4-H and Area News

January 14, 2014 Leave a comment


Personal Column

Mary Loftis

Mary Loftis

Mary Loftis

UNL Extension

January 10, 2014

 

4-H Snow/Snowless Sculpture Contest

As 4-H Clubs start making plans for the new year I want to remind our clubs and members to make plans to create an entry for the annual Burt County 4-H Snow/Snowless Sculpture Contest. This is our low budget, 4-H promotional activity that offers everyone the opportunity to get out and play in the snow. If we don’t have more of the white stuff in the near future, then we’ll just alter the contest to a snowless 4-H promotion!

The Burt County 4-H Council sponsors this contest with prize money and we encourage our individual and club entries to be at least as permanent as a snowman on a warm day. We can’t always hit the weather just right to be able to create a sculpture out of good packable snow that will last for a week or more, but do your best. Try to position your sculpture to promote 4-H in a relatively high traffic area (rather than behind the barn) so it stirs up some conversation at least.

The 4-H Council will meet Tuesday, January 28th for their first meeting of the year and will determine the contest categories. In the past we’ve had “Most Creative”, “Greenest” and “Best Message”. I doubt we’ll stray too far from those themes in case you get creative before they meet. Give it some thought, get creative and take a digital picture you can email or mail to me, Mary Loftis at 111 N. 13th Street, Suite 6, Tekamah, NE 68061 or at mloftis2@unl.edu.

 

The Special Garden Project

Moving from snow to spring let’s start planning for the Special Garden Project. This is a way to offer 4-H members the chance to grow unusual and fun projects in their gardens. The unique Love-Lies-Bleeding Amaranth is the featured project for 2014. Love-Lies-Bleeding Amaranth is an heirloom flower that has many uses.  The brilliant red seed heads hang down from upright plants.  The flowers are long lasting and are great in arrangements either as fresh cut or dried flowers.  When allowed to mature, the seeds from the plant can be eaten as can the fresh small leaves.  It will take on average 65-75 days from planting to bloom.  The seeds can either be started indoors in containers 6 weeks prior to the first frost then moved outside, or directly planted outside after the last frost free date, usually around the second week of May.  The tiny seeds will take 2 weeks to sprout.

If you’d like to reserve a packet of seeds please call the UNL Extension office by February 6 at 402-374-2929 and we’ll get you on the list.

4-H/FFA Market Beef Weigh Day

          The Burt County weigh day will be Saturday, January 25 at the Johnnie Johnson Farm at 1340 County Road E, Craig, NE. Weighing will be done from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and ear tags will cost $1.00 each. If you plan to show at State Fair or Ak-Sar-Ben you’ll need to collect DNA samples. Each animal you identify with a DNA sample costs $6.00. Identification sheets will be filled out that day and it’s helpful if the 4-H members are available to sign their own forms as well as a parent or guardian.

If the Burt County date doesn’t work there are several other options available:

Sunday, January 26 – 1:00-4:00 p.m. Masonic Home for Children, Fremont

Saturday, February 1 – 9:00-10:00 a.m. Cooper Farm, 8502 Mormon Bridge Rd., Omaha, NE

Saturday, February 1 – 10:00-Noon, Washington County Fairgrounds, Arlington

Saturday, March 22 – 12:00-2:00 p.m. Wahoo Sale Barn, Wahoo, NE

If attending another county’s weigh day you will need to bring ear tags (4-H or FFA) from your own county and DNA envelopes if you are identifying animals for State Fair or Ak-Sar-Ben.

 

Burt County Fair Kickoff Event

          Don’t forget to get your tickets to the Burt County Fair Foundation Kickoff Event on Saturday, February 8th. It will be held in Tekamah this year at the Tekamah Auditorium and the county fair theme is “Hats Off to the Burt County Fair.” Tickets are limited to 350 and are available in Lyons at the First National Bank NE; in Oakland at the First National Bank NE Motor Bank on Hwy 77 and Red Barn Vet Clinic; in Tekamah at Burt County Insurance in the Washington County Bank, UNL Extension Office in the Burt County Courthouse and at Lee Valley.

 

 

Mary Loftis,

Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929

Fax: (402) 374-2930

Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu

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Keep Looking Up!

January 14, 2014 Leave a comment


By Gary Fugman

Cory Martin observing through the 17.5″ reflector at Fugman Observatory. Photo courtesy of Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club.

Cory Martin observing through the 17.5″ reflector at Fugman Observatory. Photo courtesy of Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club.

“Jupiter To Be Seen At It’s Best This Week!”
Young and old alike are invited to Northeast Nebraska Astronomy Club (NENAC) this weekend for a close up look at the “King of the Planets”, Jupiter.  Pastor Gary Fugman, member of NENAC, states, “Here in January 2014, Jupiter is now about as good as we ever see it from Earth.  Jupiter is an active, giant planet that easily displays cloud belts with various changing details and four Galilean moons that cross the planet regularly.”  It is no wonder that when Galileo first turned his telescope to the night sky and spied Jupiter and it’s moons that astronomy and the Earth’s place in the heavens was changed forever.
Share the thrill of seeing Jupiter for yourself!  This Friday, January 17 at 7pm at the Lyons Library and Saturday, January 18 at 7pm at the Decatur Sears Center Pastor Gary will take you on a tour of Jupiter.  First, we will start inside with computer projections of Jupiter and free star charts, then, weather permitting, we will go outside to view Jupiter at the Hedges Observatory Friday and the Fugman Observatory Saturday.  Please dress warmly as the temperature drops quickly after sunset.
For information on this and future NENAC presentations, call Pastor Gary Fugman at 349-1953 or google “nenacstars” and Keep Looking Up!
Questions to Consider:
We observe volcanoes on Earth.  Where was the 2nd place humans observed volcanoes in the Solar System?
Why are the volcanoes on this other place in the Solar System active?

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Oakland Public Library

January 14, 2014 Leave a comment


With the 30 to 40 mph wind gusts predicted for today…I guess you could call it a rather blustery day…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p60buJnFUuI

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Corey McCullock

January 14, 2014 Leave a comment


Sleep Eating

We’ve all done it, woke up in the morning to find wrappers in our bed or on our night stands. It happens to the best of us, well some of us at least. This has been growing even more clear to me as the problem I have with eating at night.

Just the other morning I woke up to what looked like a reenactment of a scene from the movie Blow. But I assure you the white powder on my face, shirt, pillow and night stand was not cocaine. It was however the powder from those delicious white doughnuts covered in powdered sugar. That’s when it became noticeable that I had a problem.

I mean sure, who cares about the box of granola bars I stash by my bed, or the economy box of fruit smiles I consumed in 3 nights, but when my food habit starts to look like a drug habit, something’s got to change! So I changed my habits up, kinda, I think. I at least only woke up last night at 2 a.m. and had three cookies and a glass of chocolate milk. I’m not sure if food helps me sleep or not.

Maybe I’m eating to the point of a food “coma.” But regardless it is not healthy! One night over break in a period of 6 hours of waking up here and there, I drank a whole entire gallon of chocolate milk. My mom was not the happiest when I woke her up saying I felt like a hurricane was brewing in my intestines. I believe she said something along the lines of a “when will you learn” type of thing! It was definitely not my smartest move, but it tasted delicious at the time! If anybody else out there does this, you’re not alone!

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Oakland Public Library Receives Award

January 13, 2014 Leave a comment


A 3 Star rating was awarded to the Oakland Public Library by Library Journal magazine! Proudly posing for the library photo are JoAnne Peterson and Coleen Denton. (Back row l-r) Kristi Arlt, Audrey Unwin, Nancy Wonka, James Mashek, Vivian Forks, and Rosa Schmidt.1522020_652914081435895_1229047350_n

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LDNE Music Department Performs

January 13, 2014 Leave a comment


By Madeline Ronnfeldt

Performing were: Back row (left to right): Martin Long, Reid Preston, Aaron Williams, Sophie Hsu, Bow Whitley, Tatiayana Harris and Lena Horak Second row: Maggie White, Brayden Anderson, Derek Petersen, Mason Lami and Brennan Ferguson. Front row: Andrew Schlichting, Yannick Yessoufou and Caleb Schlichtung. Photo Courtesy of LDNE.

Performing were: Back row (left to right): Martin Long, Reid Preston, Aaron Williams, Sophie Hsu, Bow Whitley, Tatiayana Harris and Lena Horak
Second row: Maggie White, Brayden Anderson, Derek Petersen, Mason Lami and Brennan Ferguson.
Front row: Andrew Schlichting, Yannick Yessoufou and Caleb Schlichtung. Photo Courtesy of LDNE.

The Lyons-Decatur music department held a winter recital Friday December, 14th. Everyone did a great job. Many students played “Jingle Bells”, Yannick Yessoufou on the piano, Rusty Hardeman on the trombome, Mason Lami on the French horn, Maggie White on the bells, and Brayden Anderson played the trumpet. Bow Whitley and Aaron Williams played “Medley” on the guitar. Andrew Schlichting played “Boil Them Cabbage”  on the Banjammer and his brother, Caleb Schlichting played “Ode to Joy” on the piano. Zach Hegge played “Up On The House Top” on the saxophone, on the trumpet Brennan Ferguson played “When the Saints”, on the saxophone Derek Petersen played “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas”, and Reid Preston played “Star Wars” on the trombone. Lena Horak sang “German Song” and Sophie Hsu played “Summer” on the piano. They also sang “Say Something” together while Sophie played the piano. What talent! The last student but definitely not the least, was Tatiayana Harris who sang “Royals”. Mary Goff played “Silent Night” on the piano proving that music can last a lifetime. Everyone did an amazing job at the recital! We hope to see you at the next one!

 

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History

January 13, 2014 Leave a comment


On this day in 1794: Congress changes US flag to 15 stars & 15 stripes.

In 1893: U.S. Marines land in Honolulu from the U.S.S. Boston to prevent the queen from abrogating the Bayonet Constitution.

In 1930: “Mickey Mouse” comic strip 1st appears.

1942: Henry Ford patents a method of constructing plastic auto bodies.

1943: Hitler declares “Total War”.

In 1967: Rolling Stones appear on Ed Sullivan Show.

In 1974:  Superbowl VIII: Miami Dolphins beat Minnesota Vikings, 24-7 in Houston Superbowl MVP: Larry Csonka, Miami, RB.

In 1979: YMCA files libel suit against Village People’s YMCA song.

In 1982: Hank Aaron & Frank Robinson elected to Hall of Fame.

In 1988: Supreme Court rules (5-3) public school officials have broad powers to censor school newspapers, plays & other expressive activities.

In 1993: Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena – Cowboys beat Bills.

 

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Common Saying, Meaning, History

January 13, 2014 Leave a comment


Here is another common saying, meaning and history.
Blood is thicker than water.
Meaning: Family comes before everything else
History: In ancient Middle Eastern culture, blood rituals between men symbolized bonds that were far greater than those of family. The saying also has to do with “blood brothers,” because warriors who symbolically shared the blood they shed in battle together were said to have stronger bonds than biological brothers.

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Meals on Wheels

January 13, 2014 Leave a comment


The village board and the Bancroft Senior Center have been working to provide Meals on Wheels for the residents in the Bancroft city limits who are 60 years and older. The meals will be prepared by the Lyons Happy Days Senior Center and the suggested donation is $4.00 per meal. There needs to be 8 people or more who will take the meals Tuesday through Friday every week. We have a driver for 4 days a week but not on Mondays. If you are interested in having Meals on Wheels contact the senior center at 402-648-3387 by January 30. Our goal is to get this program implemented by February 4th. We also need people who will volunteer to deliver the meals to the people once they get to Bancroft.  Contact the senior center if you have any questions.

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Bancroft Caregiver Meeting

January 13, 2014 Leave a comment


Caregiver Support Group Meeting

The monthly Caregiver Support Group will meet at the Bancroft Senior Center, this coming Monday, January 20 at 2:00 p.m.  The meetings are very informal; various topics are discussed and those who attend are encouraged to share their ups and downs of being a caregiver. If you are a caregiver and have never attended a meeting, please feel free to come and join us.

 

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