Nebraska State Fair!

THANK YOU'S

YOUR 4-H STORY

4-H DAY AT THE STATE FAIR

STATE FAIR DEADLINES & ENTRIES

4-H PROJECT SHOWCASE

PREMIER SCIENCE AWARD

STATE FAIR T-SHIRT ORDERS

76th ANNUAL NORFOLK BEEF EXPO

NEBRASKA STATE FAIR ENTRIES

PASE CONTESTS

4-H COUNCIL MINUTES

LATEST 4-H NEWS LINK

August 22-Sept 1 - Nebraska State Fair

Sept 1 - Extension Office closed for Labor Day

Sept 7 - 76th Annual Norfolk Beef Expo

Sept 25-28 - Aksarben Stock Show, https://aksarbenstockshow.com

Oct 19, 2-4 pm - SAVE THE DATE! Achievement Party at the Casey's Building

Click on image to enroll in 4-H.

Thank you each and every one to all the 4-H’ers, parents, leaders, and volunteers who helped to make the 2025 Boone County Fair a great success! We hope you had fun, made some new friends, and learned some new skills during the past year in 4-H. The Extension staff in the Boone and Nance County offices appreciate all your time, talent, and dedication to the 4-H program. We couldn’t do it without YOU!

This is also the perfect time to say thank you to individuals and businesses that have helped you in 4-H in some way during this past year. You are being courteous when you send a thank you note to your parents, club leaders, Extension Board members, and Boone and Nance County 4-H Council members. The list may include livestock buyers/bidders, Cornhusker Public Power District, guest speakers at club meetings, incentive donors (Gateway Theater, The Dotted Daisy), special award donor (Shorty's), and award sponsors. Please take a minute or two to express your appreciation to all the wonderful 4-H supporters!

Your 4-H story is a very important part of your 4-H record each year. By completing this story, you have successfully completed your 4-H project year. You only need to submit one 4-H story no matter how many projects you completed. This story may be hand written or typed, and should not exceed two pages in length. The 4-H Story is required to earn your 4-H member year recognition.

Tell us what you enjoy the most about the 4-H program. Also describe or explain one of your most memorable experiences that you encountered this past 4-H year and tell us why.
If you’re a high school junior or senior, please tell us your future career goals. Did 4-H influence your choice of career, if so, how did it?

Clover Kids should draw or sketch a picture that would help us learn what you enjoyed the most about the 4-H program. For example, one of the projects you made at a club meeting or workshop.

These 4-H stories are due back in the Extension Office by September 22. Forms are available at the Extension office, or online at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/boone-nance/boonenance-county-4-h/4-h-clubs-materials/ Forms will also be emailed to all 4-H members, and can be returned via email.

The Nebraska State Fair is thrilled to host 4-H Day at the Nebraska State Fair Sunday, August 24th from 1-3 pm at the Pump & Pantry Party Pit north of the horse barns. To celebrate 4-H members statewide, they are offering a discounted admission that day that is only for 4-H members. Family members including parents still need to purchase regular admission tickets. This is not just for state fair exhibitors, but for any 4-H member. Discounted tickets are available through August 22. To order discounted tickets, please go to https://go.unl.edu/2025nsf4hdaypasses

4-H members $6.75

Other activities include craft area, scavenger hunt, Photo booth, Volunteer Recognition, and UNL Dairy Store Ice Cream.

Special thanks to the Nebraska State Fair for this opportunity!

STATE FAIR LIVESTOCK DEADLINES

AUGUST 10, 8:00 PM - STATE FAIR ENTRIES DUE IN SHOWORKS https://nebr.fairwire.com/ (Opens July 1)

THE NEBRASKA STATE FAIR RUNS FROM AUGUST 22 TO SEPTEMBER 1, 2025. https://www.statefair.org/

All 4-H members planning to participate in any 4-H contest must be entered in ShoWorks https://nebr.fairwire.com/ (Opens July 1) before 8:00 PM CST on August 10. This entry process must be completed by the 4-H member (or their family). Fees must be paid for using a debit/credit card. There are no other payment options. Contest participants will not be entered by the county Extension office. This includes Fashion Show, Dog Skillathon, Horticulture Judging Contest, Insect Identification Contest, Tree Identification Contest, and Weed and Grass Identification Contest.

For more information about the contests, go to https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunties/state-fair/contest-participant/

Static Exhibits going to the Nebraska State Fair will be entered into ShoWorks by office staff. These items should be brought the Extension Office by 4:30pm on August 13. Food and Horticulture exhibits may be brought to the office by Monday, August 18. Please notify the Extension Office of what Food exhibits you will be bringing by 4:30 August 13. For Horticulture, if you will list all items you are thinking of bringing, we will have entry tags for all of them. This will save printing tags at the last minute, after you have decided what to bring. Please submit your list to the Extension Office by 4:30 pm on August 13.

The goal of the 4-H Project Showcase is to shine a spotlight on the youth behind the projects, tell their stories, and showcase the learning that happens through 4-H project experiences. Youth are asked to answer a few questions and provide at least one photo as part of the submission process. Pictures of youth with their projects are the best!

All enrolled 4-H members are invited to submit a project, and all 4-H projects are eligible! This includes county-only projects, live animal projects, projects involving contest participation, projects selected for State Fair, projects that didn’t make it to the county fair, etc. Of course, this is an excellent opportunity for youth to show off their favorite project, but this could also be an uplifting opportunity for youth whose projects didn’t go as planned or for newer members just getting started in 4-H.

All projects submitted by August 10 will be showcased on the 4-H Video Wall at the Nebraska State Fair! Some submissions may also be featured on the Nebraska 4-H website or social media channels throughout the year. Learn more and submit your project at https://4h.unl.edu/project-showcase.

The Premier Science Award recognizes 4-H Youth static exhibits incorporating or demonstrating concepts from the areas of 4-H Science (science, technology, engineering, or applied math) at the Nebraska State Fair. Exhibits in all curriculum areas will be considered for the award. For info, go to http://go.unl.edu/ne4hpremierscienceaward
Participants may select ONE exhibit from any department which was selected for State Fair as the subject of their award application.
Entries are judged only on the information included in the application.
Award applications will include a photograph of the exhibit to help judges locate the project in the exhibit hall. Photo will not be used for judging.
Each individual is limited to one application.
Up to three top exhibits will be chosen to receive a cash award sponsored by the Nebraska 4-H Foundation.
Award application must accompany exhibit at the State Fair.
Application available at the above address. Please fill out the google form online.

NEW for 2025! 4-H families have the opportunity to purchase 4-H exhibitor shirts. Livestock exhibitor families may want to purchase an additional shirt, and 4-H static exhibitors have the opportunity to purchase a shirt for the first time!

Orders can be placed online at https://go.unl.edu/2025nsf4htshirts and are due August 10, 2025. No on-site purchase of shirts will be available. Only pre-ordered shirts will be available.

The 76th Annual Norfolk Beef Expo will be held at the Chuck Pohlman Ag Complex at the Northeast Community College campus. The Breeding Heifer competition will also be held again this year. NEW THIS YEAR: Market calves with be divided into classes by weight vs height. Entry forms, Animal care forms, and Scholarship Applications are available at https://norfolkareachamber.com/beef-expo/. Entries are due September 2.

Nine Boone and Nance County 4-H members competed in the Premier Animal Science Event (PASE), a two-day fun educational challenge held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, East Campus. Participants could compete in a wide array of events. Events that local 4-H’ers participated included Livestock Quiz Bowl, Meats Judging, and Livestock Judging. More than 300 4-H’ers from across the state competed in these events as well.

Quiz Bowl Boone-Nance Sr team members were Kate Maricle (Captain), Kahnen Pelster, Emilyn Kurz, Hunter Olnes, and Abby Addison, finishing with a 2-2 record. Quiz Bowl Intermediate team members were Laramie King (Captain), Clara Brengelman, and Morgan Cumming, finishing with a 2-2 record.

Senior Meats Judging teams earned 5th and 7th place overall honors this year. Participants were Kate Maricle, Aidan Choat, Abigail Addison, Hunter Olnes, Kahnen Pelster, and Emillyn Kurz. The Intermediate Meats Judging team placed 3rd overall. Members of the Intermediate team were Laramie King, Morgan Cumming, and Clara Brengelman.

Boone/Nance Senior Livestock Judging team members were Kahnen Pelster, Kate Maricle, Hunter Olnes, Aidan Choat, and Emilyn Kurz; Clara Brengelman - Intermediate Livestock Judging, and Morgan Cumming - Junior Livestock Judging.

Congratulations to all these individuals for their great performance and efforts in representing Boone & Nance County while in Lincoln!

Steve Pritchard - Extension Educator

Sonya Glup - Extension Associate