Nebraska Farmers Union

1305 Plum Street • Lincoln, NE 68502 www.nebraskafarmersunion.org Contact John Hansen Office: 402-476-8815, Fax: 402-476-8859, Cell: 402-580-8815 john@nebraskafarmersunion.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 23, 2005 Lincoln, Nebraska

Farmers Union Youths Donate Proceeds of Coop

Store In Support of the Rural Response Hotline

Lincoln, NE—56 campers, 7 counselors, and 4 senior staff traveled across the state to attend the Nebraska Farmers Union youth camp held at the Nebraska state 4H Camp at Halsey August 7-10. The theme of camp this year was “Harvesting Our Potential”. Campers explored ways to better harvest many different kinds of potential, including individual potential, cooperative problem solving, and using agriculture to grow and harvest more forms of renewable energy.

The 8-16 year old campers started camp by developing their own code of ethics and conduct for camp. They voted on and approved their “Full Value Agreement”, which was based on the premise that all campers should be valued at 100%. Nebraska Farmers Union State President and Head Counselor John Hansen said, “We work on positive self esteem building because we believe that is the building block for more positive decision making, self respect, goal setting, expectations, and values. This year’s campers were a great bunch of kids. They have a great deal of potential, and hopefully, they will put it to good use to help our rural communities. ”

Campers learned about the many cooperatives that are all around us that are we are not aware of or are often taken for granted. They played lots of cooperative games, and learned how to work together to solve common problems and meet common goals. Campers once again operated their own cooperative candy store, elected their own co-op board members and held a meeting at the end of camp to decide what to do with the store’s profits. This year, the campers voted to donate their $100 in store profits to the Nebraska Farm Crisis Hotline, housed in the program division of Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, which sponsors the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline, which is the longest continuously serving farm crisis hotline of its kind in the nation. The Hotline helps provide emergency financial counseling, legal services, food and medical assistance, and mental health counseling vouchers for farm, ranch, and rural families in crisis. The Hotline, located in Bancroft, Nebraska, is toll free at 800-464-0258.

Campers also learned about the potential of agriculture to grow renewable energy, including E10 ethanol, E85 ethanol, biodiesel, and wind energy.

Campers worked on ways to help rural communities and organizations do a better job of appreciating their strengths, and telling their story to their increasingly urban neighbors.

With the support of the Nebraska Humanities Council, campers also enjoyed Dave Marsh’s “Music from around the world” music program Monday evening. Sunday evening, they enjoyed learning about the lives of early explorers, trappers, and plainsmen from Kris Ganoung, a music teacher from the nearby High School in Dunning, who appeared in late 1700’s appropriate clothes he had made, with his homemade knife, musket, lead bullets, and travel supplies. The campers had many questions for Dave and Kris.

Campers took full advantage of the beautiful Halsey National Forest and Nebraska 4H camp facilities. They tubed down the Middle Loup River, swam in the swimming pool, did target shooting, archery, went down the zip line, climbed the 65 feet high Halsey National Forest Lookout Tower, and visited the tree farm that provides seedlings for national forests and farm and wildlife tree planting. They also held classes, staged their own talent show, and enjoyed the camp dance in the air conditioned upstairs in the camp lodge. Head Counselor Hansen said, “We want our campers to explore, appreciate, and treasure the state 4H camp and National Forest at Halsey. It is a unique and truly outstanding state camp facility. Nebraskans should travel to Halsey and get to know and appreciate this state jewel in the middle of our Sandhills.”

Founded in 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union is the state’s second largest general farm organization, and has hosted youth programs and camps throughout most of its 92-year history. This year’s camp was supported financially by: the CHS Foundation, Nebraska Humanities Council, Farm Aid, Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation, and Nebraska Farmers Union. The annual camp is available to rural or urban children, and does not require a Nebraska Farmers Union membership to attend.

2005 Youth Camp PARTICIPANTS

Antelope & Boone
Allison		Beckman			Elgin, NE		Antelope
Jenny		Beckman			Elgin, NE		Antelope
Natalie		Beckman			Petersburg, NE		Antelope
Stephany		Beckman			Petersburg, NE		Antelope
Nick		Farmer			Elgin, NE		Antelope
Dylan		Heithoff			Elgin, NE		Antelope
Jason		Heithoff			Elgin, NE		Antelope
Justine		Heithoff			Oakdale, NE		Antelope
Juliann		Starman			Petersburg, NE		Boone
Michelle		Hansen			Tilden, NE		Madison
Cass
Tanner		Jansen			Plattsmouth, NE		Cass
Tyler		Widman			Plattsmouth, NE		Cass
Douglas
Taylor		Hennig			Omaha, NE		Douglas
Danielle		Plambeck			Omaha, NE		Douglas
	Gage
	Annie			Bock		Beatrice, NE		Gage
	John			Regier		Beatrice, NE		Gage
	Bailey			Wollenburg		DeWitt, NE		Gage
	Hall & Howard
	Mickhalla			Critel		Ravenna, NE		Hall
	Joe			Echtenkamp		Cairo, NE		Hall
	Emily			Hickok		Cairo, NE		Hall
	Jacob			Hickok		Cairo, NE		Hall
	Mary			Irvine		Cairo, NE		Hall
	Michelle			Irvine		Cairo. NE		Hall
	Mike			Irvine		Cairo, NE		Hall
	Audri			Simons		Boelus, NE		Howard
	Trish			Stoltenberg		Cairo, NE		Hall
	Jefferson
	Evan			Brandt		Plymouth, NE		Jefferson
	Jamie			Brandt		Plymouth, NE		Jefferson
	Mariah			Brandt		Plymouth, NE		Jefferson
	Abby			Hahn		DeWitt, NE		Jefferson
	Samuel			Hahn		DeWitt, NE		Jefferson
	Allyssa			Neumann		DeWitt, NE		Jefferson
	Lancaster
	Caden		Asencio			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Legaci		Asencio			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Samantha		Chessmore-Farr			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Jasmine		DeBose			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Gavin		Fusco			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Madeline		Gaer			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Koral		Gunnerson			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Miranda		Gunnerson			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Cody		Harlan			Hickman, NE		Lancaster
	Todd		Harlan			Hickman, NE		Lancaster
	Sydney		Harpham			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Keenan		Marsh			Denton, NE		Lancaster
	Gavin		Nelson			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Haley		Taege			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Nicole		Taege			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Sean		Flowerday			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Chuck		Lippstreu			Lincoln, NE		Lancaster
	Aimee		Schmidt			Hickman, NE		Lancaster
	Madison
	Lacey		Hansen			Tilden, NE		Madison
	Taylor		Hansen			Norfolk, NE		Madison
	Trevor		Portiner