Cuming Happenings in 4-H February, 2016 Nebraska Extension in Cuming County 200 S Lincoln Street, Rm 50 West Point, NE 68788-1848 Phone: 402-372-6006 Fax: 402-372-6013 E-mail: cuming-county@unl.edu Visit us at: www.cuming.unl.edu Dates to Remember Feb 1 - Leader Training Registration Deadline Feb 3 - Leader Training - 4-H Online Feb 5 - UNL Red Letter Day - Pre- Health Feb 6 - Winning Hand Quilting Clover College Feb 12-4-H Horse Stampede Entries Due Feb 12 Companion Animal Challenge Entries Due Feb 12 - UNL Red Letter Day Feb 13-21 - Cattleman s Classic - Kearney Feb 26 - UNL Red Letter Day Feb 25 - Photos of Club Window Displays due to Ellan at Extension Office Feb 28 - Kick-Off Party Feb 28-Mar 6-4-H Awareness Week Mar 3-4HOnline Enrollment Open House Mar 4 - UNL Red Letter Day Mar 7-4HOnline Enrollment Open House, Wisner-Pilger High School Cafeteria Mar 7 - Home Ec Superintendents Mtg 6:30 p.m. Mar 10-4-H Council Meeting Mar 12 - Market Beef ID Day Mar 12-4-H Horse Stampede Mar 18 - UNL Red Letter Day Mar 15-4-H Online Enrollment Due Mar 17-4-H Awareness Wk Activities due Mar 17 - Speech Contest Pre-Entry Deadline Mar 16 - UNL Red Letter Day Mar 19 - Clover College, Wisner City Library Basement Mar 22-4-H Speech Contest, West Point Beemer High School Cafeteria Apr 1 - UNL Red Letter Day Apr 12, 19, 26 - Babysitting Clinic, Wisner Apr 13, 20, 27 - Babysitting Clinic, West Point Apr 14, 21, 28 - Babysitting Clinic, West Point Apr 15 - Market Beef ID and DNA Deadline Apr 15 - UNL Red Letter Day May 15 - Horse IDs due, Deadline for District and State Horse Show May 26 - Regional Public Speaking Contest Record Books & Premium Checks If you have not received your record book please pick it up from your 4-H leader. Remember to cash your County Fair checks ASAP! Cuming Happenings in 4-H Newsletter Is Going Electronic The Cuming County Extension Board and staff have seriously discussed the cost of sending ten issues of the Cuming Happenings in 4-H to our families. As of April 1, 2016 families will not receive a hard copy of the 4-H newsletter. You will receive each month an email with a link for the latest version of the 4-H newsletter that you can click to read and print. It will also be posted on the Nebraska Extension in Cuming County webpage for your easy 24/7 access. If you would like to continue to receive a hard copy of the newsletter please call the office and ask Ellan to put you on the hard copy list. Please call by March 15, 2016. Thank you for your assistance during this change! 4-H Council Officers Elected The 4-H Council elected the 2016 officers at their January meeting. Officers are: President Chris Schiller, Vice President Kara Sweeney, Secretary Anne Ausdemore, Treasurer Sarah Rolf, Extension Board Representatives Bernie Ruskamp, Sherry Roeber and Dan Hakel, Congratulations to our new officers! 4-H Kick Off Party When: Sunday, Feb. 28, 1:30 p.m. What: The Good Dinosaur Where: Nielsen Community Center Who: Current and future 4-H members, Clover Buds & families Why: To JOIN 4-H!!! Important Dates for 2016 Fremont 4-H Fair July 6-9 Cuming County Fair August 11-14 Mark your calendars! To celebrate the start of the 4-H year and the beginning of 4-H Awareness Week we will be having our annual Kick-Off Party at the Nielsen Community Center. We will be showing The Good Dinosaur The movie begins at 2:00 p.m., the doors will open at 1:30 p.m. We encourage 4-H families to come early. We will have hands on activities provided by 4-H members. We will also have a photo booth, games, door prizes, and a visit from Little Green. There will be free popcorn, and pop will be available for $1.00. 4-H Leader Training Scheduled Cuming County s annual Leader Training will be February 3, at Cuming County Courthouse in West Point. Dinner will be at 6:00 p.m. with the training beginning at 6:30 p.m. This will be a great chance for you to meet Ellan, our new Extension Assistant. We will provide a refresher on the 4-H Online enrollment, with emphasis on leader and volunteer enrollment, as well as sharing some new curriculum. Cuming County 4-H Council will pay for your meal as a thank you for all of your efforts as a leader. This will be a great opportunity for you to get new ideas for your club year. Please RSVP by February 1. Each club needs to have a minimum of at least one leader attend the training. All interested in learning about the online enrollment are invited to attend.
Page 2 4-H Online Enrollment As the world becomes more tech savvy, so does the 4-H program. Again this year online enrollment for 4-H will be required. We will have several opportunities for parents, 4-H members, and leaders to use a computer at the Extension Office if you don t have access to the internet. If you need help with the enrollment process, you can set up a time with Ellan to go through it. 4-H On-Line Enrollment Open Houses Families and leaders are invited to come to one of three Open Houses for On-Line enrollment. If families are having trouble with the 4-H On-line Enrollment process or would like to work through the process with the assistance of the Extension Staff we have arranged for the following open houses: Sunday, February 28, Nielsen Center, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3, Extension Office, 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 7, Wisner Pilger High School Cafeteria, 4:30 to 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, Extension Office, 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Recruit New Members Have you seen your friends wearing new 4-H t- shirts? Would you like to have one of those t-shirts? You can earn a 4-H t-shirt by recruiting a new member or members to the Cuming County 4-H program! Start thinking about the friends you would like to have in 4-H and talk with them about what you do in 4-H. Invite them to come to a fun 4-H activity (4-H Kick Off Party is a great place to start)! Once you have recruited a new member or members, contact the Extension Office with the following information: your name, club name, new member s name, and your t-shirt size. 4-H Awareness Week Join us to celebrate 4-H Awareness week Feb. 28 - March 6! 4-H clubs are encouraged to participate in a window display contest throughout the county! The windows will be voted on at the Kick-Off Party on Feb. 28th. Prizes will be awarded to top windows. Please have your window displays up by Feb. 25th. We ask that you email Ellan a photo of your window by Feb. 25th in order to have them entered for the voting process at the Kick- Off Party. We are looking for ideas to share with the local newspaper and radio station to help promote 4-H during Cuming County 4-H Awareness Week. If you have any suggestions let us know by February 1st. Nebraska Extension in Cuming County 4-H Tech Team Are you a 4-H member 13-18 years old? Are you looking to contribute to the 4-H program in a new way? If you are this opportunity is just what you have been looking for! We are looking for 5 15 teens from Cuming County to form a technology team. This team will build technical expertise through learning experiences that will open a whole new world of technology and media to be explored. Team members will be able to create video segments for educational and entrepreneurial ventures as well as help to video and live stream programs. We will work to provide live video streaming of the Cuming County Fair; and explore the possibility of live streaming the 2016 Public Speaking & PSA Contests, as well as other events and activities. If you would like to know more or to volunteer please give Ellan or Deb a call at the Extension Office. We will try to answer any questions you may have. We hope to be hearing from you soon! Special Project Grants Do you need some funding to help you start a major community service project - possibly your level six Diamond Clover Project? Potential sources for funding include Cuming County 4-H Foundation Special Project Grant and KD Lee Special Project Grant. The application is simple and available from the Extension Office. Applications are due to the Extension Office on the 1 st of January, March, May, July, September, or November. Also consider applying to the Cuming County Public Power District for their Round-Up Funds. For more information contact the Power District at 402-372-2463. 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador Program The Nebraska 4-H Shooting Program is accepting applications now through Feb. 11 for the new Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador Program. This program will be dedicated to leadership development in Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports youth. Through an annual leadership seminar, participants will learn life skills, public speaking and communication skills, as well as quality leadership traits that can be applied to their 4-H projects and student career. This program is for youth 14 years and older. The application form can be found at: http://goo.gl/forms/shfcltyt0g Trophy Sponsors Needed We are looking for a person, family or business to sponsor trophies for the Outstanding Senior & Junior Computer exhibits. The winner of this trophy/medal/ award will be determined by the judges of the contest. If you are interested or know someone that is, please contact the Extension Office.
Nebraska Extension in Cuming County Academic / Scholarship Information UNL Campus Visits Now is the time for current juniors and seniors to schedule your University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus visit. Deb and Larry can assist you in setting up a visit specifically designed to meet your interests. Campus visits can be set up to visit multiple departments or focus on just one department. This is a chance to become familiar with campus and the faculty that you will be interacting with during your post secondary education at UNL. RED Letter Days An all-day open house experience for high school seniors! RED Letter Days features: Academic Sessions presented by college representatives Student Life Sessions focusing on student opportunities & campus life The chance to tour campus & visit academic facilities Information on admissions, scholarships, & financial aid View a sample schedule and register at http:// admissions.unl.edu/visit/on-campus/red-letter-days.aspx RED Letter Days are schedule for: Feb. 5 - Pre-Health Feb. 12 - All Majors Feb. 15 - All Majors Feb. 26 - All Majors DID YOU KNOW? Be sure to check out the nine different colleges and various undergrad majors by scrolling to the bottom of the page at www.unl.edu March 4 - All Majors March 8 - All Majors April 1 - All Majors April 15 - All Majors 2015 Seniors You can collect your scholarship money at any time, deadline for collection of your scholarship is June 1, 2016. Please bring in the following documentation to claim your scholarship: Proof of completion of your first semester/term of college classes (copy of your grades or documentation of completion of Basic Training) Thank You note to the 4-H Council The completed 4-H questionnaire you previously received (another copy is available at the Extension Office) NACEB Scholarship The Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards (NACEB) Scholarship Program for the current academic year. Deadline March 15. Scholarship Includes: One $500 scholarship for a current student (sophomore or higher) enrolled in CASNR or CEHS. Page 3 One $1,000 scholarship at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) or in the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) for an incoming student (freshmen or transfer student). Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program Scholarships Students passionate about becoming an entrepreneur can now apply for scholarships to the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This program began in 2010 with $20 million gift over 10 years from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation. Scholarships are awarded annually to Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship students and renewable for up to three years dependent on student performance. In 2015 an Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Scholarship was awarded to Cuming County s own Ryan Schroeder. To apply, students must complete an application and a series of essay questions at http:// engler.unl.edu/scholarships1. Applications are due by February 1. America s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship Opportunity The Monsanto Company recently announced the launch of America s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, a $1,500 college scholarship for students pursing degrees in agriculture-related fields. The application period runs until February 1. The application is administered through the National FFA Scholarship program but students do not need to be a member of FFA to apply. The application can be found at: FFA.org/scholarships. If you have questions about the application process email scholarships@ffa.org. Do not call for assistance. Applicants will need to obtain the endorsement of three farmers. The endorsement period runs through February 8. Farmers can endorse applications at: FFA.org/scholarships or by calling 1-877- 267-3332. For more information on America s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, including a complete list of terms and conditions visit: GrowAgLeaders.com. For the latest updates, follow America s Farmers Grow AG Leaders on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The World Food Prize Nebraska Youth Institute To participate in the World Food Prize Nebraska Youth Institute, students research a global challenge and write a 3-4 page paper with the guidance of a teacher mentor at their high school. All students that submit a paper are eligible for an UNL scholarship. This event is scheduled for March 14, 2016 at UNL. The research paper is due online Feb. 24, 2016 by midnight. Submit papers online via the Registration Form link at www.worldfoodprize.org/nebraska. Visit www.casnr.unl.edu/worldfoodprize to learn more!
Page 4 Leaders Corner On-Line 4-H Leader Enrollment In 2016, 4-H leaders and volunteers will also enroll through the online enrollment process that was used last year by 4-H members. Current leaders and volunteers were enrolled by our office last year, so they will have a password assigned to them. However, the whole process is still evolving to make it as easy as possible for everyone. Leader s Training is a great opportunity to get assistance enrolling. If you are not able to attend Leader s Training and would like help enrolling, contact Ellan to set up an appointment. Instructions for enrolling and re-enrolling are available on our website: www.cuming.unl.edu. Cuming County 4-H enrollment deadline will be March 15, 2016. Volunteer Screening 2016 is the year that all 4-H volunteers (any adult assisting with 4-H activities) are required to complete the 4-H Volunteer Screening. Forms will be sent to all Cuming County adult volunteers. Completed forms are to be submitted to the State 4-H Department no later than June 1, 2016. Adults that are not on the list of those that have successfully been screened by July 15, 2016 will not be able to receive their passes to the 2016 Cuming County Fair. What s Your Status? Help Needed Placing New Members As new members start contacting the Extension Office we need to know which clubs will be open to new memberships, who to contact and what your focus project areas are. We will be collecting this information at Leader Training but if you are unable to attend please contact us. Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop A Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop is scheduled for February 13-14 in Lincoln at the Nebraska Game & Parks Outdoor Education Center. The deadline to register for the Lincoln session 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, pistol, muzzleloading, and archery. Workshop participants will learn under expert instruction from members of the Nebraska State 4-H Shooting Sports Training Team. The registration fee is $100 per person for initial certification and $90 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. For more workshop information and registration link, go to the 4-H Shooting Sports web page at http://4h.unl.edu/shootingsportseventcalendar, contact Steve Pritchard at (402)395-2158 or (308)536-2691. Registration is available only online at: https:// docs.google.com/forms/ d/1k4m4iaak2m3mbmeubop6psvriltqsknpr8wzreek 8QE/viewform Nebraska Extension in Cuming County Communication & Expressive Arts 2016 State Photography Theme Nebraska Exhibit Print theme for both Unit 2 and Unit 3 will be: 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. 2016 Cuming Co Photography Theme Perfectly Purple! Northeast Interview Contest New for 2016, there will not be a State Interview Contest. However, there will be a Northeast Regional Interview Contest held at the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk on May 26th. The same rules will apply. Interview Contest resumes and cover letters will be due: May 12th to Mary Jarvi at the Norfolk District Office. Ribbons and Trophies will be awarded. Intermediate and Sr. Divisions are eligible. Stop in and pick up your entry form from the Office or it can be found online at our website under Entry Forms. Please contact the Office for more information or with questions. 2016 Public Speaking & PSA Contest The 4-H Public Speaking and PSA Contests will be held on March 22 at West Point Beemer Jr.-Sr. High School. There will be four age divisions with ribbons and trophies in each division. The entry deadline is March 17th. The special topic for this year s Public Speaking Contest is 4-H Grows Stronger Families The PSA category must following the topic 4-H Grows Confidence. All 4-H PSA s must include the following tagline within the last 10 seconds: Learn more about Nebraska Extension 4-H Youth Development Program at 4h.unl.edu. The tagline is included in the 60 second time limit. The tagline Know How, Know Now should not be used. Entry forms can be found on our website at www.cuming.unl.edu/4hlocal Family & Consumer Science Omaha Fashion Week Alternate We would like to congratulate 4-H member Rebecca McKay on having her garment be chosen as an alternate for the Omaha Fashion Week! There were 18 applicants, which made for a very competitive pool of candidates. A tip for those wanting to apply next year: The garments selected to show on the runway have unique design elements and high craft details. Consider using a distinct pattern, making your own pattern or incorporating styling details to create a fashion forward look. Keep this in mind as you plan your clothing projects this coming year!
Nebraska Extension in Cuming County Winning Hand Quilt Clover College It is time to get started on your winter 4-H quilt project! This year we are going to make the Winning Hand or a quilt pattern of your choice quilt. Winning Hand is the first quilt that Deb s son made and the directions book does a great job of guiding you the construction of your quilt. 4-Hers can make quilt tops in a variety of sizes depending on their needs. An option for cutting out your quilt blocks will be Saturday, February 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. On Saturday, February 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. we will sew together your quilt top. The cost per participant will be $10 which will cover a new rotary cuter blade, pattern and the clover college. Please sign up with the Nebraska Extension Office, by Thursday, February 4. Stop by the Extension Office to see a sample of the quilt, pick up a list of supplies needed for each session and list of fabric needs based on the size of quilt 4-Her plans to make. Members may come and make a pillow case to match their quilt the morning of February 6 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the Courthouse meeting room. Quilting Resources For those of you that have a goal of making some type of quilt this year we have been working to develop a box of resources. Included in the box of materials is Start Quilting by Alex Anderson. This resource will take you through the first steps and details that you need to be aware of as you plan your quilt. Eleanor Burn s book Rail Fence Quilts is another book available for your reference. From Deb s personal experiences Eleanor Burn s books are great for stepby-step directions. Also in the box is a hard copy of Quilt Quest. Deb has also added a number of issues Fons and Porters and McCall s Quilting magazines that are full of color illustrations and project ideas. Check out the quilt resource box to get ideas for your projects. Now available in many stores that sell fabric is fabric already cut into uniform widths and grouped in coordinating colors. They are often called jelly rolls, charms, layer cakes, and dessert rolls based on their cut size. These are a great option for the member that wants to get started with sewing a quilt, as cutting takes a lot of time and energy. Also available are a number of books and instructions on the web for making quilted projects using the precut fabrics. Strip Savvy and Quiltmaker s 100 Blocks just arrived at the Extension Office and are available for checkout. 4-H Quilts of Valor Community service is a big part of 4-H. 4-Hers and adult volunteers do a tremendous amount of service projects in their community and beyond. We would like to encourage 4-Hers to continue to make a difference by making Quilts of Valor that can be entered in the county and Nebraska State Fairs. In 2015, over eighty 4-H quilts were donated to the National Quilts of Valor Foundation. Help continue to make this project such a success by making your own Quilt of Valor to donate this year. Page 5 Antique Chair Available for 2016 4-H Project Patsy Kreikemeier has the antique chair pictured available to a 4-H member that would like to refinish it as part of their projects for 2016. This chair can become your Design Decisions, Heirloom Treasures or Heritage project. If interested in refinishing this chair prior to the 2016 Cuming County Fair please contact Patsy at: 402-372-2714 or 402-380-9215. Livestock Poultry Ban Officially Lifted As of Jan. 1, 2016, the Nebraska Department of Ag has officially lifted the ban on poultry shows, fairs and exhibitions that was put in place to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HP AI) last year. This is very exciting news and we are excited to see poultry back in the barns at fair this year! 2015 was also a very good educational tool on learning more about biosecurity measures with poultry and livestock. Cuming County 4-H Market Beef Weigh Day Cuming County 4-H Market Beef Weigh Day will be held March 12, at the Harry Knobbe Feed Yards from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Rate of gain will not be required at State Fair and AKSARBEN this year, so this event has been moved to March 12. If you plan on showing market beef for the first time or are new on the 4-H program, please contact our office so we can get the necessary information to you. Companion Animal Challenge The 4-H Companion Animal Challenge has been scheduled for Saturday, March 12. Entries are due to the county office by Friday, February 12. This is a new event to allow youth to compete in companion animal events without their animals. The included events are: Demonstrations, Quiz Bowl, Art, Photography, Skill-a-thon. Rules, entry forms, and t-shirt order forms can be found online at: http://animalscience.unl.edu/ansc-4-hcompanion-animal-challenge. The quiz bowl and skill-a-thon will be dog project specific, while the remaining contests will be open to youth enrolled in any companion animal area (dogs, cats, rabbits, small animal, household pets). Art and photography are open to youth of any age. The demonstration, quiz bowl, and skill-a-thon contests will be open to youth 10 years and older (similar to other state contests). They will also be looking for adults volunteers for the day of the event so if you are interested, please contact Lisa Karr-Lilienthal. Please also direct any questions you have about the event to Lisa at lkarr-lilienthal2@unl.edu
Page 6 District Horse Show Note: All level testing must be completed by April 28 for State and District entries. ID forms and entries are due to the Extension Office by May 13. District Dates and Locations: June 13 - Kearney June 16 - Leigh June 14 - Chadron June 17 - Bloomfield June 15 - McCook June 21 - Lincoln 2016 State Horse Show State 4-H Horse Show at Fonner Park is scheduled for July 10-14. Paws On 4-H Dog Workshop A one day dog workshop held at the Greater Lincoln Obedience Club in Lincoln, NE on April 2 from 9 am 3 pm. This is a hands on workshop where youth can learn about training their dog and improve their dog knowledge. The flyer/registration form can be found here: http://animalscience.unl.edu/extension/ Companion/PawsOn%20Day% 20RegistrationFlyer2016.pdf Canine Companions for Life 4-H Dog Expo This event will be held at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Hastings, NE on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23. Friday night includes a quiz bowl and fun activities related to dogs. Saturday youth will practice obedience, showmanship and agility in the show ring and have the opportunity to work with 4-H judges and leaders to improve their training and showing skills with their dog. Additional educational workshops will be offered throughout the day. For more information: http://animalscience.unl.edu/caninecompanions-life-4-h-expo Spring 4-H Rabbit Show The Landcaster County Rabbit VIPS Committee will be hosting a Spring 4-H Rabbit Show on Saturday, March 19 at the Landcaster Event Center in the Exhibit Hall. Registration will from 7:30 8:30 am and the show will begin at 9:00 am. This show is great for newbies to the rabbit showing arena! The VIPS Committee is very knowledgeable and will be on hand to answer any questions. There is also usually a few good rabbits for sale at this show. For more information see this flyer: h p://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/ documents/rabbitshowspring16.pdf Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic The Nebraska Cattlemen s Classic will be held February 13-21 in Kearney at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. The Junior Show will be February 20-21. Visit http://cattlemens.org/index.html for more information. Judging Opportunities If you are interested in Horse, Livestock, Meats, Skillathon, Poultry, or Dog Judging please contact the Cuming County Extension Office and let us know that you are interested. We will be sending out correspondence throughout the year and don t want to miss you! Nebraska Extension in Cuming County Protecting Your Prized Livestock Did you know you can recover costs due to the death of one of your livestock? Farm Bureau Financial Services offers a unique insurance policy Animal Mortality insurance, 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. For more information contact the Extension Office. 4-H Horse Stampede Mark your calendars!! The 4-H Horse Stampede has been scheduled for Saturday, March 12. Entries are due to the county office by February 12. For rules and regulations please visit http://animalscience.unl.edu/horse-4-h-andyouth#tab4. Show Animal Selection and Nutrition Join QC Supply and Purina at the Schuyler QC Supply location for cattle and swine on Thursday, Feb. 25 6-8 pm and for sheep and goats on Thursday, March 10, 6-8 pm. Pre-registration is suggested. Call 402-352- 3707 or email kbrichacek@qcsupply.com to register or for more information! Horsin Around The event Horsin Around will not be held in 2016. Other types of clinics are being explored for later this spring and in 2017. General 4-H Opportunities & News Special Garden Project The Special Garden Project is a way to offer 4-H members the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens. This year the Special Garden Project is focused on the colorful, Jazzy Mix Zinnia. This cultivar comes in shades of burgundyred, red, yellow, and orange with cream, red, or yellow tips. The 1-2 blooms are fully-double and semidouble. These zinnias are a great cut flower that can get 20-26 tall. On average it will take about 75-85 days for the plants to bloom. If interested in participating let the Extension Office know by February 1. Cost for seed packet will be $1.00. 4-H ers enrolled in the Special Garden Project will: Receive a packet of Jazzy Mix Zinnias (one packet per youth) in March Receive a newsletter about planting & growing zinnias, zinnia problems & insects, harvesting & using zinnias, and exhibiting zinnias Be able to enter this unique flower at County and State Fair Ideas for Clover Colleges If you saw an exhibit at the fairs this past summer and think that it would be a great Clover College workshop, we are open to suggestions! Please share your ideas and possible resource people with us by February 5th!
Nebraska Extension in Cuming County Innovative Youth Corn Challenge Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Corn Board are offering the fifth Innovative Youth Corn Challenge contest. This contest, open to 4-H members (age 10 & older as of Jan. 1st) or FFA members (in-school members), guides participants through all aspects of corn production, as well as agricultural careers related to corn production. As a team, youth will be challenged to implement a production practice different than normal to determine if they increased their yield. Economics and sustainability of the practice will also be considered. Yields, cropping history, and production information will be collected in the Corn Yield Challenge management summary. Cash prizes and plaques will be given to the first, second, and third place teams. First place will receive $1,000, second place will receive $500, and third place will receive $250. Sustainability, crop scouting and extra mile awards will also be given, each worth $200. Once again, we congratulate the winning team from 2015, Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club that consisted of Kaleb Hasenkamp, Angela Rolf, Matthew Rolf, Levi Schiller and Payton Schiller! To participate in 2016, youth must complete and return an entry form by March 15 to the Fillmore County Extension Office in Geneva, NE. Forms can be downloaded in January from http:// cropwatch.unl.edu/cropwatch-youth/cornchallenge. For more information, contact Brandy VanDe- Walle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu, Diamond Clover Recognition Program This self paced, six level program is designed to challenge members to enroll in a variety of projects and activities that will help to develop life time skills and self esteem. This program is: Non-competitive Recognition for all 4-H members - those in traditional clubs as well as independent members Self-paced, based on member interest and schedule Incorporates community service and a learning project An assistant to help members broaden their knowledge and life skill base A benefit to youth, volunteers/adults, and communities Begin your quest to become a competent, caring and contributing citizen of your community today! Contact your club leader or the Extension Office today! Page 7 Remember that if you choose to purchase a PDF downloadable format that you are only purchasing one manual and making copies violates copy right laws. The Extension Office uses the University's 4-H curriculum price list that is updated each year. Feel free to contact us with any questions or to inquire about cost at any time. 4-H Foundation Memorial Do you have someone that you would like to remember with a memorial? Please consider the Cuming County 4-H Foundation. The Cuming County 4-H Foundation has completed all of the 501(c)3 tax requirements so that your donations will be tax exempt. Funds donated to the Cuming County 4-H Foundation help with special programs, 4-H scholarships, Club Congress expenses, camp vouchers and much more to provide quality 4-H experiences for all of our members. If you have questions about the 4-H Foundation, to make contributions, or memorials please contact the Extension Office. Sincerely, Debra E Schroeder Extension Educator Larry F Howard Extension Educator Ellan Hasenkamp Extension Assistant Your 4-H Challenge Recruit New Members! Project Manual Price Policy The 4-H Council has a policy that all manuals that cost $5.00 and over must be purchased by the 4-H family. We will no longer be able to allow families to check-out the manuals. Families are able to purchase the PDF version of many of the manuals at http:// marketplace.unl.edu/ne4h/curriculum.