Nebraska 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 Sates Department of Agriculture.

Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

© 2016

Staying in the Loop

Nebraska Extension in Stanton County 302 6th Street ≈ Stanton, NE 68779

Phone 402-439-2231 ≈ Email Stanton-county@unl.edu Website: www.stanton.unl.edu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stanton4H

May 2017

Mark Your Calendar

MAY May 8 – 4-H Council Meeting May 20 – Saturday Sewing May 24 – Sheep & Goat Tagging May 24 – Rabbit Tattooing May 25 – Regional Speech Contest May 25 – Interview Contest May 26 – Project Camp Registration Due May 31 – Whiskey Barrel planting deadline

JUNE June 1 – Quality Assurance Deadline June 1 – ID Sheets Due June 7 & 8 – Project Camp June 17 – Stanton FFA Progress Show June 30 – T-shirt Order Deadline

JULY July 1 – Horse Level 1 Test Deadline July 17 – Pre-entries Due July 26 – Fashion Show Narratives Due July 28 – Entry Tags Ready

AUGUST Aug 2 – Pre-Fair Judging Aug 2 – Companion Animal & Cat Show Aug 11 – Dog Show Aug 16-20 – Stanton County Fair Saturday, Aug 19 – 2 pm - Public Fashion

Show, Auction, & Awards Sunday Aug 20 – 5:30 pm - Release all Exhibits (Livestock & Indoor)

Summer Hours Beginning May 1 the Extension Office will go to summer hours: Monday – Friday 8 am – 4:30 pm.

2017 Whiskey Barrel Challenge No theme – use own ideas.

Same barrels as last year.

Deadline to plant - May 31.

Judging will be held in June.

Include club name on the barrel.

4-H Exhibit Workshop – June 7 - 8 An updated registration form is included in this

newsletter. The Horticulture program has changed to a Butterfly program.

Deadline for registrations May 26.

“To Make the Best Better” The motto is intended to inspire young people to continue to learn and grow, to make their best efforts better through participating in educational experiences.

T-shirts orders are due June 30. Dress code in the fairbook states all 4-H members exhibiting animals are required to wear the official 4-H t-shirt or plain white t-shirt with the 4-H chevron attached. Be sure to order your 4-H t-shirt now if you need one to show. We do not keep many shirts on hand.

Use this email to contact the Extension Office Stanton-County@unl.edu

How are you coming on your Clover Chase celebrating 150 years of Nebraska statehood? We have some special water bottles for prizes when you collect 150 points. You will also be put in a drawing to win a drone with video capability.

Horticulture Corner 4-H Plant & Insect ID Contest

Thursday, June 22 Agricultural Park Exhibit Hall Fairgrounds

Columbus Horticulture Judging & ID Tree ID Grass & Weed ID Entomology (Insect) ID

Participate in 1, 2, 3 or all 4 contests! Registration form on our website or contact the office.

2017 Online Horticulture Judging Contest June 9 – 8 am until June 19 – 8 am

3 parts: General knowledge questions Plant part & seed identification Judging Open to all 4-H youth as well as adults.

http://go.unl.edu/2017onlinehortcontest Complete information sheet is available at the office or on our website. Includes study materials.

2017 Special Garden Project – Sunburst Summer Squash Squash seeds are ready to be picked up at the Extension Office. Check the 2017 Fairbook for special fair exhibits. You will receive a packet of information along with your seeds with information about the project including growing, harvesting and exhibiting tips. There are also tips for eating your squash along with a couple of recipes.

Tractor Safety Training 2017 Wayne Fairgrounds – June 19 & 20 - $60 Registration due June 9 -- 402-584-2234

Bucket Calf & Feeder Calf ID Guidelines Expectations: 1. Pick up tags and ID sheets at the Extension office. Hours: 8 am—4:30 pm ≈ Mon—Fri 2. A photo ID must be taken of the calf with the tag visible in the ear and with the 4-H’er. (Photos can be emailed.) 3. Photos & ID Sheets are due in the office BY June 1st. NO EXCEPTIONS

AKSARBEN EXHIBITORS—Any feeder calves going to Aksarben will need an EID tag, DNA

samples taken & weights. It will be your responsibility to get the DNA pulled, calves weighed and

the information in to the office on time. You can have your calves weighed on a scale someplace

and bring the ticket into the office or you can come and use the scale at the fairgrounds. You will

need to make arrangements ahead of time to use the scale here.

PREMISES ID – Exhibitors of any animal that carries an EID tag is required to obtain a Premises ID from the NE Department of Ag for the location where the livestock are housed. This ID will need to be reported to the Extension Office by June 1 for Feeder Calves. A flyer has been mailed out and is on our website.

Reminder: If you need to drop anything off at the office and we are closed, we have a big black dropbox by the back door on the north side of the office.

Quality Assurance - All Quality Assurance must be completed by June 1. Certificates must be turned into the office, either hard copies or emailed copies will work.

Rabbit Tattooing

All rabbits need to be tattooed. We will have rabbit tattooing May 24 from 6-7 pm at the Stanton County Fairgrounds.

ID sheet are due in the office June 1.

Sheep & Goat ID Guidelines

May 24 - 6-7 pm Stanton County Fairgrounds

Contact the office if you plan on going to State Fair/Aksarben.

Swine ID Guidelines

Swine ID sheets need to be completed and turned in the office by June 1.

Breeding Heifer ID Guidelines Expectations: If the heifer has a tattoo you will need to complete an ID sheet with that information, otherwise:

1. Pick up tags and ID sheets at the Extension office. Hours: 8 am—4:30 pm ≈ Mon—Fri Tags if showing only at county fair and heifer doesn’t have

2. A photo ID must be taken of the calf with the tag visible in the ear and with the 4-H’er. (Photos can be emailed.) 3. Photos & ID Sheets are due in the office BY June 1st. NO EXCEPTIONS

SATE FAIR/AKSARBEN EXHIBITORS—Any breeding heifer going to State Fair or Aksarben will

be required to have a tattoo and a breeding nomination card completed. Registered breeding

heifers will need registration papers. Breeding cards and copy of registration papers are due i h ffi l h J 1

Nebraska 4-H is asking alumni to raise their hands!

It’s easy: 1. Raise Your Hand: Go to www.4-H.org/RaiseYourHand to show your pride

as a 4-H alumni. 2. Compete for Your State: Raising your hand is a vote towards a $20,000,

$10,000 or $5,000 award for the states with the most alumni hands raised. In Nebraska, this award will be used to reach more youth through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs.

Help kids learn responsibility, compassion, respect and the value of hard work by supporting 4-H. Together we can grow the next generation of true leaders.

Horse Level 1 Test - Fairbook states: 4-H Horse Exhibitors that participate in the horse show at county fair must pass the Horse Level 1 test before July 1. Please call the office and make arrangements if you need to pass this test.

2017 Spring Trail Challenge Saturday May 27, 9 am at Maskenthine Recreation Area Geared toward the recreational rider & formulated for ALL equine breeds. The trail challenge is devoted to building & improving equine/rider partnerships. Registration fee - $5. Make advance reservations by calling Madison County Extension Office at 402-370-4040.

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2017 Fair Schedule Changes Saturday, August 19

2:00 p.m. Public Fashion Show Following Fashion Show 4-H Auction Following 4-H Auction Awards Program

Sunday, August 20 5:30 p.m. Release all Indoor Exhibits 5:30 p.m. Check-Out Large & Small Animals

SPOTLIGHT ON 4-H

Included in this mailing is an article on the importance of strong families and the part that 4-H plays in creating a strong family.

The entire April edition of Spotlight on 4-H is located on the Stanton County website under the 4-H Newsletters tab.

Other topics in this edition are: Next Chapter (an opportunity for 8th graders) Parental/Guardian Buy-in to the 4-H Club, Livestock Club Activities (Lesson series to help leaders engage 4-H’ers in learning more about science & life skills involved in animal projects), Livestock Quiz Bowl Contest, Livestock Disease Prevention, Community Service & Interview Skills.

We have gotten some questions about rhubarb since some areas might have had a freeze last week. Rhubarb should not be harvested when the leaves are wilted & limp after a hard freeze. After a hard frost oxalic acid, a toxic substance from the rhubarb leaves, may move from the leaves into the stalk. If consumed the oxalic acid can crystallize in the kidneys & can cause permanent damage to the organs. All rhubarb leaf stalks that have been exposed to freezing temperatures should be re moved

302 6th St. Stanton, NE 68779

Stanton County 4-H Exhibit Workshop - 2017 4H Exhibit workshop will be Thursday June 7th and 8th, 2017 at the Exhibit Hall on the Fairgrounds. Please bring your lunch and drink. Wear old clothes. These projects will teach techniques and skills in: communications, health and wellness, Engineering, Science, and Career Development. PARENTS - You will be responsible to pick up your kids after their classes are over. All Clover Kids need an adult or teen to help them. Entry Deadline May 26th. If you are not enrolled in the project listed, then you can enter them in Department M, Division 102, and Class 901 – 4-H Exhibit Workshop. These may not be eligible for State Fair.

Time Project Day Classes: June 7th Cost

9-10 am Art Class: Personalize your own cup. Using markers, you will be able to decorate your own cup for soup or drinking. It will need to be baked, so you will not be able to pick it up until the end of the day. Project: Pinterest: Div. 275, Class 901. Or Sketch book Crossroads, Div. 260, Class, 904.

$3.00

10-12 am Tie-Dye T-Shirt: Bring your own white shirt. Use paint to make an original design. Project: Beyond the Needle Div. 102 Class 901 Any age.

$2.00

1:30-3:30 Cake Decorating: No age limit. We will do some advanced techniques and some beginner skills. You will learn more about doing this as a business. Complete kits: $12 (includes tips, bag and cake form). If you bring your own 1 layer cake: Kit is $7 which includes tips and bag. Project: Cake Decorating

$7.00 or

$12.00

3:30-4:30 Butterfly Program – Learn about the life cycle of a butterfly, make a butterfly poster. Poster can be entered in special horticulture class G-775-904.

$2.00

Time Project Day Class: 8th Cost

9-11 am Robotics: This class will be hands-on. All supplies will be provided. Youth will receive and build a robot to perform tasks. Robotics is a great way to learn fun skills like mechanical engineering, mathematics, computer programming, and team work. Students will assemble a robot that they can exhibit at the fair. Project: Robotics Class 7 Age limit 10 yrs. old

$20.00

11 am- 12 am

Bird Feeder: Create a bird feeding wreath to hang in your yard. Bring an angel food or Bundt pan, we will bring the rest. Wreath will have to set up before removing from the pan. Project: Wildlife Habitat Div. 342- Class 2 bird feeders.

$5.00

1-3 pm Art Class: Create large paper flowers for decorating your room, made from card stock. If you can use a glue gun, bring your own, otherwise we will use craft glue. Project: Design Decisions: Class 13- 3D accessory or Design my place. Div. 251, Class 904. Age limit: 10 yrs. old

$3.00

3-4 pm Tic tac toe: garden game. Create a tic tac toe game using smooth pebbles and a tree ring slice for the board. Project: Design Decision: Div.257 Class 25- outdoor accessory, or Sketchbook Crossroads, Div. 260, Class 902. Nature projects.

$5.00

May 30, 31, June

1st 9 am –

4:30 pm

Baby Sitting Clinic -Come have fun learning about health and safety for children, appropriate toys for different age groups, why children misbehave and different ways to discipline when you are baby-sitting. Also make an item for a baby-sitter kit. You will receive a 4-H Baby-sitting certificate at the end of the clinic. Project Child Development - Infant or toddler or The Sitter. Held: May 30, 31, June 1st at Madison County Extension Office in Norfolk.

$20 for 4-H

members $25 for non 4-H

members

TOTAL