Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certification is required yearly for all 4-H youth participating in the 4-H and FFA livestock shows.

Age divisions for YQCA certification are based on 4-H member age as of Jan. 1.

Exhibitors are required to complete training in-person or online. If the class is taken online, exhibitors must provide certificate copies (print or digital) to the Extension Office in their county by July 1.

Those who do not complete the training will not be eligible to exhibit livestock at the Chase County Fair or the Nebraska State Fair.

July 1--ALL YQCA TRAININGS COMPLETED. CERTIFICATES TURNED IN IF CLASS WAS TAKEN ONLINE.

Online Entry for the Chase County Fair will begin June 27 and close at 11:59 PM on July 11.

ALL 4-H AND FFA MEMBERS (INCLUDING CLOVER KIDS) WHO PLAN TO EXHIBIT PROJECTS OR SHOW ANIMALS AT THE FAIR MUST ENTER ONLINE DURING THIS TIME FRAME.

A link will be sent June 27. Watch for an email from 4honline and check SportsYou.

This year's fair will feature a new schedule for families showing livestock.

Among the first changes, t-shirts, entry tags and back tags will be handed out Wednesday, Aug. 6 during barn clean up and Exhibit Building set up.

Like last year, the 4-H Horse Show will be split to two days. The first, Aug. 7, will be for English and In-Hand events. The second day, Aug. 9, will be for Riding Events.

Entry day has been moved up to Monday, Aug. 11. All static and livestock entries will be brought to the fairgrounds on Monday. All static judging will take place and all livestock weigh in and ultrasound will be completed.

All livestock shows have been moved up. 4-H/FFA Swine, Sheep and Goat Shows will be Tuesday, Aug. 12, and the 4-H/FFA Beef Show will be Wednesday, Aug. 13.

The Round Robin Contest will kick off Thursday, Aug. 14, and the Livestock Auction will follow that evening at 5:30 p.m.

All 4-H and FFA Livestock will be released Friday, Aug. 15 at 7 a.m. followed by barn clean up.

4-H, FFA, Open Class exhibit release and Exhibit Building Clean Up will still be Sunday, Aug. 17 starting at 9:30 a.m.

• Aug. 4--4-H Dog, Poultry, Rabbit, Companion Animals Shows
• Aug. 6--4-H/FFA Livestock Barn Clean Up, Exhibit Building Set Up. Entry tags, t-shirts and back tags handed out.
• Aug. 7--4-H Horse Show, In-Hand and English Events
• Aug. 9--4-H Horse Show, Riding Events
• Aug. 11--4-H, FFA, Open Class static entry and judging
• Aug. 11--4-H/FFA Livestock weigh in and ultrasounds
• Aug. 12--4-H/FFA Swine, Sheep and Goat Shows
• Aug. 13--4-H/FFA Beef Show
• Aug. 14--4-H/FFA Round Robin Contest
• Aug. 14--4-H/FFA Livestock Auction, 5:30 p.m.
• Aug. 15--4-H/FFA Livestock release, barn clean up
• Aug. 15--4-H Rocket Launch
• Aug. 17--4-H, FFA, Open Class exhibit release, Exhibit Building Clean Up

The Clothing, Quilt Quest and Fashion Show Judging Day will be July 9 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Perkins County Extension Office

This includes

• Decorated Items (Beyond the Needle)
• Constructed (sewn) Items (STEAM CLOTHING)
• Quilts
• Barn Quilts
• Quilt Quest Projects
• Knitting, Crochet, Weaving

More information can be found at our website: Perkins & Chase County Contests | Nebraska Extension in Perkins & Chase Counties | Nebraska Extension | Nebraska

Farm Credit Service of America is once again donating shirts to 2025 4-H and FFA participants. Please fill out the attached Google Form with your shirt size by July 11. Must be enrolled for 2025. One shirt per participant, Clover Kid and up. Shirts can be worn for 4-H and FFA competitions. Only those signed up by July 11 will receive a free shirt.

https://forms.gle/wVT8H1ZWdc6robHr7

The Chase County Extension Office has been notified the Department of Agriculture plans on attending to attend this year's fair and perform testing.

Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) maintains National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) status by conducting surveillance testing for Avian Influenza (AI) and Salmonella Pullorum-Typhoid (PT) at county fairs. This testing of poultry exhibited at county fairs is a vital part of the disease surveillance programs in our state. Without NPIP status, exporting poultry to other states would be more difficult and would affect the poultry industry in Nebraska

Young Nebraska Scientists, conducted by Nebraska EPSCoR with funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, offers camps for middle and high school students throughout the state. The program focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math topics and is a great way for teens to sample a career or campus, meet friends and mentors, and find their future.

The camp for middle school students (grades 6-8), the Secret Life of Metals, will July 21-23 at Creighton University in Omaha.

For high school students (grades 9-11) camps include the STEM in Your Apple, which takes place July 4-6; Explorations in Biology at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln from June 16-19; Biodiversity at UNL Cedar Point Biological Station in Ogallala July 6-12; and Quantum Camp, a new, online camp for high school students, takes place July 29-31.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has expanded its Defend the Flock program to educate all poultry growers about best practices in biosecurity. This comprehensive public education program provides new resources to ensure that all growers have the information they need to keep flocks safe from infectious diseases.

APHIS is introducing the expanded program to combat the increasing risk of serious disease outbreaks. Biosecurity, which encompasses structural and operating practices to block diseases and the pathogens that carry them, has proven to be the most effective way to protect the nation’s poultry, property, and people.

The Defend the Flock program includes checklists, videos, and other resources that reflect the knowledge, insights, and experience of USDA, veterinarians, poultry owners, growers, scientists, and other experts. All Defend the Flock materials are available at no charge 24/7 at the Defend the Flock Resource Center. For more information on the program, visit usda.aphis.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

Follow Defend the Flock on Facebook and Twitter for practical tips about keeping poultry healthy and new additions to the Resource Center.

Link to the Chase County Extension Office's Google calendar to stay up to date with events.

Upcoming:

• June 27--Chase County Fair 4-H online entries open, run to July 11 at 11:59 p.m.
• July 1--YQCA deadline, certificates must be turned into Extension Office by 4 p.m.
• July 9--Clothing and Quilt Quest Judging Day, Perkins County Extension Office, 9 a.m.
• July 11--Chase County Fair 4-H entry deadline, 11:59 p.m.
• Aug. 4--4-H Dog, Poultry, Rabbit, Companion Animals Shows
• Aug. 6--4-H/FFA Livestock Barn Clean Up, Exhibit Building Set Up. T-shirts, entry tags and backtags handed out.
• Aug. 7--4-H Horse Show, In-Hand and English Events
• Aug. 9--4-H Horse Show, Riding Events
• Aug. 11--4-H, FFA, Open Class static entry and judging
• Aug. 11--4-H/FFA Livestock weigh in and ultrasounds
• Aug. 12--4-H/FFA Swine, Sheep and Goat Shows
• Aug. 13--4-H/FFA Beef Show
• Aug. 14--4-H/FFA Round Robin Contest
• Aug. 14--4-H/FFA Livestock Auction, 5:30 p.m.
• Aug. 15--4-H/FFA Livestock release, barn clean up
• Aug. 15--4-H Rocket Launch
• Aug. 17--4-H, FFA, Open Class exhibit release, Exhibit Building Clean Up

Debbie Kuenning, Extension Educator, debbie.kuenning@unl.edu

Diane Stamm, Office Manager, dstamm3@unl.edu

Website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/perkins-chase/
Location: 490 East 5th Street, Imperial, NE, USA
Phone: 308-882-4731
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chasecounty4H