TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Holt County Market Beef Weigh Days: January 23: Shamrock Livestock Market: 1:00 - 3:00 pm March 19: Atkinson Livestock Market: 9:00 - 11:00 am

2016 4-H Enrollment 4-H Enrollment will be done online at: 4-H Online for members and adults. (Use Chrome or Mozilla Firefox) Reference the 2016 the Project Resource Central manual to get started on picking out YOUR projects!!!

HOLT COUNTY ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

MARCH 1

Welcome Debra!

We have a new 4-H Assistant! Debra Walnofer joined the staff December 16.

She is a native of Holt County and a 4-H Alumni.

Her home is Chambers.

Her email address: dwalnofer2@unl.edu

BOYD COUNTY ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

APRIL 1

Holt/Boyd County 4-H Newsletter January 2016

http://holt-boyd.unl.edu/ http://www.facebook.com/holtboyd.extension

http://twitter.com/#!/holtboyd

Holt County Market

Beef Weigh Days

1

4-H Enrollment 1

New 4-H Assistant 1

Market Beef

Identification

2

Special Garden

Project

2

Idea of the Month 3

Governor’s Ag

Excellence

3

First Lego League 3

February 4-H Month 3

Livestock

Opportunities

3

Nebraska Cattlemen’s

Classic Judging

Contest

3

Fair Dates 3

Culinary Challenge 4

Innovative Youth

Corn Challenge

4

Shooting Sports 4

Public Speaking 4

Photography Themes 4

Holt County

Year Pins

4

Calendar 5

Special Garden Project The Special Garden Project is a way to offer 4-H Clover Kids and 4-H members the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens. The Special Garden Project is focused on the colorful, Jazzy Mix Zinnia. This cultivar comes in shades of burgundy-red, red, yellow, and orange with cream, red, or yellow tips. The 1-2” blooms are fully-double and semi-double. 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. 4-H’ers enrolled in the Special Garden Project will:

*Receive a “packet” of Jazzy Mix Zinnias (one per youth) in March *Learn more about:

Planting & growing zinnias

Zinnia problems & insects

Harvesting & using zinnias

Exhibiting zinnias

*Be able to enter this unique flower at County and State fair *Fill out an evaluation

To order seeds complete this Google form (just 5 quick questions to answer). Please complete this Google form by January 25. Order one packet of seed per youth.

2016 Market Beef Identification To make things easier between 4-H and FFA exhibitors, a change for animal identification is being put in

place for 2016.

For State Fair/Aksarben

* All eligible 4-H and FFA market animal will have an EID tag (there is no difference between 4-H and

FFA EID tags - the tags are the same. Through a four-way partnership with the Nebraska Department

of Agriculture, the Nebraska State Fair, the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, and FFA, we are able to offer

the EID tags at no charge to families for 2016.)

* DNA will be collected from all animals – which the fee is paid to Knights of Aksarben

* Paper copy of animal affidavit completed and returned to the Extension Office

* DNA, affidavit and weight must all be completed by the April 1st deadline to the extension office

(weights can be done at assigned weigh dates or a certified scale ticket must be provided)

* Animals can be shown for either 4-H or FFA at county fair but will need to be designate when

filling out paperwork for the July 21st county fair deadline

* When entering for State Fair by the August 10th deadline as a family you choose if you are

showing 4-H or FFA per animal (IMPORTANT NOTE: If chosen as FFA for state fair – that

animal is NOT eligible for Aksarben as Aksarben is ONLY a 4-H show)

Thus an animal can be shown 4-H at county fair and FFA at state fair…your choice

* A total of 10 market animals can be identified per person however you can identify animals as

families (i.e. Trevor and Annabelle Timmerman can have their names on 20 market beef). Every

family members name must be on the DNA envelopes when submitting to Aksarben.

For County Fair

* All eligible 4-H and FFA county fair only market animals will have a maxi identification tag. 4-H tags

can be purchased at the office or the day of weigh in

* All market beef and 2nd year bucket calves must be weighed and a completed animal affidavit by April

1st deadline to the extension office (weights can be done at assigned weigh dates or a

certified scale ticket must be provided)

* Animals can be shown for either 4-H or FFA at fair – will need to designate when filling out

paperwork for the July 21st county fair deadline.

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Ideas of the

Month

FEBRUARY IS NEBRASKA’S 4-H MONTH

Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Awards The purpose of the NE 4-H Foundation’s Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Awards, sponsored by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA), is to

recognize 4-H clubs for the work of the individuals in the club and the community service work of the entire club. The intent is to increase 4-H'ers' awareness of agricultural careers and entice some of them into such careers. This is an opportunity for 4-H to support our agricultural roots while we help 4-H members expand the career possibilities they are considering. Recognition is in the form of $500 checks issued to the club's treasury to be used as described in the award application form completed by the club. Examples of fundable programs include: conference or workshops for others in the community, trips or tours for club members, community improvement projects in the club’s hometown, campus visits, fairgrounds enhancements, inter-generational programs, and the development of youth councils. In order to be considered for the Award, please tell us more about the project you have planned. Please keep answers to one page. Note: All funded projects are required to submit a summary of their project, preferably with pictures, to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation upon its completion (by November 30, 2016).

4-H Horse Stampede and Companion Animal Challenge

will be held on March 12, 2016 - entries due February 19

More information: contact lcottle2@unl.edu or

registration forms are on line.

Companion Animal Challenge is a new event held the

same day as the 4-H Horse stampede. The Stampede will

NOT be held in conjunction with the UNL Equestrian

Team show so no concessions.

Livestock Opportunities

2016 Fair Dates

Holt - August 2 - 6

Boyd -

August 3 - 6

Found on diyshowoff.com

Found on curbly.com

Found on flickr.com

diyforlife.com

FIRST LEGO League FIRST LEGO League introduces youth ages 9-14, real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. FLL teams, guided by their imaginations and adult coaches, discover exciting career possibilities and, through the process, learn to make positive contributions to society. The FLL program is well underway for the 2015-2016 "TRASH TREK” Season. The TRASH TREK

SM Challenge asks teams to explore the hidden but fascinating world of

trash, from collection, to sorting, to smart production, and reuse. They must also invent a solution to help our trash problem and create their own LEGO MINDSTORMS

® robot to

accomplish trash-themed “missions” on a playing field, and show how well they practice FIRST LEGO League Core Values. Regional Qualifier-Columbus FLL Qualifier– Shell Creek Elementary School-Columbus, - January 23, 2016. Contact the office for more information.

2016 NEBRASKA Cattlemen’s Classic Livestock Judging Contest Saturday, February 20th

Buffalo County Fairgrounds There will be 8 classes of cattle and will be split into two divisions -

Juniors (ages 8-13) and Seniors (ages 14-19). These ages are as of

January 1, 2016. You’re more than welcome to move a Junior contest-

ant up to the Senior division to make a full team, if necessary. Contact

the office for more information.

Page 3

2016 4-H Culinary Challenge Contest

SQUASH is the ingredient for the year

Summer squash, winter squash, pumpkins and zucchini *4-H youth, 10-18

Choose a theme and design a table setting *Enrolled in Foods & Nutrition Project

Create a menu *Teams of 2

Prepare and incorporate the challenge item to the contest!

Participate in a live interview with judge

Incorporate technology into your table presentation interview

Talk about your table design (theme, nutrition, menu cost, food safety concerns)

Be knowledgeable about your challenge ingredient

Team interviews should be equal participation

Intermediate - ages 10-13 years, 8-10 minute interview

Senior - ages 14 and up, 12-15 minute interview

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. To participate in 2016, youth must complete and return an entry form by March 15th to the Fillmore County Extension Office in Geneva, NE. Forms can be downloaded at cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/activities. For more information, contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu, Aaron Nygren at anygren2@unl.edu or Amy Timmerman at atimmerman2@unl.edu.

HOLT

Year Pins have come in.

Year certificates are

here in your box.

1,3,5,7,9,10,11 year

members can pick

them up.

Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Workshop February 13-14, 2016

Nebraska Game & Parks, Outdoor Education Center,

Lincoln, NE Flyer Online Registration

Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Workshop

April 16-17, 2016 Washington County Fairgrounds,

Arlington, NE http://4h.unl.edu/shootingsports

Shooting Sports

http://4h.unl.edu/shootingsports Public Speaking Contest

4-H Grows Confidence……… is the theme for the 2016 Public Speaking Contest. The Regional Speech contest will be May 26. More information will be coming on the county contests.

Photography Themes for 2016

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.

Holt/Boyd County 4-H Calendar January 1: Return State Eligible Career Portfolios DUE to your County Extension Office

January 23: Weigh Day, Shamrock Livestock Market, O’Neill, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

January 29-30: State 4-H Indoor Archery Tournament, Ag Park, Columbus

February 13-14: Shooting Sports Instructor Workshop, NE Game & Parks Education Center, Lincoln -

Flyer; Online Registration

February 20: Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic Judging Contest, Kearney

March 1: Holt County 4-H Enrollment Deadline (4-H Enrollment will be done online at: 4-H Online for

members and adults)

March 1: Governors Ag Excellence Award Application Due

March 12: Companion Animal Challenge and Horse Stampede, Lincoln

March 13: Pierce County Shooting Sports Invite, Pierce City Auditorium

March 19: Market Beef Weigh Day, Atkinson Livestock Market, Atkinson, 9:00 - 11:00 am

March 19-20: State 4-H Air Pistol Champ & Progressive Pistol Shoot, Custer Co Fairgrounds, Broken Bow

April 1: Boyd County 4-H Enrollment Deadline (4-H Enrollment will be done online at: 4-H Online for

members and adults)

April 1: Market Beef and 2nd Year Bucket Calf ID Sheets Due

April 2-3: State 4-H BB Gun and Air Rifle Championships, Wayne

April 16-17: Shooting Sports Instructor Workshop, Arlington

May 1: Boyd County Small Animal and Rabbit Id Sheets Due

May 12: Regional Speech Contest Entries Due, Norfolk

May 13: District and State Horse Show Entries Due

May 26: Regional Speech Contest, Norfolk

June 1: County Only Horse ID Sheets Due to your County Extension Office

June 4: Holt County 4-H Shooting Sports Invite, Fair Grounds, Chambers

June 5-10: Big Red Summer Academic Camps, Lincoln

June 13: District Horse Show, Kearney June 14: District Horse Show, Chadron June 15: District Horse Show, McCook June 15: Remaining Animal Identification Forms Due June 16: District Horse Show, Leigh June 17: District Horse Show, Bloomfield June 19-21: PACE/Life Challenge, Lincoln June 21: District Horse Show, Lincoln June 26-July 1: 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship, Heartland Public Shooting Park, Grand Island July 10-14: State Horse Show, Fonner Park, Grand Island July 21: County Fair Static Pre-Entries, County Fair Livestock & Aksarben Entries Due August 2-6: Holt County Fair, Fairgrounds, Chambers August 3-6: Boyd County Fair, Fairgrounds, Spencer August 10: Animal Entries and In-Person Entries Due for Nebraska State Fair August 26-September 5: Nebraska State Fair, Grand Island

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