Saunders
County 2014
Newsletter
December 8
Saunders County
4-H
Upcoming Events
Full Calendar of Events for 2015 is posted at
http://saunders.unl.edu/basic
Saunders County News
December 2014
Jan. 3rd – Market Beef Weigh Day – 10 am to 1 pm,
Sale Barn in Wahoo
New News!
Our Name has changed!
“UNL Extension” in Saunders County is NOW
“Nebraska Extension” in Saunders County!
Feb. 2nd – Shooting Sports Trainings began – 6 pm,
Fairgrounds
In this issue:
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Upcoming Events
NEW! 2015 Enrollment Changes
Livestock Quality Assurance Changes
New Member CLUB CHALLENGE!
Yard Signs
Parent 101
Scholarship Opportunities
4-H Kick-Off Night
Shooting Sports Dates and Times
Clover Kids Coloring Contest
Purple Ribbon Pals
National 4-H Conference
Theresa Wilson Special Photography Exhibit
End of Year Report for Club Leaders
Finalizing County Fair - Checks
Congratulations Touhy Livestock Club!
2015 District 4-H Horse Dates & Sites
Celebrate Nebraska 4-H Month
Name Change!
Jan. 7th – 4-H Council Meeting & Supper – 6 pm
Feb. 11th – Volunteer Banquet (Volunteer’s) – 6 pm,
ARDC
Feb. 13th – 4-H Horse Stampede Entry Deadline
Feb. 16th – 4-H Parent 101 – 7 pm, ARDC
Feb. 25th – All Species Animal Selection & Feeding
Clinic – 6 pm to 8 pm, ARDC
Feb. 28th – Horsin’ Around Starts, UNL Animal
Science Complex
TOP NEWS! 2015 Enrollment Changes
Hello 4-H Families! As we embark on a new 4-H
programming year, we are excited to introduce you
to a NEW on-line enrollment system. All 4-H
families will enroll in clubs and projects through
4HOnline. You will need to create a new family
account and profiles for each 4-H member at
ne.4honline.com to participate in the 2015
program year.
4HOnline is a web-based enrollment system that
will allow families to enroll in 4-H on your personal
computer, mobile device or at local enrollment
events hosted in your county. You’ll be able to
complete all of the information necessary to join
4-H, including 4-H code of conduct forms and
health forms (health form area is optional).
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To prepare for this enrollment event, we’ve
provided the following list of information you’ll be
asked to enter online.
1. Name, mailing addresses, primary phone
and email for the family. You can include
multiple family addresses if needed. You
will also be able to include an additional
emergency contact for your family. This
field is optional.
2. Name, age, (as of January 1, 2015) grade in
school and year of graduation for each
youth members you plan to enroll.
3. Each youth member will need to sign by
typing their name on the Code of Conduct
Form.
4. For each youth member enrolled, the
parent/guardian will need to sign the
permission to treat, participate and release
of claims.
5. Each youth member will need to select their
club or independent member status. They
can select multiple clubs, but will need to
identify ONE primary club.
6. Each youth member will need to select their
projects for the upcoming program
year. We recommend you review the list of
projects prior to beginning your online
enrollment (this being the projects are
going to be listed alphabetically and not by
department when enrolling online). This
Project Name list can be found at
http://saunders.unl.edu/basic
under “2015 Nebraska Pick-A-Project
Material”. A minimum of one project is
required to complete an enrollment,
however, more projects can be added up to
the enrollment deadline in your county.
7. To complete your registration process, a
form of payment is due to the Saunders
County Extension Office by April 1st, 2015.
Please make NOTE on your calendar of the
deadline date for payment! Until payment
has been made, we will not accept your
online application and you will not be
allowed to participate at the Saunders
County Fair.
Please mail your payment and make checks
payable to:
Saunders County 4-H Council
PO Box 126
Ithaca, NE 68033
Youth who are enrolled in more than one club only
need to pay one enrollment fee. The enrollment
fee structure is as follows:
◦ Youth age 8 - 18 = $10 / member
◦ Clover Kids age 5 - 7 = $5 / member
Note: We a step by “Step-by-Step How To” form
located on our website at
http://saunders.unl.edu/basic under “How to
Enroll Step-by-Step”
For more information contact the Saunders County
Extension Office at 402-624-8030.
Livestock Quality Assurance Changes
The Livestock Quality Assurance Online Course is
once again going through a transition. Youth
outside Nebraska will now be included in the same
course as Nebraska youth. We believe that this will
help us streamline the services that we provide all
youth while still providing all youth a great
educational product.
In order to keep the quality at the highest level and
streamline the services we offer, we will be
implementing a $5 annual fee for all participants,
including those in Nebraska. This fee will be used
to support additional course module development,
provide clerical support for the course, and support
internal and external costs associated with the
course.
The course will annually be unavailable from
November 1st through January 1st of each
year. During this downtime, the team will load and
update course materials.
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Coming in 2015 are new animal identification
videos for cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, and poultry!
We feel these will be a great addition to the
existing course. We are also are in the process of
adding additional team members.
Your support through this whole process has been
wonderful, and we hope that we can count on your
continued support as we transition forward.
New Member, CLUB CHALLENGE!
It’s 4-H recruitment time and we are asking for
your help! We are challenging each or your Clubs
to recruit NEW members this year. The Club that
recruits the most new members will receive $100
toward a Club Celebration!
Yard Signs
We have Yard Signs to promote recruitment! If you
would like to request a yard sign to put in your yard
please contact the Nebraska Extension at
402-624-8030. More details to follow in next
newsletter.
Parent 101
Mark your calendars for February 16th at 7:00 pm
and join us at the ARDC located at 1071 County
Road G, Ithaca. This class is open to any new
parents or even those with some experience who
would like to improve their understanding of the
program. Please register by calling the Extension
office at 402-624-8030 or 1-800-529-8030 by
Tuesday, February 11th.
Being a new 4-H parent can be intimidating.
Understanding all of the deadlines and details of
the program may be a bit confusing. And what are
all of these events and what do we do at them?
Get your answers to these and many more
questions by attending the “NEW” Parent 101
class. This class will walk you step-by-step through
the entire 4-H year. We will talk about the
“required” parts of 4-H as well as the “optional”
events your child can participate in. You will have
the opportunity to ask questions and get the
answers you need to make your child’s 4-H
experience a huge success.
Scholarship Opportunities
College Bound Nebraska:
http://collegeboundnebraska.com/
Susan Thompson Buffett Scholarship:
http://buffettscholarships.org/
Melvin W. Jones Scholar Community:
http://learncom.unl.edu/firstyear/jones-scholars
Important Scholarship Deadlines
 January 15—Merit-Based Scholarship
deadline for Nebraska students. Students
must apply and submit all transcripts by this
deadline for consideration.
 January 15—350 word personal statement
deadline for all students. Students must
submit this statement to be considered for
leadership scholarships.
 February 1—Diversity Enhancement
Scholarship deadline. Student must apply
for admission and complete the diversity
scholarship application in MyRed to be
considered.
 May 1—Enrollment deposit deadline. This
will reserve students’ spots in the incoming
freshman class.
Keep a close eye on the Saunders County 4-H
website as we will continue to post scholarships
that are available to seniors as they become
available to us.
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Just visit: http://saunders.unl.edu/contests
down to Scholarship area and get them written and
turned in.
4-H Kick-Off Night
“Launching a New Year!”
Save the Date for March 23 (6:30 pm).
You deserve a huge “Way to Go!” and we want to
give you the recognition you deserve! Saunders
County 4-H will be hosting a 4-H Kick-Off and
Achievement Event for 4-H members. The Kick-off
event will be loads of fun and laughs as 4-Hers will
also have the opportunity to ask questions. Those
4-H members who come and have already turned
in their 4-H enrollment forms with their enrollment
fee OR those 4-Hers who bring them to the Kick-off
event will receive a special prize. Recognition for
those who are receiving recognition for the 4-H
Portfolio, Activity Scholarships and also those
4-Hers who are receiving the 2014 4-H Council
Scholarships. Plan to join us for a fun evening! We
encourage you to RSVP for this event but all are
welcome! To RSVP call 402-624-8030.
Shooting Sports
BB Gun / Air Riffle Trainings
Trainings will began February 2nd at 6:00 pm
located on the Fairgrounds at the Gayle Hattan
Pavilion. You must attend 3 of the 4 meetings to
be certified to participate in the Saunders County
Fair. To participate in these trainings you must be
turning 9 in 2015 and be a Saunders County 4-H
Member. The training will be every Monday
throughout the month of February all beginning at
6:00pm.
Archery Trainings
The Bullseye Archery club will begin trainings on
Wednesday, December 10 in the Commercial
building on the Saunders County Fairgrounds in
Wahoo. 4-H'ers must be turning 9, in 2015 to
participate in this activity. New members will
begin at 5:30 till 6:30pm and previous club
members will begin at 6:30. Training is required to
be able to participate in the archery contest at the
Saunders County Fair.
If you have already completed a training in past
years as a 4-Her you do not have to retake these
trainings again.
Clover Kids Coloring Contest
Open to all Clover Kids ages 5-7 (as of Jan. 1st,
2015). All forms are due by March 16th,
2015. Please mail or drop off your colored copy to
Nebraska Extension in Saunders County at 1071
County Road G, Ithaca, NE 68033. The winner will
be announced at the 2015 4-H Kick-Off night on
March 23rd.
Purple Ribbon Pals
If you are a teen 14 years of age or older and would
like to get involved in the Purple Ribbon Pals
program in Saunders County please contact Karna.
What is Purple Ribbon Pals? We have a population
of special needs youth who are not able to
participate in the 4-H program as many of you are.
Yet there are endless benefits to learning some of
the life skills that 4-H provides. Purple Ribbon Pals
is an idea brought forward from the 4-H Council to
link current 4-H youth with a special needs student
from your school. This mentor program will ask
you to spend time each month with your mentee
working on 4-H projects together. Special classes
will be set up at the fair for exhibiting these Purple
Ribbon Pals projects where both the mentee and
the mentor will be listed as the exhibitor.
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How will I know what to do? If you are interested
in becoming a Purple Ribbon Pal, you will receive
training on working with your Purple Ribbon Pal
partner. Selected 4-H projects will be used for this
program.
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When does it start? Our goal is to have our
Purple Ribbon Pals identified and trained this fall so
that mentoring can begin during the second
semester of school.
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At this time, we are only seeking those who are
interested in being a part of this program. Once
names have been collected of those interested, an
informational meeting will be scheduled. No
formal commitments are made until following that
informational meeting when an agreement
document will be signed.
4-H members who attend National 4-H
Conference must be age 15-18 as of January
1.
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Two Nebraska 4-H youth are selected to
represent Nebraska at the National 4-H
Conference annually. A 4-H member may
only attend National 4-H Conference one
time. Selection of Nebraska delegates is
based on a cover letter, a 4-H résumé, and
an in-person interview.
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The conference is located at the National
4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
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National 4-H Conference is held annually;
the dates for future conferences are:
o April 11-16, 2015
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Partial conference expenses and
transportation from Lincoln are provided
for two 4-H Conference participants by the
Nebraska 4-H Foundation.
Selected Nebraska delegates for National
4-H Conference are expected to:
o represent state at National 4-H
Conference
o share conference experience with
Extension staff
National 4-H Conference
The National 4-H Conference provides 4-H
youth an opportunity to make decisions
that will shape their future by including
their ideas and recommendations in 4-H
program development. The purpose of
National 4-H Conference is to:
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help selected youths and adults
develop their maximum potential by
providing opportunities to
participate actively in 4-H program
development outside their states
and at national levels.
assist states in the further
development of a system for
involving youth, volunteers and
professional staff in 4-H program
planning in their states.
provide an opportunity for
Conference delegates to update
elected and appointed government
officials, national associations,
donor groups, etc., on current
developments in 4-H national, state,
and local levels.
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If you are interested, please contact Karna at
kdam2@unl.edu or 402-624-8006.
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provide an opportunity for input of
youths, volunteers, and professional
staff into National 4-H Program
Development Committee
deliberations.
provide a system for an exchange of
4-H programming ideas among
states.
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give a brief report to the Nebraska
4-H Foundation Board
participate in the selection of future
delegates
Theresa Wilson Special Photography
Exhibit
Get your cameras ready! The theme for the 2015
Special Photography exhibit is…
“ Through the Looking Glass ”
End of the Year Reporting for 4-H Club
Leaders
We have mailed your end of the year reporting
material.
It is very important that you complete this
information and return it to the Extension Office as
soon as possible.
Remember, for your 4-H club to receive their
charter seal, your club needs to have completed
the following:
-Have at least 5 members from 2 or more families
-Recite the 4-H pledge at meetings
-Have members do a demonstration or speech
-Choose/elect officers
-Give youth leadership roles
-Have 1 club project
-Celebrate member and club achievements
-Meet at least 6 times per year
-Complete one community service project
-Have adult role models
-Have members who participate at county, district,
or state level
Finalizing County Fair
Please make every effort to get your premium
checks from the county fair deposited immediately.
It is always much easier to complete financial
reporting when all of the checks have been
deposited. Your assistance in this is greatly
appreciated.
Congratulations Touhy Livestock Club!
We would like to congratulate the Touhy Livestock
4-H Club on being awarded Nebraska’s Club of the
Month in September. The Touhy Livestock 4-H club
has 36 active members of all ages. They have a
great Clover Kid program that is supervised by
some parents with children that age. The club is
very diverse, with children showing beef, swine,
goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, horses, and most
show items in the static classes. They have
excellent leaders in the Tractor/ATV program which
is always attended. The Touhy Livestock 4-H Club
received a grant from Monsanto, so they used it to
build a concrete pedal tractor track at the Saunders
County Fair. They have had four pedal tractors
donated to it and they try to add to it every year.
They also applied for a tree grant to add shade to
the pedal tractor course. It was accepted and they
now have four trees that are growing nicely along
the track! This summer they also set up a food
stand at Val Days in Valparaiso, Nebraska and
raised almost $2,000 for the club. Some of this
money goes to giving each of their seniors a $200
scholarship for college. This club shows a hard
work ethic among the adults and members! The
Nebraska 4-H Foundation and Nebraska 4-H
Ambassadors are proud to call the Touhy Livestock
4-H Club, Club of the Month for September 2014.
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2015 District 4-H Horse Dates & Sites
June 10th – Bridgeport
June 11th – Valentine
June 15th – McCook
June 16th – Ord
June 17th – Wayne
June 18th – Seward
Reminder all entries are due to the Nebraska
Extension in Saunders County no later than May
4th, 2015. All Level testing’s are required to
participation in the 2015 District 4-H Horse Shows.
Showmanship, Halter, All Cattle Classes, Hunter
Hack, Dressage, Advanced Hunter Under Saddle,
Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Pleasure and
Horsemanship, Trail, 2 year old and 3 year old
Western Pleasure, and Working Ranch are all
included.
Reminder: 2015 Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Show
in July 13 – 16, 2015
Celebrate Nebraska 4-H Month
Celebrate Nebraska 4-H Month at Raising Nebraska
All 4-H members, families, leaders and volunteers
are invited to celebrate Nebraska 4-H Month by
enjoying an Open House on Saturday, February 7,
2015 from 10 am to 4 pm at Raising Nebraska,
located in the Nebraska Building on the Nebraska
State Fairgrounds in Grand Island. Feel free to
come and go as you please while you enjoy a full
day of activities focused on the many opportunities
and projects available through Nebraska 4-H.
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