4-H News in Keith/Arthur Counties

• 4-H Calendar
• Deadlines
• Save the Dates - Sheep & Goat Weigh Ins, Progress Show and Fairs
• 2025-2026 4-H Enrollment
• Modern Pioneers
• Be on the Lookout
• Nearby YQCA Dates
• 2026 State Fair Livestock Information
• State 4-H Updates/Events
• Volunteer Recognition Nominations Open

• Tractor Safety Training
• Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute
• 4-H Livestock Achievement Program
• State 4-H Summer Camp 2026
• Big Red Camps
• 4-H Horse Stampede
• Volunteer Resources
• Council Treasurer opening
• Extension Personnel

March 9: Keith 4-H Council Meeting, Roads Department, 5:30 pm

March 17: Youth Programs Summer Sign-Up, Ogallala Auditorium

TBD: Arthur 4-H Council Meeting, Arthur Fairgrounds, 6 pm

March 25: Keith/Arthur Extension Board Meeting, Roads Department, 7 pm

Deadlines:

March 2: Special Garden & Agronomy Project Interest (the office will have to order seeds)

Here is a little bit information about 4-H deadlines. More information will come out each month as we get closer to the deadlines.

ARTHUR 4-H DEADLINES

June 15: 4-H Online Enrollment, Animal Affidavits due, YQCA certification due

July 1: Fair Forms due

KEITH 4-H DEADLINES

June 15: 4-H Online Enrollment, Animal Affidavits due, YQCA certification due

July 1: Fair Forms due

4-H Enrollment for the 2025-2026 year is NOW OPEN! Deadline for 4-H Enrollment is June 15, 2026.

https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in

New for 2026, enrolled 4-H youth will receive complimentary access to 4-H curriculum developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln! These hands-on resources help youth explore their sparks further and cover a wide range of interests, including shopping, entomology, poultry, clothing, babysitting, and much more! Enroll in Nebraska 4-H today at https://4h.unl.edu/enroll - and receive more details emailed directly to you from 4HOnline about the Complimentary 4-H Curriculum provided to you by Nebraska 4-H!

For those who have individual accounts within the 4-H Council under Modern Pioneers, or interested in starting one- contact Amanda Harger, she is the volunteer who manages the Modern Pioneers' accounts. hargers42509@hotmail.com

Our newsletter is a little bare this month with local information! Keep a lookout in the next few months' 4-H Newsletters and our Facebook page for information on:

• Fairbooks - Static & Livestock
• Summer Programs
• AND MORE!

Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete quality assurance training through Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) every year. YQCA is a national multi-species quality assurance program focused on three core pillars: food safety, animal well-being, and character development. YQCA training can be completed online or at in-person training events. Youth are free to choose the option that works best for them, and in-person training can be in any county.

**Every 4-H member who exhibits Beef, Goats, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, or Swine must complete YQCA and provide a copy of your certificate to the Extension Office by June 15.

For anyone interested in attending in-person YQCA trainings- below are the surrounding area dates, more may be added.

Reminder- please register and complete the pre-test before the training!

In-person events are currently scheduled for the following:
* Monday, March 2, 4:00pm in Garden County at the Elementary School
* Saturday, March 21, 9:00am in Sidney at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds
* Saturday, March 28, 9:00am in Chappell at the Deuel County Fairgrounds
* Sunday, April 12, 2pm in Bridgeport at Prairie Winds Community Center
* Thursday, April 16, 6:00pm in Scottsbluff at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center (PREEC)

It is time to be thinking of State Fair Livestock requirements!

All livestock in contention to exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair will be required to complete an online nomination with payment through Show Stock Manager and submit a DNA collector envelope with a hair sample. This includes all 4-H and FFA breeding livestock, market livestock, and feeder calves.

Show Stock Manager is open for livestock nominations for the 2026 Nebraska State Fair! Website Link: https://showstockmgr.com/ Each State Fair nomination will be $7.00 per animal in Show Stock Manager. Submit the DNA payment and complete the online nomination in Show Stock Manager. 4-H and FFA livestock nominations are due on June 15, 2026.

Turn in your completed DNA envelopes to the local Extension Office or FFA Advisor by June 18, 2026.

State Fair Entry Closes August 8, 2026

For NE State Fair DNA instructions and envelopes, please stop by the Extension Office

For 4-H/FFA families who are planning on entering the Aksarben Stock Show, you will need separate DNA envelopes and online nominations- exhibitors will be ordering and purchasing their DNA envelopes through the AKSS website https://aksarbenstockshow.com/ The Aksarben Stock Nomination online nomination system will be different than Show Stock Manager and separate between each livestock show.

Please direct any AKSS questions to the AKSS website.

4-H volunteers don't always make it in the photos, but they're making the moment possible. Help us celebrate our extraordinary volunteers by nominating them for the 2026 Statewide Volunteer Recognition awards!

You can submit nominations at https://4h.unl.edu/resources/volunteers/recognition/ by March 18.

The Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH), in partnership with Nebraska Extension, host Tractor and Equipment Safety Certification Courses across the state of Nebraska every year. This year's trainings will be offered across the state in May and June 2025.

Learn more about the Tractor and Equipment Safety Certification Courses at https://go.unmc.edu/tractor-safety-training.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is accepting applications from current from high school juniors and seniors for the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI).

NAYI will be held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus July 6–10, 2026. Applications are due APRIL 15, 2026.

NAYI APPLICATION: https://forms.gle/D1auyTiJKU8SNx5M9.

NAYI Delegate Recommendation Form: https://forms.gle/ifs5T8nbnMoe17bT9.

🐄🐑🐖 Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program – Year 5! 🐐🐔

The Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program is back for its fifth year, recognizing youth who go above and beyond in their livestock projects! This program promotes learning in selection, production, leadership, and exhibition across all livestock species.

🔹 Open to enrolled 4-H livestock youth
🔹 Species include beef, sheep, swine, meat goat, dairy, rabbit, poultry.
🔹 Three achievement levels: Junior, Intermediate, Senior

🗓 Apply by June 15
🗂 Plans & Reports due August 1
🏆 Members of Excellence will be recognized at the Nebraska State Fair Grand Drive.

👉 Learn more & apply here: https://go.unl.edu/lap

We are excited to announce the 2026 Nebraska 4-H Summer Camp season! Youth are invited to join us and Big Gumdrop Outdoors as we explore the world around us through our Exploring Ecosystems theme.

During the 2026 Exploring Ecosystems season, campers will explore Nebraska’s natural world, discover how ecosystems connect, and learn how they can help care for the environment - all while having fun at camp!

The Nebraska State 4-H Camp is offering both day camps and overnight camp opportunities. Camp will return to Chadron for a 5 day overnight session (June 15-19) for youth ages 8–14. Day camps will be held in Grand Island (June 30) and Lincoln (July 22) for youth ages 8–12 providing a great introduction to the camp experience.

Registration is now OPEN! More information on sessions, dates, scholarships, and the link to register can be found at 4h.unl.edu/camp.

Big Red Summer Academic Camps are open for registration! Join us this June to explore your interests and make new friends while living on the UNL campus and learning from university faculty. Register by April 17th for Early Bird Tuition Rates! To learn more and register, visit https://go.unl.edu/bigredcamps #NE4H #GoBigRed

One of the most important keys to making 4-H programs successful- are YOU- and the many people willing to help! Leading, teaching, setting up, taking down, the opportunities to lend a hand- are endless...

Clubs, shows, programs and events are a lot of fun, but also a lot of work to put together - we are always looking for caring adults & older youth to help at various levels. If you are interested in being a volunteer or know individuals who would be great fit- please reach out to the office.

More info can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/resources/volunteers/

There is a wonderful virtual volunteer training series that will take place each month- Dec. to April- please check them out!!

The next session occurs March 3rd at 5:30 pm MT.

Participants will learn about the Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) contests and how to prepare a team for participation at the 2026 PASE event. The session will include an overview of contests and resources for the coaches.

Visit https://go.unl.edu/2026pasetraining to register.

Look for more 4-H Virtual Volunteer Training series topics in the coming months!

Brooke Namuth has resigned from her role as 4-H Council Treasurer. We are grateful for her involvement, service and support of 4-H over the years. The Council is seeking a replacement to fill her spot on the board. If you would be interested in serving on the 4-H Council or learning more about what the treasurer role entails, please reach out to a Council member or the office.

February's newletter featured a Virtual Volunteer webinar training that covered information for new or prospective 4-H Council Treasurers- if anyone is interested in reviewing the webinar more about that position, please contact the office.

Did you know there are several educators and professionals accountable for Keith and Arthur Counties and a larger region? Find more information through our local personnel directory: here.

TBD - Early Childhood

There is currently no Educator that serves our counties for Early Childhood. There is a chance this could change in 2026!

For more information about the program areas and what UNL Extension has to offer, please visit:

About Us | Nebraska Extension | Nebraska Extension | Nebraska

https://extension.unl.edu/about-extension/

Nebraska Extension in Keith & Arthur Counties

Keith-Arthur 4-H Newsletters

Facebook