UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 2-3 Nebraska State - USA Shooting Junior Olympic Championships, Broken Bow 10 2016 CWF Curriculum Meeting, 4-H Building, 2:00 p.m. 15 2016 CWF Payment Due 16 Dog Gone Fun 4-H Club Meeting, 4-H Building, 6:30 p.m. 18 Office closed for holiday 18 4-H Council Meeting, 4-H Building, 6:30 p.m. 25 Orders due for the Special Garden Project 29-30 Nebraska State 4-H Indoor Archery Tournament, Columbus 29 4-H Club Year-End Treasurer’s Reports Due in Extension Office FEBRUARY 6 Market Beef Weigh In, Broken Bow Animal Hospital, 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 12 Entries due in county office for 4-H Horse Stampede 13-14 Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification, Lincoln 15 Office closed for holiday 20 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic Livestock Judging Contest, Kearney 22 4-H & FFA Livestock Judging Contest, Central Nebr. Commission Co., 6:00 p.m.

MARCH 1 Deadline for ad sales 1 4-H Scholarship Application deadline 1 Deadline for submitting Premium Book Cover Photo to Extension Office 12 4-H Horse Stampede, UNL Campus 15 FINAL 2016 CWF Payment Due 19-20 Nebraska State 4-H Air Pistol Championships, Broken Bow 21 Registrations for 4-H Public Speaking Contest due in Extension Office 21 4-H Council Meeting, 4-H Building, 7:30 p.m. 28 4-H Public Speaking Contest, 4-H Building, 6:30 p.m.

January 2016

MARKET BEEF WEIGH-IN Saturday, February 6, 2016

9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Broken Bow Animal Hospital in Broken Bow

See enclosures for directions and times for 4-H’ers to weigh in at the Broken Bow Animal Hospital. All 4-H’ers who plan to show market steers and/or market heifers, live and/or in the carcass contest, must weigh-in their animals. Animals showing at the County Fair only will need 4-H ear tags for beef animals and will be $1.00 each. Animals showing at State Fair and/or Ak-sar-ben will be required to have an official EID tag available at weigh-in (price is not known yet, but indications are they should not be more than $3.00) and DNA pulled ($6.00). 4-H’ers should have the following information available at weigh-in time or bring 4-H market beef identification sheets already filled out with this information: name of 4-H’er, age of 4-H’er, 4-H club, breed of animal(s), sex of the animal(s), description of brand(s), 4-H member(s), and a parent or guardian must sign the identification form. 4-H members who have intentions of entering market beef animals will need to make sure they use the NEWEST identification forms. They are available at the Extension Office or online at: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/custer/livestock-id-forms/ All market beef which may be shown at the Nebraska State Fair and/or Ak-Sar-Ben must have an official EID tag and DNA samples taken at this time. A $6.00 fee for each DNA sample will be charged. Both the 4-H member and parent should be in attendance when the DNA hair sample is taken on February 6. If either the 4-H member or parent is not in attendance when the DNA hair sample is taken, the person who is not attending will need to complete and sign a waiver to accompany the DNA sample. The parent and member waivers will be available at the Extension Office and on our website: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/custer/livestock-id-forms/

Watch for the February issue of the 4-H Bow Knot Newsletter!

It will contain important 4-H enrollment information for all leaders and members.

Bow Knot 4-H Newsletter

431 So. 10th Avenue | Broken Bow, NE 68822 | (308) 872-6831 | www.custer.unl.edu

DOG GONE FUN 4-H CLUB TO REORGANIZE The Dog Gone Fun 4-H Club will reorganize January 16, 2016, according to Carol Croghan, organizational leader. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the 4-H Building on the Custer County Fairgrounds. This meeting will be for beginner dogs ONLY. Youth interested are asked to bring their parent(s), dog, up-to-date vaccination records from their veterinarian, a training collar with a 6’ leather leash, and something for your dog to lay on. Also bring a pencil or pen to fill out forms. For more information, contact Carol Croghan at 870-4408 or Theresa Wiiest at 870-1859.

4-H CLUBS/INDIVIDUALS...PLEASE PICK UP ITEMS FROM EXTENSION OFFICE The following 4-H clubs/individuals have items at the Extension Office to be picked up. This may include record books and/or awards left from 4-H Recognition Night. Clubs/individuals include: Dog Gone Fun Hop to the Top New Liberty Silver Spurs Tail Twisters Twin Valley Western Riders Young Riders

4-H COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS The following will serve on the 2016 4-H Council, as a result of the election held during 4-H Recognition Night: District 1: Kyla Olson and Ben Quandt District 2: Holly Bumgarner and Adam Glendy District 3: Chase Christen and Marci Kastens District 4: Christy Berghorst and Ron Carda District 5: Lance Oatman and Jenny Eberle District 6: Lizzie Bartak and Peter Pelster District 7: Beryl Popp and Joyce Racicky District 8: Marla Stallbaumer and RP Smith District 9: Peg Stryker and Jeff Witthuhn Youth: Jordan Popp and Kamron Mowrey Youth: Lexie Foster and Emily Kimball The next 4-H Council meeting will be held Monday, January 18, 6:30 p.m. at the 4-H Building.

2016 BIG RED SUMMER ACADEMIC CAMPS The 2016 Big Red Summer Academic Camps, to be held June 5-10, are only six months away! Specific Camp offerings for 2016 will be finalized soon. More information about Big Red Summer Camps will be available online at:

http://4h.unl.edu/4hcamps/bigredcamps

LIVESTOCK IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AK-SAR-BEN AND STATE FAIR All market beef, feeder calves, market sheep, market swine, and market goats that will be shown at Ak-Sar-Ben and/or State Fair must have an official EID tag as well as hair samples taken for DNA testing. A DNA sample fee will be collected at the time of the sampling. This fee covers the expense of materials and handling. For State Fair and/or Ak-sar-ben all breeding beef, breeding sheep, and breeding goats will be required to submit a Breeding Nomination Card ($2) with the tattoo serving as the official identification for breeding beef and the scrapie tag identification number serving as the official identification for breeding goats and breeding sheep.

2016 4-H EAR TAG PRICES Ear tag prices for 2016 will be as follows:

Market beef, breeding beef, stocker-feeder, bucket calves $1.00 each Market swine 75¢ each Market sheep & goats 65¢ each Breeding sheep & goats 65¢ each State Fair/AK-SAR-BEN Market Animal EID TBD

At the September 15, 2008 4-H Council meeting, the following policy was approved in regard to membership fees and publication costs.

Charge a $7.00 per member fee to belong to 4-H. This fee is per member, not per member per club. If a member is

in more than one 4-H club, they would only pay the $7.00 fee annually.

This fee would be used to pay for publications that leaders would need, pay for the shipping/handling costs for all 4-H publications when ordered, and pay for a $2.00 per member county accident insurance policy. The county policy will be purchased after the 4-H enrollments have been made online on or before April 1, 2016, and will become effective in May 2016.

Charge 4-H members for all 4-H manuals/publications. The Extension Office will establish a price list. Each manual/

publication price will include tax. (Prices will be subject to change as needed.) A price list is available online at http://custer.unl.edu/custercounty4h.

Record books that are photocopied by the Extension Office will be exempt from a fee.

Publications will need to be paid for when they are picked up at the Extension Office. Orders may be placed by club,

or picked up individually, but will need to be paid for when they leave the Extension Office.

This change became effective October 1, 2008.

If a 4-H member enrolls in a particular project for several years, they will want to use the same 4-H project manual over and over. Another option is for 4-H clubs to recycle their project manuals, and establish a club “library” of 4-H manuals/publications. If you have any questions regarding the membership fees and sale of 4-H manuals/publications, please feel free to contact the Extension Office.

HEREFORD MARKET STEER INCENTIVE As an incentive for Custer County youth to consider the Hereford breed, Jones Herefords of Broken Bow will donate $100 to the 4-H’er who wins the Hereford Market Steer class at the 2016 Custer County Fair. Also, if the overall Champion Market Steer is won by a Hereford steer, Jones Herefords will donate an additional $1000 to the 4-H’er. The steer must be the offspring of a registered Hereford bull and a full blood Hereford cow.

2016 4-H HORSE STAMPEDE The 2016 4-H Horse Stampede will be held March 12 in Lincoln. The 4-H Horse Stampede will include the 4-H Horse Bowl, Horse Public Speaking Contest, Horse Demonstration Contest, and Art & Photography Contests. Entries are due in the Extension Office no later than February 12. More information may be obtained from the Extension Office or be found at: http://animalscience.unl.edu/horse-4-h-and-youth#tab4

REMINDER FOR 4-H CLUBS TO FILE THE YEAR-END TREASURER’S REPORT BY JANUARY 29 To enable the e-postcard filing, clubs are expected to turn in a year-end treasurer’s report to accurately reflect their club’s finances. This report will be kept in their club file as support to their e-postcard filing information regarding annual gross receipts. If your club has more than one bank account, a form will be needed for each account. A 2015 report form (pink) was mailed to each organizational leader in January 2015. This report form, along with a copy of the club’s bank statement(s) showing the bank balance on December 31, 2015, will be due in the Extension Office on or before January 29, 2016. FAILURE TO TURN IN REQUIRED FORMS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF YOUR CLUB’S EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAX. A 2016 report form (green) has been included for your club to complete as funds are taken in or expended during the 2016 year. This will be due in the Extension Office on or before January 31, 2017, along with a copy of the club’s bank statement(s), showing the bank balance on December 31, 2016. You will see that this form has been updated by the State 4-H Office.

FARM SERVICE AGENCY YOUTH LOANS

The Farm Service Agency makes loans to youth to establish and operate agricultural income-producing

projects in connection with 4-H clubs, FFA, and other agricultural groups. Projects must be planned and

operated with the help of the organization advisor, produce sufficient income to repay the loan, and provide the

youth with practical business and educational experience. The maximum loan amount is $5000.

Youth Loan Eligibility Requirements:

Be a citizen of the United States (which includes Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) or a legal resident alien Be 10 years to 20 years of age Comply with FSA’s general eligibility requirements Be unable to get a loan from other sources Conduct a modest income-producing project in a supervised program of work as outlined above Demonstrate capability of planning, managing, and operating the project under guidance and assistance from a project

advisor. The project supervisor must recommend the youth loan applicant, along with providing adequate supervision.

Contact Traci or Michelle at the Custer County Farm Service Agency at 308-872-6877 for an application or more

information.

2016 4-H PHOTOGRAPHY THEME EXHIBIT PRINTS The 2016 State Fair 4-H Photography Nebraska Theme Exhibit Print class is described below. Both Unit II and Unit III will include this class.

Nebraska Exhibit Print: Help us celebrate the national “4-H Grows Here” campaign. Capture photos of people and places that illustrate 4-H growing and thriving in Nebraska! Your photos should tell a story about how “4-H Grows Here” in your local community. Please print and include the 4-H Grows Here! logo in your photos. The logo can be accessed at https://unl.box.com/s/krptc9q2f2yxkxcpyc6q6flx6ni6z7mo

ANIMAL MORTALITY INSURANCE Did you know that 4-H and FFA members can recover costs due to the death of one of their livestock? Farm Bureau Financial Services understands that members put a lot of time and energy into raising livestock. That’s why they would like to help youth protect their investments. The Farm Bureau Financial Services Animal Mortality insurance is tailored to short-term livestock ownership. Under this policy, each animal is insured for its cost or value in the event of an unexpected death. Applications can be obtained at the Extension Office. If you have any questions regarding the details and benefits of this type of insurance policy, please call 1-800-526-7270.

NEBRASKA 4-H SHOOTING SPORTS LEADER CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP OFFERED IN LINCOLN A Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop is scheduled for February in Lincoln. It will be held February 13-14 at the Nebraska Game & Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln. The deadline to register is February 2. Volunteers have the opportunity to become certified as an adult (21 years and older) or apprentice (14-20 years old) leader. Four project areas will be offered at the Lincoln Workshop - Rifle (BB Gun, Air Rifle Smallbore Rifle), Pistol, Muzzleloading, and Archery. There is a minimum number of participants needed to offer these disciplines at the workshops. Workshop participants will learn under expert instruction from members of the Nebraska State 4-H Shooting Sports Training Team. The registration fee is $100.00 per person for initial certification and $90.00 per person that are currently a certified instructor and are adding an additional discipline. This fee includes meals, supplies and program materials. Participants must make their own lodging arrangements. Registration on Saturday runs from 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Partial scholarships are available from the Custer County 4-H Council. Contact Colleen at the Extension Office for scholarship information at least 2 weeks prior to the registration deadline. For more workshop information and registration link, go to the 4-H Shooting Sports web page at http://4h.unl.edu/shootingsportseventcalendar, contact the Extension Office at (308) 872-6831, or Steve Pritchard at (402)395-2158 or (308)536-2691. Registration is available only online at the link provided in the brochure or they can register directly at - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1k4m4IaAk2m3mbmEuBOP6PsvrIltQsKnPr8Wzreek8QE/viewform .

2016 4-H SHOOTING SPORTS DATES January 2-3 Nebraska State - USA Shooting Junior Olympic Championships, Broken Bow. Contact Ron Carda. January 29-30 Nebraska State 4-H Indoor Archery Tournament, Columbus. Online registration available at http://4h.unl.edu/shootingsports. Click on Competition. February 13-14 Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop, Lincoln March 19-20 Nebraska State 4-H Air Pistol Championships, Broken Bow April 2 Nebraska State 4-H BB Gun Championships, Wayne April 3 Nebraska State 4-H Air Rifle Championships, Wayne April 16 Custer County 4-H Archery Indoor Match, Shooting Sports Building, Fairgrounds April 16-17 Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification, Arlington April 23-24 State 4-H Clay Target Championships, Grand Island June 4-5 Nebraska State 4-H Outdoor Archery Tournament, Grand Island June 26-July 1 2016 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships, Grand Island July 29-30 4-H Firearms Shooting Matches at the Custer County Fair September 24 2016 Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational, Pressey Wildlife Management Area, Oconto October 15-16 Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Certification Workshop, Broken Bow

Other invitational matches are posted periodically on the 4-H shooting sports website at: http://4h.unl.edu/shootingsports

2016

Custer County

Premium Book

Cover Photo

Contest

Custer County 4-H members (4-H age 8-18) are invited to enter the

2016 Custer County Premium Book Cover Photo Contest. The 2016

Custer County Fair Premium Book will be in a magazine format with a

full color, gloss cover. The winning photo will be selected by the

Custer County 4-H Council and placed on the cover of the 2016 Custer

County Fair Premium Book.

Contest Guidelines:

Photos must have been taken during the 2015 Custer County Fair.

Photo(s) must have been taken by the 4-H member submitting the photo.

Photos must be a high resolution photo taken with at least a 5 megapixel camera/phone.

Photos must be in a vertical format.

Entries may be submitted via CD, jump drive, or email. If emailing entries, send to

cpeterson2@unl.edu.

With each photo, include:

1. Name and age of the person who took the photo.

2. What the photo is about.

3. Identification of any individuals in the photo.

Submit photo entries to the Extension Office on or before March 1, 2016.

For more information, contact Colleen Peterson, 4-H Aide at the Nebraska Extension-Custer County Office, (308) 872-6831.

Enclosures To Everyone 2016 4-H Calendar of Events 2016 Animal Identification Guidelines Market Beef Weigh In Instructions 2016 Special Garden Project - Jazzy Mix Zinnia To Organizational Leaders 4-H Club of Excellence Summary Form 2016 Year End 4-H Club Treasurer’s Report

Troy M. Walz Jessye Goertz Colleen Peterson Extension Educator Extension Educator 4-H Aide twalz1@unl.edu jgoertz1@unl.edu cpeterson2@unl.edu

4-H ONLINE ENROLLMENT FOR 2016 Nebraska 4-H will be in the second year of the 4-H online enrollment system, called “4-H Online” ...paper enrollment is no longer an option. The process is easy and only takes a few minutes per member. Each new 4-H household will need to set up a profile in which the 4-H youth for the household will be added. 4-H families who enrolled in the system in 2015, should just be able to re-enroll. Instructions for enrolling and/or re-enrolling in 4-H Online will be available by February 1. During the month of February, Colleen will be setting up training sessions to help you with this enrollment process. Please be patient as we continue to learn about this enrollment system!

4-H SCHOLARSHPS AVAILABLE Graduating high school seniors should take advantage of these college scholarships available. There are scholarships available from the Nebraska 4-H Foundation and Custer County 4-H Activities Scholarships. All of these scholarships are due on or before March 1, 2016. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!

NEBRASKA 4-H FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS…The Nebraska 4-H Foundation offers some 4-H scholarships. The guidelines and application form for these scholarships are available at this site under “Scholarships.” The preferred method of application is electronically, however, applications may also be mailed. Applications are due to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation by March 1, 2016.

http://ne4hfoundation.org/recognition/ CUSTER COUNTY 4-H ACTIVITIES SCHOLARSHIPS Three $500 scholarships sponsored by the Custer County 4-H Activities Corporation. Offered on a county basis. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicant must be a current active Custer County 4-H member, and have been a member of the Custer County 4-H program for four or more years. Recipients must complete the first semester of college before the scholarship funds will be applied. Scholarship applicants must have a "C" average or above. THESE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN “HARD COPY TO THE NEBRASKA EXTENSION - CUSTER COUNTY OFFICE.”

All scholarship information is available at: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/custer/4-h-scholarships/