Nebraska 4-H youth will participate in Omaha Fashion Week

Nebraska 4-H members from across the state will showcase their designs during the 15th annual Omaha Fashion Week runway showcase.
The 4-H showcase will take place on Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. at the Omaha Design Center, 1502 Cuming St., Omaha. Nineteen youth from 11 counties will model garments they sewed as 4-H projects in 2022. Participating youth are:
- Abigail Nelson, Gordon (Sheridan County 4-H)
- Alexa Smith, Lincoln (Lancaster County 4-H)
- Alison Schimmer, Grand Island (Hall County 4-H)
- Ava Caldwell, Omaha (Douglas/Sarpy Counties 4-H)
- Chloe Jeffers, Wauneta (Hayes County 4-H)
- Clara Johnson, Walton (Lancaster County 4-H)
- Danica Romshek, Bellwood (Butler County 4-H)
- Dayton Jons, Lincoln (Lancaster County 4-H)
- Emily Barfknecht, Juniata (Adams County 4-H)
- Emily Nelson, Gordon (Sheridan County 4-H)
- Karla Herrarte, Lexington (Dawson County 4-H)
- Kate Cox, Valentine (Cherry County 4-H)
- Kylie Hansen, Lincoln (Lancaster County 4-H)
- Lora Sonderup, Fullerton (Nance County 4-H)
- Maura Tichota, Yutan (Saunders County 4-H)
- Maya Soria, Kearney (Dawson County 4-H)
- Saidi Ringenberg, Lexington (Dawson County 4-H)
- Sydni Ringenberg, Lexington (Dawson County 4-H)
- Vanessa Peterson, Lincoln (Lancaster County 4-H )
The Midwest’s largest fashion event, Omaha Fashion Week, takes place twice a year, in February and August, and showcases young and emerging designers from throughout the region. For more information on Omaha Fashion Week, visit Omahafashionweek.com. Tickets for the 4-H showcase are available online at: https://omahafashionweek.ticketleap.com/ofw-spring-2023-metro-community-college-student-night/.
Two delegates and two alternates selected to represent Nebraska at National 4-H Conference

Two delegates and two alternates have been selected to represent Nebraska at the 2023 National 4-H Conference. The delegates, who are receiving partial scholarships to attend National 4-H Congress, include:
- Lexi Johnson, Dawson County
- Autumn Lindsley, Butler County
The alternates, who may attend National 4-H Conference at their own expense, include:
- Sarah Treffer, Dawson County
- Miya Carey, Holt County
National 4-H Conference is the premier national civic engagement opportunity for 4-H members across the country. Delegates not only learn while at the conference but also have the opportunity to practice and apply in a real-world setting their newly developed and refined skills. The National 4-H Conference is held annually in the Washington D.C. area. For more information about National 4-H Conference, please visit 4h.unl.edu/conference.
Nebraska 4-H invites youth to monthlong celebration

Every year, Nebraska 4-H Month brings thousands of young people, parents, volunteers, and alumni together to celebrate all the ways in which 4-H helps youth find a place where they belong. Across the state, Nebraska 4-H invites community members to celebrate:
- 4-H Spirit Day - Tuesday, February 7, 2023
- Wear green, the 4-H emblem, or your favorite 4-H T-shirt!
- Share your 4-H spirit on social media using #NE4HMonth, #iBelong, and #Opportunity4All
- 4-H Weekend of Service - February 11-12, 2023
- Coordinate your own 4-H community service project, such as picking up trash, holding a food drive, collecting items for a local shelter, or making care packages. For more inspiration, check out these 4-H civic engagement ideas. After the project is complete, be sure to submit your community service project for a chance to see it showcased by Nebraska 4-H.
- Contribute to other groups' community service projects.
- Volunteer your time with a local non-profit organization.
- 4-H Volunteer Appreciation Day - Tuesday, February 14, 2023
- Send handwritten thank-you notes or make and deliver 4-H-themed treats or goody bags to your club and project leaders.
- Shout out your club and project leaders on social media using #NE4HMonth.
- Nominate your favorite 4-H volunteer for a Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Recognition Award.
- 4-H Supporter Appreciation Day - Tuesday, February 21, 2023
- Ask your local Extension office for the contact information for a 4-H donor and sponsor. Send them a handwritten thank-you note.
- 4-H Professional Appreciation Day - Tuesday, February 28, 2023
- Send hand-written thank-you notes or make and deliver 4-H-themed treats or goody bags to your local Extension office.
- Shout out your local 4-H educators, assistants, and staff on social media using #NE4HMonth.
Many local celebrations and events will also be hosted throughout the month of February. Contact your local Extension office for more information about local celebrations.
In addition to celebrating, youth are invited to join 4-H and complete the annual enrollment process during February. By becoming enrolled members, youth have the opportunity to join a club, exhibit projects at the county and State Fair, participate in contests, and apply for special awards and recognition. Enroll now at 4h.unl.edu/enroll.
Fifteen teens selected as Nebraska delegates for National 4-H Congress

Fifteen delegates and five alternates have been selected to represent Nebraska at the 2023 National 4-H Congress. The delegates, who are receiving partial scholarships to attend National 4-H Congress, include:
- Miya Carey, Holt County
- Taylor Kramer, Dawson County
- Austin Kamm, Cuming County
- Emily Miller, Cheyenne County
- Alexa Tollman, Dawes County
- Claire Gangwish, Buffalo County
- Libby Mackin, Webster County
- Lauren Dick, Thayer County
- Andrew Kreuscher, Dawson County
- Morgan Schommers, Dawes County
- Kaylee Powell, Merrick & Hall Counties
- Hunter Blume, Red Willow County
- Autumn Lindsley, Butler County
- Micah Pracheil, Lancaster County
- Sara Thomsen, Pierce County
The alternates, who may attend National 4-H Congress at their own expense, include:
- Cadde Beeby, Red Willow County
- Rylie Carter, Butler County
- Emily Brhel, Clay County
- Jaden Hunke, Dawson County
- Mahayla Allred, Dawes County
- Emily Barfknecht, Adams County
National 4-H Congress is the premier leadership event for 4-H members ages 15 to 19. The event brings together youth from across the country and provides educational and cross-cultural experiences. The goal is to inspire youth to take on leadership roles and make meaningful impacts within their communities. The event is held each fall in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information about National 4-H Congress, please visit 4h.unl.edu/congress.
Lancaster County 4-H members earn Nebraska 4-H Gives Back Award for addressing local food insecurity

Nebraska 4-H recently recognized Kamryn Wanser, Kennedy Powell, and Brooklynn Nelsen with a Nebraska 4-H Gives Back Award. After seeing their peers struggle with food insecurity, the three Lancaster County 4-H members began working on plans to establish a new Little Free Pantry in their community.
“We are so proud of this team of 4-H’ers who saw a local problem and creatively found a way to a solution,” said Dr. Kathleen Lodl, Nebraska State 4-H Program Administrator. “It’s this kind of leadership and passion that is critical to their future and the future of Nebraska.”
Together, the youth recruited a local business, Healthy Heads, to house the public pantry and worked with a craftsman to design and build the pantry box. They gathered food donations and support from a local HOA, White Electric, Old Glory Farms Boutique, Rotary Club 14, VFW, FoodNet, Little Free Pantries, Lancaster County 4-H Council, and The Fantastic 4 4-H Club. The youth collected $319 and over 1,700 food items to establish their Little Free Pantry.
“We believe the pantry will serve the neighbors, those that work in the area as well as our customers,” wrote Healthy Heads staff. “We couldn’t be happier to support this great cause.”
“Food insecurity is an issue many Lincoln, Nebraska residents experience,” said Tracy Anderson, Lancaster County 4-H Extension Educator. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Kamryn, Kennedy, and Brooklynn, there is one Lincoln neighborhood that is experiencing less of it.”
Over the first 28 weeks, a weekly average of 46 items were taken from the pantry located in the Indian Village neighborhood. Community members continue to take more items continue each week, and the teens continue to collect donations to keep the pantry stocked for those in need.
"We have learned that working together we can solve a problem in our community," the teens shared. "We feel confident that this will serve a need in the community for a long time to come.”
The Nebraska 4-H Gives Back Award celebrates the spirit of service learning. The program recognizes youth who have made significant and lasting impacts in their community. 4-H members create, coordinate, and implement a service-learning project of lasting impact and significant size or scope.
“We invite youth to submit project proposals that showcase the application of their time and talents in service to their community,” says Dr. Jill Lingard, Nebraska 4-H Gives Back program coordinator.
For more information about the Nebraska 4-H Gives Back Awards program, please visit 4h.unl.edu/ne4h-gives-back.
Four teens appointed to 4-H Leadership Ambassador program

Nebraska 4-H has appointed four members as 2023 4-H Youth Leadership Conference Ambassadors, including:
- Joshua Eisenmann, Colfax County
- Autumn Lindsley, Butler County
- Hannah Beel, Brown County
- Isabella Benne, Burt County
Youth Leadership Conference Ambassadors serve as the planning committee for the 4-H Youth Leadership Conference. Ambassadors meet monthly to plan and prepare for the conference while developing their leadership skills. By serving as an Ambassador, members will have the opportunity to build connections with one another, learn from adult mentors, and gain real-world leadership experience on a statewide level. To learn more about the leadership program or the 2023 Ambassadors, visit 4h.unl.edu/leadership-conference-ambassadors.
The Nebraska 4-H Youth Leadership Conference is an opportunity for all youth ages 14-18 to build connections with peers across the state, learn from adult mentors, and develop and practice leadership skills. Youth do not need to be enrolled in 4-H to attend the conference. The date and location for the 2023 Conference are yet to be determined. Please stay tuned to 4h.unl.edu/leadership-conference for updates.
Fed Steer Challenge cultivates next generation of cattle industry leaders

Nebraska 4-H, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Animal Science, offered the fifth year of the Nebraska 4-H Fed Steer Challenge in 2022.
The Fed Steer Challenge cultivates the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska cattle industry by providing youth with real-world opportunities in the beef sector. This challenge enhances the educational value of traditional 4-H beef projects and provides affordable options to reward production merit and market animal carcass value; accurate and complete record-keeping practices; industry and research knowledge; and producer engagement with the 4-H member.
The youth selected, purchased, exhibited, harvested, and analyzed carcass data on a steer while networking with industry professionals. Additionally, working as a learning cohort, they participated in monthly educational opportunities led by industry professionals and Animal Science faculty.
Alongside these youth, large crowds at the Nebraska State Fair receive expert instruction from a commercial cattle buyer about sorting and evaluating steers. This exemplifies real-world industry standards of carcass merit, grade ability, and finish. Unanimously, the youth participants agree the Fed Steer Challenge helped them gain valuable knowledge regarding the beef industry - namely, how to feed a market animal more efficiently. Because of their program involvement, participants plan to stay in the cattle industry to become future beef industry advocates.
The 2022 Nebraska participants and award winners included:
- Claire Ahrens, Sherman County – Third Place Overall, Third Place Growth Performance, Third Place Record Book
- Leah Christen, Pawnee County
- Abigail Gorecki, Buffalo County
- Nathan Gorecki, Buffalo County
- Eldon Haack, Franklin County – Second Place Carcass Merit
- Jaleigh Hallsted, Cuming County – Second Place Overall, First Place Record Book, Second Place Industry Interview
- Madison Hirschman, Howard County – Fourth Place Overall, Second Place Growth Performance, First Place Industry Interview
- Cassidy Maricle, Boone County
- Klaira Rasmussen, Howard County
- Nickolas Rohr, Frontier County
- Conner Snyder, Frontier County – First Place Overall, First Place Growth Performance, First Place Carcass Merit, Second Place Record Book, Third Place Industry Interview
- Treygan Srajhans, Fillmore County
- Noah Summers, Buffalo County – Third Place Carcass Merit
- Skyler Summers, Buffalo County – Fifth Place Overall, Second Place Industry Interview
The winners of each category receive cash prizes, and the overall winners will receive an additional $500 scholarship to the Nebraska College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
4-H'ers strut their stuff on the State Fair runway

Nearly 200 4-H members from across the state participated in the 4-H Fashion Shows at the 2022 Nebraska State Fair. The contest, including three different shows held in Raising Nebraska, allowed 4-H members to model for a panel of judges and an estimated crowd of 700.
Saidi Ringenberg of Dawson County, Isabelle Barkoudah of Gage County, Clare Bauman of Lancaster County, Chloe Jeffers of Hayes County, and Zane Schneidereit of Blaine County received Best of Show awards for their constructed garments. Their projects were also exhibited in the 4-H Design Gallery in the 4-H & FFA Exhibition Building during the Fair. Winners received cash awards from sponsors, including Andrea Nisley, Extension Educator, and Sarah Purcell, Emeritus Extension Educator.
Saidi Ringenberg of Dawson County received the Make It With Wool Award presented by Andrea Nisley, Make it with Wool Nebraska State Director, given in memory of Alice Doane, past Nebraska State Director.
Ellie Pagel of Adams County and Emily Kircher of Red Willow County were inaugural recipients of the Shopping in Style Best of Show Awards. Youth received cash prizes sponsored by Megan Burda of Brick Road Boutique.
Nebraska youth test their agronomy knowledge at Crop Scouting Competition

Youth from across Nebraska put their agronomy knowledge to the test at the annual Nebraska Youth Crop Scouting Competition. The contest, held on August 3, 2022, at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, allowed youth to work as teams and gain hands-on experience scouting actual plots.
Receiving first place and a cash prize of $500 was Kornhusker Kids team coached by Chris Schiller. Team members were James Rolf, Logan Consbruck, Isaac Wooldrik, Levi Schiller and Ian Schiller. Second place went to Colfax Co. 4-H Team #1 coached by Steve Nelson. Team members were Josh Eisennman, Mic Sayers, Rylan Nelson, & Hayden Bailey and they received $250. Third place with a $100 cash award was Colfax County 4-H #2 team also coached by Steve Nelson. Team members were Callen Jedlicka, Cody Jedlicka, Daphne Jedlicka and Justin Eisennman.
Also participating were two teams from Johnson County 4-H coached by Jon Schmid. Team members from Johnson County #1 included Wesley Schmid, Sophia Schmid, Bo McCoy, and Elliot Werner. Johnson Co. #2 team consisted of Levi Othmer and Cameron Werner. Arlington FFA also competed with Kali Agler as the coach and Aaron Fuchs, Braden Monke and Ethan Hilgenkamp competing.
An in-person regional competition will be held among Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri teams at the Beck Agricultural Center near West Lafayette, Indiana on September 15 hosted by Purdue Extension. Participants from Kornhusker Kids 4-H and Colfax County #1 are able to compete representing the state of Nebraska.
For more information on the Youth Crop Scouting Competition, visit cropwatch.unl.edu/youth.
Fifty-two youth receive Member of Excellence distinctions
Nebraska 4-H awarded fifty-two youth with the Members of Excellence distinction at the 2022 Nebraska State Fair. 4-H members earned the award for engaging in livestock-related learning experiences throughout the year in addition to caring for and exhibiting their 4-H livestock projects. Nebraska 4-H recognized Members of Excellence across all 4-H livestock project areas.
4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the beef project area included:
- Kaisha Alber, Webster County
- Cooper Elsen, Buffalo County
- Troy Linquist, Douglas/Sarpy County
- Ava Myers, Hamilton County
- Brayden Griess, Clay County
- AJ Pospichal, Holt County
- Mattie Brown, Scotts Bluff County
- Nathan Griess, Clay County
- Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
- Bryn Boitnott, Otoe County
- Ava Stewart, Cedar County
- Logan Schmidt, Thayer County
- Bo Pospichal, Holt County
- Maysa Jones, Custer County
- Tatum Wright, Douglas/Sarpy County
- Tristian Wright, Douglas/Sarpy County
- Mahaya Jones, Custer County
- Olivia Beel, Brown County
- Trapper Wilcox, Antelope County
Members of Excellence in the dairy project areas include:
- Kaitlyn Hanson, Saunders County
- Lilee Chevalier, Lancaster County
Youth who received the Member of Excellence distinction in the meat goat project area included:
- Randy Koke, Douglas/Sarpy County
- Arabella Rolfsmeyer, Buffalo County
- Autumn Hoppe, Holt County
- Maysa Jones, Custer County
- JayLynn Hoppe, Holt County
- Brooke Carey, Holt County
- Miya Carey, Holt County
- Tatum Wright, Douglas/Sarpy County
- Tristian Wright, Douglas/Sarpy County
- Mahaya Jones, Custer County
Youth recognized as Members of Excellence in the poultry project area included: /p>
- Franklin Polacek, Madison County
- Charles Cawley, Cass County
- Marcus Schultz, Madison County
- Katelyn Turek, Hall County
- Aiden Powers, Saunders
- Anne Nygren, Saunders County
- Mallory Beethe, Douglas/Sarpy County
Members of Excellence in the rabbit project area included:
- Grand Meister, Douglas/Sarpy County
- Tenley Bauman, Lancaster County
- Elisa Oberg, Frontier County
- Andrew Frain, Lancaster County
4-H members who received the Members of Excellence award in the sheep project area included:
- Grand Musil, Douglas/Sarpy County
- Addy Stanwick, Dixon County
- Cora Roth, Boyd County
- Lauren Brehm, Otoe County
- Katelyn Dorsey, Valley County
- Abigail Engelhardt, Webster County
- Trapper Wilcox, Antelope County
- Arabella Rolfsmeyer, Buffalo County
4-H members recognized as Members of Excellence in the swine project area included:
- Dierck White, Pierce County
- Kirsten Knake, Otoe County
- Kaden Knake, Otoe County
- Justus Kreifels, Otoe County
- Jolie Kreifels, Otoe County
- Hunter Creech, Scotts Bluff County
- Diego Velazco, Otoe County
- Olivia Beel, Brown County
- Mollie Lambert, Cass County
Youth received the Member of Excellence distinction through the Livestock Achievement Program, which launched in 2021. Youth applied to participate in the program at the beginning of the year. Accepted participants set goals for their 4-H project experience and reported on their accomplishments. Participants were also required to complete quality assurance requirements and project record books. To learn more about the Livestock Achievement Program, visit 4h.unl.edu/livestock-achievement.