JANUARY 2024 4-H Newsletter

January 31 - Deadline to reserve Lottery Pigs

February 1 - Reserve your Special Garden Project Seed Packet

February 19 - Holiday Office Closed

March 1 - Camp Scholarship Applications Due

March 10 - 2023 4-H Recognition Program

March 15 - Saline County 4-H Scholarship Application Due

June 15 - 4-H Enrollment Deadline; YQCA Completion Deadline

July 16-21 - Saline County Fair

Starting in the 2023-2024 program year, project selection is now optional. Project selection is encouraged if families would like to receive additional information regarding projects.

By completing the 4-H member enrollment by the June 15th deadline, youth will be eligible to participate and exhibit in any project area, contest, county fair, and state fair.

While project selection is optional, it is encouraged for youth to select projects they are interested in exploring. Youth will now be enrolling in condensed project areas. Enrolling in Beef will now encompass all Beef projects (market, breeding, feeder calves, bucket calves, etc.) There are still additional requirements to be met with animal projects for county/state fair participation such as YQCA training, identification forms, EID tags, and tattoos. DNA, online nominations, and YQCA training are also required for state fair participation.

Please note:

· Youth are only eligible to exhibit in a 4-H project area or contest in a single county.

· Horse and shooting sports projects will continue to require project enrollment due to the parental

consent required to participate in these projects.

Enrollment deadline is June 15, 2024. Early enrollment is encouraged.

Enrollment information: https://go.unl.edu/salinecounty4henrollment

NEW in 2024 - The enrollment fee is $8 per member with no family discount and payment will be made online at the time of enrollment. Cash or checks will not be accepted in the office.

Plans are underway for the Lottery Swine project for 2024. We have secured pigs at $200 each. These are competitive, show quality pigs at a reasonable price. Lottery Pigs will be supplied by Baade Genetics of Plymouth, NE.

Cash prizes will be again be offered as a pay back incentive for rate of gain, Champion and Reserve, along with division winners. Please begin considering your interest for this project.

Reserve your pigs at: https://go.unl.edu/24lotterypigsignup

At this time, we cannot guarantee a buyer for fair pigs, so you may consider contacting the locker of your choice to get on their schedule. Most members have family or friends that will gladly buy a whole or part of a hog for the freezer. Get the appointment then contact your family and friends to buy your pigs.

Watch the newsletter for more information on spring YQCA training.

4-H members ages 8-18 as of Jan. 1, 2024 and FFA exhibitors who exhibit beef, goats, sheep, swine, rabbits, and poultry MUST complete YQCA training each year to exhibit at the county fair and state fair. FFA members ages 19-21 can only complete YQCA certification using the web-based training and cannot become certified at an instructor-led training.

Steps to complete your instructor-led training registration:

4-H members need to be enrolled in 4-H for 2024 before your can register for YQCA: https://v2.4honline.com/
Register AND pay online at:https://yqcaprogram.org
Registration instructions are found at: https://go.unl.edu/yqcainstructorledinstructions
New 4-H & FFA members will need to create an account with username/email and password. Users who have an account will login with your credentials. We do not have access to your username or passwords.
You will first choose your age group (your age as of Jan, 1, 2024) and the instructor led training you plan to attend. You will find a list once inside the registration site.
Cost is $3 - paid online.
Steps to complete your web-based training registration:

Register AND pa online at: https://yqcaprogram.org
Registration instructions are found at: https://go.unl.edu/yqcawebbasedinstructions
New 4-H and FFA members will need to create an account with username/email and password. Users who have an account will just login with your credentials. We do not have access to your username or password.
You will first choose your age group (your age as of Jan, 1, 2024) for a web-based training, pay, and complete the course online.

YQCA COMPLETIOND DEADLINE IS JUNE 15; HOWEVER, EARLIER COMPLETIONS IS RECOMMENDED.

Completion certificates must be printed and brought, mailed or emailed to the Extension Office. No phone screenshots please.

For the past several years, the Nebraska State Fair has not set a minimum rate of gain for market beef to be eligible for a purple ribbon or inclusion in the final drive. Similarly, many neighboring counties have ceased holding official market beef weigh days, with Saline County following suit this year. We will be re-evaluating this decision for the year 2025.

As you know, in 2023, Nebraska 4-H lowered the age limit for participation in the Nebraska State Fair for all in-person events to 9 years of age. That change increased our participation and provided more youth the opportunity to have an engaging learning experience.

This fall, we have had follow-up conversations with many of you as well as the show superintendents and various teams that run these events during State Fair and throughout the year. Based on that feedback and our goal of increasing access, the decision has been made to change the age of eligibility in 2024 to be 8 years of age before January 1 (of the current year) for all in-person State Fair events (livestock, contests, fashion shows, contests) and other state competitions (Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Expo, PASE, communications contest).

Note: there will be some events that will maintain their ages due to specific program rules (shooting sports, FIRST LEGO League Challenge robotics). Please check information on each specific event as it becomes available.

The program consists of three levels that require 4-H members to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate and project-related accomplishments. For each level, the Livestock Achievement Program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4-H members choose their goals.

Juniors, ages 8-9, must submit pictures, posters, presentations, and other learning activities to receive the distinction of Junior Member of Excellence.
Intermediates, ages 10-13, must complete 100 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Intermediate Member of Excellence.
Seniors, ages 14-18, must complete 150 points worth of activities to receive the distinction of Senior Member of Excellence.

At the beginning of the 4-H year, youth must apply to participate in the program. Upon acceptance into the program, participants plan what to accomplish. At the end of the 4-H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Additionally, participants must complete their annual 4-H Online enrollment process, YQCA requirements, and project record books in order to receive a Member of Excellence distinction.

More information at: https://4h.unl.edu/livestock-achievement

The Special Garden Project is open to all 4-H age youth and will give them the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting this unique flower.

The 2024 project is the Princess of India Nasturtium. This Victorian-era heirloom flower can be grown in a variety of ways including in containers. It provides a splash of color from its scarlet flowers and much of the plant can be eaten.

Those that request Special Garden seeds will get a packet of seeds (one per youth) in March/April, a newsletter, and be able to exhibit this project at both county and state fair. You can find more information at: https://4h.unl.edu/special-garden-project

Cost is $1.00 per packet.

How to enroll in the project and reserve your seeds: Enroll in 4honline in the Horticulture project and complete this form by Feb.1: https://go.unl.edu/24specialgardensaline

Cost for No-Sew Heart Pillow is $10 per pillow.
Checks payable to University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Reserve your project kit at: https://go.unl.edu/februarytakehomeproject

2024 Camp Scholarship Applications are due by March 1, 2024.

NO LATE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED!
Scholarship recipients will be announced at our 2023 4-H Recognition Program on March 10th.

Fill out the 2024 Saline County 4-H Camp Scholarship Application here.

You MUST complete the form at the link above to apply for a scholarship. In the past the 4-H Council awarded smaller scholarship in the Spring.

There will NOT be any additional scholarships awarded later in 2024.

2024 Camp Renegade
Ages 8-12 years as of Jan. 1, 2024
June 11-12, 2024
Fairbury NE
Camp flyer and registration information coming soon!
Counselor Applications Coming Soon!

Only ONE camp in 2024!

2024 Nebraska 4-H Camp

Camp Descriptions

2024 Seniors, please watch your email in the coming week for the Saline County 4-H Council scholarship application. The email will be sent to the email we have on file in your family account in 4honline. Seniors, you MUST be enrolled in 4-H for 2024 to be eligible to submit a Senior scholarship application. The application will be due by March 15 and your 4-H Achievement & Activity Recordbook MUST accompany your application. If you turned in the 4-H Achievement & Activity Recordbook in 2023, we still have it in our office.

NO OLD 4-H CAREER PORTFOLIO FORMATS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Click the icon below to find out more information on Facebook or the Saline County Extension website. You can also email the Saline County general email or one of the 4-H office staff below.

Maddie Werner, 4-H Assistant
mwerner13@unl.edu

Becky Vales, 4-H Administrative Specialist
becky.vales@unl.edu

Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with Counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Extension education programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.