Saunders County 4-H Update
May 17, 2024
May 19 - Waggin Tails 4-H Dog Club Meetings start
May 20 - 4-H Archery practices start
May 29 - Plant Science 4-H Workshop
May 30 - In the Kitchen 4-H Workshop
May 30 - Clover Kid 4-H Workshop
May 31 - Babysitting Basics Workshop
June 1 - State Horse Entries/Horse ID/Level Testing Due
June 3 - In the Kitchen 4-H Workshop
June 3 - Clover Kid 4-H Workshop
June 5 - Water Bath Canning 4-H Workshop
June 6 - In person YQCA Training
June 10 - Let's Decorate our Home 4-H Workshop
June 10 - Clover Kid 4-H Workshop
June 15 - 4-H Sign up, Animal ID and YQCA deadlines
June 17 - 18 - Premier Communication Event (State level) registration deadline - May 30th
June 20 - 21 - Premier Animal Science Event (State level) registration deadline - May 30th
June 24 - Sewing Basics 4-H Workshop
July 1 - Fiber Creations 4-H Workshop
July 1 - Clover Kid 4-H Workshop
July 1 - Online Pre-Entry Deadline for Saunders County Fair
July 20 - Fair Clean up Day
July 13-17 - State Horse Show
July 23 - Superintendent Supper
July 25 - Fashion Show Judging - at Extension Office
July 28 - August 4 - Saunders County Fair
August 10 - State Fair Livestock/Contest Entries Due
August 23 - Sept. 2 - Nebraska State Fair
August 24 - State 4-H Dog Show
Want some practice with our Saunders County Fair Shooting Sports Contest Superintendents? As long as the youth is enrolled in 4-H for the current year, has all shooting sports enrollment consents signed in 4-H Online, and is certified they are welcome to attend these practices to learn more about our Saunders County Fair Shooting Sports Contest and get some shooting practice in!
Summer is right around the corner and we want to support you as you keep your family active this summer.
Sign up to join the 2024 Nebraska Extension Marathon Kids Summer Family Run Club.
Registration will be open until May 17. Sign up by May 17 and all kiddos ages 2-12 will receive a welcome package in the mail with fun mileage tracking logs.
Sign up at https://food.unl.edu/programs/marathon-kids/summer-family-run-club
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 7-21, 2024 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
Looking for a fun club project? Want to unite your club members? Running out of ideas for club meetings? If you answered, “yes” to any of these questions, help is on the way! Nebraska Extension is pleased to present the 11th annual Crop Scouting Competition for Nebraska youth. Youth interested in crops can learn about crop growth & development and basic crop scouting principles.
Don’t know a lot about crops? Ask a local agronomist to assist by providing a short lesson on crop production. You can have the agronomist meet with youth a little during each meeting or outside of the meeting. This is one way to engage those youth interested in crops.
This contest will be held at the Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center near Mead, Nebraska on August 7, 2024. The event will include both indoor and outdoor events. Teams of junior high and high school students (those completing 5-12th grades) from across Nebraska are invited to participate. This event is limited to the first ten teams who sign-up!
Clubs or other organizations may enter a team composed of three to five participants. An adult team leader must accompany each team of students. Team leaders could be FFA advisors, crop consultants, extension staff, coop employees, etc.
Top-scoring teams win prizes: $500 for first, $250 for second, $100 for third place. Top two teams will be eligible for regional competition held in Nebraska this year.
Teams will be expected to know the basics of scouting corn and soybean fields. This includes crop staging; looking for patterns of crop injury; disease, insect and weed seedling identification; etc. Other topics many include but are not limited to, pesticide safety, nutrient disorders, and herbicide injury.
More information about the crop scouting competition and instructions on how to register a team are available online at cropwatch.unl.edu/youth. Register at: https://go.unl.edu/cropscoutingreg
Teams must be registered by July 15. This program is sponsored by Nebraska Independent Crop Consultant Association, Ward Laboratories, the Nebraska Soybean Board and Nebraska Extension.
2024 4-H Summer Camps
Check out the Nebraska 4-H Summer Camp Offerings for 2024!
2024 Horse Camp
4-H Horse Camp at Fort Robinson Celebrating 50 years of Horse Camp! Register now!
https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/northernpanhandle/fort-robinson-4-h-horse-camp/
Great Plains Livestock Judging Circuit
Great Plains Livestock Judging Circuit schedule for 2024.
Open to Nebraska 4-H and FFA members ages 10-18. For more information visit 4h.unl.edu/livestock-judging-circuit
We’re excited to announce that entries are officially open for the 2024 UNL Livestock Judging Camp to be held June 5-7 here on east campus this summer! We’re pumped about another opportunity to host a great group of youth here at the animal science complex and we hope you’ll join us for this high level experience. Entry deadline will be May 20th so make sure your entries are postmarked by then! Registration document can be found online at go.unl.edu/judging-camp and please let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to a great event, GBR
Mark Thursday, June 13, 2024 on your calendar to spend the day in Hastings, NE exploring Heavy Equipment. This opportunity is open to students entering 8th – 12th grade in fall of 2024. Cost is $30 per individual. The registration link will open May 1, 2024 and close Friday, May 31st by 5 pm CT. You will find the registration link at https://go.unl.edu/heavyequipment.
If you are a high school or middle school student eager to explore the fascinating world of food science you will not want to miss attending our camps this summer!
Our camps, which are hosted by the Food Science and Technology Department at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, were designed with you in mind. Through hands-on activities, facility tours, and the development of food products, our activities will spark your interest in the science behind the foods you consume every day. Also, during camps you will have a chance to get to know our facilities, interact with experienced food scientists, engage with faculty and students, and immerse yourself in a journey of discovery.
You can choose from a range of camps: one-day, three-day, or week-long experiences. Each camp offers a unique opportunity to explore the diverse aspects of a specific food or food group, from pizza to cookies and dairy products! You will not want to miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge while exploring the world of food science.
Secure your spot now by registering at https://foodscience.unl.edu/food-science-summer-camp
**Application deadlines vary depending on the camp.
Questions: Contact Andreia Bianchini at abianchini2@unl.edu.
We are excited to announce the fourth year of the Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program. This additional opportunity for enrolled livestock project youth, is designed to promote all educational aspects of 4-H livestock projects including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition by recognizing youth striving to improve in their livestock project knowledge and leadership.
The program recognizes Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas, including: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.
The program consists of three levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals. Each accomplishment is worth a specific number of points. Junior 8-9 submits pictures, poster, presentation, and other learning activities to receive the distinction of Junior Member of Excellence, no point value, Intermediates, ages 10-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence. Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence. The Plan and Reports, linked on the webpage, show examples of the project related accomplishments they can choose, or they can identify their own with approval of their local educator.
Applications/Sign up are due June 15th through the application form link on the website. Plan and Reports, as well as Project Records will be due August 1 via the completion form on the website.
Youth completing the achievement program and receiving member of excellence recognition in the various species will be recognized during the Parade of Champions, 4-H weekend at the Nebraska State Fair.
For more information or to apply, go to: Livestock Achievement Program | Nebraska 4-H (unl.edu)
Exciting news! We're thrilled to introduce the Corn Yield Challenge – a premier contest inviting participation from 4-H members (aged 8 and older as of January 1st) and FFA members (in-school members). Join us on this journey to explore every aspect of corn production and discover the exciting world of agricultural careers associated with it.
Key Features:
Team Participation: Form teams with two or more youth participants and embark on this collaborative challenge.
Innovative Practices: Youth will take on the challenge of implementing unique production practices to assess their impact on increasing corn yield.
Data Collection: The Corn Yield Challenge management summary will systematically gather crucial information, including yields, cropping history, and production details.
Recognition and Rewards: Outstanding achievements deserve recognition! Cash prizes and plaques await the top three teams: First Place: $1,000, Second Place: $500, Third Place: $250
Special Awards: Going the extra mile deserves applause! "Extra Mile" and "Ag Literacy" Awards will be presented, each carrying a value of $200.
This competition not only fuels innovation in corn production but also serves as a platform to honor dedication and excellence within the 4-H and FFA communities. We encourage all eligible participants to seize this opportunity, showcase your skills, and contribute to advancing agricultural practices.
For detailed guidelines and participation information, please visit Corn Challenge Webpage or contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu.
Let's grow together!
Did you miss the 2024 National Volunteer Week Lunch and Learn series? Recordings are available! Join us for great opportunities to build your capacity as a 4-H volunteer and learn new skills to support 4-H experiences locally. Visit https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-lunch-learn for all of the recordings.
Invitation to Support Nebraska Extension's Agriculture Workforce Needs Survey:
🌾 Help shape the future of Nebraska's agricultural workforce!
🔍 Take our 10-minute anonymous survey.
💼 Contribute to youth recruitment, retention, and training strategies.
🤝 Your insights are crucial for a robust agricultural future.
📝 Survey link: https://go.unl.edu/agworkforce
📧 For inquiries, contact Dr. Kimberly Stanke at kstanke2@unl.edu.
👥 Spread the word within your agriculture network.
🙏 Your voluntary participation is highly appreciated!
Volunteer Orientation
Nebraska 4-H has launched a new volunteer orientation. This online training serves as an introduction to the 4-H Youth Development program in Nebraska and covers a few essential topics for volunteers. While the orientation is required for new volunteers and those going through the re-screening process, any interested individuals, including current and prospective volunteers, are welcome to complete the course. Learn more at 4h.unl.edu/volunteer-orientation.
Enroll as a volunteer or enroll your youth! More details at https://go.unl.edu/SaundersEnroll
Nebraska 4-H Glossary
The Nebraska 4-H Glossary provides general terminology and language used within the Nebraska 4-H program. Check it out at https://4h.unl.edu/glossary
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.
Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made in advance to the Saunders County Extension Office.
As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.
Email: Saunders-county@unl.edu
Website: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/saunders/4h/
Location: Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC)
1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE, United States
Phone: (402) 624-8030
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaundersCountyExtension4h
Instagram: https://instagram.com/saunders_county_extension_4H
4-H Extension Educator
Cole Meador- cmeador2@unl.edu
4-H Extension Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Sara Hass - shass3@unl.edu