Foosball Table Eye Catching Exhibit

August 24, 2015 Leave a comment


By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant 

Burt County 4-H member Brent Miller of Lyons took his woodworking skills to an even higher level this year as he made a Mission Foosball Table.

This project was no kit. Brent searched the internet and found the parts online from four different websites. Pieces for the table came from Omaha, Georgia, Wisconsin and Canada.

There are 90 pieces in the body with a total of 130 pieces on the table. The table is solid oak with a walnut and oak play top. The legs are 3” x 3” solid oak. To say the table is heavy would be an understatement as it’s estimated at 400-500 lbs. It caught the appreciative eye of every woodworker walking through the 4-H building.

Jens Andersen of Andersen Wood Floors in Lyons provided the multi-colored wood for the play field. Miller covered the play top with ¼” Plexiglas.

Brent was told when the table entered the 4-H Building on entry day that the Burt County Extension staff would not be able to take it to the state fair…there was no doubt it would be selected when judged. He was told if his family and other strong individuals wanted to take it to and from Grand Island they were welcome to do that and it sounds like that is the case and it will be at the state fair!

The future home of the foosball table is in the family basement. When asked what project is next…he slyly smiles and “Maybe a full size pool table…with a slate top.” This will likely be another beautiful piece only Burt County fair-goers will have the privilege to see, unless the family plans another early trip to the State Fair to enter it!

 

Help needed…

It has come to our attention that a hit and run accident occurred on the fairgrounds on Tuesday afternoon, August 11 just east of the hog barn sometime between 2:00-3:00 during the livestock auction. A 2015 Red Equinox received damage to the front of the driver’s side of the vehicle. If you happened to see anything that might help find the other driver please call the Burt County Sheriff’s Department at: 402-374-2900. Thanks!

 

4-H Kitchen $100 Worker Winner!

After the fair wrapped up, the names of all the individuals who worked a full shift in the 4-H Kitchen were thrown in the hat and this year the winners of the $100 is Chad and Julie Brehmer of Lyons. Congratulations and as they say…the check is in the mail!

 

Join the Fun at the State Fair as a Volunteer!

The Nebraska 4-H program is seeking volunteers to help with exhibit entry day, judging, and serving as 4-H exhibit building hosts and greeters. Volunteers will be needed for educational activities in the 4-H building, serving as the Lil’ Green Mascot being part of the “Green Team” as building hosts answering questions from the visitors. Of course there is a need for assistance with all 4-H contests and events throughout the fair. State Fair 4-H volunteers will receive a fair pass for the day(s) they volunteer. Volunteers can sign-up by visiting http://4h.unl.edu/nebraskastatefairvolunteerinformation.

A complete list of volunteer opportunities is also available on the site. If you have questions about being a 4-H volunteer at the Nebraska State Fair, please contact Cathy Johnston, Extension Educator, at (402) 472-1762 or cjohnston1@unl.edu

 

Nebraska State Fairbook and Schedule Online

The Nebraska State website has the 2015 Fairbook, including the schedule for the 4-H, FFA, and Open Class Livestock shows. The website is http://4h.unl.edu/nebraskastatefairfairbook  and for all other State Fair information you can go to www.statefair.org

Brent Miller of Lyons with the foosball table he made and displayed at the Burt County Fair. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant.

Brent Miller of Lyons with the foosball table he made and displayed at the Burt County Fair. Photo Credit/Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant.

 

 

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Thanks for Making the Burt County Fair Such a Great Event!

August 19, 2015 Leave a comment


By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant

Our thanks go to ALL our 4-H faithful and volunteers of all sorts for making the Burt County Fair such a great success. We hope you felt it was a successful fair for you too!

At the top of my county fair excitement list were the 61 individuals crossing the stage as they modeled their outfits during the 4-H Fashion Show Friday night. There were a few who were not able to attend, but that is a record number of models for many, many years!

Among those modeling were 14 Clover Kids (ages 5-7). Another important change-maker was the addition of the $15.00 Challenge category. 4-H members were challenged to purchase a complete outfit for $15 or less (not counting shoes or underwear.) This challenge got the 4-H members out of the name brand stores and into the thrift stores, Goodwill and even using coupons. One member found a skirt on sale at a retail store for $10 and then produced a $10 off coupon! That’s how I’d like to shop! There were 14 models in that category also.

Hopefully you had a chance to take in some of the great entertainment at the fair. The free shows under the Fair Foundation Pavilion were excellent as were the big name shows and bull riding in front of the grandstand. The value of this entertainment goes directly to the Entertainment Committee of the Burt County Fair Foundation and Ag Society. Many thousands of dollars were spent to make these shows available, so make sure you thank the Burt County Ag Society and the Fair Foundation for the Entertainment Committee’s efforts.

On the subject of “thanks” don’t forget to write those all-important thank you notes to award donors and auction buyers! We have some wonderfully generous supporters and if they don’t feel their efforts were appreciated they may not donate, buy or support 4-H in any way next year! Yes, it’s that important, so make it your goal before school starts to get those thank you notes mailed.

 

Good Luck to all our State Fair Exhibitors!

The 2015 Nebraska State Fair is August 28- September 7 in Grand Island, and many of our Burt County 4-H members will be showing animals, taking part in presentations, modeling, and public speaking contests. Many more 4-H members will also have their static exhibits judged. Jot down this webpage to help you plan your trip to the State Fair, sign up to volunteer at the fair or check fair results by going to the following webpage: 4h.unl.edu/nebraska-state-fair

 

State Fair Exhibits Due in Extension Office

Since the State Fair is in Grand Island, we need to get all the static exhibits packed and loaded early and efficiently and we need your help to get them in on time!

All non-perishable Static Exhibits are due in the Burt County Extension Office by  Friday, August 21.

Perishable Exhibits including foods & gardening need to come in by Wednesday morning, August 26 before 8:30 a.m.!  NO LATER!

We will open the Extension Office at 7:30 a.m. to help you get where you need to go that morning on time. If you have any challenges getting them here in the morning they can come in the day before so please plan ahead so your items make it to the state fair!

In order to make check in at the state fair as easy as possible, 4-H members taking any horticulture or flowers need to call the Burt County Extension Office by Monday, August 24 at 4:30 p.m. with the exhibit cultivars or varieties so these items can be pre-entered and have entry tags waiting for us in Grand Island. Standing in line for an hour and a half waiting for them last year was NO FUN!

Remember, your 4-H exhibits may be picked up again September 8-11.

 

Too cute not to share:

Sometimes the value of a good 4-H project isn’t as easy to appreciate as at other times:

I was told about a little girl who met a friend at the Burt County Fair this year. The friend said to the girl: “Let’s go see the cows! Let’s go see the cows!” So the girl and her mother went up the hill to the beef barn. As they were walking down the beef aisle the little girl turned to her mom and asked “Why are we looking at cow butts?”

Some of the simplest questions are the hardest to answer!

 

 

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