than 1:00 PM.
• Exhibitors need to be in 4-H Attire, jeans and a 4-H shirt. 4-H shirts can be purchased from the office and members will get one free one from Farm Credit Services.
• The following project areas have information sheets that must be completed and entered with your exhibit at county fair: Home Design & Restoration, Human Development, and Photography. These forms are available with the online fairbook.

• FOOD PRESERVATION REMINDER: On the label of your project, you need to state the source of your recipe. Sources include the USDA Guide for Food Preservation, So Easy to Preserve, Ball Canning Guide and Extension publications. Be sure you include the year of publication. Publications must be no earlier than 1994 when processing times made numerous changes. Recipes from a church cookbook or auntie’s recipe box are NOT acceptable.

• During the static interview process ONLY THE EXHIBITOR will be allowed to communicate with the judge. The parent(s)/guardian(s) will not be allowed to be involved during the judging process.

The judges will break for lunch around Noon.

• Monday Night will be the Cake and Cookie Jar Auction starting at 5:30 pm. Exhibitors must determine if they are selling their cake or cookie jar by 1 pm. Exhibitors will give their buyers the cookies the night of the sale but we ask that the Cookie Jars remain until Wednesday after the Livestock Sale.
• Those who are entering in Cake and Cookie Jar must take a non-sellable foods project to fair as well. This can be cookies, Loaf Quick Bread, etc.
• Reminder: Cookie Jars must be a 1 gallon jar. The dimensions of the cookie jar cannot be greater than 12" x 12" x 18".
• Junior Cookie Jar Exhibitors will bring 1 dozen cookies to give to their buyer. They only need to bring a plate of 4 cookies along with the recipe to the Cookie Jar Judging.
• Senior Cookie Jar Exhibitors will bring 2 dozen cookies to give to their buyer. They need to bring a plate of 4 cookies (2 of each variety) to the Cookie Jar Judging.
• Exhibitors will have to write a thank you note to their buyer before they can be checked out on Friday, July 26th.

ALL Clover Buds need to be enrolled in 4-H on the 4Honline website. Also, please complete a Fair Registration form for your Clover Bud (see above), and be sure to register your Clover Bud for the projects that will be coming to fair. If you need help with this contact the Extension Office.

PUBLIC FASHION SHOW:

• We will need a narration card about your outfit to read while you model. If you need help writing a narrative, contact the Extension Office. The outfit does not have to be sewn by the Clover Bud. Just pick an outfit from your closet or your favorite school or summer outfit.

STATIC PROJECT ENTRY DAY:

• Enter projects and meet with the judge on Monday, July 22nd from 9 am to 1 pm in the 4-H Octagon Building.

PET PARADE:

• The Pet Parade is scheduled to begin at 9 AM in the Show Arena, Friday, July 26th.
• House pets or stuffed pets are acceptable for the pet parade.
• Live Animal Examples: Poultry, Rabbit, Cat, Dog, Fish, Lizards, Hamsters, etc.
• Livestock projects above 350 lbs are not acceptable for the Pet Parade (this includes feeder calves, dairy animals, horses, etc.)

SMALL ANIMAL SHOWS:

• Clover Buds are allowed to participate in the Cat, Dog, Rabbit & Poultry Shows. Please make sure you must have registered for these events on the fair registration form

LARGE ANIMAL SHOWS:

• Clover Buds are allowed to participate in the Pig, Meat Goat, Bucket Calf and Sheep Show. (Clover Buds are NOT allowed to participate in the Horse, Beef or Dairy Cow show).
• Clover Buds MUST be enrolled in 4-Honline and completed a Fair Registration Form. If you have questions please contact the Extension Office or review the Fairbook.

• The goal of the Herdsmanship Contest is for the 4-H members to present quality, groomed animals in a clean environment to Sheridan County Fair Visitors.
• Specifics of the Herdsmanship Contest will be announced at the barn meeting on Sunday and you can also consult your livestock and small animal superintendents.
• Winners will be recognized in the newsletter and at the annual Achievement Banquet.

• 4-H projects which receive awards will include a thank you note addressed to the sponsor of the award.
• The thank you card can be turned into the 4-H Office when you fill out your prize selection cards. The thank you notes are very important. Take a few minutes and put some thought into your message. A message of “Thanks” and signing your first name is not acceptable. If you need help, come find Wendy or ask your parents or an an older 4-H member.
• It is also encouraged to write or personally thank all those who have helped you with your projects and all the volunteers at the Fair. Our Fair would not be possible if there were no volunteers. Those thank you’s are their only payment for all the hard work they do and that is all they expect. Blank thank you cards are available at the office or any note card or paper will work perfectly.

Prize Selection Cards

• If you won an award you can visit the office to fill it out and return it before you check out on Friday, July 26th.

• Exhibitors must be present for post-fair clean-up AFTER 3:00 PM on the Friday, July 26th to help clean up after their sale animals’ area, help clean up the barn and tear down pens that were set up.
• Livestock Exhibits will be released following the conclusion of the Large Animal Round Robin on Friday, July 26th after 3 PM.
• Static Exhibits will be released on Friday, July 26th from 3 to 5 PM.
• You can write thank you notes and turn in your prize selection cards on Friday, July 26th in the 4-H office as well.

Get all the updates during County Fair week by signing up for Remind.

Youth will create a fun project using a laser cutter. If planning to attend the Genealogy workshop, please pack a sack lunch.

Where: Sheridan County Extension Office

When: July 8, 9 am to 12 pm

Who: Youth 10+

Cost: $25

Registration Deadline: July 1st

Youth will learn how to research their family to create a cool heritage project. Youth will need to pack a lunch if attend the Laser Cutter Workshop. Also youth should be names and birthdates of their family members.

Where: Sheridan County Extension Office

When: July 8, 1 pm to 3 pm

Who: Youth 10+

Cost: $10

Project: Dept. A Div. 101 Class 1

Registration Deadline: July 1st

Sioux County is inviting area 4-H members to participate in their open horse show on Tuesday, July 30th with check in from 7 to 8 am. The show will start at 8 am. The show will follow the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show Judging Guide except for the 4-H member attire. 4-H members are allowed to wear a button down shirt and jeans. They are not required to wear a white shirt or hat.

Families can register by July 1st at: https://go.unl.edu/siouxcohorse or complete the registration form below.

The 4-H Volunteer Connection is a monthly e-newsletter for 4-H volunteers to get exclusive tips, tricks and support to help volunteers excel in their role, all delivered straight to their inbox. Volunteers subscribe to this e-newsletter at 4h.unl.edu/volunteer-connection.

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 - EJ Frink

Secretary - Brad Beguin

Treasurer - Jackie Simonson
Members - Candace Nelson, Clint Vincent, Jace Stumpff, Brain Nelson, Ryan Paul
Youth Members: Kirsten Heck, Jaxon Kearns, Wyatt Feddersen, Kyler Vincent

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

Sheridan County Extension Office:

Office Manager - Wendy Andersen

4-H Extension Educator - Melissa Mracek

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