Volume 15, Issue 10 December 2015

Congratulations to Elijah Bolin from the Kingdom Kids 4-H Club, and Faith Cordray from

the Cornerstone Covers 4-H Club, on their recent winnings at the State Wool Contest held in

Lincoln, Nebraska at the Lancaster County Extension Office. Faith Cordray received fifth

place in the Junior Division. Elijah Bolin received first place in the pre-teen division and

received a sewing basket with sewing notions. Marie Bolin, graduated member of the King-

dom Kids 4-H Club received first place in the Senior Division and will be a Nebraska dele-

gate to the National Finals of the “Make It With Wool” contest being held January 28-40 in

Scottsdale, Arizona.

Congratulations to Whitney Koehn, from the Cass County Creative Cats 4-H Club, for being rec-

ognized in one of the lightest levels of 4-H achievement. Whitney won a 4-H award trip to Na-

tional 4-H Congress by completing her 4-H Career Portfolio in the curriculum area of Consumer

and Family Science. Whitney will represent Nebraska 4-H at National 4-H Congress in Atlanta

November 27 through December 1st.

Whitney’s portfolio outlines her achievements and leadership accomplishments in 4-H, school

and community. It includes an essay about her 4-H experiences and how they tie into her future

plans. Her portfolio won in the Cass County 4-H competition before competing in the state 4-H

career portfolio contest.

Faith Cordray

Whitney Koehn

Congratulations to Faith Cordray from the Cornerstone Clovers 4-H Club, for being recog-

nized at the Celebration of Youth XXII: Work by 4-H Youth. Her project, pictured at the left,

along with other award winners, has been on display at the Home Economics Building at

UNL. The featured exhibits were selected from thousands of exhibits in the 4-H Clothing,

Home Environment, Quilt Quest and Fashion Show divisions at the 2015 Nebraska State Fair

in Grand Island. Projects ranged from stunning pieced quilts to garments constructed of unex-

pected materials to one-of-a-kind sculptural art forms.

Along with the honor of having her work in exhibition, Faith got to attend an afternoon of

workshops hosted by the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design, gave an

“elevator talk” about her project, and received monetary awards from the Friends of the Rob-

ert Hallestad Textiles Gallery.

Marie Bolin, Elijah Bolin,

& Faith Cordray

Thank you Whitney, Faith, Elijah, and Marie for representing Cass County 4-H in

outstanding ways! We are proud of you!

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Project News and Workshops….. Page 2

New Animal ID System for 2016:

Please Read…..

All Cass County animals will use an EID tag (exceptions are clover kid goat, clover kid sheep, bucket calf and county only swine). All swine will be tagged for county fair with either an EID tag or county only tag. Swine must also be notched. More infor-mation on the system for completing this tagging to come.

All Market Beef will be weighed and tagged Saturday January 2nd from 9-11 a.m. All sheep and goats will be tagged Saturday June 11th from 9-11 a.m. Please plan to be at those tagging dates if you plan to show these species.

All breeding animals (breeding heifer, breed-ing ewe, breeding doe) will need to fill out a card ra-ther than the ID sheet they’ve used in the past. There will be a charge of $2 to nominate breeding animals for State Fair and Aksarben. Breeding heifers must have a tattoo number and registered heifers must submit registration papers. Breeding does must have a USDA scrapies tag. Breeding ewes must have a USDA scrapies tag.

All breeding eligible sheep and goats (intact males, breeding ewes, breeding does) must have a scrapies tag regardless of whether they are shown as breeding or market (*not a change from 2015…just a reminder).

EID tags will cost a bit more than previous regular tags. EID tag $3. Market animals wanting to be designated for State Fair and/or Aksarben still need DNA pulled. DNA is $6 per animal. DNA + EID tag= $9 per animal.

Weigh-In and Tagging Dates

Market beef weigh-in will be on Saturday, Janu-ary 2, 2016 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Fair-grounds. In the event of inclement weather, the weigh-in date will be moved to Saturday, Janu-ary 9th.

Sheep and Goat tagging will be June 12, 2016 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Fairgrounds.

2016 Nebr. State Fair Photography

The 2016 Nebraska State Fair 4-H Photography Theme Exhibit has been announced!!! This year's theme celebrates the national “4-H Grows Here” campaign. Capture photos of people and places that illustrate 4-H growing and thriving in Nebras-ka! 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.

Two Outstanding Cass County Workshops in One Day!!! Holiday Cookie workshop Ages 8-18 Cost $10 Monday, December 21st from 9:00 a.m. to noon Come learn some fun decorating techniques while learning how baking cookies works and why following a recipe is important!

Holiday Community Service Workshop Ages 5-18 Cost $5 + canned food item for the food bank Monday, December 21st from 1:00-4:00 p.m. The Holidays are about giving to those less fortunate or thinking of others who might need a little extra help. Come out and help us put together some community service items for those in need this Holiday season!

To sign up for either workshop call the Extension Office at 402-267-2205 or email cass-county@unl.edu. Please sign up ahead of time so we can have enough supplies!!!!

Special Garden Project 2016

This year’s special garden project is Jazzy Mix Zinnia. Order yours from the Extension Office by January 15th, 2016. Click here for complete information.

District Horse Show Information

See map attached at the end of this newsletter.

More Project News …..

4–H Horse Stampede

The 2016 4-H Horse Stampede is being held March 12th at the Ani-mal Science Complex on UNL’s East Campus. Entries are due to county offices on Feb. 12th. Con-tests include: Demonstrations (individual

and team)

Public speaking

Quiz bowl

Photography and art contests

More information available at: http://animalscience.unl.edu/horse-4-h-and-youth#tab32 If you have questions, please con-tact Lena Luck (lena.luck@unl.edu) about the Stampede.

Companion Animal Challenge

The second 4-H Companion Animal Challenge

will be held on March 12, 2016 at the Animal

Science Complex on UNL’s East Campus. It pro-

vides youth a chance to participate in a variety

of contests that do not require animals, but al-

low youth to learn more about their dog or oth-

er companion animals. Entries are due Feb.

19th. Contests include:

Demonstrations (a presentation where

youth demonstrate how to complete a task

or related to the care of their companion

animal)

Photography and art contests (open to all

companion animal projects)

Dog Skill-a-thon

Dog quiz bowl

The youth who participated in the event last

year said that it was fun and they learned a

lot. Youth do not need to be experts to partici-

pate in the event.

More information available at: http://

go.unl.edu/4hcac If you have questions,

please contact Lisa Karr-Lilienthal (lkarr-

lilienthal2@unl.edu)

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Did you read about the 4-H Holiday Workshops being held at the Extension Office

On Monday, December 21st? Read about them on page 2 !!!

Opportunities ….

Photographers … This article might give you an idea for a photography project for the fair. An exciting statewide Photography Call sponsored by Hildegard Center for the Arts, in partnership with the Nebraska Tourism Commission and the Nebraska State Historical Society, is currently inviting communities from across Nebraska to serve as a bridge to link history, generations and cultures. The Photography Call is entitled, “Bridges: Sharing Our Past to Enrich the Future”, and runs through January 4, 2016. From Adams to Antelope, Scottsbluff to Sheridan, Dundy to Douglas……each of Nebraska’s 93 counties is home to his-toric and hidden treasures from the past. This Call is inviting YOU and YOUR community to highlight historic places and often over-looked treasures found in your own county; historical sites either found on the National Register of Historic Places or places of community/personal significance to the photographer. To see full entry guidelines and to submit photos, go to www.hildegardcenter.org. SELECTED photographs from the Call will be exhibited statewide to help celebrate Nebraska’s Sesquicentennial in 2017 and used to promote the state as part of our partnership with the Nebraska State Historical Society and the Nebraska Tourism Commission. All submitted photos will become part of a virtual exhibit.

4-H Clover Kid Idea Share Day

Save the date for a 4-H Clover Kid Idea Share Day to be held on Monday, March 14, 2016, from 1-5pm at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center (4703 N 44th Street, Lincoln, NE 68504). We will be sharing programming ideas for 4-H Clover Kids. Come early and be a part of a great learning experience. Everyone will be invited to host their own table where they can share their great ideas with others. Questions? Contact Leanne Manning at leanne.manning@unl.edu or at 402-821-2151.

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Please Do….. Report your Community Service

We would really love to be able to report state wide the tremendous things our Cass County 4-Hers are doing! There is a easy and quick reporting procedure. Go to 4h.unl.edu/4hcommunityserviceprojectmaps

ubmission and simply type in what you/your club is doing in and around the com-munity for community service. From this link you’ll also be able to see what other clubs and individuals are do-ing. Helping food pantries? Making warm hats? Sorting goods? Playing bingo at the local nursing home? Tell your story and share the good news! Good commu-nity service develops positive results on all levels!

Nebraska Jr. Angus 2015 Winter Show

Sunday, December 6, 2015 Kearney, NE at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds

Click here for flyer and information

Nebraska Association

of County Extension Boards (deadline approximately March 15, 2016)

The Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards

(NACEB) Scholarship Program offers scholarships for

the current academic year. Scholarship Includes: 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 Sci-

ences (CEHS) for an incoming student (freshmen or

transfer student) | One $500 scholarship for a current stu-

dent (sophomore or higher) enrolled in CASNR or CEHS.

Application & Details Coming Soon. (Click here to see a

copy of last year’s application form.)

Freel Family Scholarship (local Cass County Scholarship,

deadline approximately April 1, 2016)

Send or deliver a completed application form with edu-

cational plans and future goals, plus a descriptive story

of your 4-H career to the Cass County Extension Office

no later than April 1st, 2016

Click here to receive a copy of the application form.

Attention Seniors….Scholarship Opportunities Page 5

OXBOW

ANIMAL HEALTH SCHOLARSHIP (Local Cass County Scholarship,

deadline March 2, 2016)

Oxbow Animals Health of rural Murdock is now

accepting applications for its 2016 Academic

Scholarships. The Oxbow Academic Scholarships

award annual financial support to students pursuing

education in the exotic and companion animal vet-

erinary fields.

The four Oxbow scholarship categories are: Ne-

braska High School, Undergraduate, Veterinary

Technology, and Veterinary Medicine.

Applications for the 2016 Oxbow Academic Schol-

arships are at

www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/community/

scholarships. Scholarship applications must be

postmarked by March 2, 2016.

Weeping Water Whiz Kidz Scholarship (local Cass County Scholarship,

deadline approximately April 1, 2016)

Send or deliver a completed application form with letters

of recommendation to the Cass County Extension Office

on or before April 1st, 2015. Verification of your 4-H

status as required for the application will be done by the

Extension staff, or your 4-H Leader.

Click here to receive a copy of the application form.

Need an idea for a snowy day … make a 4-H ornament for your Christmas tree!

Club and Leader/Volunteer News ….

Communication The bulk of our communication happens by e-mail; please supply us with a good working e-mail address-es. Thanks! If your email changes, please let us know.

Cass County 4-H Volunteer Training Seminar

February 1st, 2016 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

A volunteer training seminar will be held at the Cass County Extension Office Meeting Room. Youth policy, online procedures, positive youth development, and a variety of projects will be discussed. Please RSVP to Sondra at the 4-H office. Send an email to son-dra.buell@unl.edu or call 402-267-2205.

2015-2016 4-H Year

Enrollment

It’s time to enroll/re-enroll for the new 4-H

year. This year all 4-H leaders and volunteers

enroll on-line also. Go to: ne.4HOnline.com

3 important things:

1) Don’t use Internet Explorer. Internet Ex-

plorer doesn’t play friendly with 4HOnline.

Use another browser like FireFox or

Google Chrome.

2) Use a good working email, and enter an

email address for each person you want to

receive email communications.

3) Enter a cell phone number in each profile

for each person you want to receive text

message communications. Also, you need

to enter your cell phone provider in order

to receive text messages.

Outdoor Skills Program Instructor Training

On Thursday, December 10, 2015, at the Hall County Extension Office in Grand Island, NE there will be a hands-on training on how to incorporate outdoor skills into your program or club meeting. It will be a fun and relaxing atmosphere while curriculum, activities, logistics and more are pre-sented. The following topics will be focused up-on: 9:30am-2:30pm: 2nd Grade Curriculum

Training 2:30-3:30pm: A Glimpse into 3rd and 4th

Grade Curriculum Registration for the day is $10 and includes lunch and materials. Register online at http://goo.gl/forms/DzE3hf8Cky. Questions? Contact Sonya Glup at sglup2@unl.edu or at 402-395-2158 or 308-536-2691. The training will be presented by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Ne-braska Extension.

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Tips for Membership, 4-H Clubs and Club Meetings….

What is the best way to stay informed regard-

ing county events, contests, workshops, and

fairs? … Check with your leaders, read the 4-H Friday News

Blasts that come out every Friday afternoon,

www.cass.unl.edu

What projects are offered, and how do I decide

what to take …

There is a WIDE range of projects; take a look at

Project Central on the website. There are over 150

different projects to choose from, so think about

what you are interested in learning and what you’d

like to do to stretch your skills. Some clubs have

a “club project” where everyone does the same

things for any given year.

There are sample project books in the Extension

Office if you would like to look at one before you

decide to order books.

What is the Theme for 2016 …. The new 4-H theme is 4-H Grows Here. There’s all

sorts of off shoots from that theme; have fun working

them into club meetings, posters, floats, etc.

Excellence Grows Here.

Confidence Grows Here.

Creativity Grows Here.

Character Grows Here.

Teamwork Grows Here. Compassion Grows Here.

What are the Quality Standards for 4-H clubs .. Clubs meetings are held at least 6 times, or more, per

year.

Club officers are elected

75% of club members complete a 4-H project each year

The organizational leader attends at least one leader

training each year.

Club planning is done by club members and meetings

are run by club officers.

Learning experiences provided for all skill levels of club

members Each member does an in-club demonstration or presen-

tation every year Club financial audits submitted to the UNL Extension

Office at the end of each year. Yearly service learning projects/community service pro-

jects are completed.

What is a good goal for everyone ….

Memorize the 4-H Pledge and recite it at club meet-

ings, and To Make the Best Better.

How old do you have to be to be in 4-H ... 4-H Club membership is open to all youth beginning at

age 8 (as of January 1) and open to all young people

but not to exceed beyond the age of 19 (as of Jan. 1)

Who can be in 4-H … 4-H Club membership is open to all youth without re-

gard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender-

identity, sex, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation,

genetic information, veteran's status, marital status,

religion, political affiliation or socioeconomic back-

grounds.

How old do you have to be to be a Clover Kid ... Clover Kids is a 4-H program for children ages 5-to-7

by December 31st.

What is the benefit of being in a 4-H club … There are many benefits of being in a club; friendship

and fellowship, opportunity for leadership develop-

ment, plus strides in self-confidence, learning to work

with others, communication skills, decision making,

problem solving, citizenship, expanded horizons, or-

ganizational skills, respect for and from others, pa-

tience, tolerance, and real-world experience!

How many kids make up a club… An organized group of at least five youth from three

different families who meet regularly with adult volun-

teers or 4-H staff for a long-term, progressive series of

educational experiences.

If you registered for 4-H last year, do you have

to register again …. Yes, 4-Hers have to re-register each year. Registration/

re-registration for the new year can being as early as

mid October. 4-Hers and leaders/volunteers register

on-line at ne.4HOnline.com.

Where do clubs meet … Clubs can meet in a home, community center, school,

library, at the extension office meeting room, etc.

Where can you get 4-H Manuals … Manuals can be purchased at Marketplace: Market-

place.unl.edu Some manuals can be purchased at the 4-H

Mall: www.4-hmall.org

Where can you purchase a 4-H t-shirt … There is a wonderful website at http://www.4-

hmall.org/ that have many choices. These 4-H t-shirts

are for fun and to show 4-H Pride! Check with the Ex-

tension Office, they too have 4-H 4-shirts for fun! You

can purchase the Cass County show shirts at the Exten-

sion Office.

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