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August 14, 2015 Leave a comment
The Mindstormers (part of the Logan Valley Clover 4-H Club) set up a demonstration of their First Lego League robotics competition in the 4-H Building on Sunday afternoon.
Michael Bracht, Caleb Schlichting and Andrew Schlichting are active members of this group.
Mindstormers from the Logan Valley Clover 4-H Club demonstrate at the Burt County Fair. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis.
June 13, 2015 Leave a comment
If you enjoy taking or just looking at amazing photographs you won’t want to miss this chance not only to see these images, but to meet the local photographer that takes them and learn the stories behind the photos.
Eric Anderson originally of Lyons is well on his way to become a nationally renowned photographer. He is based in Omaha and is a 23 year-old severe weather, landscape, astro and time lapse photographer. Eric grew up on a farm near Lyons and has a love for the outdoors. He works as the technical director for Omaha based production company, Dundee Digital and he’s agreed to come back to Burt County to share his photos and story with the community at large.
Photography is a life-long hobby for many, and for those just starting out this could be a life enriching opportunity to see opportunities beyond the lens as Eric shares his photos. Eric Anderson will be at the Bill Larson Building on the Burt County Fairgrounds in Oakland on Tuesday evening, June 30. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. and it is open to the public and especially to area 4-H members and other photography enthusiasts.
If you’d like to see a preview of Eric’s talent go on-line to his website at: http://cloudedlens.com/ Please join us to celebrate Eric’s talent and to increase your own skills during a question and answer session after his presentation.
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
April 19, 2015 Leave a comment
4-H Public Speaking Contest a GREAT Success!
Twenty five Burt County 4-H members conquered one of the highest listed personal fears, the fear of public speaking. They did it by taking part in one or more events during the Burt County 4-H Public Speaking Contest last Monday, April 6th. They didn’t just conquer any fears they might have, they made it look easy!
The most non-threatening contest is the Public Service Announcement or PSA contest which is a 60 second 4-H commercial given from the back of the room. Lucas Niewohner and his sister Hayley Niewohner of Tekamah tried out this contest for the first time by using the First Timer Pre-written Script. They both received blue ribbons for their efforts.
In the Original Script PSA Division, Paul Roscoe of Lyons took home champion honors in the Junior Division (ages 8-10). Madison Enstrom of Shawnee, KS used the telephone to call in her PSA to participate in the contest for the first time. She received reserve champion honors as well as winning the Pork Award in the Junior Division. Also in the Junior Division Caleb and Andrew Schlichting, both of Lyons received blue ribbons on their PSAs.
In the Intermediate PSA Division (ages 11-13) Cody Bachtell of Tekamah won champion honors while Faith Roscoe of Lyons earned Reserve Champion honors. Gavin Enstrom also called in his PSA via the telephone from Kansas to earn a purple ribbon and the pork award.
The Senior Division of the PSA contest was lonely with only Michael Bracht of West Point participating. However he handled it well as this was his first contest experience and he received champion honors.
The 4-H Speech Contest had participants moving to the front of the room to share their information with the group.
The 4-H Clover Kids (ages 5-7) got the chance to try out the contest by doing a “show and tell.”
Karley Eriksen of Craig fearlessly started out the contest by sharing her love of history and her trip to Washington D. C. with pictures and a book of the presidents.
Hope Roscoe of Lyons shared a postcard photo of her favorite animal in Florida, the Manatee. Veona Hladky of Tekamah explained how to make an alcohol ink decorated tile for a 4-H project. Linden Anderson of Lyons proved she was ready to get in the ring with her pigs when she’s old enough during her show and tell titled “Ready to Show.”
Elijah Schlichting of Lyons explained how to make a No Sew Pillow like he did at Clover Kid Camp last summer. Tate Penke of Craig showed his “super hero” collection and explained what special powers each of them had while looking like a superhero himself. Little brother Ty Penke (age 5) also wore a Spiderman costume and showed how well his Spiderman toy could do the splits!
If you thought this contest sounded like fun, you would be right!
The Junior Division speech competition (ages 8-10) becomes a little more serious, but Arianne Brokaw started out her speech by singing “Arianne Had a Farm” to the tune of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” They raise chickens and get 5 eggs a day, so she said they can’t afford to break any of them if you want to sell them! She received the big purple champion ribbon for her efforts.
Elise Anderson of Lyons earned the Reserve Champion ribbon for humorously explaining about their family 4-H baking mishaps.
Paul Roscoe of Lyons received a purple for his speech “All about Pottery,” while Muriel Brokaw of Lyons discussed her pets: Chester, Henry and Boo and the chores she does to care for them. She also received a purple ribbon for her speech.
Andrew Schlichting of Lyons highlighted his 4-H year which included rockets, rabbits, robots and much more! He received a blue ribbon.
Caleb Schlichting also of Lyons discussed the importance of farming and explained there are 2.2 million farms in the United States. He received a blue ribbon.
John Roscoe of Lyons shared step by step directions on how to make a metal punch decoration including the sound effects of him using a hammer: “Bam! Ouch! Bam! Ouch!” He also received a blue ribbon.
In the Intermediate Division – ages 11-13 Faith Roscoe of Lyons received a purple ribbon and champion honors for her speech on Mighty Mini’s, their miniature horses. Brayden Anderson of Lyons won the reserve champion ribbon as well as the pork award for his speech relating his 4-H experiences to baseball. Rayna Hladky of Tekamah received a blue ribbon for her informative speech comparing organic to conventional grown foods.
In the Senior Division – ages 14-18 Amelia Schlichting of Lyons went home with champion honors for her speech on the history of 4-H. Michael Bracht of West Point earned a blue ribbon for his speech on his 4-H robotics program experiences and competition. Wrapping up the senior division was Ellie Glup of Tekamah with her speech on “The Do’s and Don’ts of 4-H Speech” She received a blue ribbon and the pork award.
The continued growth of this activity is really exciting. It’s fun to think what great futures these 4-H members will have, thanks at least in part as a result of their experiences in the 4-H public speaking program.
4-H Favorite Foods Contest:
Don’t forget! The Burt County 4-H Favorite Foods Day Contest is set for this Saturday, April 18th at the Craig Fire Hall. The contest will begin at 10:00 a.m. with set-up available at 9:45 a.m. Call the Nebraska Extension Office in Burt County at 402-374-2929 to register by noon Friday, April 17th. Also call if you have any questions about the contest!
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
All smiles after participating in the 4-H Public Service Announcement Contest were: Faith Roscoe, Paul Roscoe, Michael Bracht, Caleb Schlichting, Cody Bachtell, Andrew Schlichting, Lucas Niewohner and Hayley Niewohner.
Photo Credit/Mary Loftis.
February 19, 2015 Leave a comment
Burt’s Best 4-H Club and their “American Gothic – 4-H Rocks” Snow Sculpture
Created by: Lacey Petersen, Preslee Hansen, Greta Lindberg, Zach Petersen, Garret Lindberg and Rylee Hansen.
Photo Credit/Mary Loftis.
June 27, 2014 Leave a comment
On June 16, 2014, major storms moved through parts of Nebraska. The town of Pilger suffered significant damage, and families are working around the clock to put their lives back together. There are other communities in Nebraska who have also suffered major damage recently.
We know that many 4-H families have been impacted by these storms. These are 4-Hers, 4-H parents, and 4-H volunteer leaders- All people who are a part of the Nebraska 4-H family.
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation is providing an opportunity to help these 4-H families. Your donations to the “4-Hers Helping 4-Hers” fund through the Nebraska 4-H Foundation is the best way to help a 4-Her who could use a helping hand.
Any financial contribution, no matter how small, is worth more than any of us will ever know.
Donations are fully tax deductible and 100% of all gifts are used to meet the needs of hurting 4-Hers in the wake of disasters. Donations can be made online at http://ne4hfoundation.org/ , by phone 402-472-1178, or by mail. Checks should be made payable to the Nebraska 4-H Foundation and sent to: 4-Hers Helping 4-Hers Fund, P.O. Box 830719, Lincoln, NE 68583-0719
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
Mary Loftis
May 30, 2014 Leave a comment
Miles Pearson of Oakland proudly demonstrated his robot as it follows the black tape line and parks in the “garage” just like he programmed it to do during the Razzle Dazzle Robotics Camp last week. The robotics workshop was conducted by UNL Extension Educator, Carroll Welte assisted by summer intern, Nick Bohannon.
May 30, 2014 Leave a comment
Trevor Weitzenkamp of Oakland and Isaac Ruwe of Tekamah sort through hundreds of little Lego pieces to correctly assemble their NXT Mindstorm robot at the UNL Extension sponsored robotics camp held last week in Tekamah. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant.
May 30, 2014 Leave a comment
River Wallerstedt and Luke Richards both of Oakland, work together to correctly assemble this NXT robot at the Razzle Dazzle Robotics Camp last week in the Tekamah Auditorium. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis
April 21, 2014 Leave a comment
Mary Loftis
Don’t miss out on being part of the most beautiful and delicious 4-H contest in Burt County! It’s the 4-H Favorite Foods Contest and it will be held this Saturday, April 26 at the Fire Hall in Craig. Set up for the contest begins at 9:45 a.m. with the contest itself beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Three division of the contest are available, so every 4-H member has the best opportunity to do well in it.
Here’ what you need to participate:
Take it to the next level!
A new area of the contest is the State Fair eligible 4-H Foods Event. This is like our regular Favorite Foods Contest with just a couple changes.
First of all a team of two work together on the favorite food and presentation together.
Secondly, the must incorporate the “challenge ingredient” into either their favorite food or their menu. The “challenge ingredient” this year is corn.
The team does a presentation to the judge about their food, table, menu, etc.
Finally they must incorporate some type of technology in their presentation. This could be showing a video of them preparing the food, using an i-pad for their menu and recipe or some other fun way to use technology.
Burt County can have four teams selected to present their favorite food at the “Pilot – 4-H State Fair Foods Event” on Saturday, August 23rd at the State Fair in Grand Island. Check it out and you might be the first from Burt County to compete at this new State Fair contest!
Don’t miss out on the fun; call the Extension Office at 402-374-2929 to get registered by Friday, April 25th at noon. If you have any questions, please call and ask!
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
April 18, 2014 Leave a comment
It’s spring and that means a bounty of spring 4-H activities are on the agenda. Here’s a quick rundown you can transfer to your family activity calendar so you don’t miss anything. If you have any questions or need to pre-register please call UNL Extension in Burt County at 402-374-2929.
Mary Loftis
Monday, April 21: 4-H Public Speaking Contest, Noon pre-registration deadline or will be dropped a ribbon. The contest will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Presbyterian Church in Tekamah.
Saturday, April 26: 4-H Favorite Foods Contest, Pre-entry due by Noon, Friday, April 25. The contest will be held at the Craig Fire Hall with setup at 9:45 a.m. and judging at 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, May 3: 4-H Bicycle Rodeo, Pre-entry due by Noon, Friday, May 2. At least 3 participants must be registered to hold this contest. The contest will be held in the First Evangelical Lutheran Church parking lot in Oakland right off Hwy 77 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, May 22 – Tagging Day for all sheep, goats, feeder and bucket calves. Tagging and ID sheets will be completed at the Burt County Fairgrounds from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Please bring $1.00 per 4-H tag needed. FFA tags need to be obtained from your FFA advisor. If you are unable to attend you may purchase 4-H ear tags in the Extension office, tag your own animals and have the ID sheet checked by having John or Mary verify the information by driving the animals to the Burt County Courthouse before the June 1 identification deadline. Please call the UNL Extension office at: 402-374-2929 to make sure someone is available to check your animals before you make a special trip to town with them.
Thursday, May 22: Regional Speech Contest, Norfolk or Lincoln for those who qualify at the county contest.
Tuesday- Friday, May 27-30: Robotics Camp –9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Designed for youth ages10-12. Registration fee $20 (Burt County 4-H members only pay $10.) The camp will be held at the Tekamah Auditorium in Tekamah.
Monday, June 2 – Deadline day to have all 4-H and FFA ID sheets in Extension Office, as well as 4-H enrollment and project forms completed and returned to the office. Call 402-374-2929 if you have any project changes you would like to make.
Not involved with the 4-H program yet? We can fix that! Give us a call at the UNL Extension Office in Burt County at 402-374-2929. We don’t want anyone to miss out on any of the bounty of 4-H spring activities.
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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