4-H Newsletter

In this edition:

• Hyannis YQCA Training
• Communication and Expressive Arts Contest
• Thomas County Youth Leadership Workshop
• Diamond Clover Award Information
• Shooting Sports Instructor Training Opportunities
• 2026 Special Agronomy and Garden Projects
• State Programming
  

All 4-H youth planning to show beef, goats, sheep, swine, poultry, or rabbits are welcome to join this in-person YQCA training directly after school on March 3rd. Please be sure to register and complete the pre-test prior to the class. In order to take the post-test and receive your certificate, the pre-test must be completed before the class begins.

Nebraska 4-H is now accepting nominations for a new awards program to recognize the outstanding contributions of 4-H volunteers across the state.

The Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards honors adult and youth volunteers, as well as and multi-generational families, who have provided meaningful contributions to Nebraska 4-H. One Outstanding Adult Volunteer Award and One Emerging Adult Volunteer Award winner will be chosen for each of the state’s 10 Nebraska Extension Engagement zones. Statewide winners will be named in the each of the youth volunteer and multi-generational family categories.

“Our 4-H volunteers go above and beyond to serve Nebraska’s youth every year,” said Jill Goedeken, 4-H Youth Development Extension educator. “We are looking forward to another opportunity to recognize 4-H volunteers for their contributions to youth in Nebraska.”

The nomination period runs through March 18, 2026. Nominations can be submitted by any 4-H member, family, supporter, or Extension staff member. Nominees must fit the award categories and can be a volunteer for any Nebraska 4-H experience. Some examples may include 4-H club leader, project leader, junior leader, county or State Fair volunteer, special interest volunteer (such as robotics or shooting sports), afterschool club volunteer or 4-H camp volunteer. More information, along with the nomination form, is available online at: https://4h.unl.edu/volunteer-recognition.

Winners will be announced virtually in April 2026. A special awards presentation will take place at the 2026 Nebraska State Fair.

4-H is all about serving your community and finding your spark. The Nebraska 4‑H Diamond Clover program encourages 4‑H youth to engage in a variety of programs, projects, and activities that will enable youth to acquire skills and abilities that will prepare them for success in the future. The program consists of six levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. For each level, the Nebraska 4‑H Diamond Clover program provides a list of accomplishments from which 4‑H youth choose their goals. The accomplishments increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. At the beginning of the 4‑H year, participants plan what to accomplish and at the end of the 4‑H year, they report on their completed accomplishments. Successful completion of a level's Plan & Report form results in a 4‑H youth earning that level of the Diamond Clover program.

Eligibility

The Diamond Clover program is available for any 4‑H youth ages 8-18. Youth do not need to be enrolled 4‑H members in order to participate in the Diamond Clover program. Youth may be engaged in any 4‑H program or delivery mode, including clubs, camps, school enrichment, afterschool, special interest, and independent membership. The accomplishments for each level have been created to enable any 4‑H youth, no matter how they are involved in 4‑H, to be successful. Parents/guardians, leaders, and Extension staff may suggest other accomplishments — comparable to those provided — to improve the individual learning experience of each 4‑H youth.

Rules

• Youth may only receive recognition at each level once.
• Youth may only receive one level of recognition per year.
• Youth should begin at Level 1 and progress through Level 6. However, youth who are older when beginning may opt to start at a higher level (2-4) as is mutually agreeable to the participant and the parent/guardian or leader. In order for older youth to begin at level 5 or 6, the Extension staff must also be in agreement.
• While it is encouraged, it is not required that youth complete a 4‑H project for each level. 4‑H youth may be involved in 4‑H programs or activities not related to projects.
• If necessary, youth may be allowed to amend their plans. Due to unforeseen circumstances (loss of an animal, loss of a garden from drought, etc.), a 4‑H youth may amend their plan. Levels 1–4 can be amended by agreement between the 4‑H youth and parent/guardian and/or leader. Levels 5 and 6 may be amended by agreement between the 4‑H youth, parent/guardian, and/or leader and local Extension staff.
• 4‑H youth may begin participation in the Diamond Clover program at any time of the year.
• Youth must complete the Plan & Report Form for each level. Forms are available as Microsoft Word Doc. 4‑H youth must legibly handwrite on the forms or type.
• Approval: Levels 1–4 require the approval of a 4‑H youth’s parent/guardian. If the 4‑H youth belongs to a 4‑H club, club leader approval is also required (if 4‑H youth belongs to more than one club, choose one leader to work with). Levels 5 and 6 require the approval of a local county extension staff member.
• Accomplishments: Each level requires participants to complete a specified number of accomplishments. The 4‑H participant may choose accomplishment listed for each level. The accomplishments are age appropriate and increase in quantity and difficulty for each level. Parents/guardians, leaders, and Extension staff may suggest other accomplishments — comparable to those provided — to improve the individual learning experience of each 4‑H youth.

Instructions

1. To begin, the 4‑H participant must complete the Plan portion of the Plan & Report Form for the level they are pursuing.
2. A parent/guardian and a 4‑H leader will need to confirm the plan.
3. This plan should be saved by the young person and used as a point of reference throughout the year.
4. Youth may fill out the Report portion of the form as they complete their accomplishments throughout the year, or at the end of the 4‑H year.
5. A parent/guardian and a 4‑H leader will need to confirm the report.
6. The completed Plan & Report Form with signatures should be printed and submitted to the Extension Office.

Recognition

Participants will obtain a certificate of achievement at the end of the 4‑H year at the county achievement party once they have completed a level. Levels 1 through 6 are awarded by the local Extension office. Level 6 – Diamond recipients will be presented with a certificate and diamond clover pin.

If you are interested in taking part in the Diamond Clover project, email Brittney at bemerson4@unl.edu for the correct level form based on your age. All Diamond Clover level plan forms will be due to the Extension office April 15. You may turn in printed forms or email us directly.

Are you new to 4-H or just wanting to learn more about the program? Pick up a 4-H Family Handbook at either of our office locations or email Brittney at bemerson4@unl.edu and she will send you a copy.

The Nebraska Extension Special Agronomy Project gives 4-H members an opportunity to experience a crop that is grown, was grown or has the potential to be grown in Nebraska. Youth participate by receiving seed and resources to grow the crop, research traits of the crop and determine the viability of that crop in the part of the state they live in. The project allows 4-H members interested in agronomy to grow something fun, new, and different. This year, we will be exploring a crop that can be marketed different ways depending on the variety.

In the sixth year of the special agronomy project, youth will explore TWO varieties of popcorn! The first is an heirloom variety that was discovered and developed by a farmer in eastern Nebraska, called Nebraska Red. The second is a commercial variety, Robust 997. Be sure not to plant sweet corn in your garden with these to prevent cross pollination.

Be eligible to enter an exhibit at the County and/or State Fair in the agronomy project area.

Contact your local Extension Office to order packets of seeds. The local Extension Office will order and distribute the seeds to members. Please have your order placed prior to March 15th.

For project specifications and details, be sure to go to the Nebraska State Fairbook at https://4hfairbook.unl.edu/fairbookview.php/rules.

There are only a few days left to order seeds for the Special Garden Project! All orders due March 5th to the Extension Office. This project is open to all youth of 4-H age and it will give them the opportunity to learn about growing, harvesting, and exhibiting this unique flower. The Special Garden Project lets 4-H members try their hand at growing unusual vegetables, flowers, and herbs. The project allows experienced 4-H gardeners to grow something fun, new, and different while letting those new to gardening get their feet wet in this project area. The focus of the 2026 project is the Alumia Vanilla Cream marigold. This marigold produces creamy, yellow flowers on compact plants. This variety not only has a unique color, but it also has a very long bloom time.

We are excited to announce the fifth year of the Nebraska 4-H Livestock Achievement Program! This program provides an additional opportunity for enrolled 4-H livestock project youth to strengthen their knowledge and leadership skills across all aspects of livestock projects, including selection, production, leadership, and exhibition.

The program recognizes Members of Excellence in the following livestock project areas: beef, sheep, meat goat, swine, dairy cattle, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry.

The Livestock Achievement Program consists of three levels designed to support age-appropriate growth and learning. Youth plan and report a broad range of project-related accomplishments by selecting goals from an approved list, with each accomplishment carrying a designated point value.

• Juniors (ages 8–9): Complete 75 points. Submit pictures, posters, presentations, and other learning activities to earn the distinction of Junior Member of Excellence.
• Intermediates (ages 10–13): Complete 100 points of activities to earn Intermediate Member of Excellence.
• Seniors (ages 14–18): Complete 150 points of activities to earn Senior Member of Excellence.

Plan and Report forms, available on the program webpage, provide examples of eligible accomplishments. Members may also propose their own project-related accomplishments with approval from their local Extension educator.

• Applications are due June 15 and must be submitted through the online application form.
• Plan and Reports and Project Records are due August 1 and must be submitted via the online completion form.

Youth who complete the program and earn Member of Excellence recognition will be recognized during the Grand Drive during 4-H weekend at the Nebraska State Fair.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://go.unl.edu/lap

Contacts:
Cole Meador – cmeador2@unl.edu
Brett Kreifels – brett.kreifels@unl.edu
Kelly Schole – kschole2@unl.edu
Ashley Benes – ashley.benes@unl.edu

The 55th annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) will be held July 6-10, 2026, on UNL’s East Campus.

Applications are now available to students who are currently high school juniors and seniors on the website at: www.nda.nebraska.gov/nayi

Applications will be due on April 15th.

For more information, please see the attachment below.

The Nebraska 4‑H Premier Animal Science Event (PASE) features a variety of state-level animal science contests. The three-day event is held annually at the Nebraska Animal Science Complex in Lincoln. Youth explore issues related to the animal industry, discover college and career opportunities, and work with other youth from across the state. Youth have the opportunity to participate in livestock contests that do not require owning or exhibiting a live animal, including livestock, meat, poultry, companion animal, and animal welfare judging, as well as livestock skill-a-thon and livestock quiz bowl. Youth can participate in more than one contest or event as their schedule allows. In addition, youth will have chances to explore the University of Nebraska–Lincoln East Campus, meet with faculty members and current college students, and have fun with friends!

Mark Your Calendars:
Wednesday, May 27 – Friday, May 29, 2026

Registration is required. If interested in attending, please contact the Extension Office. Registration opens on April 13th and closes May 7th.

Please be sure to like us on Facebook at Nebraska Extension in the Central Sandhills

Don't forget to visit our Extension website at: Nebraska Extension in the Sandhills

PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR NEWS so it can be included in our newsletters! Forward any 4-H news, events, or activities to CentralSandhills@unl.edu.

Mailing Address: PO Box 148 - Thedford, NE 69166

Email:

Brittney Walker: bemerson4@unl.edu

Terri Thomas: tthomas39@unl.edu

Location: 503 Main Street, Thedford, NE, USA
Phone:

CSA Office: (308)645-2267

Brittney Walker: (308)675-8539