State Fair Updates/Changes

2

County Fair Info 2

Contest Info 2

Camp Opportunities 3

Quality Assurance 4

Sheep & Goat Weigh-In 5

Upcoming Shows & Events

5

Showmanship Clinic 5

Open Class Swine Show 5

Tractor Safety Training 6

Career Explorer App 6

Premiere 4-H Science Award

6

Inside this issue:

4-H NEWS

Summer Workshops We are excited to announce our summer workshops for youth. We will be holding several session every week in June and each week will have a theme. For example the last week will be “Camp Week” with Ponca Day Camp and Clover Kid Camp. We will also have a “Robotics Week,” a “Service Learning Week,” and a “Healthy Living Week.” So if you are interested in participating in any of these sessions consider signing up for these projects to enter at fair: Robotics, Quilt Quest, Beyond the Needle, Citizenship, Cake Decorating, and Six Easy Bites. Several of these camps will be open to all ages but others, like the Clover Kid Camp, will be for either older or younger youth. Come join us for an exciting summer of learning. An added calendar sheet is attached at the end of your newsletter with more information.

4-H Discounts

When purchasing items and supplies for 4-H exhibits and projects, ask if the store gives a discount for 4-H project supplies. 4-H members must be present at the time of purchase and have some type of 4-H identification. 4-H membership

cards are available at the Extension Office that you can use as your 4-H identification.

Exhibit Your School Projects

Several projects students are completing in school can also be exhibit-ed at the fair. Examples of these are family heritage books, bug collec-tions, or shop projects. Visit with the staff at the Extension Office to ensure that you are enrolled in the appropriate 4-H project.

Upcoming Dates May 4 - Favorite Foods & Presentation Contest Registrations DUE May 6 - Favorite Foods & Presentation Contest @ United Church of Pender (7pm) May 6 - Regional 4-H Speech Contest Registration DUE May 8 - Horse: County ID DUE & District & State Entries DUE May 21 - Regional 4-H Speech Contest @ Norfolk May 25 - Office Closed (Memorial Day) May 27 - Dakota~Thurston County Sheep and Goat Weigh in @ Fairgrounds (6-8pm) June 4-13 - CWF Trip June 12 - Ponca Day Camp Registration DUE June 15 - All Livestock ID Sheets DUE June 15 - Quality Assurance Deadline June 22 - Ponca Day Camp Counselor Training June 23 - Ponca Day Camp June 29-30 - PASE/Life Challenge

2015

Page 2 4-H NEWS

State Fair Book Updates & Changes The 2015 4-H State Fair book is available online at http://4h.unl.edu/nebraskastatefairbook. The Dakota~Thurston County Fair book very closely fol-lows the state fair book so as you begin thinking about your fair exhibits please feel free to check out the State Fair book. Our county Fair book is available online and will be available in May or early June in hard copy version. There have been several changes and additions to the Home Economics exhibits this year. Please be sure to check these out as you get ready to figure out what you are interested in making for fair.

Late Entry Policy The Joint 4-H Council created the following rule at their November 5, 2012 meeting. Late fair entries

will be accepted for one week following the entry deadline and will be accessed a $10 late fee per indi-vidual for the Dakota-Thurston County Fair.

Clover Kid Ideas on Pinterest Check out the Pinterest page developed by the Nebraska Extension’s Learning Child Team for great ideas for Clover Kid members at: https://www.pinterest.com/unlextensiontlc/

4-H King & Queen Contest

It's time to be thinking about the 2015 Dakota~Thurston County Fair! If you are be-tween the ages of 14 and 19, you are eligible to compete for the title of 4-H King or Queen. We are trying to notify members earlier this year and we plan to conduct the interviews in June. If you are interested, please read through the rules and complete the entry form available online at http://thurston.unl.edu/dakota-thurston-county-fair. If you have any questions contact Sandy Ahlers at tsahlers@abbnebraska.com

Favorite Foods Revue Contest Get your silver shined up, the tablecloth pressed and test your favorite recipe. It’s time to prepare for the Favorite Foods Revue Contest. The contest will be held on May 6th at United Church of Pender at 7pm. Select and prepare a favorite recipe, plan a menu which includes a favorite food and a theme to go with it. Write the menu and recipe on a 4” x 6” card. Prepare a centerpiece and a place setting for one, on a standard size card table (you must supply your own card table). The fa-vorite food may be displayed as the whole product or as one serving. Tables should be in place 30 minutes prior to judging. This contest is divided into Novice,

Junior, Intermediate and Senior divisions. This is subject to change based on the number of youth enter-ing the contest, contest may be divided into Junior and Senior Divisions.

Presentation Contest

The 2015 Presentation Contest will be held in conjunction with the Favorite Foods Revue on Wednesday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at United Church of Pender. All 4-H members are encouraged to prepare a presentation for this year’s contest. This is an excellent activity to showcase your talents. You may enter either an Illustrated Presentation, Premier Presenter Presentation, 4-H FilmFest Presentation, or a Teaching Presentation. So many options, so little time. But there’s always time for learning so come teach us what you know!

Contest InformationContest Information

State Fair InformationState Fair Information

County Fair InformationCounty Fair Information

4-H NEWS Page 3

Seeking Job Interview Contest Participants! A contest will take place May 21st at the Regional Speaking Contest that provides an opportunity to practice applying and interviewing for a job. The Interview Contest will be held at the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk from 2:00-5:00p.m. Prior to the contest, contestants will submit a cover letter and resume written for one of the three job descriptions: Pet Shop Assistant, Teaching Assistant, or Insurance Intern. On the day of the contest, participants will

complete a written job application and an interview. Youth are encouraged to highlight their 4-H experience in all aspects of the contest. Winners of the Regional Contest will advance to State Fair where they will each receive $50. Registration form and required materials are due to the office May 9th. Registration materials, rules, and contest resources can be found at http://4h.unl.edu/interviewjudgingcontest. All members 4-H age 11 and older (11 as of January 1st) are eligible to participate at a Regional Interview Judging Contest. Check it out! If there are any questions, please call the office!

4-H PASE/Life Challenge Contest Each summer, over 500 4-H'ers convene at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus to test their skills in animal science and family and consumer sciences during PASE (Premier Animal Science Events) and Life Challenge. Teens compete in a variety of different contests including: livestock, meats and poultry judging, livestock skillathon, livestock quiz bowl, life challenges and clover challenge. While on cam-pus, young people have the opportunity to take part in faculty-led workshops, campus tours, and special ses-sions by UNL recruiters. This year the contests are June 29-30 at the UNL East Campus. Contact the Exten-sion Office if you would like more information or would like to participate.

2015 Nebraska State Fair 4-H Culinary Challenge Contest The 4-H Culinary Challenge Contest will require youth will to demonstrate healthy decision making through nutrition, food preparation, menu planning, and food safety, utilizing foods and nutrition curriculum. County teams of two 4-H members will have the opportunity to advance to the 4-H Culinary Challenge Con-test, which will be held the first weekend of the Nebraska State Fair. A challenge ingredient will be selected each year, highlighting a Nebraska commodity-food product. The 2015 challenge ingredient is apples. For more information contact the Extension Office.

Save the Date for Ponca Day Camp Come get a taste of camp in your own backyard at this year’s 4-H Ponca Day Camp. It will be held at Ponca State Park on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. All 4-H members and their friends ages 8-11 in Cedar, Dakota, Dixon, Thurston, and Wayne counties are invited to attend this hands-on camp. For complete registration/health statement please

contact the UNL Extension Office in Thurston County. Registrations are due by Friday, June 12, 2015. More information can be found at http://thurston.unl.edu/ponca-day-camp. Come on! Camp can’t get any closer!

Livestock Judging Camp

4-Hers members ages 12-18 that are looking to perfect their livestock evaluation and oral reasons skills will want to attend the Winners Unlimited Livestock Judging Camp at the University of Nebraska East Campus in Lincoln. This camp offers one-on-one instruction and is conducted by UNL Livestock Judging Coach, Brad Bennett and the 2015 Livestock Judging team members. Participants have two sessions to choose from, June 5-7 or June 10-12. Cost of the camp is $250 and includes meals, lodging and materials. Each session is limited to the first 35 registrants. Registration is due no later than May 8. Contact the Thurston County Extension Office or go to www.animalscience.unl.edu for more information.

Camp OpportunitiesCamp Opportunities

Page 4 4-H NEWS

Camperships Available As the camping season is right around the corner, we know many of you are receiv-ing requests for assistance to offset camp expenses. Again this year, with the support of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, we are able to offer a limited number of $100 camperships to assist families who may not otherwise be able to send their child to camp. You do not have to be enrolled in 4-H to request this support. If you know of somebody who might be interested in requesting a campership please have them contact the Extension Office. We will help them take the right steps and even give them a recommendation.

Nebraska Youth Range Camp - June 8-12 Students are invited to attend the 52nd annual Nebraska Youth Range Camp which will be held June 8 – 12, 2015 at the Nebraska State 4-H Camp in Halsey. Eli-gible students need to be between the ages of 14 – 18 that are interested in learning more about natural resource management. The Nebraska Youth Range Camp con-sists of a four-and-a-half day dynamic curriculum that appeals to students with a wide

array of interests including, but not limited to, rangeland management, conservation, ecology, animal sci-ence, and wildlife. Financial sponsorship is available! Every student that attended last year received a substantial level of sponsorship from local Natural Resource Districts or the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition. In-terested individuals can find more information by visiting the Nebraska Society for Range Management website at www.nesrm.org and then clicking on the Nebraska Youth Range Camp link on the left of the page. Please direct questions to Shelly Kelly (Range Camp Director) at shelly@sandhillstaskforce.org or 308-214-0065. You can find the informational brochure here: http://www.nesrm.org/2015RangeCampBrochure.pdf. The application can be found here http://www.nesrm.org/2015RangeCampApplication.pdf.

Maverick Young Entrepreneur Boot Camp

UNO's Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship is hosting the Maverick Young Entrepreneur Boot Camp, designed for students entering 7th through 10th grade, June 8-12, 2015 at the UNO College of Business Administration. The camp will run from 8:30AM to 12:30PM Monday through Friday. Students will learn about innovation and business startups, meet local entrepreneurs, have on-site visits to local startups and lots of hands-on experiential exercises. The cost for signing up is $149.00 per participant. Significant scholarships are available for eligible students. Please note that housing is not provided.

Visit http://nbdc.unomaha.edu/CBAbootcamp to learn more and www.myeb.eventbrite.com to reg-ister. If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Entrepreneurship, Dale Eesley at (402) 554-2706 or email him at deesley@unomaha.edu.

Quality Assurance This year all 4-H and FFA members showing livestock of any variety (except horses) will need to go to the Quality Assurance website to update their certification. There will be NO Quality Assurance trainings in your 4-H clubs this year. Members showing: beef, sheep, goats, swine, rabbit, or poultry, will need to com-plete and pass 3 lessons in the appropriate age category. Be sure to complete the 3 les-

sons before the June 1st deadline so the livestock ID sheets can be forwarded on stating you completed the QA training requirements and are able to show. Nebraska youth can go to the course at http://campus.extensnion.org. If they have not registered for the course before, they can search for Nebraska Livestock Quality Assurance and register using the enrollment key “Nebraska”, however, if they are al-ready registered, the course will appear in their course list. Questions concerning registration can be e-mailed to lga@unl.edu. In order to keep the quality at the highest level and streamline the services of-fered, a $5 annual fee for all participants is being implemented.

Animal ScienceAnimal Science

4-H NEWS Page 5

Online Animal ID Forms All animals that are being nominated for the 2015 Nebraska State Fair & Ak-Sar-Ben Stock Show (with the exception of Dairy & Horse) will be entered via an online ID form at http://livestockaffidavit.unl.edu/. Don’t forget all State Fair/Ak-Sar-Ben eligible Market Beef needed to be entered online by April 15. All other species are due on June 15.

Sheep & Goat Weigh In

The Sheep & Goat Weigh-In will be held on Wednesday, May 27th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the fair-grounds. If you plan to show market sheep and/or goats, they must be tagged at the weigh-in. Please read over the guidelines below for female sheep and goats.

Scrapie Guidelines for Sheep and Goats - All female sheep and goats exhibited at the fair will need to have the official USDA identification (scrapie tag). This applies both to market and breeding ani-mals, regardless of age. Wethers do not need the USDA identification. The tag must be in place at weigh-in on May 28th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Please visit the following website for more information at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/approved-tag-co.shtml.

Upcoming Shows & Events

Below is a list of upcoming shows and events. For more information about any of these events contact the Extension Office.

May 22 - Lively Livestock Jackpot Show, Sheep & Goat, York County Fairgrounds, (402) 366-1332 May 23 - Lively Livestock Jackpot Show, Swine, York County Fairgrounds, (402) 366-1332 May 23 - Beef-A-RAMA & Swine-A-RAMA, Albion, NE http://boone-nance.unl.edu/ May 24 - Goat-A-RAMA & Sheep-A-RAMA, Albion, NE http://boone-nance.unl.edu/ June 3 - Northeast Nebraska 4-H Horse Show, Homer, NE June 14 - Hustler 4-H Progress Show, West Point, NE July 11 - Invitational Dairy Show, Beatrice, NE, jesau2@unl.edu

2015 District Horse Dates and Locations June 10 - Bridgeport June 16 - Ord

June 11 - Valentine June 17 - Wayne June 15 - McCook June 18 - Seward

*Note: State Fair Horse Show at Fonner Park is scheduled for July 13-16, 2015 For more information, go to http://animalscience.unl.edu/web/anisci/

anscdistrict4hhorseshowsinformation

Attention Poultry Exhibitors As you are purchasing your birds for 2015 be sure to keep track of where you purchase these birds. This

information will be needed at check in time.

Dixon County Showmanship Clinic Any 4-Her, ages 8-18, who are looking to improve their showmanship skills in any area of livestock are encouraged to register for this clinic. It will start at 9 am on May 30, 2015 with each livestock division lasting an hour in descending order of Rabbit, Poultry, Horse, Swine, Sheep & Goats, and Beef. Please reg-ister with the Dixon County Extension office, (402) 584-2234, by May 23rd if you would like to participate.

Change to Open Class Swine Show Changes have been made to the open class swine show for the 2015 Dakota-Thurston County fair. There will be an additional class for Pee Wee Swine. This class will be open to all youth, ages four (4) years

to eight (8) years of age and will follow the swine show. Swine may be used from the 4-H show, youth will not need to bring in their own swine to participate. Participation ribbons only. There will also be the traditional open class Swine classes. Please refer to the open class section of the fair book, page 9, with further questions. www.thurston.unl.edu/4h

Page 6 4-H NEWS

Assistance with Rabbit Tattoos & Affidavits Available We will be holding a rabbit tattoo & affidavit party on June 4th from 5:15—7:00 pm at the Thurston County Extension Office. Anyone wishing to have help tattooing their rabbits is asked to make an appointment during this time by called 402-385-6041. During this event you will also be able to complete your online rabbit affidavits. Please bring information for all of your rabbits, even if they don’t need to be tattooed so we can complete the affidavits.

Tractor Safety Training

The 2015 Tractor Safety Training in this area will be June 15-16, at the fairgrounds in Wayne, NE. There will need to be at least 8 participants to hold the classes. Any youth 14 or 15 years of age who works on a farm or ranch other than his/her parents’ is required to be certified through a tractor safety course. Extension Educators and field specialists will teach the 2-day courses. Cost for the course is $60, which includes all course materi-als, lunch both days and breaks. Registration is requested a week prior to class. For details or to regis-ter, contact the Nebraska Extension in Dixon County at 402-584-2234.

Career Explorer by Nebraska 4-H

Get started on the right path to making smart life choices with the Career Explorer Web Site and Career Explorer iPad App! Career Explorer will help you connect the dots between choices you make every day and the opportunities you could have in the future. You will begin with a Luck of the Draw card and from there you will be in con-trol, making ongoing decisions about your education and future career opportunities. At each stage of the game, you will be able to enter the workforce, get additional educa-tion, or explore training programs. You will have access to more than 450 careers with

up-to-date salary information and summaries for each! Look toward the future with help from 4-H.

Premiere 4-H Science Award This award recognizes 4-H static exhibits incorporating or demonstrating concepts from the areas of 4-H Science (science, technology, engineering, and applied math). Exhibits in all curriculum areas will be considered for the award. All State Fair exhibits that successfully incorporate 4-H Science will be rec-

ognized with a certificate attached to the exhibit and up to 3 of the top 4-H Science exhibits will receive a $100 cash award sponsored by the Nebraska 4-H Foundation.

Dakota-Thurston County Fair

Theme 2015

Summer Fun...We Can’t Contain It!

Week #1 (June 2-4) - Service Learning Week

Week #2 (June 8-9) - Robotics Week

Week #3 (June 16-18) - Healthy Living Week

Week #4 (June 22-25) - Camp Week

Robotics

Beginner #1

9:00-noon

Beginner #2

1:00-4:00

T-Shirt Quilts

9:30-11:30

Accessorize for

Others

1:30-3:30

Cake Decorating

9:30-11:30

Cookie Creations

1:30-3:30

Ponca Day Camp!

Ponca Day Camp—

Counselor Training!

Clover Kid Camp!

9:00-2:00

T-Shirt Quilts

9:30-11:30

Accessorize for

Others

1:30-3:30

Cake Decorating

9:30-11:30

Cookie Creations

1:30-3:30

T-Shirt Quilts

9:30-11:30

Accessorize for

Others

1:30-3:30

Cake Decorating

9:30-11:30

Cookie Creations

1:30-3:30

Robotics

Beginner #1

9:00-noon

Beginner #2

1:00-4:00

Call or Email

the Extension Office

to register for any of

our summer pro-

grams.

402-385-6041

stacey.keys@unl.edu

Service Learning Week

T-Shirt Quilts

Morning Sessions—9:30-11:30

Location: United Church of Pender

Ages: 8+

Fee: TBA

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, May 26th

This will be a continuing class for all three

days, so that the t-shirt quilts can get fin-

ished. You will need to provide 16 t-shirts

that you would like to turn into a quilt. As

well as any sewing supplies you may have,

including a sewing machine. Adult helpers

are encouraged for youth so that things can

progress in a timely manner.

Accessorize for Others

Afternoon Sessions—1:30-3:30

Location: Extension Office

Ages: 5+

Fee: $5

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, May 26th

We’re going to learn to make paracord

bracelets. One to do-

nate to the military

and one to take

home.

We’re going to do the

same with t-shirt

scarves. One to donate, one to take home.

Are you up for something new and exciting to do this summer? How about designing, building, and programming a robot?

Students will explore the exciting world

of robotics. They will design and

program robot using LEGO EV3 kits

through hands-on challenges. Come

and join the fun this summer. Space is

limited.

Register by June 2nd!

Beginner EV3 Robotics (Going into Grades 3 and up) June 8 & 9 (9:00 a.m. to noon) Beginner EV3 Robotics (Going into Grades 3 and up) June 8 & 9 (1:00 to 4:00 p.m. daily) House Memorial Public Library (220 Thurston Avenue; Pender; NE) $15 per participant Nebraska Extension in Thurston County, (402) 385-6041

Healthy Living Week

Cake Decorating

Morning Sessions—9:30-11:30

Location: St. John Catholic Church, Pender

Ages: 8+

Fee: $10

Registration Deadline: Thursday, June 11th

Limit Per Session: 10 youth

Pick a morning and come learn different

cake decorating techniques. It’s a special

way to spread something sweet and filled

with love.

Cookie Creations

Afternoon Sessions—1:30-3:30

Location: St. John Catholic Church, Pender

Ages: June 16 (5-8)

June 17 (8+)

June 18 (5-8)

Fee: $10

Registration Deadline: Thursday, June 11th

Limit Per Session: 10 youth

Let’s start out with the basics. And who

wouldn’t want to learn how to bake your

favorite cookies. Once you learn you will

also be able to make a fair entry out of your

cookies!

Camp Week

Ponca Day Camp Counselor Training!

June 22 @ TBA

Ages: 14+

Registration Deadline: Friday, June 12th

to the Dixon County Extension Office,

available at thurston.unl.edu or call the

office

Ponca Day Camp!

June 23 @ Ponca State Park

Time: 8:45 AM—5:00 PM

Ages: 8-11

Fee: $18 per youth

Registration Deadline: Friday, June 12th

to the Dixon County Extension Office,

available at thurston.unl.edu or call the

office

Clover Kid Camp!

June 25 @ St. John Catholic Church, Pender

Time: 9:00-2:00

Age: 5-7

Fee: TBA

Registration Deadline: Friday, June 12th

Limit: 20 youth

Just like the big kids, we’re going to have our own “camp” day! Bring your sack lunch!

We’ll get to invent a new camp snack, tie-dye, build your own bird house, and maybe a few water

games!

Find us on the Web

www.thurston.unl.edu

facebook.com/

UNLExtensionThurston

instagram.com/

thurston_county4h/

twitter.com/

UNLThurstonCty

www.pinterest.com/

unlthurston/

Thurston County Office Staff Jennifer Hansen—Extension Educator

Keith Jarvi—Extension Educator Stacey Keys—4-H Assistant/Office Manager

Nebraska Extension in Thurston County 415 Main Street

P.O. Box 665

Pender, NE 68047

Tel: 402-385-6041

Fax: 402-385-6042

E-mail: thurston-county@unl.edu

Nebraska Extension—Thurston County

415 Main Street

P.O. Box 665

Pender, NE 68047