JANUARY 2008
4-H CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
January 7 -- 4-H Council Meeting
January 14 -- Junior Leaders
FEBRUARY -- NEBRASKA 4-H MONTH
February 2 -- Beef Weigh Day, 9-noon
February 4 -- 4-H Council Meeting
February 11 -- Junior Leaders
February 24 -- 4-H Annual Swim Party, 3-5 pm
March 8 -- 4-H Speech Workshop (note date change)
July 24-27, 2008 -- Hamilton County Fair
“If you do not think about your future, you cannot have one - so dream . . . plan . . . and think!! - Unknown
“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” - Confusius
The Extension Office Staff would like to wish you all a “Happy New Year”!!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
* 4-H Council Meeting
* Junior Leader Meeting
* Leader Reminder
* Community Service Opportunities
* Action Corner
* Thank You
* Pick-A-Project
* 4-H Training Well Attended
* Wanted: Blue Bunny
* Hamilton County Award Winner!
* Lambing & Kidding School Basics
* Beef Weigh Day
* Pick-A-Project
* Annual 4-H Swim Party
* Leader Kits Available
* Visiting Nebraska
* Statewide Leadership Opportunities
* Speech Season Approaches!!
* “Nebraska 4-H Month” Is Coming
* Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Awards
* Quiz Time!
4-H COUNCIL
Next meeting:
Monday, January 7th, 5:30 pm.
Extension Office
NEXT JUNIOR LEADER MEETING
Monday, January 14th, at 7 pm.
Extension Office
LEADER REMINDER:
The Spotlight Newsletter is available to you at http://polk.unl.edu/. If you would like a hard copy mailed to you, please call Kae at 694-6174.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES -
12th Street Cinema
The local movie theater is needing help at the concession stand. Please call Trace Boley at 694-4000 if you are able to pitch in and help with this community service opportunity. Thank you.
ACTION CORNER -
New Neighbor Packets
Nine 4-H Community Service “elves”, five parents and a guest joined AACD member, Renee Arnold, to assemble New Neighbor packets at the Bremer Center on Monday, December 3rd. There was a lot of smiling and good natured teasing and even camera flashes as the News Register stopped by to see what was happening. This team stuffed all the packets available in about an hour with approximately 70 items going into each packet. Many hands make light work and many 4-Hers make that work lots of fun!!
A big Christmas pat on the back goes to Independent Members - Adam Hahn, Taylor Brandl, Delora Hahn and Cami Huebert - 2008 4-H Queen; Marquette Marketeer Members - Jasmine Russell, Kae Russell, Jean Blase and Aaron Blase - 4-H King; Blue Ribbon Livestock Members - Ashley Roehrs, Cami Roehrs and Mary Roehrs; 4 Star Hamilton Heroes Members - Cody Collins, Trey Cox, Barb Cox and German guest, Carina Seum. Thanks Carina!!
Thank you to all who helped with this Community Service project. Renee said she will definitely be calling us again!! Great job!!!
Junior Leaders Go Caroling
The Junior Leader 4-H Club held their Christmas party Friday, December 14th!! They started their evening by caroling at the Hamilton Manor, Memorial Community Care and East Park Villa led by 4-H Queen, Cami Huebert. The snow sent them home a little early but not before they made some headway on chili soup and card games!!
Winter Wonderland of Trees
Thank you to the two 4-H Clubs who each decorated a tree at the Plainsman Museum’s Winter Wonderland of Trees!! The 4 Star Hamilton Heroes used green and white lights and a woolly sheep theme, and the Clever Clovers tree was full of cheerful snowman faces with colorful stocking caps!! A big “Thank you” to both clubs for keeping 4-H visible in our community and for participating in this annual event!!
THANK YOU
Thank you to the wonderful 4-H volunteers who put on their winter gear to hand out bells to the public during the AACD event “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Friday evening, November 23rd. A big pat on the back for these early Christmas elves!!
Go Big Red Members - William Obermier, Grace McDonald, Alice McDonald, David McDonald, James McDonald, Shawn McDonald and guest, Derek Ohlin; 4 Star Hamilton Heroes Members - Camden Collins and Cody Collins. The bells rang, the lights came on, and it made for a wonderful Christmas atmosphere on a chilly evening!! Thank you!!
PICK - A - PROJECT
4-H PICK-A-PROJECT guides will be available by mid-January at the Extension Office. Stop by and pick one up or visit http://4h.unl.edu/programs/curriculum/pickaproject.
4-H TRAINING WELL ATTENDED
Hamilton County was well represented at the 2007 4-H Orientation Road Show held on December 4th in Grand Island. Thank you to the leaders, volunteers and staff who took the time to attend training so close to home.
UNL Extension Youth Development Educator, Doug Swanson, shared a Powerpoint presentation to define the mission and vision of 4-H. Historical events related to 4-H were presented and Doug explained the structure of the 4-H program on a national, state and local level. He also talked about the uniqueness of the 4-H program, about Nebraska 4-H today and
4-H priorities in Nebraska. Doug explained volunteer roles, how to get started, what’s in it for you, successful club planning and how 4-H is a family affair!!
A light supper was served, livestock kits available for check-out were on display, hand-outs for meeting ideas were available and ice breaker games were played to show how to get interaction started with youth and adults. Doug tossed out prizes to those who noticed key words and phrases in his presentation so we had to keep our eyes as well as our ears open and hands ready to catch a prize!!
How many adults can stand on a paper sack?? You’ll have to ask someone who knows!! Thanks again to those who took the time to attend. You are appreciated. Bethany Honken, Julie Prettyman, Merna Yoder, Patty Arnold, Gerri Collins, Frank Collins, Casey Schaffert, Peggy Crosser and Kae Russell.
WANTED: BLUE BUNNY
25 Blue Bunny Ice Cream buckets are needed for a summer camp craft project!! We are asking for Blue Bunny so that all the patterns can be cut ahead of time for buckets that are the same size. Please save them and drop them off at the Extension Office between now and May 15th. Thank you!!
HAMILTON COUNTY AWARD WINNER!!
“SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARD”
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation chose Hamilton County 4-H Leader and Volunteer, Catherine Rahrs, to receive the Nebraska Farm Bureau’s 2007 4-H Lifetime Volunteer of the Year award!! The award was formally presented at a luncheon on December 4th at the Nebraska Farm Bureau State Convention at the Holiday Inn in Kearney. Catherine and Jeff Jensby, 4-H Volunteer of the Year award winner from Gage County, were honored at the luncheon and each presented with a monetary award of $500 from Nebraska Farm Bureau.
In addition, they will be recognized as the Nebraska nominees for the National Salute to Excellence Award for volunteers. National winners will receive $10,000 cash, of which $1,000 is to be used as a grant for follow-up 4-H promotion activities in their home communities. The Nebraska 4-H Foundation will forward their nominations to the national committee. Good luck in that process!!
Last year, over 11,000 adult volunteer leaders donated their time and energy to the Nebraska 4-H youth development program. Catherine has been selected to represent the “best” of the group who has volunteered for 10 years and over in Nebraska!! Catherine, we honor you for your dedication to youth empowerment and youth/adult partnering, as well as your innovation in successfully developing strong 4-H programming that impacts the lives of young people.
Catherine had to write a lengthy essay, and we would also like to mention the people who assisted in this process by writing letters of recommendation: Jeanette Friesen, Beth Andrews and Aaron Blase. We are excited for Catherine and are fortunate to have her in Hamilton County.
CONGRATULATIONS CATHERINE !!
LEADER KITS AVAILABLE
The Extension Office has two “4-H Learn By Doing” kits available for check out. They contain lesson plans, activities, games and a pocket guide. They are here for your use!! Come, check them out!
LAMBING & KIDDING SCHOOL BASICS
DATE: Saturday, January 19th, 2008
TIME: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
WHERE: Hall County Extension at College Park, Grand Island, NE
COST: $20 for 1st person from operation
$10 for 2nd person from operation
Call the Extension Office for more information and to request a registration form, which is due by January 16th.
BEEF WEIGH DAY
Weigh and Tag market beef at the Aurora Vet Clinic on Saturday, February 2nd from 9 am to noon. This includes second year bucket calves that will be shown as market animals this year. If you will have breeding heifers, cow/calf, feeder calf or first year bucket calf projects, those I.D. sheets are due June 15th.
ANNUAL 4-H SWIM PARTY
Sponsored by: Junior Leaders
The Junior Leader 4-H Club would like to invite ALL 4-H members and their families to the Leadership Center on Sunday, February 24 from 3 - 5 pm for the annual swimming party. Come join us and bring a friend!! Parents are asked to stay as there will be no lifeguard on duty that night.
VISITING NEBRASKA
RED LETTER DAYS (SENIOR OPEN HOUSES)
Register online. High school seniors are invited to attend a Red Letter Day. All majors are available on these dates:
January 18
February 18
NEBRASKA PREVIEW (JUNIOR OPEN HOUSES)
Register online. High school juniors are invited to attend a NEBRASKA Preview day on April 4, 14, 18, or 25.
STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The two Statewide Leadership Opportunities for 4-H Youth, including the Youth Curriculum Committee and the Youth Multimedia Team, will once again be available in 2008! These opportunities have been formed as an effort to provide 4-Her’s, 14 and older, a chance to connect with other 4-H youth who have similar interests from across the state.
The Youth Curriculum committee will give youth a voice in 4-H Curriculum decisions such as selecting new project manuals, revising outdated materials, reviewing technology components, promoting new curriculum in counties, and much more. Members of the Youth Multimedia Team will gain new skills, serve communities by completing projects and showcase to others the emerging technologies in the area of multimedia communication all while promoting Nebraska 4-H Program opportunities.
Updated fact sheets, as well as application materials for both opportunities, will be posted on the State 4-H Website at http://4h.unl.edu by January 1, 2008. Applications will be accepted through March 15, 2008, and committee/team member selections will be made by March 30, 2008.
SPEECH SEASON APPROACHES!!
The 2008 Speech Season is approaching fast!! It will soon be time to start thinking about a topic for your speech. Communica-tion is a vital life skill so broaden your skills in this area by participating in the 4-H Speech Program.
~ Speech Clinic:
Saturday, March 8, 9 am to 12 noon
Presenter: Jean Blase
RSVP by Tuesday, March 4
Bring your ideas and receive instruction in basic writing and delivery methods.
(Ages: as of January 1)
Novice - Ages 10 and under
30 seconds - 2 minutes
Original speech or a reading
Junior - Ages 10 - 11
1 - 3 minutes
Original speech related to 4-H
Intermediate - Ages 12 - 13
3 - 5 minutes
Original speech related to 4-H
Senior - Ages 14 - 19
5 - 8 minutes
Original speech related to 4-H
~ Area Speech Contest
Saturday, April 5 - Hall County
~ County Speech Contest
Saturday, April 19, 4-H Building
“NEBRASKA 4-H MONTH” Is Coming
February is Nebraska 4-H Month and several activities are planned!!
1. 4-H Movie Night - details pending - Watch for the February Newsletter!!
2. Home Show 4-H booth featuring Youth In Motion and other 4-H curriculum. Come check it out!! Contact Kae if you’d like to help.
3. Coloring Contest for Clover Kids (5-7) and Juniors (8-11). Coloring sheets can be picked up at the Extension Office in January and are to be turned in by Friday, January 25th. Artists’ work will be displayed on the gray board outside the Extension Office during February and winners will be announced in the February Newsletter.
4. Annual 4-H Swimming Party sponsored by the Junior Leaders, Sunday, February 24th from 3 - 5 pm.
5. 4-H Quiz & Activities Contest wraps up: Winner will be announced at the Swimming Party.
Let Kae know if you or your club is planning a special activity for Nebraska 4-H Month, and we’ll do a write up and put it in the 4-H Newsletter!!
Governor's Agricultural Excellence Awards
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation and the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) are pleased to again offer The Governor’s Agricultural Excellence Awards sponsored by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) which recognize 4-H clubs for the work of the individuals in the club and the community service work of the entire club. 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. A public presentation is made to representatives of the club by the Governor of Nebraska and NIFA officials.
Clubs can use the award dollars for many different programs. Conferences or workshops for others in the community, trips or tours for club members, community improvement projects in their home town, campus visits, fair grounds enhancement, inter-generational programs, and the development of a youth council are just a few examples of the ways the award can be used.
Applications are available on-line at: http://4h.unl.edu/foundation/nifa.htm. Any club that hasn't received a Governor’s Agriculture Excellence Award for the past two consecutive years is eligible to apply. Based on last year's excellent response to using technology, we will only be accepting application by e-mail. Clubs must e-mail their application to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation office (mailto:pyoung3@unl.edu) by March 31, 2008. Please indicate in the subject line that it is a Governor's Ag. Excellence Application.
Please consider "Agricultural" in the broadest terms. The intent is to increase 4-H'ers' awareness of agricultural careers and entice some of them into such careers. Individuals interested in a broad range of subjects including: Food Science, Chemistry, Economics, Animal Science, Biology, Law, Sociology and many others may not realize that an agricultural career is a viable option. Clubs in urban and rural areas of Nebraska are encouraged to apply.
If you have any questions please contact Pat Young at the Nebraska 4-H Foundation at mailto:pyoung3@unl.edu or at (402) 472-4748.
QUIZ TIME ! !
1. What resolution gets made in January?
2. What month comes five months before June?
3. What month comes first on the Georgian calendar?
4. What is the birth stone for January?
5. The 37th President of the United States’ birthday was January 9, 1913. Who was he?
6. Benjamin Franklin, American Statesman and Inventor, was born on what date?
7. What two holidays are noted on the calendar in January?
8. Who was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence? (His birthday is in January.)
9. The 32nd President was Franklin D. Roosevelt. What was his birth date?
10. What do all these questions have in common?
