4-H End of Year Wrap Up and Reminders

By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant

End of School Year Programs

It’s been a flurry of activities the past few weeks as I both wrapped up and started new programs at the end of the school year. Here’s a quick rundown and a couple reminders:

Embryology:

The 4-H Embryology Project wrapped up with a decent hatch in all but one classroom. We are checking into mechanical failure as the issue so this problem doesn’t repeat itself next year! All in all, it was a very successful and educational project across the county with first and second grade students taking part in Herman, second graders in Tekamah, third graders in Lyons-Decatur and fourth graders in Oakland Craig.

Babysitting Clinic:

Thirty Burt County students in grades 3-6 took part in the Babysitting Clinic held in Tekamah this year with 26 of them taking part in all three sessions. The final session included a baby diapering demonstration by Danielle McManigal and her daughter Kendal. She was the perfect demonstration subject and all the attention didn’t rattle her a bit!

Home Alone in Rural America:

Staying home alone for any extended period of time is not recommended for students in the third grade, but making them aware of the dangers and challenges is part of the Home Alone Program. Sixty one third grade students in Tekamah and Oakland-Craig took part in this pre-summer vacation program.

Health Fair for Tekamah-Herman Students: 

Healthy snacks was the focus of my portion of this event and coming up with a quick snack for 270 students is no small task! They sampled a whole wheat tortilla with cream cheese and shredded carrot along with a small bag of popcorn. The discussion centered on

Regional 4-H Speech & PSA Contest Results:

Seven Burt County 4-H members took their talents to the next level of competition by competing at the Regional 4-H Speech Contest in Norfolk, May 21.

Three of them came home as medal winners, meaning they were one of the top four placing individuals in their age division.

Ellie Glup of Tekamah and Amelia Schlichting of Lyons nearly swept the Senior Division competition as they both came home with purple ribbons and medals. With this finish they are eligible to go on to compete at the state level during the Nebraska State Fair. Ellie and Amelia also served as room helpers during the contest as it was Burt County’s turn to provide assistance for the contest. Also in the Senior Division, was Michael Bracht of West Point and he received a blue ribbon for his first speech contest.

The third medal and purple ribbon winner was Paul Roscoe of Lyons in the Junior Division. Also in the Junior Division was Arianne Brokaw of Lyons who received a blue ribbon.

The Intermediate Division saw Rayna Hladky of Tekamah and Faith Roscoe of Lyons both receiving purple ribbons in what the judges explained as an extremely talented group of speakers.

In the Public Service Announcement Contest, the tapes of the P.S.A.’s were pre-judged, but results were announced at the contest. In the Junior Division: Paul Roscoe and Caleb Schlichting both of Lyons received blue ribbons. Intermediate competition resulted in Faith Roscoe of Lyons receiving a purple (the fifth purple, which made it the only purple not receiving a medal) and Cody Bachtell of Tekamah was awarded a blue ribbon.

Michael Bracht of West Point also competed in the Senior Division P.S.A. Contest and received a blue ribbon.

We are very proud of ALL our 4-H members, but especially individuals (and their families) like these who made the effort to compete at a higher level.

Reminders:

June 1 is a Major Deadline Day:

#1. 4-H Enrollment: It is the deadline for all 4-H members to enroll on-line for 4-H in order to be able to show this year at the county fair. Go to www.burt.unl.edu and then to the Burt County 4-H tab. Under this tab you can open the On-Line Enrollment and start or complete your 4-H and project enrollment.

#2. 4-H Project Deadline: Yes, this is also the deadline to enroll in any 4-H project you think you might want to exhibit in at the fair this year. We do not need to know what exhibit you are taking yet, but you do need to be enrolled in the 4-H project as we will have no opportunity to “fix” things as we have in past years.

#3. Livestock ID Sheet Deadline: All livestock ID sheets are due in the Extension Office by 4:30 p.m. Monday, June 1. This includes rabbits, horses, cows, calves, goats, sheep and swine. If you want to consider taking them to the fair, we need the ID sheets in and these animals identified in the proper manner for their species by this date.

As always, if you have questions please call the Nebraska Extension Office in Burt County at 402-374-2929.