HARLAN COUNTY EXTENSION NEWSLETTER
Transcript of HARLAN COUNTY EXTENSION NEWSLETTER
HARLAN COUNTY
EXTENSION NEWSLETTER April 2017
http://extenson.unl.edu/statewide/harlan PO Box 258 Alma, NE 68920 Phone: 308-928-2119
Livestock Quality Assurance (LQA)
Mark your calendars to attend either event, Monday, April 10th at 7 p.m.
in Orleans at the Ag Center Or
Tuesday, May 23rd at 9 a.m. in Beaver City at the Blue Ribbon Fair Building
All 4-H and FFA youth ages 8-18, who are enrolled in any of the livestock projects (Beef, Sheep, Swine, Meat Goat or Dairy Goat), need to complete LQA. Attend one of the in-person classes or complete 3 mod-ules online at http://4h.unl.edu/quality-assurance . This year, the Harlan County 4-H Council will reim-burse each 4-H'er the amount of their online quality assurance test fee by adding this amount to their fair premium.
2017 Special Garden Project Sunburst Summer Squash
Interested Youth should enroll for the Special Garden Project
through 4-HOnline.com and contact our office to pick up
their seeds.
This project is open to all YOUTH OF 4-H AGE giving
them the opportunity to learn about growing something
fun, new, and different, harvesting, preparing, and exhib-
iting this unique vegetable.
For additional questions or help getting signed
up, call the Harlan County Extension office at
(308)928-2119.
Find us on Facebook! at https://www.facebook.com/harlancountyext/ Stay up to date on events, view photos, learn interesting facts and anything else we happen to post.
SEED PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE!
The 21 students, in Mrs. Mary Jo Radil’s Second Grade classroom, started their embry-
ology project nearly 21 days prior to March 13th. With the collaboration of staff from the
UNL Extension, Harlan and Phelps County local Extension Educators and Assistants vis-
ited the class to present a couple lessons. The children learned about the branch of
biology that studies the development of embryos called, embryology. These students
anxiously discovered the different animal species that also hatch from eggs, how to
care for their baby chicks during the incubation process, and excitement escalated as
each student assisted with picking out and setting their own egg in the incubator. Twen-
ty-four fertile eggs, supplied by local farmer Mr. Keith Roberts, were set and nearly 10
days later the class experienced the candling of eggs. With anxious anticipation, each
kid took turns studying eggs to spot veins, an eye and even movement from inside. The
March 13th week left quite a buzz in the school, as slowly but surely 16 new, puffball
chicks hatched. After a week of observation by the class, the young chicks were sent on
their way to grow and live out their days on a local farm.
Embryology 2017 - Alma
As the crochet class comes to an end a new 4-H Club is being formed. Join the Extension Office and Tashia Butterfield, on Thursday, April 6th at 5:30 p.m. in the
Johnson Center for an informational meeting on how you and your kid(s) can be-come part of the Harlan County Stitchers. Full details will be released at the meeting, we hope to see you and your family there if you are interested in Crochet, Knitting and/or fibers. See you Thursday!
QUILT WEEK The Harlan County Extension Homemaker’s Club invite
young and old, 4-H kids, Newbie quilters and Experi-
enced quilters to the Ag Center in Orleans,
May 1st—May 5th from 9am to 5pm.
Come when you can and stay till close.
2017 Harlan County Homemakers’ Scholarship Recipients
The 2017 Homemakers Scholarship Luncheon took place on Monday,
March 6th at the Ag Center in Orleans. With the theme, “The Beginning
of the Future” it was truly a celebration to inspire juniors and celebrate
the success and promise of the soon to be graduating seniors of 2017.
The Harlan County Homemakers Clubs sponsor this luncheon, awarding
three $250 scholarships. One is awarded to a graduating senior who has
a mother or grandmother actively involved in the Harlan Homemakers
Club, while the other two scholarships are awarded to any graduating
senior residing in Harlan County.
This year, there were fifteen outstanding applicants from Alma, Wil-
cox-Hildreth and Southern Valley high schools, making it extra challeng-
ing on our judge. Two alternates were named, Ian York, son of Joe and
Tammy York and Shelby Butts, daughter of Cynthia Butts. The 2017
scholarships went to Stephanie Eddy,
daughter of Dianna Eddy and McKaylla
Christian, daughter of Jessica Chris-
tian. Jacob Barwick, son of Rodney
and Joanne Barwick, received the
Homemakers Scholarship awarded
during the luncheon. He represents the
Atlanta Neighborly Neighbor Club, as
he is the son of member, Joanne Bar-
wick. These well-rounded individuals
have excelled in their academics, as
well as in their communities and it
brought great pleasure for the Home-
makers, to award these young men
and women for their excellence.
2017 Homemaker Scholarship recipients: Left to Right; McKaylla Christian with her mother Jessica Christian, Stephanie Eddy, Ian York with his mother Tammy York, Jacob Barwick with his mother Joanne Barwick, and Shelby Butts with her mother Cynthia Butts.
Scholarship Recipient Jacob Barwick with his
mother Joanne Barwick, Homemaker club
member of Atlanta Neighborly Neighbors
Attention Homemaker Clubs Mark your Calendars!
Leader Training Lesson Class - NO KNEAD, NO BAKE DONUTS
April 10th at 10:00am in the Courthouse Meeting Room
If you plan to attend, RSVP by April 7th to the Extension Office.
4-H Clover Kid News Do you have a younger child, ages 5-7 that
wants to be involved in 4-H? He or she can
enroll as a CLOVER Kid and experience all of
the fun at county fair. The Clover Kid program
is a national program that provides youth a variety of educational and fun experiences in a non-
competitive environment. The first step, is to enroll your child through ne.4honline.com. The second
step, is to choose projects your Clover Kid would like to enroll in such as Exploring Animals,
A Space for Me and Making Food for Me.
Fair exhibits are part of the 4-H Clover Kid pro-
gram in a non-competitive way. Check the fair
premium book for exhibit ideas and remember,
not all animals are allowed as Clover Kid exhib-
its due to their size. Our Nebraska 4-H website
provides a great explanation of the 4-H Clover
Kids program and may be accessed
at: http://4h.unl.edu/clover-kids. Please call
the office with 4-H Clover Kid questions or stop
by if you would like help getting enrolled!
ALL 4-HERS & Clover Kids will receive a 4-H t-shirt again this year for fair time. We need your 4-Her’s t-shirt sizes. Please email shirt sizes to Susan Bose at [email protected]
County Camp for ages 8-12 will be held June 14-16 at the Ag Center in Orleans.
Youth will be camping with other 4-Her’s from surrounding counties.
A fun and exciting program is being planned!
Fishing
Swimming
and MORE!
Campfires
Crafts
Join Us Wednesday, May 31st from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the
Alma Courthouse for Part One of Sew Camp. During Part
One, 4-H'ers will decide what projects they want to sew for 2017 Fair, pick out
the pattern(s) they need and learn the proper way to measure to get the appro-
priate pattern size. 4-H'ers will leave knowing their projects and equipped with
a shopping list for Part Two. Sewing Camp Part Two, will be the construction
of the garments and other items at the Orleans Ag Center in June.
THIS N' THAT Day Camp coming Tuesday, June 6th to the Orleans Ag Center from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Look for full details about this day camp and how to sign up in next months newsletter.
SAVE THE DATE June 6
Two Part Sewing Camp
Nebraska 4-H, in partnership with the Nebraska 4-H Foundation, is celebrating the Nebraska Statehood 150 with the 4-H Clover Chase!
Between March 1 - August 15, 2017, Nebraska 4-H will be hosting a photo scavenger hunt for all 4-H members. Using an app, participants will complete challenges and submit photo entries on social media using #NE4HChase. After submitting photos and earning 150 points, participants will be eligible to receive a commemorative water bottle from their local Nebraska Extension Office and will be entered into a drawing to win a drone with video capability. The Nebraska Extension Office with the highest per-centage of participation wins a free National Youth Science Day kit!
Complete details about the 4-H Clover Chase can be found at http://4h.unl.edu/clover-chase. Celebrate Nebraska’s Statehood, and Nebraska 4-H, by participating in this fun-filled opportunity with your friends, club, or family!
Visit 4h.unl.edu/clover-chase for complete details!
Win a water bottle and
be entered to win a
DRONE!
STEP 1: Download the Eventzee App for iPad, iPhone or Android and enter event code: NE4HChase
STEP 2: Complete Challenges. Refer to the Eventzee Player Guide to com-plete challenges listed in the app. Sub-mit photo entries on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). Be sure to include your county name and the 4-H clover in each photo or post. Once your photo is submitted, you’ll get points. * Important: Be sure to ask permission before taking a photo of or with another person and posting on social media! We do not recommend that youth under the age of 13 should utilize the app without parent permission.
STEP 3: Collect Points: You will recieve points for each photo submitted using the guidelines in STEP 2. Complete enough challenges to get 150 points. Each submission must be a unique photo. One photo per challenge. Photos cannot be used more than once.
STEP 4: Claim Your Prize: Each participant who completes the chase and collects 150 points will receive a “4-H Clover Chase” commemorative water bottle and be entered in drawing to win a drone with video capability.
Celebrate all things Nebraska and 4-H through this unique virtual scavenger hunt!
March 1 - August 15, 2017
4-H Clover Chase: A Nebraska 150 Event
Show proof of completion at
your local Nebraska Exten-
sion Office to get a water
bottle and be entered to win
a drone! The 4-H Clover
Chase ends August 15.
Show the state what your
county is made of!
4-H Clover Chase How It Works:
ATTENTION LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS:
Market Beef Affidavits Due to County Office - April 5
Market Beef DNA Envelopes (showing at State and AKSARBEN) Due to County Office - April 5
Goat, Sheep, Swine & Breeding Beef Affidavits Due to County Office - June 5
Goat, Sheep, Swine DNA Envelopes (showing at State and AKSARBEN) Due to County Office - June 5
Breeding Beef Nomination Cards (showing at State and AKSARBEN) Due to County Office - June 5
2017 4-H King and Queen/Ambassador Applications The Harlan County 4-H Council is sponsoring the 4-H King and Queen/Ambassador Contest for 2017. Requirements for applying are: * Must be 16 - 18 years of age January 1st of this year . * At least 2 years of active membership in 4-H, including the current year. * Upstanding individual willing and capable of promoting 4-H in Harlan County.
Responsibilities include: Maintaining an active participation in promoting 4-H in Harlan County as approved by the 4-H Council. Assist with the 4-H Banquet, 4-H Fall & Spring Dance, 4-H Fair Night and upon request.
Each King and Queen Ambassador will be awarded $200 from the 4-H Council. Runner ups will each be award-ed $50. Applications are due by June 22nd, 2017 to the Harlan County Extension Office. Please contact the of-fice for an application or for more information at, 308-928-2119 or by emailing Dawn at [email protected].
Livestock Identification Process
Paper Livestock ID Affidavits are still required by our county office.
Please stop by the Extension Office to pick up Affidavit papers for your livestock.
Market beef, market swine, market lamb, meat goat, feeder calves, showing at the State Fair
or AKSARBEN will require a visible 4-H or FFA EID Tag and families will be required to submit a
Breeding Nomination Card for all breeding animals showing at State Fair.
Breeding goats and breeding sheep, the scrapie tag identification number will serve as the
official identification.
Breeding beef a tattoo will serve as the official identification for State Fair and AKSARBEN.
Bangs tattoos are NOT an accepted form of identification. Registration papers are required for Pure
Blood.
DNA and breeding card verification will be required for all livestock animals showing at State Fair or AKSARBEN.
County only animals will use county only 4-H tags. There will be no mandatory weigh-in days or group tagging.
The cost of DNA is $6 per entry. There will be a total limit of nominations by individuals including
both 4-H and FFA entries. Entry Limits; Beef (10) Lambs (20) Swine (40) Goats (20).
Youth will have until August 10 (State Fair pre-entry deadline) to select whether they are showing
their animal in 4-H or FFA. This could mean they show one organization at the county level and one
organization at State Fair. They cannot switch between State Fair and AKSARBEN.
July 29 - August 3, 2017
2017 HARLAN COUNTY FAIR
ALL 4-H’ERS ARE REQUIRED TO RE-ENROLL
IN 4-H
Go to https://ne.4honline.com, and use your previous email &
Password.
Go Online & Get Re-Enrolled Before May!
June 15 - Last day to enroll on line in 4-H & be State Fair eligible. To Enroll go to ne.4honline.com July 10 - Bicycle Rodeo Orleans Ag Center 6 pm July 11 - Favorite Food Review & Presentation Contest Orleans Ag Center 6:30 pm July 24 - Fashion Show and Clothing Judged Orleans Ag Center 9 am July 24 - Public Fashion Show & Talent Contest Orleans Ag Center 8 pm July 27 - ”Just for Fun” Dog Show Fairgrounds - Orleans 6:30 pm July 29 - Harlan County Horse Show Fairgrounds Horse Arena - Orleans 8:00 am July 30 - Livestock Check-in Fairgrounds - Orleans 4pm
Shotgun/Clay Target
Starts: May 21
Time: TBA
Location: Dunlay Range, Orleans
State Competition Date: April 23, 2017
Archery, BB Gun & Air Rifle
April 2nd, & April 16th
Time: 3:00pm—5:00pm
Location: Harlan County Fair Sheep Barn
22 PRACTICE
Dates: May 14
Time: TBA
Location: Dunlay Range, Orleans
State Competition Date: TBA
April 30th - Archery, Air Rifle and BB Gun Harlan County 4-H Competition Shoot (TBA)
4H ENROLLMENT IS OPEN & FREE!
May 30 & 31 Kearney Fairgrounds (308) 236-1235
June 1 & 2 Auburn Fairgrounds (402) 245-4324
June 6 & 7 Valentine Fairgrounds (402) 376-1850
June 13 & 14 North Platte WCREC (308) 532-2683
June 15 & 16 Gering Legacy Museum (308) 632-1480
June 19 & 20 Wayne Fairgrounds (402) 584-2234
June 22 (Day 1 is online) Gordon Fairgrounds (308) 327-2312
June 23 (Day 1 is online) McCook Fairgrounds (308) 345-3390
July 10 & 11 Grand Island College Park (308) 385-5088
TRACTOR SAFETY TRAINING 2017
Training Dates Training Site Location Site Coordinator
All youth ages 14 and 15 working on a farm or ranch other than their own MUST be
certified through a Hazardous Occupations Course.
Successful completion of the course will allow trained youth to operate an approximately 20 PTO
horsepower tractor, or to connect or disconnect an implement or any of its parts to or from a tractor.
Training Cost: $60 For more information, contact the Extension Site Coordinator nearest you:
Early Bird
DISCOUNT save 10% when you register by April 15!
Visit http://4h.unl.edu/summer-camp or stop
by the Harlan County Extension Office to pick
a copy of the 2017 camp catalog to explore
camp possibilities, schedules and find out every-
thing you need to know about this year’s
4-H Summer Camps.
Bagworms on evergreens. Check evergreens, especially Spruce, Juniper and Arborvitae, for overwinter ing bagworms. As many as 500 to 1000 eggs can overwinter in one female bagworm. Removing and destroying bag-worms from now until May 1st can help reduce the bagworm population. Destroy bagworms by crushing or im-mersing in soapy water. If bags containing eggs are discarded on the ground, eggs may still hatch and larvae re-turn to the tree. It is too early to apply insecticidal products to evergreens for bagworms. Wait until after eggs hatch. Products are most effective in reducing damage if applied during the early stages of bagworm development. Insecticides, as well as Bacillus thuringiensis, are best applied from mid-to late- June and can be applied up un-til about mid-August, but increased damage will occur the later they are first applied.
Bagworms: mark your calendars for insecticide for late May through July.
In southeastern Nebraska, the average last spring freeze date is approximately April 30 and May 21 in the northwest corner of Ne-braska's panhandle. These dates are guidelines only. Freezing temperatures may occur after the dates listed above. Also remem-ber that local microclimate condi-tions can significantly affect the occurrence of frost in your landscape. These dates can be used as guidelines for gardeners planting early spring crops. Frost sensitive plants will not tolerate freezing tem-peratures and must be protected if freezing temper-atures occurs after planting.
Nebraska average last spring freeze
(32° F) dates
Pre-emergence weed control of
Knotweed and Crabgrass
Prostrate Knotweed is a summer annual weed; however, its seed breaks cold dormancy and germi-nates much earlier than other summer annual weeds. Germination begins with soil temperatures of 35 to 50 degrees F., stopping when soil temperatures reach 50 degrees F. During most years in Nebraska, germi-nation likely begins between late February and early March. It is now too late to control knotweed with PRE products. Post emergence products containing Dicamba or triclopyr can be effective. Crabgrass, also a summer annual, begins germi-nation when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees F. at two to four inch depth. This typically does not occur until May in Nebraska making late April into early May the treatment window for PRE products.
Mowing is not needed prior to turf grass greening up and starting to grow. The first mowing should take place when green grass is tall enough to require mowing. Mow at 2.5” to 3.5” for the entire growing season, re-turning clippings to the lawn.
Watering is fine if conditions remain dry, warm and windy; however, until turf grass is actively growing, watering may not be needed. As we begin the season, a reminder that more lawn problems arise from over-watering than under-watering. Lawns should be watered deeply with 0.5 to 1.0” of water (depending on soil type) only when wilt is observed.
Fertilizing should begin after growth begins. Once the spring growth surge begins to slow and turf grass color is off. it’s the time to begin fertilization. With above average temperatures this year, beginning fertilization in April instead of May, may be needed this year. Fertilizer containing 50% each quick and slow release nitrogen sources are good choic-es.
Cultivation (power raking and core aeration) is best avoided until turf resumes active growth. It needs to be done prior to applying pre-emergence herbicides for crabgrass. Lawn aeration or thatch removal (dethatching) is permis-sible if soil compaction exists or thatch is greater than ¾” in depth. Cultivating through a pre-emergence herbicide barri-er may reduce efficacy. This practice is preferred in the fall, but April is okay if soils are not too wet.
Allow turf grass to come out of dormancy and begin growth, and soil temperatures to warm, before starting most lawn care practices.
No Hurry To Begin Spring Lawn Care.
Harlan County Extension
PO Box 258
706 Second Street
Alma, NE 68920
Calendar of Events APRIL 5 - Market Beef Affidavits Due to County Office
APRIL 10 - Homemaker LTL No Knead Donuts, Alma Courthouse 10 am
APRIL 10 - LQA Face to Face, Orleans Ag Center 7 pm
APRIL 30 - Archery, Air Rifle and BB Gun Competition Shoot (TBA)
May 1 - 5 - QUILT WEEK, Orleans Ag Center 9am - 5pm
May 23 - LQA Face to Face, Beaver City Blue Ribbon Building 9 am
May 31 - Sewing Camp Step 1, Alma Court-
house 1pm - 3pm
JUNE 5 - Goat, Sheep, Swine & Breeding Beef
Affidavits Due to County Office
JUNE 5 - Goat, Sheep, Swine DNA Envelopes
& Breeding Nomination Cards (showing at
State and
AKSARBEN) Due
to County Office
In This Issue
Livestock Judging Team
LQA Announcement
Shooting Sports
Tractor Safety
Homemakers’ Scholar-ship
County Camp Dates
Clover Chase
MORE!
HARLAN COUNTY
EXTENSION NEWSLETTER
ALL 4-HERS, we need your t-shirt size!
Please email shirt sizes to Susan Bose at