January 2018

“Making the Best Better”

Volume 5, Issue 1

Dawes County 4-H

Copyright ® 2016

PAGE 1

Pick Your Project

Enrollment Time

PAGE 2

Service Learning

4-H New Sponsor

PAGE 3

Opportunities to Share

Volunteers Needed

PAGE 4

Market Beef Weigh In

YQCA Training

Breeding Ewe Scholarship

PAGE 5

4-H Happenings

PAGE 6

4-H Happenings Cont.

Adult Education—Extension

Page 7

4-H Executive Council Meeting

PAGE 8

4-H Executive Council Cont.

New Year—New Beginnings

Page 9

Calendar of 4-H Events

Clubs & Leaders

Table of Contents:

Pick Your Project 2018 is HERE

All across Nebraska 4-H youth are beginning to select their 4-H projects for 2018! Let the

Nebraska 4-H Pick Your Project help connect you with projects that fit your interests

and skill levels!

The interactive, web-based Nebraska 4-H Pick Your Project is found online at

http://4hcurriculum.unl.edu. Using the Pick Your Project, youth, volunteers, and parents

will be able to search for projects by keywords, curriculum areas, knowledge levels, and

geographic level.

As an added feature, the web-based Pick Your Project contains the same project codes

that are shown in the 4HOnline Enrollment system, making it easier to match the excit-

ing 4-H projects you are learning about in the Pick Your Project with the projects you are

enrolling in through 4HOnline.

Explore over 150 Nebraska 4-H projects through the Nebraska 4-H Pick Your Project and

find the 4-H projects that will help you grow throughout 2018!

Enrollment Time

ENROLLMENT: It is time to get re-enrolled for 4-H! Just go to 4HOnline, log in, and hit

"Re-Enroll." All you will need to do is verify your information, put digital signatures on the

"Additional Information" page, check your project selection, and SUBMIT! Easy as that.

Your application will remain "Pending" until the office receives your $3

enrollment fee (Clover Kids are still free!). The fee is used to purchase insurance

to cover members at any 4-H related activity.

Volunteers (4-H Council Members, Club and Project Leaders, Fair Superintendents, and

individuals working directly with youth in workshops/clinics) also need to re-enroll. This

year is the Panhandle's turn in the Volunteer Screening Rotation which happens every 4

years. It is a requirement that all Nebraska 4-H volunteers must complete the Youth

Protection 4-H Volunteer Screening Form before working with youth. Please be sure the

screening form you are completing has a barcode at the top and bottom of the page. Please

download and print the original document. Do not make copies. The barcode needs to stay

clear so it can be scanned at DHHS. The form will need signed by a Notary OR Dawes

County Extension Staff who can verify your identity. GET THIS DONE SOON AS

THERE IS TALK THAT THIS PROCESS WILL SOON CARRY A FEE!

Check out our 4-H website for information on enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling

in the program. If you need help or want to use a computer, just stop by the office!

4-H Name and Emblem

The NIFA webpage and all of the resources

related to 4-H name and emblem have been

updated. Please refer to this resource before

using the 4-H name or emblem in print.

Service Learning

Dawes County 4-H Families were busy in December performing some wonderful Service Learning Projects. The ones we

heard about were:

Ponderosa Pals 4-H Club made lap blankets for the residents of Crest View Care Center during their December club

meeting.

The Bordeaux Trappers 4-H Club earned 2nd place honors in the Parade of Lights held in Chadron. Members

Samantha and Ethan Johns had an idea to knit or crochet hats and scarves as presents for the children who attended

this festive event. In preparation for the parade, the club members and parents wrapped over 270 presents filled with

hats, scarves, gloves, and stuffed animals. Working together, they brought joy to the hearts of children and spread

great happiness. The Bordeaux Trappers 4-H Club wishes to thank those who helped make this act of kindness

possible through donations of toys, candy, gloves, supplies or making items: RSVP of Chadron and Crawford,

Catherine Galey, Western Community Health Resources, Melody Carnahan, Deb Kuskie, Lara Madison, Chadron

State College Print Shop, Wahlstrom Ford, Eagle Chevrolet, Catholic Ladies Rummage Room, Becky Bolze, Erica

Fisher, Chadd Arner, Nancy Fisher, and the Dawes County 4-H Council. Bordeaux Trapper families donated supplies,

made items, and spent time ensuring the success of this worthwhile activity. Special thanks to Jeff, Shellie, Samantha,

and Ethan Johns for organizing this project. Other club members/parents who participated included: Brant, Lyndsey,

Jada, Jorja, and Treyvan Pieper; Matt, Jessica, Alex, and Kadence Fisher; Terry, Lisa and Katelyn Briggs; Gregg, Jen-

nifer, Caden, and Kayley Galbraith; Tom, Erica, John, Kyanna, and Pam Fisher; Tim, Jenifer, William, Gabriel,

Jadyn, and Teagan Tidyman; Tuffy and Chance Snook. The club’s organizational leader is Roger Eaton.

The Corn Valley 4-H Club shared time with the residents of Ponderosa Villa in Crawford, caroling after their

December 4-H meeting

Ponderosa Pals

Front: Trinity and

Harper Boeselager

Back: Kenli Boeselager,

Jacey Garett, Haylee

Wild, Madison Cogdill,

Cooper Wild, Emma

Cogdill Jordan, Kobe,

and Derek Bissonette.

Bordeaux Trappers

Congratulations for

participating in the

Parade of Lights

spreading peace and

joy in the community.

Corn Valley

Caroling at Ponderosa Villa in Crawford were

Jessica and Tripton Stec; Joella and Emma

Norman; Megan Wendland; Tonya, Treye, and

Carson Gibbons; Marisa, Amelia, and Miranda

Betson; Jake, Tami, Alexa, and Garett Tollman.

4-H Has New Sponsor - JOANN

4-H has a new corporate sponsor - JOANN. Current & lifetime

members, parents of members, volunteers and 4-H staff can save 15%

off total in-store and online purchases every day with 4-H Rewards.

JOANN will give a minimum of 2.5% of every eligible transaction to

support 4-H programming. http://www.joann.com/4-h-form/

MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE

Visit Crest View Care Center January 2

How about taking your pet to Crest View Care Center

on Tuesday, January 2, 3 pm and spreading some joy

for the New Year! Contact Terri Lemmon at 430-5499

if you are interested in joining her and Merry.

Help Needed for Ag. Banquet January 20

The Chadron Chamber of Commerce Ag. Banquet is set for

Saturday, January 20, at the Assumption Arena in Chadron.

4-H youth are encouraged to help with cleanup and handing

out door prizes. Please contact the office if you are willing to

Ag. Banquet Cover Photo by Mahayla Allred

First Baby of February

The Dawes County Jr. Leaders are again sponsoring a basket of

goodies for the First Baby of February born at Chadron Community

Hospital. Everyone is invited to contribute to this activity. Be creative

and use your skills learned in 4-H to sew a blanket or knit some

booties! The Jr. Leaders appreciate your support as they welcome a

new bundle of joy to our community.

Ag Pen Pal Program

The Ag Pen Pal Program educates students about where their food,

fiber and fuel comes from by creating a personal connection between a

farmer and/or rancher. This is done by linking classrooms with farm

and ranch families.

Farm and ranch pen pals are encouraged to write letters and emails

as well as visiting with students either in person in their classroom or

via Skype technology. Farmers/ranchers explain how food moves from

the farm or ranch to the consumer and the importance of the interde-

pendence between rural and urban communities.

Families come from across Nebraska and maintain a connection with

their assigned classroom throughout the school year. Classroom par-

ticipants come from across the state as well and are connected with

others across Nebraska. While it may be too late for this year, you can

get signed up for next school year. Find out more at:

https://nefbfoundation.org/about-nebraska-farm-bureau-

foundation/programs/ag-pen-pal-program

Make it a New Year's Goal to help promote agriculture to our future

leaders!

Project Related Notes

4-H Market Beef Weigh In - February 3

YQCA Requirement - Get Started Now

Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete the annual quality assurance

training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). YQCA is a national multi-species quality

assurance program focused on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development.

YQCA training is completed online through self-directed courses.

Visit the YQCA login page

(https://yqca.learngrow.io/Account/Login) to begin.

Select "Sign in with 4HOnline" and select "Nebraska 4-H

Youth Development" from the drop-down. Use your family

4HOnline login and password information to access the

courses for the active 4-H members in your family. Only

active members will show in the drop down menu for access

to the course. All 4-H members will need to use the 4-H tab

and not the FFA tab even if they are members of both

organizations. All registration questions with YQCA should

be directed to help@yqca.org.

Nebraska 4-H youth ages 8-18, who are enrolled in any of

the livestock projects listed below are required to complete

the YQCA online course annually. There are "test-out"

exams for Intermediate and Senior age members. Once a

Senior member successfully passes the "test-out" exam, they

will no longer need to complete the YQCA.

Deadline to complete your annual YQCA training is JUNE

1. 4-H members who exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair or

AKSARBEN will need to have their YQCA training

requirements met by the date of entry for those respective

shows. Please bring/send a copy of your module

completion certificate to the Extension Office as

proof of fulfilling this requirement!

Youth enrolled in any of following projects or project areas

will need to complete YQCA training.

Beef (bucket calf, feeder calf, breeding beef, market

beef)

Dairy Cattle

Goat (breeding meat goat, dairy goat, meat goat)

Poultry

Rabbit

Sheep (breeding sheep, market sheep)

Swine (breeding swine, market swine)

Resource: https://4h.unl.edu/yqca

Dawes County 4-H will hold their Market Beef Weigh-In on Saturday,

February 3, 9 am to noon, Crawford Livestock Market. All youth planning to

exhibit a market beef animal at the Dawes County Fair must bring it to the

weigh in to be tagged and identified. Youth planning to show at the Nebraska

State Fair should let the Beef Superintendents know as there are other

requirements for showing (EID tag and DNA).

The Dawes County 4-H Council will make a final decision on allowing members

to weigh animals in at alternative locations at their January 8 meeting. Please

watch our Facebook page and website for updates.

4-H Breeding Ewe Scholarship

It is time again to apply for the 3nd annual, Dawes County

Breeding Ewe Scholarship! Deadline is March 30, 2018.

Application forms are available on our 4-H website under

"County/State Fair Resources" or in the office. We can also

email one to you!

Looking Ahead to the NEW YEAR!

Shooting Sports: Panhandle Best Meets starting SOON!

Archery - every Thursday evening 6-7 pm (beginners) and 7-9 pm (advanced).

Shooting - every Saturday morning with doors open at 9 am. Youth may come anytime between 9 am and noon, but

should allow at least an hour to complete their target practice.

Youth interested in Shooting Sports must be actively enrolled in 4-H.

4-H Special Edition stories and photos will be due January 5, 2018. We just need a brief paragraph about your 4-H

experiences and email your story and photo to Ali at abriggs4@unl.edu. The Special Edition is published the first week

in February for Nebraska 4-H Month! TIP: Use your story written for the Career Portfolio!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: January 2 - Crest View Care Center, 3 pm, and January 20 - Ag. Banquet, Assumption

Arena. Call the office to share in the fun!

Leather Crafting: Only two spots left for Leather Crafting with Bill Riggs. Classes held every Saturday afternoon in

February from 1 - 4 pm. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about stamping, carving, and stitching. Limited

to 12 participants, $20 fee which includes all supplies and expert training. Please pre-register by January 16!

February is Nebraska 4-H Month so how are you going to celebrate? There is a flyer on our website you may use for

promotional purposes. Don't forget about the First Baby of February!

4-H Public Speaking Contest: Start preparing for the

2018 4-H Public Speaking Contest!

See flyer for more information.

Career Portfolio UPDATE

The Dawes County 4-H Council voted to eliminate the re-

quirement for members to include "project records" along

with their 4-H Career Portfolio for year end award applica-

tions. As learning fiscal responsibility and good record keep-

ing is an important part of your 4-H experiences, the

Council will require members to add a statement for

each project in Section 1 outlining their

income/expense for that project.

Youth Day at Black Hills Stock Show - January 27

Black Hills Stock Show Youth Day, January 27, 2018

Registration Deadline - January 12, 2018

Contestant Packet

Eligibility: All Youth (non 4-H and 4-H) are invited to enter Youth Day activities. Age requirements for the Beef

Cook-Off, Livestock Judging, Livestockology, Horse Quiz Bowl, Hippology and Dog Show must be at least 8 years of age

by January 1, 2018 and must not have turned 19 by January 1, 2018.

Dress code: All Youth in Action events are as follows: button up shirt, polo or team shirt, can be short or long sleeved,

boots (livestock judging & livestockology) or closed toed shoes, and denim/dress pants. Please dress for weather if events

are outside.

Awards will be presented at the conclusion of each individual event in the area the event was held. Judging awards will

be available at the Stock Show Office at the Civic Center late Saturday afternoon.

ENTRY BLANKS MUST BE RECEIVED OR POSTMARKED ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2018.

ABSOLUTELY NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED!!!!

Listen LIVE to Community Focus

Did you know that every Monday afternoon, around 4:40-4:50

pm, Nebraska Extension is featured on KCSR Community

Focus? Dawes County 4-H will be highlighted on January 8

and February 12 - thank you Clint Phillips and Jodi Sellman

for taking the lead on this.

January 2018

1/1 - New Year’s Day - no show

1/8 - Clint Phillips 4-H Livestock Evaluation

1/15 - Jamie Goffena Diabetes

Prevention program

1/22 - Leah Gremm Youth

1/29 - Jack Arterburn Beef

February 2018

2/5 - Melissa Mracek 4-H

2/12 - Jr. Leaders 4-H Month

2/19 - Jenny Nixon Community Vitality

2/26 - Jeanna Boland 4-H

4-H Handbook has been UPDATED!

The Dawes County 4-H Member & Family

Handbook has been updated for 2017-2018

helping everyone remember deadlines,

review requirements, and find resources.

It is available in the office or for download

on the Dawes County 4-H Website under

"Resources."

Ranching for Profitability by Jack Arterburn

What are pillars to beef productivity? Grazing, reproduction, and

cattle health are key to beef profitability and will be covered in half-

day workshops across Nebraska by beef specialists and educators.

“Ranching for Profitability” meeting will be held from 10 am to 2 pm

at the Gordon City Building in Gordon on January 11. Contact

the Sheridan County Extension Office at 308-327-2312 one week

prior for a meal count. Cost is $15/person

Head of the Animal Science Department, Clint Krehbiel, will discuss

“Nutrition and Management Practices for Weaned Calves for

Improved Health and Well-Being”. Krehbiel will also give an update

on the UNL Animal Science program. Nebraska Extension beef

nutrition specialist, Travis Mulliniks, will cover managing cows’

diets before and after calving to prepare them for the breeding

season. The challenge continues as land managers battle newly

introduced and established problem weeds. Mitch Stephenson,

Nebraska Extension range and forage specialist, Mitch Stephenson,

will discuss control methods for pasture weeds. Daren Redfearn is an

expert in the field of irrigated forages and will share his insight in

growing forage crops.

Adult Education Through Extension

4-H Executive Council Meeting - January 8 - Rule Changes

The Dawes County 4-H Executive Council will meet Monday, January 8, 6 pm, at the Extension Office. One of the main

topics for conversation will be rule changes brought forth at the 2017 Post Fair Positive Improvement Meeting. You are

encouraged to attend this meeting if you would like to share constructive suggestions for improvement!

Please Note: A survey was developed in September, asking for input on these topics. Due to the low response, the Executive

Council tabled making a decision until more input was gathered. The Dawes County Fair Livestock Superintendents have

been asked to assist the Council by visiting with youth and adults involved in the project areas that are affected. Please

contact your superintendents and share your opinion.

Decisions to be made:

HORSE: It was suggested that the Ranch Horse Show be moved to Monday during Static Exhibit Check-In to help cut

down on the length of the fair. After discussing this option with the Dawes County Ag. Society, the consensus was this

would not work due to preparation for the youth rodeo events. The majority of horse show exhibitors do not want to go back

to a one day show feeling it is too long of a day for exhibitors and horses.

LIVESTOCK: Proposed rule changes revolved around making adjustments to Average Daily Gain requirements, Rate of

Gain Contest, and Weigh-In procedures. Below are the questions asked in the survey with the responses tallied. These

items are still up for discussion.

Q1: There is inconsistency and challenges in the current practices for Rate of Gain and Average Daily Gain at the Dawes

County Fair. CURRENT PRACTICES: Animal Science General Rules state, "Market Animals not meeting rate of gain

requirements are not eligible for Champion or Reserve Champion." All other species indicate that market animals must

meet or exceed the weight gain requirements to be eligible to stand first or second in a class. Please choose an option you

feel would best serve the educational needs of the 4-H members to address inconsistencies or to improve on current

practices. (Keep in mind Dawes County will continue with Minimum and Maximum Weight Requirements for all Market

Animals).

Answer Choices & Responses

Continue to offer Rate of Gain as a "contest," but discontinue Average Daily Gain requirements. This would eliminate the

current practice of animals needing to reach the ADG requirements to stand first or second in a class and thereby earning

the right to be considered for Champion or Reserve Champion.

36.36% (4 responses)

Continue with current practices, making rule consistent between Animal Science General Rules and specific livestock rules.

Put all market animals not meeting the Average Daily Gain into a separate class making it easier for the judge to evaluate.

63.64% (7 responses)

Q2: Currently, market animals are not required to all weigh in on specific county identified dates. Members may choose to

go to another county to weigh in their market animal if they have a conflict with their own county scheduled weigh-ins.

This has caused concern making calculating ROG more difficult as well as understanding that all scales do not weigh the

same thereby affecting the ROG Contest. Options to address this were presented. Please choose the option you feel would

best meet the needs of our youth.

Answer Choices & Responses

Members should only be allowed to weigh their animals in the county in which they plan to exhibit and sell.

54.55% (6 responses)

Members may weigh their animals in another county, providing they meet the deadlines put forth by the county they plan

to exhibit and sell in, however, the animals will not be eligible for the Rate of Gain Contest.

18.18% (2 responses)

Continue with current practices, allowing members to weigh their animals in another county as long as they meet the

deadlines of the county they plan to exhibit and sell in.

27.27% (3 responses)

More 4-H Executive Council Notes Continued on Next Page...

4-H Executive Council Meeting - January 8 - Rule Changes

Continued

Decisions that were made by the Executive Council:

Static Exhibit Check-In procedures will be changed to control traffic in the judging area and help reduce noise and

distractions.

Static exhibits will be released on Saturday, 8:00 am – 11:00 am.

The livestock sale on Friday and checkout on Saturday morning will remain the same as in 2017.

Add information in “General Rules” concerning the checkout of exhibits, both static and livestock. Add information

under “General Animal Science Rules” concerning the checkout of livestock.

All livestock will be released on Saturday, 7:00 am, with the exception of:

1. Stocker Feeders and Cow/Calf Pairs may come in the day of the show and leave the same day.

2. Bottle Lambs need to be in place for interview judging and stay through awards. After receiving their ribbon placing,

they are released. Bottle Lambs meeting livestock sale requirements will be allowed to sell and should follow checkout

procedure of other market animals.

3. Bucket Calves need to be in place for interview judging and stay through awards. After receiving their ribbon placing,

they are released.

Our Leadership

4-H Executive Council: President - Clint Phillips

Vice President - Karen Lewin

Treasurer - Jera Boeselager

Secretary - Suzanne Davidson

Members at large: Adult - Marisa Betson,

Jodi Sellman, and Crystal Vander May;

Youth - Madison Cogdill and Katie Lewin.

4-H Foundation:

President - Ryan Sellman

Vice President - Chris Garrett

Treasurer - Jan Soester

Secretary - Bill Cogdill

Members at large: Jeff Lien and Kris Vahrenkamp

These people are YOUR voice! Please

contact any of them if you have an idea

for a new or existing event or activity,

have concerns with the program, or just

want to have input in the decision

making process.

The 4-H Foundation monetarily sup-

ports Dawes County 4-H youth and

adult volunteers as they travel outside

our county borders to attend educational

activities.

ADDITION from December 4-H Newsletter:

Nebraska 4-H has a new identification requirement for all sheep and goats requiring a scrapie tag. In the past, market

sheep and goats exhibited at the state fair used a 982 EID tag. Market sheep and goats at the county level only required

a county tag. Dawes County Goat and Sheep Superintendents would like to follow Nebraska 4-H in requiring all sheep

and goats to be identified with a scrapie tag only. The only exception would be Dairy Goats who could have a tattoo of the

Scrapie Tag. This suggestion will be sent to the Executive Council for a final ruling.

New Year - New Beginnings

Wishing the Dawes County 4-H Family great success as you continue

to learn, grow, and succeed reaching your true potential. May you all

have a wonderful 2018. Thank you for your shared friendship,

laughter, and support.

Terri

BE SURE TO CHECK OUR 4-H WEBSITE FOR A CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND

FLYERS FOR ALL ACTIVITIES. Items are continually being added!

Copyright © 2016

Dawes County Clubs & Leaders A current list of club leaders is shown below. We are always in

need of leaders for special interest clubs (SPIN) - sewing, clothing,

robotics, woodworking, welding, etc. Please contact the office if

you are interested.

ACTIVE 4-H CLUBS IN CHADRON/CRAWFORD

Bordeaux Trappers - Roger Eaton, Leader (Chadron)

Corn Valley - Jake & Tami Tollman, Leaders (Crawford)

Dawes County Jr. Leaders - Jodi Sellman & Robert Vahrenkamp,

Advisors

Happy Hustlers - Suzanne Davidson, Leader (Chadron)

Highland Huddlers - Jodi Sellman, Leader (south of Chadron)

Ponderosa Pals - Bill Cogdill, Leader (Chadron)

SPECIAL INTEREST CLUBS - All in Chadron

Livestock Judging - check out their Facebook Page for meeting

times/dates. Clint Phillips and Roy Lambert, Advisors

Small Engines - meets all year on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. Roger Eaton, Instructor

Hound Dog U - meets Tuesday evenings from October to November. Professor Roger Eaton, Instructor

Shooting Sports - meets Saturday (guns) or Thursday (archery) evenings from November to March. Roger Eaton,

Instructor

North Panhandle Extension

Dawes County – Jamie, Leah or Ali (308) 432-3373

Sioux County - Jenny Nixon or Jeanna Boland (308) 668-2428

Sheridan County – Jack Arterburn, Melissa Mracek, or Leala Jimerson (308) 327-2312

Listen LIVE to Community Focus on KCSR every Monday, 4:30 - 5:30 pm, for Extension related topics!

January 2: Petting Zoo at Crest View Care Center, 3 pm, COME SHARE IN THE FUN!

January 5: Special Edition Photos & Stories Due to the Office!

January 8: 4-H Executive Council Meeting, 6 pm, Extension Office

January 8: Career Portfolios Due for State Selection

January 11: Ranching for Profitability, 10 am - 2 pm, Gordon

January 17: Horse Camp Committee Meeting, 6 pm, Conference Room. New Members Welcome!

January 20: Chadron Chamber of Commerce Ag. Appreciation Banquet - We will need 4-H youth volunteers to help

with this activity! Call the office to get your name on the list of helpers.

January 22-28: National Drug Facts Awareness Week

January 27: Black Hills Stock Show Youth Day, REGISTRATIONS DUE JANUARY 12!

FEBRUARY IS NEBRASKA 4-H MONTH!

February 3: Market Beef Weigh In, 9 am - Noon,

Crawford Livestock Market

February 3, 10, 17, 24: Leather Crafting with Bill, 1 - 4 pm,

4-H Building

March 30: Breeding Ewe Scholarship applications due

April 2: 4-H Public Speaking Contest, 6 pm,

Chadron High School Auditorium

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